Things to SEE and DO

The Perhentian Islands are the ideal place to relax and forget about your cares and most people that visit here laze away their days in the sun. However, if you are tired of waiting for coconuts to drop, there are still some things that you can do to keep yourself occupied.

These islands have been gazetted as a marine park and as such littering, fishing and collecting of any marine life (whether dead or alive) is strictly prohibited. As it is a marine park, this also means that the rich diversity of aquatic life has been preserved and it is beautiful to experience.

Apart from walking, the only way to get around is by sea taxi. Expect to pay around RM 10-25 per person for 5-15 minute transfers.

Snorkelling

Various operators and resorts offer snorkelling outings around the two islands, ranging anything from one and a half hours to a full day. Trips cost RM 35-60 per person, depending on the duration, stops and whether equipment rental is included or not.

Some of the popular spots for snorkelling are Shark Point, Teluk Pauh and Tanjung Basi. If you are lucky, a combination of these stops may mean that you see a turtle, some black tip reef sharks and an abundance of colourful coral all in one trip.

The sheer amounts of visitors and careless practices have resulted in damage to the coral and consequently the marine life around the islands. To ensure that you keep yourself safe and do your part to contribute to the conservation of these incredible ecosystems, keep the following in mind:

Touching or standing on coral damages or even kills them and re-growth takes years

Control your buoyancy carefully. Use a life jacket and only use fins if you are completely confident that you will not accidentally touch the coral.

Do not litter. Some animals (like turtles) may mistake plastic bags for food and choke to death.

Stay within the designated areas so that you do not cross boat paths and get hit

Do not touch or disturb any marine life in any way. You may hurt them and some of them may hurt you. Keep your distance from Triggerfish as they may be aggressive, especially when guarding a nest

Keep yourself protected from the sun

When renting equipment, ask for assistance and tips from your resort to ensure a good fit (especially of your mask)

 

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving around the Perhentian Islands is a superb experience and many people visit here time and time again to explore the deep.

Some of the top spots are Tokong Laut (Temple of the Sea, also known as the Pinnacle) and the Sugar Wreck. Tokong Laut is a pointed rock protruding from the seabed, surrounded by all kinds of coral and home to numerous species of reef fish and other marine life. The Sugar Wreck is an eerie-looking sunken freight ship that lies at around 15-22m.

Marine life is in abundance here and apart from the many species of hard and soft coral that form the backbone of these ecosystems you can also expect to encounter turtles, several species of sharks, mackerel, jacks, moray eels, nudibranchs and various other reef fish.

There are numerous dive operators on both islands and there is hardly a beach that does not have at least two options for you to choose from for recreational dives or certification. Ensure that your dive centre is environmentally friendly and takes safety practices seriously.

If you enjoy exploring the underwater world, do your part to protect it. The golden rule, apart from never holding your breath, is to take only photographs and leave only bubbles! Below are some guidelines that every responsible diver must follow.

Choose a dive operator that respects the environment and actively contributes to conservation efforts in the area.

Never touch or step on coral. The slightest touch can harm them and some may hurt you.

Prevent accidental contact with the reef or kicking up sediment by keeping a safe distance and practicing good fin and body control.

Do not collect any “souvenirs” – living or dead - underwater, but do pick up recent rubbish

Do not touch, chase, try to ride or otherwise harass any marine life. Feed and handle marine life only under expert guidance.

Ensure that your dive boat does not anchor on the reef and make sure that all rubbish (especially light plastics) is carefully stowed away.

 

Jungle Trekking

Tropical forest covers the greater part of the Perhentian Islands and a few trails that twist through the greenery allow you to explore the diversity of plant life. Tread quietly and you may just meet a few of the islands’ animals along the way. Monitor lizards are in abundance, as are numerous species of insects and birds. If you are lucky, you may even spot a group of long-tailed macaques (a type of monkey). The elusive mousedeer is also said to inhabit the island, but these tiny animals are rarely seen.

Remember to bring insect repellent and plenty of drinking water.

REFERENCE FROM: http://www.myoutdoor.com/perhentian/ThingsToSeeAndDo.html

Where is this Place?!

Pulau Perhentian

Pulau Perhentian consists of 2 main islands which are located about 25km away from the town of Kuala Besut. The smaller island is known as Perhentian Kecil and bigger one is called Perhentian Besar. If you are not familiar with Bahasa Malaysia, "Kecil" means small and "Besar" means big.

Unlike the bigger and more developed islands of Pangkor or Langkawi , these 2 islands are still seeing a slower pace of development where there are no roads or airport facilities.

Accessibility to the islands and getting from one part of the island to another is by ferry or boat. Electricity is generated by using the local generators located on the island itself. There isn't any 5 Star Resort accommodation on these two islands.

If you are looking for a place to snorkel, scuba diving, swimming or just spending some time away from the routine of everyday life, these beautiful islands are worth considering visiting. Due to the North-Easterly Monsoon season, most resorts are opened only from February to October. The best months to go are between June to August.

The island status as part of Pulau Redang National Marine Park means that most of the marine life are still intact until today. You will have to pay a token sum of RM5/adult and RM2.50/child as conservation fees to enter the islands. Take note that fishing, littering, collecting of corals or polluting the environment are strictly prohibited here.

The white sandy beach of at the smaller Pulau Perhentian Kecil.

Snorkelling & Scuba Diving At Pulau Perhentian

Snorkelling and scuba diving are the two most popular activities that you can do here. You can rent snorkelling equipment such as mask, snorkel and fins from the resorts nearby for a fee of about RM30 per set/day. The crystal clear sea water will enable you to see the marine life with visibility up to 40m in a clear and calm day. Enjoy looking at the turtles, sharks, colourful fishes and hundreds of other marine life as you snorkel on the various locations of the islands.

Pulau Perhentian Kecil Island

The Kampung Pasir Hantu village is located on this island where you will be able to see some wooden houses, a school,a clinic, a mosque and a police station.

The Pasir Panjang beach which is located at the east of the island is one of the better beaches around here. You willbe able to see long stretch of white sandy beach and crystal-clear water. As this is the main beach around, there aremany activities here.

The resorts located here are cheaper compared to Perhentian Besar, hence this is the place to stay if you are in your youth or tight on budget. Prices for accommodation ranges from RM20 to RM200 per night.

Pulau Perhentian Besar

Teluk Pauh at the North West of the island is a beautiful half-moon bay beach. Snorkel here and notice the turtles, sharks and other marine life. After your snorkelling, take a rest at the beautiful stretch of white sandy beach. Shark Pointand Tanjung Basi are two other good places to do your snorkelling.

Teluk Dalam is located at the South of the island and is a big curved bay with sandy beach. There are casuarinas tree along the beach though most of the corals have been damaged.

Most of the resorts are concentrated on the west coast of the island. As such, taking a boat to a less crowded beach is a good idea if you prefer to spend some private moments on your own.

The resorts on this island is of higher standard than Perhentian Kecil, hence staying here with your family is a better choice. Prices for accommodation ranges from RM50 to RM350 per night.

Pulau Perhentian Besar.

Jungle Trekking At Pulau Perhentian

If you enjoy jungle trekking and is doing it for the first time, it is alway good to get a guide. See the lush greenery around here. If you are fortunate and patient enough, you may be able to spot some monitor lizards, monkeys, spiders and birds here..

A turtle hatchling making its way to the sea.

Getting Here

The main ferry terminal to get to Pulau Perhentian Island is located at Kuala Besut, Terengganu. If you are driving from Kuala Lumpur, follow the Karak Highway towards Kuantan. This journey will probably take you about 3 hours. From Kuantan, follow the scenic route 3 towards Kuala Terengganu. Follow the signage towards Kuala Besut after the town of Jertih. The entirejourney will take you 7-8 hours.

You can also take a flight to Kota Bharu from Kuala Lumpur or Penang Island. From here, take a taxi to Kuala Besut for your boat transfer to the resort.

Most resorts would have arranged to pick you up from Kuala Besut. Check the package that you are taking.

REFERENCE: FROM http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com/pulau-perhentian.html