Sunday, January 8, 2023
HomeSingapore TravelBiking in Tioman from Tekek to Air Batang

Biking in Tioman from Tekek to Air Batang


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. Certainly one of my favorite discoveries was which you can really spend a day biking in Tioman from the village of Tekek to Air Batang, which is a pleasant option to discover a bit little bit of the island. Right here’s a bit bit about my expertise, easy methods to lease a bicycle in Tioman and what you’ll be able to 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 alone with my journey buddy Y.

Roads in Tioman

I didn’t assume biking in Tioman was going to be doable as a result of Tioman’s villages are principally not nicely linked by highway. This island is one the place you historically get round by little boats, or do some intense mountaineering by the forested hills to get from village to village. Even in the present day, there are mainly two principal 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 most important village on the island has a paved tarmac principal 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
Tioman Tekek Main Road
No visitors lights or lane markings, only a principally paved highway working by the village

Nonetheless, in 2017, a small promenade was constructed that connects Tekek to ABC by an precise pathway that didn’t require forest mountaineering. Technically this path forbids bikes to make use of it, but it surely’s okay for bicycles so long as you’ll be able to 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.

Tioman Tekek Marine Park Beach
See the blue railing on the Marine Park space? That’s the ‘highway’ that connects Tekek to ABC

The one vehicles/minivans that you will notice in Tioman in addition to the 4x4s to get to Juara are owned by the resorts, often used to ferry company to and from the property. Berjaya Tioman Resort for instance is about 10mins by automotive from the ferry terminal. The remainder of the locals journey scooters and motorbikes, with the vacationers renting both motorbikes or bicycles. There aren’t even any petrol kiosks right here in Tioman – you get gasoline from the minimarts in plastic bottles!

Biking from Tekek to Air Batang (ABC)

The total size of the highway from Tekek to Air Batang is about 4.5km a technique which took me about 1 hour at a straightforward biking tempo with some small picture stops. Renting the bicycle for about 2 hours minimal can be ultimate, however when you plan to cease on the seaside or have lunch alongside the best way, take into account an entire day rental. Right here’s what you’ll be able to 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 degree. It’s fairly cute, undoubtedly a form of place that westerners specifically will benefit from the ‘chill beach-like’ vibe from.

Tioman Tekek South Cabana Entrance
Tioman Cabana Village through the day

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 had been fairly tasty, however be aware that costs are a 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.

Simply be warned that their kitchen is fairly small so if the place is busy prefer it was after we had dinner, your meals may take fairly some time to be served. However hey, it’s island time – order a drink and simply wait it out.

Tioman Tekek South Cabana Tables
Tables at night time
Tioman Tekek South Cabana Food
A number of the meals we ate – my prawns within the backside, high left is fried rice, high proper is a pizza

Tekek Ferry Terminal / Tekek Airport

Maintain 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 vulnerable to cancellation if the climate is unhealthy.

Tioman Tekek Airport Road
Tioman Airport runway on the left of this pix proper by the slopes

It’s also possible to discover the responsibility free store right here – Tioman is the place you’ll be able to load up on low cost alcohol and goodies and stuff, however be aware that by proper you’re solely alleged to be consuming all these items right here.

Tioman Tekek Duty Free Shop
Tioman Responsibility Free Store from the surface
Tioman Tekek Duty Free Shop Interior
The alcohol part. In addition they had garments and different sundries in right here.

Tekek Public Seaside (Pantai Kampung Tekek)

Proper 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 photographs, however what I believed was actually fascinating is that when you go to this place within the late night and lookup on the bushes, you’ll discover one thing like a couple of hundred bats perched the wrong way up to nap!

Tioman Tekek Beach Photo Spot
One of many picture spots alongside Tekek Seaside
Tioman Tekek Beach Trees Bats
Look intently on the bushes to see all of the bats hanging from the branches!
Tioman Tekek Beach Trees Bats Close
Right here’s what it seems to be like shut up

Esplanade / Tiong Level

Previous Tekek Seaside, there’s a stretch of boardwalk that known as the Esplanade, and it’s marked by a statue of a really giant mynah, or what the locals name a Tiong, atop a I Coronary heart Tioman signal. Once more, no concept what makes this fowl so important to Tioman because it’s a fairly frequent fowl – we’ve them in every single place right here in Singapore as nicely, but it surely’s simply one thing enjoyable to snap.

Tioman Tekek Esplanade View
The esplanade – you’ll be able to see the hyperlink to ABC within the distance.
Cycling in Tioman: Tiong Point
Stopping to snap a shot of the large mynah.

Marine Park / Pusat Taman Laut

Proper after the esplanade on the northern finish of Tekek is an space known as Pusat Taman Laut or the Marine Park. There’s a constructing complicated right here which apparently holds an info centre with some exhibitions about Tioman’s coral and marine life, but it surely didn’t look open after we glided by so we didn’t pop in.

Many of the guests listed below are on the seaside and within the water, and also you’ll discover many pushcarts promoting snorkelling gear and snacks on this neighborhood.

Tioman Tekek Marine Park Jetty
There’s a jetty right here but it surely’s not an official public jetty cease
Tioman Tekek Marine Park Stalls
Pushcart stalls renting swimming/snorkelling gear and snacks discovered right here

Hyperlink bridge between Tekek and ABC

The linkbridge entrance to ABC may be discovered right here. Metallic bollards have been put as much as cease scooters going by (although we did see some very small ones handle to squeeze by), however when you’re on a motorcycle you’ll be able to simply push it by. You possibly can stroll alongside the bridge as nicely, however when you’re feeling like roughing it out, the unique staircase to the jungle path alongside the slope can also be open.

Tioman Tekek-ABC Link Cycling Barrier
Getting the bicycle by the barrier
Biking alongside the trail
Tioman Tekek Marine Park Snorkelling
Right here’s the view of Marine Park from the bridge

Air Batang (ABC)

When you not far away to ABC, it’s nearly like a unique world because the noise of the snorkelers and seaside goers on the Marine Park fade away. The trail right here continues to be paved however may be very slender, and there aren’t any vehicles right here both although there is likely to be an occasional motorbike.

Tioman Air Batang Bridge
Crossing the bridge and getting into ABC
Tioman Air Batang Jetty
Should you take the ferry to ABC, that is the drop off level

There are some seashores right here at ABC however these appear very a lot quieter than these at Tekek. Each side of the small highway are lined with little huts which are both chalets, dive colleges or the odd restaurant or two the place you’ll be able to cease for a snack or drink. Nazri’s is likely one of the extra well-known eating places right here.

Tioman Air Batang Beach Boat
Low tide wanting south – Tekek alongside the coast
Tioman Air Batang Phone Booth
Haven’t seen a public telephone sales space in ages

Finish of the highway

We cycled so far as we may 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.

Tioman Air Batang Bamboo Hill Forest Path
No extra highway! However some critical jungle trekking to get to different bits of Tioman

Right here we discovered a 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 among the spring water collected from the close by spring.

Tioman Air Batang Bamboo Hill
Bamboo Hill Chalets and the trail that leads by the forests
Tioman Air Batang Bamboo Hill Chalets
Bamboo Hill Chalets perched on the hill facet. There’s a good stretch of seaside as nicely right here the place you can see the unique ABC — Air Batang Chalets!

The place to lease bicycles in Tekek

There are a number of outlets across the ferry terminal in Tekek the place you’ll be able to lease bicycles from. A number of the resorts even have bicycles of their very own for company. (Facet be aware: if you’re in Berjaya, their property is so massive you’re not allowed to take the bicycles out from their grounds.)

Tioman Tekek Cheers Chalet
Cheers Chalet positioned alongside the highway in Tekek South

I rented my bicycle from the minimart known as Cheers Chalet & Memento 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. Bike costs begin from RM15-20/hour. The bicycles right here had been of various high quality – undoubtedly check earlier than you permit, however finally you’ll most likely solely be biking for 1-2 hours in whole.

Tioman Tekek Cheers Chalet Bike Rental
Bikes and scooters for rental
Tioman Tekek Cheers Chalet Minimart
Minimarts on the island promote vacationer pleasant objects in addition to snacks and produce

What different cool actions have you ever performed in Tioman? Inform me extra within the feedback. In the meantime listed below are extra posts on visiting islands in Malaysia.



Supply hyperlink

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments