Islands & Beaches
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Islands & Beaches Terengganu, with its exotic and scenic sandy coastline is famed for its 244 km stretch of unpolluted and panoramic beaches, extending from the district of Besut in the north to the district of Kemaman in the south. The coastal landscape, overlooking the South China Sea where archipelagos of emerald islands such as Perhentian, Lang Tengah, Redang, Bidong, Gemia, Kapas and Tenggol offer dazzling clean, powdery white sandy beaches and lush green jungle while the turquoise waters are dotted with coral reefs, teeming with marine life. The tranquil hideaway islands are the enticing factor that sees flocks of travelers seeking fun in the sun, sand and sea, escaping the reality of the concrete jungle for a truly memorable holiday in the tropics. Beautiful State, Beautiful Culture Pulau Kapas Pulau Perhentian Pantai Teluk Ketapang Pantai Kelulut Pulau Lang Tengah Pulau Redang Pantai Penarik Pulau Bidong Pantai Kemasik Pantai Batu Buruk Pantai Bukit Keluang Pulau Tenggol Pulau Gemia Pantai Pandak Pantai Batu Rakit Pantai Air Tawar Pantai Kuala Abang 4 ISLANDS & BEACHES 5 PULAU PERHENTIAN Located 21 km off the coast of Pulau Perhentian was chosen Terengganu, Pulau Perhentian by a CNN survey in 2013 as consists of the islands the 13th Best Beach in the of Perhentian Besar (Big world. In 2010, The Lonely Perhentian) and Perhentian Planet Travel Guide Book Kecil (Small Perhentian). The recognized Pulau Perhentian name Perhentian means as the 5th Best Beach to ‘stopover point’ in Malay, Swing the Hammock. Both referring to the islands’ the islands offer options of traditional role as a sanctuary accommodation and facilities for fishermen and ancient that suit discerning holiday traders plying the eastern makers of all ages and and western sea routes. budgets. Both islands are covered by untouched jungle, a stopover Must do: for migratory birds, fringed · Try island-hopping by powdery white sandy · Go diving at Tokong Laut to beaches, windswept palms see bamboo sharks and surrounded by sapphire · Go on a banana boat ride or blue waters. Its excellent try canoeing underwater seascape is lush · Enjoy the sun and sea with a wide variety of soft breeze and hard coral gardens, sea- turtles, and diverse marine life. 6 ISLANDS & BEACHES How to get there Kuala Besut Tourist Jetty - (1 ½ hour drive up north from Kuala Terengganu). There are ferries and speedboats available daily with morning departures. The return ticket to the island is RM70.00 per person. There are water taxis available for shuttles between the village and all the resorts on Perhentian Kecil and Perhentian Besar. Rates vary depending from which resort on which island. It costs double for transfers after 7.00 pm. 7 PULAU REDANG Approximately 45 km off Kuala Terengganu, lies Pulau Redang. The island is reachable either by a one and a half hour journey by ferry from Shahbandar Jetty in Kuala Terengganu or by a 40 minute speedboat ride from the Merang Jetty. Accommodations of various budgets are mainly located in the Long Beach area while a five star resort is located at Teluk Dalam area. Sheltered within the Pulau Redang gazetted Marine Park, the waters here are rich in marine life. This paradise-like island is a perfect place for snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, jungle trekking, boating and canoeing. Those interested in fishing or squid jigging should try their luck in the vicinity waters off Pulau Chepu. It is a small rocky island off the coast of Setiu, accessible by a 20 minute speedboat ride. Must do: · Go snorkelling at the Marine Park · Explore the 31 dive sites on the island · Take a walk along the breathtaking Long Beach · Play beach volleyball · Enjoy a jungle walk to explore the natural ecosystem including the island’s wildlife. 8 ISLANDS & BEACHES 9 How to get there Approximately 45 km off Kuala Terengganu, lies Pulau Redang. The island is reachable either by a one and a half hour journey by ferry from Shahbandar Jetty in Kuala Terengganu or by a 40 minute speedboat ride from the Merang Jetty. 10 ISLANDS & BEACHES PULAU LANG TENGAH Lang Tengah Island is a tiny island located between Pulau Redang and Pulau Perhentian and is connected to the mainland by a 30 minute speedboat ride from Merang Jetty. Visitors from Kuala Terengganu need to travel about half an hour up north to this jetty. Pulau Lang Tengah’s untouched tropical jungle still retains its natural ecosystem. The sea promises soft and hard colourful corals of unrivaled beauty with an abundance of marine life. There are only four resorts here, each with their own private beach. Visitors can laze around practically undisturbed on the soft powdery sandy beaches. With its crystal clear seawater, white beaches and tropical island forest, it is definitely appealing to holiday goers looking for a quiet island tropical getaway. 11 How to get there Speedboats to Lang Tengah Island ply daily service from Merang Jetty which is a 40 minute drive north from Kuala Terengganu. The transfer from Merang takes approximately 30 minutes. The return ticket from both jetties to Lang Tengah is RM100.00 per person. 12 ISLANDS & BEACHES PULAU BIDONG How to get there This historic little island was internationally To get to the island, you need to catch known as the relocation centre for a boat from Merang Jetty which is about Vietnamese refugees during the mid 30 minutes or 40 km north of Kuala Terengganu and it takes another 30 70’s until its closure in the early 90’s. It minutes to reach the island. is located northeast of Kuala Terengganu and is reachable by a 30 - 40 minute speedboat ride from Merang Jetty. Remnants of a hospital, school, sundry shops, workshops, temple and camps are a stark reminder of what used to be home to thousands of boat people. Since there are no accommodation facilities on the island, visitors from Redang Island can arrange a day trip to Bidong to enjoy snorkeling and diving in its pristine waters. There is an underwater gallery that hosts replicas of the Terengganu Inscription Stone (Batu Bersurat), a traditional arch, a Keris, a traditional sampan and betel chewing canisters (tepak sireh), all located 15 m underwater. 13 14 ISLANDS & BEACHES PULAU KAPAS Kapas Island is the smallest and the nearest How to get there island to the mainland. It is accessible with a 10 The tourist jetty in Marang minute speedboat ride from Marang Jetty, which town is a mere 20 is situated 18 km south of Kuala Terengganu. minutes drive south of Kuala Terengganu. The This little haven in the South China Sea has speedboat ride takes just attracted backpackers and local family groups for 10 minutes as Kapas is a pleasant getaway especially during weekends the nearest island to the mainland and it costs for relaxation, sun bathing, diving and snorkeling. RM40.00 per person for a The vicinity of Kapas Island is also well known for return trip. the squid breeding grounds where annual squid jigging activities take place from March - August. 15 PULAU GEMIA Gemia Island or Gem Island is a smaller island sharing the same waters in the vicinity of Kapas Island. It is one of the few privately owned islands in Malaysia with accommodation that blends into How to get there Regular boat services the island’s superb natural beauty. It is are available from located in a Marine Conservation Park Marang Jetty and it with crystal clear waters, a spectacular takes 10 minutes by speedboat to reach the underwater seascape of corals and island. marine life as some of its natural wonders. 16 ISLANDS & BEACHES PULAU TENGGOL Pulau Tenggol lies within a 45 minute boat ride from Kuala Dungun, a quaint fishing town 68 km south of Kuala Terengganu. With three resorts offering moderate accommodation and diving facilities, it is a favourite among hardcore divers looking for thrilling night dives and shipwrecks. Pulau Tenggol is famous as the feeding ground for migratory whale sharks, it is a rare sight to behold the divers to be ‘up-close and personal’ with whale sharks in their natural habitat. How to get there Kuala Dungun Jetty is a 1 hour scenic coastal drive south of Kuala Terengganu. The morning speedboat journey to the island takes approximately 45 minutes and costs RM110.00 per person. 17 18 ISLANDS & BEACHES PANTAI BATU BURUK This recreation beach is the preferred place for weekend holiday retreats in Kuala Terengganu, a favourite among youngsters and families. Feel the cool breeze while strolling on the wide stretch of sandy beach overlooking the South China Sea. A children’s playground, horse riding activities, jogging tracks, toilets, eating stalls and performance stage are available. Locals and tourists alike flock to the beach spending quality time with the family and their loved ones. 19 How to get there Batu Buruk is the closest beach from the city centre. It is reachable by bus (Marang / Dungun), trishaw and taxi or even on foot if you like walking (about 20 minutes from city centre). 20 ISLANDS & BEACHES PANTAI PANDAK, CHENDERING About 6 km south of Kuala Terengganu, Pantai Pandak in Chendering is yet another preferred beach in Kuala Terengganu with a great view. The coved beach along shallow water in between the rocky section provides a suitable atmosphere for family camping trips. This stretch of beach is ideal for bathing especially during low tide but be extra cautions not to go in too deep to avoid undercurrent. Fresh seafood products are available at the food stalls here. How to get there There are public buses that ply the Dungun / Marang route from Kuala Terengganu. It takes 15 minutes to reach Chendering junction and another 15 minutes of walking to the beach.