This story about Mimpi Perhentian Resort in Pulau Perhentian is written by one of our contributors, Anwar. Some parts of the article may have been edited for length and clarity.
My two friends and I went to Perhentian as a side trip from our 4D3N East Coast Trip – after two and a half months of staying at home, we decided it is time to travel (domestically) again! We chose Perhentian because we have been to other islands in Terengganu previously, such as Pulau Redang and Pulau Kapas. Since we gained positive feedback from our colleagues and family about the island, we decided to visit Pulau Perhentian Kecil.
P.S. Tick these 7 East Coast islands off your bucket list!
P.S. Check out these 6 amazing resorts in Perhentian as well!
Getting to Pulau Perhentian Kecil
The gateway to the island is Kuala Besut Jetty. We took a 40-minutes' speedboat ride from jetty to the island. Since this was just a short trip, and we wanted to maximise our time at Perhentian, we made an early booking for the speedboat – 2 weeks before departure so that we could catch the earliest boat to the island. But fret not, you can still get your ticket at the ticket office next to the jetty. There are plenty of travel agent companies who provide the service to the island. Just be sure to get to the jetty before the last boat departs to Perhentian at 4PM.
Ambience and staying at Mimpi Perhentian Resort
Mimpi Perhentian Resort is the latest addition to Pulau Perhentian Kecil. The resort is strategically located at Long Beach and it has its own jetty – you can even bring a luggage without having to drag it along the beach!
Upon reaching the resort, you will be greeted by crystal clear water where you can see the beauty of the underwater and the corals. There's a snorkelling site right in front of the hotel and a diving training centre just next door to cater for all types of divers; from beginners to pro.
There are two room views for this resort – Sea view and Forest view. If you want your room overlooking the majestic scenery of the beach, you should book the Sea View room (of course the price will be higher). But if you are looking for some peace, you might want to book the Forest view.
We booked a triple room (Forest View) with breakfast for RM 600/night. Please note that due to the current pandemic situation, buffet breakfast is not available until further notice. Upon check in, we were given a selection of breakfast sets to choose from, and we needed to inform the staff which sets we wanted before 8PM.
Activities at Mimpi Perhentian
Perhentian is famous for its crystal-clear water and beautiful corals.
People come here to snorkel and scuba dive. The resort offers full packages for these activities.
Other activities that you can do (not organised by the resort) is windmill hiking. The climb to the windmill will take about 30 minutes, but it is worth it!
From the top, you will be mesmerised by the aerial view of the island. I did not regret climbing it ?
P.S. Visiting Perhentian Island soon? Check out our ultimate guide!
Halal food at Mimpi Perhentian
Halal-certified food is served at the hotel. There is 1 all-day dining restaurant on-site. There's plenty of halal food at Long Beach too which are open from morning until late at night. The menu is mostly seafood, but there are some stalls selling snacks like Pisang Goreng and Keropok Lekor as well. Do expect higher food prices as compared to mainland Peninsular Malaysia. A plate of Nasi Goreng can cost you about RM15 – RM 20.
Useful tips for other travellers
- Jetty parking – you can see a lot of parking space before the jetty. Normal rate would be around RM 5 to RM 10 per day. But if you are trying to save some money, you can park at a parking spot near the ticket office and it’s free! Just be sure to park at a non-designated parking spot.
- Fire Dance – there will be a fire dance every night on weekends, therefore be sure to plan your itinerary wisely!
- Seasonal tips - Dry season in Perhentian starts from March to November. The island will be closed for visitors from December to February. We went there in July, the most peak month in the entire season, plus the MCO travel ban in Malaysia has just been lifted, thus the crowd was a little bit crazy and all rooms at the island were almost fully booked and the price was double the usual price. So, if you are looking for some tranquil trip to the island with fewer visitors, you can try visiting in March/April or October/November before the Island closes. But you might experience some rain during your trip during this time, so you might want to re-visit that option as well. Personally, my island or beach trip must have these three essentials; sun, sand and sea. Therefore, I wouldn’t mind paying a little extra during peak season, so I can enjoy my trip without having to worry about the weather!
- Muslim-friendly tips - The room is spacious to do prayers. Prayer mats are provided by the hotel.
- Special perks for celebrations or honeymoon - Mimpi Perhentian Resort can cater to all your celebration needs. You can call them in advance and they can arrange to suit your needs.
You can find out more about Anwar's travel adventures on his Instagram @anwarepublic.
P.S. Have you been travelling around Malaysia? Want to share your tips and stories to help Muslims travel better? Click on this link to share your experience!