TIOMAN ISLAND (PAHANG)

        Tioman Island (Pulau Tioman) is a small island located 32 km off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the state of Pahang, and is some 39 km long and 12 km wide. It has eight main villages, the largest and most populous being Kampung Tekek in the north. The densely forested island is sparsely inhabited, and is surrounded by numerous coral reefs, making it a popular scuba diving spot. There are also a lot of resorts and chalets around the island which has duty free status.

       Its beaches were depicted in the 1958 movie, South Pacific as Bali Hai. In the 1970s, TIME Magazine selected Tioman as one of the world's most beautiful islands.

Apart from its diverse marine life, the inland rainforest area, encompassing approximately 8,296 hectares, in Tioman is a strictly enforced nature reserve. There are several protected species of mammals on the island, including the Binturong, Long-tailed Macaque, Slow Loris, Black Giant Squirrel, Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Mouse deer, Brush-tailed Porcupine, and Common Palm Civet, from a total of 45 species of mammals and 138 species of birds, including the majestic Frigatebird. Moreover, Tioman has species that are endemic to its shores. The soft-shelled turtle and the Tioman walking catfish are both unique and can be seen on rainforest walks.

LANKAYAN ISLAND (SABAH)

     Not far from the city of Sandakan, eastern Sabah, lies the island of Lankayan. Lankayan is a small but beautiful tropical island in the Sulu Sea. The island is very popular among scuba diving enthusiasts and is often visited to get some well deserved rest after having done one of the activities on Borneo. The area around Lankayan is an official protected marine park; this was done to preserve the rich eco-tourism value. Unfortunately this doesn't stop fishermen from illegal fishing  in the waters around (below) Lankayan. There is only one resort on the island, Lankayan Island Dive Resort, and because of this prices are not that cheap compared to other tropical islands in Malaysia. Between June and September turtles come to shore to lay their eggs. During the same season visitors can witness baby turtle hatchlings that find their way into the sea. Most common turtles that can be found around Lankayan are the Green Turtle and the Hawksbill Turtle. So many turtles live in this area that even people who only do snorkeling are able to spot them underwater.

     As Lankayan lies nearby the city of Sandakan in eastern Sabah; you will first have to take a plane from Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu (or any other city that flies to Sandakan) to Sandakan. The boat ride to Lankayan Island takes about one and a half hour from Sandakan. As the boat leaves very early in the morning; it is best to stay in Sandakan the night before. The boat ride is always part of your reservation at Lankayan Island Dive Resort; your reservation also includes a pickup from your hotel or resort (in Sandakan).

LAYANG-LAYANG ISLAND (SABAH)

     Located 300km northwest of Kota Kinabalu, you find Layang Layang, part of the disputed Spratly Islands. The island is a true diver's paradise. Though the island is not cheap, it is definitely worth a visit. When you go to Layang Layang, do not expect to arrive at a tropical paradise. The place used to be an active marine base, and until only recent no public visitors where allowed on the 'man-made island'. Because of the splendid diving conditions, Layang Layang is a must-visit destination for scuba diving enthusiasts. There are no tropical beaches on the island; only the naval base, the resort and diving school and the air strip. The (only) resort on the island, Layang Layang Island Resort, is closed from September till February; as during this time the area is being plagued by the monsoon.

     With a distance over 300km from the nearest city (Kota Kinabalu), it is clear that flying – from Kota Kinabalu (KB) - is your best option to get to Layang Layang. This flight costs around $320 per person (including taxes). The flight to Layang Layang departs from terminal 1 at Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI); you need to be at the terminal at least 1,5 hours before departure. There is an LLIR BKI office at the airport should you have any questions. The resort would prefer guests to reconfirm their flight when they arrive in Kota Kinabalu. Baggage allowance is 30kg per person (including hand luggage). There are numerous daily flights from cities throughout Malaysia to Kota Kinabalu; every domestic airline flies to KB. After a one hour flight you will arrive at one of the most beautiful diving areas in Malaysia. In addition to flying to the island, there are also a couple of liveaboards that visit the island; they sail from Kota Kinabalu.

MABUL ISLAND (SABAH)

     Mabul is an island off the south-eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia. It first became popular due to its proximity to Sipadan Island. Few years back, it has gained its recognition as one of the best 'muck diving' sites in the world. Mabul Island is a small oval shaped island surrounded by sandy beaches and perched on the northwest corner of a larger two square kilometer reef.

 

     It is more correctly recognised now that the reason for the quality of the MUCK Diving is simply a result of overfishing uses of cyanide and dynamite by the local people of this area. The reef is on the edge of the continental shelf and the seabed surrounding the reef slopes out to 25 to 30 m deep. There are several dive resorts operating on Mabul island.

     Mabul is also renowned for its amazing array of macrolife, making it an underwater photographer’s dream location to capture some of the rarest ecological species on film. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, spike-fin gobies, frogfish and moray eels are just some of the spectacular critters you will encounter beneath the waters of Mabul. Although all the excitement is underwater, you can always set your scuba gear aside for a day to laze on Mabul’s soft sand to work on your tan. Needless to say, Mabul diving gives macro photographers some great opportunities to capture some extremely rare ecological species which have carved a niche for themselves in the underwater world around here. Look out for species like multicoloured nudibranches, ghost pipefish, devil scorpionfish, stonefish, mantis shrimps, mandarin fish, ribbon eels, snake eels, frogfish, seahorses and crocodile fish, all of which make these sites their home.

SIPADAN ISLAND (SABAH)

          Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600 metres (2,000 ft) from the seabed. It is located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast of Sabah, East Malaysia (which is on the island of Borneo). It was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop. Sipadan is located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem. Sipadan has been rated by many dive journals as one of the top destinations for diving in the world.

        Frequently seen in the waters around Sipadan: green and hawksbill turtles which mate and nest there), enormous schools of barracuda in tornado-like formations as well as large schools of big-eye trevally, and bumphead parrotfish. Pelagic species such as manta rays, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks also visit Sipadan.

A turtle tomb lies underneath the column of the island, formed by an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that become lost and drown before finding the surface.

MALACCA ISLAND (MELAKA)

      Malacca Island or Pulau Melaka is a man-made island in Malacca Town, Malacca, Malaysia.

       

     Malacca Island, Malaysia’s first “Twin Island City Centre”, is undertaken by Pulau Kembar Sdn Bhd. A 98.999%-owned subsidiary of Talam. This waterfront development project involves the reclamation of two islands, approximately 0.5 km off the coast of Malacca new town centre measuring 40ha and 50ha respectively. The reclamation of the first island of 40ha and a 30m bridge linking to the mainland had been completed.

    Malacca Island development will comprise 4,387 units of residential and 4,180 units of mixed commercial development together with leisure-cum-tourism amenities such as marine theme park, marina, hotels and waterfront activities. With an estimated Gross Development Value of RM1.46 billion, the project has recorded sales of RM195.3 million representing 1,419 units sold as at 31 January 2005.

     Malacca Straits Mosque- a new mosque built on top of columns above the water, with a lighthouse-like minaret - is located on the southern shore of the island

PAYAR ISLAND (KEDAH)

     Pulau Payar is one of the many islands off mainland Kedah in the Strait of Malacca. It is situated south of Langkawi, a more famous archipelago. Pulau Payar's status as a marine park offers protection for its diverse marine life. Pulau Payar is also a snorkeling and diving site famous for its corals.

The Pulau Payar Marine Park is situated in the northern part of the Straits of Melaka, 19 nautical miles (35 km) south of Langkawi and encompasses the islands of Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Segantang and Pulau Kaca which are surrounded by coral reefs. The marine park teems with a fascinating diversity of marine life and vegetation

     Many endangered species of fishes and marine organisms live within the sanctuary. Measuring 2 km long and 1/4 km wide, Pulau Payar is the most popular of the islands as its sheltered waters are ideal are for snorkeling, diving and swimming. Among the enchanting dive spots is the "Coral Garden", an area covered with bright, multi-hued soft corals.

There are several sandy beaches on Pulau Payar island for picnics as well as hiking trails for those who wish to explore the island. Just off the beach, one can indulge in the thrilling experience of feeding baby sharks. Facilities include gazebos, picnic tables, barbecue pits and restrooms at selected areas. There is also a Visitors' Centre that provides information about the marine park

     Visitors can get to Pulau Payar from the Kuah jetty point by catamaran or speed boat. The catamaran services operated by Langkawi Coral, takes about 45 minutes to get to Pulau Payar while the speed boat takes an hour. It is advisable to book the catamaran service a day before the trip. Enquiries can be made with any travel agent in Kuah or at the jetty point for those intending to travel by speed boat. Apart from the fare, a levy of RM5.00 for adults and RM2.50 for children is charged for entry to the marine park.

JERAJAK ISLAND (PULAU PINANG)

     Jerejak, or Pulau Jerejak (English: Jerejak Island), is a 362 hectare island located off the southeastern tip of Penang, Malaysia, a short ferry ride from Bayan Lepas, Penang. It was formerly the main leper asylum for The Straits Settlements (1868), Quarantine Station(1875) and penal colony (1969).

Francis Light, the founder of Penang, was said to have arrived in Pulau Jerejak in early 1786 before heading on to Penang. In 1797, Colonel Arthur Wellesley had proposed Jerejak as the possible site for Fort Cornwallis. His idea of establishing a military post in Jerejak was to offer protection to a new township called Jamestown, which was to be set up in present-day Bayan Lepas. Earlier in 1794, there had been an outbreak of malaria caused most likely by the clearing of the jungle to establish George Town, claiming many lives, including Francis Light himself. Thus, Wellesley was not in favor of the site for Fort Cornwallis to be on Penang island.

     This plan did not materialize as George Town was starting to become a profitable port and it soon became unnecessary to establish Jamestown or have a military facility in that location.

As a result of Francis Light's earlier ruling whereby immigrants were allowed to claim whatever land they could clear, Penang became flooded with immigrants. As a precautionary step, these immigrants were sent to Jerejak's health inspection center before they were allowed to proceed to Penang.

AMAN ISLAND (PULAU PINANG)

     The "Island of Peace" or Pulau Aman (in Malay) is a small island in Penang that is home to a traditional Malay village. Situated on an island covering an area of about 115-hectare, the place is (if you ask me!) the gateway to tranquility and serenity.

     As an idyllic fishing village with a population of only three hundred, the majority of people on Pulau Aman are elderly folks and laughing, fun loving children. Life on the island is simple in traditional ways with man and nature of co-existing in harmony with one other. Here the warmth of the sun is only rivaled by the warm friendliness of the locals.

     The nearest access to the island is from the one street village of Bukit Tambun. From a distance, you could see colorful boats moored at the jetty, gently bobbing up and down and scattered huts that dots the land between the hills and the shore. Nearer to the island, the sights of rustic houses along the coastline were indeed peaceful and relax.

     At the Pulau Aman Jetty, there is a fabulous restaurant (Restaurant Sri Nelayan) that sells fresh seafood. Their specialties is prawn noodle, prawn fried rice and everything that has anything to do with prawn. According to the owner, Mr. Abdul Halim, his fresh prawns were picked alive and kicking from cages before ending up in the kitchen. Famous VIPs that has been eating here includes the Chief Minister of Penang and Penang Governor.

SIBU ISLAND (JOHOR)

           Pulau Sibu, also known as Sibu Island, is a small island off Malaysia's eastern coast, facing the South China Sea. It is actually made up of several islands namely Sibu Besar Island, Sibu Tengah Island, Sibu Kukus Island and Sibu Hujung Island.

Sibu Besar, the main island, is approximately 6 km long and 1 km wide, and for the most part covered by tropical vegetation. On the southern end there is a small fishing village called Kampong Duku with a population of fewer than a hundred people (about 40 families).

         There are a number of small resorts on the island, typically used as a weekend or short vacation destination from Singapore, since the closest mainland jetty Tanjong Leman is only a roughly 3 hour drive from Singapore via Johor Bahru. The main leisure activities on the island are watersports such as snorkeling and diving - not surprising since the area was designated a Marine Park in 1993 and numerous coral reefs are close to hand.

        There are four main beaches on the eastern side of Sibu, where most of the beach resorts are located. Sea Gypsy Village Resort and Dive Base and Sibu Island Cabanas are situated on a beach facing Tinggi Island. Other resorts, such as Rimba Resort, are on the opposite side. Resorts facing the mainland are Coconut Village Resort, Junansa Villa and Twin Beach Resort. Most of the resorts are closed during the annual 3-month monsoon period, save for those facing the mainland.

SEMBILAN ISLAND (PERAK)

     Sembilan consists of nine islands; Rumbia, Pulau Lalang, Pulau Saga, Pulau Buluh, Pulau Samak, Pulau Nipis, Pulau Agas, Pulau Miskin and Pulau Nyamuk. All of them are inhabited, so you will find an oasis of peace. The islands are located nearby the town of Lumut, and also nearby Pangkor Island. The boat takes you to the islands in an hour and a half. Most people visit the island during a day trip. Usually a group of friends or a family rents a boat at the small harbor and they visit the island for a nice picnic. Some leave very early in the morning to catch fish in the area and then prepare and eat the fish during lunch at one of the nice secluded beaches at one of the islands. Sembilan has no accommodation. Nearest place to stay is Pangkor Island.

     There are daily buses that depart from Kuala Lumpur to Lumut; the jetty where you can arrange a boat to take you to Sembilan. The bus is by far the cheapest solution to get to Lumut as it only costs around RM25 (one-way, VIP 4 hour trip). Right opposite of Lumut Jetty is the bus station; so it is only a small walk to get to the Jetty. Also right in front of the jetty are car parks with 24/7 surveillance; where you can park your car for RM10 per day.

PANGKOR ISLAND (PERAK)

     

       Pulau Pangkor is an island off the coast of Perak in north-west peninsular Malaysia, reached by ferry either from the old jetty or from Marina Island jetty both located in Lumut (a small coastal town that links to Ipoh through Sitiawan). It has a land area of only 8 square kilometers, and a population of approximately 25,000 islanders. It is heavily promoted as a low-key tourist destination by the Malaysian government, but fishing and fish products remain major industries.

       Historically, Pangkor was a refuge for local fishermen, merchants and pirates. In the 17th century, the Dutch built a fort in an effort to control the Perak tin trade. In 1874, it was the location of a historic treaty between the British government and a contender for the Perak throne (The Pangkor Treaty), which began the British colonial domination of the Malay Peninsula.

       Pangkor is famous for its fine beaches and a mix of low budget to 5 star accommodations. Teluk Nipah and Coral Bay on the north west of the island is extremely popular with travellers from Europe. The quality of sand in the Pasir Bogak Beach is far superior to that elsewhere on the island. The sand is golden brown, quite similar to most leading prime beaches. There are a few resorts in Teluk Nipah or Nipah Bay.

Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Indonesia, Thailand and to a lesser extent the West Coast of Malaysia in December 2004, there have been fewer local tourists visiting Pangkor.

      In 2006, a biotechnology centre, a joint venture of Global Hi-Q Malaysia S/B and Hi-Q Bio-Tech International (Taiwan) Ltd began operations with initial investments of RM100million (USD30m). Their operations include fish farming and aquaculture, and the first harvest is expected in 2009. Just next to island of Pangkor, there is a smaller island called Pangkor Laut Island

BANDING ISLAND (PERAK)

    Pulau Banding is a man-made island located within the majestic Temenggor Lake. Sitting amidst the million-years old Belum Rainforest, visitors to the island can look forward to indulging in nature based activities such as fishing, bird watching, camping and visiting orang asli settlements.

Explore the beautiful outdoors, or relax indoors with a wide variety of activities to choose from. If it’s the outdoors your prefer, try your hand at fishing to enjoy the thrill of reeling in kelah(mahseer), or even a toman(snakehead), opt to go boating, or take a dip in near of the numerous waterfalls that can be found around the lake.

In 1974, then Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak, had an ingenious plan to flush out the communists by building a dam and filling up the Temenggor catchment area with water from the mountain rivers.  And thus the Temenggor lake was formed. 

     As a consequence, Banding (the highest peak in the Temenggor basin) was transformed into an island.  With the East-West highway running through the island, Banding is the only island in Malaysia that is serviced by two bridges linking it to the mainland.  As for the communist terrorists, they were summarily flushed out of the catchment area and were forced to flee to southern Thailand.

PERHENTIAN ISLAND (TERENGGANU)

       The Perhentian Islands (Pulau Perhentian in Malay) lie approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the northeastern coast of West Malaysia in the state of Terengganu, approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of the Thai border.

        The two main islands are Perhentian Besar ("Big Perhentian") and Perhentian Kecil ("Small Perhentian"). The small, uninhabited islands of Susu Dara (Virgin Milk), Serenggeh and Rawa lie off Kecil. The Perhentians belong to Pulau Redang National Marine Park, which means that fishing, collecting coral and littering are strictly prohibited. Like Besut, people here generally speak Kelantanese Malay.

        Nature tourism provides the economic base for the islands. Both the islands have palm-fringed white coral sand beaches (that can be tough on the feet) and turquoise blue sea. Popular tourist activities include scuba-diving, snorkeling, and swimming. On most beaches, the water is shallow with many rays, cuttlefish and parrotfish. For diving, there are dozens of divesites around both main islands, as well as several off-shore sites. Apart from these, activities like camping, canoeing, fishing, jungle trekking, and banana boat riding are also available. As for accommodation, most of it can be found on Perhentian Besar, the larger island. Hotels are usually aimed at budget travelers.

       The only access to the Islands is by boat from the fishing villages of Kuala Besut and Tok Bali. Local tourist operators run fishing boats and speed boats several times a day. Most travellers get into region by AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur (flight to Kota Bharu) or from Bangkok (flight to Narathiwat)

LANG TENGAH ISLAND (TERENGGANU)

     

     Lang Tengah Island is located between the two very popular tropical islands Perhentian and Redang northeast of the Peninsular Malaysia. Compared to Perhentian and Redang it is a small island, people mainly visit the island to dive and snorkel (and relax at the beautiful secluded beaches). There are no roads on the island (except for a few jungle paths); the only way to get around is by boat. Most tourists stay at their resort, besides the daily snorkeling and diving trips you can do some light hiking or kayaking. Meals are enjoyed at the resort. Lang Tengah is quieter compared to the neighboring islands, less tourists visit the island which means it has a more secluded feel to it

     To travel to the island you will have to take the bus or airplane to Kuala Terengganu or Kota Bharu (quickest way is via Kuala Terengganu). There are daily flights to both cities (operated by Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia). The bus is by far the cheapest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu; there are daily busses that depart from Puduraya bus station. From Kuala Terengganu, you can take a bus or taxi to Merang (a 45 minute drive to the north); where the ferry takes you to Lang Tengah in about 30 minutes. The taxi is the easiest but also the most expensive method of transport to Merang (around RM40 from Kuala Terengganu). Do not confuse Merang with Marang; the small coastal town south of Kuala Terengganu where the boat to Kapas Island departs.

REDANG ISLAND (TERENGGANU)

         Redang Island, locally known as Pulau Redang or just "Redang" is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia. It is one of nine islands, which form a marine park, and which offer snorkeling and diving opportunities. Access is from Merang or Kuala Terengganu on boats operated by the resorts. Redang Airport is a small airport with services operated by Berjaya Air from Singapore (Changi Airport) and Kuala Lumpur (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport).

       

       The island is also an important conservation site for sea turtles. Previously, the indiscriminate economic exploitation of turtle eggs had caused fewer turtles returning to nest on the island. This has led the Terengganu state government to set up the Koperasi Setiajaya Pulau Redang in 1989, a cooperative aiming to develop and manage socio-economic programmes that could improve the livelihood of Pulau Redang locals without endangering its natural resources.

        The Pulau Redang archipelago comprises Pulau Redang, Pulau Lima, Pulau Paku Besar, Pulau Paku Kecil, Pulau Kerengga Kecil, Pulau Kerengga Besar, Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Ling and Pulau Pinang. Pulau Redang is the biggest of all the islands in the Marine Park, measuring about 7 km long and 6 km wide. Its highest peak is Bukit Besar at 359 metres above sea level. The boundary of the Pulau Redang Marine Park is established by a line linking all points 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) from the shores of Pulau Redang, Pulau Lima, Pulau Ekor Tebu and Pulau Pinang. The other nearby islands of Pulau Perhentian Besar, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Pulau Lang Tengah, Pulau Kapas and Pulau Susu Dara are also gazetted and protected as Marine Parks. Today, only the bigger islands like Redang, Lang Tengah, Perhentian and Kapas have resort facilities for visitors. The management of Marine Parks primarily involves protection of the sensitive marine and terrestrial ecosystems by controlling the impact from human activities. These include waste & pollution management and conservation of coral reefs and terrestrial habitats.

ANGSA ISLAND (SELANGOR)

     Located off the coast of Kuala Selangor, approximately 67 km from Kuala Lumpur, lies Pulau Angsa, a lush green island that owes much of its history to the Bugis who were among its earliest settlers. Rich in legends and landmarks, you will find the locals only too willing to regale you with tales about Pulau Angsa's colourful past. Getting to the island may be tricky, but try the local fishermen. They would be more than willing to ferry you for a small fee.

KETAM ISLAND (SELANGOR)

       Pulau Ketam is a fascinating island, full of fishing village sceneries. Ketam means crap in Malay. Pulau Ketam means crap island. All buildings are built 3-5 feet from the swampland. During high tide, houses look like 'floating on the water' giving a wonderful and romantic feeling.

       Villagers are friendly and willing to help tourist in getting to know this island. Ketam's fish farm is floating on the sea. It takes about 10 minutes journey to reach by boat. Fishes are reared in these fishing farms. Most of the live fish are exported to Hong Kong. Some of them will be transported to other fishing farms or restaurants. It is an interesting experience to stand on a real floating farm on water. It is fun feeding the fish too. Chalets are available. You can stay at fish farm for a night. Tourists who had visited Pulau Ketam might wondered how the village became a paradise from a desolated island. The History is interesting and worth compliment. Long time ago, Pulau Ketam was desolated, small island full of "Mangrove Swamps" amd famous for its crabs. Three Hainan fishermen from Bagan Hainan, Port Klang, were the first to arrive at Pulau Ketam catching crabs for their living.

      At first, the came and returned to Port Klang daily. The journey took almost a day. A few month later, they built a small house to stay over nights. They rowed back to Port Klang the second day selling crabs and buying daily sundries it return. At 1872, they built a temple named "Chuan Eng Bio" located near Jalan Timur now. after that, they had decided to stay permanently.

      Pulau Ketam is equipped with almost all the basic facilities. It also plays a role as a major fish, crabs, prawns provider to Klang valley and a tourism spot of Negeri Selangor. Ferry services are available everyday. The journey takes will take about 30 minutes. Beside ferry, speedboat is also available 24 hours per day on call. If you have cargoes to deliver, cargo boats are available too.