This park is actually a collection of six islands off the northeastern coast of peninsular Malaysia. Unlike the west coast islands of Penang and Langkawi, which cater more to the package-vacation tourist, the east coast islands have always been a favorite with backpackers and budget travelers. Set like jewels in the crystal clear waters of the South China Sea, these islands are generally harder to reach but worth the effort. A diver's haven, each island sports a number of dive shops where you can join an excursion or take an intensive, four-day, PADI open-water dive course.
Pulau Redang, or simply Redang as it is more commonly known, is an island that lies about 27 mi/45 km off the coast of Terengganu state. The largest of nine islands within the marine park, it is also the most developed for tourism. It attracts the upmarket beach set with a few luxurious resorts. The island's small airport is served by flights from Kuala Lumpur, but it can also be accessed by ferry from Terengganu's port of Merang. The other islands in the Redang archipelago are Lima, Paku Besar, Paku Kecil, Kerengga Besar, Kerengga Kecil, Ekor Tebu, Ling and Pinang.
The best time to visit is March-September. Rough weather during the rainy season makes the boat journey unpleasant and ruins underwater visibility.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.