10 Best Beaches in Malaysia

Malaysia doesn't get enough attention for its beaches. With over 800 islands and almost 3, 000 miles of coastline, this Southeast Asian destination offers stretches for every kind of traveler.

There are pristine white-sand marvels, surfing hotspots, and vibrant street food-filled urban getaways. You'll discover the ultimate holiday islands such as Langkawi, Pangkor, and Redang, as well as lesser-known spots like the Perhentians. Malaysia gets fewer tourists than its neighbors, Thailand and Indonesia, resulting in uncrowded beaches.

For me, Malaysia has always been a feel-good destination, where you meet friendly people, eat magnificent food, and visit striking natural sites. Here's a collection of the best beaches in the country, including the most well-known stretches and the hidden spots. 

Best urban beach in Malaysia

Langkawi is the most popular holiday island in Malaysia. Nicknamed the Jewel of Kedah, it's located off the northwestern coast of the country, close to the Tarutao National Park in Thailand. Pantai Cenang is Langkawi's top beach for, basically, everything. Stretching over a mile, it features soft white sand. You can rent a jet ski, go on a banana ride, and try parasailing. The beach is flanked by a busy promenade, filled with bars, restaurants, top-notch resorts, and street food vendors. In other words, it's Langkawi's pulsating heart. If you like the buzzy stretches, where everything is close by, Cenang fits the bill perfectly. Families will love the soft sand and gentle, shallow water access. In the evening, it transforms into Langkawi's premier street food area. 

Best for a secluded experience and luxury

If Cenang is Langkawi's buzziest beach, Tanjung Rhu is for the peace-seekers. Overlooking the scenic small islands and surrounded by the green hills and mangroves, this beach on Langkawi's north coast is an ideal tropical escape. Sip coconut juice to the calming sound of the rolling waves, enjoy the idyllic vistas from the terrace of the luxurious beach bar, or reserve a relaxing massage session on the white sand. Tanjung Rhu is the beach of the five-star Four Seasons Resort, which adds to the spot's upscale atmosphere. If HBO's "White Lotus" series was filmed in Malaysia, this would be the place. There are also several beachfront restaurants, where you can try the Malaysian seafood delights and have romantic sunset dinners.  

Best for snorkeling

Did you know that Malaysia is home to spectacular coral islands with exceptional snorkeling? Add the Perenthians to your travel list. Located in the South China Sea, off the coast of Terengganu, these islands are the closest you can get to a tropical paradise: sublime and untouched. Teluk Keke Beach on Perhentian Besar (or "Greater Perhentian") is the most famous local snorkeling-ready stretch. Here, the sugary white sand borders the large stones piercing the turquoise sea.

Enter the underwater world to explore the coral reef, teeming with colorful fish and, occasionally, turtles. Reaching Teluk Keke is an adventure in itself. Start from Tuna Bay and follow the hiking trail through the jungle. Many boat tours around the Perenthians include Teluk Keke in their program. The beach remains an open secret of Malaysia, with minimal impact from mass tourism. Also, the coral reef here is in great shape. 

Best beach for the bluest water

Several shades of blue intertwine on Rawa Island Beach. It's the bright turquoise of the sandy shore, the shimmering azure of the coral reef, and the cyan of the deeper sea. This remote corner of Johor state is a visual feast and a one-of-a-kind boat trip. Rawa is also a snorkeling hotspot. Sadly, the monsoon destroyed most of the corals, but you can still marvel at the rich underwater world with snorkeling gear on. Reef sharks, parrotfish, snappers, bluespotted stingrays, clownfish—that's what you're up for.

The Rawa Island is an ultimate escape with no roads and pure bliss. You can stay at Alang’s Rawa Resort and Rawa Island Resort, the only two accommodation options, offering waterfront bungalows. There are direct ferries to Rawa Island from Mersing Jetty on the mainland. 

Best resort beach 

Emerald Bay is a private beach of the five-star Pangkor Laut Resort, a mesmerising complex of luxurious villas set above the blue water. You can only reach this stretch by staying at the resort. If you're contemplating a full immersion in the jungle, this hotel is among the best in Malaysia for an upscale retreat. Occupying the whole private Pangkor Laut island, the resort includes a lush rainforest, a large spa center and several superb restaurants.

Emerald Bay is a sandy, paradise-looking stretch on the private island's west coast. The shallow water access makes it safe for families with kids. Great snorkeling awaits you along the rocky sides. It's completely surrounded by the jungle, giving you that feeling of total escape. 

Best for white sands and crystal-clear waters

Long Beach on Redang island is among the most photogenic beaches in Malaysia. You'll have the whitest of sands, hugged by the transparent water. A rocky islet divides the stretch into two parts, offering amazing snorkeling. You can spend hours exploring the corals and meeting the variety of fish (including unicornfish and parrotfish). There's also a so-called Shark Point (or Tanjung Tengah), a spot at the center of the beach, where you can snorkel with baby sharks.

Redang is a popular resort destination, and Long Beach is where you find the largest concentration of accommodation for all budgets. For turtle encounters, head to Turtle's Bay (also known as Teluk Dalam). It's a gorgeous beach in the north of the island, where green turtles hatch and swim. 

Best for monsoon surfing

Many Malaysians know Tioman Island as a duty-free shopping spot. However, this tropical paradise off the coast of Pahang state is also a secret destination for monsoon surfing. Come between November and February to experience the highest waves at this beautiful corner of the South China Sea. The beach still oozes that "paradise lost" charm, offering miles of white sand, low-priced backpacker lodges, relaxed waterside cafes, and a serene holiday atmosphere.

Apart from surfing, you can do diving, snorkeling and kayaking. As the Juara village doesn't have road access to the rest of the island, the only way to reach it is by boat. A dense jungle hides spectacular waterfalls—Lubuk Teja and Air Terjun Ali—that are accessed by rainforest treks. Juara will work perfectly if you're craving something undiscovered and wild. 

Best for a golden sand retreat

If the tourist frenzy of Cenang is too much for you, Sandy Skulls Beach is an ideal alternative. Located in the north of the island, east of the Datai Bay resort, it's a secluded stretch with golden sand and translucent sea. There are no restaurants, no vendors, no noisy music. It's just you and the Andaman Sea magic. And monkeys. Lots of long-tailed macaques call the beach home, so you're guaranteed to meet them. The primates are known to be naughty and regularly wreak havoc by stealing plastic bottles and food items from the bags of swimming tourists. Make sure to close your bags and not interact with the monkeys to avoid confrontation.

The best way to reach Sandy Skulls Beach is by hiring a scooter or a car (there's parking 100 meters away from the stretch). You can also call a Grab (the Uber analog in Langkawi) to get there from major island tourist centers. 

Best for dining options and luxurious resorts

Penang's most vibrant beach town isn't the place to seek calm and solitude. Batu Ferringhi is where the action's at. Five-star resorts like Shangri-La and Hard Rock Hotel flank the miles of sandy-white shore. There are amusement parks, shopping malls, bars, and watersports rentals.

Batu Feringghi is also famous for its night market, where you can try the best Malaysian street food, such as roti canai (traditional flatbread), char kway teow (Peranakan stir-fried noodles with seafood), assam laksa (sweet and sour thick noodle soup with fish) and, of course, the iconic nasi lemak (coconut rice with sambal).

If such a diverse tourist proposition speaks to you, Batu Ferringhi is the place to be in multicultural Penang. For a more serene experience, visit Moonlight Bay, a charming sandy stretch a few minutes' drive from the town.  

Best for the untouched nature

Visiting Keracut Beach is a relief after the skyscraper-filled Georgetown. This stretch on the west coast of Penang is one of the few spots on the island that actually feel wild. Also, it's about the journey here. First, you arrive at the National Park entrance and pay the fee (12 USD or 50 Malaysian rupees). Then, it's the 1.5-hour hike through the thick jungle. Finally reaching the white sands of Keracut makes you proud as if you've accomplished something special.

The beach is home to Pantai Kerachut Turtle Conservation Centre, where you can usually see the tiny turtles that are expected to be released into the sea. The best way to return is by arranging a boat that stops at Monkey Beach, another famous national park stretch. April to August is the turtle hatching season, when you will spot the green turtles on the beach.