Another hidden treasure facing the South China Sea is bound to fulfill your ever-growing wanderlust further. This is your next pitstop in Southeast Asia! Located on the Eastern Coast of Malaysia, the rustic charm of the two sister islands would undoubtedly make you reconsider your traveling route in finding the Malaysia Truly Asia tropical paradise.
For centuries, the islands were sparsely inhabited by fishers, and notably, it was once a safe haven for anglers, sailors, and refugees. Even though tourism now accounts for most economic activity, the old islands' vibe still lingers. The name "Perhentian" means "stopping point or pitstop" in Malay as it refers to the islands' traditional role as a waypoint for traders between Thailand and Malaysia.
Slowly climbing up the chart as a famous Malaysian island destination, Perhentian island is now among the top island vacation in Malaysia. Although fast phase development gradually prevails here, visitors could still be able to experience the original laid-back vibes of its former fisherman's village styles, even with a bit of an impression of high-end resorts that are slowly creeping in. Fear not if you know where to look; there is always a sweet spot for you away from the buzzy tourist area.
Nature tourism has been there, providing the islands' economic base, which is now becoming the main attraction for tourists. Thanks to the slow and steady development, the land area of these two islands is still densely covered with tropical forests decorated with an epic rock formation landscape. Perhentian island is consists of two sister islands: Perhentian Besar (Big Perhentian) and Perhentian Kecil (Small Perhentian).
Popular tourist activities include scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, and water sports. On most shores, the water is shallow with many rays, cuttlefish, and parrotfish. There are dozens of dive operators and dive sites around both islands and several off-shore for diving. Apart from these, activities like camping, jet skiing, canoeing, fishing, jungle trekking, and banana boat riding are also available in the main area of long beach.
Perhentian Besar is a thriving fishermen's village decorated mostly with modern facilities such as schools, police stations, tourism offices, 24-hours electricity, freshwater, a handful of shops, and restaurants. The populations here are pretty dense compared to Perhentian Kecil.
Since it's an island village, Perhentian Besar enjoys long-standing conservative practices. But don't get intimidated by that because tourism and locals have already coexisted here long before the establishment of extensive tourism. Visitors are definitely welcome here; just be sure to respect the local culture and customs and dress appropriately, especially when entering the village area, or in other words, try to be a good guest!
On the other hand, Perhentian Kecil is quite the opposite of Perhentian Besar, which also translates why this tiny island of Perhentian is the best place to settle on. Life on this Perhentian is pretty chill, as most people enjoy the laid-back scenes more than anything else. Just by looking at the crystal clear water alone gives you enough reason to spend the whole day rolling on the white sandy beach, sipping coconut water while working on the tan lines. It is not surprising that the day here only begins gradually after 10 am.
This island may be small in size but loaded with fun activities (where the tropical magic happens). Activities like hiking, jungle trekking, diving, snorkeling, and nightlife, you name it! These are some fun activities you can expect on Perhentian Kecil. Not just that, it has a looming potential to become the next hippie-friendly island in the region.
The best time to visit and what to expect
Perhentian islands only welcome tourists for 10 months in a year, and throughout the season, both islands enjoy a tropical climate with temperatures steadily around 30°C and frequent but brief thunderstorms. The islands experience a heavy monsoon season between November and February, and because of the harsh environment, it is closed off to tourists.
Even though the island could reopen in February, at this time, the sea is still a bit murky, and the current is still strong as the monsoon comes towards the end. The best time to visit is from March onwards when the new emerging corals bloom with "freshly cleaned" pristine shores by nature. Be an early bird in March to enjoy the best thing that the island has to offer.
How many days should you spend in Perhentian?
You need to consider that Perhentian island is quite far from Kuala Lumpur, and you need to take multiple transportations before arriving at your destination. So, when it comes to vitamin sea, spend no less than 3 days 2 nights, and thank me later! You don't want to go back feeling tired from a poorly timed vacation when you should be relaxed and soaked in beach vibes.
Before we dive in,
If you haven't already read the post about the country, you can read the seven reasons you Shouldn't visit Malaysia here.
How to get to Perhentian Besar & Perhentian Kecil
Speed boats to both Perhentian islands leave almost every hour from Kuala Besut regularly. The boat ride lasts approximately forty minutes for RM30 and can be arranged by resort operators or simply buy the ticket at the jetty.
Travelers from Kuala Lumpur or other destinations can fly, train, or bus to Kuala Terengganu or Kota Bharu. The jetty port in Kuala Besut is accessible by taxi from either town.
Where to Stay
Perhentian Islands offer a wide selection of accommodation, ranging from budget to high-end. Perhentian Kecil is an island all-rounder in terms of chalets and mid-range resorts. Don't look any further; here are my go-to chalets and resorts on the island.
5 reasons to drop Perhentian Kecil on your bucket list!
1. Crystal clear water superb for water activities
The best in its class, the tropical seawaters around the Perhentians are crystal clear with turquoise hues. During peak season, the seas are calm, which is ideal for fun diving and snorkeling activities. The designated marine park on the island has impressive corals formations and plenty of unique marine species.
A rise in tourism of Perhentian has led to the expansion of many different resorts and options for beachgoers and divers alike. It is possible to get PADI certified at various locations and take advantage of the multiple wrecks and coral reefs. The Perhentian Islands are home to numerous species of monitor lizards, venomous spiders, and geckos. In the water and on the coral reefs, sea turtles, clownfish, cuttlefish, blue-spotted rays, and black-tipped sharks swim freely, among many others.
2. Laidback and chill experience
Just the way you want it
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Perhentian island is a perfect gateway to refill your vitamin SEA supplements. After months of lockdown and quarantine, the borders are finally open, giving us the means to travel around and explore places—time to skip the ugly daily routine and soak in all the beach vibes.
Congratulations! You have just added one more reason to disconnect from the world. On this island, the connectivity is so unreliable. Forget the alarm clock since no such snooze and lose-game is valid upon this island.
The influence of backpacking culture is undeniably strong at long beach. Quiet during the day but gets pretty lit by night. As soon as the sky turns dark, the atmosphere on this side changes drastically into a fiery night. Visitors from the coral bay and nearby islands will herd around on this side of Perhentian, hoping to get to enjoy the fresh catch of the day while others huddle around the fire shows, socializing and unwinding until late-night before wrapping up the day for another morning in a tropical paradise.
"Take your chill pill. In this case, a coconut and beach towel is the perfect way to begin."
3. The best affordable Island in Malaysia
Having an island vacation doesn't need to be expensive. Perhentian is so affordable and budget-friendly, which could explain why this tiny island scores a high number of beachgoers for every long weekend. If you plan to come over during a public holiday, make sure to book your accommodation a week or more in advance as the chances of not getting any place to stay is expected.
There are a plethora of budget stays on the island for all kinds of travelers. If you are into nature, you might want to consider sleeping under the stars by renting a tent from the campsite. In addition, many beachfront operators also offer dorm-type hostels and private rooms, not to forget the smattering numbers of high-end resorts on the rocky cliffs with secluded beaches access.
4. Epic Sunset and Dramatic cliff scenery
at the golden hour
What a way to end the day with an epic sunset view over the cliff while watching waves crashing on rocks. The scenic view from the cliff is so picturesque, making it the must-see panorama on the island.
One had to break a sweat hiking from the Long Beach trails to get to the viewpoint. Walk towards Mimpi Resort and Look no further from Tropicana Inn for the "windmill" arrow to find the trail entrance, which will take around 10 to 15 minutes to reach the top.
A rickety stairs structure leading to the rocky cliff facing the open sea is just a stone's throw away. Take your moment to admire the beauty of the golden hours and embrace the picturesque side of the island.
There are plenty of offbeat trails in the jungle. Eager to explore more? Ask the local guide or your resort operator for more info, and be prepared to get lost in the tropical jungle paradise.
5. The rustic charm of Malay Village style
If you are into cultural travels, this is the best place to learn about Malay culture and customs, where you get to see their daily routine and learn about the local fisherman's lifestyles.
You can even book a trip and join the anglers to the open sea for a fresh catch where you get to learn how to fish calamari and net fishing.
How to get to Long Beach from Coral Bay
Perhentian Kecil is divided into two main beaches: Coral Bay and Long Beach, and Both beaches are accessible by trekking and water taxi. Trekking takes about 10 minutes walking on a paved jungle trail passing through a few jungle chalets. The jungle trail can be a bit dark at night so forget not to grab your phone or torch to light your way. Once you see Trivoli Inn, you are basically halfway through it. Follow through signs and arrows till you will reach the long beach. Vise versa.
What else? Tips before you go.
Water Taxi is the way to go.
Once on the island, there are finite trails that connect various resorts. A track on Perhentian Kecil goes through the thick jungle, and some stretches of beach are home to multiple resorts so visitors can wander freely. The easiest way to travel around the islands is by water taxi, which can be arranged by most resorts or simply charter one on the beach.
If you plan to take a flight from Kuala Lumpur, it is advisable to land at Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kelantan instead of Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Terengganu. This is because the distance between Kelantan Aiport to Kuala Besut jetty is nearer than Terengganu Airport, even though both locations are within the same state. From the airport in Kelantan, take a bus or hire a taxi or grab to the jetty in Kuala Besut. 50 minutes journey of a taxi will cost around RM90-95 while 1hour 15 minutes bus trip will cost about RM35.
The best you can do is take a taxi from Kuala Besut to Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Bharu to Kuala Lumpur. Since no direct flight is available on the island. So again, your long journey back could also have been a disaster without a proper plan.
Back to basics,
cash all the way!
It is a good idea to bring extra cash on the island, just if you need fast cash to pay for water activities or simply extend your stay. At the moment, no ATM available on the island. Additionally, most bar shacks and beachfront restaurants don't accept any plastic card payments useless if you spend them at well-established resorts and chalets. But worry not, the very least thing you can do is to ask a few chalet operators on the island to "withdraw' money using your Visa and Mastercard, which of course, the rate will be at their very own discretion. Forgot to mention the withdrawal fee is higher than the ATMs rate.
So, what are you waiting for?
Pack your mask and sanitizers, JOM! Get ready for your next Malaysian tropical adventure!