Malaysia is a fascinating country that combines warm weather, good food, a multicultural environment, spirituality, the verve of metropolitan cities and amazing nature.
Let’s discover 3 of the most beautiful islands to visit.
Redang
Used as the set for the Honk Kong film “Summer Holiday”, directed by Jingle Ma and released in 2000, the island is a real marine park. Situated on the eastern peninsular, the Regand archipelago consists of nine islands: Besar, Ekor Tebu, Lima, Kerengga, Kerengga Kecil, Ling, Pinang, Paku Besar, Paku Kecil and Redang itself.
It offers transparent blue waters and white sandy beaches, plus an amazing preserved coral reef that make activities like snorkelling and diving particularly enjoyable. During such excursions you will get the chance to see such creatures as the nemo fish, baby sharks and jellyfish. Beside sea life, it also offers vast wildlife that gives you the opportunity to observe animals like deer, monkeys and monitor lizards. However, it is unlikely that you will get to see the interior of the island as it is mostly impassable. The only safe road to get there is the road that connects the airport to the coast and several trails for jungle trekking.
Whilst staying in Redang, you will have a number of resorts available to you. In this way, the island is quite touristic, especially after the success of the above mentioned film. If you prefer a wild adventure holiday, you might prefer one of Malaysia’s other islands like the nearby Perhentian.
As mentioned above, the island also has its own airport. Therefore it is not difficult to get there directly. Moreover, there are daily flights to and from Singapore and Kuala LumpurAirports. Otherwise, it is possible to get there by car or by train or by ferry from the port of Merang.
Rawa
If you’ve always had the dream of living in a Middle Eastern fairytale, RawaIsland is the place for you. In fact, the small island is owned by a Sultan, the family of the Sultanate of Johor. Situated 16 kilometres off the eastern peninsula of Malaysia in the South China Sea, Rawa is a resort of peace and tranquillity; the ideal place to disengage from the hustle and bustle of daily life. During a visit here you will be surrounded by amazing nature: white sand beaches with palm trees and crystal clear waters, which will let you relax to the sound of waves and the soft tropical breeze.
The island is really secluded. You can get there in a boat from the mainland port of Mersing and it has two resorts, meaning there are no commercial centres and no people harassing you to buy their goods. That’s why it is a huge attraction for tourists seeking to relax on the beach and enjoy nature. Here it is possible to take part in diving and snorkelling and explore the marine environment or to hike up the island’s mountain, where you will encounter animals like albino peacocks.
One of the most chilled-out areas is Alangs Rawa. Here all chalets lead directly onto the beach and you can find hammocks and beach beds to lie on during the day.
Sipadan
Situated on the east coast of Malaysian Borneo in Sabah, SipadanIsland is perfect for those who love diving. In fact, Sipadan is often rated as the world’s best dive site with a huge, bio-diverse marine habitat. However, the island has been a protected site since 2004, therefore there are some restrictions on diving, only 120 divers are allowed per day and night diving has been banned. To aim is to protect the 3,000 species of fish, hundreds of species of coral, rays and sharks and large populations of hawksbill and green turtles.
A huge point of dispute between the Indonesians and Malaysians is the ownership of Sipadan, which was stated to be Malaysian by the International Court of Justice in 2002. Prior to this announcement, there were a number of incidents between citizens of these 2 nations and some tourists were even kidnapped. However the area is today patrolled daily by the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Â
This article has been written for Cosford Caravans, dealer of new Bailey caravans in Midlands, UK.