Malaysia, a gem in Southeast Asia, is renowned for its landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and, most notably, its beaches. From the crystal-clear waters of the South China Sea to the lush tropical surroundings, Malaysia’s beaches offer something for every type of traveller.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet escape, adventurous water sports, or lively beach parties, Malaysia has it all. In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the best beaches in Malaysia, highlighting the unique features and beauty of each destination.
Get ready to explore the sun-kissed sands and crystal-clear waters that make Malaysia a top choice for beach lovers worldwide.
Pantai Cenang Beach
Pantai Cenang Beach, located on the west coast of Langkawi, is one of the most popular and must-visit beaches in Malaysia.
The clear water makes it a perfect spot for swimming, and you can also try various water sports. Additionally, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, duty-free shops, and clubs to enjoy.
When you visit Pantai Cenang, be sure to check out these bars:
- Ah Chong Beach Bar Cafe
- Cinnamons Bar
- Brain’s Bar
- Mali Mali Beach Bar
- Yellow Beach Cafe
Don’t miss the sunset and watch the famous fire shows every evening in Pantai Cenang Beach.
Must-Do Activities: Jet Ski, Parasailing, Kayaking and Banana boat ride, Paddleboarding, snorkelling.
Stay Options Near Pantai Cenang Beach
When visiting Pantai Cenang, consider staying at Resorts World Langkawi, Melati Tanjong Beach Resort, or Attitude Resort Langkawi for a comfortable and memorable experience.
Batu Ferringhi Beach
Among all the beaches in Malaysia, Batu Ferringhi is the most developed for tourists. It is filled with water sports, five-star resorts, and the famous Batu Ferringhi Night Market.
On this beach, you can enjoy sunset views, relax, and participate in various activities both day and night. Batu Ferringhi has many shopping markets and offers a variety of local Malaysian food to try. These attractions are lined up along a 1 km-long road.
Must-Do Activities: Banana boat, Jet skiing, Windsurfing, Parasailing, Boat ride, and Horse riding.
Stay Options Near Batu Ferringhi Beach
For a great stay, consider these options. Bayview Beach Resort offers luxury and beautiful views. Shangri-La Hotel is known for excellent service and elegant surroundings. Grand Star Hotel provides comfort and convenience, ensuring a pleasant stay.
Note: Swimming isn’t a good idea because Penang and the nearby islands are filled with Jellyfish.
Tanjung Rhu Beach
Tanjung Rhu Beach is a fantastic spot for families and kids. It has soft, white sand and calm waves and is surrounded by Casuarina trees lining the shore, making it perfect for picnics and leisurely walks.
You can enjoy various activities here, such as beach volleyball, sandcastle building, and boat rides.
Thinking of food? Since it is a picnic spot, how could it be possible without food stalls? Indulge in the local cuisine at the beachfront restaurants and enjoy the view while dining here.
Hop on a boat tour around the Kilim Geoforest to see mangroves, hidden coves, monkeys, eagles, hornbills, and monitor lizards.
Must-Do Activities: Swimming, Snorkelling, Jet skiing, Parasailing, Banana boat, ATV riding and Kayaking.
Stay Options Near Tanjung Rhu Beach
For a perfect getaway at Tanjung Rhu Beach, consider staying at Tanjung Rhu Resort, Four Seasons Resort, or Sunset Bay Cottage. These accommodations offer comfort and luxury, making your trip truly unforgettable.
Redang Long Beach
This Long beach has a clear blue sea, white sand, and beautiful panoramic resorts. It is located on the East side of Redang Island.
It may take around 10 minutes to travel from Kg Redang Jetty to Long Beach. Whether you come from Merang Jetty, Shahbandar Jetty, or Kg Redang Jetty, you will reach Laguna Jetty.
During the journey, you will be able to see other small islands, such as Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Kerengga, and Sandbank.
The view will inspire you to snorkel. The perfect snorkelling spots on Long Beach are at the northern and southern ends.
- At the North end (Tanjung Tengah), you will spot many blacktip reef sharks roaming. This spot is V-shaped, where the beach meets in the centre. Here, you can see many moray eels, turtles and colourful reef fish and corals.
- On the southern end (Tanjung Mak Cantik), located near the Redang Reef resort, you will see titan triggerfish, turtles, squid, porcupine fish, clams, stingrays and more.
There are many beach activities, such as beach volleyball on any of the four courts or beach soccer on the shoreline.
You won’t get bored, there are many things to do. Enjoy the nightlife at the discos, grab drinks at bars, karaoke, shops, food stalls and more.
Must-Do Activities: Snorkelling, Boat ride, Swimming
Stay Options Near Redang Long Beach
For an unforgettable stay at Redang Long Beach, choose from Redang Lagoon Resort, Redang Reef Resort, or Redang Holiday Beach Resort. These top-notch accommodations promise comfort and convenience. Pack your bags and enjoy the stunning beauty of Redang!
Juara Beach, Tiomah
This beach is the best spot for surfing. The ferries do not land at Juara beach. To get there, you need a 4WD vehicle to drive on a paved road that goes through the centre of Tioman’s mountains.
You’ll encounter sea turtles, particularly in the areas where they nest. Check out the turtle project to assist in protecting the eggs from predators and watch them hatch. You might also witness some blacktip sharks if you’re lucky.
Must-Do Activities: Paddle boarding, Kayaking, Snorkeling, Windsurfing, Board surfing, Hiking, Swimming.
Stay Options Near Juara Beach
For a memorable stay at Juara Beach in Tioman, choose from Juara Mutiara Resort, The Barat Tioman Beach Resort, or Juara Beach Resort. These excellent accommodations offer the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. Pack your bags and enjoy the serene beauty of Juara Beach!
Long Beach, Perhentian Kecil
The Perhentian islands have a number of beautiful beaches, but none is quite as good as Long beach, while the water is shallow for a period, making it an ideal place for swimming.
While snorkelling, you will spot turtles, sharks, sting rays, clownfish and colourful, lively corals. You can take a hiking trail from Long Beach to Windmill Point.
There are many food stalls selling drinks at reasonable prices. You will be able to see the fire show at Long Beach.
Must Do Activities: Snorkelling, Scuba diving, Banana boat, Boat tours, Kayaking, Swimming
Stay Options Near Long Beach
Experience the best of Long Beach by staying at Shari-la Island Resort, Harrera Perhentian, or Alunan Resort All Inclusive. These top accommodations offer unparalleled comfort and convenience.
Coral Beach, Pangkor
This beach is renowned for its soft, white sand and clear turquoise sea, with giant rocks and green landscapes. From this beach, you can see Coral Island, and you can even wade across during low tide.
Food and drinks are available on the beach. Nipah Deli is a popular restaurant on Coral Beach, where you must try their special barracuda paired with seafood fried rice.
Must-Do Activities: Kayaking, Banana boat, Jet ski, Canoeing, Boat trips.
Where To Stay in Coral Beach:
For a delightful stay at Coral Beach, consider AVI Pangkor Beach Resort, Pangkor Waterfall Beach Resort, or Purnama Beach Resort. These accommodations offer a perfect blend of comfort and seaside charm.
Tanjung Aru Beach
With its soft, sandy shore and cool, soothing breeze, Tanjung Aru Beach offers an amazing sunset view.
Tanjung Aru has a popular hawker food centre and other eateries, where everyone happily enjoys the fresh and affordable local seafood.
Must-Do Activities: Jet skiing, Parasailing, Paragliding, Banana Boat, Paddle boarding and snorkelling.
Stay Options Near Tanjung Aru Beach
Enjoy a luxurious stay at Tanjung Aru Beach by choosing Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Golden Hotel, or The Pacific Sutera Hotel. These excellent accommodations offer unmatched comfort and stunning seaside views.
Pantai Tengah Beach
This beautiful beach features white sand on the western coastline of Langkawi. You can sit and relax in the ocean breeze. It is a 20 to 30-minute walk from Pantai Cenang Beach, separated by a small rock cliff.
You will find beachfront hotels and many boutique hotels and guesthouses that provide rooms at prices suitable for budget travellers. This beach is home to many restaurants and cafes offering both local and international cuisines.
Check out these bars when you are in Pantai Tengah:
- Sunba Retro Bar
- Tropical Beach Bar
- Hidden Langkawi
- Dash Beach Club
- Red Sky Restaurant & Bar
This beach offers island-hopping tours, romantic sunset dinner cruises and boat tours through the Mangrove forest.
Must-Do Activities: Jet Ski, Parasailing, Banana Boat, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Parasailing.
Note: There are a lot of jellyfish on this beach, so be aware while swimming.
Monkey Beach
On Monkey Beach, you can sit and relax, surrounded by a forest. You can get there by hiking or taking a boat ride from Penang National Park. You’ll also find some cafes.
You may witness crab-eating macaques, large monitor lizards, snakes, and more. Remember not to chase, feed, or touch the animals. You’ll see plenty of monkeys, so keep your belongings safe.
Must-Do Activities: Hiking, Kayaking
Kerachut Beach
To reach Kerachut Beach, you need to start your hike from Penang National Park. You will pass small bridges, stairs, and narrow paths. The hike typically lasts approximately 2 hours.
Alternatively, you can rent a boat from the Penang National Park entrance. It costs around RM 100 for a one-way trip and can carry up to 10 people.
Once you reach the beach, you will see the Penang Turtle Sanctuary, where you can observe turtles in the tank. If you’re lucky, you may also spot jellyfish.
Must-Do Activities: Hiking.
Morib Beach
Known for its seagull sculpture and a pavement compass that points to various countries, Morib Beach offers a unique historical charm. In 1945, it was one of the first places where the British Indian Army landed on the west coast during World War II.
It’s a family-friendly spot with well-maintained walking paths in the garden. It’s a good place for recreation and picnics. Restaurants and cafes are nearby, offering local street food and fresh coconut juice.
New Morib Beach is popular among campers. The flat terrain allows you to walk nearly a kilometre before reaching the sea, especially when the tide is low. You can spot many hermit crabs crawling around.
As you walk further into the sea, you can see your reflection in the shallow water, making it a perfect spot for photography.
Must-Do Activities: Beach football, Kite flying and golf.
Kelanang Beach
With few activities, this small beach offers a quiet escape from the busy cities. You can expect some local dishes at reasonable prices. During low tide, people pick shellfish from the sandy beach area.
Must-Do Activities: Camping, Picnic.
Desaru Beach
A fantastic spot for relaxation and fun, this beach features stalls where you can buy shirts, toys, snacks, and more.
You can engage in numerous activities here, such as camping, beach volleyball, ATV track riding, flying kites, and barbecuing. For the barbecue, you need to bring the necessary equipment and ingredients and ensure you clean up the area after your meal.
Must-Do Activities: Kayaking, fishing, Picnicking, Jet skiing, Wakeboarding, Paddleboarding, Surfing and Banana boat.
Teluk Cempedak
In Kuantan, Teluk Cempedak is a famous family-friendly beach. However, be aware that there are many monkeys roaming the beach.
Don’t miss out on the small market where you can buy souvenirs, crafts, boutique items, and food. You will also find international food chains like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and KFC here.
Must-Do Activities: Banana Boat, Parasailing, Jetski, Flying kites, Picnic.
Port Dickson Beach
An amazing destination for a beach vacation near Kuala Lumpur, Port Dickson is the best choice for water sports activities. You have the option to play beach volleyball and beach football. Additionally, you may camp or cook here and enjoy relaxing with your family.
Must-Do Activities: Sailing, Canoeing, Surfing and Water Skiing.
Damai Beach
This small beach is a great spot to relax and enjoy the breeze. You will find some souvenir shops selling drinks, food courts offering halal options, and restaurants with bars serving a fantastic choice of local and Western dishes. Additionally, you can enjoy bucket beer at wallet-friendly prices.
Must-Do Activities: Swimming, Kayaking and Jet Skiing.
Conclusion:
I guess you have enough information on these beautiful beaches. Now it’s time to hear from you: Did you find your favourite beach?
From the lively coastlines of Pantai Cenang to the peaceful atmosphere of Tanjung Rhu, each beach offers a unique experience for visitors. Overall, Malaysian beaches are a must-visit.
So, start planning your beach getaway now and dive into the beauty that Malaysia has to offer!
FAQ’s
Where are the best beach resorts in Malaysia?
The best beach resorts in Malaysia are Langkawi, Redang, Johor and Penang.
Which Island in Malaysia has the best beaches?
The Perhentian islands have the most beautiful beaches, Turtle Sanctuary Beach, Long Beach and Coral Bay.
What are the unexplored tourist places (not crowded) in Malaysia?
Malaysia has several lesser-known, uncrowded places, such as Perhentian Island, Tioman Island, Sarawak’s Iban Longhouses, and Taman Negara National Park.
What are the best romantic beaches in Malaysia?
The best romantic beaches in Malaysia for couples are Batu Ferringhi, Sipadan Island, Tioman Island, Langkawi and Pantai Cenang.
Which are the best beaches in Malaysia for water sports?
The best beaches in Malaysia for water sports are Pantai Cenang, Desaru Beach, Pantai Tengah Beach and Long Beach.
Which Malaysian beach is best for snorkelling?
Redang Long Beach, Long Beach Perhentian Island, and Tanjung Rhu Beach are the best Malaysian beaches for snorkelling.
Are there budget-friendly accommodations on Malaysian beaches?
Yes, the budget-friendly accommodations on Malaysian beaches are Pantai Cenang, Tanjung Rhu Beach and Batu Ferringhi.
Is it safe to travel to Malaysian beaches?
Yes, it’s safe to travel to Malaysian beaches. However, it’s important to stay aware of weather conditions and follow safety guidelines, especially on water sports activities and wildlife.