The Perhentian Islands in Malaysia are an increasingly popular backpacker destination that still feel as if they are paradise islands off the beaten track
Last month I visited the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia, close by to the Thai-Malay border. The Perhentians have become an increasingly popular place for backpackers to visit over the last 5 years – two secluded islands lying 20 minutes off shore with white sand beaches, palm trees and beautiful blue water in which to snorkel and scuba dive. Best of all, the Perhentians are pretty cheap – you can get a room for around $15 a night in one of the beach huts, while scuba diving will set you back around $30 a dive, less if you do multiple dives. It’s the perfect place to escape and relax without breaking the bank.
I wrote a full report about the Perhentian Islands, including info on how to get there and recommendations about who to dive with, on travelhappy’s sister site, divehappy.com – take a look if you’re interested in more info.
If you’re looking to book Perhentian accommodation, check out the reviews of Perhentian resorts and guesthouses on Agoda where you can book online.
There’s also a bunch of hotels on Palau Redang, around 45 minutes away from the Perhentians and a great dive spot in its own right. You can browse all the Perhentian hotels or have a look at the Berjaya Redang Beach Resort, the Aryani Resort, the Tanjong Jara hotel, and the Primula Beach resort.
These are all quite posh, but if you’re looking to avoid hunting for accommodation when you arrive, you might want to make a booking in advance.
