Perhentian weather: best time to visit, month by month

When to go

• Open season
• Some places open
• Monsoon, mostly closed

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Open season

April to September

Monsoon, mostly closed

November to January

The Perhentian Islands lie in the South China Sea off Besut District, Terengganu, about 19 km¹ from the mainland. Malaysia’s climate is hot and humid all year round⁵, so choosing a month is about rain and sea conditions rather than temperature. Average daily highs at Kuala Terengganu only move between 29.2°C and 32.4°C⁶.

Wikivoyage puts the best time at early March or April to late October¹. Tuna Bay Island Resort says March to October⁷, and Kuala Besut travel agent De Penarik Beach Travel and Tour recommends April to October⁸. Outside that window, Wikivoyage warns that the sea can be very rough and choppy, with currents that make swimming dangerous¹.

The chart shows February, March and October as part-open. Some resorts open on 1 February⁸, the shared boat from Kuala Besut runs February to October⁹, and March and October⁵ are transition months between Malaysia’s monsoons. MET Malaysia splits the year into four seasons² by wind: the northeast and southwest monsoons, with shorter inter-monsoon periods between them. The northeast monsoon brings more rain than the southwest monsoon⁵.

Best months for different goals

• Driest weather: MET Malaysia names June and July² as the driest months in most east coast districts. Kuala Terengganu averages 109 mm⁶ of rain in June, spread over about 10 rainy days⁶.
• Diving and snorkelling: Wikivoyage gives the dive season as March to October¹, and Tuna Bay Island Resort rates April to June⁷ as especially good for visibility. Wikivoyage puts typical visibility at 10–20 metres¹. Read more on diving season and conditions in the Perhentians.
• Fewer people: Tuna Bay Island Resort suggests September or October⁷ for pleasant weather and fewer tourists. Rain is climbing by then, with 191 mm⁶ on average in September.
• Lower room rates: the shoulder months. Perhentian Island Resort’s cheapest A Frame rooms cost RM250¹⁰ a night in February, March and October against RM350¹⁰ from June to August, according to the booking site pulauperhentian.com.my. Perhentian Kecil is generally cheaper to stay on than Perhentian Besar; see Perhentian resort options compared by beach and budget.
• Avoiding the worst heat: May is the hottest month, with average highs of 32.4°C⁶. Whatever the month, Wikivoyage warns the sun is extremely hot from the afternoon until early evening¹.

Months to avoid

November to January. MET Malaysia says November, December and January² bring the most rain to the east coast states, with heavy rain spells during the northeast monsoon². Kuala Terengganu averages 610 mm⁶ in November and 554 mm⁶ in December, out of about 2,918 mm⁶ a year. On top of the rain, most dive shops close from November to February¹ (see closures below). Malaysia’s year-end school holidays (4 to 31 December 2026¹¹ in Terengganu) fall when most resorts are closed from the end of October to the end of February⁴, so a December trip is out for most people.

The Star reported that Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang were expected to be the first states hit by continuous heavy rain in the 2025/26¹² northeast monsoon, which was forecast to last until March 2026¹².

July and August, on a budget. Perhentian Trans says prices rise on weekends, public holidays and in peak season (July–August)¹³. Tuna Bay Island Resort adds a super-peak surcharge of RM60¹⁴ per room per night in those months, and The Barat may add RM50–150¹⁵ under dynamic pricing. Wikivoyage says rooms are snapped up fast at weekends and holidays.

School and public holidays. The mid-year school holidays ran 22 May to 6 June 2026¹¹ in Terengganu and 23 May to 7 June 2026¹¹ in the states that include Kuala Lumpur. Perhentian Island Resort charges RM80¹⁶ nett per person per night on selected eves and public holidays, and Anjung Holidays adds RM40¹⁷ per person per night on holiday eves, school holidays and public holidays.

Room rates by month

Jan–

FebRM250

MarRM250

AprRM300

MayRM300

JunRM350

JulRM350

AugRM350

SepRM300

OctRM250

Nov–

Dec–

Blank months have no listed rate. On Long Beach (Pasir Panjang), Cocohut lists its Deluxe Chalet for two at RM300¹⁸ a night in low season and RM350¹⁸ in high season.

Closures

Resorts

The booking site pulauperhentian.com.my says most resorts are usually closed from the end of October to the end of February⁴. De Penarik Beach Travel and Tour says most resorts and chalets open on 1 February⁸ each year, with others opening at the end of February depending on weather and sea conditions. Tuna Bay Island Resort is stricter, saying the island is closed from November to early March⁷.

This is a yearly pattern. TIN Media reported in 2019¹⁹ that a resort operator called closing from October to February an annual routine, and that the Terengganu Tourism Department said all but four¹⁹ Perhentian resorts had been closed since October.

Boats

The shared boat between Kuala Besut and the islands runs February to October⁹. In season, Perhentian Trans runs boats from Kuala Besut every hour from 8 AM to 5 PM¹³, and the crossing takes 30–45 minutes¹. Bubu Resort says boat transfers are subject to weather conditions²⁰, and Wikivoyage warns that on a choppy sea the speedboat ride is bone-jarring. Wikivoyage advises booking boat tickets ahead in high season; the Kuala Besut jetty ferry ticket can be booked online. Times, fares and the jetty itself are in the Kuala Besut jetty boat guide, and the full journey is covered in getting to Perhentian Island from KL.

Dive centres

Dive centres on Long Beach, Perhentian Kecil, follow the same calendar. Panorama Diver reopened on 27 March 2026²¹ and its closed season starts on 25 October 2026²¹, according to its PADI listing. Lekker Divers says it is open March to October²². Tuna Bay Island Resort’s dive package takes check-ins from 1 March to 30 October 2026²³.

If your dates fall in the monsoon, see how Langkawi vs the Perhentian Islands compares before you book.