Beautiful Islands

Tioman is the biggest and most impressive island at the east coast. There is a brisk jungle covers a ridge on the west section of the island, which ends at the idyllic location of a beautiful palm fringed beach. Tioman offers a wide range of activities for visitors: snorkeling in crystal clear water, discover the beautiful underwater world when you go diving, or just laze on the beach while you work on that tan. Also, there is a jungle on the island that is just begging to be explored. The dense forest is a habitat for many kinds of flora and fauna.

Tioman was discovered as a holiday destination quite some time ago. It was the setting for the supposedly mythical magical island of Bali Hai from the 1958 Hollywood movie 'South Pacific'. In the 70s the Time magazine selected Tioman as one of the world's most beautiful islands.

Tioman is still rated as one of the world's most beautiful islands. It presents itself as a paradise island in the tropics. But sometimes you have to search for this paradise off the beaten track.

According to the Local legend, the mystical Tioman Island is the resting of a magical dragon princess who whilst flying from China to her beloved prince in Singapore, sought solace in the crystal waters of the South China Sea.

She was so pleased with the surrounding charm, that she discontinued her journey, and search for happiness in order to give pleasure and comfort to weary passing seafarers as well as providing shelter and refreshment to fisherman by turning herself into this beautiful island.

The island offer underwater adventure, snorkeling, windsurfing, outdoor adventure and of course, fun !!

GETTING THERE

The main gateway to Malaysia is through the new K.L. International Airport at Sepang located approximately 50km south of Kuala Lumpur. The Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang serves a few domestic and regional airlines. Other major international airports which serve as entry points are Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Langkawi.

The main entry point by sea to KL is Port Klang, about 50km away from KL. Malaysia is also accessible by rail and road from Singapore and Thailand. Flight schedule to Tioman from Kuala Lumpur (departure from terminal 3, Subang Airport) - Berjaya Air (tel : 03-2452828 (fax 03-2458689). Air fare : Adult-RM141++ , Child-RM71++, Infant-15++(per person/way) Kuala Lumpur - Tioman : 0915 hrs, 1300hrs Tioman - Kuala Lumpur : 1100hrs, 1420hrsFrom other destination like Penang, Langkawi Island, Kuantan and Singapore you need to transit at Kuala Lumpur and before to Tioman. For further info contact us. Berjaya Air recently launched its direct flights between Seletar Airport, Singapore and Kampung Tekek Airport in Tioman Island. With the new service, tourists from Singapore, can reach Tioman Island in 40 minutes.

Trip to Mersing and Tanjung Gemuk (jetty to Tioman) by road

There are 2 access point to Tioman island :

1. Mersing

2. Tanjung Gemuk (near Kuantan)

Driving from Johor Bahru or Singapore to Mersing

Drive to Kota Tinggi from Tebrau Highway and proceed your journey to Mersing, a quiet fishing town. The town is approximately 138 km. Well, you will never miss it as you can see the signboard to the town. At Mersing, you need to take a ferry to Tioman Island. There are secured parking spaces at a very cheap rate (around RM5/nights) so you don't have to think about your vehicle safety!

Driving from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing (399 km)

One of the common road to the island is by PLUS highway to the South and exit through Segamat. From Segamat, continue your journey to Kluang and from there you can go to Mersing.

Driving to Mersing is a long ride and frequent travelers can shorten it by following routes:

1. KL - Kuala Pilah ( winding road) - Bandar Muazzam Shah (will exit between Endau & Mersing) - Mersing

2. KL - Kluang - NITAR - Mersing (Using this route, you'll avoid the winding road before reaching Jamaluang)

Both Bandar Muazzam Shah & NITAR are the palm oil plantation estates, thus the traffic is not heavy esp. during the festive seasons.

Advisable to use either routes only for day drive. Normally, I prefer to use Kluang - NITAR route. By the way, there's a small island called Pulau Cawan near Mersing. During low tide u can walk to this island and according to legend there's one nenek kebayan (old witch) residing there.

Public transport from Johor Bahru to Mersing

Taxi fare is approx. RM100/cab per way (charter). Bus fare is about RM8/way from Larkin Bus Station, Johor Bahru. One of the coach service operator is Johora Express. Depart at 8:30 a.m. These are not frequent though.

Alternatively, you can take any bus to Kuantan from JB/Singapore but should not be surprised if you get charged the full JB-Kuantan (RM15) fare even though you might only be going halfway. This is actually legitimate as these buses cannot pick up new passengers on the way and Mersing is not considered a major station.

Most of the express buses will drop you off either at the roundabout from which you should take Jalan Abu Bakar to get to the guesthouses (there are only 2 main roads in the town). Alternatively, you might be dropped in the back of the Embassy Hotel. Just walk straight to the big buildings into the main town to Jalan Abu Bakar.

If you get accosted by travel agents upon getting down from the bus, ignore them. You don't need to buy your tickets right there.

Public transport from Singapore to Mersing

Bus express is available at Newton Circus Food Court ("IN" Entrance car park) and Jalan Sultan Bus Station. Depart at 6:30 a.m. daily.

Public transport from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing

You need to go to Puduraya bus station and the fare is about RM16.60/way. One of the coach service operator is Transnational Express, tel : (603) 238 8155, the buses leave at noon and about 8:30 at night with the ride taking about 6 hours. Taxi fare is approx. RM300 - RM400 per taxi (chartered service).

Additional info on public transportation

There are buses to Mersing direct from Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu (KT), Cherating and Johor Bahru as well as KL.

From KT, there are about 5 buses a day leaving early in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon and also overnight.

These buses stop at Kuantan and you can board there. From Cherating, there are buses at 10:30 a.m. and 11:40 at night. From Kuantan, the ride takes 4 hours (RM10.35) and from Cherating, 5 hours (RM13.30).

Bus companies are limited and you probably take Transnational which uses quite poor buses (by Malaysia's high standards) to Mersing

Driving to Tanjung Gemuk

Kuala Lumpur - Temerloh - Kuantan - Pekan - Rompin - Tg Gemok	KL-Karak Highway - Route No 2 - Route No 3
Kuala Lumpur - Seremban - Bahau - Muadzam Shah - Rompin - Tg Gemok	PLUS Highway- Route No 51-Route No 11-Route No 12- Route No 62- Route No 3
Melaka - Tangkak - Segamat - Muadzam Shah - Rompin - Tg Gemok	PLUS Highway - Route No 23 - Route No 12 - Route No 63 - Route No 3
Singapore - Johor Bahru - Mersing - Tg Gemok	Route No 3
Kuantan - Pekan - Rompin - Tg Gemok	Route No 3

Trip to Tioman by ferry/Speed boat

From Mersing to Tioman

You can go either by speed boat (max passenger 20) or speed ferry (max passenger 150). The speed boat is reasonably good and gets you there in less than 2 hours. The best part is that there is a speedboat that leaves earlier than the alternative speed ferry.

The speed ferry seat more people and take only marginally longer - perhaps taking 1.5 to 2 hours to the island. These cost RM30. When you take either kind of boat, you can ask them to drop you wherever you want on Tioman. The ferry port is just outside the center of Mersing town.

From the JB-Rompin road, take Jalan Abu Bakar straight past the town for about 200 metres and the port will be to your left right after the Mersing Tourist Information Center. It is right next to the R&R Plaza which is the express bus station. More on Mersing Town.

*Speed ferry - 1 hour 30 mins Temporary Unavailable**
Ticket Fare	RM30.00/way(adult) - RM25.00/way(child 3-12 y.o)
Time	08:00a.m( Mersing - Tioman ) 12:00p.m( Mersing - Tioman ) 09:30am( Tioman - Mersing ) 02:30p.m( Tioman - Mersing )
Note : subject to tide & passenger

Normal F erry - 2 hours
Ticket Fare	RM30.00/way(adult) - RM25.00/way(child 3-12 y.o)
Time	11:30a.m( Mersing - Tioman ) 08:00a.m( Tioman - Mersing )
Note : subject to tide & passenger

Speed boat
Ticket Fare	RM45.00/way(adult) - RM40.00/way(child 3-12 y.o)
Time	07:30 a.m, 10:30 a.m , 01:30 p.m, 03:00p.m( Mersing - Tioman ) 09:30 a.m, 01.30 p.m, 03.00 p.m( Tioman - Mersing )
Note : subject to tide & passenger