Redang Island Travel Guide

Redang Island also know as Pulau Redang on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is part of Terengganu state. The island is 45 kilometres away off the coast of the state and it is one of the nine islands that make up the Redang Marine Park.

Redang is well-known for its beautiful beaches, clear waters and rich underwater fauna, which makes it one of the top places in Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast for diving and snorkelling.

Compared to the nearby Perhentian Islands, which are popular among backpackers, Redang Island targets more towards leisure travellers as most accommodations on the island are resort-based.

On Redang Island Teluk Dalam has the best beaches, followed by Pasir Panjang and Teluk Kalong.

Teluk Dalam

There are two beach stretches at Teluk Dalam which are Teluk Dalam Besar and Teluk Dalam Kecil, this is where Taaras Beach & Spa Resort, a luxurious resort is located. The waters there are calm and crystal-clear, making it the perfect place for swimming. There is also a 60-minute jungle path connecting Teluk Dalam Besar’s beach to Pasir Panjang.

Pasir Panjang

The largest beach on the island is in Teluk Dalam, and is called Pasir Panjang meaning "long beach". This white sandy beach can be found on the east side of the island where most of the resorts are located. A walk along the beach from Redang Reef Resort, on the southern tip, to Redang Holiday Beach Villa on the northern tip, would take around 15 to 20 minutes.

Teluk Kalong

The three beaches at Teluk Kalong are smaller than those at Teluk Dalam and Pasir Panjang. This is more suitable for travellers looking to enjoy the sun in solitude as there are relatively fewer resorts and travellers on Teluk Kalong’s beaches.

Snorkelling and Scuba Diving

The main activities travellers can do on the island are snorkelling and scuba diving. Most, if not all, of the resorts offers diving and snorkelling packages for trips around Redang and the surrounding islands. The sea surrounding the island is relatively calm, suitable for relaxing sessions of snorkelling and diving activities. However, the waters farther from the island can have fairly strong currents. Some resorts have swimming pools if you prefer to swim in fresh water.

Visit Pulau Lima and Surrounding Islands

Pulau Lima means five islands. It is one of the most valuable islands within the Redang marine park as the famed for the reefs around this islet.

Easily accessible from the resorts in Redang Island, there's good diving spots to be found all around it on the east, west, northern and southern tips. Among the dive spots, the most popular are Big Mount in the north and Black Coral Garden in the west with its large fields of anemone and other soft corals.

Beach Sports and Activities

Besides that, travellers can also relax on the beach or rent a sea kayak. Jet skis and water skis are not made available on the island to protect the coral reefs.

Redang has a tropical climate with temperatures averaging around 30°C. Brief rainfall and thunderstorms happen regularly on the island.

Just like many parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Redang is affected by the Northeast monsoon between October and March. During these months, most of the resorts are closed and the transport to the island is heavily restricted.

Meanwhile, the dry season falls between April to August.

There are no direct flights to the island. Travellers would have to go to Kuala Terengganu first, either by flight or land transportation, and head to the island by sea.

There are two modes of transportation from the mainland to the island: by boat and by ferry.

Travellers opting to go by boat can head to Merang Jetty and pay around RM40 for a one-way ticket to Redang. The travel time is about 40 minutes.

Travellers opting to go by ferry can head to Shahbandar Jetty instead. The ferry is operated by the Berjaya resorts between March to October. The ferry is primarily for guests staying in the resorts, but it can also take non-guests if there are empty slots in the ferry. The fare costs RM110 for a return ticket and the journey takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes per way.

The island itself is small and there is no public transportation to connect different parts of the island. Travellers wishing to visit the different beaches will have to charter a boat as there are no established water taxi services.

The resorts on the islands have their own restaurants that travellers can go to, although it can get quite pricey. There are also a couple of restaurant options outside the resorts, such as Sandfly Cafe and Redang Laguna Food Court, both located on Pasir Panjang.

There are not many options as to what travellers can buy on the island. These are limited to tourist souvenirs and clothes.

Accommodation on the island are limited to only mid-range and luxurious resort stays. There are currently no options for backpackers.

Most of the accommodations are located on Pasir Panjang and are equipped with air conditioning. There are only a handful of other resorts located elsewhere on the island in Teluk Dalam and Teluk Kalong.

Remember to bring sunblock and proper beachwear as travellers will spend most of the time on the beach and in the waters. Packing some water bottles and snacks would be a wise choice since those sold in the island’s convenient store or resorts’ gift shops can be expensive. For those who get seasick easily, getting some motion sickness pills is recommended.

In terms of clothing, bikinis and swimwear are acceptable. However, going naked or topless is heavily frowned upon.