Beach and Islands
The sky above, sand below, peace within.
Look up at the cerulean blue sky. Feel the warm sugar sand between your toes. Find inner peace with all of the beach's beauty that surrounds you. It's so easy to be relaxed here.
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Malaysia is home to a variety of beautiful islands that are perfect for island escapes. We may be staying at home until the situation improves, but that should not prevent you from daydreaming about the magnificent islands you can visit eventually. The best islands in Malaysia can be found further down our list if you're looking for a good dose of vitamin sea.
1. Private Island Escape: Pangkor Laut
Location: West peninsular in Perak, off Pangkor island
Getting there: 3-hour drive north of KL, followed by a 15 min speedboat ride
This is, by far, the most luxurious resort I’ve ever stayed at. I don’t do them often! But when a 5* resort on a private island is on your doorstep, it’d be rude to turn it down. Especially when it cost less to stay here than a bog-standard hotel in London’s Notting Hill.
Pavarotti once described this island as a paradise, and I’d say he was bang on. Pangkor Laut Island is made up of 300 acres of lush virgin rainforest, which has been virtually untouched by the resort. Wild hornbills roam freely, the jungle hums loudly and eco-tourism is encouraged here. That’s my perfect kind of cocktail.
Our room was insane. So much so, that the Sailor and I were taking pictures for about half an hour when we arrived! It was well kitted out with his and her sinks, an outdoor bathtub and incredible jaw-dropping views from our hilltop verandah.
Morning coffees with that scenery were made extra special with hornbills perched above us in the trees and the gentle buzzing of the ancient rainforest.
There are a few things to do on the island, but mostly you come here to relax. Although I’d highly recommend taking a hike through the Emerald Bay beach for some rejuvenating rainforest time.
Pangkor Laut Resort is ideal for that special occasion and definitely, one of those getaways from Kuala Lumpur you should experience [at least] once.
2. Quick Beach Getaway: Langkawi
Location: Off the northwestern peninsular, in Kedah
Getting there: 1 hour flight from KL, or a 6-hour drive to Kuala Perlis + a 1.25hr ferry
To be truthful, I wasn’t a big fan of Langkawi when I first visited. Compared to other large holiday islands in Thailand like Koh Phangan and Koh Chang, I thought it was a bit plain Jane.
This was probably because I stayed in a really crappy apartment (which wasn’t at all as described in the reviews!) in an area of the island that was a bit run down. And that was the last time I let the Sailor book a holiday!
But the second time was a completely different experience. I booked a much nicer stay on a better part of the island and got to experience those chillaxed island feels that KLites eat up for breakfast. I guess you’ve just got to know where to go.
If you want an island escape a mere hour’s flight from KL and land [almost] on the beach, then Langkawi is probably the only place you’re going to get it. I had many teacher friends who regularly visited the island and one who went 12 times in three years! Needless to say, it’s a convenient beach getaway.
Cenang Beach is the main tourist spot and can get a little commercial (although it’s still relatively quiet by Thai standards), but it has the goods to back it up with powder-soft white sand and turquoise water. It’s a pukka sundowner spot or place to beach-bum for the day.
There’s quite a bit to explore either on the beach or in the jungle, which I, unfortunately, didn’t have much time for. You should check out Langkawi blogger Vanessa Workman at This Island Drum for some good recommendations.
Langkawi is also a great one for families due to the easy transfer, more family friendly hotels and developed infrastructure. If you’re a luxury resort seeker, then the island houses many high-end stays.
3. Awesome Value For Money Islands: Perhentians
Location: On the northwest coast, in state of Terengganu
Getting there: Take a 1hr flight to Kota Bharu, then a 1h taxi ride to the jetty, followed by a 40min boat ride to the islands
Note: The Perhentians is only available outside of the Monsoon season (late Jan/beginning of Feb – late October) as the boat ride ceases and most resorts close.
In Peninsular Malaysia, you have to head to the east coast islands for Maldivian-style beaches. Thankfully the Perhentians not only have heaps to explore- with awesome snorkeling- but the islands are great value for money compared to many other touristy ones along this coastline.
Both coral-fringed islands (Besar ‘big’ and Kecil ‘small’) offer serene turquoise seas and powdery white sand. Nowhere is too far, and nothing runs too fast.
They were the first inhabited islands I’ve visited that don’t have roads, and it was awesome being forced into barefoot luxury. Forget Uber guys, you can sink your toes in the sand and stroll from bed to beach, or take a cheap boat taxi to explore the islands.
Other than beach lounging, snorkeling, and eating your weight in fresh seafood BBQs (head to Tuna Bay Resort for that goodness) it was fun to leave the sunbathers behind and take a peaceful jungle hike (check out my hiking route for Kecil and Besar) – earning your beach time is always more satisfying.
Whilst a lot of the accommodation is priced according to sea views and locality (as opposed to the quality of what you get) the white sandy beaches and fantastic snorkeling make it worth it. Its diverse underwater world also makes it a better value-for-money island off the eastern peninsula, particularly compared to Redang and Tioman.
The Perhentians are not perfect- some coastal walkways are dilapidated or neglected and the islands are still learning to deal with waste disposal (although the problem is not half as bad as what I’ve seen on some Thai islands.) But this is the human effect of the island. Nature is very much perfect and in abundance.
4. Pulau Tioman
Location: Located off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, in Rompin, Pahang.
Getting there: Drive or take a bus ride up to Mersing, then wait for the next available ferry out to sea.
Note: Best time to visit Pulau Tioman is around May to September, avoid visiting during the monsoon season which is November to February.
Pulau Tioman is a duty-free island off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia that has been described as a geological wonder, an ecological paradise, and one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful vacation spots. The island, which is 32 nautical miles off the coast of Malaysia but is connected to the mainland via ferries from Mersing (Johor) and Tanjung Gemuk (Pahang), continues to enchant visitors with its warm beaches, crystal clear water, and lush tropical greenery.
In the near area of the marine park, there are several coral reefs and marine life, making it an excellent location for scuba diving and snorkeling. A large portion of the island is covered by virgin rainforest, which is home to various endemic wildlife species and is ideal for nature adventures and discovery trips. Tioman Island also attracts young visitors from around the world, making it an ideal vacation destination for those looking to see a variety of cultures in one place.
The island of Tioman is a densely forested paradise with spectacular coral reefs, making it a great destination for anyone seeking snorkeling or scuba diving adventures. You can even get here, and there are plenty of nature activities such as jungle trekking and waterfall-chasing around the island if that's your sort of thing! It's no surprise that Tioman is a popular destination for beach lovers, scuba divers, and honeymooners, owing to its sandy beaches, clear waters, affordable alcohol, and soothing tropical vibe.
5. Redang Island
Location: Located off the state of Terengganu on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Getting there: Public ferry services are available from Shahbandar Jetty to Village Jetty in Redang Island (1 hour 30 minutes).
Note: Best time to visit Pulau Tioman is around March to September, avoid visiting during the monsoon season which is November to February.
Redang Island is a Malaysian island located off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, off the coast of the state of Terengganu. Redang Island Resort, a dazzling presence in Teluk Siang, south of the island, is a great complement to the natural beauty of the island. As a result of the expansive bay and azure waves, the great location offers both sights of tourism fun-time and the urge to recoil and rejuvenate in a peaceful and renewing environment.
Whether you're looking for a beach with a bustling atmosphere (imagine happy kids, beach volleyball, and live music bands!) or a beach with a serene place, you'll find something to your preference on this tiny slice of heaven, whether it's a more isolated spot to spend some quiet mornings sunbathing or a more public place to enjoy some fun in the sun. The corals, flora, and fauna on this island, which is one of nine protected islands dotting the South China Sea, are exceptionally well-protected and absolutely breathtaking.
