The Village by the Sea (F.K.A. Tamara Resort)
If you're the kind of traveler that prefers to be amongst crowds of young and wannabe young beach-attired people that sun-bathe by day and then gyrate to the resident boom-box by night, then Tamara Resort is not for you.
If, on the other hand, you seek out a holiday location by its genuine tranquillity, its remote natural setting and its virtually undisturbed scenery, then head for Tamara Resort.
It so happens we belong that second kind of traveler group. And we feel we really hit the ultimate relaxation jackpot with Tamara Resort.
Tamara Resort is set in Juara Village, nestled on the East Coast of Tioman, the rustic coast. In fact, so rustic and remote is Juara, that it isn't even served by the Malaysia mainland ferry. It is the only Tioman village not to have its own dedicated ferry stop. But whilst that makes the journey to Tamara Resort that little more adventurous, the pay-back when you arrive is a serenity of the kind that can only be enjoyed here.
Book your ferry tickets to Tioman
From Mersing, Jan From Tanjung Gemok: N.A., [Tanjung Gemok = Teluk Gading] Mukut / Juara? Click here. Pro Tip: Don't know which jetty to choose when booking your ferry? Typically, the ferry stops at all the main jetties. However, there is the occasional exception, so once aboard, confirm the ferry route with the cabin crew. Taking the Tanjung Gemok ferry? Click here / here |
To get to Tamara Resort, you need to catch the ferry from Mersing to Tekek Village first. Tekek is located on Tioman's more populated West Coast. From Tekek, you'll be able to take a 4x4 across the cross-island jungle-fringed road, a 30 minute drive.
This ride is quite a thrill, because the emerald rainforest on either side of the road is so rugged, thick and dense, it almost envelops the road in total darkness. At night, you can almost taste the broody eeriness of the buzzing jungle. It's quite a unique experience.
When you come out the jungle at the other end, you'll feel like you're browsing a glossy tropical paradise brochure...
Tamara Resort's rooms are sea-facing and each time you look out of your window, you'll think the beach is there just for you - it's that close and that peaceful. This feeling of privacy is further enhanced by your Tamara Resort hosts, particularly Nazarul and Zaidi. They're not only the kindest resort hosts that you can come across, but they actually go way beyond the call of duty to make your stay a memorable one. From the moment you're served your complimentary mango drink, to any and all requests you may have for snorkeling or jungle-trekking, Nazarul and Zaidi will come up trumps for you.
The Tamara Resort rooms are simple, but they're tidy and clean. Don't expect endless supplies of hot water, however, as Tamara Resort is not The Grand Hilton. But all meals at Tamara Resort are freshly prepared and very tasty, especially if you're keen on the local cuisine and seafood. That said, you can venture out to some of the other eateries nearby to vary your meals a little.
As far as we're concerned, Tamara Resort's rather basic set-up notwithstanding, our entire family loved our stay here. The kids were out and about most of the day and sound asleep by 8 pm, courtesy of the non-stop snorkeling, swimming and playing sand soccer with the local children. Meanwhile, my wife and I felt like we'd landed in a Robinson Crusoe chapter. It was that blissful from beginning to end. It's safe to say that we'll be back.
Tip: Since Tamara Resort is a family-run place, the number of rooms offered is quite modest. Typically, demand outpaces supply, especially during weekends, public holidays and the months of June, July and August. I recommend pre-booking your room in advance. Such as on Agoda or Booking.com (They offer a book now and pay later program).
