Full Guide 3D2N Tioman (Turtle Conservation Site, Motorbike, Cataferry & Bluewater Ferry)
Planning a getaway to Tioman Island?
Get ready for an amazing 3-day adventure! This guide has all the insider tips you need for a perfect trip.
We’ll take you from Mersing Jetty to the stunning Berjaya Resort, and show you the best spots for snorkeling, turtle watching, and beach hopping.
Ever wondered what it’s like to zoom around an island on a motorbike?
Or how about taking a 4WD trip to a hidden Juara beach?
We’ve got you covered!
From mouthwatering local food to the best ferry options, we’ll walk you through every step of your Tioman journey.
Whether you’re a beach bum or an adventure seeker, this guide will help you make the most of your Tioman escape.
Ready to dive in?
Table of Contents
1. Overall 3D2N Itinerary In Tioman
2. 3D2N Tioman Budget Breakdown
3. How To Go To Mersing Jetty
4. Bluewater Ferry – Mersing Jetty To Tioman
5. Surrounding of Berjaya Resort Tioman
6. Food In Tekek & Berjaya Resort Tioman
7. Snorkelling Trip – Tulai Island, Marang Rock, Teluk Genting
8. Private Chartered Boat Trip to Turtle Site, Salang, Paya & Renggis
9. Tekek 4WD Trip to Juara Beach
10. Tekek Motobike Rental Trip
11. Cataferry From Tekek Jetty to Mersing Jetty
12. Conclusion
1. Overall 3D2N Itinerary In Tioman
A 3-day, 2-night (3D2N) stay in Tioman Island is a relatively short trip, especially if you factor in time spent on ferry transfers between Mersing Jetty and the island.
And if you’re coming from Singapore, you have to spare even more time for crossing the border as well as the traffic jam!
The aim of this post is to give you an idea of how you can make the most out of your 3-day, 2-night (3D2N).
So, to maximize your time on Tioman Island, I recommend the following:
- Take the earliest morning ferry (Cataferry or Bluewater) from Mersing to Tioman.
- For your return, choose a ferry departure time that’s closest to your hotel’s check-out time.
By following these suggestions, you’ll be able to spend more time enjoying the Tioman island itself.
Here’s my overall itinerary for a 3D2N Tioman trip:
For overall Itinerary for my 3D2N, please refer to below:
Tioman Trip Day 1:
10:00am – Ferry to Tioman (Bluewater)
12:00pm – Reach to Tioman Tekek
12:30pm – Reach to Berjaya Tioman Resort (One of The Best Tioman Resort)
1:30am – Lunch & Rest
3:30pm – Motor Bike Rental
5:30pm – Back to Berjaya Tioman Resort
6:00pm – 4WD to Juara Beach
7:00pm – Ocean Restaurant Dinner
9:00pm – Back to Berjaya Tioman Resort
9:30pm – Have Drink and Burger
Tioman Trip Day 2:
08:00am – Morning Breakfast Buffet
09:10am – Private Charted Trip From Berjaya Jetty
09:20am – Turtle Conservation Site by NGO
10:00am – Heading to Tulai Island for Snorkeling
11:30am – Heading to Salang Village for Lunch
12:30pm – Visit Kampung Paya
2:00pm – From Paya Jetty to Renggis Island
3:00pm – Back to Berjaya Resort Jetty
4:00pm – Motorbike Trip to Tekek & Tea Time
5:00pm – Back to Berjaya Resort & Duty-Free Shop
6:00pm – To Tioman Cabana For Sunset Dinner
9:30pm – Berjaya Resort Supper
Tioman Trip Day 3:
08:00am – Morning Breakfast Buffet
09:00am – Swimming Pool With Kids
10:00am – Back to Room Packing
10:45pm – Ready at Lobby heading to Tekek Jetty
11:00am – Reach at Jetty (Ferry Delay)
12:30pm – Ferry to Mersing Jetty (Cataferry)
Also read: Best Time (Month) To Visit Tioman
2. 3D2N Tioman Budget Breakdown
To help you plan the budget for your own trip, I’ll share a detailed breakdown of our own expenses during our 3D2N stay.
| Details | Expenses |
| 2 Rooms | RM 5,400 |
| Bluewater Ferry | RM 55 per ticket |
| Cataferry Ticket | RM 1,200 |
| Private Boat | RM 650 for 6 hours |
| Private 4WD to Juara | RM 300 (2 way trip) |
| Motorbike Rental | RM 120 for 2 days |
| Food | RM 500 |
3. How To Go To Mersing Jetty
There are three main modes of transport to reach Mersing Jetty
- By taxi
- By bus
- Self-driving
It’s crucial to plan your journey from Singapore to Mersing Jetty for a successful Tioman Island trip. Here’s some essential information to help you plan effectively:
If you’re coming from Singapore:
- Depart at midnight or early morning at 5:00am, depending on your ferry departure time.
- The journey takes about 5 hours, including potential traffic jams
- Check here for more details: How To Get To Tioman Island From Singapore
For those driving to Mersing Jetty:
- Park your car in the public parking area in front of Mersing Jetty.
- Check here for details: 5 Car Parking Area At Mersing Jetty
If you’re seeking a budget-friendly option:
- Look for bus or coach services from Johor Bahru to Mersing Jetty, Kuala Lumpur, or directly bus from Singapore to Mersing Jetty for a more affordable journey.
Here are the details for the bus from Singapore to Tioman:
Important Notes About Cataferry And Bluewater Ferry:
- If you miss your ferry, head to Mersing Harbour Centre to buy a Bluewater Ferry ticket on the spot for the next available ferry.
- Be aware that during peak seasons, ferry seats are limited and schedules depend on tides.
- You must check the Tioman ferry schedule and the available tickets before departure date.
- Always plan your trip carefully to avoid complications of missing the ferry and ruining your holiday.
4. Bluewater Ferry – Mersing Jetty To Tioman Kampung Tekek
Mersing Jetty:
Once you’ve arrived at Mersing Jetty, here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Collect your Bluewater ferry ticket at Counter W1 at Mersing Harbour Center and pay the marine park conservation fee.
Here is the ferry schedule to Tioman and how to buy a Tioman ferry ticket.:
Marine Park Ticket Counter
Marine Park Ticket
Step 2: Wait at the jetty before departure time (about 20-30 minutes).
Mersing Jetty Onboarding Area
Step 3: Hand your yellow boarding pass (given at the Bluewater Ferry Counter) to the ferry crew before getting on board the ferry.
Step 4: Inform them of your drop-off point in Tioman so they can arrange your luggage accordingly.
Things To Note About The Ferry Ride:
- The ferry ride takes approximately 90 minutes to reach the first drop-off point at Kampung Genting.
- After that, the ferry makes additional stops at Kampung Paya, Kampung Tekek, Air Batang Jetty, and finally, Kampung Salang.
- Overall, I found the journey on the Bluewater ferry to be quite comfortable.
- The interior provided a pleasant ride, but for those prone to seasickness, it’s wise to keep a plastic bag handy, just in case.
For more details of my bluewater ferry experience, please refer to this post: Bluewater Ferry From Mersing To Tioman
Arriving At Kampung Tekek Jetty:
Upon arrival at Kampung Tekek Jetty, I was expecting to see vehicles from Berjaya Resort waiting to pick us up.
After all, it’s a 4-star resort. However, I was surprised that the resort staff had no knowledge of our ferry arrival time and did not arrange for a pick-up service.
After waiting for about 15 minutes, a van finally arrived to transport us from the jetty to Berjaya Tioman Resort.
It left us with a less-than-favorable impression regarding their service.
Berjaya Tioman Resort Van
Go to Resort Using Van
5. Surrounding of Berjaya Resort Tioman
After a long journey, we finally arrived at Berjaya Resort in Tioman Island.
The check-in process was smooth and efficient, making it a hassle-free experience for my family and me.
Here is my Premier Room and Beach Chalet Room, I have uploaded my room photos as below:
Premier Room
Beach Chalet Room
Why choose Berjaya Resort Tioman: Berjaya Tioman Private Beach
One of the standout features of Berjaya Resort is its private beach.
Unlike areas like Paya, Salang, or Juara, where resorts and hotels share beach spaces, Berjaya offers exclusive beach access.
The entire beach in the resort’s area is owned by Berjaya, with only one other resort sharing this prime location.
For me, the private beach at Berjaya Resort truly sets it apart from other accommodations on Tioman Island.
6. Food In Tekek & Berjaya Resort Tioman
Dining At Berjaya Tioman Resort:
Our stay included complimentary meals consisting of two breakfasts, one lunch, and one dinner.
However, a word of caution: when dining at Berjaya Tioman Resort, it’s best to lower your expectations.
The cost of transporting fresh ingredients from the mainland to Tioman impacts both the quality and variety of the meals.
So while it’s a 4-star resort, I’d say the food quality is on par with that of 3-star hotels on the mainland, with a somewhat limited selection of main courses.
The catering style is also more focused on Asian cuisine, so options might feel repetitive if you’re staying for several days.
Tips For Western Visitors:
- If you’re hoping for a variety of Western food options, you might be disappointed.
- The resort’s menu doesn’t extensively cater to Western tastes, so it might not meet expectations for those looking for familiar dishes.
Exploring Local Food Options:
For a more authentic dining experience, you might want to venture out of the resort.
Street food stalls or cafes in Tekek or Juara often provide better meals, offering the opportunity to sample local flavors and a chance to immerse yourself in the local culture.
Getting Around For Food:
To explore these local eateries, you can easily call for a taxi or rent a motorbike.
Personally, I recommend renting a motorbike so that you get to freely explore Tekek Village.
For us, it was an amazing experience traveling from Berjaya Resort to the far end of the beach at Air Batang Jetty.
This flexibility allows you to experience a wider range of cuisine across the island and adds an adventurous twist to your stay!
Local Recommendations:
Tioman Cabana Beach Bistro comes highly recommended by Western tourists.
Additionally, I discovered some great street food in the Tiong Tioman and Tekek Jetty areas.
Family Cafe At Kampung Tekek
During our trip to Juara Beach from Berjaya Resort, we had dinner at Ocean Cafe, which is located right on Juara Beach.
7. Snorkeling Trip at Tulai Island, Marang Rock, Teluk Genting
Snorkeling is a popular activity on Tioman Island.
Also read: 29 Best Things To Do In Tioman Island
Tioman Snorkeling Trips
However, I was a bit let down by the experience. The coral just isn’t as beautiful as it used to be.
We spent about 90 minutes at these three spots:
- Tulai Island’s White Sand Beach
- Marang Rock
- Teluk Genting
They’re all really close to each other—just 5 minutes apart! So don’t think you’ll be visiting totally different places.
After snorkeling around Tulai Island for about 1.5 hours, we went to Kampung Salang for lunch.
Also read: Tioman Island Diving Guide
There are some highlights from this trip. Notably, the sand on Tulai Island was so white and soft, almost like flour in your hands.
So, while the snorkeling wasn’t amazing, the beach was great. If you go, enjoy the sand and the clear water. Just don’t expect too much from the coral and you’ll have a good time.
8. Private Chartered Boat Trip To Turtle Site, Salang, Paya & Renggis
We decided to rent a private boat for our Tioman Island adventure, and it turned out to be a great choice.
It gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace and visit places that weren’t on the usual tour routes.
Turtle Conservation Site:
One of the main reasons we chose a private charter was to visit the turtle conservation site near Berjaya Jetty.
This site is run by a local Tioman NGO, and it was a really special experience. If you’re interested in wildlife, I’d definitely recommend it.
Kampung Salang:
We asked the boat captain to make a quick detour here, which let us stretch our legs on Salang Beach and grab a light lunch. It was a nice way to start our day of island hopping.
Paya Beach:
We had originally planned to check out the Marine Park near Tekek, but when we heard there wasn’t much to see, we changed our plans and headed straight to Paya Beach.
This kind of flexibility is why we loved having a private boat.
Paya Beach itself was pretty busy with lots of Chinese tourists.
We’d come hoping to try the famous beach ice cream, but sadly, the shop was closed that day. Still, I managed to snap some great photos of the beautiful beach.
Key points about our last stops:
- We had Thai food from a food truck at Paya Jetty for lunch.
- Our final stop was Renggis Island for some snorkeling.
- We spent about 10 minutes in the clear waters before heading back.
Back To Berjaya Resort:
We spent 15mins at Renggis Island Before back to Berjaya Resort Jetty (it is just 5 mins of distance)
The day ended with a short 5-minute boat ride back to Berjaya Jetty, followed by a pleasant walk to our resort. It was a full day of new experiences and beautiful sights.
Ultimately, having our own boat really made the difference, letting us see Tioman at our own pace.
The Private Boat Captain Surprise us with a Death Jelly fish at the Berjaya Beach.
9. Kampung Tekek 4WD Trip to Juara Beach & Ocean Cafe
4WD Rental:
Upon arriving at Kampung Tekek from Mersing Jetty, you’ll encounter local agents promoting 4WD taxi services to Juara as well as motorbike rentals.
Tekek is the only town in Tioman Island with a higher population and administrative offices, including a school, bank, and POS Malaysia.
As a result, it’s the central hub for these rental services, which are conveniently available along the roadside.
While waiting for my driver at Tekek Jetty, I was approached by a local agent offering 4WD taxi and motorbike rentals at a more affordable rate compared to the prices at Berjaya Resort.
The agent claimed that Berjaya Resort’s internal service provider charged higher rates.
After considering the offer after a day, I decided to book the service from this external agent.
He met me at the Berjaya entrance with the 4WD ready, and we set off for Juara Beach.
Juara Beach:
Upon reaching Kampung Juara, you’ll find that the surroundings are quieter and less bustling compared to Tekek.
Juara is a small Malay village, ideal for those seeking a tranquil beach experience.
Things To Note About Juara Beach:
- It doesn’t offer sunset views (you’ll need to be on Tekek beach for those).
- The beach is long and U-shaped, great for walks.
- It’s much less busy than other beaches on Tioman.
Around 7:00pm, we enjoyed dinner at a beachside restaurant recommended by our driver.
It was called Ocean Cafe, run by a local chef. The food was okay, but if you’re expecting resort-quality dining, you might be a bit disappointed.
By 8 PM, we made our way back to Berjaya Resort from Juara, tired but happy after a day of exploring this quieter side of Tioman.
If you’re looking to experience a different pace of island life, a trip to Juara is definitely worth considering.
10. Kampung Tekek Motorbike Rental Trip
You’re free to ride your motorbike around without concerns about local police roadblocks.
As I said, renting a motorbike is a great way to explore Tioman, and Kampung Tekek is the place to do it.
As soon as you arrive, you’ll see motorbikes everywhere and plenty of rental services along the main road.
Here’s what you need to know about renting:
- Prices usually range from RM 60 to 90 per day.
- Berjaya Resort charges RM 90 per day.
- We chose an external service for a better deal.
Lucky for us, our rental provider delivered the motorbike right at the entrance of Berjaya Resort Tioman!
One of the best things about riding a motorbike here? You don’t have to worry about local police roadblocks. It’s pretty relaxed.
Our ride took us from Berjaya all the way to ABC Jetty in Air Batang. It was a fantastic way to see the island and really soak in the small-town vibes.
And let’s not forget about the food—sampling street food along the way was definitely a highlight!
I’ve got two recommendations for you:
- Family Cafe near Tiong Timan: Great for local drinks and Malay food.
- A spot near POS Malaysia: They serve freshly fried Malay kuih that’s absolutely delicious.
Our final stop was the duty-free shop. Just a heads up – don’t expect a big shopping mall. It’s more like a regular minimarket, but still worth checking out.
If you’re comfortable on two wheels, I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. It’s a fantastic way to create your own Tioman adventure!
11. Cataferry From Tekek Jetty to Mersing Jetty
All good things must come to an end, and our Tioman adventure was no exception. Here’s how our journey back to the mainland went:
Check Out Experience:
Berjaya Resort made checking out easy. They arranged a free ride to Kampung Tekek Jetty for us.
They planned it so we’d get there about an hour before our ferry was supposed to leave. Pretty thoughtful, right?
Boarding The Ferry:
At the jetty building, we waited for about an hour before our Cataferry showed up.
If you get antsy like we did, here’s a little secret: take a quick 5-minute walk to a nearby beach.
It’s a bit hidden, but it’s a great spot to catch some fresh air and relax before your trip.
The Cataferry arrived right on time at 12:30pm. Something nice about the Cataferry—they assign seats in advance. No need to rush or fight for a good spot like on the Bluewater Ferry.
Since Tekek Jetty is the last stop, our Cataferry went straight to Mersing Jetty. The ride took about 1.5 hours and was pretty comfortable.
For more information about my Cataferry trip from Tekek to Mersing Jetty, please check my post: Cataferry Tekek to Mersing Jetty
Before we knew it, we were back at Mersing Jetty. Just like that, our Tioman trip was over, and it was time to head home.
Remember, the journey is part of the adventure. Even this last ferry ride gave us time to relax and reflect on all the great memories we made on Tioman Island.
12. Final Thoughts On Our Tioman Adventure
Let me share some final thoughts about our time in Tioman, especially about staying in Kampung Tekek:
Kampung Tekek is Fun. I really liked Kampung Tekek. It’s busy and exciting compared to other places on Tioman. If you like being where things are happening, you’ll enjoy it here.
Choosing where to stay is a big problem. There aren’t many fancy or luxury hotels in Kampung Tekek. Berjaya Resort is the only expensive option.
But I have to say, I was disappointed by Berjaya Resort. I paid a lot of money, but the service wasn’t very good. So keep this in mind when you plan your trip.
Exploring Kampung Tekek is easy and great for families. You can easily rent motorbikes or 4WD cars. This makes it easy to visit places like Juara Beach and waterfalls.
Want to visit other beaches? Try using sea taxis or Naga sea taxis. They’re good for traveling along the coast of Tioman Island.
Even though I had problems with Berjaya Resort, I liked their beach. It was private and quiet and you didn’t have to share it with other hotels. If you don’t like crowds, you might like this.
At the end of the day, Tioman has many good things to offer.
You can find busy villages or quiet beaches. Just think carefully about where you want to stay. With good planning and objectives, you can have a great time on Tioman!
