The Perhentian Islands comprise two main islands. Perhentian Kecil (Small) and Perhentian Besar (Big).
Perhentian Kecil has more budget options and is where most backpackers and budget travellers chose to stay. There are various beaches, each with its own character. This article looks at the two beaches on Perhentian Kecil with the most accommodation options: Long Beach and Coral Bay. There are also other beaches where you can stay that are more secluded.
Long Beach
Long Beach is a convenient place to stay. There are more options here for budget accommodation, eating, drinking and nightlife. At night though, there can be noise from the bars until 3 or 4 am, which is OK if you are at the bar, but not so good if you are trying to get to sleep nearby.
Places to Stay
From north to south there are the following options:
Moonlight: some reasonably priced eating options. Air-con rooms go for RM80.
Bulu: a more expensive place that tends to attract more families. Beach volleyball is organised every evening at 5pm, but non-guests can join in as well.
Next along are Symphony, Matahari, Panorama, and O’Lala.
Tropicana: set a small walk back from the beach, Tropicana has dorm beds for RM15 and rooms, which can accommodate 2 people for RM40. There is free Wi-Fi for guests.
Mohsin: a popular RM20 all you can eat buffet some nights. There is free Wi-Fi access.
Chempaka: A-frames start at RM40, or RM35 if you stay at least three nights.
Lemon Grass: is very close to the beach, but perhaps not such good value for money.
Rock Garden: a range of accommodation options from old chalets that cost only RM15 or 20, but may be taken by long-termers, to newer chalets with sea views, air-con, etc, that would be above most backpacker budgets. The cheaper options have shared showers and toilets. Overall it is not a bad choice.
Places to Eat
From north to south there are the following options:
Pit Stop Café: a very reasonably priced (for the Perhentian Islands) place with a variety of local options.
World Café: a flash, expensive place with Wi-Fi for those with who can afford it..
Most of the accommodation options also have restaurants attached.
Places to Drink
The nightlife doesn’t really get going until around 11pm, when some of the bars along the beach are packed out with generally more of the younger twenty something crowd dancing on the beach.
Many places have happy hours. Sometimes until 10:30pm or midnight. ‘Monkey juice’ is a popular drink in the island and is a cheap way of getting drunk. It is 25% alcohol. It is easy to drink so be careful not to get carried away!
Coral Bay Beach
Coral Bay beach is about a 10-minute walk from Long Beach. There is a proper concrete path. At night-time it is best to bring a torch as it can be very dark. Coral Bay is a smaller and quieter beach than Long Beach.
From north to south there are the following places to stay, eat and other businesses:
Shari-La Island Resort: a more upmarket place.
Then there is Wanie-Shop and a building site. You must walk through the building site to find the start of the pathway to Long Beach.
Ewan’s Place: located back from the beach, off the path that leads to Long Beach. Rooms with attached bathroom and fan cost 50RM. There is a good café here with Wi-Fi. Ewan is a very friendly man, who is about thirty years old.
Next are Fatimah Chalet, Aur Bay Chalet, Mama’s Kitchen Café & Shop, Amelia Café & Chalets, Steffen Sea Sports Dive School and Angel Divers.
Maya Chalet: has a café with a nightly BBQ for RM18, which includes a choice of seafood or meat (e.g. lobster, chicken, etc), plus small baked potato, rice, salad, slice of melon and banana cake and welcome drink, which is some sort of cordial. It represents good value.
Then to the southern end are Yellow Station Shop, Gem’s Internet Café and Senja Bay Resort.
Finally, Butterfly: rooms here cost RM90.
How to Get There
Take a speedboat from Kuala Besut.
Exchange Rate
At the time of writing RM10 is approximately equal to US$3 or £2.
Richard Milnes - Richard was born in London, England, but has since spent much of his life travelling the world and has visited nearly 50 ...
