Pulau Tioman Here We Go!

 TOUR GUIDE TO PULAU TIOMAN

As of this writing, Malaysia has been in a Covid-19 inspired lockdown for over 70-days. The kind of lockdown that probably has many people chomping at the bit for a blissful island vacation. Pulau Tioman (Tioman Island) is a photo essay in idyllic island bliss. It’s rare to find an online photo showing anything but. And for the most part it’s true. However, getting to this tropical wonderland has a few challenges that first-time visitors should be prepared for. Is it worth the effort? Yes! And if you’re smart and do a little research beforehand you can have a relaxing island holiday, rather than spend the majority of your time finding your way there as well as navigating the island. So, for those looking for a post-pandemic Malaysian island getaway let me introduce you to Tioman Island.

Get to know Tioman a little bit.

Located about 32km off the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, in the South China Sea, Tioman Island is part of the Tioman Marine Park in the state of Pahang. The island however is physically closer to the state of Johor (a mystery similar to the Perhentian Islands not being part of Kelantan or the Langkawi archipelago not being part of Perlis; Malaysian States those islands are physically closer to).

Tioman Island is about 21km long and 13km wide and is the largest of the fourteen islands that make up the Tioman Marine Park; which also includes Pulau Seri Buat, Pulau Tulai, Pulau Labas, Pulau Tokong Bahara, Pulau Jahat (Gut),  Pulau Cebeh (Chebeh), Pulau Sembilang, Pulau Sepoi, Pulau Tumok, Pulau Tasu, Pulau Renggis, Pulau Sovak and Pulau Raja. The group of islands were officially gazetted as a Marine Park in 1994.

Tioman also has an impressive nine kampungs (villages) scattered about the island. In addition to the larger populous kampungs of Tekek, Salang, Air Batang (ABC) and Juara, there are also kampungs Mukut, Nipah, Genting, Paya and Lalang. The majority of these kampungs are located on the western and southern coast of Tioman Island. Kampung Juara being the lone ranger on the east side of the island.

THINGS TO DO HERE!

There is a lot going on in Tioman Island, including several NGO projects that are not highly publicized. Two of the more well-known are the Juara Turtle Project in Kampung Juara and Rumah Hijau, an amazing recycling program in Kampung Tekek. You can volunteer with either organization and work with turtles or learn how to recycle glass to help rebuild damaged coral beds. Both are truly inspirational.

Water sports are high on the list of things to do at Tioman Island. Snorkeling, diving, surfing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boards are all readily available. Tioman is also a very popular place to get PADI certified and there is no shortage of PADI certification programs available, especially in the Kampung Tekek area.

Good old-fashioned island hopping excursions are a great way to combine a tour of the island, a few kampungs along the way and even a side trip or two to local waterfalls.

Just want to explore the beaches and work on your tan? No problem. But do be aware that there may or may not be ‘sand flies’ at the beach, depending on the time of year. If you are unaware of the evils of sand flies, ask about them at your accommodation.

Best Time to Go

Aside from a few weeks in late November through January during the height of the monsoon (rainy) season, Tioman Island is a great year-round option. Some hotels and local businesses may close for a couple of months during the rainy season, but the ferries do still run daily. The intermittent rain I experienced during my mid-January visit was not torrential and kept the temperatures in the ‘very pleasant’ range. I also saw plenty of sunshine.

This picture perfect photo was taken in mid-January.

November through March is the officially considered the ‘monsoon season’, but it is also considered ‘low season’, meaning hotel rates will be lower and there will be less tourists. June, July and August are considered the ‘high season’ months. The rainy season is especially revered by surf enthusiasts who take advantage of the seasonal swells on the east coast of the island. Snorkeling and diving is also possible during the monsoon season. Visibility may be hindered a bit here and there due to wind chop, but it’s still fun!

As you can see Tioman Island has a lot of vacation possibilities. A perfect little recovery trip for anyone who has been ‘self-quarantining’ due to a pandemic or simply spending too much time at the office. Whether you want some underwater adventures, a big dose of nature or just need some downtime swinging in a seaside hammock, Tioman Island’s got you covered.