Lang Tengah Island

Lang Tengah Island (Pulau Lang Tengah)

Lang Tengah Island or Pulau Lang Tengah off the coast of Terengganu is one of the nation's well-kept secrets. Its arresting beauty can easily captivate you while you are there. Crystal clear sea-water, pristine beaches and untouched tropical jungle. Its arresting beauty lingers forever in your memory. An island you can call your own, private and tranquil.

Take a stroll along the whitewashed, sandy beaches or bath in the sun for that coveted golden tan. Explore the wonders of nature, and you'll be surprised of what you'll discover. Whatever you do, we'll make sure that your stay with us is an enjoyable one.

Pulau Redang

THE white sandy beach, crystal clear water and picturesque scene made me fall in love with Redang island. I was touched by the glory of nature on the island, surrounded by the coconut trees.
It was an unforgettable trip. We stayed at Redang Beach Resort, did all the standard activities and mingled with other guests. At night, we enjoyed the barbecue, walked along the beach and sat on the rock enjoying the night scene. Snorkelling was most enjoyable. Since it was our first experience, there was initial fear which was overcome by curiosity. It was totally delightful to see corals, sea cucumber and colourful fish like reef shark, blue spotted stingray and clown fish.
The best was when the fish bit my finger and swam all around me. It was wonderful. This was my first trip to the island and definitely won't be the last!

Redang is just like the Perhentian a Marine Park. It's located 45 km off the coast of KualaTerengganu is the largest of the group of islands dotting the South China Sea off the Terengganu coast. The island offers crystal clear waters and numerous dive sites for the enthusiast. Sheltered within the Pulau Redang Marine Park, the waters here abound with marine life.
Redang Archipelago exists of  9 islands that abound with marvelous marine fishes, turtles and coral reefs that ensure great snorkeling and scuba-diving.
The boat trip starts from the fishing village of Merang. This is a fishing village North of Kuala Terengganu. You can get there by bus. The boat trip takes about 40 minutes. Most of the boats depart for Redang and return before noon. Each resort has its own boat transfer schedule. This may change and is dependent on the tide, sea and weather conditions.
The best time to visit Redang is between April and October. Take note that most resorts are closed during the North-east Monsoon, which blows from November to March.

Kapas Island

apas Island answers to all your hopes for an idyllic tropical island – swaying palm trees, untouched jungle, turquoise water gently lapping at the beach and colourful coral reefs just off the shore. This picturesque getaway is less than 5 km from the mainland and is reached within 15 minutes by speedboat from the coastal fishing village of Marang. Its accessibility from the mainland makes it popular with locals for daytrips and the fairly good availability of budget accommodation means that it is also popular with backpackers.

The resorts on Kapas Island are mostly spread out over three beaches on the western shore, facing the mainland. Accommodation here ranges from dorm rooms to moderately priced air-conditioned chalets.  More luxurious accommodation is available on Gemia Island, a small islet just a few hundred metres northwest of Kapas. Pulau Kapas means Cotton Island in Malay and this peculiar name is attributed to the pure white beaches that are the trademark of this island. The name comes as no surprise once you have walked along these beaches: the sand is soft and white and slopes gently into the crystal clear water.

Another reason why Kapas Island is popular is because of the excellent snorkelling in the waters surrounding the island. There is an abundance of corals and other marine life, visibility is good and the water is shallow and calm. Because the coral is mainly around the rocky edges of the island, you can still go swimming off the beautiful beaches, even at low tide. Kapas Island may be easy to reach, but it is much harder to leave this island after being immersed in its beauty.

Tioman Islands

DISCOVER TIOMAN

Like a giant sleeping dragon, the dark green ridges of Tioman Island rise up above the waters of the South China Sea. On closer inspection, it becomes clear that the dragon’s dark green scales are in fact giant trees and impenetrable jungle; that the grey claws are giant granite boulders and that the dragon’s horns are twin peaks with smooth, straight cliffs, surrounded with swirls of mist.

The dragon-like appearance of Tioman Island is at the root of a legend surrounding its origin: A dragon princess from China was flying to her prince in Singapore and stopped to rest in these calm, warm waters. Enamoured by the beauty of the area, and the waves lapping at her sides, she discontinued her journey and took the form of an island.

The natural beauty of the island is its biggest attraction. Lush tropical jungle covers about 12,000 hectares of the island and countless mountain streams and waterfalls sustain the many protected species of mammals and birds. The waters around the island are filled with corals of all shapes and colours and home to a vast diversity of sea creatures, including two species of marine turtle. There are a few excellent beaches on Tioman, and these curves of golden sand are usually tucked away at the edges of villages or fronting one of the many resorts.

Tioman has options for every kind of holiday-maker: families with small children, honeymooners, scuba divers, backpackers, adventurers and even those looking for a slice of exclusivity and luxury. Most places to stay are clustered around the villages that are dotted along Tioman’s coastline while there are a few small resorts that are built around private beach coves.

Tioman is the largest in a volcanic group of islands off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Getting there is simple as there is both a ferry service from Mersing on the mainland and an airport on the island itself.

Tioman is a beautiful, popular and affordable holiday destination so book ahead!

Pulau Langkawi

Langkawi comprises a group of 99 tropical islands lying off the north-western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, about 30km from Kuala Perlis and 51 km from Kuala Kedah on the mainland. The main island is popularly known as Pulau Langkawi. The islands are blessed with an intriguing heritage of fabulous myths and legends of ogres and gigantic birds, warriors and fairy princesses, battles and romance.

As a natural paradise, the islands are perhaps unmatched anywhere else in Southeast Asia. With a geological history dating back 500 million odd years, the islands contain unique rock formations that stir the imagination and baffle the mind. Numerous caves, with their stunning stalactites and stalagmites, taunt the adventurous to unravel their ancient secrets.

Fine beaches offer sun-filled days of complete relaxation. The clear emerald waters around the islands provide numeours opportunities for a host of water sports and recreational activities. The enchanting marine life beneath the waters of Langkawi's islands also beckon diving enthusiasts.

Pulau Pinang

The island was referred to as Bīnláng Yù (檳榔嶼, 槟榔屿) in the navigational drawings used by Admiral Zheng He of Ming-dynasty China in his expeditions to the South Seas in the 15th century. Early Malays called it Pulau Ka-Satu or "First Island".

The name "Penang" comes from the modern Malay name Pulau Pinang, which means island of the areca nut palm (Areca catechu, family Palmae). The name Penang can refer either to the island of Penang or the state of Penang. The capital of Penang state is George Town. More specifically, George Town is also called Tanjung in Malay. Penang Island is simply Pulau Pinang and Penang state is Negeri Pulau Pinang in Malay. Although the state is called Penang in English, it's official name is actually the state's Malay name, Pulau Pinang. This is because the Malay name is always used in governmental letters and also the Malaysian identity card, MyKad.

Penang is severally known as "The Pearl of the Orient", "东方花园" and "Pulau Pinang Pulau Mutiara" (Penang Island of Pearls). Nowadays, due to short messaging, Penang is also referred as "PG" or "PP" in Malay.^[2]

PULAU PANGKOR

Off the coast of perak State, north of Selangor , lies a cluster of fabulous islands with unquestionably some of the best coves and beaches on the western coast of peninsular Malaysia. Among them, two islands predominate in terms of accessibility, infrastructure and development - the largest island, Pangkor and her sister Pangkor Laut. Those who are not familiar with the geographical locations generally confuse the two. Forty minutes by ferry from Lumut, the popular island resort of Pulau Pangkor (Pangkor Island) welcomes visitors with its serene golden beaches, crystalline blue waters, and cool refreshing breezes. Located about 90km south west of lpoh, it is largely inhabited by fisherfolk.

They live in scattered fishing settlements along the coast especially on the eastern side, facing the town of Lumut and Teluk Batik, and their catch comprises mainly cuttlefish and anchovy. The modern facilities make it an ideal gateway. A wide range of sun and sea activities are available such as scuba diving, wind-surfing, fishing, snorkelling.

PULAU PERHENTIAN

The Perhentian Islands (Pulau Perhentian in Malay) lie approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) offshore the coast of northeastern Malaysia in the state of Terengganu, approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of the Thai border.

South Beach, Perhentian Besar

The two main islands are Perhentian Besar ("Big Perhentian") and Perhentian Kecil ("Small Perhentian"). The small, uninhabited islands of Susu Dara (Virgin Milk), Serenggeh and Rawa lie off Kecil. The Perhentians belong to Pulau Redang National Marine Park, which means that fishing, collecting coral and littering are strictly prohibited. Like Besut, people here generally speak Kelantanese Malay.

Sheer beauty of Pulau Perhentian makes it the destination of tourists. Both the islands have palm-fringed white sandy beaches and turquoise blue sea. One can have a number of activities on its beaches and forests. Scuba-diving, snorkeling, and swimming are the most popular tourist activities here. On most beaches, the water is shallow with lots of rays, cuttlefish and parrotfish. For diving, there are dozens of divesites around both main islands, as well as several off-shore sites. Apart from these, you could also enjoy activities like camping, canoeing, fishing, jungle trekking, and banana boat riding. As for accommodation, most of it can be found on Perhentian Besar, the larger island. Hotels are usually aimed at budget travelers.

Tourism is the base of economic activity in Perhentian. However, owing to the Islands' protected status, the main tourist activities are minimal in environmental impact: sunbathing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and turtle and shark-watching.

Summer 2007, 2 wind turbines have been installed, still not connected to the network in October 2008, Thus the island's electrical power is still provided by diesel generators. A third turbine is being built. Electricity is 24-hour during high season. Fresh water is provided by springs. In this respect, the Perhentian Islands are prized by tourists as an 'escape' from the modern world.

As the state of Terengganu follows Islamic customs, the consumption of alcohol and wearing of immodest clothing are discouraged. In order not to offend local inhabitants, tourists are advised to consume alcohol discreetly and to wear one-piece bathing costumes. No penalties are imposed on tourists for 'breaches' of the local customs, however.