Yes, you have heard about the many beautiful islands in Malaysia that you should have visited at least once in your lifetime. You wonder about Perhentian Island, deemed to be the best tropical island vacation of all time.
Well, wonder no more – you should totally visit this place at least once!
Perhentian Island is off the waters of Terengganu, offering pretty beaches and scenic views to those who pay a visit to the place. Perhentian Island is actually made up of two islands, namely Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Perhentian Kecil.
Perhentian Island, also known as Pulau Perhentian, used to be a stopping place for traders in the past between Malaysia and Bangkok, Thailand, hence the name Perhentian which literally translates to English as “stopping place”. With the fine Perhentian Island weather that is just right – not too warm nor too cold – little wonder it is a popular tourist destination.
Interesting things to do in Perhentian Island
There are many interesting things you can do in Perhentian Island. Whether you are travelling on your own or visiting with family, friends or for company trip, there is something to keep everyone entertained and having a nice time there.
Pulau Perhentian Snorkelling
Snorkelling is one of the most popular activities in Perhentian Island. Apart from Pulau Perhentian snorkelling, you can also join scuba diving if you are a fan of exploring the varieties of deep-sea fauna. There are also canoes and kayaks for rent there.
Island Hopping
When visiting Perhentian Island, island hopping is a must! You can experience Pulau Perhentian snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming and even go jungle trekking here:-
Pulau Perhentian Besar – This is the bigger island among the two Perhentian islands, hence the name “Besar”. This island houses many expensive resorts and serves as a perfect place for vacation, especially for families, couples on honeymoon or newlyweds due to the fact that it is more developed. One of the popular beaches there include Coral View beach.
Pulau Perhentian Kecil – This place is the smaller island, as reflected by the name “Kecil”. This is famous for its two main beaches, namely Coral Bay and Long Beach and is the more popular island for backpackers due to the night life activities. You can find more budget and economical options on the island in terms of food and place of stay.
Beaches
What’s the main thing about island vacation? It’s their beaches! During the day at Perhentian Island, you can rest and suntan along beaches like Coral View Beach on Pulau Perhentian Besar – the lovely turquoise waters plus sandy beaches around will make you want to stay longer in your trip.
At night, things take on a more vibrant twist. This can be evidently seen at Long Beach of Pulau Perhentian Kecil, where visitors are treated to fun parties.
Other beaches you can go to on Perhentian Island include:
- Mira Beach
- Petani Beach
- D’Lagoon
- Turtle Beach
- Adam & Eve Beach
- Romantic Beach
Package Perhentian Island
Rather than going aimlessly head in to Perhentian Island without a clue, it is always best to get a package Perhentian Island. Not only do the tour packages cover the key places of interest and place of stay, they are also more economical to your wallets!
Holiday Package
Depending on your desired length of vacation, a holiday package at Perhentian Island usually includes the following items:
- Boat transfer
- Night stay at resort hotel
- Meals, either breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, or altogether
- Complimentary activities such as snorkelling or walks on the beach
You could check your preferred holiday package carefully to make sure you get the best package Perhentian island here.
Diving Package
While a holiday package may contain complementary activities, it usually does not include diving. Most travel companies and resorts offer separate diving package, which usually includes hotel stays as well as diving as the main activity.
To get the most out of your diving package, try opting for those bundled with many diving spots around Perhentian Island and other islands in the vicinity – you could then explore the many beautiful diving haunts in just one trip!
Diving Course
It’s not the end of the world if you don’t know how to dive – you could take the chance to pick up a diving course while on vacation! Consider the following dive schools as they are among the best places to get your diving license on Perhentian Island:
- Sea Voice Divers
- Flora Bay Divers
- Turtle Bay Divers
- Universal Diver
- Angel Diver
Where to Stay at Perhentian Island
There are so many resorts to bunk in that you probably feel at a loss in picking a place. If Perhentian resort hotels are your thing:
- Perhentian Island Resort
- Mimpi Perhentian Resort
- Bubu Resort
- Shari-La Island Resort
- Ombak Resort
- Coral View Resort
- Senja Bay Resort
For those preferring a homey feel, this is a list of some good, popular homestay on Perhentian Island that you could consider:
Backpackers’ choice:
- Seahorse Diver
- Tivoli Inn
There’s more to the list of accommodation at Perhentian Island but each aforementioned chalet on Perhentian Island is a frequently booked place at different parts of the Island.
What to Eat at Perhentian Island
At Perhentian Island, night time barbeques and fresh seafood are a thing, including lassi drinks. Among the many restaurants, these are some of the best places to eat on the island:
On Pulau Perhentian Kecil:
- Bayu Restaurant – for premium quality food and lovely view
- Ewan’s Café & Restaurant – for budget-friendly meals and strong wifi
- Matahari Chalet & Restaurant – popular spot for families looking for good variety of food with great view
- Belinda Café – famous for Thai and Malay fusion food
- Crocodile Rock Bistro – for a wonderful dining experience on the beach
- Awatif Café – for a quick meal
- Perhentian Café – for romantic evenings
- Medan Selera Kampung Nelayan – for affordable local food
On Pulau Perhentian Besar:
- Alur Pinang – good place for lunch in a rainforest atmosphere
- Blue Paradise – for a good variety of food and family-friendly ambience
Tips to Perhentian Island
If you are new to travelling on Perhentian Island, there are a few things to be careful of that you have to take note and bear in mind:
- Perhentians are nearly closed during the winter months when seas are too rough to bring over people and supplies, especially in November to February. Travel between March and early November instead, which is the best time to visit.
- The peak season is usually from July and August, and early September.
- You won’t have access to ATMs on the islands so remember to bring cash.
- Most of the island has no electricity, except from 6pm-11pm.
- Bring along your insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes and other insects.
- There are no hospitals on the island so bring along your medical kit and travel medical insurance if possible.
- Blackouts may be common due to inconsistent power so do keep a flashlight with you and do not leave charging electronics unattended in room.
How to go to Perhentian Island
So how to get to Perhentian Island? You will have to travel to Kuala Besut, Terengganu before you can take a boat trip to Pulau Perhentian.
Kuala Lumpur to Perhentian Islands
There are two transportation modes you could take to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Perhentian Islands – by bus or flight.
Take an overnight bus by Mutiara or Mahligai bus companies which offer the route from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut. Both buses leave from PWTC station, Kuala Lumpur, and you can purchase the tickets through travel agents, Terminal Bersepadu Selatan bus station or via online sites.
If by plane, you could consider boarding AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu for the cheap rates, or to Kuala Terengganu. From there, you will have to take a taxi to jetty to Perhentian Island.
Jetty to Perhentian Island Time table and Costing
The boat from jetty to Perhentian Island operates from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm while the return journey is scheduled thrice daily at 8.00 am, 12.00 noon and 4.00 pm. However, you can arrange for custom departure and leaving times for group packages.
You could purchase either a round-trip ticket which costs RM70 per pax, or a one-way ticket for RM35 per pax. Special rates for children are also available – the full fares and schedules can be found here.
About Summerbay Resort
Summer Bay Lang Island Resort is a calming vacation resort located in Lang Tengah Island, which is an island in the vicinity of Perhentian Island. You could consider visiting and staying at our resort that is bound to make you feel right at home as you detour from Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Perhentian Kecil.
Apart from experiencing a relaxing, laid-back lifestyle in our well-appointed hotel rooms, our resort also offers a variety of holiday packages to suit your holiday requirements as well as diving course and diving package, either for Lang Tengah Island tours or even activities on Perhentian Island. If you are looking for a wonderful accommodation to rest your mind, body and soul, our resort could be just the place for you.
Well, that’s a wrap on Perhentian Island, the best tropical island vacation of all time! Hope this article serves as a helpful guide in exploring this wonderful island in Malaysia.
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