Stuck on Tioman: The Island That Wouldn’t Let Us Go

Flo MBT
May 2
2 min read

We originally planned to spend 4 nights on Tioman Island—a well-deserved break after hopping from place to place every two days.

Because it was low season, we were almost completely alone—just a handful of other travelers, and only a few restaurants open. The closest one? A 15-minute walk away. The next? 35 minutes. It was remote, it was quiet... and honestly, it was kind of perfect.

It felt surreal to experience the island like this—raw and peaceful—knowing that in just a few weeks, it would be buzzing with tourists again. Low season also means rainy season, but we lucked out. Most of the rain came at night, and the days were warm and comfortable. It felt like we had the island to ourselves.

The only way to reach Tioman is by ferry, and when the sea gets rough... you're not going anywhere. The ferries were cancelled for five days, so our 4-day stay turned into 10. One morning, the hotel called us and said, “You can either leave a day early or stay until the ferries run again.” We chose to stay. Tioman clearly wasn’t ready to let us go—and we were more than happy to stick around a little longer.

Oh, and one morning? A scorpion in the bathroom. Just to keep things interesting.

One thing we absolutely LOVED about Tioman was how untouched it felt. Most of the island has no real roads or cars. We stayed in ABC Village (Air Batang), where there’s just a narrow concrete path shared by pedestrians, bikes, and the occasional motorbike.

Many of the villages on the island aren’t even connected by road. To get from one to another, you either take a boat taxi, walk or cycle along the coastal path, or trek through the jungle. It’s peaceful, simple, and refreshingly slow-paced.

Sometimes getting “stuck” is exactly what you need.

Read our full Article about Tioman here: Tioman Island Everything You Need To Know: A Tropical Escape Guide.

Tioman Island