MARINE TREASURES
Located about 56 km off the east coast
of Peninsular Malaysia, Tioman is the largest
in a group of 64 volcanic islands, which make
up the Tioman Marine Park. Other islands within
an hour's boat ride from Tioman, include Tulai,
Renggis, Chebeh, Sepoi and Labas, all of which
offer excellent underwater adventures. Gazetted
as a Marine Park in 1995 to preserve the area's
precious marine resources, the cluster of
islands offer visitors a rare experience.
The shallow reefs of these uninhabited islands
are popular spots for scuba diving and snorkeling,
and boast superb coral gardens. Colourful
marine life such as barracudas, Napoleon fish,
golden striped trevally, bumphead parrotfish,
cardinal fish and silver snappers abound here
amidst the dense coral gardens of vibrant
gorgonian sea fans, staghorn corals and interestingly
sculptured sea sponges. Dolphins have also
been spotted here, and you may catch a glimpse
of these friendly creatures if you're lucky.
Small and large marine life offer a truly
spectacular sight for first-time visitors
and regulars alike, and it's no wonder that
Tioman is renowned as one of the best dive
sites in the world, with crystal clear visibility
as deep as 30 metres and delightfully warm
waters.
WATER ADVENTURES
You're sure to capture some unforgettable
views with your camera when you swim around
the area. Not comfortable in the water?
You can still enjoy the coral and marine
sights without getting your feet wet, when
you take the glass-bottom boat island tours
available at Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort.
Round-the-island trips are a really good
way to explore Tioman's beaches, while island
-hopping tours cover the surrounding islands.
Discover beautiful coral views when you
stop over to snorkel at Monkey Bay, or simply
enjoy a private picnic on its secluded,
well- shaded beach. Another beautiful snorkelling
site is the Marine Park Centre at Tekek,
where you can see larger fish and more colourful
corals in abundance. You can spot sea urchins
lying at the bottom, and a variety of neon-coloured
fish that will daringly swim up to inspect
you! Remember to bring along some bread
so you can literally have them eating out
of your hands!
Sea sport enthusiasts will have a field
day with the wide range of adventure activities
offered around the island. Windsurf, canoe,
sail or fish to your heart's content. All
the gear and equipment you need are readily
available at most resorts. For divers of
all levels, Tioman offers a world of discovery.
Renggis and Soyak islands are perfect for
beginners and novices, and you'll get some
really excellent underwater shots of hard
and soft corals, and gloriously coloured
seafans here. Submerged reefs boast the
most beautiful hues of corals, and suitable
for more advanced divers. Catch sightings
of huge manta rays, whale sharks, barracuda
and sea turtles at sites like Chebeh and
Tiger Reef. The more adventurous will enjoy
night dives, which can be arranged to view
the area's nocturnal marine life. Wreck
diving is another attraction here, and wrecks
of wooden fishing trawlers such as the Pirate
and Sawadee wrecks offer divers hours of
intriguing exploration.
While snorkeling, diving, swimming and underwater
photography are permitted within the Marine
Park, strict rules apply with regard to
gathering coral or shellfish, or other destructive
activities. And rightly so, as this is surely
one of our national treasures, and must
be preserved as such.
WILDLIFE WONDERS
Tioman's lush greenery is just as enticing
as its dazzling seascape. As one of the
last virgin dipterocarp forests in this
region, the island is home to an unusual
and wide assortment of vegetation and wildlife.
These include beach forests, mangrove swamps,
kerangas pole forests and padang scrub,
which house several protected species such
as mousedeer, long-tailed macaque, slow
loris and brush-tailed porcupine. You feel
like you're in one big zoological park,
co-existing harmoniously with the inhabitants
such as proboscis monkeys, variety of birds,
insects and huge monitor lizards.
Many resorts operators offer special nature
appreciation activities, in the form of
trekking. Several trek routes are available
at various points of the island, providing
an excellent way to enjoy the natural sights
and sounds of the forest. Gurgling streams
run across most of these routes, and you
can see freshwater prawns in the shallows,
as well as a host of insect varieties.
Among the popular trek routes is the one
from Tekek to Juara, a 7km trek which cuts
right across from the east coast to the
west coast. The refreshing Lubok Tija Waterfall
awaits patient trekkers at Juara, and a
dip in cool water is the perfect remedy
for a hot afternoon. Asah Waterfalls, the
largest on Tioman, is just 20 minutes from
Asah Village and is another beautiful sight
to behold. Apart from these, a not-to-be-missed
trek is the exciting night safari, where
you can walk through the forest trail and
get a glimpse of nocturnal creatures foraging
for food.
Those with a taste for serious climbing
can take on Mount Kajang, the highest peak
on the island requiring a six-hour hike
to summit. Even better, Gunung Nenek Semukut
offers the ultimate climbing challenge as
Malaysia's highest free-standing spire,
a 'big wall' at 690-metres of pure granite.
Very few successful climbs to its peak have
been recorded. Meanwhile, rock-climbing
enthusiasts will find the Tekek, Mukut and
Juara heights perfect for scaling.
RURAL RENDEZVOUS
Tioman's villages exude a charm that can
truly be experienced only in this part of
the world. Each village around the island
offers different attractions, depending
on your choice of activity. Whether it's
underwater cave exploring or just lazing
in a hammock that takes your fancy, these
fishing villages all have unique features,
as well as accommodations and eateries to
keep you happy all day long.
The main entry point to Tioman by air or
by sea is Tekek Village, the largest on
the island. Government offices, including
a police station are located here, as well
as chalets, restaurants, souvenir shops
and dive operators. A museum is also found
here, displaying 11th To 19th century trade
artifacts such as coins, ceramics, sea charts
and salvaged items from shipwrecks. Salang
Village, located on the north-west end of
Tioman is a popular snorkeling and diving
spot. It is a short distance from Tulai
Island and Monkey Bay, where gorgeous underwater
worlds await. Layang Caves, a unique undersea
rock formation is also easily accessible
from here. Facilities at Salang include
numerous chalets and seafood restaurants,
and it even boasts some nightlife activities.
Air Batang Village, ABC Village has numerous
resorts, connected by a walkway. Its beach
is peaceful, and rocky, so it tends to be
favoured by those seeking a laidback environment
for an afternoon of lazing under the shade
of a tree. A similar experience can be had
at Mukut Village, known for its traditional
Malay setting. Visitors to Genting Village,
on the other hand, can expect a greener
view, as most resorts in this third largest
village are located on hillsides. From here,
it is a half-hour journey to Paya Village,
which is located at the foot of Mount Kajang.
On the east coast of the island is the idyllic
Juara Village, the most peaceful spot on
Tioman, with a secluded bay facing the South
China Sea. Honeymooners will find this the
ideal location for a private getaway.
GETTING THERE & SETTLED
Enroute to Tioman is popular Rawa Island,
known for its off-shore coral reefs, teeming
with marine life. Opportunities abound here
for sea sports such as snorkeling, diving,
swimming or sunbathing on hidden, shady
beaches. Rawa's lush tropical vegetation
forms the perfect backdrop for additional
activities such as nature treks. Deep-sea
fishing and island hopping packages can
also be arranged to smaller uninhabited
surrounding islands such as Pulau Harimau,
Pulau Mensirip, Pulau Hujong and Pulau Tengah,
which are popular scuba diving and snorkeling
sites. A private jetty leads to a single
resort here, complete with chalets, a restaurant
and bar, souvenir shop and sea sports centre.
Tioman accessible by ferry boat from Mersing
in Johor (2 hours) or Tanjung Gemok in Pahang
(1 hour 15 minutes), subject to weather
conditions. It is also accessible by air
from Kuala Lumpur via Pelangi Air, and Berjaya
Air which operates daily flights using a
48-seater aircraft.
A wide range of accommodation is available
at Tioman to suit every budget. Comfortable,
and equipped with modest amenities, chalets,
beach huts and air-conditioned rooms offer
visitors a variety of choices. Once on the
island, the main mode of transportation
is by boat. All villages have regular boat
and sea bus services that connect to other
parts of the island. You can charter a speedboat
for island hopping or short excursions around
Tioman. Bicycles or motorbikes are also
available for hire at reasonable rates.
For more information, please contact:
Tioman Development Authority
A145-147, Lorong Tun Ismail 6, Sri Dagangan
25000 Kuantan, Pahang
Tel: 09-514 1206
Fax: 09-514 8801
Website: www.mytioman.com
BERJAYA TIOMAN BEACH, GOLF & SPA
RESORT
As the island's only international standard
resort, Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf &
Spa Resort is set amidst miles of secluded
palm-fringed beaches, perfectly complementing
the natural beauty of Tioman Island. Sprawled
over 200 acres, the resort offers exclusive
residential-style accommodation with endless
fun in the sun and sea.
The Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf & Spa
Resort has 400 luxurious chalet rooms and
elegant suites, designed to reflect the
distinct Minangkabau architecture. Just
a buggy ride away from the resort is Berjaya
Tioman Suites, consisting of 7 blocks of
fully furnished units comprising single
room studio suites, two-room family suites
and three-room luxury penthouses. These
suites offer an exclusive privacy for that
dream holiday away from the stresses of
life. All rooms and suites are air-conditioned
and fully equipped with modern amenities,
such as a colour TV with in-house video
channel, CNN, piped-in music, IDD line and
a mini fridge.
For the discerning traveler, Berjaya Tioman
Beach, Golf & Spa Resort features a
wide variety of dining options which include
the Sri Nelayan Coffee House, Bali Hai Continental
Restaurant, Fortune Court Chinese Restaurant,
Matahari Beach Restaurant & Cabana,
Fortune Courtyard, Eagle's Nest Lounge,
Pool Side Bar, Eagle's Nest Restaurant,
Sri Lalang Karaoke, Bali Hai Disco, Foosball
and Toxic Beach Bar. These exclusive dining
outlets offer an extensive range of cuisine
from local to international fare. Meanwhile,
at Berjaya Tioman Suites, you have the option
of dining at their Breakfast Lounge and
Snack Bar. A private pool BBQ can also be
arranged upon request. Guests at the Berjaya
Tioman beach, Golf & Spa Resort and
Berjaya Tioman Suites have access to all
the facilities at both premises, including
the food and beverage outlets. A convenient
shuttle service is at hand to transport
between the suites and the resorts as desired.
Recreationally, a whole plethora of activities
is available to satisfy the entire family,
young and old. Unlimited choices include
the swimming pools, tennis courts, scuba
diving, wind surfing, sailing, fishing,
snorkelling, canoeing, boat charters, glass-bottom
boat island tours, donkey rides, jungle
trekking, indoor games, volleyball, basketball,
pool games, table football and children's
camp. Special daily planned programmes are
available for those who prefer group-based
activities. A championship 18-hole golf
course stands out among the highlights here.
The par 71 course is a scenic green that
stretches along the island coastline, affording
a spectacular view of the sea and rising
gradually to the fringes of the lofty tropical
rainforest of Tioman.
Excellent conference and banquet facilities
are offered here, so if you're planning
a banquet, convention, meeting or seminar,
Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf & Spa Resort
offers a choice of six function rooms for
groups of 20 to a maximum of 400. Meeting
rooms are furnished with the latest audio-visual
equipment, with the promise of efficient
service to ensure your event is a success.
Other special services at the resort include
a gift shop, laundry, clinic, complimentary
airport and jetty services, foreign currency
and express check-out.
Those who want to indulge in a sensual spa
experience can unwind in the lap of luxury
and restore the delicate balance of mind,
body and soul at the resort's Rimba Spa.
Evoking a classic Malay village setting
with a cluster of individual chalets surrounding
an outdoor Jacuzzi, Rimba Spa offers exclusive
relaxation sections for male and female
guests. Spa enthusiasts can look forward
to achieving greater sense of balance in
the privacy of the spa, with an array of
traditionally-inspired treatments using
all natural herbal and floral oils. Couples
can opt to have their rejuvenating treatments
together in the seclusion of individual
chalets.
From simple spa basics such as facials,
hand and feet treatments, massages and body
treatments, a visit to Berjaya Tioman Beach,
Golf & Spa Resort would be incomplete
without a sampling of Rimba Spa's comprehensive
packages. Try out the 75-minute Rimba Signature
Massage which combines the art of heat therapy
with magic hands of Rimba's well-trained
masseuse. Kneading away the rigours of city
life, the Rimba Signature Massage could
very well be the highlight of your stay
at Tioman. If you've got more time on your
hands, check out the Rimba Spa Experience
Package for both men and ladies, comprising
a body polish, massage and relaxing facial.
Emerge refreshed from the goodness of Rimba's
Tropical Marine Package, glow with the radiance
of their Eastern Bliss Package or leave
behind a glorious trail of scents from the
refreshing Aromatherapy Journey.
For further information or reservations,
please contact:
Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf & Spa Resort
KL Reservations Office
Tel: 03-2142 9611/03-2145 4107
Toll-free line: 1 800 88 3236
E-mail: bhr@berjaya.com.my
Website: www.berjayahotels-resorts.com
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