I arrived in Terengganu with modest expectations in 2026 and the 5-hour road trip from KL to Kuala Terengganu was not that bad. I’d done the usual touristy holiday circuit — Langkawi, Penang, Kuala Lumpur — and assumed Malaysia’s east coast would be a sleepier version of the same.
Instead, after spending 30 days in Terengganu, I found what I now believe is the best holiday destination in Malaysia for short visits (3days 2 nights), slow longer travel (5 to 30 days), quiet travel (away from busy cities) and longer beach stays.
This realization came after days spent driving its coastal roads – from Besut, Kemaman to Dungun, Marang to Setiu, crossing to its islands for snorkeling and diving (at least there are 16 of them, and 50 diving spots) and spending days on beachfront Katsetiu villa as my temporary base stay while in Terengganu to document my memories and travel experience.
This travel experience brings in depth and honest review about Terengganu that none has experienced or documented before. Here is a qualifier: Terengganu is not designed for mass tourism so you will not bump into natural wellness wannabes tourists, or those half-naked tourists on motorbikes whom you might bump into in Bali.
So thank god for that, Terengganu is a destination built for true travelers and explorers who keep their travel experience only to themselves – and most do not seek for social validation with fancy Instagram photos.
Quick Highlights:
- 16 islands to explore, rich marine life, each island is unique and you will never get bored.
- 23 coastal beaches on a 240km coastal road, with good road infrastructure and connecting highways, a perfect road trip, beach glamping or beach hopping.
- 82 hiking trails for a healthy forest bathing, runcation or even long hiking trips to experience Malaysian rainforests
- 50 diving spots for beginner divers or even to wow professional divers, the best one stop diving holiday in Malaysia
Whether you are true authentic travelers, influencers, families or honeymoon couples, here are my eleven reasons why Terengganu deserves a place at the top of your travel list based on my travel experience.
1. The longest and tranquil coastline beaches in Malaysia
Terengganu’s coastline stretches over 240 kilometres along the South China Sea, from Besut down to Kemaman, with more than twenty named beaches along the way. Now that’s a huge coastline that one can explore, either by foot or by road – and the 20+ coastal beaches mean there are plenty of beaches you could stop by to spend a night or two in one of those homestay private villas that you could find in Agoda or Booking.com
Terengganu is the best destination in Malaysia for road trip and staycation because of its longest beach coastline roads, providing travelers plenty of choices for quick stops or longer stays at hotels, homestays villas, and cafes to watch the beautiful clean beaches and sunrise
What struck me wasn’t the length of the coastal line — it was the tranquility, silence or even privacy at times (when you opt to explore hidden quiet beaches at Pantai Bari, Pantai Chalok and some quiet hidden beach stretch with nicer luxury private villas).
During my stay at beachfront Katsetiu Villas at Pantai Chalok located at Telaga Papan (near Pantai Bari) in a quite district of Setiu, I walked a five-kilometre stretch of white sand one morning and shared it with two fishermen and a monitor lizard. And the best part of my beach walk / earthing /grounding, the view of sunrise on the coastal area facing South China Sea was simply mesmerizing.
Yes, the beach holiday and escapade in Terengganu is nothing you have experienced before in Malaysia, even it beats Sabah, Penang, Port Dickson or even Langkawi – longing your for longer stays.
At Pantai Penarik, fishing boats line the shore and village life carries on undisturbed. For slow travelers, this is the entire point: beaches that belong to the landscape, not the overdeveloped tourism industry that you normally experience.
2. The best snorkeling and diving in Malaysia with 16 islands to explore
Redang, Perhentian, Lang Tengah, Kapas, Tenggol — Terengganu’s sixteen islands offer snorkeling and diving that genuinely rival Thailand and Indonesia. These islands have been a hidden gem for international divers as it is the only islands in Malaysia that are not crowded or overdeveloped for mass tourism.
In my travel experience to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Maldives and other islands in the world, this is by far the best beach holiday in Malaysia due to its tranquility, less touristy albeit more suited for couples seeking adventure beach travels in Malaysia.
Terengganu is home to 16 habitable islands with rich marine life, making it ideal for your island beach holiday, staycation or slow travel. I love the easy access to these islands but be prepared to stay at least 7 days to enjoy all the island offering.
The corals off Redang are among the healthiest I’ve seen in Southeast Asia, and I shared entire reef sections with sea turtles rather than tour groups.
Day-trip snorkeling packages start from around RM99 per person (or less than USD 30, or GBP 20 per person) — a fraction of what you’d pay in Langkawi – making it affordable snorkeling trip for any travelers to explore the best of island travel in Malaysia.
I paid that price and the boat took me to Kapas Island via Marang Jetty in less than 15 minutes (one way). For my Redang Island experience, it is equally worth the trip if you want to enjoy longer time snorkeling and diving, and the ferry boat ride was slightly longer at around 45 minutes via another jetty in Merang, at Setiu district.
Note: Yes, why visit 1 known island, if you can visit 16 islands in one single state to maximize your travel options whilst in Malaysia.
In essence, for outdoor travelers this is the anchor activity if you are visiting Terengganu; for honeymoon couples and families, it’s an easy day trip from a mainland base. So go and explore all the beautiful islands in Terengganu if you decide on slow beach travel in Malaysia.
3. Outdoor adventures beyond islands: forest hiking, fishing trips and squid hunting
What separates Terengganu from a typical beach destination in Malaysia is its range beyond island snorkeling and diving — it includes forest hiking, fishing trips and squid hunting too. This offering makes Terengganu a meaningful travel destination for families, young couples and those who seek nature travel.
Tasik Kenyir, Southeast Asia’s largest man-made lake, offers jungle trekking, waterfalls, houseboats and freshwater fishing, while the Terengganu Highlands rise to Gunung Lawit at over 1,500 metres for serious forest hiking.
I went to Bukit Keluang (Keluang Hill) which gave me the wide view of South China Sea, it is one of the highest peaks you could hike in Terengganu. Don’t forget the hidden gem of Lata Payung, or the magical blue lagoon in the middle of the forest.
Along the coast, local operators run night squid-jigging trips (candat sotong) — a tradition celebrated at the Terengganu International Squid Jigging Festival — and deep-sea fishing charters leave from village jetties. I went from beach to lake in a single morning on quiet, scenic B-roads all in a day.
4. The best place to watch and swim with turtles in Malaysia
If you’re searching for the best place to watch and swim with turtles, Terengganu is it. Rantau Abang is the historic nesting ground of the leatherback, hatcheries still operate along the Setiu coast — including one on Pantai Chalok itself — and green turtles glide through the shallows off Redang, where I swam alongside them on an ordinary day trip.
What’s make Terengganu special is that several accommodations here now operate as turtle-friendly stays, keeping beaches dark during nesting season. So you can watch turtle laying eggs at night (if you are lucky) in Terengganu.
I chose Katsetiu Villas simply because it is one of the few beachfront private villas that are WWF-certified to be a turtle friendly accommodation in Terengganu. This makes the destination rather unique, special and best for naturists or mindfulness (if you are into that).
My experience suggests the place and beach was super dark and quiet at night – a best place for turtles to land. Was lucky to find a turtle laying their eggs on my 5th day in Terengganu.
Watching a hatchling release with children on the sand is a memory no theme park can replicate, and that is why I feel that Terengganu is the best destination if you seek for something different, something that makes you feel connected to nature.
The popular Turtle Bay in Redang Island is still the best place for experiencing turtle in Malaysia in its natural habitat, swimming freely in the ocean together with you at no cost.
For honeymoon couples, just head to Redang Island from Katsetiu Villas (40 minute boat ride) to explore hundreds of friendly turtles swimming with you as you feed them. Take the daily snorkeling package and the boatmen will bring you to a snorkeling place called the Turtle Bay, a famous diving spot in Redang Island for snorkelers, and make your honeymoon adventure trip worthwhile!
5. The Setiu Wetlands: one of the most beautiful natural locations in Malaysia
Between the sea and the interior lies one of the most beautiful natural locations to visit in Malaysia — the Setiu Wetlands, a lagoon-and-mangrove ecosystem sheltering river terrapins, otters and migratory birds.
If you had enough of exploring 16 islands in Terengganu, hit the coastal mainland and experience the mangrove wetlands – largest and well kept in Malaysia. One thing that Terengganu has which does not exist in other places in Malaysia is the close proximity between places your can visit – from islands to coastal living to mangrove and even forest hiking!
Drifting through the mangrove channels by boat was the quietest few hours of my trip – surrounded by sounds of insects, calm waters, that little mysterious amazon river travel reminding you the long rajah river in Sarawak. On the day I visited, mine was the only boat on the water. It draws international birdwatchers and conservationists from across the region, and for families it doubles as the best outdoor classroom imaginable for children.
The mangrove wildlife is something to be experienced in Malaysia, at least once. Tourists may opt to add Setiu Wetland experience in their last day before heading back to KL as this mangrove river experience may not be to everyone’s taste.
6. Private beach villas at Setiu near Merang Jetty: the best staycation base for beach holiday in Terengganu
My biggest discovery: skip the island resort and base yourself on the mainland coast around Setiu and Merang, where private beach villas and homestays have quietly become the best staycation option on the east coast.
Merang Jetty runs boats to Redang roughly hourly in season (March–October), turning the islands into day trips rather than commitments.
My villa near Pantai Chalok had a full kitchen, a pool and a private beach at the doorstep — and some villas sleep twenty or more, making multi-generational family holidays genuinely practical.
7. Affordable long stays for beach holidays: Terengganu beats Langkawi on value
Slow travel only works if the economics do — and in Terengganu, they do. Beachfront villas start from around RM140 a night, seafood dinners cost village prices, and self-catering is easy with local markets and roadside stalls everywhere. I met a couple who stretched a three-night booking into ten days simply because there was no financial reason to leave. That’s the quiet advantage Terengganu holds over every mainstream best holiday destination in Malaysia: staying longer costs less, not more.
My villa near Pantai Chalok had a full kitchen, a pool and a private beach at the doorstep — and some villas sleep twenty or more, making multi-generational family holidays genuinely practical.
8. Terengganu’s unique delicacies: keropok lekor, nasi dagang and seafood worth staying for
Terengganu’s cuisine is distinct even within Malaysia — keropok lekor from roadside stalls, nasi dagang with tuna curry at breakfast, satar grilled in banana leaf, akok for dessert, and fresh seafood straight off the boats.
You rarely find Terengganu delicacies in Kuala Lumpur. This makes Terengganu a unique destination to taste the best savoury dishes, and probably the most authentic east coast Malay food in Malaysia.
The longer I stayed, the better I ate, because the best meals aren’t in tourist restaurants; they’re in “warungs”, i.e small stalls located in Setiu and stalls in Kuala Terengganu’s Kampung Cina that you only find by lingering.
Eating well here is a slow-travel activity in itself, so be prepared to taste one of the best authentic Malay dishes in Malaysia.
9. Beautiful historical locations to visit: Crystal Mosque, Kampung Cina and living heritage
Kuala Terengganu delivers some of the most beautiful historical and natural locations to visit on the peninsula — the Crystal Mosque, the Islamic Heritage Park, the State Museum, the riverside waterfront and heritage Chinatown. Crucially, none of it feels staged.
Songket weaving, batik, boat-building and kite-making remain living crafts, not demonstrations.
The state is deeply Malay and Islamic in character — dress modestly, expect quiet evenings — and the warmth of locals toward visitors is genuine. For honeymooners seeking privacy and families seeking authenticity, this unperformed atmosphere is precisely the appeal.
10. Quiet travel at its purest: no crowds, no touts, no noise
My final reason why one should visit Terengganu while in Malaysia is the hardest to photograph. Imagine long stretch of beaches that are empty, reminds you of the 60s and 70s when there are hardly human beings on the planet earth, before rapid development and mass tourism took place.
And that’s how I would describe Terengganu in 2026 – No touts, no beach clubs, no noise, no queues, no traffic, no random guys or ladies walking up to you offering pedicure or massage by the beach, no one cares about who you are, where are you from, no feeling of being hurried because you are late – it seems that the clock has just stopped.
Leave your wallet on the beach, and come back an hour later – yeah, chances are it is still be there.
Late for a meeting, no pressure. You won’t be hanged or judged.
At one point, I stood at the Kuala Terengganu airport watching an empty WHS with sign “Be back after Friday Prayers”. The staff just left the convenience store and no one stole anything from WHS, not a single item was missing. The staff came back 2 hours later and resumed his role. As I watched and experienced Terengganu’s hospitality and culture, and I must say this place is absolutely safe for solo travelers, first time tourists and families.
Some would call Terengganu quiet to the point of “boring” — a reputation that conveniently keeps the crowds away. What it actually offers is space and pace: physical space on empty beaches, mental space in an unhurried pace of life.
After a week, I realized this isn’t a destination missing things — it’s one that kept everything the rest of Southeast Asia has lost. Travelling to Terengganu is the perfect quiet slow travel destination in Malaysia. Period.
11. Kenyir Geopark: Malaysia's national geopark and Southeast Asia's largest man-made lake
Now, if you need one final reason that elevates Terengganu from a beach holiday into a genuine discovery destination, it’s this: Tasik Kenyir was officially recognized as Kenyir Geopark, Malaysia’s ninth national geopark, in May 2023 — and most travelers still have no idea it exists. The geopark spans a staggering 244,900 hectares, taking in the lake itself, some 340 islands, and 15 designated geosites including Bewah Cave, Gunung Gagau, Taat Cave and the Batu Bersurat memorial site.
I spent a day on the lake by houseboat, and the scale of it is hard to convey — an inland sea ringed by rainforest, where waterfalls spill directly into the water and hornbills cross overhead. But what makes Kenyir a geopark rather than just a pretty lake is what lies beneath and within it. The limestone karst hills of Bewah and Taat rise in vertical pinnacles riddled with caves of stalactites, stalagmites and stone curtains, and Bewah Cave is renowned for preserving the remains of Neolithic people — the famous “Bewah Man,” among the oldest human skeletal finds in Peninsular Malaysi
Standing inside a cave chamber where people lived thousands of years before the sultanates, the pyramids, or written history, I understood why Terengganu bills itself as more than a beach state.
For outdoor travelers, the geopark adds an entirely new layer to a Terengganu itinerary: cave exploration, kayaking between islands, jungle waterfalls like Lasir and Saok, herb and orchid parks, elephant sightings along the shoreline, and some of Malaysia’s best freshwater fishing for toman and kelah. For families, it’s the rare attraction that’s simultaneously an adventure playground and an open-air lesson in geology, archaeology and ecology. And because Kenyir sits inland in Hulu Terengganu, it’s largely sheltered from the monsoon — making it the perfect counterweight to the coast and one more reason a longer stay in Terengganu never runs out of places to go. Among the beautiful historical and natural locations to visit in Malaysia, this one genuinely deserves the word “unmissable.”
Verdict: is Terengganu worth visiting?
Emphatically yes — and specifically for three kinds of travelers. Outdoor travelers get islands, reefs, wetlands, forest hiking, fishing trips and squid hunting within a single state. Honeymoon couples get privacy, empty beaches and the best staycation villas at a fraction of resort prices. Families get space, safety, affordability and villas big enough for the grandparents.
From the 30 days travel experience, with 16 islands to explore, 23 beaches to unwind and 80 mountain hiking trails, I’ve been planning my longer return ever since.
Could it be the best travel destination in Malaysia for longer stays?
Absolutely yes.
Written by: Shahid Shayaa
Shahid is a travel writer and a former Malaysia Airlines executive with 25 years of travel, aviation and hospitality experience. He has extensively travelled the world since he was 7 spanning across 20 different countries.