Sipadan Island. Photo credit: REN Scubaworx

(By Tsem Rinpoche and Kenneth Chan)

Crystal clear waters lapping against white sandy beaches. Coastlines lined with palm trees against a backdrop of lush green hills and sunny blue skies. Amazing underwater life and some of the best diving sites in the world. Malaysia’s 878 islands give sun and surf lovers plenty of reason to visit the country.

Penang, Langkawi and Pangkor offer easy getaways to well-developed islands with plenty of activities to choose from. Perhentian, Redang, Tioman and Rawa islands are simply paradise if you have the heart of a bohemian. Sipadan, Mabul, Layang-Layang and Kapas are rugged dive adventures listed as some of the best on the planet.

White sandy beaches and crystal clear seas are plentiful in Malaysia

Sipadan

Sipadan, an island of the Semporna archipelago off the coast of Sabah is a perennial top ranker in “world’s best dives” lists. The island’s diverse marine wildlife is the star attraction — over 3,000 species of sea creatures have been recorded in its warm tropical waters including manta rays, sea turtles, barracuda and sharks.

This diving haven was hailed by the legendary Jacques Cousteau as “an untouched piece of art”.

To conserve Sipadan’s underwater paradise, the Sabah state government has banned accommodation on the island and limited the number of divers (and snorkelers too!) to only 120 dive permits per day. If you’ve got ‘diving in Sipadan’ on your bucket list, you’ll want to book your dives well in advance to secure your permit!

Accommodation for visitors to Sipadan is available on nearby Mabul or Kapalai islands.

To enjoy diving in clear, calm waters with visibility of up to 50 meters, the best time to visit is from April to June.

Getting There:
Getting to Sipadan is via Semporna, a small port town which acts as the gateway to the nearby islands of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Pom Pom and Mataking.

Semporna is an hour’s drive from Tawau and Tawau Airport is connected with regular flights from Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.

Getting from Semporna to Mabul or Kapalai is an hour’s ride via speedboat.

Website:
Sipadan: http://www.sipadan.com/

Turtles are common and easy to spot in Sipadan. Photo credit: Dive The World

Kapas

The Malay word for ‘cotton’, Kapas Island’s name is a reference to its pure white beaches. Kapas is located in the South China Sea only 6 kilometres away from Marang, a small fishing town in Terengganu on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia.

The island offers pristine waters with splendid coral reefs. Its close proximity to the mainland — only 15 minutes by speedboat — makes it a favourite for weekend getaways or even one-day dive trips. A WWII shipwreck located five nautical miles from the island’s coast is one of the star attractions for divers.

Kapas offers plenty of accommodation choices including camp sites, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, chalets and resorts which are mainly run by the villagers in Marang.

The monsoon season usually runs from November till March and it is not recommended to visit Kapas Island during this time.

Getting There:
It is only a short 10 kilometre drive from Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu state to Marang Jetty. At Marang Jetty, boat operators ferry visitors to and from Kapas Island. Some can even make reservations for accommodation as well as dive and snorkelling trips.

Website:
Pulau Kapas via Terengganu State Tourism: http://beautifulterengganu.com/where-to-go/islands/pulau-kapas/

Pulau Kapas is a lesser-known destination where the saying “less is more” rings true. Picture credit: Why Wait To See The World?

Layang Layang

Layang Layang is located in the Spratly Islands, 300 kilometres north of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. Swallow Reef is the English name for Pulau Layang Layang.

This deep sea atoll with waters 2,000 metres deep makes for a unique dive. Be prepared for schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, leopard sharks and many species of rays including mantas. Rare sights such as whale sharks, orcas and melon-headed whales have also been spotted in recent years.

This isolated island in the South China Sea has only one diving resort — Layang Layang Island Resort, which is the only option for visitors to the island. The island also serves as a Royal Malaysian Navy naval station (Station Lima) as well as a marine research facility.

Getting There:
There is only one way to get to Pulau Layang Layang and that is by air. The island’s airport has daily flights to and from Kota Kinabalu.

Website:
Layang Layang Island Resort website: http://www.layanglayang.com/

Layang Layang Island is an oceanic atoll of the Spratly Islands, located 300 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Perhentian

Located off the coast of northeastern Peninsula Malaysia, Perhentian is a cluster of islands consisting of Pulau Perhentian Besar, Pulau Perhentian Kecil and several other smaller uninhabited islands.

Of the two main islands, Perhentian Kecil (Small Perhentian) offers smaller chalet-style accommodation and is favoured by younger visitors and trendy backpackers. Perhentian Besar (Large Perhentian) has medium-sized hotels and guesthouses in a large village that is ideal for families.

The beaches of Perhentian Kecil are among the top of CNN’s list of the ‘World’s Top 100 Beaches’.

The best time to visit the Perhentian Islands is from early-March to late-October. The majority of accommodation options are closed during the monsoon season between November and February.

Getting There:
Boat ferries to the Perhentian Islands depart several times a day from the jetty at Kuala Besut, a coastal town bordering the states of Terengganu and Kelantan. Kuala Besut is reachable by road from either Kota Bahru, the capital of Kelantan state or Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu state. Both state capitals have airports with connections to and from Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah.

Website:
Perhentian Island via Terengganu State Tourism:
http://beautifulterengganu.com/where-to-go/islands/pulau-perhentian/

The Perhentian Islands are an all-time favourite destination with both local and foreign visitors. Picture credit: Perhentian Islands Tropical Island Vacation

Redang

The Redang archipelago of nine islands is a gazetted marine park. Upmarket bohemian types seeking a quieter beach holiday will find Pulau Redang Marine Park an ideal destination with its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, and schools of tropical fish that inhabit the numerous reefs — many close to shore.

To the north of Redang Island is a famous dive location, the Turtle Bay, which is famous for its namesake. A turtle conservation centre is also located here, as is a turtle hatchery.

A 30-minute boat ride connects Redang and Perhentian islands and combining stays in both islands is not uncommon.

Getting There:
Ferries to Redang depart from Marang Jetty.

Website:
Redang Island via Terengganu State Tourism: http://www.beautifulterengganu.com/where-to-go/islands/pulau-redang/

Pulau Redang is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia and is famed for its crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. Picture credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tioman

A protected forest reserve, the island of Tioman off the east coast of the state of Pahang first gained fame when it became the location of the mythical island Bali Hai in the 1958 movie, South Pacific. In the 1970s, Tioman was named one of the world’s most beautiful islands by TIME Magazine, putting Malaysia firmly on the map of global island destinations.

Today, Tioman is a duty-free island with a laid-back atmosphere. It is frequented by sun and surf lovers of all ages and its many nature-based activities such as jungle and hill trekking are also popular with visitors.

The coastline has coral reefs and plenty of marine life. The east coast also has a turtle conservation centre with a hatchery that protects and studies sea turtles.

Visitors have a wide choice of accommodation from budget and midrange hotels to luxury resorts nestled within private coves and beaches.

Getting There:
The main route to Tioman Island is via Mersing, a coastal town in Johor state. There are three ferries sailing from Mersing every day, the first at 8.30 am and the last at 2.30 pm. Each trip takes between two to three hours depending on wind and sea conditions.

Website:
Tioman Island Visitor Information: http://www.tioman.org

Tioman Island was one of the earliest island holiday destinations in Malaysia

Rawa

One of Malaysia’s best-kept secrets, this relatively unspoiled coral island off the coast of Mersing in Johor state is popular with tourists from Malaysia and Singapore. The island is named after white doves or ‘rawa’ in Malay, which make the island their home.

This small island has sandy beaches on one side and a rocky vertical cliff face on the other. It is also known for its abundant corals, giant clams and black tip reef sharks.

Located within the archipelago of the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, Rawa Island offers a beachfront resort for holidaymakers looking for modern comforts and a cosy guesthouse.

Getting There:
Rawa Island is accessible via a 20-minute speedboat ride from Mersing, Johor.

Website:
Rawa Island Resort: http://www.rawaislandresort.com
Alang’s Rawa: http://www.alangsrawa.com

Rawa Island is the ideal location for those seeking a secluded weekend getaway.

Langkawi

Located in the Andaman Sea off the northwest coast of Peninsula Malaysia, the Langkawi archipelago of 99 islands features tropical rainforest-covered mountains isles and white sandy beaches. Declared Southeast Asia’s first UNESCO Geopark, it is a natural monument with 550 million-year-old clues of how this part of the world was shaped.

This famous duty-free island plays host to annual events like LIMA, the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition which registered over three and a half million domestic and foreign tourists last year.

Langkawi International Airport is a busy entry gate with a crowd of Western, Asian and Middle Eastern tourists coming through to see and experience the many varied islands, its spectacular marine life, pristine beaches, lakes, waterfalls, flora and fauna.

Travellers to Malaysia’s biggest holiday island are also spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation, with high-end luxury boutique hotels like The Andaman and St. Regis, five-star resorts like the Westin, and backpacker chalets on the beachfront.

Getting There:
By air, Langkawi International Airport is served by Malaysian Airlines as well as low budget airlines such as Air Asia, Firefly and Silk Air.

By sea, regular ferry services are available from Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah and George Town jetties.

Website:
Langkawi Tourism: http://www.naturallylangkawi.my

For luxurious island getaways, Langkawi’s offerings are hard to beat. Picture credit: Four Seasons Resort Langkawi.

Penang

Called the “Pearl of the Orient”, the island of Penang offers visitors soft, sandy beaches, cool hill holidays, nature-lover trails and heritage city adventures all in one location where the sights and sounds of the sea are nearly always a hop, skip and jump away.

Fondly regarded as the food capital of the country, the island’s many beachfront eateries — whether it’s just for the teh tarik or a lobster thermidor — are a popular hang-out for locals and foreign guests.

The Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang may be the world’s smallest national park at just under 30 square kilometres. However, this not-so-secret gem is ranked as one of the highest rated parks and green spaces in Asia, according to leading online hotel booking site Agoda.com.

The national park comprises of hidden lagoons with silky sandy beaches, lowland mangrove swamps, and at Pantai Kerachut — probably the best beach on the island — a rare meromictic lake. One of only three in Asia, the psychedelic multi-coloured lake is a result of saltwater meeting fresh.

Getting There:
The island of Penang is linked to mainland Peninsula Malaysia by two bridges, which are the two longest in Malaysia. The newer bridge — Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (or Penang Second Bridge) is also the longest in Southeast Asia. These bridges connect directly to the main expressway, the North-South Highway.

Penang International Airport is the main airport for northern Malaysia and the third-busiest in the country, with regular flights to all major airports in the country as well as international connections such as Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Taipei.

The original transportation link which is still in service today, the Penang ferry — a state heritage icon — shuttles passengers and vehicles to and from the mainland.

Once a busy trading port, George Town also has luxury cruise liners berthing alongside ferries for regular trips to neighbouring islands such as Langkawi.

Website:
Penang Tourism: https://mypenang.gov.my

Long before George Town received its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Zone, the island of Penang was known internationally for its beaches.

Pangkor

With its tranquil fishing villages, this island in the Straights of Malacca has become a destination for innovative eco-tourism. It is located off the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia in the state of Perak.

Meaning ‘Beautiful Island’, Pulau Pangkor — if you know where to look — is exactly that. Although it may not have any of the country’s biggest or best, it is a favourite with local visitors and international travellers who can appreciate and want a true Malaysian island village experience.

The historic island, once a refuge for pirates and later on a Dutch naval fortress, was the site of the Pangkor Treaty of 1874 that formalised the way for Britain’s colonial imperialism.

Pangkor offers a range of accommodation from budget guesthouses for families to flashpackers and five-star luxuries. It was recently declared a duty-free zone.

Getting There:
Ferries to Pulau Pangkor can be boarded at the town of Lumut, a three-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur.

Website:
Pangkor Island on Official Perak State Tourism website
http://www.peraktourism.com.my/about-pangkor-island.html

Pangkor Island off the coast of Perak state was recently declared a duty-free zone. Picture credit: Pangkor Laut Resort

For more interesting information:

• Top 10 Spiritual Power Places in Malaysia
• Top Ten Events and Festivals to Visit in Malaysia
• Top 10 Hill and Jungle Adventures in Malaysia
• Deepavali: The Festival of Lights
• Chinese New Year
• Hari Raya Aidilfitri
• Traditional Clothes of Malaysia
• The Dragon Boat Festival: A Fusion of Traditional and Modern Culture
• Wesak Day In Malaysia
• Thaipusam – The Festival of Lord Murugan
• Gawai Dayak – The Celebration of Bountiful Harvest
• Monarchy System in Malaysia
• 25 Mouthwatering Dishes Of Malaysia

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