Pulau Perhentian
- Duration
- 2-5 days (island stays) or 1 day (snorkel trip from mainland)
- Opening Hours
- Day-use islands; boats run roughly 08:00-17:00 in season on demand/schedule
- Ticket Price
- MYR Marine park fee RM30 (foreign) / RM5 (Malaysian); speedboat return RM80 adult (2026-02 rate) · Child Marine park RM5-tier for Malaysians; speedboat RM50 child (2026-02 rate)
- Good for
- Snorkellers · Backpackers · Divers · Budget travellers
A two-island marine park pair (Besar and Kecil) in Besut district, reached from Kuala Besut jetty in about 30 minutes by speedboat. Marine park conservation fee is charged at arrival — RM30 foreign / RM5 Malaysian per the jetty-operator consensus, though one OTA lists a conflicting RM100 foreign rate, recorded as a conflict. From 2026-02 the boat operators' association lists RM80 adult / RM50 child return. Peak season runs February-October.
Highlights & Experience
Two Islands, Two Personalities
Perhentian Kecil carries the backpacker strip (Long Beach, Coral Bay) and the liveliest snorkel-offs; Perhentian Besar holds the quieter family and resort bays. Both sit inside the Terengganu marine park with turtle and reef-snorkel zones a short swim from the sand.
Gateway: Kuala Besut
All access funnels through Kuala Besut jetty in Besut district — a ~30 minute speedboat run in season. Boats are shared-ticket or charter; the jetty terminal collects a RM5 fee and the marine park counter collects the conservation fee on arrival.
- Kuala Besut jetty (Besut district) is the sole mainland gateway: ~30 minute speedboat crossing to either island. A RM5 jetty fee is collected at the terminal.Speedboat return RM70-90 (RM80 adult / RM50 child from 2026-02 per operators' association)
Compare official rates and leading travel platforms
Practical Q&A
How much is the marine park fee?
Operator consensus says RM30 foreign / RM5 Malaysian; one Trip.com listing contradicts with RM30 Malaysian / RM100 foreign. Both figures circulate — confirm at the Kuala Besut counter and keep the receipt.
How much is the boat?
Return speedboat fares run RM70-90; from February 2026 the operators' association lists RM80 adult / RM50 child. A RM5 jetty fee applies at the terminal.
When do the islands close?
They don't formally close, but the northeast monsoon (Nov-Jan) strands services; the workable season is February-October.