The Perhentian Islands are a great place for lovers of relaxation in the lap of pristine nature. Here are wonderful beaches, warm sea, picturesque landscapes, a unique underwater world. Holidays in Perhentiani are accompanied by a decent level of service and comfort. Broad palm trees, white sand and first-class diving will give guests of the islands an unforgettable vacation and vivid impressions.
general information
The Perhentian Islands are located in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand of the South China Sea and are included in the territorial waters of Malaysia. Administratively, the Perhentians belong to the state of Tranggan. They belong to the group of coral islands of volcanic origin and generally occupy an area of 15.3 square meters. km The nearest water area and the Perhentians themselves are part of the large Redong reserve, therefore, the relevant rules for tourists are introduced here: fishing and collecting corals (sea shells) are prohibited.
The landscape of the islands is rocky, the sea is clear and clean, the underwater world is rich in wildlife and coral gardens. People come here for diving and snorkeling, as well as enjoy the picturesque landscapes of almost untouched nature. In total, the archipelago has five islands, three of which are uninhabited (Susu Dara, Rava, Seringi). The indigenous population of Perhentian is about 2000 thousand people.
Big and Small Islands
Of interest to travelers are two large Perhentian islands in Malaysia - Perhintian Kecil (Kesil) and Perhentian Besar. Holidays at Perhentian Kecil are suitable for budget travelers. It offers hostel accommodation, and everything is a bit cheaper than on the Big Island Perhentian Besar. Families with children are advised to choose comfortable hotels in Perhentian Besar. Here the infrastructure is more developed, the beaches are well-maintained, and the service in hotels is at a high level. In any case, on every island there is a network of campsites, chalets and hostels.
Weather
The islands are dominated by a tropical climate that provides a constant temperature without any fluctuations. Throughout the year, it stays in the region of 30 ° C. Water temperature ranges from +24 o C to +28 o C. Tourists are advised to have a dry season for relaxing on the Perhentian Islands. For months, it stretches from March to October. It is sunny at this time, the sea current is warm and weak, which makes diving activities pleasant. The sun on the islands fries very much, so in the first days of their stay, guests are advised to stay in the shade or use a sunscreen with a high protection factor. In addition, it is necessary to take a remedy for burns with you, since you will not be able to get this here. The wet season with prolonged heavy rains begins in November and lasts until March. Although warm in Perhentians these months, it is very windy and uncomfortable. The main flow of tourists to the islands is observed in June-July.
Beaches of the Big Island
On both islands there are comfortable beaches at the hotels, and there are "wild" ones. They can be reached by the popular water transport Perhentian - taxi-bot. The most famous beach vacation spots are:
- Beach at the Perhentian Island Resort. He is considered the most civilized and comfortable. The entrance to the sea here is quite convenient: gentle, with a smooth approach. The beach attracts with clean white sand, spreading palm trees, giving shade, and sea turtles. They swim close to the pier early in the morning.
- During the holiday season on the Perhentian Islands, the wild Tuna Bay Beach is very popular. Here you can see many corals on land and in water. Taxi bots ply here all the time.
- Secluded furnished beach at the Abdul Chalet. It is famous for its coral reef, located off the coast. The sand here is clean, white and very shallow.
- Secluded beaches in Turtle beach. Sea water in bays of turquoise color. The beaches beckon with their snow-white sand, tropical vegetation, which gives coolness and a gently sloping coast with a clean bottom (without stones and corals). Vacationers come here all day with food, fruit and water. Towards evening, a taxi bot returns for them.
- The most secluded place is the beach of Pinang 1000. Here tourists can immerse themselves in the world of pristine nature. The sand on the beach consists of large shells. On both sides of the bay are piles of picturesque boulders. On the beach you can find exotic butterflies, monitor lizards and monkeys.
Small Island Beaches
There are not many beaches on this island. There are several private places for recreation: Turtle Beach, Romantik Beach, Qite Beach, Smool Beach. You need to get to them by taxi cab. The best civilized beach with blue water and white sand on Perhentian Kesil is Long beach. It is attractive with a gentle entrance to the sea without fragments of coral and stones. Tropical vegetation is located off the coast, so you can hide from the scorching sun under umbrellas that are located along the line of the beach.
Accommodation and accommodation
There are not many comfortable hotels in the Perhentian Islands. In the reviews, tourists say that on the Small Island you can always find a place in a hostel or in a cozy budget hotel. There are also secluded places for a "wild" vacation with their own tents. The more equipped Perhentian Besar has small chalets and equipped campsites. In addition, on the Big Island there are comfortable hotels with pools and restaurants. The most popular are:
- Coral View Island Resort;
- The Barat Perhentian Beach Resort;
- Perhentian Island Resort 4 *.
All of the above hotels have their own equipped beaches, cozy restaurants and cafes. The rooms have everything for a comfortable stay: air conditioning, televisions, refrigerators and so on. But most importantly, from all the rooms of the hotels a picturesque view of the sea opens.
sights
There are no monuments of architecture and historical sites of interest to tourists in the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia. The main attractions here are: the surrounding nature, white beaches and a rich underwater world. The most interesting places on the islands are the following:
- Shark Point. This is one of the best places for snorkeling. Here you can watch a lot of marine fish, black-fin and finless sharks, see the magnificent underwater coral gardens.
- The labyrinth island of Rava hides many underwater tunnels and caves, through which you can take a fascinating safe walk.
- Palau Susu Dara Besar and Susu Dara Kecil. Here you can watch moray eels and gobans, see unique young ladies and triggerfish. The depth in these places reaches 18 meters, the water is clear, soft corals intertwine with hard ones.
- Near Perhentian Besar there is a small islet Tokong Laut. It is surrounded by thickets of coral of various colors and shades. You can sail here to admire the barracudas, black-fin sharks, nanny sharks, king fish and sea bass.
- The uninhabited cliff of Tokong Laut is beautiful with huge boulders that pass into the underwater slope.
- Between the Big and Small Islands there is a kind of observation deck Turtle Watching. The bottom is lined with white corals, but the most important attraction is the sea turtles, which sail to the shore. Tourists have the opportunity to take photos with them. The Perhentian Islands will have a unique opportunity to swim in the company of large turtles.
- The most delightful coral gardens are located in Sia Bell.
- To the east of Perhentian Besar Island, Terumbu Tiga offers a range of diving activities. This is possible due to the strong undercurrent. The depth here reaches 20 meters, and visibility up to 15 meters. During the dive you can see picturesque underwater boulders covered with gorgonians and soft corals, black-fin sharks and sea cocks.
- Fishing in coastal waters and in the nearest water area of the islands is prohibited, however, in Snorkeling trips, anyone can do it. The price of this travel program includes fishing and kayaking.
- To the shores of Kuala Besud, tourists go to see the wrecked cargo ship Sugar Wreck.
- The secluded beach at the Abdul Chalet hotel will give guests of the island a quiet relaxing holiday surrounded by nature and the opportunity to enjoy the picturesque coral reef.
Fun and relaxation
The main activities in the Perhentians are such sports as sea kayaking, snorkeling, snorkelling, surfing. The underwater world of the islands is unique and diverse: clown fish, parrot fish, cockerels, barracudas, black fin, finless, whale sharks, moray eels, stingrays, huge turtles and so on. In addition to observing marine life, diving under water will allow you to see a variety of coral gardens, dazzling with all the colors of the rainbow. In addition, guests of the island can sunbathe and enjoy the warm sun on the white beaches. In numerous photos of the Perhentian Islands (Malaysia), you can see that the beaches here are simply magical, they are surrounded by thickets of palm trees, giving a pleasant cool, and the water is clear and turquoise. Those who wish can take a trekking trip to the jungle or a trip on a rented lock to the uninhabited islands of Perhentian.
Restaurants and Cafes
All eateries are located at hotels or inns. Products are imported from the "mainland", so prices are much higher than on the mainland. But tourists who visited the Perhentian Islands, reviews about food in local institutions leave only positive. They say that the food in the restaurants and cafes of Perhentian is not only tasty, but also varied. Here you can taste dishes of Malaysian, Thai, Chinese, Indian and European cuisine. Delicious branded pizza can be ordered at the Watercolors Resort Restaurant, and in some bars there is the opportunity to purchase alcohol, but the prices are simply cosmic. Therefore, it is better to bring alcohol with you. Due to the fact that Malaysia is a Muslim country, some establishments of the Perhentian Islands do not serve pork and alcohol at all.
Shopping
The avid shopaholics in the Perhentian Islands have nothing to do. The resort is used for other purposes, so shopping is absent here as such. At the resorts you can buy souvenirs in the form of magnets and sealed bottles with shells and sand inside; tubes, flippers and masks; slippers, sunglasses and a mat for lying on the beach; some attributes for diving and snorkeling. As mentioned above, alcohol is not worth buying here because of its price.
Travel Tips
Anyone who is going to visit Perhentian for the first time should consider the following recommendations:
- The influx of tourists to the islands is observed on weekends, so it is better to plan an arrival on a weekday.
- You should definitely take a first-aid kit with you where you need to put antihistamines (there are fleas on the islands, the bite of which can cause an allergic reaction), antipyretics, medications to treat stomach upsets and sunburn medicines.
- Sunblock and tanning cream must be bought on the mainland, they are not sold here.
- All planned excursions and visits to local attractions should be discussed with a tour operator in advance.
How to get there
The main question that worries everyone who is going to relax in the Perhentian Islands is how to get from Kuala Lumpur? The most convenient and fastest way is to fly from the capital to Kota Bara. You can also get on the bus, but it will take more time. Next take a taxi to Kuala Besut marina. From here there are boats that deliver tourists to the islands. They do not have an exact schedule, it all depends on occupancy. There is no transport on the islands. Exceptions are taxi bots.
How to get to the beach and attractions in the Perhentian Islands? On foot or by taxi. All tourist areas are connected by trails, and if you wish, in thirty minutes you can independently reach any corner of the island. You can take a taxi bot to a wild island or to another beach. The price for them is not fixed, so you can always bargain.
Want to get diving for breakfast, pristine beaches and the rainforest for lunch, a bunch of stars and the splendor of the night sky for dinner? Go to the Perhentian Islands. Here you will find privacy and a wonderful vacation on the magnificent beaches, surrounded by delightful unspoiled nature.