Pulau Tuba (Tuba Island) is one of the four populated islands of Langkawi’s 99-island Archipelago. Located 5-kilometers southwest of the Kuah Jetty, Tuba Island is just a 15-20-minute boat ride away. Close and yet so far for solo newbies as finding a tour guide has not always been easy; 12pax groups being preferred. Until now. Bestuba Tours has recently taken the guided tour reins and now offers a variety of budget-friendly tour packages that are available to solo travelers as well as groups. And the best part, is that Bestuba uses Tuba Island locals as their guides. Those who know Tuba Island best. Bestuba Tours is now definitely the go to connection for Pulau Tuba Island tours.
Pulau Tuba Island is a Blast from the Past
This unique Tuba Island community has fascinated me, since my first Tuba Island Tour back in 2012. That simple tour included a few ‘secret spots’ and information which has stayed with me to this day. It also ignited in me a need to know more. So, needless to say I’ve been back multiple times over the years. Usually on my own or with a friend. Unfortunately, that first tour company closed shop after a couple of years.
Not much has changed on Tuba Island over the past 10-plus years. A few additional accommodations added, new (Insta-worthy) signs, and some road upgrades. But for the most part, Tuba looks and feels very much the same (to me) as it did back in 2012; quaint, unique and marching to the beat of their own drummer.
However, now that Bestuba is in the picture I decided to personally check them out, by taking a tour and learning some new things. I was pleasantly surprised in many aspects, but a bit disappointed at a few things, however, overall, I give them a hearty 2 thumbs up.
My Bestuba ATV Tour
Bestuba has been in business for well over a year now and offers several tours and services. Some for large groups, some for diverse age groups, and basically something for everyone. I chose the ATV Tour, not because I’m a fan of ATVs, but because I wanted to see exactly how it fit into Tuba Island’s quiet community. It was also one of the more budget-friendly options.
Four Bestuba ATV tours are available, ranging in price from RM100 to RM300. I chose Package C, which is a 4-hour tour that makes 9 stops along the way. Four hours of ATV riding for RM150 is a deal in itself, but adding a ‘tour’ into the mix is a pretty sweet deal. However, be forewarned that riding an ATV for four hours is not as easy as it sounds.
ATVs are also noisy. Thankfully I was in a small group of 3 with 2 Bestuba staff. The 5 of us made some noise, but not nearly as much had we been a massive group of 10 or more. To be honest, I was a little embarrassed to be contributing to the ruckus. Pulau Tuba Island is a quiet, peaceful community and the simple sounds of island life are extremely relaxing. ATV noise is not. That said, there is a part of me that also has the need for speed. Underneath my demure makcik (aka auntie) appearance is a closet thrill seeker, thus I really enjoyed the ATV trail riding.
We made 9 stops on the Package C Tour, which included 2 food stops. The food stops were much longer than the various location stops and our guide chose not to sit with us, much less explain anything. One stop was at the Lekoshow (or Lekorshow), which I had no idea what it actually was. The guide did mention that sometimes there are traditional musicians playing there, but beyond that I didn’t have a clue beyond it being a food stop.
As it turned out, the Lekoshow is a (Keropok Lekor) Fish Cracker specialty restaurant run by 3 entrepreneur women; Kak Rosnani, Makcik Merah and Kak Noh. (I got his info from Google by the way, not my tour guide). I’m not really a big fish cracker fan, but I will say it was the best I’ve ever tasted. They are quite tasty when they’re fresh and hot. And yes, I somehow missed my food photo op, so sorry, no mouthwatering photos to share.
Other stops along the way included riding on the ‘new’ Geotrail, passing through the Buffalo Park, a visit to a small waterfall, and crossing the (now renamed) Geopark Bridge to Selat Bagan Nyior (on Pulau Dayang Bunting). The wrap up of the tour was a stop at another restaurant; Kak Nah, Mee Udang. My two companions left at that point and my guide pointed me in the direction, where I went to dine alone.
There would be no chit chat, asking questions, or brain picking with the local guide, which is how I sometimes get little inside scoops and insight. But alas, I had a beautiful rainy day seaview and a delicious bowl of Mee Udang to keep me company.
All in all, the Bestuba ATV Tour was a fun day for me. I was disappointed not to learn any new fun facts along the way, but I did get to see some areas of Tuba Island I hadn’t seen before. I was also disappointed to not be able to stop along the way and take photos when something caught my eye. The itinerary was set for 9 stops and despite the amount of time taken for the food stops, us stopping for any other cool things along the way was not encouraged.
But for a basic introduction to Pulau Tuba Island, a Bestuba Tour is a great option and eliminates any time-consuming confusion a first time visitor might otherwise experience, due to language barriers or geography.
My two cents:
Riding an ATV for the first time can be challenging, but it can also be a little bit dangerous on uneven trails. ATVs can easily tip over if one side is lower than the other. The trick is to ride them like a bicycle and lean in the opposite direction from the direction it is tipping to counter balance. This is not something your guide will tell you. So, really be careful. And definitely wear a helmet that fits properly.
You may also get a little dirty on the Bestuba ATV tour, so dress accordingly. You might also get wet, so bring a rain poncho and waterproofing options for your electronics.
Booking Your Bestuba Tour:
To avoid disappointment, it’s best to book in advance. Advance booking at the desk at Pekan Rabu jetty (in Kuah) or a simple phone call will do the trick, and it will include roundtrip ferry ticket to and from Pekan Rabu to Pulau Tuba. You can call Bestuba’s Ms. Ira at 019-416 4943. There is also a booking counter and office at Tuba Island jetty in case you just happen to be there and spontaneously decide to take a tour.
I went in person to enquire, and then called later to confirm. Oddly enough on the morning of my tour no one had any record of my booking. Nor did they know me from Adam’s housecat. No big deal as I hadn’t paid yet, but I also had ‘proof’ in my Whatsapp text log. This will probably not happen to you, though. Just don’t freak out if it does.
Bestuba Tours
I took the Bestuba ATV because it was affordable, and they allowed single participants (no minimal number required) to join. I also wanted to see how invasive this ATV activity is. To be honest, I think since I was in a small group the noise factor wasn’t much worse than a gang of motorbikes. I would not, however, be keen to join a group of 10 or more ATVs, because I think that would be a noisy nightmare.
However, Besttuba also offers van tours and buggy tours, for those who prefer more sustainable travel. The Tuba locals will certainly welcome all. You can find Bestuba Tours on Facebook: Chalet Terapung Bes Tuba and Instagram: BESTUBA or just call Ms. Ira: 019-416 4943
For more information about Tuba Island, check out my post: First Time Visitor’s Guide to Pulau Tuba
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