Perhentian Kecil is a beautiful tropical island with crystal clear blue waters, dense jungles, white sand beaches and breathtaking views. Hiking in Perhentian is all about finding those remote paradise beaches that are straight out of the postcard!
Many travel to Perhentian for diving, and this is exactly why I went to Perhentian in a first place 1 year ago. But after going back to Perhentian 2 week ago, I made it my goal to discover as many beautiful hiking trails and find those dream beaches. After all, hiking is so rewarding… and free! I was not disappointed.
In Perhentian you will truly get disconnected from the rest of the world, there’s no mobile network, almost no WiFi, no cars or roads and no shops except for small local stores. This is the escape you need at least once in a lifetime.
How to get to Perhentians
Easy Book is the biggest transport booking system in South East Asia, it’s perfect for national and international travel. I always use it to find the best deal and book directly through the Easy Book website.
From any location you can find a route on Easy Book that’s going to Kuala Besut. Jetty in the Kuala Besut is your direct access to Perhentian Islands.
In Kuala Besut you will need a boat to take you to the islands, from the Jetty you can get an open return ticket for RM 70.
There is an additional Marine Conservation charge of RM 30 for entering the islands, you will only need to pay once.
Preparation
If you aren’t using Maps.me yet, I highly recommend for you to download the free app. This app is a life saver, you can find so many wonderful hikes and routes, which otherwise are not marked in google maps.
Make sure to download free Peninsula Malaysia map when you have the internet, to later use it offline.
What to bring
- Sunscreen
- Mosquito spray
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Plenty of water
- Camera
Perhentian can be very humid, hiking midday will be hot and sweaty! Bring lots of water.
Windmill Viewpoint and the Old Pier
My favourite hike in Perhentian!
I came here twice, the first time I was on my own and I met a great bunch of backpackers! And the second time I brought my diving friends. I could easily come here every day.
From the top we got jaw dropping views of the blue lagoon and after walking down to the Old Pier we were rewarded with crystal clear turquoise waters and white sand beaches all to ourselves.
This is a good place to bring a snorkel and explore the marine life.
Hiking in Perhentian is not difficult, even going uphill is quite short and straight forward. The path can be slippery on gravel, make sure you have appropriate footwear (I managed to ‘gracefully’ fall down on my butt).
The first time I came here I took the stairs all the way down. I was alone and it was terrifying! I was holding on for my dear life.. questioning my life choices ‘why am I doing this?’. I decided to keep going because at the old pier I saw a group of people.. they got there safely! So this must be OK. Erm nope.. there was a different way after all! (more details below)
How to get there:
Windmill viewpoint is located 1km from the Long Beach.
From the Long Beach there is a path near the Chillout cafe. Look for a red sign pointing to the start of the trail.
Once you reach the power station on the top of the hill, go around it to the other side. You will see a lookout tower, overgrown with trees and almost no view. But don’t worry, it’s the start of the way down to the old pier and the views are only going to get better from here.
Follow the stairs down, but beware that the stairs are very old and every year there is more damage due to the weather. This is why I recommend to only use the stairs until you reach the 2nd viewing tower, it’s located approximately midway and just before the way becomes too dangerous to go on.
Inside the 2nd viewing tower, on the far right corner you need to find a small exit with a wooden plank. Take the exit and follow the rocky path down to the old pier. This way felt much safer!
Thanks to the group of backpackers I met, they showed me this safer way.
As for all hikes, I highly suggest to use maps.me to find your way to the viewpoint and the pier.
Coral Bay (Sunset Point)
Only 10 minutes walk away from the Long Beach, Coral Bay is the famous sunset spot in Perhentian Kecil. Here you can grab some food and drinks in one of the restaurants on the beachfront, or sit and enjoy the sunset from one of the great viewing spots.
To find the best sunset viewing spot go either to the right side and onto the pier or to the far left side where the rocky area starts and relax on the big rocks. Both spots are great, it’s only the preference. My favourite spot was on the rocks.
How to get there:
Coral Bay is located 700m from the Long Beach.
From the Long Beach there is a path just next to the Mummy Burger stall, it’s the same path that leads to the Tropicana Inn and any local will be able to show the way. Follow the path until you reach the Coral Bay.
D’Lagoon
Beach hidden in the depths of a Perhentian jungle, this one is slightly trickier to find. Bring some mosquito spray, in the jungle there are lots of mosquitos and they are rather nibbly.
D’Lagoon is smaller than other beaches but it’s possible to find some food and drinks while there. Some tourists visit D’lagoon by a boat tour, but there will not be many people. It’s fairly a quiet beach.
This is a good place to bring a snorkel and explore the marine life.
How to get there:
D’Lagoon is located 2.5km from the Long Beach.
Start your hike the same way as the Windmill Viewpoint hike. Once you get to the power station on the hill, turn left to carry on the hike. You’re halfway there!
Keep a close eye for the path into the jungle, this one is hidden! However there is a small sign on the path (we managed to miss it the first time!).
Once you find the entrance into the jungle, follow all the way and it will lead to the D’Lagoon.
As for all hikes, I highly suggest to use maps.me to find your way to D’Lagoon.
Beach Without a Name
My diving friend Klaara and I got lost on our way to the D’Lagoon, and completely by chance we ended up finding a hidden paradise – beach with no name!
No one was there, it was our own little private paradise beach!
The beach is however full of washed away corals, it might be painful to step on some. Flip Flops would be a good idea.
How to get there:
Beach with no name is located 1.8 km from the Long Beach.
Start your hike the same way as the Windmill Viewpoint hike. Once you get to the power station on the hill, turn left to carry on the hike.
Now, unlike the D’Lagoon, you just have to follow the path all the way down and it will take you to the beach. Don’t turn into the jungle.
Additional Notes
Most beaches are accessible by boat, should you decide to skip the hard part and head straight for the beach, then you can hire one of the boats to take you there. Negotiate RM 20 per person for 2 hours (1 stop).
Roni on the Run 