PULAU KAPAS PACKAGE FOREIGNER TRAVEL GUIDE 2024

A rustic tropical island just 10 minutes from the mainland, Pulau Kapas is the perfect getaway if you’re looking for a cheap, relaxing few days. A popular spot for backpackers who are looking to get off the beaten track, this is a great place to meet other travellers. Pulau Kapas is not a party island but somewhere to go to read, swim, snorkel, hike or take day trips to neighbouring islands. You can easily get bored here so pop it in your itinerary between busier places when you need a little downtime. The vibe of the island is super rustic, relaxed and everyone living and working on there seems so chilled out that it ends up being contagious. 

When To Go to Pulau Kapas

As with the rest of the islands on the east coast, resorts open and ferries start in Early February after the monsoon season ends, and close at the end of October when it kicks off again. February and October are seen as the off peak ‘shoulder’ months with tourist numbers slowly going up through March and May before peaking in June and July, then gradually tailing off again.

In the peak months (June – July) it’s worth it to book ahead to guarantee a bed for the night, but I’m sure you can pitch a tent somewhere if you do decide to go on a whim. As with the rest of the islands in Malaysia, Kapas gets busier on weekends with locals coming for a short break.

We were here in March and had incredible weather and it was quiet, but there was still a great vibe around the place and lots of people to chat to.

How To Get To Pulau Kapas

Boats leave Marang Jetty, near Kuala Terengganu, and cost MYR 40 for two ways. You can book the boat here (note that schedule can change depending on the weather). The sea crossing here can be rough but it’s very short around 10 minutes – I would still take some anti-nausea tablets if you’re prone to sea sickness. You can book the boat at the jetty or call ahead using the number on the above website.

 

From Kuala Lumpur

To get to Kuala Terrengganu you can take a direct bus from Kuala Lumpur (6-7 hours, MYR 45 or fly directly from Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia . It’s best to book your bus before you go, even in low season and especially at weekends, when a lot of Singaporean and Malaysian people will visit the islands. We used BusOnlineTicket.com to book our buses. The prices are the same as quoted on other websites but the customer service is better and you can pay by PayPal for your protection. You get to choose your seats when you book so you will be guaranteed to sit with your travel buddy!

Pulau Kapas Resort And Chalet

Kapas Beach Chalet (KBC) 

This is where we stayed on Kapas and we absolutely loved it. This Dutch-run beachfront place offers a variety of rooms for small to medium budgets and a great menu full of cheap local and western food. The staff are really friendly and it seems to attract a lot of young travellers so it would a be spot to meet people.

The budget rooms in KBC are MYR 19 for a bed in a dorm room, MYR 80 for a double fan room with a shared bathroom and MYR 120 for a double air con room with en suite. The rooms are clean and well kept, you don’t hear much noise apart from the ocean and the chickens that roam freely around the place every day. They have western toilets and the showers are cold water, but it’s so hot that it didn’t really matter. They also offer mosquito nets in the rooms.

The confusing thing about KBC is that there are two of them, right beside each other. We heard a rumour that the original KBC was set up and run by a Dutch guy and was very popular with westerners. More recently the Malaysian authorities made him hand half of it over to be run by a Malay person so you have one side (where we stayed) that has budget dorm and double rooms (air con & fan), and another (the Malay side) that offers beach chalets. Googling KBC will mostly get you the chalet side – I can’t find our rooms anywhere. The two places are basically combined so they’re right beside each other, but the chalets are a bit more expensive at MYR 170 per night.

I’d recommend staying at KBC (the Dutch side) and when we go back to Kapas I’ll definitely book back in! The food was SO good (Tim recommends the Thai beef salad!) and really cheap, so if you don’t stay here then at least pop over here to eat.

Kapas Turtle Valley 

Set on its own private beach with sea-facing bungalows, Turtle Valley is the most upmarket resort we saw on Kapas. This is another Dutch-owned resort, and offers rooms from MYR 240 for a double room with private bathroom, hot showers, breakfast and wifi. There is a minimum of two nights per booking and they are the only place that we found that takes card payments. If you’re on a romantic break / honeymoon or just have more money then it would be a good option.

What To Bring to Pulau Kapas

There is a small shop in KBC resort that sells crisps, Oreos and toiletries, plus another small shop up by the jetty which doesn’t seem to open much but sells noodles and other sorts of snacks. Apart from that you won’t be able to buy anything there. There is no ATM either so bring enough cash with you for your entire stay.

Bring plenty of suncream and bug spray as you will definitely need both. It’s always more expensive to buy these on islands so always stock up in a pharmacy before you leave.

There are no laundry facilities on the island (although KBC does offer a service where your laundry is taken to the mainland and brought back clean the next morning), so bring some detergent to wash your clothes in the sink . This is true of all of the islands we went to apart from Tioman so bring it with you when you leave!

5 Top Activities Can Be Done On Kapas Island

Snorkelling

The snorkelling around Kapas is superb! You can snorkel right from the beach or else you can do it as part of a tour organised by Kapas Marine Boat Service. It’s MYR 10 to rent a snorkel and usually around MYR 10 to join a snorkel tour, although you can haggle a bit. If you’re a good swimmer you can snorkel across to nearby Gem Island, a private island just beside Kapas.

Kayaking

You can rent kayaks from your accommodation to explore the island and islands nearby.

Gem Island

This tiny, beautiful island is right next to Kapas and a good place to visit on a day trip. There is just one resort here but it’s very expensive – around 3x more than Kapas, so only go here for food if you have the budget. There are deck chairs or hammocks where you can relax and read or you can snorkel around the island. You can swim, kayak or take a boat here which should cost RM20 per person return.

Hiking

There is a hike you can do to a hill that's called Bukit Singa. If you do want an activity then you can reach  Kapas Marine Boat Service to set up the activities you like.

 Explore the beaches

The best beaches on the island aren’t the ones that have resorts on them, possibly because of so many boats coming and going. Further up the island, away from main beach there are some beautiful and empty beaches with crystal clear water and no sharp coral to walk on when you first get into the water. One unique thing about Kapas is the gorgeous steps that have been built into the rocks to take you from beach to beach. Some of these have been damaged from monsoon season so be little careful, but definitely explore the beaches and don’t just stay near your resort.

Tips On Kapas Island

We paid MYR 39 return for our boat trip to Kapas, but I’ve read on the  Kapas Marine website that they offer various kinds of activities. This might be outdated information, but just in case, you can find their information on their website.

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 Pulau Kapas: the perfect Malaysian island you have to visit

When one think  about islands in Malaysia, just about every other tourist ends up in Perhentian Islands, Langkawi or Sipadan in East Malaysia. As a local, I knew better but despite that fact, and having escaped to many islands on the east of Malaysia (not just the ones mentioned), Pulau Kapas was strangely never on my radar. 

I was tasked with the planning of our holiday with my parents-in-laws. Wanting to ensure that they get an authentic Malaysian island experience, I had a list of criteria to check off: it has to be affordable, convenient, pristine, beautiful and yet not too touristy. Booming party music till dawn is a huge no-no. Also preferably, it should be a destination that Chris and I have never been to so that it’ll be much of a new territory to us as it is to them. 

Surprisingly, there isn’t much information on Pulau Kapas available. There were a few blog posts written up by travellers, with photos of azure waters and swaying palms, enough to convince us that this quiet island could be an ideal addition to our trip, but information about accommodation, bus or boat timings, were scarce. There was nothing much we could book in advance.

ARRIVAL AT KAPAS ISLAND JETTY , MARANG

We took an overnight bus from Penang to Kuala Terengganu. As it was the beginning of March and barely the start of the season, bus tickets were hard to procure in Georgetown. We had to go to Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal, the main bus terminal in Penang, to get our tickets the day before.

 

We left at 8.30 pm and arrived at 5 am at Kuala Terengganu bus terminal. Stepping off the bus, I almost kissed the ground, giving thanks to the divine that we arrived in one piece. It was one of those rides where you never know if you’ll survive.

 

A cab driver drove us to Marang Jetty, where we were to take the speed boat across to Pulau Kapas, but he warned us that since it was barely 6am, nothing’s going to be opened. Most of the villagers were still doing their morning prayers in the mosque nearby.

 

He was right. When we pulled up to Marang Jetty, nothing stirred except for a fellow backpacker there–a young Spanish guy, whose figure lay curled up in a ball with his backpack serving as a pillow. He took the bus from Kuala Lumpur and got dropped off at near the jetty area. He was glad that he now had some company.

Eventually, someone came to pull up the steel awnings of the shop that we were sitting in front of. A young affable man sold us return speed boat tickets for RM39 each via Kapas Marine Boat Services. The prices are probably the best i believe. The earliest departure was at 8.00am, we were told.

The medium Kapas Marine Boat Services speedboat sped across the clear turquoise waters as we hung on tight on the sides of the boat. The boat heaved and dipped each time we crossed a swell, causing the just-eaten roti canai to swirl in our tummies. I looked over at my in-laws but they looked like they were having the time of their lives.  Salty water grazed my hair and skin. The morning sun was slowly warming the atmosphere up. I have craved for this feeling for a long time.

 

Pulau Kapas took our breath away even from the distance. Barely bigger than 5 km, this little drop of tropical paradise in the South China Sea is as idyllic as it gets. A few beach chalets scatter against the backdrop of a jungle.

We enquired at three different places, namely KBC, Ombak Kapas and Kapas Coral Beach Resort but in the end settled for the last one. The wooden A-frame huts of KBC came highly recommended by backpackers on the Internet but it was extremely basic and not very cheap (from RM80). It room was dark and it smelt a bit dank. I got the rustic charm of it but I didn’t think my in-laws would enjoy their stay here.

 

Then we moved on to Qimi Private Bay. It looked promising in the beginning. It was spartan as well but at least when you open the shutters, you get a lot of light and fresh air (mosquitoes too unfortunately) into the room. But there was no mosquito net. It was at least clean. RM150-RM180 for a fan room.

 

In the end we settled on Ombak Kapas Resort because the garden chalets faced the sea. You could easily hang on in the balcony and chill. We paid RM250 for an air-conditioned room . It was too expensive for a rather basic room. The bathroom’s tiles were covered in some chalky residue, probably built-up left by hard water. Still, the toilet looked a little better than the ones in the previous accommodations that we checked out.

KBC’s restaurant was probably the most popular, especially among western tourists. It was always full during meal times: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dining there was comfortable affair. Western and Asian meals were offered at prices that were pocket friendly, mostly between RM 8-RM15. It was probably the only ala-carte restaurant that opens consistently from 8am till 10pm. Waiters were friendly and attentive. The German girl, probably the manager of the establishment, turned out to be an ex-resident of Leipzig, a city which is 45 minutes away from our place! She told us that she discovered Pulau Kapas seven years ago and has never left the place since!

 

It was when we were having dinner there that we discovered the other KBC (which I shall call KBC 2). How could we have missed it? Tucked right behind the restaurant was a newly built 2-storey building with both air-conditioning and fan rooms. The fan rooms on the first level were from RM160 while the air-conditioned ones were RM185.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO PULAU KAPAS

 

• Go off-season. The official season starts from February to October but it doesn’t really get busy till May. Avoid weekends (Thursday evenings to Sunday mornings) and local school holidays because you’ll get the local crowds. We went in the beginning of March and it was perfect, including the weather.

• There are no ATMs on the island so it’s best if you have some cash with you. Especially if you’re planning to stay long.

• Bring mosquito repellent as you’ll need it between 5pm to 8pm. After that, locals say, the mosquitoes disappear. Interestingly, they’re right. That’s why dinner at Qimi’s always starts after 8pm.

• If you’re crave for chips or cookies at random hours of the day, you might need to stock up from mainland. There a little sundry shop that sells water and sunscreen. 

• Pulau Kapas is not an island where you’d party and have bonfires.

  GETTING THERE

• There are at least five boat departures and arrivals a day but the timings change according to season. To be safe, first departure to Pulau Kapas from Marang Jetty starts from 7.00-.800 am while the first boat from Pulau Kapas to mainland is 8.30 am. The boat ride between mainland and Pulau Kapas is 10 minutes. The main service provider is Kapas Marine  which has an office just by the jetty. 

• There are overnight busses from Kuala Lumpur and Penang to Kuala Terengganu or maybe even to Marang Jetty. They all take about eight hours and while comfortable, there’s a chance your driver is an aspiring F1 driver. Take busses at your own risk. Busses that take you to the Kuala Terengganu bus station will arrive at 5 am in the morning.

• If you’re planning to take a taxi from the bus station to the jetty, do note that early mornings are the worst time to negotiate with taxi drivers. A taxi for two may cost RM30 while a taxi for four, RM45-60.

• Flying could be a better option as you’ll be able get one-way tickets from AirAsia for as low as RM 42 (from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu). If you take a taxi between airport and Marang Jetty, you should factor in at least 45 minutes of travel time.

WHERE TO STAY

• There aren’t any Airbnbs or 5-star beach resorts on Pulau Kapas.  You’ll mostly find very basic rooms, like a small room with a bed. We’d initially wanted to stay at KBC A-Frames (there are also dorms available) because we’ve read good things about it but after seeing it, it wasn’t what we’d expected. So we chose Ombak Kapas Resort instead (we couldn’t check out the other places at the other end). It still wasn’t the best (RM250 for a double air-conditioned room) but it was okay. They also have fan rooms. Most people who stay here are local tourists on a package.

• The newer KBC rooms would be our recommendation. You’ll find them tucked away behind the KBC Restaurant (RM160-RM185).

• Kapas Turtle Valley offers better rooms but at a steeper price (RM200 and above) but if you stay there, it’ll be a bit cut-off from the rest of Pulau Kapas.

• There are three camping sites, Lokoloko campsite Longsha Longhouse and Ombak Campsite.

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Pakej Pulau Kapas Terengganu - Day Trip Pulau Kapas & Resort Pulau Kapas

Pakej Pulau Kapas Terengganu - Day Trip Pulau Kapas & Resort Pulau Kapas

Pulau Kapas means Cotton Island and is located about 5 nautical miles or 6km off the shore of Marang, Terengganu. This island is a place where many locals and backpackers go due to its fast accessibility from the jetty. You will be able to reach the island in 10 minutes time by speed boat from Marang Jetty. Marang is located 18km south of Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu state. Do not confuse this Marang town with Merang town. Merang town is located north of Kuala Terengganu in Setiu province. 

The activities that you can do on this island are swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, windsurfing, hiking, fishing, kayaking. As you dive or snorkel, you will be able to see colourful fishes, corals, turtles and other marine creatures within the vicinity of the island. Divers, take note that there is a World War II shipwreck north of Gemia island where you can go for your diving activity. 

Best Time To Go

If you would prefer to have a time of tranquility and peace alone on this island, the best time to go is during the weekdays when most of the locals are working. Due to the monsoon season, most resorts will be closed from November to early February. Hence,the best time to go will be during the months of March, April ,May , June, July, August, September and  October.

A smaller island beside Pulau Kapas, called Pulau Gemia or Gem Island is located just north of the main island. There is only one resort in Gem Island known as Gem Island Resort. The standard room rate starts from RM205 nett per night onwards depending on the seasons and time of your booking. This is an exclusive island and the facility here are only accessible to those who are staying at the resort.

Accommodation

As it only takes 10 minutes by speed boat from Marang Jetty, most of the locals just go for a day trip to the island. Ifyou do not want to rush, you can stay at the resorts in the island. There are about 9 main resorts in Pulau Kapas and 1 resort in Pulau Gemia. Chalet, dorm and room rates ranges from RM20 to RM300 per night.

Resorts at the main Pulau Kapas are:
➤ Kapas Island Resort
➤ Ombak Kapas
 ➤Qimi Private Bay

 ➤Captain’s Longhouse

➤ Pak Ya Sea view cafe and chalet
➤ Kapas Coral Beach Resort
➤ Longsha Campsite 
➤ Lokoloko Campsite

Getting Here

There have several option to choose,If you are driving from Kuala Lumpur, use the Karak and East Coast Highway and go towards Kuala Terengganu after you exit the Highway. Follow the coastal Highway 3 and you will pass the town of Kemaman, Kijal, Kerteh, Dungun, Rantau Abang before reaching Marang. The journey will take you 6 hours. Once you are in Marang, follow the sign board Jeti Marang and you will arrive here in 5 minutes. There are plenty of car park bays available for your use. 

The speed boat transfer cost around RM39 for a return trip. The main service provider is Kapas Marine  which has an office just by the jetty.

Schedule of boat transfer:

Marang Jetty to Kapas Island

Starting from 8:00am - 3:00pm (1:00pm service not available on Friday)

Kapas Island To Marang Jetty

8:30am- 5:30pm (1:30pm service not available on Friday) 

For more details ,please deal with our main service provider , Kapas Marine

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