Malaysia is a nation located in the equatorial region. Owing to this, it is blessed with some of the best beaches you’ll ever encounter. This beautiful Southeast Asian country is indeed a grand destination for a beach getaway, with its idyllic coasts, bountiful coral reefs for diving enthusiasts, and happening beachside attractions. It also features incredible accommodations such as island resorts and staycation spots. Apart from the popular beaches often visited by tourists, Malaysia also boasts some gems that are literally untouched beauties. Do you perhaps wish to visit Sabah or Langkawi? Are you looking for a beach spot closer to the mainland? We’ve got it all for you here. Find out about the best beaches in Malaysia for the ultimate vacation. Read on for more.
1. Mabul Island Beach, Sabah
Mabul Island Beach is located in the south-east side of Malaysia on the island of Sipadan in the state of Sabah. It is said to be one of the best diving destinations in the world, quite popular among locals and international divers as a muck diving spot. To reach this island you need to take a flight to Tawau and then take an hour long taxi ride to Semporna. From here you can take a speed boat ride to the island. You can book yourselves a chalet to stay in; it’s a really beautiful experience to stay in one.
Mabul Island Beach
Address: Sipadan Island, Sabah
2. Layang-Layang Island Beach, Labuah
Layang-Layang is another island off the coast of the federal territory of Labuan in East Malaysia, located off the northwestern coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It might seem that you are in the middle of nowhere! There is pretty much nothing to do here (other than diving, snorkeling or some bird watching maybe) on this island apart from the dive resort and the runway, a Malaysian Naval Station is situated on the other end of the island opposite the Resort which acts as an observation and training ground for the Royal Malaysian Navy. A big part of the island is said to have been reclaimed from the sea so there isn’t much of a beach on it either.
You can get here by chartered flight operated by MAS Wings. This island is situated in very deep waters. Its location is practically in the middle of nowhere and the ocean waters are very clear and unpolluted; untouched by humans! Very similar to the more popular Sipadan Island, except that this island is too far for any fisherman boat to pass by. You will also note that aquatic life is abundant and the corals are in pristine condition.
Layang-Layang Beach
Address: Layang Layang Beach, 87000, Labuan Federal Territory
3. Juara Beach, Tioman Island (from USD 288.0)
This beach is located on Tioman Island, off the coast of the state of Johor. You can reach this beach by ferry from Mersing, it takes about 5 hours from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore to reach Mersing by road. After arriving at Mersing or Tanguk Gemok (ferry jetty), you must take the ferry ride that lasts about 3 hours to get to one of Tioman’s jetties. From there take a local taxi to get to Juara Beach. Seems like a pretty long journey but you are going to see a piece of heaven! All the struggle will be totally worth what you will experience in Tioman.
Tip: When at Tioman Island, one thing to take care of is the sand flies. Either cover yourselves completely or use insect repellant, you do not want those pesky sandflies to spoil your holiday!
Private Tour: Tioman Island (Sribuat) Reef Snorkel & Summit Hike from Singapore
Duration: 1 day
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Perhentian Kecil Island Beach, Terengganu
Perhentian Island is a beautiful destination for people looking for an island getaway in Peninsular Malaysia. The island offers clear blue waters and sandy beaches. You have the Perhentian Besar (big) and the Perhentian Kecil (small) islands. The former is slightly more crowded than the latter. There are a lot of smaller beaches in Perhentian Kecil Island, the Long Beach is more popular among tourists. You can snorkel, visit Turtle Bay, and Shark Point. To reach this island, the fastest and easiest way is to fly to Kota Bharu and take a taxi from the airport to the Kuala Besut Jetty (roughly a 45 minute journey). From the jetty, take the ferry to reach the island.
Perhentian Kecil Island Beach, Terengganu
Address: Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Kuala Besut, Terengganu (see map)
Stay close to Perhentian Kecil Island Beach and book a stay at one of the following accommodations:
BuBu Villa
Alunan Resort
Redang Island Snorkelling Experience, Terengganu, Malaysia - Klook
Duration: 8hrsDuration
5. Rawa Island Beach, Johor
Rawa Island or Pulau Rawa is about 4 hours and 30 mins drive from Kuala Lumpur. You will arrive at Mersing Jetty and take the 30 minute ferry ride to reach Rawa Island. The island is located inside the archipelago of Sultan Iskandar Marine Park. One of the most popular attractions of Rawa Island is its slides! You can’t find them anywhere else in the country! It’s the typical idyllic tropical island for you to relax well! You can snorkel, scuba-dive, do hobby cat sailing, and kayaking.
Rawa Island Beach, Johor
Address: Pulau Rawa, Johor
6. Redang Beach near Taaras Resort, Redang
Redang is a gem located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is very popular among locals for its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and an amazing aquatic life. Snorkeling and scuba diving are activities you definitely must do when you are in Redang. The whole experience of a beach holiday is very gratifying and makes you very relaxed. The beach at Taaras Resort is absolutely a treasure and a part of it is open to the general public and referred to as Pantai Awam.
Redang, Lang Tengah, and Bidong Islands Snorkeling in Malaysia - Klook
Duration: 9hrs30 Min Duration
7. Coral Beach, Pangkor (from USD 45)
Affordable rates with sudden increase for future bookings.
Spacious rooms, pool loved by kids, nearby beach, variety of shops and restaurants.
Convenient location near beach, shops, and restaurants, but some noise and litter issues.
Unique breakfast setup, good variety, nearby restaurants with seafood, Western, and Malay cuisine.
To get to Pangkor Island you can take a bus to Lumut from where you will have to take a 30-minute boat ride to the island. You could also fly into Ipoh and take a bus from there. Coral Beach is said to be one of the best beaches on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. With clear emerald-green water, and a bleached sandy beach. Coral Beach is one of the most serene beaches you can find on the island, one that will surely take your breath away. This is said to be an ideal beach for newly-weds for its romantic and almost empty beaches, lots of privacy eh! The closest and best accommodation near Coral Beach is Anjungan Beach Resort. Book a room now for a trip of a lifetime!
Anjungan Beach Resort
Address: 6610 Nipah Bay
1402.6 km (871.6 mi) from Similajau National Park
8. Gaya Island Beach, Kota Kinabalu
Gaya Island or Pulau Gaya in Malay is a sizeable Malaysian island located just 10 minutes off Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the East Malaysia state of Sabah. The island is a part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. It is the biggest island of the National Park closest to downtown Kota Kinabalu. It is covered with dense virgin, tropical forest. To reach this island, you can take a speed boat from the Kota Kinabalu jetty point. Outdoor enthusiasts will surely enjoy the hiking trails in Gaya Island.
Gaya Island Beach
Address: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
There are several accommodations located on Gaya Island, here’s our pick of the best three:
Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa
Gaya Island Resort
Gayana Marine Resort
Gaya Island Trekking and Lunch At Sapi Island from Sabah, Malaysia - Klook
Duration: 7hrsDuration
9. Pulau Kapas
Pulau Kapas is one of Malaysia’s most celebrated beaches for its vast marine diversity. Despite the climate crisis making it difficult to steer trash off the oceans, Pulau Kapas still manages to preserve its beautiful fish, turtles, coral, and even a few sharks here and there. This hidden gem is a great place for water adventurers who can do all the water sports imaginable in the aquamarine blue waters. Travelers and tourists will enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling to name a few. Those who wish to sail around can take a day trip to Gem Island via online booking where some boats row you to the nearby island to discover more of Pulau Kapas’ finest blue waters.
Pulau Kapas
Address: Kapas Island, Pulau Kapas, Terengganu, Malaysia
Opening hours: 24 hours, Sun to Mon
10. Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi (from USD 21.15)
Tanjung Rhu Beach in Langkawi Island is another very popular beach. This beach is located near the northeast corner of Langkawi. Pantai Tanjung Rhu is pretty secluded and exclusive. There are several tourist attractions to visit around this area. The beach is famous for its crystal clear waters, white sandy beach. Many a foreign film has been shot here in these crystal clear waters. You have regular beach activities that can be done here. The public beach is lovely, the private beach which is part of the resort is even lovelier.
Tanjung Rhu and Mangrove Forest Tour in Langkawi
Duration: 4hrs30 Min Duration
11. Kapalai Island Beach (from USD 40.19)
Although it is called Kapalai Island, it actually is a giant sandbar located on Ligitan Reefs. The place is renowned for having clear, blue waters that make for some really awesome dive spots. The place is a favorite for scuba divers since there is a reef that slopes down about 15 meters (49 feet). You’ll be able to spot blue and yellow ribbon moray eels, pipefishes, butterflyfish, blue-spotted stingrays, clown anemone, cleaning shrimps, and so many more. Those who aren’t licensed to go diving, fear not. You can also go snorkeling here and see plenty of marine life.
Kapalai Island Beach
Address: Tawau Division, Sabah, Malaysia
Mabul and Kapalai Island Snorkeling Tour
Duration: 7hrs20 Min Duration
12. Mataking Island Beach
This island lies in the Celebes Sea on the state of Sabah, Malaysia. It’s another location that is famous for its world-class dive spots and its cool, clear waters. You can reach this island with a 40-minute boat ride from Semporna, which is on the east coast of Sabah. The island is actually owned by a resort that offers luxurious accommodations to those who love diving here. The numerous coral reef around makes it a favorite destination for scuba divers. Besides diving, other things you can do on the beach are play volleyball or beach soccer, go bird-watching, visit a peacock sanctuary, sunbathe on the shore, and cool off with a swim.
The Reef Dive Resort
Address: Mataking Island, Other, Semporna, Malaysia
613.24 km (381.1 mi) from Similajau National Park
13. Golden Beach, Sarawak (from USD 50)
The Golden Beach is located in Kuching, Sarawak. You will be very pleased to see the breathtaking views of the South China Sea, a lovely alternative to those living in an urban setting. You can also find that this is one of the beaches where turtles lay their eggs so it is sometimes referred to as the Turtle Beach. This beach is a part of the Similajau National Park.
Samalaju Resort Hotel
Address: Lot 132, Block 1, Kemena Land District Samalaju Industrial Park, Bintulu
26.06 km (16.2 mi) from Similajau National Park
14. Pantai Cenang (from USD 82.0)
This part of Malaysia’s waterworks is one of the most visited and beloved by travelers and tourists. Located in a central area where the best dining and drinking establishments are found, Pantai Cenang is the place to be if you like lounging by the stunning white sand beach and exploring the beach nightlife. Enjoy the breathtaking sunsets with a mango daiquiri at hand and check this off your travel bucket list. Pantai Cenang’s blue waters are best for swimming and sunbathing. Take a look at the local cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops and duty-free outlets before leaving this scenic paradise; truly one of the books when in Malaysia.
Nature Tour EcoRide Half Day with Twizy Electric Car: Pantai Cenang <-> Sky Cab
Duration: 240 to 270 minutes
15. Salang Beach, Tioman Island (from USD 16)
Located on the west coast of a secluded bay in Tioman Island, Salang Beach boasts plenty of restaurants, powdery white sand, cool waters, and lots of budget-friendly hotels. Salang Beach is popular with backpackers and dive enthusiasts and has a thriving nightlife as there are plenty of pubs where locals and tourists alike share a drink or two. The beach is perfect for swimming, sunbathing and hosting bonfires at night. There are plenty of coral reefs, marine life, and wrecks for exploring, which is why Salang Beach is a haven for scuba divers.
Puteri Salang Inn
Address: Puteri Salang Inn, Kg salang Pulau tioman
1000.73 km (621.9 mi) from Similajau National Park
Visit the beaches of Malaysia
Malaysia is a beautiful place - it is a melting pot of cultures and is equally blessed with breathtaking natural wonders. Visit Malaysia and its beaches to see it, experience it, and believe it. Be sure to check out kid-friendly resorts and Muslim-friendly hotels as well for more accommodation options.
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