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White sands, turquoise waters, and a general atmosphere reminiscent of
television’s “Temptation Island” series await travelers heading for the
beaches of Pulau Perhentian Besar (Big Island) and Pulau
Perhentian Kecil (Small Island) located about 21km off the coast of
Peninsular Malaysia.
Most tourists head for the smaller Island of Kecil where accommodations
are cheap and plentiful. There are also those who prefer the quiet
serenity of Besar where there are higher accommodation standards at
equally higher prices.
Either way you go, the alluring sight of gorgeous beach denizens playing
volleyball or stretching out for a tan, and fresh fruit cocktails by
moonlight continue to lure tourists to the Perhentian’s white sandy
shores.
The best time to go visit the Perhentians is from the month of March to
mid-November. Other than those, it’s monsoon season so the beaches are
basically shut down.
 It is recommended that tourists take what cash they need on visiting the
Perhentians for there are no banks there. The islands’ electricity come
mostly from generators. Some chalets run the generators for only a
limited time or sometimes, not at all.
There are also no public telephones on Pulau Perhentian. Most folk there
use mobile phones for communication. For the truly desperate, the Beach
Hut at Coral Bay offer phone call services at the steep rate of RM10 per
minute.
Activities around the Perhentians
 Being beach areas, diving and snorkeling remain to be the top picks for
holiday makers staying at either island. Most chalets and guesthouses
organize snorkeling trips that usually leave around 10:30 am. Perhentian
dive shops also offer relatively cheap diving expeditions ranging from a
package of two-dive jaunts to open-water courses.
For the less than active beach enthusiast, the sandy beaches offer
opportunities for long, lazy walks along the shore or perhaps that
chance to stretch out under the sun to show the folks back home.
Visitors are always reminded to slather on sunscreen and what other skin
protection they have lest they bake to a cinder under the hot sun.
Dining and Accommodations
 Budget sleeping options on Kecil are usually rough wooden chalets with a
balcony and attached bathrooms with cold water for washing and bathing.
Besar, on the other hand, is a bit more upscale and can offer
accommodations with air conditioning and private, attached bathrooms.
Long beach on Kecil offers the most plentiful choices in budget chalets
and nightlife and is very popular among backpacking tourists. People
planning a trip to Kecil are usually advised to book ahead for
accommodations. Getting a room here can be difficult particularly during
the peak months of late May to early September.
Tourists on either island may expect to dine on Malay and Western-style
meals with a nightly barbecue of fish or chicken. Alcoholic drinks are
available, though do not expect them to be displayed prominently. If you
want it, you’ll have to ask for it.
Where to stay and eat in Kecil
1. Matahari Chalets – One of the best options on Kecil, the chalet is
often fully booked and reservations have to be made months in advance.
Facilities include a 20-hour daily power supply, laundry service, a book
exchange, tourist information office, and very well run snorkeling
tours.
2. Rock Garden – For an authentic kampung experience, the Rock Garden
situated high on a hill at the southern end of the beach is the place to
go. Rough mountain goat trails link bare-bone huts with no fans, to
communal showers and toilets. It may be too basic, but it’s also very
cheap.
3. Panorama Chalets and Restaurant – Popular for having one of the best
restaurants on the beach, patrons are greeted with a complimentary rose
water cordial on arrival. Barbecues here are usually smoking hot with
choices of the fiery tandoori special. Entertainment is provided with
nightly movie screenings in the restaurant. The share bathrooms may be a
bit so-so but the rooms are freshly painted and kept clean.
4. Palm Tree Café – Lit up by candles at night, the café’s island
ambience is completed with piped in fusion music through the two-storey
timber pole bar/café.
5. Mira Chalets – For an ideal Robinson Crusoe style experience, the
Mira Chalets on the southwest coast is the adventurous choice. Eight
rickety chalets situated on a small, secluded beach against a backdrop
of coconut and banana trees in addition to a wild jungle just a few
meters away.
Places to stay at and eat at Besar
1. Paradise Island Resort – Clean, friendly and laid back chalets with a
restaurant serving Malay and Western style meals.
2. New Cocohut – Guests can choose between beach side chalets or rooms
at the two-storey longboat house, which has vistas from the upstairs
balcony.
3. Wanderer’s Inn- Run by two Malay women, Oya and Ena, the Inn only has
six basic huts with a shared bathroom as well as a rustic restaurant and
camping grounds for tents.
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