Tioman Island

The largest island on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Tioman is also by far the most famous of them all. The island's beauty has long attracted visitors to its shores and captivated the imagination of countless others. The distinctive triple mountain peaks, combined with the shape of the island itself, gave rise to the myth that the island had once been a dragon princess who was captivated by the tranquility of her surroundings that she decided to stay on, thus becoming the island. While the myth certainly is nothing more than a fancy tale, the island's beauty is something that is very real indeed.

Large parts of the island are uninhabited and the local population is limited to several villages along the coast. Tioman Island is a superb destination for snorkelling and diving, offering numerous sites in the waters surrounding the island as well as the eight smaller islands nearby. Lovely coral beds and an astounding variety of marine life turn every excursion underwater into an undersea adventure filled with unique encounters and experiences. These sites are carefully conserved and are the highlights of the Tioman Island Marine Park. Ship wrecks have also been sunk in the waters within the marine park as fish habitats and to enhance the diving experience.

The island also has many beaches, long stretches of white sand ideal for a lazy day of lounging and swimming. Bearing creative monikers such as Monkey Bay, Juara Beach Panuba Beach, and ABC Beach, each stretch has something unique to offer visitors. For those who love to party by the beach as the sun goes down, Salang Beach with its trendy nightspots is the place to be to dance the night away. During the day, the pleasant village lifestyle is a soothing contrast to the hustle and bustle of city life as the islanders go about their daily business.

The island has duty free status, so shopping can be quite a pleasant experience, with items like chocolates, alcohol and cigarettes being inexpensive compared to other parts of the country. One little condition though, most duty free goods are allowed off the island only on certain conditions, so be sure to enjoy them while visiting Tioman Island!