A tropical Malaysian island with clear waters and coral reefs. Hiking trails lead through rainforests where monitor lizards and monkeys roam freely among 1000-year-old trees.
Tioman Island lies 32 kilometers off Malaysia's east coast, where mountains rise 1,038 meters above coral reefs. You'll find eight fishing villages across this 350-square-kilometer island, connected by hiking trails that lead to waterfalls. At Asah Falls, water cascades 25 meters into clear pools. Swim near Renggis Island's coral reefs alongside blacktip reef sharks, or spot green turtles gliding through the waters around Soyak Island. The island's rainforest echoes with calls of hornbills while monitor lizards and long-tailed macaques move through the undergrowth.
Getting to Tioman Island
You can reach Tioman Island by taking a ferry from either Mersing or Tanjung Gemok on mainland Malaysia. The journey takes about two hours, with Bluewater Express and Cata Ferry operating regular services. Buses run from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing, taking approximately five hours. While the island has an airport, no commercial flights currently operate to Tioman.
Best Time to Visit Tioman
Plan your visit between March and October when underwater visibility reaches 20 meters and seas remain calm. From late October to early March, strong winds and waves from the northeast monsoon cause most resorts to close and disrupt ferry schedules. Book your accommodation well ahead if traveling in June or July, when visitor numbers peak.
Marine Life and Diving
Swim through waters where over 200 coral species create underwater gardens. You'll see parrotfish grazing on coral, clownfish darting between anemones, and moray eels peering from rocky crevices. Blacktip reef sharks circle the shallow reefs near Renggis Island, while eagle rays and barracuda swim in the deeper waters around Soyak Island. Many dive schools run five-day PADI certification courses that include two daily dives.
Villages and Beaches
Walk along Air Batang's (ABC) 1-kilometer beach where coral reefs start just 10 meters from shore. In Tekek, the main village, you'll find a 2-kilometer beach with protected waters and the island's only ATM. Surf the waves at Juara's 3-kilometer east coast beach between June and September. At Salang, swim directly from the beach to the house reef where schools of yellowtail fusiliers gather.
Hiking and Nature
Follow the trail network connecting village to village. The cross-island path between Tekek and Juara climbs 300 meters through rainforest, taking about two hours. To reach Mount Kajang's summit, prepare for a challenging 4-kilometer climb that gains 1,038 meters in elevation over 6-8 hours round trip. Look for monitor lizards sunbathing near streams and hornbills feeding in fig trees. Cool off at Mukut Waterfall, where water drops 25 meters into a granite-bordered swimming pool.
Practical Information
Withdraw cash at Tekek village's ATM before heading to other areas. The Marine Park Conservation fee (30 MYR) helps protect the coral reefs and allows you to snorkel and swim in designated areas. Water taxis run between villages, charging 15-30 MYR depending on distance. Expect to pay 20-30% more for basic supplies than on the mainland due to transport costs. Keep your food in sealed containers - long-tailed macaques will grab unprotected items.
![Kuala Lumpur is the national capital and most populous city in Malaysia. The city covers an area of 243 km2 and has an estimated population of 1.6 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, covering similar area as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.5 million people as of 2012. It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in South-East Asia, in terms of population and economy.
Kuala Lumpur is the seat of the Parliament of Malaysia. The city was once home to the executive and judicial branches of the federal government, but they were moved to Putrajaya in early 1999. Some sections of the judiciary still remain in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The official residence of the Malaysian King, the Istana Negara, is also situated in Kuala Lumpur. Rated as an alpha world city, Kuala Lumpur is the cultural, financial and economic centre of Malaysia due to its position as the capital as well as being a key city. Kuala Lumpur was ranked 48th among global cities by Foreign Policy's 2010 Global Cities Index and was ranked 67th among global cities for economic and social innovation by the 2thinknow Innovation Cities Index in 2010.
Since the 1990s, the city has played host to many international sporting, political and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the Formula One Grand Prix. In addition, Kuala Lumpur is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysia's futuristic development [Wikipedia.org] | Johor Bahru in Malaysia](https://humbo.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/place-photo/5ffa2ff19ed1ddb22d235d13/6xc_BMxB-z_thumb.jpeg)
