Perhentian Island
Made up of two islands, namely Pulau Perhentian Kecil and Pulau Perhentian Besar, they were the connecting points for traders plying the Malaysia- Bangkok route in the past but holiday seekers have found pleasure and the islands continue to buzz with life. Perhentian Kecil has made a name for itself as a scuba diving hub and its vibrancy is evident with the younger crowd favouring the beach bar and it is almost as though the night is always young at this island. Perhentian Kecil is also the home of the annual Perhentian Island Challenge that draws many participants and visitors alike.
Magnificent. Awesome. Beautiful. Great. Magical…We could go on with descriptions of nature’s beauty but at times; words are just not enough and best to experience it for yourself. A place like Perhentian Island fits the bill as the getaway of sorts – transforming into a beach bum, escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life or meeting our friends of the sea, you deserve a reward!
Get ready your walking shoes and gear for the islands are devoid of roads, safe for footpaths cutting through the jungle. The nature lover will welcome the notion of possibly coming into contact with wildlife and monitor lizards, fruit bats, squirrels and the elusive mouse deer being sighted. Aqua fans cannot resist the crystalline waters, soaking for as long as they possibly can, snorkeling or going deeper into the ocean’s realm with scuba diving.
General Knowledge
Temperatures are fairly uniform all-year round ranging from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF) with high humidity of 85-95%. Annual rainfall ranges from 2,000–2,500 mm with monsoon peaking between end of November and end of January and most resorts do not operate from end November through end of January. Perhentian Island greets an influx of visitors between May–August therefore advanced bookings are recommended.
Perhentian Island can only be accessed via a boat ride from the Kuala Besut jetty, or chartering a boat from nearby Redang or Lang Tengah islands. The speedboat ride from Kuala Besut jetty to the islands generally cost RM 70.00 two-ways or RM 40.00 one-way with a frequency of approximately 5 times daily, depending on the number of passengers. The ride takes 30-45 minutes but if you fancy a bit of nostalgia, you could hire a traditional slow, wooden fishing boats that costs up to RM300, takes 2 hours and requires a group of at least 12 people.
Kuala Besut is located in the Peninsular Malaysia state of Terengganu can be reached via:
The closest airports are Kota Bahru and Kuala Terengganu and airlines plying the route are AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines and Firefly.
Most buses bound for Kota Bahru will stop at Jerteh where a taxi can be easily hired to the Kuala Besut jetty. A bus ride can take between 7-9 hours, depending on where you depart from. You can also take a direct bus to the Kuala Besut (Besut Jetty) bus station.
Driving would take between 7-9 hours, depending on departing spot and you would need to leave your car at the Kuala Besut jetty.
