Paya is a small village and beach at west coast of Pulau Tioman, located south of Tekek and north of Genting. It's a popular tourist sport, especially for Singaporean visitors and families, with two major resorts and a small budget hotel providing chalet accommodation. The beach area stretches slighty more than half a km - a beautiful expanse of fine white sand fringed by gentle seas.
The deeper waters off the jetty and neighbouring Tomok Island is where living coral reefs reside for snorkeling activities, while cooling mountain streams, spectacular boulder formations and lush rainforest views occupy Paya's hilly backyard, with a dramatic view of Gunung Kajang. The village is named after its abundance of mangrove swamps -'paya' in the local language.
Behind the tatty wooden huts and homes along the beach, a shallow river feeds through a rich mangrove landscape, with boats parked at deeper sections under the shade of a thick forest canopy. Nature lovers will appreciate the rich rainforest scenery, with a jungle trail from Tioman Paya Resort that leads to Rock Falls, a rocky stream with small pools for swimming.
At the northern end of the village, visitors can follow another trail across a moderate slope that ends at a beach (Teluk Sri Intan) and then continue their journey on a gravel road to TAT Turtle Sanctuary, before exiting out to Tekek town through Berjaya Tioman Resort. Finally, at the southern end of Paya, a partly-paved jungle trail leads to Genting Village.
