introduction
to redang

Redang Island, locally known as Pulau Redang or just "Redang" is one of the largest and most beautiful of the islands off the east coast of Malaysia. It is a popular holiday island for Malaysians, most of whom come on package deals to one of the resorts. Redang is one of nine islands, which form a marine park, and which offer snorkling and diving opportunities. Access is from Merang or Kuala Terengganu on boats operated by the resorts; there is also a small airport.

The island is also an important conservation site for sea turtle.

Pulau Redang is located in the South China Sea off the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia within 5°44' - 5°50' North latitude and 102°59' - 103°5' East longitude. It lies about 45 km north-northeast of Kuala Terengganu, the state capital of Terengganu, and about 22 km off Tanjung Merang, the closest point on the mainland.

In this website, many of the names of places used are the local Malay names, such as 'Pulau Redang' which means 'Redang Island'. Other common Malay words used in place names and descriptions include: 'pulau' (island), 'tanjung' (cape), 'teluk' (bay), 'sungei' (river), 'kampung' (village) and 'pasir' (sand or beach).



Redang Island together with its 8 neighboring islands (Lima Island, Paku Besar Island, Paku Kecil Island, Kerengga Besar Island, Kerengga Kecil Island, Ekor Tebu Island, Ling Island, Pinang Island) are known as the Asia paradise in the South China Sea regions. Being the main island of the Archipelago, Redang Island offers nature lovers an adventure holiday to get away and relax in the solitude and serene beauty of our tropical isles. Nature is at its best here - fresh air, gleaming soft white sand and crystal clear water.
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capital-R.gif (1115 bytes) edang Beach Resort, which is located at Pasir Panjang on Redang Island, is the ideal place to stay for your holiday. It stretches across a white sandy beach and provides an easy access to the nearby coral gardens.

Redang Beach Resort offers basic and comfortable accommodation of 120 newly built chalets, with both standard and deluxe rooms for your choices. All rooms are air-conditioned with attached toilets and bathrooms. These rooms are specially designed to cater the needs of family, couple and individual trips. Please click here for the property amenities and room features.

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capital-Y.gif (1095 bytes) ou wake up to a glorious sunrise, the eternal rolling surf rushing towards long stretches of dazzling white sandy beach lined with palms swaying in a gentle breeze. Join us in an unforgettable adventure and discovery.

Experience the sensation of swimming amongst the fishes, surrounded by a vast expanse of staghorn, corals with various hues of green and brown. Play with the shy clown fish hiding in between the tentacles of the sea anemones (windflowers). Numerous other marine life forms await your discovery - damselfish, starfishes, cowries etc. If you are lucky, you may even swim with the green and hawksbill turtles that frequent these waters.



The first settlers of Pulau Redang were believed to be the Bugis from Celebes, Indonesia. They established their first village at Telok Kalong and later moved south to Pulau Pinang ("betel nut palm island"), the island where the Marine Park Centre is located.

Until recently, Kampung Air ("water village") at Pulau Redang was home to a community of about 250 fishermen families believed to be descendants of these original Bugis settlers. Many have since left the fishing trade and moved into the rapidly growing tourism industry, working for resorts on the island. When Kampung Air was torn down in 2001, a number of these families were relocated to a new village inland, while others chose to move back to the mainland.

In 1991, Pulau Redang and its neighbouring islands were officially designated as the Pulau Redang Marine Park. As a Marine Park, it became a protected site initially under the supervision of the Dept. of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia. In 2004, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) took over the management of the Marine Parks.

islands in the park

redang archipelago


The Pulau Redang archipelago comprises Pulau Redang, Pulau Lima, Pulau Paku Besar, Pulau Paku Kecil, Pulau Kerengga Kecil, Pulau Kerengga Besar, Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Ling and Pulau Pinang.

Pulau Redang is the biggest of all the islands in the Marine Park, measuring about 7 km long and 6 km wide. It's highest peak is Bukit Besar at 359 metres above sea level. The boundary of the Pulau Redang Marine Park is established by a line linking all points 2 nautical miles from the shores of Pulau Redang, Pulau Lima, Pulau Ekor Tebu and Pulau Pinang.

The other nearby islands of Pulau Perhentian Besar, Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Pulau Lang Tengah, Pulau Kapas and Pulau Susu Dara are also gazetted and protected as Marine Parks. Today, only the bigger islands like Redang, Lang Tengah, Perhentian and Kapas have resort facilities for visitors.

The management of Marine Parks primarily involves protection of the sensitive marine and terrestrial ecosystems by controlling the impact from human activities. These include waste & pollution management and conservation of coral reefs and terrestrial habitats.

island geography

Corals, beaches & mangroves


Geology
Redang island is made up mainly of granite and sedimentary rocks. Soil cover is generally thin and not agriculturally productive, except around the Sungei Redang (Redang river) basin and the summit of Bukit Besar, the highest peak on Redang.

Sandy beaches are found primarily on Teluk Kalong and Pasir Panjang in the east, Teluk Dalam and Chagar Hutang in the north, and Mak Kepit and Mak Simpan in the west. Most resorts are located around the sandy beaches at Teluk Kalong and Pasir Panjang. Berjaya Beach Resort is located at Teluk Dalam, a bay that is so sheltered that it is hardly affected by the northeast monsoon, while Berjaya Spa Resort is located on a hill in the south facing the Marine Park Centre.

The rest of the exposed coastline is dominated by rocky outcrops, steep walls & cliffs, with caves and grottos cut by wave erosion in the sedimentary rock areas. Some of these caves can be seen in the northeastern shore at Tanjung Gua Kawah.

Rivers at Pasir Panjang


Rivers
Sungei Redang, the main river, splices the island vertically in the middle and flows south, emerging opposite the Marine Park Centre. It is flanked by 2 hilly ridges and mangroves are found along the tidal reaches of its estuary and also near Teluk Dalam.

There are smaller rivers, though these are mainly dry except during the rainy season. Due to large quantities of water running off the thin soil cover during the rainy season, these rivers become swollen and make their way to the sea. The changes can be quite dramatic, and can result in the usually continuous beach at Pasir Panjang being interrupted in a few areas by swiftly flowing rivers, notably between Redang Pelangi & Coral Redang resorts, between Redang Beach and Redang Beach resorts, in front of Redang Holiday and beside Laguna resort's More More Tea gift shop. These rivers are present during the monsoon season but dry up and disappear naturally when the dry season arrives and the beach is restored.

The village and resorts get their water mainly from the ground, as well as from a water pipeline fed from the mainland.



Flora and fauna
The interior of the island is covered with thick vegetation comprising mainly dipterocarpus forests in the east, and shorea forests in the west. Coconut trees line sandy shores, while the 'sukun' or breadfruit tree is fairly abundant on Pulau Pinang. Island fauna comprise mainly small reptiles and amphibians such as snakes, monitor lizards, geckos, toads & frogs, small mammals such as macaque monkeys, bats, mousedeer, rodents, even domestic goats and sheep, and more than 50 species of birds.

nearby islands

? pulau bidong
? pulau lang tengah

If Redang has whetted your appetite for more islands, you can try exploring some of the neighbouring islands like Pulau Bidong and Pulau Lang Tengah, which are close enough for a day trip.

Although these islands are not part of the Redang archipelago or Pulau Redang Marine Park, they are nevertheless also gazetted as marine parks and come under marine park authority and regulations. So please observe marine park regulations in Bidong and Lang Tengah.

pulau bidong

bidong map
bidong island


The Pulau Bidong archipelago consists of Pulau Yu Besar, Pulau Yu Kechil, Pulau Gelok, Pulau Karah, Batu Tengkorak and Pulau Bidong. Pulau Bidong is located about 5 miles south of Redang, a 15-20 minute speedboat ride away.

From the late 70's till 1991, Bidong was a camp for Vietnamese refugees (boat people) fleeing from Communist persecution and hardship, and was declared a restricted zone, off-limits to visitors. At its peak, there were as many as 40,000 Vietnamese 'boat people' living here. Today, all the refugees have been resettled in other parts of the world or have repatriated, and after the last Rela Home Guard members left in 1999, restrictions on visiting the island was lifted.

Snorkelling and Diving
Bidong and its surrounding islands are fairly new diving destinations since visiting restrictions were only lifted in 1999 and due to their distance from Redang, are not as easily accessible as dive sites around the Redang Archipelago. Not many dive operators will bring divers out here unless special arrangements are made.

For those who've had the opportunity to dive here, word has it that there is good visibility in the deep clear waters around Pulau Yu and the submerged reefs between Pulau Yu Besar and Pulau Yu Kecil, making this one of the better dive sites providing common encounters with schooling batfish and other reef life.

The other notable site is Batu Tengkorak with a shallow depth of around 14 metres, providing opportunities to encounter schooling trevallies and barracuda, and a wide variety of other reef life amidst dense and scattered coral formations. For snorkelling, head for Pulau Gelok with its gently sloping coral reef off the beach, providing chance encounters with black tipped reef sharks.

For more information on diving in Bidong:

* Anuar's Bidong page
* Teresa Zubi's page on Malaysian dive sites

For more information on Bidong's history:

* Bidong.org - a tribute to the UNHCR's work at Bidong
* Star newspaper article 'Forgotten Isle'
* Bidong Island (mainly in Chinese)

Resorts
There are no resorts or dive operators on this island. There are plans to preserve the remnants of 'little Saigon' here, as well as the memorials and other relics of historical importance, but how the island should be developed is still being discussed.

pulau lang tengah
lang tengah map lang tengah beaches


Pulau Lang Tengah is located between Pulau Redang and Pulau Perhentian. The clear emerald waters and the coral reefs around it is popular with scuba divers and snorkellers. Lang Tengah island itself is covered by hilly tropical rainforest, which offers varied flora and fauna for those willing to trek through the island.

Being only 30 minutes away by speedboat from Redang, Lang Tengah is the perfect place for a daytrip, and you can charter a boat out to visit it, which was what we did back in 1999. This close proximity to Redang is one reason why some package holidays on Lang Tengah include visits to the Redang Marine Park Centre.

If you've booked a package on Lang Tengah, you'll depart from Merang jetty. The speedboat ride takes about 40 minutes.


Snorkelling and Diving
Lang Tengah has a number of dive sites. Among the more popular ones are Tanjung Nibong Laut (26m), Yellow Reef (Terumbu Kuning, 25m), Tanjung Telunjuk, Karang Nibong, Batu Bulan and the house reefs.

In our opinion, Redang offers more variety of reef life than Lang Tengah, but there's enough here to satisfy snorkellers and divers. The house reef in front of Blue Coral had plenty of damsels, wrasses and other usual reef fishes. We also encountered many sea urchins here, unlike Redang.

The shallow house reef in front of Square Point Resort was covered mainly with staghorn coral, and provides opportunities to spot adult blacktip reef sharks which frequent the shallow areas of the reef. There is a clear reef edge marked by surface buoys, where the bottom sloped away quickly into deeper blue waters.

Resorts
There are 4 resorts on Lang Tengah, 2 each on Pasir Air and Pasir Mat Hassan, the 2 stretches of sandy beach. For more information about each resort, just click on the resort name to go directly to the resort's website.

Blue Coral Island Resort: Has 70 air-con rooms with bathroom, hot shower and long bath. Facilities include a swimming pool, an open air restaurant serving western and oriental dishes, music and reading rooms, and a dive centre. Snorkelling gear is provided free of charge to guests. The resort is open from 1 Feb to 15 Nov.

Square Point Redang Resort: Has 52 air-con rooms with bathroom. Facilities include The Tropical Restaurant which serves Asian & continental cuisine buffet-style, The Paradise Bar, karaoke, phone & fax services, sundry shop and a dive centre.

Redang Lang Island Resort: Has 40 air-con rooms with bathroom, fan and 2 queen-sized double beds. Facilities include a conference room for up to 60 persons, karaoke lounge, gift shop and dive centre.

D'Coconut Lagoon: Has 16 rooms and 13 suites, all air-con with bathroom. Facilities include a swimming pool & spa, restaurant serving local & Western cuisine, bar and dive centre.


resorts


? the resorts
? budget & price range
? location & privacy
? beaches & house reefs
? comfort & facilities
? meals & dining
full-board, ala-carte
? recreation
snorkelling & boat charters,
diving, games & sports,
night life



This section is not intended to be a review of each resort but an overview of what is available. Neither are we recommending any specific resort as different resorts will appeal to different people. We have only stayed at 3 resorts so far and our choices have been guided more by location preferences in particular our fondness for the southern side of Pasir Panjang with convenient access to the housereefs at Tanjung Mak Cantik and Tanjung Tengah.

With so many resorts to choose from, visitor preferences will depend on selection criteria like budget, location, privacy, facilities and meals. We will look at some of these criteria to help you make a more informed choice. As long as you love the sun, sand and sea, anywhere you stay in Redang promises a relaxing, enjoyable holiday. The true charm lies in the white sandy beaches, clear waters and rich diversity of marine life.

the resorts


There are different types of accommodation to suit different needs ranging from budget resorts all the way to 4 star resorts. All the resorts are located at Teluk Kalong and Pasir Panjang on the eastern side of Redang, except for Berjaya Beach Resort at Teluk Dalam in the north and Berjaya Redang Spa Resort in Teluk Siang in the south, facing the Marine Park Centre.

All resorts offer all-inclusive package holidays which include transfers, accommodation, snorkelling trips & meals. With resorts upgrading and having special promotional prices from time to time, you should visit the resorts' own websites for latest updates on facilities and prices. You can also check the Forum page for visitor comments and feedback on the resorts they have stayed at, or post your questions there.


location of resorts on redang


There are currently 16 resorts on Redang. All the known resorts are listed below with their contact and facilities information. Click on the resort name to go to the resort's own website (if available). They are listed in location order, starting with Berjaya, then moving onto Pasir Panjang and heading south all the way to Teluk Kalong.

Berjaya Redang Beach Resort
Teluk Dalam
tel +609 630-8866
fax +609 630-8855
toll-free 1 800 88-8818
152 rooms, pool, ala-carte restaurant, dive centre, ballroom, conference hall, gym, tennis, laundry, sailing, bicycle rental


berjaya beach resort

Berjaya Redang Spa ResortTeluk Siang
tel +609 630-8888
fax +609 630-8855
100 rooms, pool, ala-carte restaurant, dive centre, function rooms, spa, gym, laundry


berjaya spa resort

Redang Holiday Beach VillaPasir Panjang
tel +609 624-5500 / +609 626-5500 KT
fax +609 624-5511 KT
48 rooms, dive centre


redang holiday resort

Desagreen Redang Beach Resort
(under construction)Pasir Panjang
26 single & double-storey chalets, pool, spa, dive-centre.


desagreen redang resort

Coral Redang Island Resort
Pasir Panjang
tel +609 692-0110 / +609 690-2111
tel +609 623-6200 / +609 622-7378 KT
fax +609 690-2112 / +609 623-6300 KT
40 chalets & rooms, pool, ala-carte restaurant, dive centre


coral redang island resort

Redang Pelangi ResortPasir Panjang
tel +609 624-2158 / +609 626-1189
tel +6019 983-4158 (mob)
fax +609 623-5202
43 rooms (6 twin, 37 quad), dive centre, beach disco


redang pelangi resort

Ayu Mayang ResortPasir Panjang
tel +609 630-2888
fax +609 631-1370 (to be confirmed)
13 rooms, dive centre


ayu mayang resort

Redang Bay ResortPasir Panjang
tel +609 620-3200 / +609 620-3201
fax +609 624-2048
76 rooms (24 chalet twin rooms + 2-storey block with 25 family (5-8pax) & 27 quad rooms), pool, dive centre, conference hall, ala-carte cafe, karaoke lounge
Trip diary: Jun 98


redang bay resort

Redang Lagoon ChaletPasir Panjang
tel +609 666-5020 KT
fax +609 666-5018/19 KT
30 rooms, dive centre


redang lagoon chalet

Redang Beach ResortPasir Panjang
tel +609 623-8188 KT
tel +603 2031-5079 KL / +603 2031-4842 KL
fax +609 623-0225 KT / +603 2026-2013 KL
120 rooms, ala-carte cafe, dive centre (5-star PADI Gold Palm), beach disco, meeting room, internet corner


redang beach resort

Laguna Redang Island ResortPasir Panjang
tel +609 630-7888
tel +609 631-0888 KT / +603 2141-1188 KL
fax +609 630-7878
fax +609 631-3322 KT / +603 2141-2333 KL
212 rooms, pool, ala-carte restaurant, food court, dive centre, indoor disco/karaoke, conf.room, gym, internet room, jacuzzi, clinic, massage room
Trip diary: Jul 03, Aug 03, Oct 03, Oct 03, Oct 04, Apr 05, Jul 05, Apr 06


laguna redang resort

Redang Reef ResortPasir Panjang
tel +609 630-2181 / +609 630-2180
tel +609 622-6181 KT / +609 624-6395 KT
fax +609 630-2182 / +609 622-4181 KT
38 rooms, dive centre (Leisure Divers)
Trip diary: Jun 99, Jun 00, Jun 01, Jun 02


redang reef resort

Redang Bahtera
Teluk Bakau/Teluk Kalong
tel +607-333 3576 / +607-333 3872
fax +607-333 9618
60 rooms, conference room, table-tennis


redang bahtera resort

** CLOSED DOWN IN 2005 **

Redang InnTeluk Kalong
tel +603 2161-3771 KL
fax +603 2161-3772 KL


redang inn resort

Redang Kalong ResortTeluk Kalong
tel +609 622-1591 KT
tel (reservations) +603 7960-7163
fax +609 622-8186 KT
38 rooms, 5-star PADI dive centre (Diver's Den)


redang kalong resort

Mozana Redang ResortTeluk Kalong
tel +6019 969-2077 / +609 631-7341
tel +6012 983-7281 / +609 697-9878
fax +609 631-7649 / +609 617-6018
24 rooms, dive centre


mozana redang resort

Wisana Redang Beach ChaletTeluk Kalong
tel +6012 695-9772 / +6017 303-1144
tel +609 622-7840 KT
fax +609 624-6880
4 bungalows (twin/triple sharing) and 1 Longhouse with 5 quad sharing rooms. Dive centre. Email: wisanaredang@gmail.com


wisana redang beach chalet

Redang Mutiara Beach ResortTeluk Kalong
tel +607 278-3268 / +607 278-3266
fax +607 278-3264


redang mutiara resort

** CLOSED DOWN 4 APR 2006 **

Redang Campsite & ChaletTeluk Kalong
tel +609-622-5552 KT / +609 624-9408 KT
tel +6012 449-6540 (A.J.'s mobile)
fax +609-622-0063


redang campsite and chalet

budget & price range

Resort


Rates (RM)

Berjaya Beach


585-845*

Coral Redang


570*

Laguna Redang


508-568 deluxe
378-438 std

Redang Holiday+


458

Ayu Mayang+


428-478*

Redang Beach


419-529

Redang Bay


398-450*

Berjaya Spa+


369-409*

Redang Reef


360-380

Redang Mutiara


350-390

Wisana Redang


350

Redang Kalong


340-390

Redang Bahtera


330-355

Redang Pelangi


320-420

Redang Lagoon


299-329

Redang Campsites


300-340 chalet
220-260 tent

Table shows 2006 advertised rates per person for 3D/2N full-board snorkelling package in a twin room ex-KT town; includes land & boat transfers, excludes park conservation fees & equipment rental (except * where mask & snorkel provided). High end of rates are for peak periods. (+ are 2005 prices)


With the campsites torn down in April 2006, the most affordable resorts on Redang are the budget resorts like Lagoon and Pelangi while Berjaya Beach, Laguna Redang and Coral Redang resorts round off the higher end of the budget scale.

Prices are competitive and start from around RM300 for a 3 day/2 night full-board snorkelling package inclusive of boat transfers between Redang and the mainland (Merang or KT). Promotional prices can be as low as RM248.00 per adult. Children below 12 are usually given a discount paying between 50-60% of adult fare. Some resorts have two advertised rates: one for locals (Malaysians, Malaysian PRs & Singaporeans) and another for non-locals.

Most resorts have different prices for off-peak and peak periods. Usually, lowest promotional prices are found in March and October during beginning and end of visiting season. At other times, lowest prices are found weekdays from Sundays through Thursdays. Some resorts charge higher weekend rates for Friday & Saturdays. Highest prices are during school holidays and public holidays (including eve of public holidays).

Some resorts also offer cheaper room-only, bed and breakfast or half-board packages.

There may also be additional charges, so read the fine print and compare carefully. These may include the following:

*

Some packages only include boat transfers (between the island and mainland) and do not include the land or jetty transfer between KT (or airport) and Merang. If you are taking the coach or plane to KT, you may have to pay between RM10-30 per adult for land/jetty transfers.
*

Most packages do not include rental of snorkelling equipment like mask, snorkel and life-jacket, which can cost RM20-40 extra per package.
*

Packages also do not include the compulsory Marine Park conservation charges (RM5.00 for adults, RM2.50 for children).


location & privacy

wisana beach


So you came here to ponder about life, sunbathe, write a book, compose a song, spend quality time with your partner, and you really need some privacy and quiet. Best thing to do is go off-peak season when it's not school holidays, public holidays or long weekends. In March or October the beaches can be pretty empty.

Most resorts at Teluk Kalong offer good privacy, peace and quiet with no noisy beach discos or karaokes, especially the smaller simple, back-to-nature resorts like Wisana, Mutiara and Mozana that have fewer guests. There are 3 beaches here separated by rocky outcrops. The northernmost beach is occupied by Kalong Beach and Mozana Redang. Wisana is the only resort on the next beach, making it the quietest and most private resort with only 9 chalets/rooms and no TV or karaoke. On the last stretch of beach sits Redang Mutiara, which used to share the beach with the campsites but which now has the beach all to itself since the closure of the campsites in April 2006.

The Berjaya resorts offer both privacy and creature comforts as they are the only resorts at their respective locations. With access to two long stretches of beach at Teluk Dalam, guests at Berjaya Beach should have no problems finding their own private, quiet space at the beach.

Of all the beaches, Pasir Panjang is the least private & quiet - this is the most 'happening' place with beach discos, karaokes and the most people. If you must stay here, Redang Reef and Redang Holiday offer more privacy due to their locations at each end of the long beach so there's less pass-through traffic. Next best are probably Coral and Laguna which have a larger land-area to guest ratio - there's enough space that they don't feel as crowded. Laguna's standard rooms at the jetty/dive centre at Teluk Bakau also offer a quiet retreat away from Pasir Panjang.

beaches & house reefs

beaches of redang


If you're looking for good beaches, you've come to the right place. There are no bad beaches in Redang. Regardless of where you stay (except at Berjaya Spa Resort which does not have a beach as it is located on a hill), you'll always find soft, fine white sand beneath your feet. Stormy weather and strong waves can deposit debris and broken coral on the beach but over time, the sandy beach is restored when new sand is deposited.

The best beaches are probably those located at Teluk Dalam ('Deep Water Bay'). This bay has 2 distinct stretches of beach, one at Teluk Dalam Kecil where Berjaya Beach Resort is located and the other at Teluk Dalam Besar where there are currently no resorts. The water here is clear and calm with sandy bottom which is excellent for swimming. The two beaches are separated by a hilly outcrop. A road built on top of the hill provides easy access between the two beaches. A jungle path also connects the beach at Teluk Dalam Besar to Pasir Panjang, a trek that can be covered in about an hour.


teluk dalam besar beach


Pasir Panjang ('Long Beach') is a beautiful beach that is not just long but also wide. The beach is shaped like a birdwing or 'V' where one wing forms the northern stretch while the other the southern stretch, both wings meeting at Tanjung Tengah in the centre. The north beach is longer than the south beach. Visitors can walk from Redang Reef at the southern tip all the way to Redang Holiday at the northern tip in about 15 minutes.


views of pasir panjang


The beaches at Teluk Kalong are smaller than those at Teluk Dalam and Pasir Panjang. Of these, Wisana probably has the cleanest and nicest beach which you can have almost all to yourself as it's so private!



House reefs
If you want to be able to just walk off the beach and go snorkelling anytime, your best choice is to stay at Pasir Panjang which offers the best house reefs. All the resorts located here have easy access to the reefs. There are 3 house reefs here. The most popular is around Tanjung Tengah where Shark Bay is located. The other two is at Tanjung Mak Cantik where Redang Reef resort is located and in front of Redang Holiday.

If you're prepared to swim further out, Berjaya Beach Resort in Teluk Dalam Kecil has coral reefs on both sides of the bay.

Over at Teluk Kalong, the house reefs are located off to the sides mainly around rocky outcrops. There are no house reefs located directly in front of the beaches there.

comfort & facilities

rooms


Most resorts offer acceptable standards of accommodation. For example, all resorts offer air-con rooms with attached bathrooms. An increasing number are also equipped with hot showers. Standards are improving all across the board as resorts continue to renovate and upgrade themselves to compete with one another.

The Berjaya & Laguna resorts are at the top of the comfort scale as they pamper guests with quality furnishings, hot showers, in-room TVs, electric jugs, hair-dryers, mini-bars and safe deposit boxes. Both resorts have gym and internet-access facilities for guests while Berjaya offers laundry services, bicycle rentals, childcare services as well as a spa (at Berjaya Spa resort). Clinics are available at Laguna Redang and Berjaya Beach resorts where in-house doctors will treat guests from any resort - any medical emergencies will be sent back to the mainland for treatment. In terms of size, Laguna's deluxe rooms are probably among the biggest, easily accommodating 4 single beds or 2 single+1 double with plenty of space leftover.

The next group of resorts on the comfort scale are the Coral Redang chalets and Redang Holiday with its very lovely villas equipped with hot showers and in-room fridge. In terms of view, most seaview facing rooms are nice but the seaview facing hilltop villas at Holiday are among the best with its spectacular view of the sea and southern Pasir Panjang.

Ayu Mayang with its cozy chalets and Redang Beach are probably next in line while the rest of the other 'budget' resorts fill out the rest of the list with similar-styled accommodation. Many of these budget resorts have rooms best described as spartan, equipped with just beds and little else. Not a problem if you're the sort that's out at the beach or sea the whole day.

'Back-to-nature'-type resorts like Wisana do not have electricity 24-hours a day - power is usually cut for a certain period during the day, usually from morning when guests go out snorkelling till the evening around 6pm.


meals & dining
dining experiences


Full-board packages
One thing about signing up for a full-board package in Redang is that you are often well-fed if you are not too particular about what you eat (just like the fishes at the Marine Park Centre). Mealtimes typically look like this:

8:30 am: Breakfast
9:30 am: snorkelling
1:00 pm: Lunch
2:30 pm: snorkelling
4:30 pm: Tea (some resorts may not provide Tea)
7:30 pm: Dinner

Food is usually home-cooked local Chinese or Malay style and served buffet or pre-apportioned. At the budget resorts, lunch and dinner are balanced affairs with a seafood dish (usually fish or squid), meat dish (usually chicken), vegetables, soup and fruit. At the higher-end resorts, the buffet spread has a lot more variety with a mix of local and Western fare.

There's enough to eat though when there are a lot of guests, the best stuff disappears quickly which means it's better to be among the early birds at mealtimes. Usually a BBQ dinner is served every other evening. Some budget resorts offer 24-hour self-serve refreshments (water, tea, coffee, Milo), cookies, crackers, bread & spreads if you want to snack outside meal times. You can also buy snacks and drinks from the little sundry shops available at most resorts.


Ala-carte
If you are not on a full-board package, or you prefer to avoid battling the hungry hordes at the buffet table, there are ala-carte restaurants found at Berjaya Beach, Berjaya Spa, Laguna and Coral Redang resorts. These restaurants are open to everyone, not just guests (same goes for other food & beverage outlets).



Food courts

Visitors staying at Pasir Panjang also have easy access to food courts or local-style cooked food shops such as Laguna's Food Court, Redang Beach's Summerpoint and Kopitiam and those at Redang Bay. Most open later in the day till late at night serving affordable and delicious local food like roti canai, rice/noodles and teh-tarik - great for those used to eating late-night suppers.

If you are staying at Berjaya, there are kampung (village) restaurants and local-style coffee shops easily accessible at the nearby village where you can try out the local food at affordable prices.

recreation

boat services

Stall at Tanjung Tengah in Pasir Panjang advertising boat and snorkelling services. For your convenience, I have listed 2 possible contacts below - I've not used them before and don't know anything about them. Be prepared to bargain.

Rosde Ambak
Barakah Boat Services
Tel: +6013 958-8241 / +609 630-8630

Hazeme
Redang Abadi boat services
Tel: +6017 936-9834 / +609 697-6537


beach soccer and discos


Snorkelling & boat charters
All resorts have snorkelling equipment (mask, snorkel, life-jackets) for rental on a per-stay basis. In order to protect the corals, fins are no longer available for rental to snorkellers in Redang from April 2006 (only divers can rent fins). If you are on a snorkelling package, this usually includes 1 or 2 snorkelling trips a day where they will bring you to the Marine Park Centre or one of the other snorkelling sites around Redang. If you are not on such a package, you can still join the snorkelling trips but you will have to pay for each trip. Some villagers also offer snorkelling packages which bring you to 3 or more places and lasts half a day - prices are negotiable and also depend on the number of people in your group. Those staying at Berjaya can easily walk to the village and enquire. Otherwise ask your resort staff or boatman for contacts.

Many resorts and village boat services also have boats for charter (useful if you are planning trips to nearby islands like Bidong, Lang Tengah, Yu or Perhentian) though their availability may be limited during peak season as resorts may use additional village boats to meet guest demand. Check with resort staff.


Diving
Dive centres are found at almost every resort. You are free to dive with any operator. If you are an avid diver, enquire about dive package holidays which are similar to the normal package except you go diving instead of snorkelling. You can also just sign up on the spot whenever you feel like diving - costs from RM80 for a single boat dive a day with equipment and from RM130 for 2 dives a day with equipment.

If you are not a qualified diver, you can experience scuba diving by signing up for 'discovery dives' where qualified instructors will give you a crash course and personally bring you on a shallow 1-hr dive - prices range from RM130 to RM150. If you decide to get certified, you can join a 4- or 5-day basic open water program under qualified PADI or NAUI instructors at any of these dive centres - prices start at around RM780 for the course alone excluding board & lodging.


Games & sports
Other than snorkelling and diving, most resorts offer basic recreational activities like beach volleyball/soccer, table/board games and cards. The bigger resorts also have pool tables, darts, table football and TV/video entertainment. Kayaks are available for rental at a few resorts along Pasir Panjang and Berjaya while swimming pools are available at Berjaya Beach, Berjaya Spa, Laguna Redang, Coral Redang and Redang Bay resorts. Laguna offers archery while Berjaya is the only resort that offers bicycle rentals as the only road on Redang leads from Berjaya at Teluk Dalam through the village to the Kampung jetty near Berjaya Spa. There are no roads in Pasir Panjang or Kalong although the movie 'Summer Holiday' gives the impression that there is - actually, the actors ride a motorbike from Mo Mo Cha in Pasir Panjang and magically appear in Malacca town (thanks to film editing)!


Night life
If you're still full of energy after a whole day of diving, swimming and snorkelling, Pasir Panjang is the right place to be for a more exciting nightlife. Visit the beach discos at Redang Beach and Pelangi or the indoor air-con disco at Laguna. Many resorts offer outdoor karaoke so you can serenade the fishes or if you're shy, try the indoor karaoke rooms at Laguna's disco. You can also wind down and relax at bars and cafes found at various resorts - beer, wine and alcoholic beverages are available only to non-Muslim guests

RESORT

Redang Kalong Resort


Coral Redang Island Resort


Laguna Redang Island Resort

Redang Beach Resort


Redang Lagoon Chalet


Berjaya Redang Beach Resort

Redang Reef Resort


Redang Mutiara Beach Resort


Berjaya Redang Spa Resort

Redang Bay Resort


Redang Pelangi Resort


Redang Bahtera Resort

Redang Ayu Mayang


Redang Camping Adventure


Terengganu Fantasea

LONELY PLANET "Accommodation on Pulau Redang is best organised as a package in Kuala Terengganu; Ping Anchorage (Tel : 626 2020) sells packages for all the resorts listed at competitive prices."

White sandy beaches, crystal clear blue sea, brilliant underwater world..... Redang Island is located at 45 km offshore of Terengganu. Redang archipelago comprises 9 islands, the Lima Island, Paku Besar Island, Paku Kecil Island, Kerengga Besar Island, Kerengga Kecil Island, Ekor Tebu Island, Ling Island, Pinang Island and Redang Island. This archipelago is abounds with marvelous marine fishes, turtles and coral reefs, ensuring a great snorkelling and scuba-diving experience. Redang Island which is approximately 7km in length 6km in width, is the largest of all other islands in the Marine Park.

The Redang archipelago has been designated as Pulau Redang Marine Parks Malaysia as to conserve the islands' unique ecosystem. There are 500 species of live corals, more than a thousand species of invertebrates and almost 3000 species of fishes which includes manta rays, stingrays, sharks and whale sharks, all living in harmony in the reefs fringing the islands. It is a real heaven for divers.

Diving enthusiasts and underwater photographers will definitely be entranced by the sights of the islands, which are ranked among the best coral reef in the world. Among the attractions at the twenty over different diving spots, there are shipwrecks near Pinang Island, black coral garden as well as the mysterious submerged chamber, both located in the vicinity of Lima Island. And not Forgetting is the Mini Mount situated between Kerenggan Besar Island and Kerenggan Kecil Island. Redang waters also contains two historic shipwrecks. The H.M.S Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse were sunk here during the WWII, setting the stage for the Japanese occupation of Malaya.

History of the people
The early settlers of Redang Island were believed to have descended from the Bugis of Celebes, Indonesia. It was said that there were seven Bugis siblings traveled from Celebes to look for new settlement. One of the members, Batin Talib has finally decided to make Redang Island his new home. He established the first village faced towards the lagoon at Telok Kalong Besar on the east of the island. To shelter from the strong monsoon wind, he moved to a smaller island on the south which he named Pinang Island due to the betel nut palms (pinang) here. Another member, Batin Mina was said to have settled down in Perhentian Island and his sister Batin Cik Siti headed to Hulu Terengganu. The whereabouts of the rest Batins was however unknown.

Population of Redang Island
Today, Redang Island is a home for a community of nearly 250 fisherman families who are believed to be the descendents of the Bugis. They build their homeland in a new village at the left bank of Sungai Redang estuary, approximately 3 kilometers inland from the previous one. It has been characterized by rapid economic growth and improvement in most social indicators in recent years, mainly contributed by tourism and fishing industry.

Legendary Redang
It is always says that, the multi races Malaysian society has created an ideal environment to the country to nurture a rich cultural background with lot of legends. This is especially obvious in name of places.

Due to its strategic location, Redang Archipelago was once a traders' passage-by between Siam (Thailand today) and the Malaya Archipelago. It was a temporary anchorage for them in their miles long trading journey.

Among these passers-by, there was a trader from Terengganu, Awang Sulong Muda whose wife was Cik Hitam Pasir Panjang Muda Elok Terenganu. The Awang couples together with their lady-in-waiting, Dayang Sri Jawa and Hulubalang, Awang Selamat were used to stop and had their break in Redang Island in their trading route. They tided the fowls which they brought along at southeastern of the island which is called Pasir Macam Ayam (chicken-alike sand) today. The rock that this family tided their fowls is still standing there in the island until today, but one might wonder the size of the fowls when looking at the huge size of this rock.

Other than this fowls tided rock, there are two other rocks both embedded with each other standing on a hill in Teluk Kalong. These embedded rocks look very much like the rears of an elephant and therefore are called Batu Gajah (elephant rocks) by the local. Batu Gajah is believed to be the marine elephants or Gajah Laut which were turned into stones due to some unknown reasons.

The cultural rich condition in Malaysia has further enriched by mythos found in folk's believes. The existence of Orang Bunian (the fairies) in legendary stories is no longer an unfamiliar topic.

In Redang Island, Orang Bunian were said to have resided at the five cluster stones, Batu Surat or Batu Bedung (letter stones) near Pasir Changar Hutang. It was very usual in those days that the villagers will come to these Orang Bunian to inform them of any kenduri (banguet) to be held. They will also inform the fairies of the number of guests expected. Then, on the day of the kenduri, a full set of crockery will appear from nowhere for the kenduri purposes.

Not far from here is another group of rocks, the Batu Tok Kong which, is a worshiping place for some devotees due to the belief that there are Orang Bunian reside here.

To the southeastern of the island is another worship rock, Tanjung Telaga Batu. The worshipping practices started due to a saying that there stayed a man called Syeikh Samarani who would grant requests. No one can tell how true is the saying but up to late 1970's, there were still people placing their offering and requesting for favours.

The legendary of Redang Archipelago will never be completed if without the turtle like stone laying on top of a rock at Tajung Batu Pepanji, somewhere between Teluk Dalam and Pasir Changar Hutang. This turtle stone is said to be the guardian of all the turtles in Redang Waters.

Whether the fragrant reported by the villagers came from Puteri Mayang Mas who is reputed to reside at Pasir Mak Kepit or there are magic which made the water puddle in Pasir Gontang supplies inexhaustible water, it is all suggesting a room for the readers to imagine and buy-in. However this will never influence the mysterious of Redang Archipelago, instead has become part of its heritage which added to the fascination of these islands.

Getting To Kuala Terengganu :
Kuala Terengganu is the East Coast Corridor for Peninsular Malaysia. Kuala Terengganu is the centre for Malay culture and Heritage. (Mubin Sheppard: Terengganu is a cradle of Malay civilisation). Kuala Terengganu is the gateway to the gorgeous Marine Park islands like Perhentian , Redang , Lang Tengah, Bidong, Kapas, Gemia and Tenggol Island. Beside the island Terengganu also offer the world oldest rainforest jungle, Tasik Kenyir (Lake Kenyir) and Tasik Kenyir National Park.

By Air
From Kuala Lumpur :
Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia offer daily flights from KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to Kuala Terengganu Airport. Journey by air takes approximately 45 minutes. Berjaya Air operates flight from Subang Airport (Kuala Lumpur) to Redang Island (flight journey 1 hour).

From Singapore :
There is no direct flight to Kuala Terengganu from Singapore. Travellers must fly via KLIA. If flying via KLIA from Singapore too costly, consider flying from Senai Airport in Johor with Malaysia Airlines or Air Asia, This is cheaper option but takes much longer time due to land transfer from Singapore to Senai. Malaysia Airlines passengers can catch the SPS coach from Singapore to Senai which departs from:

Malaysia Airlines Singapore City Terminal Tel: +65 6250-3333
Copthorne Orchid Singapore Hotel, 214 Dunearn Road, Singapore 299526 Operating hours : 05:15am to 18:15pm daily
Fare: S$12 from Singapore, RM16 from Senai. Travelling time is about 2 hours.

Air Asia will start a bus service soon from Singapore to Senai. Currently, the passengers will have to get to Senai airport by bus via Larkin to Senai.

By Coach
Express coaches depart daily from Kuala Lumpur (7 hours), Singapore (9.5 hours), Johor Bharu (9 hours) and Penang (9 hours). The journey include 2 rest stops or more along the journey for foods, refreshments and toilet stops. The most comfortable coaches (VIP) have 24-32 seats in a 2-1 seating arrangement. The seats are spacious with plenty of leg room. There are also 36-40 seats coaches 4 seats abreast that would as well get you to Terengganu in best comfort. If you are travelling overnight, bring some warn clothing (Jacket/ Sweater). It can be quite cool. Soft or inflatable pillow can help you sleep more comfortably. Most of the ticket counter only sell one way ticket, passengers may book return ticket plus tour through our company. Night coaches arrive Kuala Terengganu Tanjung Bus Terminal around 5.30am - 6.00am.We also provide free daily pickup 5.30am in the morning from Kuala Terengganu express bus terminal to Travellers center for rest and wash up.

Kuala Lumpur (Putra (PWTC) Station)
Journey around 7 hours, ticket can be purchase at Putra bus terminal. Company operate to Kuala Terengganu : TransNasional Tel: +603-4256 8218, Damai Ria, Plusliner, Rangkaian Mewah, Mutiara, Tourworld, SE warisan and Sutra Express. Muatiara and Damai Express offer comfortable 2-1(VIP) seating arrangement.

Kuala Lumpur to K.Terengganu (RM25.10-RM25.70 adult/child)
Depart : 9:00am/09:30am/10:00am/21:00pm/21:30pm/22:00pm

K.Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur (RM25.10-RM25.70 adult/child)
Depart : 09:00am/09:30am/10:00am/21:00pm/21:30/22:00pm

Singapore (Lavender Street/ Kallang Bahru Juntion)
Transnasional runs 3 daily services between Singapore and Kuala Terengganu. Transnasional is the only coach operator that have a permit from Singapore Transport Authority and Malaysia Authority to operate express services between Singapore and Kuala Terengganu/ Kota Bahru. Transnasional only sell one class ticket but the coach can be from 24 seater to a 36 seater. Transnasional Express ticket office and departure point located at junction of Lavender Street and Kallang Bahru roads. Tel : +65-62947034 / 5). If you are unable to get any seats, you can try Transnasional coach which depart from Singapore to Kota Bahru and ask to drop off at Kuala Terengganu or Jerteh if you heading for Perhentian island which is the nearest bus stop to Kuala Besut jetty (15 min journey by taxi). There are tour company run coaches services from Golden Mile Complex at Beach Road but prices are much higher than Transnasional and passengers need to change to a different bus at the causeway or second link and passengers have to bring own luggage through Malaysia customs and immigration.

Singapore to Kuala Terengganu
Depart : 0900 2000 2100hrs S$26.00 adult / S$13.00 Child

Kuala Terengganu to Singapore
Depart : 0900 2030 2030hrs RM30.20 adult/child

Johor Bharu (Larkin Station)
Alternatively get a seat from Johor Bharu (Larkin Station) to Kuala Terengganu. Coaches that operate from Larkin station e.g. Transnasional, Koperasi/ Damai Ria, Cepat Express, Adik Beradik etc. Mutiara and Damai Express offer comfortable 2-1(VIP) seating arrangement.

Johor Bahru to Kuala Terengganu Depart : 0900 0930 1000 2000 2100 2130hrs RM28.70 adult/child

Kuala Terengganu to Johor Bahru Depart : 0900 0930 1000 2000 2100 2130hrs RM28.70 adult/child

Penang (Komtar Station)
SP Bumi Express and Atieza Express depart daily from Komtar Station or Butterworth Station to Kuala Terengganu.

Penang to Kuala Terengganu
Depart : 2100hrs RM29.80 adult/child

Kuala Terengganu to Penang
Depart : 2100hrs RM29.80 adult/child

Ping Anchorage Travel & Tours also have a fleet of modern and best-maintained tour coaches, mini van and Limousine. For more information and rates, please click here Coach & Van

27 Super VIP Seats fully air conditioned coach
KUL-KTG RM 1,350.00 per coach per way.
JHB-KTG RM 1,350.00 per coach per way.
JHB-KTG-SIN RM 3,00.00 per coach return

38 Seats fully air conditioned coach
KUL-KTG RM 1,200.00 per coach per way.
JHB-KTG RM 1,200.00 per coach per way.
JHB-KTG-SIN RM 2,700.00 per coach return

08 - 12 seat Van Persiaran and Limousine are available.

By Land (Driving) http://www.jkr.gov.my/roadmap/index.htm
Driving by car with friends or loved ones can be pretty much an interesting trip. Aside from the greeneries that can be seen through out your journey, the fresh air and unpolluted countryside can offer a soughtful experience. Once you get to Terengganu road, The beautiful beaches and blue waters welcome you. Driving travellers are advise to get a map from Tourism Malaysia or any bookstore. (Car Park available at Merang Jetty (Redang Island/Lang Tengah Island), Marang Jetty (Kapas Island), Kuala Besut Jetty (Perhentian Island), Gawi Jetty (Kenyir Lake) and Kenyir Dam (Kenyir Houseboat). Approximate RM5.00 per car per night.)

KL to K. Trg (approx. 455 km): 2 option the coastal road or Jerangau Jabor: Highway 2 KL (Gombak Toll) on Karak Highway and continue with ECE (East Coast Expressway) to Kuantan exit.
Highway 3 Kuantan exit to Kuala Terengganu (Coastal road to Kemaman, Dungun and Kuala Terengganu)(223km)

Highway 2 KL (Gombak Toll) on Karak Highway and continue with ECE (East Coast Expressway) to Kuantan exit.
Highway 3 Kuantan exit to Bukit Besi (20+km) - turn left
Highway 14 Bukit Besi turn off to Dungun/Ajil (114km) - turn left
Highway 14 Dungun/Ajil to Ajil/Kuala Berang (42km) - turn right
Highway 14 Ajil to Kuala Terengganu (35km)

By Train
No Train service available to Kuala Terengganu but if passengers travel to north part of Terengganu like Perhentian Island. Keretapi Tanah Melayu train (KTM) service is available from economy class to comfortable sleeping berth from Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru/ Singapore to Tanah Merah, Wakaf Bahru and Tumpat in Kelantan region. Passengers can stop at Tanah Merah station which is the nearest point to Kuala Besut jetty, about 45 minutes by taxi and 90 minutes to Merang jetty.