Beaches of Malaysia

It would be an impossible task to describe every one of Malaysia's thousands of beautiful beaches. Ranging from the powdery stretches of sand that characterize the eastern coastline of Peninsular Malaysia to the black sand beach of Pantai Pasir Hitam and the smooth pebble beach of Pantai Batu Kerikil, Malaysia's shores offer more idyllic locales than one could explore in many lifetimes.In addition to the plenitude of beaches along the the peninsula and the coast of Eastern Malaysia, the country also possesses over a hundred tropical islands. Many of these are so beautiful as to have entered into legend centuries ago, like the islands of Langkawi remain desert isles, marked , or Pulau Tioman. Others only by the imprint of the South China Sea on their sands. Despite such abundance and variety, Malaysia's beaches are noticeably different from those in other parts of the world. They are often less differentiated from the shoreline than those of the Caribbean, for example, tending instead to be almost nestled up against the lush forests that this nation is famous for. The color palette is different as well--golden sands and emerald waters imbue Malaysian beaches with an air of succulent sweetness that isn't found in the cool whites and blues of many western strands. The result is that these beaches impart a very different sensation, a sense of languid peace and a distinct feeling that the division between land and sea is less a sharp line than a smooth continuum.

Klebang Beach

Tanjung Bidara

Tanjung Bidara commands a magnificent sweep of the state's coastline, and its beach is very popular among locals as well as foreigners. Located approximately 20 km from Malacca Town, the beach is quiet and well away from the main road with lush vegetation and a tranquil atmosphere. The beach is more for relaxation or recreational activities that exclude swimming, as the waters are a little murky.

Getting there:

Express buses and taxis plying the Kuala Lumpur-Malacca route may be boarded at the Puduraya Terminal in Kuala Lumpur. From Malacca town, catch another taxi or the Patt Hup bus en route to Tanjung Bidara at the Jalan Tun Ali Terminal. Visitors can also travel by car from Kuala Lumpur, using the North-South Expressway to the Alor Gajah intersection. Then drive along the Lendu Road to Masjid Tanah and Tanjung Bidara. It takes approximately 1 1/2 hours to reach Malacca town from Kuala Lumpur and 2 1/2 hours from Singapore.

Danga Bay

Danga Bay or Teluk Danga is the largest recreational park in the city of Johor Bahru. It is located near Istana Bukit Serene, about 7 km from Johor Bahru's city center. Many interesting events are held there especially during festive seasons. Danga Bay is also sometimes referred to as the Vision City of the South.

Accessibility
Danga Bay can be accessed from Skudai Highway (Federal route 1) via the Danga Bay interchange which becomes Jalan Skudai Route , which is located near Istana Bukit Serene. Those coming from Singapore and Johor Bahru city centre can access Danga Bay via Jalan Skudai.

Tanjung Balau

Tanjung Balau is a white sandy beach with blue horizon and clear turquoise sea. Nearby this beautiful stretch of beach is a quaint, planned fishing Malay fishing village and a unique Fishermen Museum. A walk around the village and a visit to the museum should enlighten visitors with more accurate understanding of how fishermen make their living.

Located about 70km from Kota Tinggi town and near Desaru, Tanjung Balau has various facilities including food court and stalls, a children playground and a souvenir shop as well as clean comfortable chalets with modern amenities for accomodations and homestays.

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How to get there

By Car

From the North South Expressway (NSE), take the Kulai exit (Interchange 252) onto the trunk road heading towards Kota Tinggi (Highway 94 and 3). Tanjung Balau is about half an hour's drive from Kota Tinggi town centre.

By Bus

Buses leave frequently from Johor Bahru's Larkin Bus Terminal (on Jalan Garuda) to Kota Tinggi's bus terminal on Jalan Niaga Utama.

Batu Feringgi Beach

Batu Feringgi Beach, named after the Portuguese word for 'Foreigner's Rock' has been a popular beach among locals and tourists for centuries. The charm and appeal of Batu Feringgi has remained unchanged over the years and still continues to draw in large crowds.

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The beach itself is quite good, thought not up there with Malaysia's best and the water is not of the tropically clear variety you might expect. The beach is kept clean, even on weekends when hordes of day-trippers visit. This long stretch of sandy beach is home to a wide range of resorts, shopping opportunities and water sports.

Pantai Air Papan

Located about 12km north of Mersing, this beach is popular among picnickers especially on weekends and public holidays. They can swim in its blue water, play games on its wide beach or just sit back and relax under the shade of trees that line the beach. From here, when the weather is beautiful, one can see the faint bluish silhouette of Pulau Besar, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Tioman and Pulau Tengah, as well as smaller islands nearby such as Pulau Batu Gajah and Pulau Setingan.

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The long stretch of beach is the venue for the annual Pesta Air Papan (Air Papan Festival) held every May 1. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and stalls, as well as a number of resorts with traditional Malay wooden architecture, some of which have been operational for more than 20 years.

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From Mersing, take the coastal road north towards Kuantan. Air Papan is only about 10 minute's drive from Mersing.