Turtle Island Park

Turtle Island Park consists of a number of uninhabited islands lying in the Sulu Sea, off the east coast of Sabah. Turtle Island, or Selingan Island, is the largest of these islands and has been developed to house the park's headquarters, a visitors' centre, basic tourist facilities and a turtle hatchery.

The other islands are usually off limits to the casual visitor in order to keep the turtles' natural habitat pristine.

Turtle landings usually occur after dusk. The park has a sensible policy of allowing visitors to see only one landing a night. This allows undisturbed nestings to go on throughout the night. Whilst waiting for the evening's highlight, all that is left to do is to laze on the beach at sunset or snorkel. The west side of the island is ideal for this. It's clean, quiet, and offers some interesting coral and sea life. Wander around the island and you'll be surprised at how many turtles would have landed in the last few days; their tracks, like mini-tractors, remain in the sand for days.

The nearest mainland town to the park is Sandakan. Your tour operator will organise a speedboat pick-up service to and from Turtle Island. It takes about two hours to reach the islands by boat.

How to get there
By Boat
From Sandakan jetty, you can arrange a speedboat to take you to Turtle Island. The journey takes about two hours.

Batu Feringgi

Batu Feringgi, situated along the coastal road north-west of Georgetown and lined with a string of international-standard resorts, is the most popular beach in Penang.

Soak in the sun or unwind on the beach while you enjoy a host of aquatic thrills from wind-surfing to canoeing. For a spine-tingling adventure, try parasailing to enjoy the view of the beach from the sky.

As the sun sets, Batu Feringgi comes alive with a carnival-like atmosphere with an open-air bazaar selling anything from ornate curios to enticing souvenir items. Watch local artisans demonstrate the intricate art of craft-making and batik-painting. Dubbed the Feringgi Walk, the bazaar offers shoppers a host of attractions.

How to get there
By Taxi
Your best option to get to and from Batu Feringgi to Georgetown and back is by taxi. Buses are infrequent and it's just too far and too hot to cycle.

Sipadan Island

The late Jacques Cousteau, the world-renowned oceanographer, described Sipadan Island as ‘an untouched piece of art’, while divers around the world voted it as one of the top five dive sites in the world.

Malaysia’s only oceanic island, it is very small – only 12ha. in size. A 25-minute walk is all that is required to circle the island on foot. As an oceanic island, it rises about 700 metres from the sea floor, attracting diverse marine life from the blackness of the open sea. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, this crown jewel is a treasure trove of some of the most amazing marine animals.

Declared a bird sanctuary in 1933 by the Colonial Government of North Borneo and re-gazetted in 1963 by the Malaysian Government, the dense vegetation on Sipadan Island supports a large variety of tropical birds which include sea eagles, kingfishers, sunbirds, starlings and wood pigeons. Exotic crustaceans including the amazing coconut crab roam the beaches and scurry among the undergrowth.

When diving here, encounters with turtles, resident schools of jacks, bumphead parrotfish and barracudas are almost assured around the tiny coral island.

How to get there
By Air
The jump off point to Sipadan Island is Kota Kinabalu or Tawau.

By Car
Continue the journey by a 1-hour drive to Semporna town.

By Sea
A 30-minute speedboat will take you to Mabul, which is the jump off point for Sipadan Island explorations.

Pulau Tiga Marine Park

Pulau Tiga is the largest of the three islands that make up Pulau Tiga Park. Its beautiful landscape and unspoilt natural environment has attracted CBS TV Network of the USA to use this island as the main location for the popular ‘Survivor’ Programme, dubbing it the ‘Survivor Island’.

This island was formed through the eruption of several mud volcanoes. The last explosion happened in 1941 and since then the volcanoes have remained relatively passive. Several small mud volcanoes spewing cool, mineral-rich mud can still be found near the summit of the island. The notion that this mineral rich mud is good for your skin makes mud-bathing a must-do activity on this island.

The island’s lush green jungle serves as a soothing backdrop, while the fine, white sand beaches and the clear unpolluted water are a wonder for nature lovers. The coral reefs encircling the island are home to many species of fish and other marine life. Among the activities that await you here are diving, non-motorised water sports, trekking, bird watching and mud bathing.

The Park Headquarters is situated on the southern side of the island, not far from Pulau Tiga Resort, the only resort facility available on the island.

How to get there
By Road
From Kota Kinabalu, drive 140km south to Kuala Penyu at the Klias Peninsula, then board a boat to the islands.

By Sea
The islands are 18km away and about 45 minutes by boat. Some tour agents also organise tours and ferry services to the islands.

Pangkor Island

Pangkor, with its charming mix of fishing settlements and resorts, is a fascinating and convenient holiday destination. It presents the visitor with a rare chance to live near fishermen and observe their lifestyle and also to simply enjoy the fine beaches and resort amenities.

The fishermen live in scattered settlements on the eastern side, facing the town of Lumut and Teluk Batik. Visitors get a chance to see some of them on the 40-minute ferry ride from Lumut as the ferry stops at the main settlements of Sungai Pinang Kecil and Sungai Pinang Besar before landing at Pangkor Town.

Pangkor's two popular beach areas of Pasir Bogak and Teluk Nipah offer sun and sea enthusiasts activities like scuba-diving, snorkelling, wind-surfing and fishing. While Pasir Bogak is quite developed, Teluk Nipah still retains its kampung or village atmosphere. Teluk Ketapang or Turtle Bay still receives turtles on their egg-laying pilgrimages. Some of the resorts on the island also have excellent golf courses on their property.

How to get there

By Road
Take the North-South Expressway heading north towards Perak. Exit at the Bidor toll plaza. The rest of the journey will be on trunk roads. Follow signboards stating “Pelabuhan Lumut” or “Lumut Naval Base”. You will then need to follow signboards to “Teluk Intan”, “Setiawan” and “Pulau Pangkor”.

By Sea
Pangkor is a 40-minute ferry ride from Lumut. There are departures every half hour.

By Air
The private carrier Berjaya Air flies 5 times a week from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport just outside Kuala Lumpur to Pangkor.

Cherating Beach

The old Cherating Village has a blend of the modern and traditional. A stretch of road about 1km long runs parallel to the beach, dotted with charming and comfortable chalets, many of which face the beach front. Cherating has the perfect combination of great surf, a wide stretch of white-sandy beach, a wealth of accommodation, dining choices and a classic surfers' nightlife scene. Surfers linger for days and even months in this small enclave to catch the best waves and chill out with fellow surfers, exchanging the day's conquests at one of the chic bistros or bars.

In fact, "Surfers' Haven" has long been the description of old Cherating Village since the 70's. Each year, surfers from around the world return to Cherating to test out the surf and catch up with local acquaintances. Cherating beach is immaculate and breath-taking. So much so that Club Med decided to build its first Asian base right here. And surfers take the opportunity to have local friends take them through some of the most charming rural villages along the coast and soak in the gorgeous scenery along the way How to get there
By Road
Cherating is a 3.5-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur via the scenic route to the east coast. There are buses to Kuantan departing daily from Kuala Lumpur. From Kuantan, there are regular bus and taxi services to Cherating. Alternatively, take a bus from Kuala Lumpur to Dungun or Kemaman in Terengganu, which is north of Pahang, and disembark at Cherating.

By Air
Malaysia Airlines operates daily flights to Kuantan. From the airport, Cherating is just 45 minutes away.

Redang Island

Pulau Redang, located 45km off the coast of Kuala Terengganu, is the largest of a group of nine protected islands dotting the South China Sea off the Terengganu coast. The island offers crystal clear waters and numerous dive sites for enthusiasts. Sheltered within the Pulau Redang Marine Park, the waters here are rich in marine life. At midday when sun rays penetrate the sea, brilliant hues of coral, anemones and fish can be seen.

The waters around Pulau Redang also contain two historic shipwrecks: The H.M.S. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse, which sank here at the start of World War II, setting the stage for the Japanese occupation of Malaya. This paradise island is perfect for snorkelling, swimming, scuba-diving, jungle trekking, boating and canoeing. No fishing is allowed within a 3.2km radius of the island as Pulau Redang is gazetted as a marine park. The collection of corals and other aquatic life is also strictly prohibited. Berjaya Resort offers a golf course in an idyllic setting.

How to get there
By Boat
Begin your island-hopping adventure by catching a boat at any of the jetties in Kuala Terengganu and Merang. Travelling time to Redang is one hour from Kuala Terengganu and 50 minutes from Merang.

Pulau Payar Marine Park

The sprinkling of jade green islands that makes up Pulau Payar lies just 30km south-east of Langkawi. It's just a 1-hour boat ride out to the best marine park on Malaysia's West Coast, making it an ideal choice for a day outing.

This well-preserved, uninhabited marine park extends over a number of islands, with Pulau Payar being the largest. Your base out here is the floating platform moored off Pulau Payar. But the real attraction of this platform lies below sea level. Step into the underwater observation chamber to view the marine life surrounding a reef. Want to get even closer to the swirl of fishes that make these corals their home? Grab a mask, a snorkel and fins and join the spectacle!

Are you into scuba diving? The best diving is along the reef system that skirts the south, east and west of Pulau Payar. Please check with your dive operator what the visibility is like during that time. It can vary from time to time.

There is no accommodation in Pulau Payar as it is a marine park, but that's not really an issue since Langkawi, with all its fine resorts and restaurants, is just a quick boat-ride away.

How to get there
By Sea
Pulau Payar is just 30km south-east of Langkawi Island. You can get there from Kuah Jetty in Langkawi by speed boat or catamaran. The journey takes about 45 minutes.

Bukit Ayer Recreational Forest

Just few kilometres north of the Golf Club and the Snake and Reptile Farm is the Bukit Air Recreational Park. Cool streams meander through rich tropical forest and waterfalls cascade into rocky pools. Well-defined paths allow easy access through the park where the sights and sounds of tropical rainforest await visitors. An excellent location for picnics, the park also provides a camping ground, car parking facilities and all basic amenities.It is an ideal location for nature lovers who enjoy jungle trekking, learning about plants and animals and bathing in waterfalls. Here at the forest, those who prefer to hike can contact the forestry department to follow the trail while those who want to swim can do so at the recreational forest's waterfalls and pools. The forest is also equipped with a camping site and a multi-purpose open area for recreational activities. Hikers should let the department know of their movement for their own safety as the forest is near the Malaysia-Thailand border. The four km trail ends at the Herb Park. The Park has about 700 spesies of herbs including Tongkat Ali, Kacip Fatimah, Misai Kuching, Cekor, Selasih and Halia. The 12ha park that was established in 1998 receives some 200 visitors daily during the school holidays. For those who wish to stay longer at the park, chalets are available at the nearby Putra Bukit Ayer Keroh Resort.

Plan Your Trip - Travel Ideas

Diverse and culturally rich, travel and capture the very essence of Malaysia. From metropolitan Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru to fascinating natural wonders of the world.
Venture to the world's oldest rainforest to marine life of scenic islands of the east coast. Explore the intriguing history of Borneo with its White Rajahs and indulged in its mosaic of indigenous tribes and longhouses, wildlife and mysterious caves. The land has been a magnet for adventurers, travellers and naturalists for a long time.

Malaysia has so much to offer! Stroll along the historic old port town of Melaka, which abounds with the traditional ways of the Malay, Chinese and Nyonya; such settings contrasting with the European influence of the architecturally colonial past. It is also a land of fascinating extremes, where towering skyscrapers look down upon humble longhouses.
Malaysia is home to a bubbling and bustling melting pot of cultures where different people of all races and religions live together in peace and harmony.

Rainforests that have remained unchanged for million of years provide exciting challenge to those seeking hardcore adventure. The unspoilt reefs and azure waters of Sipadan Island evoke all kinds of peacefulness once you delve into its blue yonder. Blessed with natural wonders galore, it is perfect for that ideal holiday breakaway that you have been waiting for. With some of the best beaches and diving spots in the world, Malaysia is a perfect destination to head for your next holiday.

Visit Malaysia 2007

Come 2007, Malaysia will celebrate 50 years of independence. The month of August will be filled with a myriad of parades, cultural performances, street shows and carnivals to commemorate the country's Independence or Merdeka Day on 31st August.
It was on 31st August 1957 when history was made as the Union Jack was lowered and the Malaysian flag hoisted, with the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj leading the people in the famous shouts of Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! (Independence!)
For more than 30 years, Merdeka Day celebrations have been marked by parades involving uniformed personnel, corporate players, school children, cultural dancers, athletes and Malaysians from all walks of life. However, in recent years, the event has grown into a much anticipated and exciting month-long celebration nationwide.
This forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebration marks a significant milestone in the history of the nation. Join the enthusiastic crowd at the Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur on the eve of Merdeka Day for the countdown to this momentous event. Another highlight of the year will be the Citrawarna or Colours and Flavours of Malaysia parade, an annual event showcasing the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the country. This will be the grandest celebration for this event yet.
Malaysia invites all visitors to share in the joy and excitement of this momentous occasion. Come and be mesmerised by a unique multicultural populace celebrating 50 years of nationhood in harmony and peaceful co-existance. You will truly be fascinated