Exploring Tioman was fairly an eye-opener for me as a result of I’d solely ever related this Malaysian island with my scuba diving journeys earlier than. One of my favorite discoveries was which you can truly spend a day biking in Tioman from the village of Tekek to Air Batang, which is a pleasant option to discover a little bit little bit of the island. Here’s a little bit bit about my expertise, the right way to hire a bicycle in Tioman and what you possibly can see alongside the best way.
I stayed on the Berjaya Tioman Resort at their invitation throughout this journey to Tioman, however this facet journey was one thing I did and paid for by myself with my journey buddy Y.
Roads in Tioman
I didn’t suppose biking in Tioman was going to be doable as a result of Tioman’s villages are largely not effectively related by highway. This island is one the place you historically get round by little boats, or do some intense mountain climbing by the forested hills to get from village to village. Even at the moment, there are principally two essential roads in Tioman:
- Tekek-Juara: A highway from Tekek cuts over the hills eastwards to Juara and requires a 4×4 to navigate the extraordinarily steep hill within the center. I wished to go to Juara however sadly didn’t have the time. There are some non-public ferries that go to Juara however more often than not guests take the ferry to Tekek after which the 4×4 to Juara.
- Tekek: Tekek as the biggest village on the island has a paved tarmac essential highway that runs parallel to the shoreline from Berjaya Tioman Resort within the south all the best way as much as the Marine Park within the north, proper on the sting of ABC village
However, in 2017, a small promenade was constructed that connects Tekek to ABC by an precise pathway that didn’t require forest mountain climbing. Technically this path forbids bikes to make use of it, nevertheless it’s okay for bicycles so long as you possibly can squeeze cross the bollards on the finish, so biking from Tekek to Air Batang does make for a pleasant option to whereas away a day.
The solely automobiles/minivans that you will note in Tioman moreover the 4x4s to get to Juara are owned by the resorts, normally used to ferry visitors to and from the property. Berjaya Tioman Resort for instance is about 10mins by automobile from the ferry terminal. The remainder of the locals trip scooters and motorbikes, with the vacationers renting both motorbikes or bicycles. There aren’t even any petrol kiosks right here in Tioman – you get gas from the minimarts in plastic bottles!
Cycling from Tekek to Air Batang (ABC)
The full size of the highway from Tekek to Air Batang is about 4.5km a technique which took me about 1 hour at a simple biking tempo with some small photograph stops. Renting the bicycle for about 2 hours minimal could be perfect, however in case you plan to cease on the seaside or have lunch alongside the best way, think about a complete day rental. Here’s what you possibly can see alongside the best way.
Tekek South
Tekek South is a patch of seaside proper subsequent to the ferry terminal. My liaison on the resort introduced us out for dinner one night time and we ended up right here at Tioman Cabana Village. It’s a cute little seaside entrance guesthouse that’s additionally a dive lodge and has a western-style cafe on the 2nd stage. It’s fairly cute, undoubtedly a kind of place that westerners specifically will benefit from the ‘chill beach-like’ vibe from.
The menu meals is a mixture of western and local-style meals. Hamburgers, pizza, rice, curries… I ordered garlic butter lemon prawns and rice which have been fairly tasty, however word that costs are a little bit steeper in comparison with native meals. My dish price 35RM which was one of many costlier dishes – native rice/noodles price about 15-25RM.
Just be warned that their kitchen is fairly small so if the place is busy prefer it was once we had dinner, your meals would possibly take fairly some time to be served. But hey, it’s island time – order a drink and simply wait it out.
Tekek Ferry Terminal / Tekek Airport
Keep biking northwards and also you’ll cross by the foremost ports of entry into Tioman – Tekek Ferry Terminal in addition to tiny Tekek airport. The runway actually doesn’t look very lengthy, so it’s no surprise solely small planes can land right here and are liable to cancellation if the climate is unhealthy.
You also can discover the responsibility free store right here – Tioman is the place you possibly can load up on low cost alcohol and goodies and stuff, however word that by proper you’re solely speculated to be consuming all these items right here.
Tekek Public Beach (Pantai Kampung Tekek)
Right previous the airport, there’s a lengthy stretch of public seaside which you can take pleasure in. As with all seashores in Tioman, watch out for sandflies! There are some photo-spots right here on your IG pictures, however what I believed was actually fascinating is that in case you go to this place within the late night and search for on the timber, you’ll discover one thing like just a few hundred bats perched the wrong way up to nap!
Esplanade / Tiong Point
Past Tekek Beach, there’s a stretch of boardwalk that known as the Esplanade, and it’s marked by a statue of a really massive mynah, or what the locals name a Tiong, atop a I Heart Tioman signal. Again, no concept what makes this chicken so important to Tioman because it’s a fairly frequent chicken – we have now them all over the place right here in Singapore as effectively, nevertheless it’s simply one thing enjoyable to snap.
Marine Park / Pusat Taman Laut
Right after the esplanade on the northern finish of Tekek is an space known as Pusat Taman Laut or the Marine Park. There is a constructing complicated right here which apparently holds an data centre with some exhibitions about Tioman’s coral and marine life, nevertheless it didn’t look open once we glided by so we didn’t pop in.
Most of the guests listed here are on the seaside and within the water, and also you’ll discover many pushcarts promoting snorkelling gear and snacks on this neighborhood.
Link bridge between Tekek and ABC
The linkbridge entrance to ABC will be discovered right here. Metal bollards have been put as much as cease scooters going by (although we did see some very small ones handle to squeeze by), however in case you’re on a motorbike you possibly can simply push it by. You can stroll alongside the bridge as effectively, however in case you’re feeling like roughing it out, the unique staircase to the jungle path alongside the slope can also be open.
Air Batang (ABC)
Once you not far away to ABC, it’s nearly like a special world because the noise of the snorkelers and seaside goers on the Marine Park fade away. The path right here continues to be paved however may be very slim, and there aren’t any automobiles right here both although there is perhaps an occasional bike.
There are some seashores right here at ABC however these appear very a lot quieter than these at Tekek. Both sides of the small highway are lined with little huts which might be both chalets, dive faculties or the odd restaurant or two the place you possibly can cease for a snack or drink. Nazri’s is without doubt one of the extra well-known eating places right here.
End of the highway
We cycled so far as we might good, and the highway stops pretty abruptly at a slope, the place an indication leads up winding stairs for intrepid trekkers trying to head to Monkey Bay or Salang within the far north of Tioman.
Here we discovered a little bit resort known as Bamboo Hill Chalets which has simply 5 rooms and the proprietor is a pleasant woman who’s lived in Tioman for a very long time. She got here out to speak with us and even supplied us a number of the spring water collected from the close by spring.
Where to hire bicycles in Tekek
There are a number of outlets across the ferry terminal in Tekek the place you possibly can hire bicycles from. Some of the resorts even have bicycles of their very own for visitors. (Side word: if you’re in Berjaya, their property is so massive you’re not allowed to take the bicycles out from their grounds.)
I rented my bicycle from the minimart known as Cheers Chalet & Souvenir at Tekek South which additionally rents out motorbikes and has guesthouse rooms for these on a funds. The going charge for bicycle rental price was RM5/hour, and RM15-25/day relying on the store. Motorbike costs begin from RM15-20/hour. The bicycles right here have been of various high quality – undoubtedly take a look at earlier than you allow, however finally you’ll in all probability solely be biking for 1-2 hours in complete.
What different cool actions have you ever carried out in Tioman? Tell me extra within the feedback. Meanwhile listed here are extra posts on visiting islands in Malaysia.