Getting to Perhentian Islands
The Perhentian Islands (Pulau Perhentian) are located off the North-East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is about 70 kilometres south of the Thai border at Sungai Golok. There is no airport on the islands so you need to get to the jetty at Kuala Besut, where it is a 30 minute boat ride to the Islands. The boat will drop you at the main beaches around the islands including Coral Bay, where Anti Gravity Divers Perhentian is based.
All options of getting to the Perhentian Islands involve departing from the jetty at Kuala Besut where you will take a speedboat to Perhentian Kecil or Perhentian Besar, depending on where you wish to stay.
Return tickets cost RM70 and can be purchased directly at the jetty. There are many boat companies operating this route and it is not necessary to buy a ticket in advance.
Once you arrive in Kuala Besut there will most likely be staff of the boat operators asking you if you want to go to the island. You might as well just go with the first person that asks you because all the operators offer the same service. You will need to tell them which beach you want to go to when purchasing the ticket. The boat will drop you off at any of the main beaches in Perhentian including Coral Bay where Anti Gravity Divers is located.
There is no main boat schedule going out to the islands but they start running from 7am until 5pm. Typically, you won't have to wait more than one hour to get on a boat.
Coming off the island, there is a fixed boat schedule of 8am, 12pm and 4pm leaving from all the main beaches.
Return tickets cost RM70 and can be purchased directly at the jetty. There are many boat companies operating this route and it is not necessary to buy a ticket in advance.
Once you arrive in Kuala Besut there will most likely be staff of the boat operators asking you if you want to go to the island. You might as well just go with the first person that asks you because all the operators offer the same service. You will need to tell them which beach you want to go to when purchasing the ticket. The boat will drop you off at any of the main beaches in Perhentian including Coral Bay where Anti Gravity Divers is located.
There is no main boat schedule going out to the islands but they start running from 7am until 5pm. Typically, you won't have to wait more than one hour to get on a boat.
Coming off the island, there is a fixed boat schedule of 8am, 12pm and 4pm leaving from all the main beaches.
driving by car
If you plan to drive to Kuala Besut from anywhere in Malaysia, we recommend using Google Maps or Waze on your mobile device. You will need to search for 'Jeti Kuala Besut' on the app. Both apps will accurately show you the fastest way to get there.
Once you reach Kuala Besut there will be men on scooters waiting on the main road near the jetty who will ask you if you want to park your car and buy a boat ticket to get to the island.
There are many car park companies in Kuala Besut near the jetty where you can leave your car safely. Be sure not to leave any valuables in them though. Charges for car parking are RM10 per day.
Once you reach Kuala Besut there will be men on scooters waiting on the main road near the jetty who will ask you if you want to park your car and buy a boat ticket to get to the island.
There are many car park companies in Kuala Besut near the jetty where you can leave your car safely. Be sure not to leave any valuables in them though. Charges for car parking are RM10 per day.
By Bus: There are a number of buses that will take you directly to Kuala Besut from the main tourist areas in Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Cameron Highlands.
Alternatively you can take a bus to Kota Bharu (55km from Kuala Besut), or Jerteh (20km from Kuala Besut) and then hop in a taxi or another local bus to Kuala Besut. Use easybook.com to buy bus tickets online.
From Kuala Lumpur: You would need to take a bus from the TBS bus terminal in Bandar Tasik Selatan. TBS is a new, state-of-the-art 24-hour integrated transportation hub for passengers traveling to more than 90 destinations due south, east, and northern Malaysia.
Getting to TBS bus terminal is fairly easy, with a regular bus connections from KLIA and KLIA2 airports via Jetbus and the Sri Petaling Line on the LRT from the city center.
Use easybook.com to buy bus tickets online.
Alternatively you can take a bus to Kota Bharu (55km from Kuala Besut), or Jerteh (20km from Kuala Besut) and then hop in a taxi or another local bus to Kuala Besut. Use easybook.com to buy bus tickets online.
From Kuala Lumpur: You would need to take a bus from the TBS bus terminal in Bandar Tasik Selatan. TBS is a new, state-of-the-art 24-hour integrated transportation hub for passengers traveling to more than 90 destinations due south, east, and northern Malaysia.
Getting to TBS bus terminal is fairly easy, with a regular bus connections from KLIA and KLIA2 airports via Jetbus and the Sri Petaling Line on the LRT from the city center.
Use easybook.com to buy bus tickets online.
By Plane: The nearest airport is Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Kota Bharu located 60km from Kuala Besut. There are many budget airlines that fly this route including Air Asia, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Malindo Air.
Airlines & Destinations from Kota Bharu
Air Asia - Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Singapore
Firefly - Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur-Subang, Penang
Malaysia Airlines - Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Malindo Air - Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur-Subang, Malacca, Penang, Ipoh
Airlines & Destinations from Kota Bharu
Air Asia - Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Singapore
Firefly - Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur-Subang, Penang
Malaysia Airlines - Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Malindo Air - Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur-Subang, Malacca, Penang, Ipoh
From Kota Bharu Airport by Taxi: From the Airport it is a 50 minute taxi ride to Kuala Besut. Taxis will cost around RM80 and can take a maximum of 4 people with baggage.
From Kota Bharu Airport by Bus: If arriving at the airport not too late in the afternoon, taking the public bus to get to Kuala Besut jetty is another option. It's cheaper but takes a longer time. First, catch the bus number 9 from the bus stop just outside the terminal building to Kota Bharu Central Bus Station. Fare is RM2 and the journey takes about half an hour, operates from 7:00AM to 7:00PM. From there, find bus number 639 heading to Kuala Besut. The journey on the 639 bus to the jetty is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and the fare is around RM6.
From Kota Bharu by Taxi: From Kota Bharu it is a 1 hour taxi ride to Kuala Besut. Taxi will cost around 70rm and can take 4 people.
From Kota Bharu by Bus: The 639 bus leaves from Kota Bharu Central Bus Station at 6.15AM, 7.30AM, 9.00AM, 10.00AM, 11.00AM, 12.30AM, 2.00PM, 3.00PM, 4.00PM, 5.30PM, 6.30PM.
Cost is RM6.
From Kota Bharu Airport by Bus: If arriving at the airport not too late in the afternoon, taking the public bus to get to Kuala Besut jetty is another option. It's cheaper but takes a longer time. First, catch the bus number 9 from the bus stop just outside the terminal building to Kota Bharu Central Bus Station. Fare is RM2 and the journey takes about half an hour, operates from 7:00AM to 7:00PM. From there, find bus number 639 heading to Kuala Besut. The journey on the 639 bus to the jetty is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and the fare is around RM6.
From Kota Bharu by Taxi: From Kota Bharu it is a 1 hour taxi ride to Kuala Besut. Taxi will cost around 70rm and can take 4 people.
From Kota Bharu by Bus: The 639 bus leaves from Kota Bharu Central Bus Station at 6.15AM, 7.30AM, 9.00AM, 10.00AM, 11.00AM, 12.30AM, 2.00PM, 3.00PM, 4.00PM, 5.30PM, 6.30PM.
Cost is RM6.
Coming from Thailand
- Fly to KL or Penang and then fly/bus to Kota Bharu
- Fly internally from Bangkok to Narathiwat and then take a shared airport minivan (THB200) to the Sungai Golok border.
- Bus or train to Sungai Kolok and then once you cross the border take a taxi straight to Kuala Besut or to Kota Bharu.
