Pulau Tinggi

Tinggi means tall, and the island earns it: a volcanic cone rising to about six hundred metres from a base only a few kilometres across, which makes it visible from a long way out and gave it a role as a navigation mark on the old route between the Malay peninsula and China - Chinese sailors are said to have called it the general's hat. The forest on the slopes is intact and there is a waterfall on the western side. Villages sit on the coast, and a couple of resorts, one of which has opened and closed repeatedly over the years. Snorkelling is over fringing reef and the diving is decent without being outstanding. Climbing the peak is possible with a guide and is a hard, hot, unmaintained scramble rather than a trail walk.

What you actually see

• A volcanic cone - six hundred metres rising from a small island base.
• A shipping landmark - the profile used for navigation on the China route.
• A forest waterfall - on the western side of the island.
• Fringing reef - snorkelling and diving straight off the beaches.

When to go

March to October; closed during the monsoon. Two days.

Honest expectations

Resort operations here have been unreliable - confirm your booking is actually running. The peak climb is unmaintained and needs a guide. Facilities are limited and the island shuts for the monsoon.

Nearby

Sibu and Rawa are nearer the mainland; Mersing is the port.