Turquoise water and reef sharks, a short flight and a boat ride from Changi
The Perhentian Islands get called the Maldives of Malaysia, and for once the nickname mostly holds up. Clear water, powder sand, green turtles and blacktip reef sharks you can snorkel beside in waist-deep water. The catch is the logistics: no airport, no cars, and no working ATM once you’re out there. Get the cash and the boat sorted first, and the rest is easy.
💜 Plan your Malaysia trip:
– SGD To MYR Rate Today: Best Exchange Rates & Forecast
– Malaysia ATM Withdrawal Guide: Fees, Locations, Exchange Rates
– NEW: Your Malaysian Ringgit Wallet Has Arrived!
TL;DR: Planning a Trip to Perhentian Island
| Where | Off the Terengganu coast, northeast Peninsular Malaysia — about 21 km from Kuala Besut |
| Best time to go | March to October. The islands shut roughly November to February for the monsoon |
| How long you need | 3 days (3D2N) minimum — the first and last days are half-days |
| Getting there from SG | Fly Changi → Kota Bharu, transfer to Kuala Besut jetty, then a 30–45min boat across |
| The two islands | Kecil (smaller, cheaper, backpacker, beach bars) vs Besar (quieter, resort-side, families and couples) |
| Rough cost | Budget chalets from ~80 MYR (~S$25) a night; mid-range resorts ~250–800 MYR (~S$78–S$250) |
| Pay smart | Withdraw MYR cash before the jetty — there is no ATM on the islands. Tap YouTrip on the mainland |
📌 Table of Contents
- Are the Perhentian Islands Worth Visiting?
- How to Get to Perhentian Island From Singapore
- Is There an Airport on Perhentian Island?
- Best Time to Visit Perhentian Island
- Perhentian vs Redang: Which Is Better?
- Perhentian Besar vs Perhentian Kecil: Which Island Should You Stay On?
- Where to Stay in Perhentian Island
- Best Things to Do in Perhentian Island
- What to Eat on Perhentian Island
- What a Perhentian Trip Costs From Singapore
- Things to Know Before You Go
- FAQs About Perhentian Island (2026)
Are the Perhentian Islands Worth Visiting?
Yes, if you want snorkelling and switch-off over nightlife and comfort. The Perhentians are two undeveloped islands built around the water, and the water really is some of the clearest in Malaysia.
What to expect:
- The snorkelling is the whole point. Green turtles, blacktip reef sharks, blue-spotted rays and huge schools of reef fish, often just off the beach in shallow water. Divers rate the reefs among the easiest and most rewarding in the country.
- It’s rustic, not resort-slick. No cars, no chain-hotel strip, patchy Wi-Fi, and no ATM on either island. That’s the appeal for most people, but plan around it.
- It’s cheaper than its neighbours. Perhentian skews backpacker and mid-range, with dorms and simple chalets alongside a handful of nicer resorts. You book a room and pay à la carte, rather than a locked full-board package.
- Two islands, two moods. Perhentian Kecil is the livelier, cheaper one with the beach bars; Perhentian Besar is quieter and more family-friendly. Which you pick shapes the whole trip.
If your idea of a good holiday is what’s under the water and a book on the sand, the Perhentians are worth the effort of getting there. If you need a buzzing scene after dark, look elsewhere. Weighing it against its neighbour? Redang has slightly clearer water and a polished resort-package feel, while Perhentian is cheaper, more social and has more dive sites.
📖 Related Guide: Comparing Malaysia’s island escapes? Our Tioman Island Guide covers beaches, diving and where to stay on the east coast’s other favourite.
How to Get to Perhentian Island From Singapore
There’s no direct route: you get yourself to the mainland town of Kuala Besut, then take a boat across. The fastest way is to fly to the east coast and transfer to the jetty; the cheapest is a long overland haul by coach.
Fly Changi to Kota Bharu, Then Transfer to Kuala Besut
The quickest option. Fly from Changi to Kota Bharu (airport code KBR). Scoot runs the direct route, and the flight takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. Kota Bharu is the closest airport to the jetty, roughly a 1-hour drive from Kuala Besut.
- Best for: most Singapore travellers who want to be on the sand the same day.
- The transfer: arrange a taxi or minivan from the airport straight to Kuala Besut jetty. Many island resorts can book this for you, so ask when you reserve your room.
- The other airport: you can also fly into Sultan Mahmud Airport in Kuala Terengganu (airport code TGG), but it’s a longer drive north to the jetty, so Kota Bharu is usually the smarter pick.
Drive or Coach Overland
The budget route, and a long one. Kuala Besut is roughly a full day from Singapore by road, up the east coast via Johor.
- Coach: long-distance buses run from Singapore and Johor Bahru’s Larkin Terminal toward Jerteh or Kuala Besut. Reckon on 12 to 15 hours all in, usually with a change, so most people break the trip overnight.
- Driving: flexible if you’re up for the haul, but you’ll leave the car at the jetty, with guarded parking for around 15–20 MYR (~S$5–S$6) per day.
Take the Boat From Kuala Besut Jetty
From Kuala Besut, the boat is the only way across. The islands sit about 21 km offshore, and the crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes.
- The crossing: the standard shared speedboat takes 30 to 45 minutes and costs about 80 MYR (~S$25) return. Take motion-sickness medication beforehand if you’re prone to it, as it can get bumpy.
- Running hours: boats generally run from around 8 AM to 5 PM. Book your return the day before, since departures thin out later in the day.
- If you arrive late: turn up at Kuala Besut after 6 PM and you’ll need a private charter across, roughly 350–500 MYR (~S$109–S$156) per boat. Aim to reach the jetty by mid-afternoon.
Getting There From Kuala Lumpur
Coming via KL instead? Fly Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu (about 1 hour) and transfer to Kuala Besut, or take a long-distance coach or drive, which runs closer to 7 to 8 hours. The boat leg from Kuala Besut is the same either way.
One money note before you go: withdraw your ringgit at an ATM on the mainland, in Kota Bharu or Kuala Besut town before the jetty, because there is no reliable ATM on either island. With YouTrip, your first S$400 of overseas ATM withdrawals each month is free, then a flat 2% after that. That beats a money changer, which quietly bakes a markup into the rate it quotes you.
📖 Related Guide: Driving up the peninsula instead? Our Car Rental JB Guide covers picking up a car across the Causeway for the long haul north.
Is There an Airport on Perhentian Island?
No. Neither Perhentian Kecil nor Perhentian Besar has an airport or an airstrip, and there are no cars on the islands. The nearest airports are Kota Bharu (KBR), about an hour’s drive from the jetty, and Kuala Terengganu (TGG) further south. From either, you drive to Kuala Besut and take a boat across, which is the only way to reach the islands.
📖 Related Guide: Sorting connectivity for a no-Wi-Fi island? Our Best eSIM Singapore Guide covers cheap Malaysia eSIMs so you land connected.
Best Time to Visit Perhentian Island
Visit between March and October. Outside that window, you mostly can’t get there. The northeast monsoon batters the east coast, and the islands effectively close.
- March to October: the open season. Calm seas, clear water, and the resorts, boats and dive schools are all running.
- Roughly November to February: monsoon season. Most guesthouses, resorts and dive schools shut, boats stop running to schedule, and the sea turns rough. Plan around March at the earliest.
- July and August are peak, the busiest, priciest stretch, when Singapore and Malaysia school holidays overlap. Book well ahead.
- The shoulder months (April to June, September, October) are the sweet spot: fewer crowds, lower prices, and water that’s still excellent. Underwater visibility is often best from April to August.
⚠️ Note: the monsoon closure isn’t a soft suggestion. From around late October, the boats and stays wind down, so a December beach trip to the Perhentians usually isn’t possible at all. Aim for the heart of the dry season if you want a buffer against early storms.
📖 Related Guide: Pairing the islands with another Malaysian beach? Our Langkawi Guide maps out the northwest coast’s bigger, busier island escape.
Perhentian vs Redang: Which Is Better?
Both are Terengganu snorkelling islands with turquoise water, and they’re often shortlisted together. They suit different trips: Perhentian for budget, dive variety and a social scene; Redang for polish, package convenience and marginally clearer water.
- Cost: Perhentian is cheaper and more flexible, with everything from 30 MYR (~S$9) dorms to nicer resorts, all booked à la carte. Redang runs mostly on full-board resort packages that start higher.
- Water and diving: Redang often edges it on visibility, but Perhentian has more dive sites and shallow, beginner-friendly conditions, which is why dive schools love it.
- Vibe: Perhentian Kecil has a genuine backpacker-and-beach-bar scene; Redang is quieter and more resort-contained, better for couples and families who want it all organised.
- Getting there: Perhentian is a boat from Kuala Besut; Redang has ferries from Kuala Terengganu and even a limited direct flight from Seletar. Redang can be the easier door-to-door trip.
Pick Perhentian if you want a livelier, cheaper island with more to do underwater. Pick Redang if you’d rather book one package and switch your brain off.
📖 Related Guide: Leaning the other way? Our Redang Island Guide covers the direct Seletar flight, ferry times and the best full-board resorts.
Perhentian Besar vs Perhentian Kecil: Which Island Should You Stay On?
This is the one decision that shapes your whole trip. There are two main islands, a short boat-taxi apart, and they suit very different travellers. Kecil (“small”) is the livelier, cheaper one; Besar (“big”) is the quieter, more comfortable one.
Perhentian Kecil — Long Beach, Coral Bay and the Backpacker Scene
The busier, budget-friendly island, and the social heart of the Perhentians. It has two main beaches. Long Beach on the east side is the lively one, with beach bars, casual cafes, fire shows after dark and the biggest spread of cheap chalets and dorms.
Coral Bay on the west side is calmer, a short walk across the island, and it faces the sunset. Kecil is where you’ll find the fullest range of budget stays and the most going on in the evening.
Best for solo travellers, backpackers, groups and anyone who wants some nightlife and the cheapest beds.
Perhentian Besar — Quieter Bays for Families and Couples
The larger island, and the more relaxed one. Besar spreads its resorts across several quieter bays, with calmer water, more mid-range and upmarket stays and far less late-night noise. Many of its resorts are family-run, so it leans toward couples, families and anyone whose idea of a good night is dinner and an early snorkel.
Best for families, couples and travellers who want space and quiet over a beach-bar scene.
Quick Verdict: Which Island Fits You
| You want… | Stay on… |
|---|---|
| Beach bars, fire shows, cheapest beds | Perhentian Kecil (Long Beach) |
| A quieter sunset side, still on the lively island | Perhentian Kecil (Coral Bay) |
| Calm water, family resorts, early nights | Perhentian Besar |
| Backpacker social scene | Perhentian Kecil |
| Couples’ comfort and space | Perhentian Besar |
You can visit both, since water taxis hop between the islands and beaches for a few ringgit, so where you sleep is really about your evenings.
📖 Related Guide: Wondering whether your card works once you’re across the Causeway? Our Can YouTrip Be Used in Malaysia? guide covers card vs cash across the country.
Where to Stay in Perhentian Island
Accommodation runs the full range here, from beach dorms to a proper five-star resort, so your budget and which island you pick matter more than a single “best” pick. Most stays are booked à la carte, not as full-board packages.
Book direct where you can. Island inventory is small, plenty of the cheaper chalets never make it onto the big booking sites, and the ones that do sell out fast for July and August. Email the resort or book early rather than assuming you’ll sort a room on arrival.
| Stay | Island | Tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perhentian Marriott Resort & Spa | Kecil | Luxury | Couples wanting five-star comfort |
| Bubu Resort | Kecil (Long Beach) | Upper-mid | Central beachfront, families |
| Tuna Bay Island Resort | Besar | Mid-range | Calm water, families with kids |
| Alunan Resort | Kecil | Boutique mid | Modern comfort, adults |
| Chalets, dorms and glamping | Both | Budget | Backpackers and flexible stays |
Rates vary widely by season and room type. ⚠️ Verify live rates before booking.
Splurge: Perhentian Marriott and Bubu Resort
Image Credits: Tripadvisor
The comfortable end. The Perhentian Marriott Resort & Spa is the islands’ upscale flagship, a modern five-star on Perhentian Kecil near the quiet Teluk Dalam and Romantic Beach side. Bubu Resort is the iconic, central beachfront stay on Long Beach, with a sandy front yard and a mix of suites, popular with couples and families who want to be in the middle of the action without roughing it.
Mid-Range: Tuna Bay and Alunan
Image Credits: Tuna Bay Island Resort
Tuna Bay Island Resort sits on Perhentian Besar with level ground and very calm water, which makes it a solid family pick. Alunan Resort is a boutique, modern stay on Kecil for travellers who want something more comfortable than a chalet without going full luxury.
Budget: Chalets, Dorms and Glamping
Image Credits: Booking.com
The cheapest end clusters on Kecil’s Long Beach and Coral Bay: simple beach chalets, backpacker dorms from around 30 MYR (~S$9) a night, and a few glamping setups. Clean and close to the water; don’t expect frills or reliable air-con. Book ahead in July and August, when the cheap beds go first.
📖 Related Guide: Routing through the capital first? Our 20 Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur turns a layover into a proper stopover.
Best Things to Do in Perhentian Island
Almost everything worth doing here happens in or on the water. Snorkelling and diving are the main draw; the rest fills the gaps between boat trips.
Snorkel With Turtles and Reef Sharks
Image Credits: HolidayGoGoGo
The main event. Resorts and operators run half-day snorkelling boat trips to marine park sites 15 to 20 minutes away, where you’ll see green turtles, blacktip reef sharks, blue-spotted rays and dense schools of reef fish. You can also snorkel straight off the main beaches in shallow, calm water. A snorkelling boat trip is the one thing to book if you do nothing else, and it’s the reason most people come.
Scuba Diving and a PADI Course
Image Credits: Klook
The Perhentians are one of Malaysia’s most popular places to learn to dive, with more than 15 dive sites and easy, shallow conditions (mostly 5 to 20 metres). Long-running schools like Perhentian Island Divers and Barat Perhentian run PADI courses daily, and children can start young: the pool-based Bubblemaker takes kids from age eight, with in-sea try-dives from ten.
Certified divers get turtles, reef sharks and the odd wreck without long boat rides. Best for first-time divers and anyone wanting an affordable certification.
Island Hopping to Turtle Beach, Romantic Beach and Susu Dara
Image Credits: Tuna Bay Island Resort
Most snorkelling trips double as an island-hopping loop, stopping at named spots around the islands. Turtle Beach is a reliable place to swim with green turtles, Romantic Beach is a quiet postcard cove, and the uninhabited islet of Susu Dara (Virgin Island) off Kecil is a classic snorkel stop. Trips usually bundle several sites into a half-day.
The Jungle Trek Between Beaches
Image Credits: Tuna Bay Island Resort
For a break from the water, walk the jungle trail across Perhentian Kecil between Long Beach and Coral Bay, a short, sweaty 15-to-20-minute crossing through the trees, with monitor lizards and the odd hornbill along the way. Longer trails run to viewpoints and quieter bays if you want the full leg-stretch. Best for travellers who want to skip the boat taxi and see the island’s interior.
A Sunset Boat Cruise
Image Credits: Bubu Long Beach Resort
An easy end to the day: several operators run short sunset cruises off Kecil, drifting along the coast as the light drops. It’s low-key and touristy in the best way, and a nice change from another snorkel session.
📖 Related Guide: Chasing more islands and marine life? Our Kota Kinabalu Travel Guide covers Borneo’s islands, hikes and where to stay.
What to Eat on Perhentian Island
Eating here is simple, casual and cash-first: beachfront cafes, small Malay warungs and a handful of sit-down restaurants. Seafood and Malay staples dominate, and halal food is easy to find on both islands. The nightly ritual is a fresh seafood barbecue: grilled fish, prawns and squid laid out on ice, picked by weight and cooked on the beach. Long Beach on Kecil puts on the biggest spread.
The World Cafe (Long Beach, Kecil)
image Credits: Tripadvisor
The marquee sit-down spot on Long Beach, and the one most people end up at once. It does wood-fired pizza and pasta, a pick-your-own seafood barbecue, proper breakfasts and a coffee-and-wine list, right on the sand. It’s pricier than the local warungs and it serves alcohol, so it isn’t the halal or budget choice. Best for a sit-down dinner with a drink after a day in the water.
Ewan Cafe (Kecil)
image Credits: Tripadvisor
A cheap, family-run local favourite tucked between Long Beach and Coral Bay, and a regular “best meal on the island” shout from travellers. Order the tuna masak kicap (tuna in sweet soy sauce), backed by fried rice, noodles and thick Snickers and Mars milkshakes for a few ringgit. Halal and no alcohol, it’s the pick when you want a real local plate that won’t dent your cash.
Adawiyah Cafe (Long Beach, Kecil)
Image Credits: Alba Mª Morales Alarcón on Google Reviews
A laid-back, Muslim-run coffee-and-snacks spot right on Long Beach, good for a slow breakfast or the between-swims caffeine hit with local Terengganu bites. Halal and no alcohol, so it’s the easy daytime stop if you’re staying on the main beach.
Nia Cafe (Perhentian Besar)
Image Credits: Tripadvisor
The top-rated eatery on Besar, and a reason you won’t go hungry on the quieter island. It’s beachfront and halal, known for fruit smoothies, veggie roti and simple noodle plates at local prices. Handy if you’ve based yourself on Besar and don’t fancy boating over to Kecil for dinner.
Rosemary Cafe (Perhentian Kecil)
Image Credits: Ole Meyer on Google Reviews
A warm, family-run kitchen on Kecil doing home-style Western and Malaysian food, with unusually good vegetarian and vegan options (they’ll happily leave things out) and sunset views over the water. Cheap, cash-only and no alcohol, it’s a friendly budget dinner away from the beach-bar strip.
Prices climb after 7 PM and nearly everywhere is cash-first, so keep ringgit on you. Because there’s no ATM, budget your food money into what you withdraw on the mainland.
📖 Related Guide: Want the smartest card to tap the moment you’re back on the mainland? Our Best Multi-Currency Card in Singapore roundup compares the options.
What a Perhentian Trip Costs From Singapore
Perhentian is one of the cheaper island trips you can do from Singapore, especially if you stay on Kecil. Travel creators famously run it as a roughly 300 MYR (~S$94) 3D2N budget challenge, which is doable if you dorm on Long Beach and self-cater. Here’s a rough per-person picture for a 3D2N stay, excluding flights to Kota Bharu.
| Item | Rough cost (per person) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (2 nights) | ~160–1,600 MYR (~S$50–S$500) | Dorm to resort; Kecil budget end to Marriott |
| Marine park fee | 30 MYR (~S$9) | Fixed; paid in cash at the jetty |
| Return boat transfer | 80 MYR (~S$25) | Shared speedboat, 30–45 min each way |
| Snorkelling trip + gear | ~40–70 MYR (~S$13–S$22) | Half-day marine park loop |
| Food, drinks and water taxis | ~120–250 MYR (~S$38–S$78) | Island prices, cash-first |
Two money moves that actually save you here:
- Pull all your ringgit before the boat. The islands are cash-only, and there’s no reliable ATM, so withdraw everything you’ll need at an ATM in Kota Bharu or Kuala Besut town. With YouTrip, your first S$400 of overseas ATM withdrawals each month is free, then a flat 2% after that (some ATM operators add their own on-screen fee, so check the screen). That beats a money changer, which quietly marks up the rate it quotes you.
- Tap YouTrip on the mainland. For the flights, the airport transfer and anything you buy before the jetty, MYR is one of YouTrip’s holdable wallet currencies, so you can lock in your ringgit at the wholesale rate and spend with no foreign transaction fee. That’s far better than a credit card adding 3–3.5% FX on every overseas swipe.
📖 Related Guide: Want to understand the rate you’re actually getting? Our Wholesale Exchange Rates Explained guide breaks down the real rates banks use.
Things to Know Before You Go
A few island quirks worth planning around before you leave the mainland.
Cash and No ATMs
This is the big one. There is no reliable ATM on either island, and most places take cash only, from chalets and cafes to water taxis and snorkelling operators. Work out your whole budget, then withdraw it in Kota Bharu or Kuala Besut before you cross. A card reader here and there exists, but often with a commission, so don’t rely on plastic.
Alcohol
Alcohol is available but limited, and it costs more than on the mainland, since this is conservative Terengganu. It’s served mainly at tourist resorts and bars rather than everywhere. Long Beach on Kecil has the most beach bars, and several resorts on both islands serve drinks to non-Muslim guests, while Muslim-run places and the fishing village stay dry. If a sunset drink matters, base yourself near Long Beach.
Boat Safety and the Sea
The crossing is short but open water, and the boats are small. Wear the life jacket, take motion-sickness medication if you’re prone to it, and don’t push to cross in rough weather or after dark. The after-hours charters exist because the scheduled boats stop for good reason. In the shoulder months, sea state can change fast.
Packing for a No-Shops Island
Bring what you can’t buy easily: reef-safe sunscreen, any medication, a dry bag, and a power bank for the patchy electricity. Wi-Fi is thin and mobile signal comes and goes, so download maps and sort an eSIM before you land.
📖 Related Guide: Pairing the islands with more of Malaysia? Our Penang Travel Guide maps out a food-and-culture stop for the mainland leg.
FAQs
Fly from Changi to Kota Bharu (about 1 hour 15 minutes), then transfer by taxi or minivan to Kuala Besut jetty (around an hour’s drive) and take a boat across (30 to 45 minutes). The budget alternative is a long overland coach via Johor Bahru, which takes 15 to 17 hours.
No. Neither Perhentian Kecil nor Perhentian Besar has an airport, and there are no cars on the islands. The nearest airports are Kota Bharu (KBR), about an hour from the jetty, and Kuala Terengganu (TGG). From either spot, you’ll have drive to Kuala Besut and take a boat across.
March to October, during the dry season, when the sea is calm, and everything is open. July and August are the busiest and priciest; April to June and September to October are quieter and cheaper. From roughly November to February, the monsoon closes most of the islands.
Perhentian is cheaper, more social and has more dive sites; Redang has slightly clearer water and a polished full-board resort feel. Choose Perhentian for budget and diving variety, Redang for package convenience and quiet.
No, there’s no reliable ATM on either island, and most places take cash only. Withdraw all the ringgit you’ll need at an ATM in Kota Bharu or Kuala Besut before you take the boat across.
Yes, but it’s limited. Alcohol is served mainly at tourist resorts and bars, not everywhere, and it costs more than on the mainland. Long Beach on Perhentian Kecil has the most beach bars; some resorts on both islands serve drinks to non-Muslim guests, while Muslim-run places stay dry. Base yourself near Long Beach if a sunset drink matters.
Next Stop: Island Paradise
Perhentian rewards a bit of planning. Lock your dates to the March–October season, pick Kecil for the scene or Besar for the quiet, and pull all your ringgit before the boat. Do that, and the islands hand you some of the clearest water and best beginner diving in Malaysia. Just don’t show up in December, and don’t show up expecting an ATM.
Pack your YouTrip card for the wholesale MYR rate and the fee-free mainland ATM cash. That part’s easy.
Not a YouTrooper yet? Singapore’s go-to multi-currency wallet helps you save with great FX rates and zero fees. Skip the money changer and get a free YouTrip card + S$5 YouTrip credits with code YTBLOG5.
Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. Join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and Community Group (@YouTripSquad) for travel tips, event invites, and more!
Happy travels!
