Best beaches in Malaysia

Serving a heady blend of futuristic skyscrapers, ancient rainforests and UNESCO-listed heritage towns, Malaysia has plenty to satisfy every type of traveler, with a bounty of beautiful beaches also offering a diversity of landscapes and vibes — from secluded bays serving divine views of karst islands, to vibrant party hotspots. To help you decide which to include in your own Malaysia itinerary, here we share detail on some of the best beaches in Malaysia.

When is the best time to visit the beach?

If you’re planning to spend a lot of time on the best beaches in Malaysia, it’s important to wise up on the country’s seasonal and regional weather patterns, noting that the best time to visit Malaysia for beaches (or anything else, for that matter) depends on where in the country you plan to stay.

Malaysia has two main monsoon systems. First, there’s the November to February northeast monsoon, which brings heavy rain to the East Coast (which includes Perhentian, Redang and Tioman) and sees many resorts close.

At the same time of year, the West Coast (e.g. Langkawi and Penang) is dry and ideal for beach travel.

Meanwhile, the May to September southwest monsoon brings light rain to the West Coast, while the East Coast enjoys sunny weather and calm seas.

In summary, visit the east from March to October, the west from December to April, with Borneo (e.g. Sabah and Sarawak) being best from May to September. 

How to choose the best beach

Visiting beaches is for sure among the best things to do in Malaysia, but even the best beaches offer very different kinds of experiences. 

Though they’re pretty much all very, very pretty, you’ll want to pick your place in paradise based on your travel style, and the needs and interests of the folks you’re traveling with. 

As a result, the following run-down of the best beaches in Malaysia has been designed to direct you to exactly what you’re looking for. For example, those traveling will kids will most likely want access to more facilities, a fuller range of food to pleace picky eaters, and calm waters.

Meanwhile, many of us are likely to be keen to get off the tourist trail in Malaysia, which means you’ll want to choose more secluded beaches and coves.

Conversely, if you’re looking for a livelier vacation, here we also share tips on the best Malaysian party beaches, plus a few that are perfect for divers.

Want to cover a lot of ground during your trip? You’ll want to wise up on getting around Malaysia.

Beach 1: Long Beach – Perhentian Kecil, Terengganu
 

Best for: backpackers, snorkeling and night-life

Located on the smaller of the two Perhentian Islands, and accessed via 45-minute boat ride from Kuala Besut, Long Beach is a favorite among budget-conscious beach lovers.

Visiting these islands is among the best things to do on first-time visits to Southeast Asia, and Long Beach stands out as being among the very best beach around these parts. Think powdery white sand and warm turquoise waters backed by lush jungle. 

Come the day, you can snorkel right off the beach ahead of enjoying the lively after-dark nightlife. That said, despite its social vibe, Long Beach has just about retained its laidback barefoot atmosphere.

As for when to visit, March to October is best here — most places will be closed during the November-February monsoon.

Beach 2: Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi, Kedah

Best for: couples seeking secluded luxury

Located in the north of the island, Tanjung Rhu is one of Langkawi’s most beautiful and quietest beaches. A place of peaceful sands, gentle seas, with sweeping views of karst islands adding to the idyllic vibe.

Best visited from December to April, the atmosphere here is upscale and serene, which makes it one of the best beaches in Malaysia for honeymooners and luxury travelers.

When you feel the need to peel yourself from your sunlounger, take a mangrove river tour to the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park.

Interest aroused? Find out why Langkawi is Malaysia's ultimate island escape.

Beach 3: Turtle Beach, Tanjung Datu National Park, Sarawak, Borneo

Best for: wildlife-lovers and eco-minded travelers

Part of Sarawak’s Tanjung Datu National Park (Borneo), Turtle Beach is raw and remote, with no tourist infrastructure.

Visiting this gem means you’ll be in turtle-nesting territory — it’s an important protected conservation area for green turtles and olive ridley turtles.

While turtles come ashore to lay eggs throughout the year, the peak nesting season runs from April to September. So, book to stay in a basic forest lodge during these months to spend your days on jungle hikes and your nights spotting turtles and gazing at stars. 

Like the sound of Sarawak’s remote magic? Discover other places to get off the tourist trail in Malaysia.

Or, if turtles and wildlife are on your mind, discover the best Borneo tours for wildlife and nature.

Beach 4: Coral Beach, Pangkor Island, Perak

Best for: budget beach escapes blended with culture

Another popular destination for families and budget travelers, Coral Beach, on Pangkor Island off the West Coast, is a lovely crescent-shaped beach with calm, clear waters and a fair few budget guesthouses to choose from.

Beyond the beautiful beach — where you can snorkel just offshore and take a boat to coral gardens — Pangkor Island still has a pretty authentic feel. 

It’s a place where you can soak up local fishing life and visit old Dutch forts and Buddhist temples alongside enjoying said beach, and spotting hornbills at dusk.

Beach 5: Pantai Cenang, Langkawi, Kedah

Best for: families, fun activities and food 

Cenang is Langkawi’s main tourist beach — a vibrant strip full of resorts, shops, restaurants and water-sports operators.

As such, it’s certainly not peaceful, but vibe is fun and family-friendly, with safe shallow waters and a wide swathe of sand for fun games in the sun. 

Another boon for families is Cenang’s proximity to child-pleasing attractions like Underwater World, and its big range of restaurants, including plenty of places that’ll please picky little eaters who won’t touch anything but the most familiar food!

Beach 6: Redang Island, Terengganu

Best for: divers and honeymooners

Redang boasts some of the best beaches in Malaysia, with Pasir Panjang (Long Beach) especially esteemed for its pretty-much perfect sand and crystal-clear water. 

As the island is part of a protected marine park, the coral here is healthy and teems with turtles and reef fish. For non-divers, snorkeling is also easy and rewarding, thanks to reefs located right offshore.

As for what kind of Malaysia accommodation to expect around these parts, a clutch of luxury resorts cater to couples seeking upscale romance, with basic chalets on hand for budget travelers.

Beach 7: Juara Beach, Tioman Island, Pahang

Best for: quiet stays and blending beach with jungle

Bigger and more mountainous than other islands, Tioman in the south of the Malay peninsula invites immersion in local culture and rewarding slow travel experiences, not least around Juara beach. 

A tranquil place of golden sand, and very swimmable sea, it’s lined by guesthouses and nature lodges, and surrounded by wildlife-rich jungle 

Back by the beach, Juara is home to a turtle conservation project, where travelers can volunteer or learn about conservation. 

Beach 8: Batu Ferringhi, Penang Island

Best for: food lovers and night markets

If you’re looking for a handy, lively beach close to a town (in this case, George Town), Penang Island’s Batu Ferringhi might just have your name all over it. 

While it’s certainly not the most untouched option (typical of close-to-town beaches), it boasts plenty of fun family-friendly resorts, excellent sunsets, and stacks of entertainment options, including banana boat rides and parasailing.

But the real draw here might just be the food, thanks to George Town being something of a street food hub, and Batu Ferringhi’s night market.

Love eating local? Read up on the best street food in Kuala Lumpur ahead of your trip to Malaysia.