Pulau Tiga Island, Sabah the journey, the resort, the wilderness, the sea
Pulau Tigas meteoric rise to fame is credited solely to none other than being the first ever secret location for the hit reality series, Survivor. And hence, the popular monicker of Survivor Island has stuck on ever since.
I was thrilled to be here, one of reasons being that it would be my first ever island holiday in the pristine waters of Sabah; another was just in awe that I am on the very island where the reality series was shot.
The beginning: THE JOURNEY.
Getting there meant starting with a 2 hours road ride from KK town, Sabah to Kuala Penyu.
As demonstrated by my fellow travellers Fei & Brad, do take a nap so you are rejuvenated by the time your feet meets the sands of Pulau Tiga. 
Upon arrival at the Kuala Penyu, which is a small little town where the jetty is located, we were transfered via motorboat to the coast of Pulau Tiga.
The motorboat ride takes approximate! ly 30 mi ns, navigating through murky waters along the South China Sea.
** Sights along the way...
Sit back, strap up into a life jacket, and relish the crisp sea breeze whipping through your hair and on your face.
Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the staff of Pulau Tiga Resort, who kindly assisted with our bags.
The motorboat docks at the jetty, and one would have to walk along the bridge to get to the island.
Arrival: THE ISLAND & THE RESO! RT.
The main area for gatherings is the Survivor Bar. It also serves as the main dining area, with drinks & beers & alcohol available for sale.
Centuries old trees, warm climate & clean air induces one to relax and de-stress, which is the whole point of an island holiday to begin with isnt it?
Clean sandy beach lines the perimeter of the island. Perfect for that morning run or a leisurely walk.
The resort offers various sports activities and there is a water sports centre (pictured below.) Choose from snorkelling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, kayaking, fishing and many more. Gears are available for rent at reasonable rates.
The Dive Center also offers scuba diving courses from a beginners level to professional Divemaster, so rest assured that the divemasters here are suitably trained and your safety is assured.
Unfortunately for me, the waters are not as crystal clear as I would have liked. I was told it was due to the rainy season. Visibly was just a feet away at most.
The whole resort is pretty self-sustained. The staff here has their own living quarters. There is even WIFI at the Survivor Bar, and electricity is powered by a generator.
Laundry house.
Sustenance: THE FOOD.
Below are examples of our meals here. Meals are served at specific times & buffet-styled. Grab a plate, & take your pick from the spread, which was not too bad by any standards, quality & taste-wise. We were treated to fresh sweet grilled fishes, tender black pepper beef, crunchy curry prawns and tangy Thai salads.
Breakfast spread.
Points would have to be awarded to the chef for presentation!
The view: SUNSET.
Breathtaking. As expected.
Survival: NIGHTLIFE & THE WILDERNESS.
Iguanas and monitor lizards are the resident reptiles here. Expect to encounter them from time to time as you walk around the resort. And yes, they are carnivourous.
They were actually fed by the resort operators! No fret though, as they do not attack humans; we were told. Just avoid provoking them too.
When night falls, the creatures came out to play. Below is the yellow -ringed snake, touted as one of the most poisonous! snakes in the world.
Comfort: ACCOMODATION.
Upon checking -in, the kind staff of the resorts escorts and carries your luggage to your allocated chalet for you.
Accomodation here are chalet-styled, with each housing 1 or 2 rooms. There are also triple sharing longhouse accommodation for budget travellers.
Mine was a 2 rooms chalet, with the master room ensuite, and the 2nd room with twin beds. Below: The simple living area.
The master bedroom.
Cupboards, side tables, curtains, air conditioners & adequate amount of powerpoints are provided.
My room came with a spare mattress in addition to the Queen-sized bed.
Save on electricity. Use the fan instead.
The washroom was well equipped as well. Mirrors, toilet rolls, soap dispenser, heater and pretty decent water pressure for the shower head.
The other room which has the twin sharing one.
The twin sharing room shares the main washroom which is within the chalet.
More: ATTRACTIONS.
Pulau Tiga is also famous for its therapeutic natural volcanic mud. .
.which you can read about from my post HERE!
Adios
Group picture: We had so much fun, oh yes we did, didnt we?
Thank you Firefly & Sabah Tourism Board for the experience!
GETTING THERE: P! ulau Tig a is located about 10 km (6 miles) offshore of Sabah near Kuala Penyu town on the tip of the Klias Peninsula. If you are in Kota Kinabalu, it will take about 90 minutes by road followed by a 20-30 minutes powerboat trip from town (a sub-district of Kuala Penyu) to the island and its marine park.
Daily Standard Boat Transfer Schedule
Pulau Tiga Resort
Tel: +6088-240584
Fax: +6088-240415
E-mail: rsvn@pulautiga.com.my
sdc@sipadandivers.com
Website: www.sdclodges.com
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