Terengganu’s Islands
Located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Terengganu is famous with its 244km stretch of exotic and scenic sandy coastline, extending from the district of Besut in the north to the district of Kemaman in the south. The coastal landscape, overlooking the South China Sea where archipelagos of emerald islands such as Perhentian, Redang, Bidong, Lang Tengah, Gemia, Kapas and Tenggol offer stunning clean, powdery white sandy beaches and lush green jungle while the turquoise waters are dotted with coral reefs, teeming with marine life.
Redang Island, the largest of the nine protected islands that made up the Pulau Redang Marine Park, consisting two historic World War II shipwrecks, namely the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse. It is a preferred holiday getaway for visitors to enjoy activities such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, jungle trekking, boating and canoeing.
Getting Here: About 1.5 hours ferry ride from Shahbandar Jetty in Kuala Terengganu or 40 minutes speedboat ride from the Merang Jetty.
Perhentian Island, made up of islands of Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil. Its excellent underwater seascape is lush with a wide variety of soft and hard coral gardens, sea turtles and diverse marine life. Perhentian, means stopover point in Malay, referring to the islands’ traditional role as a sanctuary for fishermen and ancient traders plying the eastern and western sea routes.
- 13th Best Beach in the World by CNN in 2013
- 5th Best Beach to Swing the Hammock in the World by Lonely Planet in 2010
Getting Here: About 20-30 minutes boat ride from Kuala Besut Jetty.
Lang Tengah Island, located midway between islands of Redang and Perhentian, offering a wonderful place for visitors to enjoy quiet and peaceful break. The island features some of the best snorkeling and diving spots in Malaysia.
Getting Here: About 30-minute speedboat ride from Merang Jetty
Bidong Island, the historic little island was internationally known as the relocation centre for Vietnamese refugees during the mid-70’s until its closure in the early 90’s. Visitors can arrange a day trip to visit the preserved historical remnants of the Vietnamese Relocation Centre as no accommodation is available on this island.
Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular ways to observe a unique underwater gallery that hosts replicas of the Terengganu Inscription Stone, a traditional arch, a Keris, a traditional sampan and betel chewing canisters, that all located 15m underwater.
Getting Here: About 20-30 minutes boat ride from Marang Jetty, situated about 20km from the city
Kapas Island, also known as Cotton Island, got its name from its white powdery beaches which looked like cotton, is a perfect place for a relaxing vacation. The nearest island to the mainland with Gemia Island within the vicinity, offering the best location for squid jigging activities.
Gemia Island is one of the few privately owned islands in Malaysia with accommodation that blends into the island’s superb natural beauty.
Getting Here: About 10 minutes boat ride from Marang Jetty, situated about 20km from the city
Tenggol Island, a favourite diving site among hardcore divers looking for thrilling night dives and shipwrecks, with its well sheltered bay and spectacular marine life.
Getting Here: About 45 minutes ferry ride from Kuala Dungun Jetty
Tioman Island, Pahang
The beautiful island will delight you with its miles of beautiful beaches, cool waterfalls cascading down moss-covered rocky slopes, rustic charming villages and a range of tourist attractions.
The underwater world around the island is a vast marine treasure trove with vibrant coral gardens and a myriad of colourful fishes, offering ideal spots for snorkelling, scuba diving and deep sea diving. For a touch of adventure, visitors can take a boat ride to Monkey beach, or the uninhabited islands of Tulai and Renggis for a swim and picnic.
Meanwhile, in the jungles await magnificent waterfalls, dramatic mountains and limestone formations for exploration by intrepid visitors. By jungle trekking, one can also reach hidden bays and beaches, while sea turtle conservation centers offer volunteer programmes. For golf lovers, tee off at an 18-hole international standard golf course set amidst the lush tropical greenery.
There are several villages scatted around the island’s coastline, namely Salang, Tekek, Genting, Paya, Juara, Nipah and Mukut. Each village has its own unique atmosphere that will make your trip a memorable one.
Getting Here
By Sea
About 3.5-hour drive via the North South Expressway from Kuala Lumpur to Tanjung Gemok Ferry Terminal, the gateway to Tioman Island. Tanjung Gemok in Pahang and Mersing in Johor are two take-off points to Tioman Island, the ride takes about 1.5 hours depending on sea conditions.
Johor’s Islands
Johor, the southernmost state of the peninsula, has a continuous coastline anked by the South China Sea in the east, extending around its southern tip to the western shoreline overlooking the Straits of Melaka.
Blessed with beautiful islands and splendid diving opportunities not to be missed. Many of the enchanting tropical islands of Johor are idyllic secluded getaways and located in the northeastern district of Mersing, such as islands of Sibu, Rawa, Pemanggil, Aur, Dayang, Tinggi, Besar and Tengah.
Rawa Island was among the earliest islands of Johor to be developed as an ideal tropical getaway with its spotless stretch of white sand beach, tall palm trees, sheltered coves and fascinating rock formations that dominated its coastline. Get close to the marine life as fishes swim close to the shore, right below the jetty and between your ankles!
Sibu Group of Islands consists of the islands of Sibu Besar, Sibu Tengah, Sibu Kukus and Sibu Hujung. These islands have stretches of beautiful sandy beaches, lush tropical vegetation and their surrounding coral reefs making them a popular spot for water sports activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing and sailing. Opt for a visit to the nearby Kelong, where anchovies are caught or head to the villages on the island of Sibu Besar to see how the natives live.
Pemanggil Island, the largest among the cluster of charming islands of Johor with preserved natural beauty of sandy beach, lush green vegetation and its water is teeming with marine life. Squid shing is one of the enjoyable seasonal sports here. Aside from the calm sea, there is a mountain located in the island where you can have the magnificent landscape view of South China Sea!
Aur Island and Dayang Island are the most popular sites for diving with its verdant and rocky landscape, which are also the furthermost islands from the mainland. Its coral, lagoons and offshore pools make it a tourist attraction. It has for many years also always been a frequent stopover point for fisherman
Just 400m away from Aur Island, Dayang Island which is smaller but is equally enchanting. The channel of water between these islands is ideal for scuba lessons as water clarity is exceptional and the islands are sheltered from strong wind and storms.
These islands are prefect diving spots for rare open-sea marine life and the best time to dive is between April and October when the sea is calmer and visibility is at its best.
Tinggi Island was as an important stop over for spice traders more than 600 years ago. The Marine Park Centre in the island has a marine museum and is a breeding ground for giant claims as well as hatchery for turtle.
