Pulau Perhentian Besar accommodation from AU$73

Scuba diving and snorkelling are the main activities on the island, and if you have kids aged eight and above you can treat them to a special mini-dive course offered by Watercolours Dive. The beaches have shallow water that is safe for swimming, and are surrounded by spectacular reefs that are easy to reach with fins and a snorkel. Don't miss Teluk Pauh, Shark Point and Tanjung Nasi, which are the best snorkelling spots on Besar. You can often see turtles swimming in the sandy bay just in front of the Perhentian Island Resort. There are many dive sites offshore that are simply amazing, and where you can see black tip reef sharks, manta rays, turtles, and in the right season, massive whale sharks. The Pinnacle is a famous dive site here, alongside Sugar Wreck which is an easily accessible sugar hauler that now sits on the bottom of the ocean. Take a day trip to Redang Island for water conditions that are even clearer, and enjoy the underwater wonderland.

Hire a kayak and spend an easy afternoon paddling around the islands. It takes four hours to circle one island, and you'll find many places to stop and snorkel at the isolated beaches along the way. If you like hiking there are several trails winding through the islands, so take a bottle of water and go exploring! On Kecil you can see the spectacular view from Lighthouse Towers which also offers an exhilarating cliff jump into the sea below. As you walk through the islands you'll see harmless monitor lizards as well as cheeky monkeys, and wonderful tropical jungle. Nights are relatively calm on the island, with casual bars and kerosene lamps lighting up the beach, as you marvel at the stars soaring above you and forget all about the outside world.

Check out the Ma' Daerah Turtle Sanctuary which was established to help support the local population of turtles. You need to volunteer to get access to this private beach, and here you can monitor turtle landings, collect eggs to transfer to the hatchery and release hatchlings into the ocean. There's no other experience quite like it, so ask what options you have during your holiday.

Pulau Perhentian is a fantastic escape when you are looking for the perfect place for your next vacation. Why not visit these spectacular islands and unwind on tropical beaches, as you explore the reefs and jungle and get totally removed from everyday life. All you need is a flight to Malaysia, and to book in Pulau Perhentian accommodation from our great range of options. Stop dreaming and make it a reality. A memorable vacation is on the cards, so start planning it all today!