MY · Terengganu · 5.22°N 103.27°E

kapas island

Small, chill island off Marang for snorkelling without the Redang crowds.

Best time
March to October. Most chalets close from about November to February, when the monsoon makes the sea rough.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kuala Terengganu in about an hour, then drive about 30 minutes to the jetty at Marang. Driving from KL takes about 5 hours. The boat across takes about 15 minutes.
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MY · Terengganukapas island5.22°N 103.27°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Small, chill island off Marang for snorkelling without the Redang crowds.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKapas IslandMY, Terengganu
KLkapas island
≈ 290 km from KL, as the crow flies
Used: In a blog post about Kapas; guide-to-malaysia.blogspot.com/2008/05/pulau-kapas-my-fir...

Photo: Tim Parkinson from Sheffield, UK · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A small island a short boat ride off Marang, named for its cotton-white beaches. There are no roads, just a handful of chalets, clear water and coral close to shore, so it's an easy, quiet escape.

Makan

  1. Keropok lekorTerengganu's chewy fish sausage, sold all around Marang. Grab some before the boat.Map ↗
  2. Nasi dagangThe classic Terengganu breakfast of rice with fish curry, found around Marang and Kuala Terengganu.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. SnorkellingCoral and reef fish start just off the beaches, and turtles are sometimes seen.Map ↗
  2. KayakingPaddle along the shore or across to tiny Gemia Island next door.Map ↗
  3. DivingDive operators on the island run trips to the reefs nearby.Map ↗
  4. Beach timeThe main beaches face the mainland and are calm for swimming in season.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Bring enough cash. There's no ATM on the island.
  • Don't touch the coral or the turtles, and take your rubbish back to the mainland.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.