The Tioman (Seri Buat) Group

Best chance is to arrive around midday when working boats are out. It is run by the Harbour Department, which is located at the Ferry Terminal where CIQ clearance takes place. If that is locked up, cross the street to the airport and they’ll call the officials in for you. Fuel is scarce and can only be delivered in small quantities by jerry can.

The marina sits below unspoilt jungle-covered mountains with the community and airstrip running along the coastal flats. Watching aircraft take off and land is entertaining.

There is a resort, several bungalow-style hotels ashore, and a village behind a sandy beach. Teluk Tekek Village is close to the airport, and most light provisions are available.

There are regular direct flights to KL and Singapore with Berjaya Air and significant numbers of tourists arrive for the weekends.

Two miles southwest of the airport in front of Berjaya Resort is the tiny island of Pulau Renggis, which boasts the unique site where hundreds of fruit bats congregate at sunset. Above the resort is a mountainside golf course overlooking the bay.

A scenic six‑kilometre track that now can take motorbikes runs back over the mountain to Teluk Tekek Village Bay. Above the high tide line on the southern beach are temporary low fenced mesh and bamboo turtle hatchery compounds in the sand.

Each year conservationists erect these to protect the newly-laid eggs, then two months later release over 20,000 turtle hatchlings into the waters here. Statistically only two will survive long enough to return to lay their eggs.

The trail begins from the base at Mukut and splits into different routes, including the 10-minute walk to the famous ‘South Pacific’ waterfall, Asah. Water is available on the concrete jetty, which smaller vessels can approach at high tide. Just north on their own beaches are Minang Cove, Bagus Place and Tunamaya resorts.