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Guide to travel to the Perhentian Islands | Everything you need to know
It's easy to fall in love with the Perhentian Islands, a corner of the world where everything moves at a different pace, there are no cars, not even carThe rivers and both its jungles and beaches are a true paradise. Doesn't sound bad, does it? In this guide to travelling to the Perhentian Islands we tell you everything you need to know to organise your days on the islands and we recommend what to do once there, apart from disconnecting from the world.
We leave you lots of practical information such as whether they accept credit cards, where it is best to stay, what the internet connection is like or what you can't forget to pack. So keep reading if you want to travel to the Perhentian Islands on your route through Malaysia.
What to know before Travel to the Perhentian Islands
With this one Complete guide with updated information Above all, you need to know before traveling to the Perhentian Islands, it will be very easy to organize your days on the islands. I invite you to continue reading 😊
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How many days does it take to visit the Perhentian Islands?
El at least I recommend you dedicatecarIt's 4 days for himHowever, if you love the sea and the beach or are planning a trip diving in Perhentian Believe me, 4 will not be enough, in that case it is much better to extend to 5 or 6.
The good part is that transfers are fast, the boat from the city nearest takes just half an hour. Even Arriving by plane from Kuala Lumpur is quite quick, so you won't waste much time, and the days you spend on the islands will be pure enjoyment. Later, we'll tell you how to get there from different points in Malaysia.
If you are thinking about how to organize your days around the country, you can read our recommendation of Malaysia route in 15 days.
Best time to travel to Perhentian Islands
The best time to travel to the Perhentian Islands is between April and October, coinciding with the dry season in the Gulf of Thailand. During these months, the sea is calm and the days are sunny. Between November and February, the islands practically close to tourism due to the monsoon season that brings days of very intense rain and waves.
We visited the islands in August and had sunny days and good visibility underwater to do snorkel and diving.
How to get to the Perhentian Islands
As I mentioned previously, traveling to the Perhentian Islands is quite simple, with good access and They have Kota Bharu airport just 60km away. So that you can better prepare your itinerary we have an article on How to get to Perhentian from different locations in Malaysia and neighboring countries by air and land transport.
Most travelers arrive at the Perhentian Islands from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. To get there you can take a night bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) to Kuala Besut (city where the boat leaves) and once there, take one of the many boats that leave throughout the morning towards the Perhentian Islands.
La faster alternative es fly to Khota Baru, a journey of approximately one hour. From the airport there are shared vans or taxis that will take you to the port of Kuala Besut.
ᐈᐈ How to get internet in Malaysia, another preparation to take into account before travelling to the Perhentian Islands.
Is it better to stay in Kecil or Besar?
Like everything in life, it depends! We chose to stay on the small island (Kecil) because the accommodations were cheaper and there were more restaurant options. After spending several days there we can say that it seems like a good choice. But since everyone has their preferences, in this guide to traveling to the Perhentian Islands we will tell you The good and not so good of both islands for you to choose.
🌴 Another island with incredible beaches in Southeast Asia that you'll love is Koh Kood, we've got the complete guide for you. here
Accommodation on Kecil (small island)
A Little Bit They call it the backpacker island, and it is true that it has more nightlife and accommodation at a better price. In addition, there are many more restaurant options, on the contrary on the island of Besar you will almost always have to opt for the restaurant in your hotel.
The best areas to stay in Kecil are Long Beach y Coral bay, connected to each other by a path of just 15 minutes on foot. In Long Beach It is where you find more atmosphere with its nightly barbecues and some bars, Coral bay Instead it is calmer and perfect for watching the sunset. If you're looking for a cheap hotel in Perhentian We invite you to read our guide.
The worst part is that the beaches in Kecil They are not as pretty as in Besar, but getting around is easy with the taxi boats. (we will tell you how they work in the next point).
Accommodation in Besar (big island)
Besar is dubbed the family island, ideal for relaxing days. It houses the best hotels in the Perhentian Islands, as well as the most beautiful beaches.
The worst part is the few restaurant options. Also that usually everything is something more carEven though it has the most beautiful beaches, it also...carto move around in taxi boats to reach them or take a walk through the jungle.
How to get around the Perhentian Islands
There is no paradise carreteras, The only way to get around the Perhentian Islands is on foot or by boat.. The trails that run through the islands are hardly conditioned. (except the one between Long Beach and Coral Bay) so It's like walking through a jungle, a very cool experience although a bit tiring with the heat.
Taxi boat tours You can hire them from any beach with services whenever you need them. Just keep in mind that in virgins like Romantic Beach There isn't one, you will have to arrange a pick-up time with the boatman or ask for his number to send him a WhatsApp.
They're the most practical way to get around, although the prices are inflated, non-negotiable (unless you're a group), and the minimum is two people, so if you're traveling alone it will cost you quite a bit. caro.
We leave you as a reference the different routes from Long Beach in August 2024.
ATM and card payment in the Perhentian Islands
This is one of the big questions before traveling to the Perhentian Islands. Years ago, they did not accept card payments in any establishment, but things have changed and now In more and more places you can pay by card. In the diving centers they accept transfers, we always make them with N26 which costs one or two euros for international shipping.
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Although There are still no ATMs for sacar money, There are little shops like Mimi Shop in Long Beach that do Euro to Ringgit exchange rate at a relatively acceptable conversion rate. This same shop allows you to pay for Taxi Boat services with a card, so if you are short on cash, you will definitely be interested.
Es caror travel to the Perhentian Islands?
Traveling to the Perhentian Islands is more carOr you could do it in other parts of Malaysia, but prices are still good and it's easy to stay within budget. One of the biggest expenses will be the hotel; the value for money in Perhentian is quite poor. We paid €16 in August for a very basic, small cottage with a shared bathroom.
Here are some reference prices for how much it will cost you to travel to the Perhentian Islands.
Plate of food: 3-5 €
Fruit juice: 2-3 €
Beer: €4
Water refill: 0.50-1 €
Snorkeling tour: €10
Taxi boat: 3-5 €
Diving immersion: €25
Open Water Course: €275
More useful things to know before travelling to the Perhentian Islands
Before we start telling you what to do in the Perhentian Islands, we leave you with some final recommendations:
- En some places there is no internet and it generally doesn't work very well. Many hotels don't have WiFi.
- Have the name of the hotel ready when you board the boat to to be dropped off at the nearest pier.
- There are two mandatory fees of 20 MYR (4€) to access the jetty and another of 30 MYR (6€) for the Natural Park. You can pay by card.
- There is rental of traditionalcarsnorkel tube for 10 MYR (2€). If you have your own, it is better to put it in your luggage. These from Decathlon are very comfortable.
- Buy repellent Before you go, the mosquitoes are aggressive and they sell it on the island. caro.
- Usa chemical free sunscreen that harm marine life, such as this. This way you will protect the reefs and their inhabitants.
What to do in the Perhentian Islands
We have reached the end of the guide to travel to the Perhentian Islands and we are going to tell you more about what to do in them. You can also read our article on Best beaches and snorkeling spots in Perhentian Islands where we give you more detailed information.
Enjoy its best beaches
It is not a secret that The best thing to do in the Perhentian Islands is to enjoy its incredible beaches of turquoise waters among jungle landscapes. In our Another item You have a more complete guide, but I can tell you in advance that Our favourites were Turtle Beach, Teluk KK and the side of Flora Bay heading to Shark Point.
Snorkeling on your own or by hiring tours
La The most popular activity to do in the Perhentian Islands is to discover its seabed Snorkelling. You can do it on your own from the beach at places like D'Lagoon or Teluk Keke or hire a tour that takes you to different locations. Prices range from 40-90MYR (8-18€) depending on how far the tour goes and what it includes.
Snorkeling you can see corals, lots of reef fish, blue-spotted rays, small black-tip sharks (totally harmless, and very cute!) and with luck some turtles.
ᐈ Take note of the best locations for snorkeling free in Kecil and Besar.
Diving or trying to dive for the first time
The Perhentian Islands are a perfect place to learn to dive, calm waters, good price and a lot of life. You can do the Open Water course in 3 days or do a baptism for which you will only need a few hours. If you are already qualified, like us, we also highly recommend it, we enjoyed diving with the girls from Medusa Divers.
The places we liked the most were the Sanchoi and D'Lagoon wreckSome of the animals you can see are different types of rays, bamboo sharks, giant schools of fusiliers, green turtles and a multitude of different reef fish such as clownfish, triggerfish, angelfish, parrotfish and we even saw humpback parrotfish that can grow to a meter and a half long.
You can read: Cheapest places in the world to dive
Eating delicious food with sea views
Since there was no carWith no back roads or even paths, the restaurants on the Perhentian Islands have enviable views. In many of them you even eat with your feet in the sand and can go for a swim if your meal takes too long.there is island rhythm…).
ᐈ Ours Favorite restaurants and bars where to have a drink You can find them in «Where to eat in the Perhentian Islands«.
Up to this point Our guide to traveling to the Perhentian Islands. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. ☺️ To continue organizing your trip you can read our other Malaysia Guides.
If you have any questions or contributions, please leave them in the comments!
Hello! Could you recommend accommodation near Long Beach in Kecil?
Thanks greetings!
Hello Victor!
I recommend Seahorse Divers, it's right on that same beach: https://www.booking.com/hotel/my/seahorse-diver.en.html?aid=7906680&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=hotel_perhentian
Hi, thanks for the blog! Could you please tell me where you stayed in the Perhestian Islands?
Hello! We stayed in the cabins at the OhLaLa Divers diving center