Stretching over 300,000 square kilometers of land to parts of Borneo, Malaysia is one of the go-to vacation spots when traveling to Asia.
The Indonesia-neighboring country is infamous for its hustling and bustling capital city of Kuala Lumpur, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, private-like islands, and of course, its blissful and dreamy beaches!
Immersing you into their enriched culture through the surrounding architectural designs and diversified local flavors.
Greeted by lush vegetation, friendly locals, and perhaps an orangutan or other forms of exotic wildlife, Malaysia is the paradise you’ve been yearning for!
With various activities to fill your daily checklists, such as diving, water sports, hiking, or stealing those half-off deals at the mall, there is not a dull day throughout your stay.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 19 of the best beaches in Malaysia worth the long-hour trips. Without further ado, let’s hop right in!
Blue Lagoon Beach, Port Dickson
The groovy and sandy Blue Lagoon Beach is the perfect place to spend alone time with your loved ones. The beach is located just 17 km from Port Dickson, with around a 30-minute car ride. The perfect Malaysian destination for a family retreat!
As a matter of fact, Blue Lagoon Beach is the preferred spot for the locals, precisely due to its more private placement than that of the most popular beaches.
Rest assured, visiting here (even during peak seasons) should be a breeze, with fewer people visiting the beach during those times.
The beach is filled with immense trees by the shore to serve as your natural umbrella from the scorching heat.
Blue Lagoon’s waters are known to be calm and relatively shallow due to their natural sandbanks, making it perfect for your little kids to swim and play around. The beach is also surrounded by local food stalls to recharge and savor Port Dickson’s cuisine.
Saujana Beach (Pantai Saujana), Port Dickson
Saujana Beach, formerly known as the 4th-mile beach, is another beach located in Port Dickson. It is roughly 95 km from Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, where you can get there by train, bus, or car based on your preference.
Pantai Saujana is about a full one kilometer in length and is a well-sought tourist location. With various water sports to choose from, such as water-skiing, jet-skiing, canoeing, banana boat riding, it makes it the perfect spot for families to enjoy those refreshing thrills!
If you decide to take your kids, the beach does have shallow waters where they can construct some sandcastles or have a splash or two.
This beach is particularly suitable for camping! Saujana Beach has a handful of spaces to set as your camping sites, something you don’t typically find every day.
May it be singing along to some fire camp songs, roasting some marshmallows, or gazing at the star-glittered skies; this should be an experience to put in the books.
Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang
I strongly suggest you visit Penang for at least one day and check out this beach.
Being one of Penang’s most sought-after destinations, Batu Ferringhi stretches along the white, sandy Malaysian beaches of Jalan Batu Ferringhi for its close-to-seaside location outside Georgetown.
One of the easiest ways to get here is by using a taxi service called Grab, a short 20-to-30-minute drive from Georgetown.
The beach itself is a great attraction to locals with its excellent accessibility from the city. It is known for the various water sports activities offered in the area. To top that off, Batu Ferringhi is a great surfing spot for wave-riders.
It is surrounded by laid-back nightlife with cafes featuring some live music to get in tune to, various belly-filling options, as well as a local night market offering exceptionally affordable souvenirs such as the traditional Malay batik.
STAYING OVERNIGHT? Check availability at PARKROYAL Penang Resort»
Activities and things to do:
- The Gravityz- World’s Highest Rope Course Challenge
- Penang George Town All-In-One Heritage Tour By Bicycle & Trishaw (Metro Bike)
- 4-Hour Georgetown Food Tour
Long Beach, Perhentian
Despite the islands’ development over the years, Long Beach is located in the enchanting Perhentian Islands. There are two options to get to the island from most cities (such as Kuala Lumpur).
One way is to get there by bus to Kuala Besut (a ferry will take you to the island). The other way is to fly to Kota Bharu and take an hour cab ride to Kuala Besut.
Long Beach is the perfect place to sunbathe, play some relaxing beats, and enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze with clear and pristine turquoise waters.
The island offers thrilling nightlife, and a series of activities such as jungle trekking and kayaking as just a few of many and a suited-to-budget stays to choose from!
Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu
If you happen to be at Kota Kinabalu, then Tanjung Aru is the beach to be! Tanjung Aru is located 6 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu and you could get there with a 15-minute cab ride or a 20-minute bus ride (whichever suits you, really).
The beach itself stretches a 2-kilometer length, with an area close by the Shangri-La Resort. Tanjung Aru is a popular hotspot for tourists and locals in the area for the beach’s infamous and glorious sunsets, worth the Instagram feed.
Tanjung Aru is perfect for an afternoon dip into its lukewarm waters for a short swim or to read that mystery novel by the shores with a stunning view and the sound of the ocean breeze and crashing waves in the background (just perfect).
The beach is suitable for a large park with small huts and areas for some BBQ and grilled treats after a long day of thrills and bliss.
STAYING OVERNIGHT? Check availability at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Kota Kinabalu»
Kelambu Beach, Kudat
Kelambu Beach or Pantai Kelambu is located in Kudat, 170 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu by car, as there is no public transport available heading to that area.
Though the journey may be long, it wouldn’t matter as long as you have the right company (even if it’s just your vacation playlist).
The beach is what locals call “The Tip of Borne.” In the past, it was a core trading area back in the British colonial days. Today, it’s one of Malaysia’s well-known tourist attractions.
The beach’s gorgeous white sands, crystal-clear waters, and private-getaway feel makes it the perfect paradise to unwind and take a breather from all those deadlines.
Kelambu Beach is the best place to be for some quality time with your loved ones, especially when you can have the whole beach for yourselves due to its secluded location.
We highly recommend staying the night in Kudat and come back in the evening for an epic sunset and even the Milky Way on clear night skies.
UMS ODEC Beach, Kota Kinabalu
In case you were wondering, UMS ODEC stands for Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Outdoor Development Centre.
A beach stretching to the northeast of Lota Kinabalu, located right beside the Aquarium and Marine Museum.
To get there, you will need to travel from Kuala Lumpur by using a train and airplane for a roughly 5-hour journey in total.
The beach rests against the thick and dense tropical jungle and is a popular snap spot for city tourists as they stand near the pier of rocks. With its mesmerizing white sands and serene turquoise oceans, it is indeed a sight to behold.
If you (or your kids) plan to study in UMS, then they are in for a treat with their very own beach! The university’s outdoor development center has a wide variety of activities to offer, such as sunset-watching, horse-riding (if you’re feeling a little gallant), archery, jungle trekking, and even rev up some ATV engines for a tour!
Activities and things to do:
- Borneo Full Day Try Dive (2 Dives) for Beginners
- A Taste of Borneo Cooking Class with Market Visit
Long Sand Beach, Redang
Aka Pantai Pasir Panjang beach is a hidden gem in Redang Island, Malaysia, just 45 km in the north-northeast of Kuala Terengganu. Getting there simply takes an airplane ride with Berjaya Air from either Subang Airport (Kuala Lumpur) or Changi Airport (Singapore).
Its crystal-clear seas, healthily vibrant corals, and powder-white sand are the reasons why this island is one of Malaysia’s favorite spots to travel to.
Due to its popularity, you might want to get an early booking for the available Malaysian beach resorts before your spot gets potentially occupied.
Redang Island is a sanctuary for sea turtles, an endangered species, and other forms of marine life as part of the island’s protection program and policy.
A few famous beaches in the area, including Teluk Dalam Kecil and Teluk Dalam Besar, are a few of the favorite beaches to take that morning stroll while warmed by gentle morning rays of sunshine.
Pantai Pasir Bogak Beach, Pangkor
Pasir Bogak Beach, also known as Pantai Pasir Bogak, is located west of Pangkor Island, just several kilometers from Pangkor Town.
You should be able to get there by rented car in no time or perhaps even walk to the beach. To get to Pangkor Island itself, you will need to go to Lumut Jetty, where a ferry will take you to the island.
Needless to say, the beach is one of the best beaches on Pangkor Island, with its shallow and as clear as day waters. The beach is home to an array of local food stalls, cooking up fresh seafood and local Malay delights worth the try!
Pasir Bogak Beach claims to have the world’s most fabulous swimming pool, but you’ll be the judge of that. The beach also offers various water activities, including jet-skiing, snorkeling, canoeing, and the list goes on.
For an enjoyable stay, try sleeping the night in one of the traditional Malaysian-style huts near the beach!
Pantai Puteri Dewi, Pangkor
Pangkor Island’s private beaches, Puteri Dewi Beach or Pantai Puteri Dewi, are located in Pangkor Island (north-west).
To get to the beach, the fastest way is to travel here by car from Ipoh Airport to Marina Island Jetty, followed by a ferry ride to Pangkor Jetty, and finally, reach your destination by a 10-minute drive.
Pantai Puteri Dewi is translated as Beach of the Lovely Princess, particularly exclusive to the Pangkor Island Beach Resort guests.
However, you can still access the beach for a fee of RM60. The price includes access to the provided sports facilities, so choosing elsewhere to stay will not be an issue.
Cleanliness is highly maintained by the resort’s staff, so don’t worry about environmental hygiene. The beach also offers various water activities and even equipment from the resort for you to rent out and enjoy.
Teluk Segadas Beach, Pangkor
Psst, for anyone looking for a lowkey beach, this is one place in Malaysia you have to go to. Teluk Segadas is a virgin beach, rested in the southwestern part of Pangkor Island.
Not many know about this small beach, and that’s because getting here is only for the chosen few (those who are willing to make an effort). To reach the beach it does require a roughly 20-minute jungle trek through majestic hills.
While there are not many activities here, due to its secluded area, it still makes the perfect place to truly spend some alone time with your friends and family. The beach is powdered with white-golden sands and gentle cyan-colored waves, blanketing the shores.
The beach’s waters are known to be gentle and shallow, making it the perfect spot for swims and a couple of splashes here and there. Teluk Segadas is also known by locals as a campsite; as long as you bring your own essentials, you’re in for a treat!
Kerachut Beach, Penang
The remote beach is located in the vast white sands of Penang National Park in Penang Island. You can either hire a boat from Teluk Bahang or trek a 2-hour hike through the park to access the beach.
Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by green turtles surrounding the area! With these turtles as an endangered species, the beach has established its own turtle hatchery to preserve and take care of the surrounding wildlife.
The beach is known for its hiking trails to explore some of its tropical sceneries in the Canopy Walkway, leading near the hilltop.
This trek requires extra effort and carefulness due to its steep and narrow pathways, so be sure to carry a good pair of hiking shoes with with ankle support and bring your A-game to the test!
Black Sand Beach, Langkawi
If white and golden sands are boring you, then this is the beach to go to. The Black Sand Beach actually has black sand (something you don’t see every day)!
The beach is located on Jalan Teluk Yu road in Langkawi’s northern shores, 20 kilometers from Kuah Town by the local cab or car.
The Black Sand Beach is taled by legends of giant eagles, shipwrecks, geological wonders, and ash from burnt rice paddies. Until this very day, its black sand still remains a mystery to be solved.
Black Sand Beach serves as a great beach to take casual strolls along the shoreline and take a glimpse of. Traditional wooden jetty serving in the fish village close by. Though it doesn’t offer many activities, it’s definitely worth the visit!
Tanjung Rhu Beach, Langkawi
Langkawi is a popular beach vacation in Malaysia, with clean and quiet surroundings. Tanjung Rhu can be accessed from Jalan Tanjung, a road near the Padang Lalab village, by either car or taxi.
The beach charms its visitors with crystal clear waters and soft sands stretching along the coastline.
The beach is blended away from the hustles and bustles of the world that genuinely gives you the time off you need. Unlike the cities, the beach is usually quiet, peaceful, and calming to the soul, with gentle waves crashing occasionally.
With excellent accessibility to well-known accommodations such as the Four Seasons Resort, staying on one of the best shorelines in Langkawi would be one heck of a Malaysian vacation spot to go for!
The beach also offers Malawi’s signature local fish called “Mee Gulung,” adding new punches of flavors for the tongue to savor!
Activities and things to do:
- Private Tanjung Rhu Village and Mangroves by Boat in Langkawi
- Private Day Tour of Langkawi with Cable Car and Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls
Turtle Beach, Perhentian Besar
Conveniently located in the Perhentian Islands, Perhentian Besar, to be exact. To get there, travelers usually fly to Kota Bahru, followed by taking a bus or cab to the port of Kuala Besut.
The local ferry will take you to Perhentian Besar (Tip: make sure you mention Perhentian Besar as your final stop).
Surrounded by stretching acres of sandy beaches and pristine waters, the beach is the place to go to in Malaysia, especially for families! The island also has an accessible neighbor named Perhentian Kecil, which is more suited for solo trippers.
Unfortunately, Turtle Beach rarely has actual turtles due to local tourism, but it still offers much more!
With diving and snorkeling as part of your underwater itineraries, you should have to gaze at the splendors of marine life. Plus, you can even volunteer to preserve the beach’s flora and fauna (to give back to Mother Earth).
The Taaras Beach, Redang
Calling out all luxury travelers, this is a destination to keep on your bucket list! Taaras Beach & Spa Resort is located on Redang Island.
You can take its resort’s private boat transfer or other public ferries available from the mainland to get here. For rates and scheduled departing times, check out the complete informational list!
This place truly defines a heavenly paradise filled with lush greens, exotic wildlife, white powder-like sands, and pristine waters!
The beach’s resort also provides an array of dining options to choose from; whether it be buffets of Asian and International cuisine or savor, some freshly grilled seafood by the beach would be no ordinary meal!
Monkey Bay, Tioman
Placed on the west coast of Tioman Island, the Monkey Bay is a remote-accessed getaway by either a boat from any village in Tioman Island or take a 1-hour hike (if you’re feeling a little venturous) from Salang.
The bay is well known for being one of Malaysia’s famous snorkeling destinations to catch some local fish swimming to and about. It is also complemented by its serene seas and its lively rainforests, making it an experience worth remembering for years to come.
As the name suggests, the island is crawling with exotic monkeys! So, please be mindful of your belongings and follow the local guidelines on how to stay safe from any harm or item losses.
So long as you heed the instructions and take note of the precautions informed by your local guide, you should be able to walk away with a check off your bucket list!
Juara Beach, Tioman
As the name implies, “Juara” as “Champion,” the beach precedes its name as it makes its way to the list of top beaches on the east coast.
Juara Beach is a beautiful beach in Malaysia, located on Pulau Tioman island, and you can access it by getting off the ferry in Tekek, followed by hiring a truck to get you to the island. It does require that extra “oomph” for effort, but definitely worth it!
According to tourists who have immersed themselves in the island with its long-stretching sandy beach and its caressing pristine waves, Juara Beach has earned its name by being referred to as “paradise on Earth,” according to tourists who have immersed themselves in the island.
A great place to stay near the beach is the Juara Beach Resort Malaysia, which also offers countless recreational activities such as watersports, snorkeling, and canoe riding, for you and your loved one(s) to spend the day in the Tioman Island beach.
Pantai Cenang Beach, Langkawi
A popular destination due to its jaw-dropping and picturesque views. Pantai Cenang is located in Langkawi, an archipelago of 99 Malaysian islands in the Strait of Malacca.
The beach is only a 10-minute drive from Langkawi Airport (how convenient!) using the local cab or car rentals available.
Pantai Cenang, or Cenang Beach, is known for its white and cotton-soft sands (almost feels like you’re walking on clouds) and its sensational sunsets worth the Instagram feed!
The beach offers a lively nightlife with tax-free beers available at the local beachfront bars, various dining options including cafes and restaurants nearby, and, best of all, safe and calm waters to cool off the summer heat.
The beach also offers excellent accessibility for families looking for mini field trip destinations such as Underwater World Langkawi to have their little loved ones jumping for joy for some marine-life action or the Kiki Club at Pelangi Resort & Spa for a staycation from all the traveling.
STAYING OVERNIGHT? Check availability at Casa del Mar Langkawi»
Activities and things to do:
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- Langkawi Underwater World Admission Ticket
- From Pantai Cenang: 4-Hour, 3 Island Jet Ski Tour Langkawi
It doesn’t matter if you’re fleeing from the winter or simply looking for a tropical getaway for some quality time alone or with your loved ones. Malaysia has all kinds of beaches to choose from!
With each beach or island filled with activities to keep your itineraries fully packed with hiking treks, adrenaline-pumping watersports, or even a calming and tranquil staycation by the white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Malaysia’s beaches are top contenders in the list of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful beaches to date.
Whether you choose to travel solo, as a dynamic duo, or as a harmonic family, Malaysia’s beaches will have you in for a treat of a lifetime. Filling you with memories in some of their luxury stays and jaw-dropping natural landscapes to forever keep in your hearts.
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Long Story Short,
Best Beaches in Malaysia
- Blue Lagoon Beach, Port Dickson
- Saujana Beach (Pantai Saujana), Port Dickson
- Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang
- Long Beach, Perhentian
- Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu
- Kelambu Beach, Kudat
- UMS ODEC Beach, Kota Kinabalu
- Long Beach, Redang
- Pantai Pasir Bogak Beach, Pangkor
- Pantai Puteri Dewi, Pangkor
- Teluk Segadas Beach, Pangkor
- Kerachut Beach, Penang
- Black Sand Beach, Langkawi
- Tanjung Rhu Beach, Langkawi
- Turtle Beach, Perhentian Besar
- The Taaras Beach, Redang
- Monkey Bay, Tioman
- Juara Beach, Tioman
- Pantai Cenang Beach, Langkawi
