Comparison No. 5 of 6
Comparison · Monsoon
Islands you can visit in the monsoon
Twelve islands off Peninsular Malaysia ranked from most to least open during the November–February northeast monsoon, checked on 8 November 2026.
Order is editorial, not paid. An editor ranked these islands. Nobody paid to be on this list.
| No. | Island | Boat from | Nov–Feb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pulau Pangkor | Marina Island jetty, Lumut | Open, daily ferries |
| 2 | Pulau Tioman | Mersing jetty, Mersing | Ferry most days |
| 3 | Pulau Redang | Merang jetty, Setiu | One resort open |
| 4 | Pulau Rawa | Mersing jetty, Mersing | One resort open |
| 5 | Pulau Sibu | Tanjung Leman jetty, Mersing | Partly, to end Nov |
| 6 | Pulau Tinggi | Tanjung Leman jetty, Mersing | To 30 Nov 2026 |
| 7 | Pulau Perhentian | Kuala Besut jetty, Besut | Mostly shut |
| 8 | Pulau Kapas | Marang jetty, Marang | Shut to about Feb |
| 9 | Pulau Besar | Mersing jetty, Mersing | Shut to about Mar |
| 10 | Pulau Lang Tengah | Merang jetty, Setiu | Shut |
| 11 | Pulau Tenggol | A'King jetty, Kuala Dungun | Shut to about Mar |
| 12 | Pulau Aur | Mersing jetty, Mersing | Shut |
A dash means we have not yet checked that fact against an operator.
1. Pulau Pangkor
On the west coast, with no seasonal closure and ferries every day.
Pangkor is open all year. Ferries from Marina Island near Lumut run about hourly from 07:15 to 19:15, 10–15 min across, and November 2026 sailings were listed on 8 November. Sailings can be delayed by weather or tide. Pangkor is not a marine park, so come for the town and the beaches, not the reef.
- Nov–Feb
- Open, daily ferries
- Season
- All year
- Boat
- 10–15 min
- Charge
- –
2. Pulau Tioman
The ferry from Mersing keeps sailing most days, and some resorts stay open all year.
In November 2026 the Mersing ferry runs one tide-timed sailing a day, with none on Saturday 14 November and no return from Tioman on 1 and 15 November. The December timetable was not out on 8 November. Tanjung Gemok jetty is shut from November to February. Paya Beach Spa & Dive Resort says it stays open all year, and The Barat Tioman publishes low-season rates for October to February. Most dive centres run only from about March to October.
- Nov–Feb
- Ferry most days
- Season
- All year
- Boat
- 1 h 30 min–2 h 30 min
- Charge
- RM30
3. Pulau Redang
Most resorts close, but The Taaras stays open and runs its own boat every day.
Most Redang resorts and the public boats from Merang stop from November to February. The Taaras says it is open all year; from November to March its boat leaves Merang once a day at 11 am and Redang at 9 am. Berjaya Air's fare calendar for Subang–Redang flights runs through the low season to 15 March 2027.
- Nov–Feb
- One resort open
- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Boat
- 45–60 min
- Charge
- RM30
4. Pulau Rawa
Rawa Island Resort says it stays open all year, though the sea can cancel its boats.
Rawa Island Resort's FAQ says it is open all year, with March to October best for weather. Its 2026 rate sheet ends on 15 November 2026, so check year-end rates when you book. Water activities may stop from about mid-November to January. Alang's Rawa runs from March to November.
- Nov–Feb
- One resort open
- Season
- All year
- Boat
- 20–30 min
- Charge
- RM30
5. Pulau Sibu
Open into late November, and resorts facing the mainland are the likeliest to stay open after that.
Rimba Resort welcomes guests from Chinese New Year to the end of November, so it is closed from about December. Sea Gypsy publishes no closure dates; ask before you book. Resort boats from Tanjung Leman may be rescheduled or cancelled for sea, weather or tide.
- Nov–Feb
- Partly, to end Nov
- Season
- Feb–Nov
- Boat
- 20–40 min
- Charge
- RM30
6. Pulau Tinggi
One resort sells rooms to 30 November 2026; after that, plan for March.
Shaz Resort has rates loaded to 30 November 2026. No Tinggi stay was found selling from December to mid-February, and boat transfers from Tanjung Leman are hard to get from December to February.
- Nov–Feb
- To 30 Nov 2026
- Season
- Feb–Nov
- Boat
- 30–45 min
- Charge
- RM30
7. Pulau Perhentian
Almost everything has shut, though local boats still run when the sea allows.
On 4 November 2026 The Star reported that about 90% of the islands' 80 accommodation premises had shut since late October, and that the authorities had closed the Kuala Besut tourist jetty. A few village homestays stay open. Senja Bay reopens on 2 February 2027; the Perhentian Marriott says mid-January 2027, so check with the resort.
- Nov–Feb
- Mostly shut
- Season
- Feb–Oct
- Boat
- 30–45 min
- Charge
- RM30
8. Pulau Kapas
Closed for the monsoon now, with no 2026/27 dates announced.
Most boats and resorts on Kapas are closed until about February 2027. Operators usually stop from late October, and none had announced reopening dates on 8 November 2026. Your resort or boat operator confirms its first sailing.
- Nov–Feb
- Shut to about Feb
- Season
- Feb–Oct
- Boat
- 10–20 min
- Charge
- RM30
9. Pulau Besar
The 2026 resort seasons have ended or end this month; the next opens around March 2027.
Every 2026 resort season found ended on 31 October or ends in November, and Bayu Lestari says it closes from November to February. The next season opens from about mid-February to March 2027.
- Nov–Feb
- Shut to about Mar
- Season
- Feb–Oct
- Boat
- 30–60 min
- Charge
- RM30
10. Pulau Lang Tengah
No scheduled boats and the resorts are closed for the season.
On 1 November 2026 Direct Ferries listed no sailings between Merang and Lang Tengah. The resorts close for the northeast monsoon, some from October. The season usually reopens around late February to March; confirm with your resort.
- Nov–Feb
- Shut
- Season
- Feb–Oct
- Boat
- 45–60 min
- Charge
- RM30
11. Pulau Tenggol
Both resorts and the dive centres close; the 2026 season ended on 1 November.
Tenggol Coral Beach Resort sold its 2026 season to 1 November 2026. Neither resort had published 2027 dates on 8 November. The island usually opens from about March to October.
- Nov–Feb
- Shut to about Mar
- Season
- Mar–Oct
- Boat
- 45 min
- Charge
- RM30
12. Pulau Aur
The most remote island here: resorts close and boats stop.
Boats and resorts on Aur usually stop from about November or December to February or March, and no operator showed sailings in that window. Plan for April to October.
- Nov–Feb
- Shut
- Season
- Mar–Nov
- Boat
- 2 h–2 h 30 min
- Charge
- RM30
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How we ranked
We ranked the twelve islands by how much of each still works from November to February: first a public ferry that keeps running, then at least one stay that says it is open, then partial openings, then closures. Among the closed islands, those expected to reopen sooner come first. Every date here comes from a resort, ferry operator or news report and was checked on 8 November 2026. Monsoon timetables change week to week, so confirm with your resort before you travel.
On the east coast, closing is the operators’ choice: Terengganu says it does not order island resorts to shut. Even where something stays open, boats can be cancelled on rough days, and snorkelling and diving are limited. Pangkor, on the west coast, is the only island here with no seasonal closure.
Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Tengah and the Sabah islands are not ranked here yet; each island guide shows its own season by month.