Tioman Island travel blog — The fullest Tioman travel guide for first-timers

Tioman Island (or Pulau Island) is a huge volcanic island in the Malaysian state of Pahang. Time magazine named the island one of the most beautiful in the world in 1970. If you plan on visiting this beautiful island, don’t forget to look into the vacation adventures. Let’s explore the lovely island with our Tioman Island travel blog (Tioman blog) and guide — The definitive guide for discovering Malaysia’s Tioman Island from top things to do, activities… to what to eat, what to see, and best places to stay with Focus Asia Travel below.

Tioman travel blog: Best time to visit Tioman Island

The ideal time to visit Tioman Island is between March and October, when the average temperature is approximately 30°C. During the rainy season, which lasts from mid-November to mid-February, tourist attractions and boat services will be closed. You should avoid Singapore and Malaysian holidays in particular since they will be packed with visitors, and waiting for a ferry to the island will also be tough and time-consuming.

Tioman island blog: How to get to Tioman Island?

If you are in Vietnam, you must fly from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi to Kuala Lumpur first(the cost range is 57 – 79 dollars/ ticket, depending on the time). There are many airlines making flights to Kuala Lumpur such as Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, VietJet,…

Once you arrive in Kuala Lumpur, you have two ways to get Tioman Island:

Firstly, get to Tioman Island by air: You may take a cab or bus from Kuala Lumpur to Subang International Airport, and then another route with an estimated travel time of 1 hour to the airport Pulau Tioman on the island. The cost of a ticket ranges from 44 to 57 dollars.

Secondly, get to Tioman Island by bus: Malaysian bus companies offer services to Mersing and Tanjung Gemok. You may ride the Bluewater Express 35MYR for one way / two hours (about $8) from here; tickets can be purchased directly from travel firms or at the dock. The boat will dock at Tioman Island’s beach or pier, depending on where you rent your accommodation.

Accommodation: Where to stay?

Although this is a tiny island, thanks to the rise of marine tourism, there is a system of motels and hotels on Tioman island that is highly established, albeit the number is not particularly rich and diversified. It is generally positioned in the popular low-cost level ideal for visitors’ self-sufficiency trips.

You can choose from simple camps in the quiet ABC area or Mokhtar area, with the cost is less than 22 dollars/ night for 16m square meters of wooden rooms, clean and only a few steps from the sea. In Juara, there are many cheap rooms, near the sea, typically the Rainbow Chalets and the Coconut Grove style rooms.

Visitors seeking greater luxury can stay at Tunamaya Resort in Genting (Southwest Island) and take use of spa treatments and other amenities. Swiss Cottage Resort Tekek is a high-quality mini-resort located between Genting and Salang, featuring hardwood beds, meditation design, and sea views.

Below are some best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

Bagus Place Retreat (Address: No 1C, Pasir Sarang, 26800 Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia / Phone: +60 16-993 3239), 3-star hotel with room rates from $239/night.

Minang Cove Resort (Address: 86800 Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia / Phone: +60 7-799 7372), 3-star hotel with room rates from $125/night.

Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort – Tioman Island (Address: Lot 20 & 21, Sarang Burung, Kg. Mukut, 26800 Pulau Tioman, Pahang, Malaysia / Phone: +60 7-766 8888), 3-star hotel with room rates from $102/night.

Bushman Tioman (Address: KAMPUNG JUARA PULAU TIOMAN, 26800 Tioman Island, Malaysia), with room rates from $75/night.

Melina Beach Resort Pulau Tioman Malaysia (Address: Kampong Genting, 86800 Tioman Island, Malaysia / Phone: +60 9-419 7080), with room rates from $98/night.

1511 Coconut Grove (Address: Kampung Juara Tioman Pahang, 26800 Kg Juara, Pahang, Malaysia / Phone: +60 9-419 3101), 3-star hotel with room rates from $58/night.

Impian Inn Tioman (Address: Lot 18, Kampung Genting, Kampung Genting, 26800 Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia / Phone: +60 9-419 7705), 2-star hotel with room rates from $29/night. 

Tioman Island travel guide: Things to do in Tioman Island and entertainment activities

Swimming

Tioman’s beaches are stunning, with blue ocean and white sand. In the Juara region, guests may dive between the seas. This little settlement on the island’s east coast features a beautiful beach and wooden rooms with views of the sea. At Nipah, the river overlooks the sea, where salt and fresh water combine to create a lovely sponge-filled seashore that is great for swimming. In addition, golden sands may be seen on the island’s northwest shore, Salang. This welcoming region is well-known for its unusual pasta and late-night celebrations.