Top 10 Things To Do In Redang Island [2024]

Booked a trip to Redang Island? Or thinking about heading to Redang Island and wondering what to do in Redang Island, Malaysia?

Awesome! I have you covered.

In this article, I have all the best things to do in Redang Island so you can plan your trip or work out if Redang is the right holiday location for you.

Redang Island (otherwise known as Pulau Redang) is a small island located off the east coast state of Terengganu in Malaysia. It’s known for its beautiful scenery and fabulous underwater environment. It is stunningly beautiful with white sand beaches, lush jungle and a protected marine environment.

In fact, it is so beautiful that my first view of the beach at Long Beach (Pasir Panjang) literally took my breath away. The sand was so white and the water so many shades of blue.

It’s also somewhat a resort island, and there are some great accommodation choices here. You won’t struggle to find somewhere to stay and eat. It has far superior resort options compared to Tioman or Perhentian Islands.

However, it is more a chill-and-relax place, and there are not tons of places to visit in Redang Island or must do Redang attractions. Instead, you can feel free to take it as active or inactive as you like with a great choice of water activities and trekking that you can do as you wish.

Below, I walk you through the top 10 things to do in Redang which includes all the best activities at Redang Island before helping you work out where to stay on Redang, how to get there, and how to get around.  I also include a Redang Island attractions map so you can get a feel for where everything is on the island.

I talk about the best time to visit (and when not to visit) and what it’s like visiting with kids.

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Top 10 Things To Do In Redang Island, Malaysia [2024]

In no particular order, here are the best Redang Island activities.

Go Scuba Diving

When it comes to finding out Redang Island what to do, there is a clear top choice. Scuba diving is one of the best activities at Pulau Redang. Thanks to Redang Island being located within a protected marine park, there is some great underwater action here. With over 20 dive sites – you’ll never be short on Pulau Redang activities!

Redang Island is part of the “coral triangle” between the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia which has the greatest marine diversity in the world – and you can see 80% of these species in the waters around this island.

If you’ve never dived before but would love to learn how, one of the activities in Pulau Redang, Malaysia I recommend is to do your diving certification.  Otherwise, you can go out for dives if you are already certified or do a “discovery dive” if you are a beginner.

You can book diving tours through most resorts.

Try Snorkelling

If you are not a diver, don’t worry as the next top Redang what to do activity is snorkelling.  For the non divers, snorkelling is one of the top things to do in Pulau Redang, as you can still have amazing experiences without diving down deep.

As stated above, the waters around Redang have amazing biodiversity. You can see a lot. It’s easy to hop on a boat tour to some great snorkelling sites, or you can snorkel off the beach for some great views in some locations. Many resorts rent out snorkelling equipment.

For snorkelling activities in Redang Island which you can access without a boat, try the water in front of Redang Kalong Resort at Teluk Kalong for baby blacktip sharks. Another option is Teluk Dalam in front of Taaras resort where there are coral reefs to the sides of the bay.

Another spot where you can snorkel right off the beach is Tanjung Mak Cantik in Pantai Pasir Panjang. There is also Tanjung Tengah, but as it’s one of the busiest, unfortunately, it has suffered quite a lot of damage.

I do highly recommend you add snorkelling or diving at least once to your list of what to do in Pulau Redang, Malaysia.

Visit The Redang Marine Park Centre

The Marine Park Centre is the most popular place for snorkelling around Redang Island. Located in Pulau Pinang, you will need a boat to get here.

The area around the jetty is where you want to be. At 3 to 6 metres deep, there are corals and a huge variety of marine life. You can see giant grouper, moray eel, octopuses, turtles and lots of other fish.

Unfortunately, the corals are dying so I wouldn’t go specifically to see this. However, it is the best place in Pulau Redang to see fish, as it has the largest concentration of fish in a single location since many people feed the fish. So if you want to see marine life, this can be a great addition to your Redang Island things to do list.

Many tours stop here and, in peak season, it can be crowded. Also be sure you take your receipt for the Marine Park Conservation fee you paid before boarding a ferry otherwise you will be asked to pay again.

I’d snorkel elsewhere if you can.

Eat The Local Food

While many people book package tours to visit Redang Island which include meals, it is worth venturing outside your resort to try more of the local food. You can find some fabulous Malay food choices in particular.

If you are staying in or near to the Laguna Redang Island Resort, the food court here is a great place to start with good prices (relative to island prices).

Fish head curry is a popular local dish and eating one should definitely be one of the essential activities to do in Redang Island 🙂

Enjoy The Sunrise And Sunset At The Beach

Redang Island is beautiful at any time of day, but it’s at its most spectacular at sunrise and sunset.

There is nothing better to do in this list of Redang Island attractions than sitting on the beach or on a headland and watching the sunset after a fun day. The best part is that this is easy to do – just head to your closest coastal point outside!

Make sure you take a second to take a deep breath, take it all in and appreciate where you are.  Without a doubt, one of the best Pulau Redang things to do.

Try Other Beach Activities

There are many other beach activities when you are wondering what can we do in Redang Island. If you walk around the beach areas near your resort, you may find volleyball nets and kayaks to rent.

Kayaking, in particular, is a fun thing to do in Redang. Take a kayak out and you won’t have to paddle far to hit your own private spot.

Have A Close Encounter With A Turtle

It’s not hard to find turtles in the waters around Redang, so if you are a turtle lover, this may be your #1 Pulau Redang tourist attraction.

In addition to being able to snorkel and dive with turtles, another one of the Redang things to do is to visit the SEATRU Turtle Lab at the Taaras Resort. This centre is staffed by marine biologists and aims to educate guests while it helps the sea turtles around Redang.  Here, you can learn about sea turtles from their life cycle to identifying species, measuring them and learning about their predators.

During the hatching season from April to October, it’s possible to watch baby turtles being released into the sea. This happens at Taaras as well as Laguna Redang.

There are also boat tours specifically to see turtles. These start at RM40.

Explore Redang Island By Trekking

It’s not just the water and beach that are places to visit in Pulau Redang – it’s also worth exploring the interior of the island by hiking.

While hiking Redang Island, you’ll see a range of flora and fauna, and you get to see more of the island. There also aren’t many roads on the island, so hiking in Redang is also a great way to get around. It’s a win from every angle!

A few popular Redang hiking options are:

• The road between Kampung Jetty and the Taaras Resort. Basically, you are heading from the main jetty at the south of the island to the beach in the north. It’s about 3 kilometres long and takes you through the airstrip and village.  It’s an easier trek and you are likely to see farm animals as well as monitor lizards.
• The road between the back of Coral Redang and Redang Bay Resorts on Long Beach to Teluk Dalam (where Taaras is located). It passes through forest, mangroves and has uphill and downhill sections. It’s about 2 kilometres long and you should wear good shoes.
• An easy short walk of only about 800 metres is from the end of Long Beach near the Laguna Redang Resort to Teluk Kalong’s north beach (picture above).

Enjoy The Night Life At The Island

When it comes to what to do in Redang at night, the answer is not much! This is not a party island.

However, many bars and restaurants are open late and the Laguna Redang has a disco and karaoke lounges open until midnight. They also often have live bands.

Relax And Be Pampered At The Spa

If you need some pampering and wondering what to do at Redang Island, then head to one of the resorts for luxury spa experiences. This is the perfect activity in Redang Island to unwind – particularly after a day of snorkelling or hiking.  Don’t forget this one when you are thinking about what to do at Pulau Redang.

There is a range of treatments on offer from massages to manicures to facials. Particularly recommended are the spas at the Taaras and Laguna Redang.

BONUS: 11th Thing To Do On Redang Island

When you visit Pulau Redang, of course, you can also just relax at the beach. The beaches are so nice here, I’m sure you won’t want to miss this activity on your vacation in Redang Island!

Best Resorts In Redang Island

When working out where to stay in Redang, you need to consider where you want to be. Most of the things to do at Pulau Redang above can be done from anywhere so location is not important from a Pulau Redang attraction standpoint.

However, if you like to be in an area where there will be more people and resort and restaurant options, then the Redang Island Long Beach (or Pasir Panjang) is a good place to head.

If you would prefer to be somewhere less busy, then the Taaras Resort at the northern end of the island is the place to be.

For a full guide to where to stay in Redang Island, click here for our best resorts guide.

Laguna Redang Island Resort

The Laguna Redang Island Resort is my personal pick of the accommodation on Redang Island thanks to great facilities and a beautiful location that is still central.

It’s a big resort and there are heaps of Laguna Redang activities with every facility you could wish for including a great pool, day spa, dive centre, gift shop and a recreation centre where you can hire equipment or play a game of pool. It also has a range of eating options, including a handy food court with good prices and good variety. Even their buffets are delicious.

It’s located at the southern end of the main beach area, Long Beach. This means you can easily visit other restaurants and attractions nearby. Being at the end makes it a bit less busy too.

The location is gorgeous and it’s very easy to get here with the resort operating its own ferry twice a day. We love the sea view rooms!

Click here for more information or read my full review here.

Taaras Beach & Spa Resort 

The Taaras is the most luxury resort on the island and is tucked away on its own private (and beautiful) beach. It’s less busy thanks to there being fewer resorts around here.

There is a huge range of room types including the ultimate treat with a 5-bedroom villa located on a clifftop with stunning views, its own infinity pool, elevator and butler. It’s my dream to stay in this villa one day!

There are many facilities and eating options here, including a pool, karaoke room and a top rated day spa. I especially love the turtle program described above. There is also a supervised playroom for kids.

Click here for more information.

Map Of Top Resorts And Activities At Redang Island

To help you get a feel for the island and where the resorts and things to do are, here is a handy Redang Island map.

How To Get To Redang Island

Getting to Redang Island, Malaysia generally involves two parts to your journey – travelling to either Shahbandar Jetty in Kuala Terengganu or Merang Jetty about 30 kilometres north of Merang and then taking a ferry across to the island.

If your resort does not have its own ferry, your best bet is to travel to Merang where you can take a ferry across to the Village Jetty at the southern end of Redang. From here, you may need to take another boat to your resort if you are staying on Long Beach or a taxi.

Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.

Even if your resort has its own ferry, it may be cost effective to take the ferry linked to above. This also runs more often so it might be more convenient for you. If you are on a resort ferry, make sure you are clear on exactly where it leaves from as this can vary.

Whichever way you go, you will need to pay the Pulau Redang Marine Park Conservation fee before boarding your boat. This is currently RM5 for Malaysian adults and RM2 for kids or RM30 for adult foreigners, RM15 for kids.

Getting to Kuala Terengganu is possible by flying from Kuala Lumpur or bus from many parts of Malaysia. You can also take a private taxi which makes it ultra easy.

Click here for more information and prices for taking a taxi.

It’s also possible to fly to Redang Island from Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur on Berjaya Air. This can be expensive, but will save you a lot of time.

Click here to find latest flight prices.

We also have full guides for you to exactly how to get to Redang from:

• Kuala Terengganu
• Kuala Lumpur
• Singapore
• Everywhere else!

Following the step-by-step instructions in these guides is the easiest way to get to Redang.

How To Get Around Redang Island

There are not many roads on Redang Island which makes the easiest way to get around by boat. To stay on land, you generally need to hike although there are a few roads, particularly from the main village to the Taaras where you can hire someone to drive you.

Best Time To Visit Redang Island

The best time to visit Redang Island is from late March to October. The monsoon season is from November to March and most of the resorts and facilities for tourists are shut during this time.

It can be hard to even get to Pulau Redang, Malaysia during the monsoon as turbulent waters mean a lack of boats and the normal ferries don’t run. It’s also not a great time for Redang activity such as snorkelling or diving because of this and it’s best to keep away until the monsoon is over.

The best times to visit can be March after the monsoon is over and things are just opening, and October, before the monsoon starts. Tourist numbers are lower at this time, but you do run the risk of the monsoon finishing late or starting early and the water does tend to be rougher at this time.

The busiest months on Redang are from May to August, especially during school holidays in June.

Read our full guide to when to visit Redang here.

Redang Island With Kids

I took my 7 year old with me to Redang on my last visit and we had a great time!

Redang Island is the perfect place to visit with kids and many families do. Many resorts have family room options and this list of things to do at Redang Island is just about perfect for kids who generally love easy beach holidays with lots of natural attractions.

Final Words

Redang Island is a beautiful part of the world and I highly recommend it if you love stunning holidays with lots of natural attractions where it’s simple to keep things easy and inactive or to be adventurous.

It’s my favourite place for a gorgeous island adventure in Malaysia.

It would be a shame to visit and not to head into the water or the jungle at least once though and make sure you fit in as many gorgeous sunrises and sunsets as you can!

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You can find all our Redang travel guides here. To read more about the best Redang accommodation, click here.

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