Malaysia is known for its beaches, rainforests, and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European cultural influences.
The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, busy shopping districts such as Bukit Bintang, and skyscrapers such as the iconic, 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers. Malaysia is one country that has some of the world’s best beaches. Below is a list of some of these beaches;
1. Pasir Panjang, Redang
Pasir Panjang beach on Pulau Redang. A rocky beach and a wooden bridge near Laguna Redang Resort in Pulau Redang. Unspoiled white sandy beach with resorts close to the abundant coral reef. The area features half a dozen resorts. The beach is covered with soft white sand. Coral and fish can be seen just a few meters from the beach.
2. Pantai Cenang, Langkawi
This is a popular sandy swimming beach along a busy strip of restaurants, duty-free & souvenir shops. Pantai Cenang is the busiest beach town on Langkawi Island, where you can find a diverse mix of cafes and restaurants, as well as souvenir shops, and duty-free outlets along its picturesque beach strip. Just a 10-minute drive from Langkawi International Airport, it’s a popular holiday destination for traveling families thanks to its kid-friendly attractions such as Underwater World Langkawi, Rice Garden Museum, and Kiki Club at Meritus Pelangi Resort & Spa.
3. Rawa Island, Mersing
Rawa Island is a coral island in Mersing District, Johor, Malaysia. Nearby islands include Harimau and Mensirip. “Rawa” is the local term for white doves, which are abundant on the island. Rawa is a relatively small island. There are no proper roads, only a few walkways. This is an idyllic Malaysia tropical island resort popular with families looking to unwind from the stress and strain of modern life. Feel the grains of white, sun-baked sand between your toes as you stroll along the beach. Rawa Island is accessible by a 20-minute speedboat ride from Mersing, Johor.
4. Kapas Island, Terengganu
Kapas Island is an island located about 6 kilometers east of Marang, Malaysia, with a smaller island, Pulau Gemia, located north of it. It measures roughly 1.5 by 2.5 km. Its name, Pulau Kapas, refers to the island’s white beaches. The resort is only a few minutes walking distances from the main jetty on the island.
Just in front of the resort lies a white and long sandy beach, which is a short walking distance from the chalets. The resort facilities include 60 units of Malay-built traditional designed wooden chalets, two dormitories, a swimming pool, 3 covered multi–purpose halls, one open-air hall, a karaoke room, a seaside open–air restaurant, and a surau.
An outdoor (volleyball, beach football, and jungle trekking) and indoor games (carom, chess, congkak, mahjung, card, etc) as well as marine activities (snorkeling, fishing, squid catching, etc) is available at the resort recreation center. Arrangement for scuba – diving, and kayaking is also available. The resort could cater to up to 250 guests at one time.
5. Manukan Island, Sabah
Manukan Island is the second-largest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Malaysia’s first marine national park. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah, just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, and is easily accessible by boat. Manukan is the most popular island with Kota Kinabalu residents. Manukan is the most frequented island by domestic and international tourists. It is only 15-minute away by boat ride, almost a no-brainer choice for people who want an island day trip near Kota Kinabalu City.
