Pulau Perhentian Pulau Redang Pulau Kapas Pulau Gemia
Pulau Lang Tengah Pulau Tenggol Bidong Island
Located in the South China, off Malaysia's northeast coast, just south
of the Thai border, are the island jewels of Terengganu.
Terengganus biggest attractions are its picturesque and captivating
island retreats offering beautiful beaches of soft white sand,
breathtaking blue waters and dazzling undersea gardens.
The islands are surrounded by beautiful palm-fringed sandy beaches and
crystal-clear turquoise-blue sea. All manner of aquatic life is visible
both near and far from the beach such as turtles, sharks, coral and
thousands of tropical fish. There are no roads and not many paths, so
the islands are mainly peaceful and untouched - so far. The interior is
covered by jungle with a wide variety of species. You can watch monitor
lizards, monkeys, geckos, flying squirrels, butterflies and many other
types - sometimes right in front of your chalet.
Strewn along the coast of Terengganu these include the Islands of Pulau
Perhentian Besar, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Pulau Redang, Pulau Bidong,
Pulau Kapas, Pulau Gemia, Pulau Lang Tengah and Pulau Tenggol.
Pulau Perhentian consists of two islands - Perhentian Besar (Big
Perhentian island) and Perhentian Kecil (Small Perhentian Island)
Accessed from the mainland by boat from Kuala Besut (1.5 hours),
Perhentian Kecil, the more popular of the two, has cheap accommodations
and a bit of a backpacker party scene, with Long Beach being the most
Perhentian Besar is the larger island and has slightly more
sophisticated accommodation and tranquil beaches.
Pulau Redang is still relatively undeveloped and unspoiled is about 45 minutes
boat ride away from Merang, the island provides excellent opportunities
for snorkeling, scuba diving and jungle trekking to keep you occupied or
just relaxing along the glistening white beaches.
Pulau Kapas is a mere 10 minutes by speed boat from Marang. With white
sandy beaches lined with shady palm trees to make a perfect niche to
laze on, relaxation is the foremost occupation here. But, If you are the
type who cannot do without air-conditioning, and all the modern
trappings and luxurious comfort in a holiday resort, then Pulau Kapas is
not for you.
Gemia Island is situated a short distance away north of Kapas Island.
This one kilometre-long private island houses only one resort that is
built on stilts over the water. With corals of different shapes, colours
and sizes with its plentiful marine life, snorkelling can be done even
without taking the boat out.
Hemmed in by the better-known Redang and Perhentian getaways, is
Lang Tengah. A 40 mins speedboat ride away from Merang, the clear
emerald waters and the coral reefs around it is popular with scuba
divers and snorkellers.
7km off the coast of Kuala Dungun lies the small rocky island of Pulau
Tenggol. Up until now, Tenggol Island is almost unheard of, except among
avid divers. The western part of the island, with its secluded white
beaches backed by steeply forested cliffs, is a pleasant retreat for
swimming, diving, quiet strolls and lazing on the beach. However, only
basic chalet-type accommodation is available on the island.
Pulau Bidong is located about 5 miles south of Redang, was a camp for
Vietnamese refugees (boat people) fleeing Vietnam after it fell to the
communists. Bidong and its surrounding islands are now fairly new diving
destinations. There are no resorts on this island
When to Go
Due to the eastern monsoon, the season in the Perhentians is effectively
limited to the period between April and October. Outside this, the seas
can be very rough and most accommodations are closed March and April is
especially good for diving where visibility can hit 40m.
Some months may present greater opportunities to catch glimpses of
certain marine life. For example, green turtles nest in their greatest
numbers in August while September is probably the best month to spot
migratory whale sharks.
Climate & Weather
Tropical climate, with daily temperatures ranging from 22°-33°C, and
relative humidity between 80-87%. May is usually the hottest month and
January the coolest. The northeast monsoon rains in the states of
Terengganu and Kelantan usually begin after the first week of November
and are characterized by heavy rain spells lasting 2-3 days duration
accompanied by strong winds and rough seas. Usually there will be a few
of these rain spells, bringing rainfall up to 615 mm in December versus
120 mm in April. In between these rain spells, weather is usually fair
with little rain and seas are calm. So it is possible to enjoy good
weather if you happen to visit during such calm periods, though bear in
mind you'll have to stay at Berjaya resort as it is the only resort open
throughout the year.
Marine Park & Regulations
The Marine Park is made up of the area around a group of islands namely
Pulau Redang, Pulau Pinang, Pulau Lima, Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau
Perhentian Besar, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Pulau Susu Dara, Pulau Lang
Tengah and Pulau Kapas
DO NOT BUY any souvenirs made from corals, shells and other marine
animals such as starfishes. Anyone found in possession of such items
will be fined RM5,000. If the villagers don't know better, advise them
not to exploit their environment.
Even dead corals - the bleached ones sometimes found washed ashore
should be left where it is found.
For all their beauty, the Perhentians remain a bit of an up-and-coming
attraction and there are some missing bits in the infrastructure to be
Mobile Phone Coverage
Coverage is spotty but generally adequate, especially on Besar
Money Changing & Credit Cards
Credit cards are generally not accepted, even at dive shops. The only
place on the islands where you can get a cash advance or exchange money
is the Perhentian Island Resort, which charges accordingly.
There are no power supply to the Islands. Generators provide most of the
electricity on the islands. Power outages are not uncommon and in many
cheaper chalets power is only provided at night
Can be a nuisance after it rains. Bring repellent and consider burning a
mosquito coil (available locally), especially if your bed does not have
a mosquito net.
Generally not safe to drink. Bottled water is widely available at a
fairly expensive RM 3-5 per 1.5L bottle.
There are concerns that the coral reef will be gone in as little as ten
years because of the intensive tourism industry. But as long as you take
care and do not pick the living coral you will not be contributing to
Terengganu Islands - Diving
Dive sites are very varied, from current swept rocks close to the
Perhentians and Bidong to gentle slopes covered with sea anemones around
Redang to underwater mounds in Lang Tengah. All these places also have
excellent house reefs that are good for night dives or snorkeling
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