6 Must-Visit Islands in Malaysia
Malaysia is blessed with countless islands, each offering a slice of paradise for travellers seeking sun, sand, and a bit of adventure. From secluded hidden gems to world-famous tropical playgrounds, we at LodgingBee.com believe there’s an island for every type of traveller, whether you’re a budget backpacker or luxury resort lover. In this blog post, we highlight six must-visit Malaysian islands that promise blissful relaxation and light adventures like snorkelling, beachcombing, and scenic hikes. Pack your sunscreen and sense of wanderlust – your island-hopping journey begins now!
Langkawi
The Island that Has It All!
Langkawi isn’t just one island – it’s an archipelago of 99 islands adorned with emerald waters and white sands. Nicknamed the Jewel of Kedah, Langkawi offers a bit of everything: beach relaxation, jungle adventure, and even duty-free shopping. You can spend your days lounging at Pantai Cenang or Tanjung Rhu beach, then take a thrilling ride up the Langkawi Cable Car to the Sky Bridge for panoramic views. The island’s calm waters are ideal for kayaking through mangrove forests and island-hopping tours. For snorkelers, day trips to nearby Pulau Payar Marine Park reveal colourful reefs teeming with fish. After sunset, enjoy a beachside barbecue or explore the night markets in Kuah town. With accommodation ranging from friendly guesthouses to five-star Langkawi beach resorts, you’ll find your perfect stay on LodgingBee.com in no time.
How to Get There: Langkawi is easily accessible by air (direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Singapore, etc.) or by ferry from mainland Kedah (Kuala Perlis or Kuala Kedah) and Penang. Once there, renting a car or scooter is a fun way to explore the main island.
Best Time to Visit: November to April is the dry season with sunny weather, perfect for beach outings. May to October sees occasional rains, but generally, Langkawi is a year-round destination (except the heaviest showers in September and October).
Ideal For: Families (for its kid-friendly attractions and resorts), honeymooners (stunning sunsets and spas), budget travellers (affordable chalets and night markets), and anyone seeking a balanced mix of relaxation and soft adventure.
Tioman Island
Pristine Beauty & Jungle Adventures
Tioman Island is a lush, laid-back paradise off Malaysia’s east coast that was famously once named one of the world’s most beautiful islands. Ringed by coral reefs, Tioman is a haven for snorkelling and diving – you might spot clownfish, barracudas, or even reef sharks in its clear waters. On land, dense jungles cover the interior, offering chances to trek to cascading waterfalls like Mukut Falls or spot monkeys and monitor lizards along the trails. Life on Tioman moves at a slow pace: think quiet fishing villages, beachfront BBQs, and nights admiring the starry sky. Whether you stay in a simple beach hut or a boutique eco-resort, the island’s kampung (village) charm will make you feel right at home. Tioman snorkelling tours can take you island-hopping to nearby islets like Renggis or Tulai for even more vibrant coral gardens. Don’t miss a taste of the local lifestyle – perhaps chatting with villagers in Salang or Juara over a glass of iced lime juice.
How to Get There: Take a ferry from Mersing or Tanjung Gemok on peninsular Malaysia’s east coast (the ride is about 1.5 to 2 hours, weather dependent). Buses from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore connect to Mersing, or drive yourself. Tip: Ferries run mainly from March–October; plan accordingly as schedules are reduced in monsoon months.
Best Time to Visit: March to October is ideal, with calm seas and clear visibility for snorkelling/diving. The monsoon season (November through February) brings heavy rain and rough seas – many resorts close during this period. For the best experience, aim for April, May, or June when the weather is excellent but crowds are thinner than in the July–August peak.
Ideal For: Divers & snorkelers (rich marine life and dive schools abound), backpackers (affordable chalets at ABC Beach or Salang and a social vibe), nature lovers (rainforest hikes and wildlife), and couples looking for a quieter retreat close to nature. (High-end luxury is limited here, but the unspoiled beauty more than compensates!)
Perhentian Islands
Backpacker Vibes & Turtle Dives
If your idea of paradise is turquoise lagoons and a chilled-out vibe, head to the Perhentian Islands. Comprising two main islands – Perhentian Kecil (Small) and Besar (Big) – this duo off Terengganu’s coast delivers some of Malaysia’s most stunning beaches. The Perhentians are all about simple pleasures: snorkelling with turtles and reef sharks at Coral Bay, hiking through jungles to find secret coves, and enjoying fresh grilled fish under the stars. Perhentian Kecil is known as a backpacker haven, with Long Beach offering budget chalets, beach cafés, and the occasional fire show at night. Perhentian Besar is a touch quieter and favoured by families and couples for its resort hotels and calm beaches. Notably, there are no roads or cars on the islands – you get around by water taxi or on foot, which adds to the castaway charm. With such pristine coral reefs just offshore, Perhentian Islands snorkelling is a must – you can literally wade out from the beach and find yourself amid clownfish, parrotfish, and sea turtles gliding by.
How to Get There: From Kuala Lumpur, take a one-hour flight to Kota Bharu or Kuala Terengganu, then a taxi/bus to Kuala Besut Jetty. From Kuala Besut, speedboats zip you to the Perhentians in 30–45 minutes. (There are 3–4 daily boat departures in the morning and midday during the travel season.)
Best Time to Visit: Visit late March through September for the driest weather and full services. Mid-year (July–August) is peak season with more travellers. Early March or late September can be wonderful for fewer crowds and good weather. Avoid November–February when the monsoon shuts down most accommodations and ferries, seas get rough and almost everything pauses for the season.
Ideal For: Budget backpackers (cheap lodgings and a social scene on Kecil), families and couples (Besar’s relaxed resorts and shallow bays are great for kids and romance), and underwater enthusiasts (some of the best snorkelling and value-for-money diving in Southeast Asia). If you’re seeking five-star luxury or shopping malls, these islands aren’t about that – their appeal lies in natural beauty and simplicity.
Kapas Island
Cotton-Soft Sands & Total Tranquillity
Tiny, sleepy Kapas Island (literally “Cotton Island” in Malay, named for its powdery white sands) is the ultimate get-away-from-it-all destination. This hidden gem offers a rustic tropical escape: there’s little to do here besides snorkel in crystal-clear shallows, sway in a hammock with a good book, and watch hermit crabs scuttle along the beach. And that’s exactly the charm! The entire island is walkable; you can trek through a short jungle path from one beach cove to another in minutes. Offshore, vibrant coral and sea anemones make for excellent Kapas snorkelling right from the beach – keep an eye out for clownfish and blue-spotted rays. Accommodation on Kapas is mostly no-frills chalets and a couple of cosy resorts, giving it a very laid-back, communal feel. Evenings are quiet and magical, often spent stargazing or enjoying a casual beach bonfire with fellow travellers. If you’re seeking serene natural beauty and a slow pace, Kapas will steal your heart.
How to Get There: Kapas Island is a quick 15-minute ferry ride from Marang Jetty in Terengganu (note: Marang, not to be confused with Merang Jetty). To reach Marang, you can drive or take a bus from Kuala Terengganu (about 30 minutes away). The ferry boats run frequently during daylight hours in the April–Oct season.
Best Time to Visit: April to September, when the seas are calm and services are operating. Outside of this window (especially November–February), the island more or less shuts down due to the monsoon – waters get choppy and most chalets close. For the clearest water, try visiting in May or June before the summer school-holiday crowds arrive.
Ideal For: Budget travellers & backpackers (affordable stays and a “no shoes, no news” atmosphere), solo travellers or couples who want peace and natural beauty (it’s very safe and friendly), and snorkelers/beach bums content with simple island life. Kapas is not about luxury or wild nightlife – its luxury is in the tranquillity and unspoiled beach scenery.
Rawa Island
Exclusive Paradise with a Playful Twist
Rawa Island is a postcard-perfect coral island in Johor that remains surprisingly under the radar. With its crystal-clear water, chalk-white sand, and swaying palm trees, Rawa often feels like a private paradise. In fact, it almost is – there are only two resorts on the island, keeping visitor numbers low and the beaches uncrowded. Rawa’s house reef is literally at your doorstep, so you can snorkel among neon-colored fish and corals just a few meters from the shore. A unique claim to fame here is the giant water slide on the pier – kids and the young-at-heart will love zooming down straight into the sea! For more adventure, you can kayak around the island or hike up the jungle hill trail for a panoramic view of the South China Sea (sunset from the viewpoint is unforgettable). After active moments, laze in a hammock or indulge in a spa massage offered by the resort. Rawa’s exclusivity and beauty make it popular for weekend getaways, and it’s often dubbed “the Maldives of Johor” for its idyllic ambience. Be sure to plan ahead, as a stay here usually requires booking in advance on LodgingBee.com or via the resort due to limited rooms.
How to Get There: Make your way to Mersing town in Johor (about 4 hours by car/bus from Kuala Lumpur, or 2–3 hours from Singapore). From Mersing Jetty, the resort will arrange a 30-minute speedboat transfer to Rawa Island. Only guests with reservations can visit, as there’s no public ferry – it’s a private boat service tied to your booked accommodation.
Best Time to Visit: March through October aligns with Rawa’s dry, sunny season – perfect for beach fun and water sports. Like other east-coast isles, Rawa more or less closes during the November–February monsoon; the resorts renovate or take a break then. To avoid the busiest times, steer clear of Malaysian public holidays and school vacations when the small island fills up.
Ideal For: Couples and honeymooners (secluded beaches and romantic scenery), families (safe shallow waters and that fun waterslide for kids), and groups of friends looking for an exclusive retreat. Rawa is boutique and upscale in vibe – not suited for shoestring backpackers – but if you’re willing to splurge a bit, it’s an unforgettable experience.
Mabul Island
Village Life & Undersea Adventures
On the opposite side of Malaysia in Sabah (Bornean Malaysia) lies Mabul Island, a small patch of land big on adventure and cultural insight. Mabul is world-renowned as the gateway to Sipadan, often cited as one of the top dive sites on the planet. Every day, divers head out from Mabul’s shores to explore Sipadan’s deep walls and swim among turtles, sharks, and swirling tornadoes of barracuda. But Mabul itself has plenty to offer even if you’re not a scuba diver: incredible muck snorkelling (think exotic small critters like frogfish and nudibranchs in the shallows), and a window into the local Bajau Laut sea gypsy community. Stilted villages hover over turquoise water, and you’ll see local kids paddling dugout canoes or laughing as they jump into the sea. The island hosts a range of stays from budget-friendly lodges to luxe overwater bungalows that rival Maldives-style resorts. Evenings are relaxed – enjoy fresh seafood BBQ at your homestay or sip a cold drink while watching an otherworldly sunset over the Celebes Sea. Mabul’s mix of friendly village life and underwater thrills makes it a must-visit for those journeying to Sabah’s islands.
How to Get There: Fly to Tawau airport (daily flights from Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur), then take a 1.5-hour taxi or minivan to Semporna town. From Semporna, it’s about a 45-minute speedboat ride to Mabul Island. Often, your dive resort or lodge will arrange boat transfers for guests. (No public ferries operate, but many tour operators in Semporna can hook you up with a ride if needed.)
Best Time to Visit: April to December generally offers calm seas and good visibility for diving and snorkelling. July and August are peak season for divers. The rainy period around January–February is mild in this region (Sabah’s weather is less predictable, but you can often dive year-round). It’s wise to book Sipadan dive permits well ahead of time, regardless of season, as slots are limited to protect the marine park.
Ideal For: Scuba divers (Mabul + Sipadan are bucket-list material), snorkelers (abundant sea life in shallow reefs – you might spot turtles right under the piers), and adventurous travellers interested in culture (immersing in a Bajau village setting) as well as relaxation. Accommodation options make it suitable for both budget backpackers (hostels and homestays on Mabul or stay in Semporna) and luxury seekers (private water bungalow resorts). In short, if you love marine life or just want a far-flung island experience, Mabul will wow you.
From the tranquil sands of Kapas to the lively coral gardens of the Perhentians, Malaysia’s islands offer an incredible diversity of experiences, all with a warm tropical climate and friendly vibe that make travellers feel welcome. Whether you crave lazy beach days or light adventures like jungle trekking and snorkelling with reef fish, there’s an island on this list calling your name. The best part is you don’t have to choose just one! Many travellers island-hop through Malaysia, crafting an itinerary that might include a mix of popular icons like Langkawi and off-beat gems like Rawa or Kapas. Whenever you’re ready to turn these daydreams into reality, LodgingBee.com is here to help you find the perfect places to stay on each island. Let our hive do the hard work of finding you the best deals and island accommodations, so you can focus on planning your fun in the sun (and under the waves!). Grab your flip-flops, snorkel, and sense of adventure – Malaysia’s enchanting islands await, promising relaxation, adventure, and memories to last a lifetime. Happy travels from the LodgingBee team, and see you on the beach!