Access to the Perhentian Islands is by ferry from Kuala Besut, which is usually reached from either Kota Bharu, Jerteh or Kuala Terengganu. See the Kuala Besut article for more information.
Ferries have previously run from a jetty at Tok Bali, and for a short while direct from Kota Bharu, but both have now been discontinued. There are no ferries to neighbouring islands, but reasonably priced direct transfers to Redang are possible if a day-trip or dive boat has free seats - enquire with travel and dive shops.
From the main ferry terminal at Kuala Besut there is effectively one option:
Speed boats
usually small fibreglass boats with two or three outboards which take 30-45 minutes, charge RM70/person though you can bargain it down to RM60, even in high season beware of unreliable & unlicense boat operator do the under cut price for return open ticket and RM40/person for one way,. You can buy a ticket from Kuala Besut Boat Services or PI Boat services, tel no:+6097479668 Email [email protected]. They can deliver your ticket to you at the airport upon your arrival, to your hotel room in Kota Bharu where you stay, to the Wakaf Bharu train station, or Tanah Merah train station or at their office in Kuala Besut. It can be advisable to make reservation first especially during the peak period May to august for your seats.note: even though I was there at peak season, in July, the boats were not full at all, so reservation so not absolutely necessary Daily departure from 7.30am- 5.00pm. The boats leave the Kuala Besut jetty to Perhentian island 4-5times a day, 1st departure at 7.30AM when gates of pier are opened. Some are enclosed, some have a fabric roof, some are completely open. If the sea is choppy expect a bone-jarring, bumpy ride and in the case of the latter two types expect to get a bit wet. If you are early, sitting at the back of the boat near the engines is less bumpy, but wet and noisier. There is no safe space for electronics, you might want to wrap anything that will not survive being wet in plastic e.g. in bags inside your backpack beforehand. If you don't want back problems do not sit in the front part of the boat — large swells combined with the driver going as fast as possible will throw you up in the air and smash you down hard as the boat hits the next wave but it's dry there. On the other hand, the boat trip is only a bit over 30 minutes, so it's not a horrible ordeal.All ferries take their passengers directly to their destination, wherever it may be on the islands. Passengers may be charged an extra RM2 to get a small boat from the ferry to the beach at Kecil Long Beach scam, but you can do nothing except jumping into sea with baggage and swim to coast. If you want avoid this 2RM scam ask for dropping at Coral Bay from where it's easy 10 minutes walk on nice paved tiled path to Long Beach from where it's also more convenient to southern end Mohsin, Rock Garden... of Long Beach if you have suitcases, there is no paved path at Long beach. Elsewhere, jetties are springing up and enable people to get off the ferry without the need for an additional small boat ride to shore and without getting their feet wet.
All travelers to the islands must pay a marine park conservation charge of RM5. The marine park conversation charge 'ticket' claims to be valid for a few days, but in practice it is never asked for and is valid for the length of their stay. This ticket is paid at the office in the jetty at Kuala Besut.
To return from Coral Bay to Kuala Besut, boats leave from the jetty at 8:00, 12:00 and 16:00. There are several boats from several companies, reservation was in my experience not needed.
