Pulau Gemia

A tiny island called Pulau Gemia lies next to Pulau Kapas and is a privately owned island with a resort. Around this islet lies clear azure waters with coral reefs and rich marine life. It is also part of a Marine Conservation Park.

Pulau Tenggol

Destination For Deep Sea Diving

The southern most island in Terengganu, lying off the coast of Dungun, is Pulau Tenggol. An island not as crowded as the ones to its north, it is well known to be a magnet for experienced divers. Night diving, diving around shipwrecks and deep sea are some of the adventures divers look for here. Some parts of the seas surrounding this island are known to have strong currents. However, this does not deter the best and experienced divers who take this as an adrenalin pumping challenge.

One of the wild marine life that is sought after in the seas around Pulau Tenggol is the whale shark, a migratory shark that normally appears from August to October. As divers descend into the waters of Pulau Tenggol for its rich marine life, so do the whale sharks. And with divers always looking for new experiences and close encounters with bigger marine life, an encounter with a whale shark could be a once in a lifetime experience as they do not linger in any one location for long.

PULAU BIDONG

Island With Underwater Sculptures

Pulau Bidong was put in the spotlight at the height of the post-Vietnam War in the mid to late 1970s as a transit point for refugees who fled the country in the wake of the United States’ withdrawal. Thousands arrived on overloaded dinghy boats and were allowed to stay on Pulau Bidong while they wait to be resettled in a third country.

Pulau Bidong is a deserted island, there are no settlers nor any resorts operating here. However, what’s left here are remnants of a hospital, a school, shops and hostel like accommodation for the refugees.

This island has since been naturally rejuvenated and restored to its pristine conditions after so many years laying empty. Accessibility was restricted after the refugees left so the island could recover.

Visitors who want to snorkel, dive and have picnics on the beach can arrange for day trips here. Get the resorts you’re staying on Redang and Perhentian to make this arrangement.

An interesting facet of Pulau Bidong underwater attraction is the underwater gallery, the only one of its kind in Malaysia. Replicas of cultural artefacts and relics are placed 15 metres underwater and these include the Batu Bersurat or Terengganu Inscription Stone, tepak sireh (betel leaf and nut set with canisters), an arch, a keris and a traditional sampan.

PULAU KAPAS

Quiet And Uncrowded Beaches

A 20-minute boat ride from the Marang Jetty to the south of Kuala Terengganu, takes you to Pulau Kapas, the nearest island to the mainland. It is relatively small compared to the northern islands of Perhentian and Redang. Not many resorts are available here but one can make a day trip during the weekend if you don’t have the time. Its white sandy beaches and the serenity of the island with snorkeling and kayaking and water sports activities are what draws visitors to go for some fun.

The seas around Pulau Kapas is known as a squid breeding ground. The surrounding seas gets the most attention during the squid jigging season from March to August. Scores of boats will head to the sea around Pulau Kapas in the evenings and using lights to lure the squids to surface, the flotilla of boats can be seen from the shore resembling a lighted floating city along the horizon. And under a full moon, it can be quite a captivating sight. There are of course other areas where squid jigging takes place and if you drive along the coast at night, it is quite common to see these lighted boats.

Pulau Lang Tengah

Petite And Beautiful

Pulau Lang Tengah has beautiful beaches and emerald waters, and with only four resorts operating here, visitors will find this to be a quieter destination. The island lies between Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Redang and takes 30 minutes to reach from the Merang Jetty.

The main attraction is below water where rich marine life in beautiful coral formations will take your breath away. Its tropical forest and white sandy beaches make this island another piece of paradise where the best activity may just be lazing and doing nothing. Sunbathe, have a picnic and take a siesta on the beach and just let your mind and body swing with the rhythm of the waves and the wind. After all, this is what being in paradise is all about.

PULAU PERHENTIAN

Lonely Planet’s And CNN’s Favourite - 13th Best Beach In The World In 2013 by CNN

Pulau Perhentian consists of two islands, Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Perhentian Kecil and lies 79km north of Kuala Terengganu and 22 km east of the town of Besut. Depending on your take off point, it only takes a minimum of 45 minutes to two hours by boat to get here.

The Perhentian Islands were mentioned in CNN as having the 13th Best Beach in the World in 2013 whilst the Lonely Planet Travel Guide Book 2010 described the island as being the 5th Best Beach to Swing a Hammock.

Pristine aquamarine waters and powdery sandy beaches and the natural beauty of the islands are what draw tourists from all over the world. Inland, the islands are covered with untouched jungle, which also acts as a valuable water catchment area. There are no roads here, you either walk or take a water taxi to get from one end to the other.

The island which means “stopover” in Malay, is so named as it was used as a sanctuary for fishermen and ancient traders that ply the old trade routes between Siam and Terengganu. Today the Perhentian Islands are magnets for the outdoor and nature lovers. Water sports and diving are the main activities offered.

The accommodation here ranges from home stays to first class hotels and locals are friendly and hospitable.

PULAU REDANG

Beautiful Beaches, Rich Marine Life

Pulau Redang’s enchanting beauty with its pristine azure waters and white sandy beaches draw many tourists to spend a few days to relax and unwind here. With good first class accommodation and smaller resorts available, Pulau Redang proves to be a paradise to suit all budgets.

It lies 45 km north of Kuala Terengganu on a 1 ½ hour boat ride from the Shahbandar jetty and a 40-minute one from the Merang Jetty. Pulau Redang is also about a half hour boat ride from Pulau Perhentian. You can actually have a holiday on both islands in one vacation trip if you want to experience the best of our offshore islands.

Pulau Redang lies in a gazetted marine park area, called the Pulau Redang Marine Park, that also includes several smaller islands. It is administered by the Department of Marine Park Malaysia, which provides special protection and management of marine environments and wildlife of national significance. It offers great snorkeling and diving activities and contains one of the most beautiful coral reefs teeming with tropical exotic marine life in the country.

For those who get easily excited about seeing beautiful marine life, take full care that you don’t destroy or remove or stand on coral formations. They are our national treasures and with your understanding and cooperation, we hope the corals and marine life can be protected and preserved to maintain a healthy ecosystem and environment for posterity.

Apart from beaches and coral reefs, one of the main attractions is the mangrove forest, which is ecologically beneficial to both land and marine life and it helps to maintain a natural sustainable ecosystem for the island.

An interesting fact that many do not know, and to show how old this island is, preserved plant fossils of the Upper Palaeozoic Age (that’s a minimum of 250 million years ago) can be observed on the south western portion of Pulau Redang between Pasir Macam Ayam and Pasir Kechil.

The allure of Pulau Redang lies in its pristine stretches of beach that offers excellent camping grounds with beautiful spots for picnics and safe swimming in its shallow waters. Head to the large bay of Teluk Dalam in the north of the island, Pasir Telok Kalong and Pasir Panjang. Other beaches to head to are to the west and north coast, at Pasir Mak Simpan, Pasir Mak Kepit dan Pasir Changar Hutang, which are also turtle laying areas. There are buffer zones for the turtle sanctuaries here, so do take care not to intrude.

Noor Arfa Craft Complex

Shop Till You Drop

Noor Arfah has the reputation of being the largest batik producer in Malaysia. Throughout its more than 30 years experience in the batik industry, it has produced innovative designs and supplies to many big corporations as well as directly to consumers. Visitors can visit its batik making and retail complex in Cendering, where demonstrations of batik painting by hand are held and where you can even have a hands-on experience of making your own piece. The showrooms display batik designs of different creative styles and visitors will learn how the design of batik pieces have evolved over time, from using the old technique of using metal blocks (batik terap) to the hand drawn techniques using the canting.

Marang River Estuary

Exotic Harbour Of The South China Sea

The Marang river estuary is a picturesque site and one in which many would consider as a very typical scene of rural Terengganu at its most rustic. Head south on the Kuala Terengganu Kuantan trunk road and find a spot to park once you reach the town of Marang. Walk towards the Marang River bridge, and facing the river estuary, you may see fishing boats of all shapes and sizes anchored in the middle of the river. You will also see kampong homes on the right bank giving quite a scenic panorama of rural Terengganu. And looking across to the right in the distance you’d catch a partial view of Pulau Kapas across the sea.

After you’re done, make your way past the shop houses and follow the curve of the road and you’d see a lookout tower and not far from there, you’d come to a narrow bridge that takes you across to the beach. This is Pulau Kekabu and is known for its picturesque scene of the Marang harbour. There are plenty of photo taking opportunities.

Kota Lama Duyong, Pulau Duyong

Showcase Of Old Terengganu Architecture

The Kota Lama Duyong house is described as a “fort” or kota in Malay simply because it was surrounded by sturdy high brick walls that surround it. This residence belonged to one of Pulau Duyong’s proud son by the name of Dato Biji Sura, a senior officer working with the Terengganu state government. He was the great grandson of Tok Sheikh Duyong, a Muslim scholar who was born in Champa, in southern Cambodia who lived there in the 1800s. He was a well respected teacher and his teachings were sought after by both the palace as much as the ordinary folks. His scholarly pursuits had even earned Pulau Duyong the moniker “the tongue of Terengganu”.

Floating Mosque

Mosque On A Scenic Lagoon

The floating mosque or Masjid Tengku Tengah Zaharah in Kuala Ibai is one of the most photographed mosque in Terengganu. Its simple Middle Eastern design and fully painted in white stands as a beautiful monument illuminating its radiance in a picturesque setting. The mosque was built by the late Sultan Mahmud (1979 – 1997) and was so named in tribute to His Highness’ mother. However, it is commonly known as the floating mosque due to its locality above a lagoon.

The mosque may not be able to boast about its size nor any lavish interior design, but its beauty stems from its place at the edge of the Ibai River surrounded by water that makes it so enduring to visit.