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Tioman is one of the lesser-known travel destinations in Malaysia. The relatively few tourists who visit Tioman, most of them Malaysians, are drawn to the island’s west coast. That’s where the most is going on, if you can even describe it that way.
There you’ll find a few villages, known as Kampungs, each with a pier (jetty), a handful of accommodations, small shops, and restaurants. There’s also a school for the local kids and a tiny airport. Shortly after that, the wild jungle and mountain landscape begins, covering most of the island.
Seclusion and Serenity: Juara Beach on Tioman Island
I already captured my first impressions in the article “Tioman – Getting There and First Impressions”. Here I’ll tell you a bit about my time at Pantai Juara and what there is to see and do there. Up front, I can already tell you: it isn’t much, but that’s exactly what makes this beach so special. You can really switch off here and enjoy the peace and quiet without being active all day.
Where Is Juara Beach Located?
Juara Beach is located roughly in the middle of Tioman’s east coast, in a huge bay. The beach consists of two sections and is separated in the middle by rocks and a stretch of jungle behind them.
Between Kampung Juara and the other kampungs, there’s nothing but pure wilderness. There is now an asphalt road running through the middle of the island, but parts of it are very narrow, winding, and steep. It’s mostly used by four-wheel-drive vehicles, and many resorts on Juara Beach offer a free transfer. I found the drive very interesting and even a bit adventurous.
Between Untouched Nature and Jungle
The village of Juara and the beach are completely surrounded by jungle, which starts just a few meters behind the village. The atmosphere is dreamy: in front of you, you only hear the sound of the sea, and behind you, the sounds of the wild, full of monkeys, birds, monitor lizards, and other animals. In between, it’s relatively quiet because the village is pretty small and consists of just one long road that isn’t used very often.
My accommodation was on the northern side of the beach, and I wanted to see the southern side. So I took a walk south along the road. Just behind Bushman, the village ends, and before you know it, you’re right in the middle of pure nature.
On the left and right, you hear the rustling of the trees, where wild monkeys are everywhere. They swung along the trees and vines and even followed me along the overhead power lines leading to the next village, which, admittedly, was a bit unsettling. I felt a little out of place. Like I was crossing their territory without permission and they wanted to escort me out as quickly as possible.
The monitor lizard that quickly crossed the narrow road in front of me was nothing special anymore, since I already knew that from the Perhentian Islands. After a few minutes, the little jungle adventure was already over, and I reached the southern village, which wasn’t necessarily more lively either. The friendly locals smiled at me.
The northern and southern ends of Juara Beach are surrounded by rivers that come down from the mountains and flow straight to the beach. This has created two large sandbars there, which are very beautiful to look at.
Activities: What Can I Do at Juara Beach?
Relax! Enjoy the peace and the wonderful sound of the ocean. Switch off. Beyond that, there are of course a few other activities, like swimming or snorkeling.
- Snorkeling at Juara Beach is great, for example, along the rocks that surround the two beach sections and divide the beach in the middle. The large pier at Juara Mutiara Resort is also a popular snorkeling spot. Diving trips are possible too, since there are a few dive schools on the beach.
- How about renting a kayak? Besides paddling along the beach, you can also head upstream into the rainforest.
- Or rent a bicycle and ride along the village road from one end to the other, including through the short stretch of jungle between the beach sections that I mentioned earlier. If you prefer a walk instead, plan about half an hour for the 2 kilometers.
- Do you like sea turtles? If so, visit the hatchery Juara Turtle Project at the southern end of the beach. You’re also welcome to help out with this great project.
- Take a tour with Razelan, who will guide you through Tioman’s wilderness and show you the flora and fauna.
- About 30 minutes from the beach, there’s a small waterfall to discover where you can swim and cool off. From the main road of the southern village, roughly level with the sea turtle hatchery, a marked path leads into the jungle.
- Try your way through the different restaurants and warungs and discover Malaysia’s cuisine.
- For early risers only: Juara Beach offers dreamlike sunrises, and it’s definitely worth getting up early at least once. At sunrise, the beach is completely empty and the atmosphere is wonderful.
Where to Eat and Sleep?
There are more than a dozen accommodations at Juara Beach, and the great thing is that most of them are located right near the shore. Some resorts have bungalows that are even right on the beach, and I definitely recommend choosing a place like that, even if it’s a bit more expensive. The few extra euros are absolutely worth it!
I stayed at Rainbow Chalet on the northern section of the beach. I really loved it there and felt comfortable from the very beginning. The chalets are simple but clean and have air conditioning. But the best part was the location: from my chalet, I had a wonderful beach view, including sunrise. The pick-up from Kampung Tekek after arriving by boat also worked perfectly. At Rainbow Chalet, you should always choose the better rooms right at the front on the beach.
You’ll find accommodations in different categories all along Juara Beach and in the two villages. Personally, I liked the northern section of the beach better, and the beach area by Rainbow Chalet is beautiful. But the other side is definitely beautiful too, especially near the rocks where Beach Shack is located. There’s also a slightly larger resort called The Barat.
You’ll also find food all along the beach. However, the selection isn’t necessarily huge, and compared to the mainland, food is, of course, noticeably more expensive. But that’s just how it is on islands like this, and I can live with it. The other side of Tioman, with the larger kampungs, is probably a bit cheaper.
Besides Malaysian food, Western food is also available, and some hotels and restaurants also host seafood barbecues right on the beach in the evenings. If you need to buy small snacks, water, other groceries, or even some medicine, you’ll find small shops in the villages.
Negative Aspects
As beautiful as Tioman Island, the nature, and of course Juara Beach itself are, there’s one thing that’s incredibly annoying: sandflies! They often got me while I was filming the drone videos, and the bites itched for a week. So make sure to bring something that protects you. At Juara Beach, they’re usually near the river, and thankfully less so in the middle sections of the two beach areas.
The selection of food options also isn’t necessarily the best. I was there during Ramadan, and on my beach side in the north, only two restaurants were open. Even though there’s surely a bit more choice outside the fasting month, foodies probably won’t be completely satisfied here (except maybe for the seafood, which I couldn’t try because of Ramadan). To be honest, the food was only average everywhere. If I had to name a favorite, it would be Bushman. The extra bonus there is definitely the dreamy view of the beach.
Conclusion – Is It Worth a Visit?
Despite the two small negative points, in my opinion a visit is absolutely worth it. Juara Beach is considered the most beautiful on Tioman, and I completely agree! This serenity is simply dreamy, and photos can’t capture it as well as being there in person. I fell in love with the beach immediately after arriving and would definitely go back, despite the tiring journey. Maybe an airline will soon fly to Tioman regularly again, which would make getting there much more pleasant, but it would also lead to more tourists.
I will definitely visit Tioman again and then see the rest of the island, especially the beaches and kampungs on the east side. But the bar is very high after visiting Juara Beach. Will they be able to impress as well?
How to Get to Tioman
If you’re traveling to Tioman Island from Europe, you should book a flight to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. There are currently no direct flights or domestic flights to Tioman. You’ll find everything you need to know about prices, schedules, and tickets on Skyscanner.
From there, you’ll need to get to Mersing, which is located on the Malaysian mainland. At the moment, this is only possible by bus, for example, from Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru, which borders Singapore directly. You can find tickets and departure times for the buses on 12go.asia. Booking in advance is advisable, at least during peak season.
It’s best to plan an overnight stay in Mersing, since it will be difficult to catch the ferry directly after arriving by bus from Kuala Lumpur. So either get your ticket in Mersing or book it online in advance at www.tiomanferryticket.com. The regular price is currently 70 MYR per person for a round trip. The next day, you can then take the ferry to Tioman at a relaxed pace.
You can find more info on how to get to Tioman here.
Have you ever been to Tioman? Or perhaps even to Juara Beach? Or have you visited the other side of Tioman?
