If you are planning a trip or just thinking about exploring, Malaysia is one of the best countries to consider. It boasts modern architecture, natural beauty, and even incredible historical sites. It is the home to many islands in the world, and you can explore these islands of adventure all by yourself. The top 11 most beautiful islands in Malaysia are as follows:

Top 11 Most Beautiful Islands in Malaysia

1. Langkawi: The Jewel of Kedah

 

Langkawi lies on the west coast of Malaysia and it is recognized as the mountainous group of surprisingly 99 islands. Moreover, due to their duty-free status, they are some of the most visited islands in Malaysia. Meanwhile, on the main island, the SkyCab cable car can be used and considered for reaching up into the hills that are blanketed by trees for amazing views. It is undoubtedly the best island to visit during COVID-19.

You can even take your towel for some sunbath to the sandy Cenang Beach. With your sunbath, you can have chilled juice or anything that you like to drink at the beachside bar. On the other hand, for a day trip, you can easily book onto a board tour that is heading south to the Pregnant Maiden Lake on Dayang Bunting, a heavily forested island. You will even be finding a monkey colony that is completely happy and willing to join you for lunch. However, you need to make sure that you are careful with them. Otherwise, they will swipe your lunch out of your hands completely.

Most tourists tend to make the mistake of getting too close to monkeys. Make sure that you are not doing the same. Otherwise, you will be losing your lunch or anything that you have in your hands. Regardless, it is still one of the top 11 most beautiful islands in Malaysia.

2. Pangkor Island: Hornbills and Empty Beaches

There are times when we tend to look for a place that does not have many tourists. Well, if you are feeling the same, you should definitely visit Pangkor Island. When you go further down Peninsular Malaysia’s west coast, Pangkor Island lies off the state of Perak. In addition to it, it features a thick jungle, clear water, and even empty beaches. It is undoubtedly a place that needs to check out if you are into quieter places. Actually, it is a fraction of the size of Penang or Langkawi. Regardless, it is a quieter option and visitors are always appreciating the chance to lie under the palm trees and enjoy a sunbath when they can. It is one of the major islands of adventure and you can explore it as you want.

While they do enjoy, they do not have anything to worry about. There is no soul in sight, and for the most incredible and popular beaches, you can always move to the west side of the island. You can visit Nipah Bay and even Coral Beach. However, if you want to visit a quieter and deserted beach, you should visit Tortoise Bay. At the place, there are no buildings or shops other than the conservation center itself.

You can always consider checking out the Dutch fort of the island. In fact, you can even snap pictures of the traditional wooden jetty. At the same time, you can even feed hornbills as you want. It is quite a simple yet amazing experience that you can have. All these features and aspects make it one of the top 11 most beautiful islands in Malaysia.

3. The Perhentian Islands: Know how to Drive

Perhentian Island is also one of the top 11 most beautiful islands in Malaysia. It is worth noting that they once a stopping point that was used by traders who were traveling around Southeast Asia. In addition to that, this group of small islands is specifically a part of the marine park. In recent times, it has gained a lot of attention from tourists and has become a major attraction. People from around the world are always ready to visit the place.

Actually, it is possible to access most of the islands with the use of either small motorized boats or a ferry. Thus, you can use any option that you find more suitable. It is, however, important to note that amenities, shops, and accommodations are offered by only the two larger islands. It should be noted that Pulau Perhentian Besar generally offers a more backpacking scene. Meanwhile, when it comes to Pulau Perhentian Kecil, it is more family-oriented and upscale.

Even though you can hop on and use a water taxi to move from one beach to another, it is worth noting that you can even follow the walking trails of the island. When you actually consider the walking trails, you are able to go through the jungle paths, and you are also able to enjoy stunning and incredible views of the water that seems to offer you company.

Kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving are some of the major and quite popular activities at the beach. In addition, it is possible for visitors to volunteer and participate in the turtle conservation programs. This allows them to obtain unique access to all those areas where turtles tend to come and make their nests.

4. Sipadan Island: Malaysia’s Best Diving Area

You will be surprised to know that Sipadan Island and even its surrounding ocean waters are considered a part of the richest marine habitat in the whole world. Furthermore, it is home to a number of endangered species including monitor lizards, whale sharks, hawksbill turtles, and even a large number of coral species. It is worth noting that the island itself is also recognized as one of the best destinations for diving in the whole world. In order to actually visit the place, you require a permit in advance, and on a regular basis, only 120 permits are given. You can consider it the best island visit during COVID-19.

An hour-long ride is required to reach the island. You can use a speed boat for reaching the island. Once you are at the island, you can explore it on the foot easily with a number of reef sites and different beaches within only a few minutes. Since they are closely connected, it will take only a little while for you to consider and explore them.

Considering the fact that it is no longer possible to stay there on the island due to different environment protection guidelines and laws, visitors tend to arrive at the island early in the morning. By 3 pm, all the visitors and tourists must leave the island. Thus, if you are thinking about visiting this island, it is better to be prepared beforehand and manage your time according to the rules.

5. Redang Island: High-Class Luxury

Actually, it is a group of nine islands and geographically, they all sit close to each other and even the Perhentian Islands. These islands are recognized to be backpacker-friendly. When it comes to luxury, they are numerous miles away. It is worth noting that this luxury island tends to attract all those tourists who would not even think twice about the money that they are spending on their holiday.

On these islands, you can really expect the best resorts of Malaysia with a thriving diving scene and an immaculate shoreline. It was featured in Summer Holiday and ever since then, it has become a lavish gateway into Malaysia. It will provide you with a luxurious experience that you cannot acquire and get anywhere else. It is, however, important to note that the resorts and all other facilities are quite expensive and they are going to cost you a lot.

6. Tioman Island: The Most Stunning Island in the World According to Time Magazine

Tioman has actually been voted as one of the most stunning islands in the world by Time Magazine. Now, in 2022, it can easily be said that it still remains one of the best islands. There are jungle-covered hills, crystal clear water, and white sand beaches on the island. In simple words, it has everything that you will want from a tropical island. However, it is a very quiet island and it does not really offer the complete seclusion that some might need.

Regardless, it provides you with stunning natural beauty that you can explore and witness by visiting the island. You can visit it whenever you want and bathe in the sunlight whenever you feel like it. It is undoubtedly one of the top 11 most beautiful islands in Malaysia.

7. Kapas Island: Lounge under the Palm Trees

Actually, this comparatively unknown spot that lies off the coast of Terengganu state has topical landscapes and views with quite a stunning ratio between beach and resort. You can spend your days invested in roaming the beaches that are backed by jungles. You can even pick your way through the craggy rocks that generally face onto the South China Sea. There is a modest guesthouse on the island and as a resort, it caters to the crowd and visitors.

In Malaysia, this is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful islands for all those people who like to lounge on the beach and engage in different activities such as volleyball. You should definitely consider checking this island out if you are interested in spending your day at the beach without any type of worry.

8. Tenggol Island: A Private Retreat

It is important to note that Tenggol is a stunning island and serves as a private getaway. The island itself is located at Terengganu state’s southern end and it provides a variety of activities. From diving to snorkeling and jungle trekking, you can engage in any activity that you want.

If you really do visit the island, you should make sure to participate in the shark tour. There is no doubt that the marine life is quite stunning. However, you should keep it in mind that reaching the island is quite difficult because it involves boats, taxi rides, and even flights. However, the exclusiveness is really worth the experience that you get at the island.

9. Penang Island: Colonial Heritage and Temples

In the case of Penang Island, it should be noted that it is approximately 100 kilometers to the south of Langkawi. In fact, Penang is an island for a traveller who is interested in exploring historical sites and history itself.

Actually, it houses George Town. It is a trading post that is muddled and full of British colonial architecture, Chinese boarding houses, and Buddhist temples. These landmarks tend to date back to the late eighteenth century.

You can explore the cannons at Fort Cornwallis. It is specifically a star-shaped stronghold of the EIC or East India Company. Once you have explored the area, you can then move to the limits of the city for finding the Temple of Kek Lok Si. You will be pleased to know that it houses a unique gold-topped pagoda that is tiered in Burmese, Thai, and Chinese styles.

Then, you can easily take a taxi to the north of George Town for visiting the traditional Botanic Gardens of Penang. At night, you can even visit the Penang Avatar Secret Garden. At Taman Lintang, the funicular can actually take you to the top of Penang Hill. It is a part of the mountain range that tends to run down the center of the island. Here, you will even find a rainforest nature reserve.

10.  Rawa: For a weekend break

There is no doubt that you will not find many chances and opportunities to stay on the private island of a sultan. Rawa is actually owned by the Sultanate of Johor family and it is a small island and can be found 16 kilometers off the Peninsula Malaysia’s east coast.

Its white-sand west coast is hugged by only two resorts, which can be accessed by the boat from Mersing’s mainland port. Due to this exclusivity, it should be noted that Rawa tends to attract those tourists who are looking for a more unique and secluded vacation. Even though the west coast is perfect, the remaining part of the shoreline includes dramatic and inaccessible rocky cliffs. These cliffs tend to plunge directly into the sea.

In order to check them out, you can just take a simple way and use a canoe. With the use of a canoe, you can visit them and see them for yourself in a safe and secure manner without experiencing any difficulties and problems. Considering the fact that your accommodation is limited, it can often fill up quickly. Therefore, you need to have a reservation quickly. On the island, you can only stay at two places including the Alang’s Rawa or the Rawa Island Resort.

In order to get there, you need to catch a bus from Kuala Lumpur. The frequency of ferries can experience a significant decrease during the low season. It lasts from November to March.

11.  Layang-Layang: Isolation Guaranteed

It is little more than just a coral reef with a long runway. In fact, this tiny and little island is 186 miles to the North West of Kota Kinabalu.

Actually, it is the development of the Malaysian Navy and the land was reclaimed from the sea to state the sovereignty of the nation over the Spratlys. Completely surrounded by waters that tend to drop approximately 2,000 meters, the island is ranked among one of the top 11 most beautiful islands in Malaysia. It boasts an incredible array of marine life which makes it an incredible place for divers. Due to the presence of the Navy, the coral reef has not been subjected to damage that is typically caused by dynamite fishing and other harmful practices. Under the water, you can actually expect to see a variety of creatures. You can even see cute turtles underwater along with other sea creatures.

As far as accommodation is concerned, it is quite easy to answer. There is a traditional resort on the island and it is operated by the Avillion group that can be used and considered by tourists. In order to reach the island itself, there is a need to consider and use a charter flight. You can get to know the price that must be paid to get the flight in order to get in and out of the island.

Overall, these are the top 11 most beautiful islands in Malaysia that you can visit during the pandemic. They will provide you with the experience that you need. You can visit these islands and explore them as you want. It is, however, important to note that as you explore these islands, you should consider and follow the precautions. Regardless of where you go, it is always necessary to maintain social distancing and wear your masks. Only when you are with your close people, then you should close the distance and take the mask off. Otherwise, it is important to stick to the precautions.