About Perhentian Islands Marine Park
A visit to the Perhentian Islands evokes images of white sandy beaches, pellucid turquoise waters, and colourful coral reefs. The islands were once a stopover for early traders. Indeed, its name literally means ‘stopover island’ in Malay.
The Marine Park cluster of the Perhentian island consists of three marine park islands - Pulau Perhentian Besar, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Pulau Susu Dara, along with several uninhabited islands that lie within their 2 nautical mile zone. Of the three gazetted islands, only the Perhentians host tourism.
In modern times, Perhentian Kecil became a stopover for backpackers on the hippie trail. While a wider range of tourists visit it today, it remains a favourite for travellers looking for party vibes at Long Beach. Tourism came later to Perhentian Besar, generally catering for tourists visiting as families. However, there is a range on both Perhentian islands, with resorts as well as camping grounds on both.
What do the Perhentian Islands look like?
The Perhentian Islands are a pair of islands separated by a narrow channel. Perhentian Kecil (the 'small' island) lies is to the east of Perhentian Besar (the 'large' island). The islands are hilly, with a rocky shoreline broken by stretches of sandy beach where turtles nest in season. The shallow marine ecosystem includes fringing coral and patches of seagrass.
Tourism is present almost all the way around Perhentian Kecil, mainly concentrated along Long Beach and Coral Bay on either side of the narrow neck on the island. The sole fishing village, Kampung Pasir Hantu, is located on the southeast corner facing Perhentian Besar. A coastal hiking trail connects most of the island, while a path through the jungle takes you to the northern beaches of Perhentian Kecil via the iconic wind turbines.
Tourism on Perhentian Besar is concentrated on its west and southern coastline. The jungle is thicker on this island, and only two of the beaches are connected by a jungle trail. Unlike Perhentian Kecil, it is not as easy to pop over to other beaches if you're staying on Perhentian Besar, as you will need to hire the speedboat taxis.
What is the weather like in the Perhentian Islands?
Malaysia has an equatorial climate, with year-round uniform temperatures above 25 degrees Celcius (typically ~30 degrees Celcius) and high humidity. Daily temperature range is no more than 10 degrees, rarely coming below 20 degrees Celsius except for the highlands, requiring minimal adjustment to clothing throughout the day. Day length is consistently between 12 to 13 hours throughout the year.
Rainfall in Malaysia is frequent throughout the year, with some seasonal variation from the monsoon season changes. The Perhentian Islands is located in the South China Sea off the northeast coast of the Malaysian peninsula. Thus they undergo the same monsoon periods as islands in the Gulf of Thailand. The northeast monsoon brings heavy rainfall and high winds to the islands, closing down tourism from November to February.
In the opposite southwest monsoon, the weather turns sunny and relatively dry. The skies are clearest near the peak of the season, good not only for beach activities but also for stargazing, and perfect timing for the Perseids meteor shower.
When is the best time to visit the Perhentian Islands?
Tourism in the Perhentian Islands begins around March, which is when the monsoon begins to change. The best weather and the tourism peak season is typically between July and September. The weather begins to turn in October before the monsoon returns in November, when tourism is over.
The best time to visit Perhentian for peak weather is between July and September. However, the islands will be crowded at this time. Come in the shoulder season to avoid the crowds. Note that Malaysian public and school holidays will also affect tourist arrivals. Malaysia is a multi-cultural country celebrating holidays according to several calendar systems. Thus, some major Malaysian holiday periods do not occur on the same months every year. It is best to consult the holiday calendar before booking your trip.
Turtle nesting season in the Perhentian Islands is typically between April to August. Hatchlings emerge between June and October. The Perhentian Turtle Project accepts volunteers during this whole period. Whale shark sightings are possible in the peak weather period.
Getting to the Perhentian Islands
The main gateway to the Perhentian islands is the small port town of Kuala Besut in the state of Terengganu.
Ferry and boat transfers to the Perhentian Islands depart from Kuala Besut jetty. There is a wide choice of boat agencies at the jetty as locally owned and operated companies are the norm.
The islands are about 20km away, and the journey typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on sea conditions. Boat transfers depart hourly, with some flexibility to account for the tidal conditions at the destination beaches.
The boat fare is typically less than RM50 per person for a one-way journey, with child fares available. In addition, it is also possible to hire private boat transfers. The boat fare does not include the Marine Park fee, which you can pay at a dedicated counter in the jetty terminal.
Although the Perhentians are in Terengganu, Kelantan's Kota Bharu Sultan Ismail Petra Airport is the nearest airport to Kuala Besut. There are frequent domestic flights to Kota Bharu from Malaysia's international airports, e.g. KLIA and Penang. From the airport, take one of several options to travel to Kuala Besut: shuttle van, taxi, or e-hailing. The journey is 48 km.
Another airport option is Kuala Terengganu Sultan Mahmud Airport. It is similarly reached from Malaysia's international airports. However, it is further from Kuala Besut at 85 km away. This option is recommended if you intend to have a slower journey along the Terengganu coastline, stopping at the many roadside stalls and craft stores along the way.
The most sustainable and affordable option to get to Kuala Besut is by bus. As the Perhentian Islands are very popular, there are many buses that go to Kuala Besut from major cities and tourism centres in Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Melaka, and Cameron Highlands.
Depending on where you began the journey, it can take anywhere from six to ten hours to arrive in Kuala Besut. Traffic jams on the highways during the festive seasons may significantly lengthen the journey.
You can also easily drive to Kuala Besut, although it can be a long drive from the major city centres. This is a good option if you plan to stop to explore other destinations along the way. Note that many Malaysians return to hometowns for major festivals. Highways can experience significant traffic jams in the days immediately before and after holiday periods.
There are a few paid independent parking space options near Kuala Besut jetty where you can leave your car for the duration of your Perhentian trip. The fee is approximately RM10 per day.
Getting around in the Perhentian Islands
Beaches around Perhentian Kecil can generally be reached from one another by hiking. However, parts of the trail may be less well maintained, and could be overgrown or blocked by a fallen tree. On Perhentian Besar, only a few neighbouring beaches on its western side are practically connected to one another by a coastal hiking path.
Travel by water is easy between islands, and between beaches, via speedboats operated by local boatmen that you can hire off almost any beach. Prices vary depending on distance.
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Conservation projects in Perhentian
