Redang Island in Malaysia is located in the east of the country and is not connected to its mainland. Its area is more than 40 square kilometers. Tourists come here for secluded holidays and fabulous beaches with fine white sand.
Check this ultimate guide on best things to do in Redang, Malaysia; make sure to try out some of the most popular tourist attractions mentioned in the list.
General Info
- Location: Pulau Redang, 21090 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia.
- Average air t: in winter: during the day – +28.5 C degrees, at night – +25.7 C; in summer: during the day – +31.7 C, at night – +27.3 C.
- Average t of the sea : in winter – 27.8 C degrees; in summer – 29.8 C degrees.
- Best season to visit: April to October, although October can be late. Many resorts, with the exception of a few, are closed from November to March.
- Rainy season: the most rainfall is from November to March inclusive.
How to get to Redang Island
Since the island is not connected to mainland Malaysia by road or bridge, you can get there by plane or ferry.
Plane
By plane, you can take a domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur with Berjaya Air. A round-trip flight will cost $45. But these flights are often cancelled.
Ferry
You can get to Redang by ferry from the city of Kuala Terengganu. Take a bus, travel time is 7.5 hours, buses travel twice a day from the TVS station, ticket price starts from 40 ringgit.
There are two piers in Kuala Terengganu: the suburban Merang jetty and Shahbandar (10 minutes walk from the bus station). From the first pier, you can go to Redang for 40 ringgit at 9:30 am. From the second pier there are boats for 50 ringgit. They swim three times a day (the first one at 9.00 am) and also arrive at the beach. On Redang island, everyone travels by taxi. Since Redang island in Malaysia is part of a marine park, you will have to pay the entrance fee upon arrival – the cost of the ticket for everyone without exception is 5MYR.
Since there is only one main road leading to the airport on the island, movement is possible only by water. But there are no regular water taxis here, so you will have to order transport on reception at the hotel.
Things to Do in Redang Island
Despite the developed infrastructure (airport, luxury hotels), Redang island gives the impression that you are on the edge of the earth. This is the perfect place for a beach holiday and one of the best resorts for families traveling to Malaysia with kids. Although during school holidays and public holidays, it is quite crowded.
Diving and Snorkeling
Redang island is a great place to dive. There is not only a huge and bright underwater world, but also excellent visibility. From May to September, dive tours are offered by all hotels on Redang to more than 20 diving locations.
Here is the largest single coral on the planet. The reefs of the Redang island are home to over 55 coral species and 100 fish species. Sometimes you can even meet stingrays and whale sharks. There are a large number of diving schools, the best of them are: Coral Redang Divers, Redang Bay Dive centre and Redang Pelangi Dive Centre. The price depends on the hotel, often it does not exceed 100MYR. Snorkeling is also popular in Redang, but the Perhentian Islands are usually chosen for this purpose.
Boating, canoeing, kayaking
Year-round entertainment, rental is available on all beaches.
Fishing
You can rent a boat and a fishing rod to catch fresh fish for dinner on your own. It is allowed to catch it at least 4 kilometers from the coast.
Windsurfing
You can ride on all the beaches – there is equipment rental and instructors from local schools.
Hiking
A great way to get acquainted not only with the underwater world of the island, but also to see its flora and fauna. The rules for walking in the woods are the same as if you were walking in the jungle. Be sure to bring mosquito repellent with you. In the forest you can meet squirrels, lizards, bats and monkeys.
In addition, on the island of Redang there is beach volleyball, football, tennis. You will find any entertainment in every hotel on the island.
Rest on Redang is not for those on the budget. There are no campsites or guest houses here. But the choice of luxury villas, apartments and hotels is huge. If you’re looking for luxurious experience, choose Redang island as your next travel destination. There are only a couple of privately owned restaurants, where you can try out national Malaysian dishes.
Restaurants usually offer a mix of colorful local cuisine with its savory and unusual dishes and more familiar European food. Compared to other regions, where tourists go for Malaysia beach vacation, the prices here are quite high.
There are no ATMs on the island, so make sure you bring enough cash.
