Perhentian Islands Travel Guide
A pair of jungle-clad islands off Malaysia's northeast coast with crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, budget beach huts, and some of Southeast Asia's cheapest PADI diving courses.
🏛️ Sights and Attractions in Perhentian Islands
- Perhentian Besar (Big Island) — The larger island, with more upscale resorts, a turtle sanctuary, and quieter beaches.
- Perhentian Kecil (Small Island) — The smaller of the two Perhentian Islands, popular with backpackers for its cheap chalets, beach bars, and snorkeling.
- Turtle Sanctuary Beach — A protected beach on Perhentian Besar where green turtles come to nest, with a small conservation center.
- Shark Point (snorkeling) — A snorkeling spot on the east coast of Perhentian Kecil where blacktip reef sharks can be seen in shallow water.
- Lighthouse Beach — A beach near Perhentian Islands with sand and sea access, popular with locals and visitors.
- Windmill Point — A viewpoint on the northern tip of Perhentian Kecil with a windmill and sea views.
- Fisherman Village — A small village on Perhentian Kecil with budget chalets, dive shops, and beach bars.
🥾 Trails and Hikes in Perhentian Islands
- Jungle Trek Between Beaches — A jungle trail near Perhentian Islands through rainforest with wildlife and natural scenery.
- Windmill Hill Walk — A hiking trail near Perhentian Islands leading to a viewpoint with panoramic views.
- Turtle Sanctuary Trail — A walking trail near Perhentian Islands offering a way to explore the natural surroundings on foot.
🏖️ Beaches in Perhentian Islands
- Long Beach (Perhentian Kecil) — The main beach on Perhentian Kecil, a 1km stretch of white sand with beach bars, chalets, and fire shows.
- Coral Bay (Perhentian Kecil) — A sheltered bay on the west coast of Perhentian Kecil with calm water and coral just offshore — great for snorkeling.
- Tuna Bay (Perhentian Besar) — A long beach on Perhentian Besar with a resort, beach bar, and good swimming.
- Turtle Beach (Perhentian Besar) — A quiet beach on Perhentian Besar where turtles nest, accessible by boat or jungle trail.
- Romantic Beach (Perhentian Kecil) — A secluded beach on Perhentian Besar, accessible only by boat, with crystal-clear water.
🍽️ Restaurants in Perhentian Islands
- Ewan's Place — A restaurant in Perhentian Islands serving local and international dishes.
- Bubu Long Beach Restaurant — The restaurant at Bubu Long Beach Resort, serving Malaysian and international dishes.
- Tuna Bay Island Resort Restaurant — A restaurant in Perhentian Islands serving local and international dishes.
- Mama's Place — A restaurant in Perhentian Islands serving local and international dishes.
- Sahabat Beach Resort Restaurant — A restaurant in Perhentian Islands serving local and international dishes.
🍸 Bars and Nightlife in Perhentian Islands
- Bubu Long Beach Bar — The bar at Bubu Long Beach Resort with cocktails, music, and a beachfront atmosphere.
- Ewan's Bar — A bar in Perhentian Islands with drinks, music, and a social atmosphere.
- Long Beach Bars — The cluster of beach bars on Long Beach with fire shows, cheap cocktails, and a backpacker party scene.
🎯 Activities and Tours in Perhentian Islands
- PADI Open Water Certification — The Perhentian Islands are one of Malaysia's cheapest and most popular places to get PADI-certified, with dozens of dive shops and calm, clear training waters.
- Snorkeling at Shark Point — A boat trip to Shark Point on the east coast of Perhentian Kecil, where blacktip reef sharks, turtles, and colorful reef fish gather in clear water.
- Jungle Trekking Between Beaches — A 45-minute jungle trail connecting Coral Bay to Turtle Beach on Perhentian Kecil, passing through rainforest with monitor lizards and monkeys.
🏨 Hotels and Stays in Perhentian Islands
- Bubu Resort Perhentian Island — Bubu Resort Perhentian Island is a resort in Long Beach (Kecil), Perhentian Islands. The backpacker hub on Small Perhentian with beach bars, budget chalets, and the island's nightlife scene The property features a guest review score of 8.5/10 and rates from $371/night, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- Tuna Bay Island Resort — Tuna Bay Island Resort is a resort in Coral Bay (Kecil), Perhentian Islands. A quieter bay on Small Perhentian with sunset views, mid-range chalets, and snorkeling trips The property features a guest review score of 8.9/10, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- Perhentian Island Resort — Perhentian Island Resort is a resort in Tuna Bay (Besar), Perhentian Islands. The main beach on Big Perhentian with family-friendly resorts and easy access to snorkeling sites The property features a guest review score of 7.6/10 and rates from $72/night, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- Coral View Island Resort — Coral View Island Resort is a resort in Turtle Beach (Besar), Perhentian Islands. A remote northern beach on Big Perhentian with turtle nesting and a few eco-resorts The property features a guest review score of 8.1/10 and rates from $73/night, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- Mimpi Perhentian — Mimpi Perhentian is a hotel in Fisherman Village, Perhentian Islands. A local village on Small Perhentian with budget chalets and authentic Malay seafood The property features a guest review score of 8.5/10 and rates from $123/night, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- Abdul's Chalet — Abdul's Chalet is a hotel in Long Beach (Kecil), Perhentian Islands. The backpacker hub on Small Perhentian with beach bars, budget chalets, and the island's nightlife scene The property features a guest review score of 9.2/10 and rates from $448/night, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- BuBu Long Beach Resort — BuBu Long Beach Resort is a resort in Coral Bay (Kecil), Perhentian Islands. A quieter bay on Small Perhentian with sunset views, mid-range chalets, and snorkeling trips The property features modern amenities, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- Sahabat Beach Resort — Sahabat Beach Resort is a resort in Tuna Bay (Besar), Perhentian Islands. The main beach on Big Perhentian with family-friendly resorts and easy access to snorkeling sites The property features a guest review score of 7.1/10 and rates from $51/night, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- Fauna Beach Chalet — Fauna Beach Chalet is a hotel in Turtle Beach (Besar), Perhentian Islands. A remote northern beach on Big Perhentian with turtle nesting and a few eco-resorts The property features a guest review score of 6.8/10 and rates from $42/night, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.
- Shari-La Island Resort — Shari-La Island Resort is a resort in Fisherman Village, Perhentian Islands. A local village on Small Perhentian with budget chalets and authentic Malay seafood The property features a guest review score of 7.2/10 and rates from $67/night, making it a practical base for visiting Perhentian Islands.