Destinations: Redang Island

Pulau Redang’s enchanting beauty with its pristine azure waters and white sandy beaches draw many tourists to spend a few days to relax and unwind here. With good first class accommodation and smaller resorts available, Pulau Redang proves to be a paradise to suit all budgets.

It lies 45 km north of Kuala Terengganu on a 1 ½ hour boat ride from the Shahbandar jetty in Kuala Terengganu and a 40-minute one from the Merang Jetty. Pulau Redang is also about a half hour boat ride from Pulau Perhentian.

Pulau Redang lies in a gazetted marine park area, called the Pulau Redang Marine Park, that also includes several smaller islands. It is administered by the Department of Marine Park Malaysia, which provides special protection and management of marine environments and wildlife of national significance. It offers great snorkeling and diving activities and contains one of the most beautiful coral reefs teeming with tropical exotic marine life in the country.

Apart from beaches and coral reefs, one of the main attractions is the mangrove forest, which is ecologically beneficial to both land and marine life and it helps to maintain a natural sustainable ecosystem for the island.

An interesting fact that many do not know, and to show how old this island is, preserved plant fossils of the Upper Palaeozoic Age (that’s a minimum of 250 million years ago) can be observed on the south western portion of Pulau Redang between Pasir Macam Ayam and Pasir Kechil.

The allure of Pulau Redang lies in its pristine stretches of beach that offers excellent camping grounds with beautiful spots for picnics and safe swimming in its shallow waters. Head to the large bay of Teluk Dalam in the north of the island, Pasir Telok Kalong and Pasir Panjang. Other beaches to head to are to the west and north coast, at Pasir Mak Simpan, Pasir Mak Kepit dan Pasir Changar Hutang, which are also turtle laying areas.