Franz ElizPeople often praise Perhentian Islands, so I had always wanted to go there. I hardly had the chance to visit the islands due to my hectic work schedule.
After I quit my job sometime in March 2017, I decided to join my friend from France in Perhentian Islands. I’m not really the beach kind of person, so travelling to the islands with a friend was ideal.
In this article, I’ll share my journey to Perhentian Islands and my time there. Since the monsoon season was about to end, the weather wasn’t so bad; but it wasn’t the best. Keep reading.
Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Besut
My friend and I took a bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) bus station to Kuala Besut. We were shocked to learn that tickets to Kuala Besut were mostly sold out. Fortunately, we could get tickets from the Perdana Express bus company, whose one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut then cost around RM44/person. They weren’t the cheapest, but they were the only few tickets left.
That said, it’s handy to book your tickets in advance. You can purchase them at www.busticketonline.com.
Do you know? Perdana Express is a double-decker bus company that offers comfortable seats and free WiFi. There are also power plugs available in the last rows of their seats.
8 Hours Bus Ride From KL to Kuala Besut
Since the journey took about 8 hours and we arrived in the late evening, we decided to spend one night in Kuala Besut.
Before dusk, we purchased our boat tickets from a tour agency nearby. We paid RM70/per person for a return ticket from Kuala Besut to Perhentian Islands. Tip: Get your tickets from a certified tour agent only.
If Possible, Get Ready Enough Money Before Reaching Kuala Besut
There are two banks available in Kuala Besut: BSN and Agrobank.
Suppose you’re a foreign traveller. You can only perform withdrawals at any of the BSN ATMs. Withdraw enough money for your trip before getting to the island. As of April 2017, there are no ATMs available in Perhentian Islands.
When we were in Kuala Besut, we needed to withdraw more money from the one-and-only ATM in the area. Unfortunately, it ran out of cash. So, we decided to visit the ATM the next day instead.
The next day, we were disappointed again, unfortunately. The machine still had no money in it. We had no choice but to take a taxi to find the nearest ATM. We were told by the locals that all the ATMs ran out of cash. They said that’s pretty common.
Expensive Taxi Ride From Kuala Besut to Jerteh
Then, our taxi driver drove us all the way to Jerteh; it was about a 30-minute drive away from Kuala Besut. The taxi fare cost a whopping RM50!
Now you’ve read my story. So, remember to take enough (or maybe extra) cash with you before you reach Kuala Besut.
Getting to Perhentian Islands via Boat
At noon, we went to the jetty to catch our speedboat. There we were asked to pay a conservation fee. As a local, I only paid RM5. As for my French friend, he had to pay a little more.
After hopping into our speedboat, we were ready to start our holiday. The boat journey was lovely. The waves were quite strong, and our speedboat went up and down the waves like a rollercoaster. Yes, it hurt my butt a little, but the ride was fun!
Exploring Perhentian Islands
After our 45-minute boat ride, we arrived safely at Perhentian Kecil.
Day 1
On Day 1, the weather was very good. It was hot and sunny. Perfect.
Rainforest Camping: a Budget Accommodation in Perhentian Islands
We stayed at Rainforest Camping. The accommodation is situated at Rainforest Beach, also known as Sandy Coral Beach. We stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a friendly girl from the Czech Republic. She was one of the volunteers working at the accommodation. After we checked in, she showed us our tent. It was a big tent that could accommodate two people. My friend and I paid RM25/per person to spend a night in the tent.
Many tents were not occupied as it was still the low season. Perhentian Islands usually get more visitors from April onwards.
After keeping our bags in the tent, we explored the area. Before leaving the campsite, we told the receptionist we would be back for dinner. I hoped to return before 7:30 pm as it would be dark by then.
Perhentian Kecil Offers a Relaxing Jungle Walk
As we explored Perhentian Kecil, we saw several lovely chalets that faced the ocean. We also came across these cute little guys:
We stopped by the pipeline to watch them doing their thing. I thought it was very entertaining. They seemed to be having a busy day. It just reminded me of my working days. The ants weren’t the only ones that were interesting to watch. We spotted some squirrels, too.
This trip’s highlight was the gorgeous ocean. Its crystal-clear water was very soothing to the eyes. I also enjoyed the sounds of the trees rustling and the calming tune of the breezy wind. After working hard for a whole year, spending a couple of days in paradise was what I needed. Thanks to my friend, Cis, for inviting me.
Go to Long Beach for More Entertainment
We walked for another 20 minutes before finally reaching Long Beach, the island’s main beach, popular among backpackers.
As we walked along the white sandy beach, we found many restaurants, small shops, and guesthouses. Long Beach is famous for its parties and nightlife. During the peak season, Long Beach can get very crowded. If you prefer a quieter place, I highly recommend the Rainforest Camping on Perhentian Kecil (Small Perhentian).
Stay at Coral Bay if You Like Somewhere Quieter Than Long Beach
At Coral bay, you’ll find the area quieter than Long Beach. Although some might not find the beach as great as the one at Long Beach, it’s still an excellent getaway, especially for couples.
Love snorkelling? That’s great. Coral Bay is just perfect for that. It’s also said that the sunset at Coral Bay is extremely beautiful.
Don’t Forget To Soak Your Feet in the Ocean Water
After walking under the hot sun, we headed straight into the ocean to cool off. With such a gorgeous ocean, who could resist?
Neither was the water very cold nor very warm; it was perfect. There, we spent about 30 minutes in the water. Playing in the water was rejuvenating. I saw some couples swimming around the corner.
The experience was indeed something to remember. It was my first time swimming in a place like this. Even though I’ve been to many islands, including the Gili islands in Indonesia, I never really jumped into the water. That’s a story for another post.
Oh, I saw crabs on the rocks near the island’s shores. They were big, and they moved really fast. I couldn’t keep up with those crawly athletes!
We didn’t do much on our first day on the island. We just wanted to hang out and relax. We got some soft drinks and alcohol, talked about serious topics, and watched the beautiful sunset. It was a good day indeed. We didn’t notice how fast time went by, and when we looked at our watches, it was already 7:15 pm.
Walking Through the Jungle at Night
We quickly headed back to our campsite. We didn’t have a regular torch light, so we had to rely on my mobile phone to light the way. I only had 19% battery left on my phone.
I became slightly nervous as darkness approached because I couldn’t see what was in front of me. My heart was racing fast, and I was hoping hard that we would get back to our tent while my phone still had enough battery.
Fortunately, we arrived back at the campsite safely. At Rainforest Camping, guests can only charge their gadgets at night.
At the campsite, I found two dogs and their cute little puppies. Check out this little rascal:
Delicious Dinner and a Good Night’s Sleep
When dinner was ready, I was excited to check out what the kitchen had prepared for us. I couldn’t recall the dishes, but I was pleased with my meal. Everything was amazing. I thought the chefs did an excellent job.
After dinner, I had tea. While sipping my hot tea, I could hear the ocean waves and girls giggling on the beach. One volunteer said we could see bioluminescent planktons in the beach water. If you’re interested in those things, you can visit the beach at night. Be sure to take your torch light with you.
We called it an early night and slept until the next morning.
Day 2
The next day, we got ourselves ready for the day and headed straight to the restaurant for breakfast. I had a lovely omelette, toast, and tea. At about 10 am, we were supposed to go snorkelling. But it was raining. So we waited for a while until the rain stopped.
Snorkelling During the Monsoon Season
At 10.30 am, the rain finally stopped. My friend and I joined another two guests for snorkelling. We took a long tour, so we spent the whole day snorkelling in several different snorkelling spots. The snorkelling long tour package was affordable, costing RM35/person only. Snorkelling equipment was also provided by the accommodation.
Snorkelling was nice. I was happy with what I saw underwater. I saw a turtle feeding for the very first time. I wasn’t lucky enough to find the reef sharks, but I hope to find them someday.
Note: Visit Turtle Beach at night, where you can watch turtles laying eggs or their babies heading off to the sea.
I didn’t get to experience such beautiful moments, though. Well, perhaps someday.
It Rained in the Afternoon
We had to go through some downpours in the middle of our trip. I was feeling very cold on the boat, and so did everybody. Rain is to be expected when travelling during the monsoon. Fortunately, we enjoyed a whole sunny day the day before.
Despite the rain, it was still an awesome trip. We stopped by a quiet beach called the ‘Romantic Beach’. While the other travellers were busy snorkelling, I kept myself busy with these lovely corals.
After our snorkelling trip, we returned to our tent to relax for a little while. The rain was still pouring. At night, we sat down at the bar and hangout. It was a laid-back night.
Stormy Night and a Leaking Roof
Just like day 1, we called it an early night again. But this time, there was a storm. I’ve never camped in the jungle in the middle of a stormy night. So this was the first. Pretty cool experience.
For a while, I was getting worried that the wind would blow the tents away. The wind was so strong I could feel the tent shaking. Unfortunately, our tent’s roof was leaking. We were hoping that things wouldn’t get worse. Thankfully, everything was okay.
In the morning, we realised we had some company. Check out these little guys:
Day 3
It was drizzling in the morning. We had our breakfast and hung out with the other guests. Some had already left the island, while others were about to move to different accommodations. My friend and I decided it was time for us to leave. So, we booked a boat back to Kuala Besut at 12 pm. At that moment, the weather seemed to be looking okay. But during the monsoon season, the weather can change anytime.
It’s Best To Travel With a Boat Company That Has Their Own Boat
Before purchasing your boat tickets, it’s important to ask your boat agent if the agency has its own boat or otherwise.
When we wanted to book a boat back to Kuala Besut, we realised that the tour agency that sold us the tickets didn’t actually have their own boat. Thus, we had to hop on the boat of other tour agencies. The accommodation owner told us that it’s always best to purchase tickets from agencies that have their own boats. Fortunately, we managed to get on the boat back to Kuala Besut.
The Boat Ride to Kuala Besut Was Like a Rollercoaster Ride
On our way back, we experienced big waves. The weather wasn’t good at all. Even though the waves were so strong – I thought we might fall off the boat – the boatman was a professional. He managed to keep everybody on board safe. If I had to describe the ride, I’d say it was nerve-wracking but fun.
Would I Return to Perhentian Islands?
I would return to Perhentian Islands whenever I have the chance. Perhentian Islands have to be one of Malaysia’s top beaches. But no more visiting Perhentian Islands during the monsoons for me! Typically, the peak months for Perhentian Islands are July, August, and September.
If you travel during the low season, don’t take any day for granted. Enjoy the sun, and even if it rains, don’t let it stop you from having fun.
