Discover Perhentian Island: Your Ultimate 2023 Travel Guide & Tips 1️⃣

Perhentian Island
Preparation
1️⃣ Dive into a bit of the local geography, as some place names can be quite similar. Having a basic understanding will make your planning much smoother. Perhentian Island, also known as Pulau Perhentian, is located in the state of Terengganu and is made up of two main islands: Big Perhentian Island (Pulau Perhentian Besar) and Small Perhentian Island (Pulau Perhentian Kecil).

There are two nearby airports to consider:
– The first is Kota Bharu Airport (KBR), officially known as Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, which was the chosen option for this trip.
⚠️ Important Note: Be careful not to confuse it with Kota Kinabalu, which is in Sabah and is much too far from Perhentian. Make sure to double-check your flight details to avoid any travel mishaps.

The second destination is Kuala Terengganu (TGG), also known as Terengganu. The airport, Sultan Mahmud Airport, primarily serves flights from Kuala Lumpur. Once you arrive, a variety of transportation options are available to reach the nearby city. You can easily take a car from the airport to the pier and then board a boat to the island. The Big Perhentian Island and Small Perhentian Island are relatively close, but you will still need to take a boat to travel between them.

2️⃣ Air Tickets
For this trip, we used the Qunar and Tongcheng apps to book our flights. Our itinerary included a stop in Kuala Lumpur before transferring to Kota Bharu. ⚠️ This time, we opted for a bundled connecting flight, which unfortunately led to some delays. Initially, the convenience of not having to collect luggage and the direct connection seemed appealing!

The first leg was scheduled from 3:05 to 7:05, and the second from 08:30 to 09:35, with a 1 hour and 25-minute layover. However, the first flight was delayed by 50 minutes, making the experience quite frustrating. In Malaysia, it’s crucial to plan well in advance, especially for transfers, and always allow extra time!

3️⃣ Bus Tickets
Upon arrival at Kota Bharu Airport, after collecting your luggage, you’ll find numerous small windows resembling travel agencies. Look for the yellow sign that says “Perhentain” as shown in the picture. The staff are very friendly; just inform them of your hotel destination and purchase round-trip bus tickets.

They will arrange the transportation based on the number of passengers, offering both cars and minibuses. You can also specify your preference—cars cost 70 RM, while minibuses range from 30 to 35 RM. Boat tickets can be purchased together, so keep all your tickets safe! Each mode of transportation only requires one ticket, so don’t hand over all of them at once.

Upon reaching the pier, you’ll head to a company called Seven Sea, or make sure to remember the name.

From Kota Bharu Airport to the pier, the journey took about 1 hour and 35 minutes. The pier has specific operating hours; previously, boats stopped running at 4 PM, but now they seem to run a bit later. The boat ride to Big Perhentian Island takes approximately 30 minutes, with direct delivery to your hotel.

Since hotels are scattered around the island, the boat will drop you off at the nearest point. Be sure to coordinate your return boat and bus tickets with your flight schedule, as the boat may not always be punctual. At the pier, ask different staff members, show them your ticket, and confirm repeatedly when a boat arrives.

Remember the name of the pier or the company you are returning from to avoid any confusion.

To be continued in the next post.
⚠️ Note: Always respect the sea and prioritize safety! Lifeguards are not always present, so stay within your capabilities.