About Redang Marine Park
A visit to Redang takes you to the first marine protected area in West Malaysia. The Redang Island Marine Park archipelago consists of 13 islands, including gazetted islands and small islands within their zone. Of these islands, only two islands host tourism, Redang and Lang Tengah. Pinang island, located across a narrow channel south from Redang, hosts the Marine Park centre.
Redang is among the most popular of Malaysian islands. Understandably so, as it is among the most beautiful, famed for its exceptionally clear waters and fish swimming close to the water's edge. Tourists visit the resorts of Redang Island to relax on the gorgeous sandy beach of Pasir Panjang, as well as its other powdery fine beaches. Turtles are also a fan; the beaches of Redang receive the most turtle arrivals during nesting season in West Malaysia.
A short distance away to the west, the much smaller Lang Tengah offers a quieter holiday experience, with resorts on smaller but exclusive beaches, and still very much a hidden gem of Terengganu.
What does Redang Island look like?
Redang is a relatively large, green, forested island. Shaped vaguely like a heart, its tourist beaches lie mostly along its eastern coast and the dip at the top of the 'heart'.
Chagar Hutang, a protected beach on the left curve of the 'heart' is an important turtle nesting site. Its remaining coastline is rocky, giving Redang a mix of calm and adventurous scuba diving.
Tourism in Redang is concentrated along its dreamy beaches, their beautiful curve sloping gently towards the sea. There is only one village on Redang, which lies in its centre. The village connects to the main island jetty and airstrip in the south and Taaras resort in the north.
What does Lang Tengah Island look like?
Lang Tengah is a small, irregularly shaped island. It is wholly a resort island; there is no local village.
The rocky coastline is interspersed by a few small sandy coves. Its few resorts are located at these coves, and they're not connected to each other through the jungle, giving it a lower density, more exclusive image. Its northeastern coastline is steep enough for rock climbing activities.
Although the beaches are small, they still receive turtles coming up to nest. Lang Tengah hosts several turtle conservation and coral restoration projects.
What is the weather like in the Redang archipelago?
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 Redang islands are 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 Redang and Lang Tengah?
Tourist reason in Redang Marine Park begins around March, which is when the monsoon begins to change. The best weather and the tourism peak season is typically between April and August. The weather begins to turn in sometime in September-October. The monsoon returns in November, when the season is closed for the year.
The best time to visit for peak weather is between April and August. However, Redang will be more crowded at this time. Come in the shoulder seasons to avoid the crowds. Accommodations on Lang Tengah are more limited. On the other hand, this means it is less likely to be crowded.
Turtle nesting season in Redang begins early, with the first nesting turtles arriving in January while the monsoon has not yet eased, and continues to September. Thus, there are already hatchlings at the start of the tourist season, through to October. Chagar Hutang and PULIHARA accepts volunteers in during the tourist season in Redang and Lang Tengah, respectively.
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.
Getting to Redang and Lang Tengah
The main gateway to Redang and Lang Tengah is the small town of Merang in the state of Terengganu. It is also possible to go to Redang from the state capital, Kuala Terengganu.
Most boat transfers to Redang depart from Merang jetty, and are usually included in the holiday package. However, there is also a wide choice of boat agencies at the jetty as locally owned and operated companies are the norm. From Kuala Terengganu, the public ferry departs at a much more limited frequency. Transfers to Lang Tengah only depart from Merang.
The islands are about 25km from Merang, and the journey typically takes about 30-45 minutes on sea conditions. There are multiple boat departures up to 3PM. From Kuala Terengganu, the ferry takes nearly 2 hours to Redang. Departure times are more limited.
The boat fare is typically RM55 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.
The nearest airport to Merang is Kuala Terengganu Sultan Mahmud Airport. There are frequent domestic flights from Malaysia's international airports, e.g. KLIA and Penang. From the airport, take a taxi to Merang. The journey is about 35 km and takes approximately an hour. The fare is around RM60.
Alternatively, you can also take a taxi to the ferry terminal in Kuala Terengganu. This journey is about 12km and takes 20 minutes. However, the ferry journey will be twice as long from Kuala Terengganu. This option is best if you are based in Kuala Terengganu intending to explore the rest of the state.
If you stay at The Taaras, there is an additional option. You can fly directly to Redang from Subang Airport in Malaysia or Seletar Airport in Singapore. The flight lands on Redang's airstrip near the village.
The most sustainable and affordable option to get to Merang is by bus. Redang is a fairly popular destination, so there are regular buses that go to Merang from major cities in Malaysia, such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Depending on where you began the journey, it can take anywhere from six to ten hours to arrive in Merang. Traffic jams on the highways during the festive seasons may significantly lengthen the journey.
You can also take the bus to Kuala Terengganu to take the ferry from there. The Shahbandar jetty is only 10 minutes away from the bus terminal. However, it is currently closed awaiting reconstruction following storm damage. The temporary jetty at Duyong Marina is less conveniently located.
You can also easily drive to Merang, 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.
Parking is available near Merang jetty where you can leave your car for the duration of your trip to the island. The fee is approximately RM10 per day.
Getting around in Redang
The tourism in Redang and Lang Tengah are mainly beach-based. With some exceptions, the beaches are not near each other. Both Redang and Lang Tengah are not the type of island for casually popping over to visit other beaches.
However, you can hike through the jungle between the two main beach locations on Redang. It is also possible to arrange a boat hire, for example to Pasir Panjang. Additionally, you can also book a boat transfer between Redang and Lang Tengah at Merang jetty.
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Conservation projects in Redang & Lang Tengah
