In this article, we will cover the top things to do in Perhentian Island, Malaysia.
The Perhentian Islands are an archipelago in Malaysia. It is a tourist destination that is waiting to be explored.
Lovers of seaside vacations will not miss this little detour to discover this unique archipelago in the world.
The 2 main islands of the archipelago are Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil.
Here are some ideas of things to do and things not to miss during your getaway.
Top things to do in Perhentian Island, Malaysia
Beaches, scuba diving, and snorkeling are the main tourist activities to be done in the heart of the archipelago, whether in the Big Island or the Small one.
With a perfect temperature of around 31°C, calm and translucent water, and exceptional seabed, the Perhentian Islands invite you to swim, relax and adventure in the heart of the archipelago’s seascapes.
Tourists looking for wilderness and tranquility should head to Turtle Beach.
Dive underwater and enjoy a unique marine spectacle.
Travelers looking for a festive atmosphere will not miss Long Beach and the beautiful Coral Bay.
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Relax on the most beautiful beaches
The Perhentian Islands are still relatively unspoiled, with no cars or roads, so it is the perfect environment for sunbathing, reading, or resting in the shade, in a lazy spirit.
In the Perhentian Islands, you can relax on Long Beach in Pulau Kecil.
This is one of the best beaches for sunbathing, relaxing, playing a soccer game, swimming and meeting other tourists.
With several bars and restaurants, it is easy to spend the day without moving off the beach.
From the jetty and the “Coral Bay” area, you just have to follow a path to cross the jungle (you may come across some giant lizards, harmless, but they are not afraid of humans).
Here are the lists of the other main beaches of Perhentian island:
- Main Beach – Besar island: Long Beach on Kecil has a decent selection of hotels and a long stretch of white sand that is nearly as gorgeous as Long Beach on Kecil.
Many sights to the north and south can be explored on foot. On the big island, the ambiance is more family oriented. - Teluk Dalam – Besar island: This circular bay, located south of Besar, offers white sand beaches, great lodging for all budgets, and a few nice eateries.
Snorkeling is good at the bay’s western border. - Long Beach – Kecil island: Long Beach has the best selection of affordable hotels and restaurants, ranging from oceanfront cafés to the award-winning Bubu Restaurant.
It is the most beautiful and celebratory beach, however it can get busy. Be wary of the currents. - Coral Bay – Kecil island: Coral Bay is a terrific area to enjoy the party atmosphere of Long Beach without actually staying there, thanks to a wide range of lodgings to suit all budgets.
The majority of the resorts on this sheltered beach are open all year.
Coral Bay is rocky rather than sandy, and the construction boom is jeopardizing the charm of this formerly tranquil spot.
Turtle Beach Pulau Besar
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is THE top thing to do in Perhentian Island. It is quite possible to explore the sea bed of the Perhentian Islands without necessarily having to book a “tour”.
However, you will need to rent a mask and a snorkel at least – the fins really make a difference. You can rent on the island or before you get there.
Even if you are not a very good swimmer, don’t worry. Just grab a life jacket and explore the underwater world from the surface: don’t be ashamed, you won’t be the only one snorkeling with a life jacket at all.
- In Kecil, you can snorkel around Long Beach and Coral Bay.
- In Besar, you can dive around the jetty.
You can meet many fish, but also turtles and sharks – harmless. Here is a map of where you can go snorkel.
Discover scuba diving
The Perhentian Islands offer excellent scuba diving as an activity to do. They are part of the Terengganu Marine Park.
The best time to dive is between April and October. The best visibility is often in summer. The water temperature varies between 27°C and 32°C all year round.
It is very easy to find a boat to take you to discover the sea bed. You can also get your PADI (diving certificate).
The small archipelago is surrounded by about 20 diving spots accessible by a short boat ride.
The marine biodiversity is rich and offers all the usual reef fishes of Southeast Asian waters.
You can also observe pelagic fish, lots of turtles, and reef sharks.
If you are lucky, it is also possible to encounter manta rays and even the tail of a whale shark!
The best dive sites are found around Rendang Island located a little further south.
The water is often much more transparent and the coral richer and more beautiful. It is possible to dive at Rendang Island during a day trip from the Perhentian Islands.
In which Perhentian Island should I stay?
There are 2 distinct Perhentian islands, each with different characteristics.
According to the type of traveler you are, the island or the other one will suit you more, we will see that right now.
- Pulau Perhentian Besar (“Pulau” means “island” and “Besar” means “big” in Malay)
- Pulau Perhentian Kecil (where “Kecil” means small)
Pulau Besar – For families
Besar Island is the larger of the two. It is an almost obligatory step during a stay in Malaysia to discover the Perhentian Islands.
There are so many things to see and do in the heart of the Perhentian Islands. Among the “must-see” of the archipelago is “Pulau Perhentian Besar” (or the Big Perhentian Island).
It is mainly intended for tourists and families with a certain budget who are looking for peace and quiet because it is more popular and frequented than its neighbor.
There are mainly hotels and resorts that are not very backpacker-friendly.
However, it can be an opportunity to take a few days “for yourself” and enjoy largely deserted paradise beaches.
You will certainly not have time to get bored between the various activities to do.
Bright sunshine, dreamy landscapes, turquoise water what more could you want for a successful sunny vacation?
You will find a good number of tourist accommodations. It’s up to you to choose the one that suits you best.
Pulau Kecil – For backpackers
It is indeed on the island of Kecil that backpackers usually go.
Pulau Perhentian Kecil is also one of the unmissable archipelagoes.
Note that “Kecil” means “Small”. Thus, Pulau Perhentian Kecil means “Small Perhentian Island”.
It is a small corner of paradise on earth for vacationers looking for a change of scenery and escape.
There you will find accommodations and bungalows with smaller budgets, but not only. It is also possible to book accommodation with more comfort.
The island has a picturesque village to discover. This small island paradise attracts tourists mainly because it is suitable for swimming.
The accommodations on the island are mainly located on the coastline. The most beautiful beaches of Pulau Perhentian Kecil are Long Beach and Coral Bay.
How to reach the Perhentian Islands from Kuala Lumpur?
There are several ways to get to Kuala Besut from Kuala Lumpur:
- The fastest: take an internal flight to Kota Bharu which is the closest airport (60km) then take a cab or bus to Kuala Besut (20€ for the cab). There is also the airport of Kuala Terengganu at 100 km.
- The cheapest way: book a bus from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut on 12go. The trip takes between 8 and 10 hours but costs only 10€.
- Alternatives: take a cab or a private driver, but considering the distance, it might be expensive. Otherwise, renting a car in Malaysia has become a popular option, as the freedom/price ratio is very interesting.
When to go to the Perhentian Islands?
The best period to go to the Perhentian Islands is from March to September, it is this period that the weather and the climate in this region of Malaysia are ideal.
The monsoon season for the East coast of Malaysia is from November to February.
Knowing that the Perhentian Islands are located 19 kilometers from Kota Bharu, at the northeast of the Malaysian coast, so don’t do like us, haha.
Access is forbidden during the monsoon, for safety.
So, try to anticipate or pass the high tourist period of July – August, you will not be the only traveler and tourist attracted by the paradisiacal beaches of Malaysia.
