Redang Island, or Pulau Redang, is located off the northeast coast of Terengganu, Malaysia. To get there, you’ll need to fly to Kuala Lumpur, then onto Terengganu, and finally take a boat to Redang Island (boat schedules are fixed). Some resorts offer shuttle buses from Terengganu to the jetty, as well as boat tickets to the resort. Redang is recognized as one of Malaysia’s most beautiful islands, and is a popular destination for both relaxation and diving. Sea turtles are abundant here, and you can often see them from the boat without needing to get in the water.
Redang Island was developed early, so its facilities are quite well-established. You won’t need to worry about language barriers here, as locals speak a variety of languages, including Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, and English.
When is Redang Island Open?
The island is open to tourists from March to October, with June, July, and August being the peak season. It is highly recommended to book your resort accommodations in advance if you plan to travel during these months. 
From November, the northeast monsoon brings frequent heavy rains and storms. As a result, most resorts and hotels close from November to February, and water transportation is strictly limited.
What is there to do on Redang Island?
When it comes to activities, diving is probably Redang Island’s most attractive feature. The Redang Marine Park includes seven islands of varying sizes and is a protected ecological area declared by the Malaysian government. While fishing is prohibited within 23 nautical miles of the islands, diving and underwater photography are allowed. The underwater scenery is particularly spectacular from March to September, making it a diver’s paradise.
If you want to experience scuba diving, you can also do that, as most resorts have dive shops. The process involves first signing a liability waiver, followed by a brief lesson by an instructor, including how to put on the equipment, check the gauges, and use hand signals for underwater communication. Then, you will be taken to a swimming pool to get used to breathing underwater and practice swimming until you are comfortable enough to dive in the sea. Actual diving time in the sea is about 20 minutes. For professional diving enthusiasts, there are numerous training and certification centers on the island that offer training and certification for OW (Open Water) and AOW (Advanced Open Water) courses, and even provide experiences for night dives, cave dives, boat dives, and underwater photography.
In addition to diving, the resorts on Redang Island regularly organize turtle release events.
How to Choose Accommodation on Redang Island?
Laguna Redang Island Resort: Known for its value for money, this resort is quite popular on Redang Island! In the travel show, Mystic Guide 2, singers Ah Niu and Richie Jen stayed at this resort and played the familiar song, “Waves Upon Waves” on the balcony of their room, sparking a wave of nostalgia.
Sari Pacifica Resort & Spa: Sari Pacifica Resort is a hotel chain with resorts on many islands in Malaysia. This one is located on the north side of Redang Island’s Long Beach. Sari’s beach is the longest of all the resorts on Long Beach.
The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort: This hotel belongs to the Berjaya Group, a famous Malaysian hotel group. It is located in a private bay and has its own beach and sea views, with the most unrivaled sea views on the island.
Lang Tengah Island
Located near Redang Island, the two islands are about 40 minutes apart by boat. This island is the filming location for the movie Summer Love Love. The small island can be circled by speedboat in around 15 minutes. The tropical scenery of coconut trees, fine white sand, and colorful fish creates a relaxed atmosphere.
Perhentian Islands
Among Malaysia’s most beautiful islands, the Perhentian Islands are among the most stunning. The currents are steady, the water is clear and transparent, and the sunlight can penetrate almost directly to the seabed, where you can see the vibrant coral and various shapes of marine life.
The Perhentian Islands consist of two parts: Perhentian Besar (Big Perhentian) and Perhentian Kecil (Small Perhentian), which are farther from Redang Island. Perhentian Besar has a higher standard of hotels, while Perhentian Kecil is more popular among young backpackers. Speedboats operate between the two islands.
Both Perhentian Besar and Kecil are covered in dense, primeval jungle. Activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, and hiking.
