Pulau Kapas adalah salah satu tarikan pelancongan yang terletak di Marang, Terengganu.
Biarpun tidak terkenal seperti Pulau Perhentian dan Pulau Redang, pulau ini mempunyai keistimewaan dan keindahan tersendiri yang membuatkan anda harus melawat ke pulau kapas.
Sesuai dengan namanya, Pulau Kapas menjadi tumpuan pelancong di dalam dan luar negara kerana memiliki pesisir pantai berwarna putih seperti kapas.
Selain itu, ada banyak lokasi dan aktiviti menarik yang boleh dilakukan sepanjang berkunjung ke pulau terbabit.
Terletak hanya 10 minit dari jeti Marang, pengunjung mempunyai pilihan sama ada ingin pulang pada hari sama atau menginap di chalet dan resort disediakan.
Jika inginkan kelainan dan menjimatkan wang, anda boleh memilih berkhemah di tapak yang disediakan dengan harga sangat berpatutan
Baru-baru ini penulis bersama beberapa rakan bercuti ke pulau ini di bawah kendalian Kapas Marine.
Sebelum menaiki bot, kami diminta berkumpul di Jeti Marang. Sementara itu, penulis mengambil peluang menikmati nasi dagang ikan tongkol di Pasar Marang sebelum bertolak ke Pulau Kapas sekitar jam 9 pagi.
Konsep percutian kali ini adalah perkhemahan. Sebaik tiba, kami diminta memasang khemah sendiri.
Bagi kali pertama yang mengikuti program seperti ini, agak sukar untuk mereka memasang khemah dan banyak kejadian lucu berlaku termasuk khemah dipasang terbalik atau runtuh. Mujur ada penganjur membantu mereka.
Selepas memasang khemah, sementara menanti makanan tengah hari siap, kami diberi peluang membuat aktiviti bebas di kawasan sekitar.
Penulis memilih melakukan aktiviti selam snorkel. Kejernihan air membolehkan penulis menikmati keindahan batu karang yang berwarna-warni.
Pada sebelah petang, kami dibawa ke belakang pulau untuk mendaki Bukit Berakit dan mandi di ‘blue lagoon’.
Kemudian, kami terus dibawa ke jeti berhampiran untuk menikmati keindahan matahari terbenam.
Pada sebelah malam, penganjur mengadakan sesi perkenalan antara peserta untuk mengeratkan ukhuwah sesama kami.
Pada hari kedua, selepas sarapan, kami bergerak ke Bukit Singa. Nama Bukit Singa diperoleh kerana bentuk bukit yang menyerupai kepala singa.
Mendaki Bukit Singa adalah aktiviti wajib sekiranya berkunjung di pulau ini. Untuk ke sini, kami perlu melalui pesisir pantai dan batu-batuan tajam.
Sampai sahaja di puncak Bukit Singa, penat lelah kami terbayar apabila dihidangkan dengan pemandangan indah dengan laut terbentang luas di depan mata.
Selesai bergambar, kami diminta terjun dalam laut untuk menyejukkan badan sebelum kembali ke tapak perkhemahan.
Pada sebelah petang, kami ke jeti untuk meneruskan aktiviti bermandi-manda.
Seterusnya pada sebelah malam pula, kami meluangkan masa dengan bermain pelbagai permainan yang disediakan dan paling menarik setiap acara ada hadiah disediakan penganjur.
Pada hari terakhir, sebelum bertolak pulang, kami diminta mengemas semua tinggalan dan sampah-sarap
Banyak kenangan indah tercipta sepanjang tiga hari dua malam bercuti di Pulau Kapas ini. Jika diberi peluang, penulis ingin kembali membina kenangan baharu di pulau ini!
Korang boleh booking servis bot dan penginapan di pulau kapas melalui team Kapas Marine yang memang ohsem !
“Nak Dapatkan Pakej dan Trip Pulau Kapas Terbaik?”
Jangan risau. Anda Sudah Berada Di Tempat Yang Tepat ! Kami Adalah Syarikat Yang menguruskan pelbagai aktiviti pelancongan di Pulau Kapas dan penginapan Di Pulau Kapas, Jom Travel Like A Local Bersama Kami Kapas Marine !
Kapas island, aka. Pulau Kapas, or Cotton Island, just off the coast of Marang in the Terengganu state, on the eastern side of Malaysia’s peninsula, is perhaps one of the country’s best-kept secrets. Or rather, that’s what it felt like when we arrived on Kapas island during the Hari Raya period, a major holiday in the country and a very popular time for local tourism in Malaysia.
We had expected the little Kapas island to be packed with locals since we were aware that Malaysian people enjoyed travelling to the beaches during this time of year, just after Ramadan, when the kids were off school. If you’re looking for a slightly more developed island in Malaysia compared to Pulau Kapas, check out our blog post about Redang Island.
Living the Slow Life on Kapas Island (Pulau Kapas)
What we found on Kapas island was empty, soft, white-sand beaches, pristine blue water and a delightful tiny compact island ready to be explored, as we will show you in this Pulau Kapas blog!
Sure, there were a few local families around, as well as a handful of backpackers camping on Pulau Kapas, but they all seemed to settle into their own secluded spot or hammock where they would spend much of the day.
Chilling out and relaxing appears to be the order of the day around here. Indeed, there isn’t much to do except lounge in the shade of the coconut trees, occasionally taking a dip in the shallow, blue, crystal-clear water when the heat is too much to bear.
The few tourists seemed to be primarily spread out on the bay, in the stretch of sand between the jetty and the Lokoloko campsite, and in the bay near Kapas Coral Beach Resort & Ombak Kapas Resort. Some of the other beaches slightly further away (like 500m away) were deserted entirely and even more beautiful. The beaches on Pulau Kapas are connected via a white walkway, providing access over the rocks and making the west side completely accessible.
How to get to Kapas island (Pulau Kapas)
Pulau Kapas Jetty @ Marang Jetty is the jumping-off point to Kapas island.
We took boat transfer & other activities services from the primary service provider, Kapas Marine Boat Services, which has an office just by the jetty.
Penang to Marang Jetty
We took an overnight bus to Kuala Terengganu from Koptar Bus Station in Penang at 10 pm for RM35 (about €7) each. Buses in Malaysia are extremely comfortable with reclining seats and air-con. It gets really cold at night. So be sure to have a jacket or warm clothes handy on your journey! Buses on this route are scheduled throughout the day and can be booked directly at the offices near Komtar Tower.
The trip was about 8 hours long, so we arrived around 6 am and took a taxi to Marang Jetty from Kuala Terengganu for RM30 (€6). We might have been overcharged for the 30-minute ride, but we were too tired to wait for a bus, especially knowing we needed to catch an early boat from the jetty to Kapas Island.
Kuala Lumpur to Marang Jetty
Kuala Terengganu is also served by direct buses from Kuala Lumpur with a journey time of around 6-7 hours. The tickets cost around Rm44 (about €9).
Marang Jetty to Kapas Island:
The ticket for the ferry to Kapas Island, which we had already booked online from Kapas Marine Boat Services, cost Rm39 (about €8) each, both ways. Various tour packages, including ferry and accommodation, can be arranged with different tour operators, but of course, we suggest dealing with Kapas Marine Boat Services .
The ferry stopped us in front of Kapas Coral Beach Resort, so we walked across the beaches to Kapas Island Resort, which took about 10 minutes. The resorts are all really close to each other, so getting from one to the other is really not a problem.
We did manage to take the boat back from the jetty near Kapas Island Resort (where we were staying) though, after having informed Kapas Marine Boat Services of our intention to leave – a day’s notice was sufficient.
Pulau Kapas accommodation
There are few Pulau Kapas accommodation options, mostly located on the west side of the island where the beaches are. Every beach seems to house its “own” resort although the beaches on Kapas island in no way belong to these resorts and are completely accessible to all.
Tourists rarely seemed to venture much further afield than the beach on which their resort is located – the beaches are all beautiful, and staying close to the resort where you can keep your stuff is convenient.
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
The only reason we didn’t sleep outside on the beach was because we knew that we would fall prey to the many mosquitos eagerly waiting to feed on every inch of our Mediterranean skin. Mosquito repellent is essential!
If you afford some luxury, the secluded Gem Island Resort and Spa found on Gemla, an even smaller island just off Kapas, is the preferred accommodation option.
What to do on Kapas island (Pulau Kapas)
1. Chill on the beaches in Kapas island
The best activity on Kapas island is to practice being a beach bum! Lie on the beach, get a tan, swing from a hammock in the shade of the coconut trees and enjoy the ultra-slow life on the island.
2. Snorkel around Kapas island
If you want to get moving, snorkelling in the crystal-clear water around the rocks near Captain Longhouse is fun! There is also a lovely coral garden around the rocks on the northern side of Qimi Beach Resort.
There have been many turtle sightings in the area and, if you’re lucky, you can get to see some reef sharks like we did.
3. Diving around Kapas island
Diving is also possible at the only diving facility called Aquasport Divers, who organise diving trips to a nearby Japanese war wreck.
4. Trekking across Kapas island jungle
What was supposed to be a short easy jungle trek turned out to be much more than we had bargained for! Somehow, given the easy and slow-paced life on the tiny island, we had assumed that the trek would be a short comfortable walk.
What we didn’t know though was that the internal part of Kapas island is hilly and covered in jungle with lots of protruding roots and thick foliage.
As we sweated our way along the path, we chided ourselves for not having brought repellent along with us. I was covered in itchy bites by the end of the trek and Nick (who claims that his blood is too sweet for the mozzy palate) had also fallen way down the food chain! The path starts off behind Captain Longhouse through a steep flight of steps which fork off into the jungle. You need to take the left path.
The route is pretty straightforward, as a rope and some rudimentary markers conveniently line the path throughout most of the trek. The last part of the trek includes a very steep descent until you come across a dirty rocky beach which, quite frankly, is not worth the effort it takes to reach it.
A second path takes you back to the west part of Kapas island. Although our intention was to trek back through this route, we could not find the elusive second path, (and neither did the only other rambler we met on this side of the island), so we had to backtrack along the same route.
Be sure to take mosquito repellent and to carry plenty of water on the trek. Don’t be fooled by the fact that Kapas island is so small. The trek can be challenging and there’s no phone reception in case of an accident. Unless you’re really craving exercise, there’s no real reason to go on this trek and you would be much better off keeping cool by the water.
Where to eat on Kapas island
Most of the resorts prepare some food, but be prepared for basic meals without much variety.
Our favourite place to eat was actually the same resort we were staying at, Kapas Island Resort because we found that it offered the best dining option in terms of quality and price. Be prepared for very slow service during busy periods though! The coconut chicken curry, which cost about 10 RM (about €2) is exceptionally tasty.
Kapas Island Café (located a few metres away from the jetty) is also a great dining option although it closes really early, so forget late night dining under the stars here.
The buffet-barbeque at Kapas Coral Beach Resort was quite a let-down. The food was pre-cooked and very bland, but for RM20 (€4) each, we shouldn’t have expected better really!
There are only two convenience shops around the island offering little variety, and which can be rather pricey too. Stock up on some of your favourite snacks from the mainland.
Tips for visiting Kapas island
Bring cash to Kapas island. There are no ATM’s!
As already mentioned earlier, bring mosquito repellent.
Bring all the snacks you might need with you. There are very few places to purchase ‘extras’.
As with other Malaysian islands off the mainland’s east coast, the best time to visit is during the months of March to October. The island is closed from November to early February.
Initially we had wondered whether four nights on Kapas island would be an overkill given its size, but had we not had transport and accommodation already booked on Redang Island (our next stop), we would have been happy to spend more time in one of our favourite destinations in Malaysia. We hope that our Pulau Kapas blog will convince you that Kapas Island is one of Malaysia’s top destinations!
“Nak Dapatkan Pakej dan Trip Pulau Kapas Terbaik?”
Jangan risau. Anda Sudah Berada Di Tempat Yang Tepat ! Kami Adalah Syarikat Yang menguruskan pelbagai aktiviti pelancongan di Pulau Kapas dan penginapan Di Pulau Kapas, Jom Travel Like A Local Bersama Kami Kapas Marine !
Alang-alang sudah sampai Terengganu dan cuti masih panjang, kita teruslah bercuti ke Pulau Kapas lepas keluar dari Pulau Redang. Booked the trip to stay at OMBAK KAPAS RESORT.
I used to come to this island like 8 years ago and at that time I don’t really like the place, maybe because at that time I don’t know how to swim so I didn’t really enjoy it.Now takderlah terrer sangat swim tapi setakat selamatkan diri sendiri boleh la.. hahaha..
Total Cost Bercuti di Pulau Kapas:
So here goes the trip:
3 hari 2 malam 3d2n full board package – RM 285/pax for standard room.
Actually bilik ini untuk 2 orang tetapi my friend sudah bayar semua tak dapat datang, so duduk la sorang-sorang kat bilik. The price is a little bit high due to school holiday season.
Hari Pertama
13:40 – Arrived at Jetty Merang from Redang and terus picked up by my friend untuk pergi Jetty Pulau Kapas Marang. The trip took around 45 mins.
15:00 – Take the boat transfer via Kapas Marine from Jetty Pulau Kapas Marang to this island. The boat ride will take around 10 mins to reached there.
15:20 – Arrived and checked in
16:00 – Free & easy
19:00 – Dinner
Hari Kedua
07:00 – Breakfast
08:00 – Snorkeling depan pantai
12:00 – Lunch and rest
20:00 – Dinner & relax
Hari Ketiga
07:00 – Breakfast
9.00 – Hiking Bukit Singa
12:00 – Check out
13:30 – Depart to Jetty Marang
Tips Bercuti di Pulau Kapas
1. So during off time, you can go for
snorkeling
just relaxing by the beach. Ambik angin tepi pantai best weh!
end to end beach walk – to complete your daily 10k steps count!
mandi pantai la apa lagi..
2. The beach can be divided into 4 main beach area and there are stairs that connect each side. You are free to roam at each area without anyone stopping you. During low tide, you can just swim across to the other side.
3. During night time, in front of Ombak Kapas chalet, there are fire performance show and live band. Boleh la lepak ambil angin malam while listening to music.
4. Makanan atau minuman seperti biasa harga pulau. A cup of teh tarik costs around rm3.50. So if you don’t take the full board package, either bring your own food or prepare some cash money since there are no ATM machine on the island.
5. It is possible to do a one day trip. Just ask Kapas Marine ,their office located at Jetty Pulau Kapas Marang. The return boat ride will costs around rm29-39. You can choose either to do a day trip or to stay overnight on the island.
Senarai Chalet Di Pulau Kapas, Resort atau Campsite
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
Koleksi Gambar-gambar menarik di Pulau Kapas
“Nak Dapatkan Pakej dan Trip Pulau Kapas Terbaik?”
Jangan risau. Anda Sudah Berada Di Tempat Yang Tepat ! Kami Adalah Syarikat Yang menguruskan pelbagai aktiviti pelancongan di Pulau Kapas dan penginapan Di Pulau Kapas, Jom Travel Like A Local Bersama Kami Kapas Marine !
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.
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.
“Nak Dapatkan Pakej dan Trip Pulau Kapas Terbaik?”
Jangan risau. Anda Sudah Berada Di Tempat Yang Tepat ! Kami Adalah Syarikat Yang menguruskan pelbagai aktiviti pelancongan di Pulau Kapas dan penginapan Di Pulau Kapas, Jom Travel Like A Local Bersama Kami Kapas Marine !
