Tekek Village

Tioman Island's administrative village, where practical services cluster beside the island's only paved road

Tekek is the administrative heart of Tioman. The airport, police station, hospital, government offices, and mosque are all here, along with a few well-stocked shops and an internet cafe. If you need to sort anything practical on the island, this is where you do it. The whole village sits inside the Marine Park, and the entry fee is collected at a small office near the jetty.

The only paved road on Tioman runs south from Tekek to Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort. Heading north, the road narrows to a concrete path that you can cycle along (rent a bicycle in Tekek for around RM5 an hour) as far as Air Batang. Skip the moped rentals — the path includes stairs at the headland between Tekek and Air Batang that you cannot ride over.

For a proper adventure, take the jungle trek from Tekek over the spine of the island to Kampung Juara on the east coast. The trail passes through dense rainforest and a waterfall, and takes roughly two hours each way. Renggis Island, just offshore, is the most accessible snorkelling and diving site on the west coast.

Guide

Getting There

Tekek is reached by ferry from Mersing or Tanjung Gemok on the Johor coast of Peninsular Malaysia. High-speed ferries make the crossing in two to four hours depending on the operator and sea conditions; slower passenger boats still run on some routes. Ferry services are weather-dependent and may be suspended during the northeast monsoon season (late October to February), when the island is largely closed to visitors.

Berjaya Air operates small turboprop aircraft from Subang Airport near Kuala Lumpur directly to Tioman Airport, which is adjacent to Tekek. The flight takes about an hour. Seats are limited and weight restrictions apply on baggage — check with the airline before packing. From Kuala Lumpur, the overland route to Mersing involves a bus or taxi south to Johor; direct buses from KL Sentral to Mersing run daily.

Guide

Things to Do in Tekek

Tekek is the practical base on Tioman rather than a destination in itself, but its location gives access to some of the island's best diving, snorkelling, and trekking. Renggis Island, visible just offshore, is the most accessible dive and snorkel site and has excellent coral and regular shark and turtle sightings. The island's only sealed road runs south to Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort; heading north, a concrete path leads to Air Batang village for a pleasant half-hour cycle or walk.

The cross-island trek to Juara on the east coast starts near Tekek and takes about two hours each way through dense rainforest. It is the best way to see the interior of the island and escape the beach crowds. The trail passes a waterfall roughly halfway across and ends at the quieter, wilder east coast.