PULAUMY

Comparison No. 6 of 6

Comparison · Head to head

Redang vs Perhentian

Two Terengganu marine parks compared on water clarity, the boat, how you book and what is open in the monsoon.

Order is editorial, not paid. An editor ranked these islands. Nobody paid to be on this list.

The ranking at a glance
No.IslandBoat fromVisibility
1Pulau RedangMerang jetty, SetiuOften 20–30 m
2Pulau PerhentianKuala Besut jetty, Besut10–20 m

A dash means we have not yet checked that fact against an operator.

  1. 1. Pulau Redang

    Guide No. 03 · Terengganu · Boat from Merang jetty, Setiu

    Clearer water, a more resort-style stay and the one island of the two with a resort open all year.

    Redang is one main island with eight smaller ones, a marine park since 1994, with most resorts on Pasir Panjang. Speedboats take 45–60 min from Merang, and Berjaya Air flies from Subang. Most resorts sell full-board packages with the boat and snorkel trips, so you plan less but pay more. The Taaras stays open all year; most others close from November to February. There is no ATM, so bring cash.

    Visibility
    Often 20–30 m
    Season
    Mar–Oct
    Boat
    45–60 min
    Charge
    RM30
    The Redang guide
    White sand and turquoise water at Pasir Panjang on Pulau Redang, seen from pink granite rocks, with boats moored offshore and a forested headland behind.Photo: Mukherjeesaikat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  2. 2. Pulau Perhentian

    Guide No. 01 · Terengganu · Boat from Kuala Besut jetty, Besut

    More freedom: two islands, more than 80 places to stay, and a shared boat you can buy on the day.

    The Perhentians are two islands, Besar and Kecil, with no roads; trails and water taxis link the beaches. The shared speedboat from Kuala Besut takes 30–45 min and costs RM40 one way in 2026, so you can book a room and buy the boat separately. Foreigners also pay a RM20 jetty fee. Power comes from generators, there is no ATM, and almost everything closes from late October until resorts reopen between mid-January and March.

    Visibility
    10–20 m
    Season
    Feb–Oct
    Boat
    30–45 min
    Charge
    RM30
    The Perhentian guide
    A long timber jetty with a red-roofed pavilion runs out over turquoise water from a white-sand beach, with a small boat on the grass in front and forested hills across the water.Photo: Arne Müseler / www.arne-mueseler.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons

How we ranked

We put Redang first for the water and for its season: PADI puts its visibility at often 20–30 m, against usually 10–20 m (sometimes up to 30 m) at the Perhentians, and one Redang resort stays open through the monsoon, while on the Perhentians only a few village homestays do. Both are marine parks since 1994, and both charge the same conservation charge: RM30 for an adult without a MyKad, RM5 with one. Both are fully open from March to October, and some Perhentian resorts reopen in February; June to August are the most stable months according to PADI.

Choose the Perhentians if you want freedom more than a set plan: a room-only stay plus a RM40 shared boat avoids package prices, and you can move between beaches and resorts. Choose Redang for a package with meals, boats and snorkel trips arranged, or if you travel in the monsoon. Facts were checked on 8 November 2026 against operators, the Department of Fisheries, PADI and 2026 news reports.