The cotton island
Soft white sands.
WorldTravleerAndPhotoTaker — CC BY-SA 4.0 · WorldTravleerAndPhotoTaker — CC BY-SA 4.0 · WorldTravleerAndPhotoTaker — CC BY-SA 4.0
A small, quiet island off the town of Marang, about two and a half kilometres long, whose name means cotton island for its soft white beaches, covered in tropical forest and ringed by clear water and coral reefs, with the little island of Gemia to its north. Its promoters call it a snorkelling paradise: you can snorkel straight from the beach among colourful fish, and the water is calm in season. There are no roads or cars, only simple chalets and small restaurants on the sand, and visitors find it a peaceful escape from the big resorts. No entry fee is published for the island, though a marine conservation fee may be collected; you pay the boat fare from Marang jetty. The best season is March to October, as most chalets close during the monsoon. Boats from Marang jetty take about a quarter of an hour, and Marang is about half an hour's drive from Kuala Terengganu, so it works as a day trip or a quiet overnight stay.
Soft white sands.
Colourful fish close to shore.
Simple chalets on the sand.
Off the town of Marang, about 15 minutes by boat and half an hour's drive south of Kuala Terengganu
Yes: the boat ride is short, so you can spend the day swimming and snorkelling and return to the mainland. Agree the return time with the boatman before you set off.