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    Malaysia's 10 best islands Hardcore foodie? Scuba snob? These Malaysian getaways have everyone covered By Simon Ostheimer 7 May, 2012 Tweet

    From the cosmopolitan charm of Penang to the hippie getaway of the Perhentians, Malaysia embracesa diverse array of islands.

    Here, in no particular order, we present our top 10. Disagree? Share your favorite Malaysian island inthe comments box below.

    Perhentians: Hippie hideaway

    While many backpacker haunts have become gentrified over time, the Perhentians have managed to

    retain their low-key vibe.

    They might not be easy to get to, but the Perhentian islands off the northeast coast of PeninsularMalaysia have achieved iconic status on the backpacker trail.

    And for good reason -- the waters are so clean that you can snorkel right off the beach and still see adiverse array of aquatic life.

    Fishermen turned tour guides will also take you out in their small boat for a day trip to swim with sharksand turtles.

    In the evening, beach bars set up cushions on the sand as wandering fire artists do their thing.

    Where to stay: For high-end lodgings, check out the Tuna Bay Island Resort . Budget hunters shouldlook up Abdul Chalet .

    Getting there: Regular buses leave from Hentian Putra bus station in Kuala Lumpur, taking nine hours.Alternatively, fly from Kuala Lumpur's LCCT airport to Kota Bharu, and then catch a taxi to the port townof Kuala Besut.

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    Tioman: An island for flashpackers

    The island of Tioman and the waters surrounding it are protected nature reserves, which has helped it

    retain its wild vibe.

    Although part of the Malaysian state of Pahang, Tioman is actually reached from the Johor town ofMersing. There's also a direct ferry from Singapore.

    The island has two claims to fame that continue to be hyped by media and marketers. One, the dramatictopography of this teardrop-shaped isle in the South China Sea was (supposedly) used as a backdropfor the 1958 movie " South Pacific ," while Time magazine named it one of the world's most beautifulislands in the 1970s.

    Though it's now a firm fixture on the tourist trail and has lost a little of its exotic mystique, it retains -where many of its Southeast Asian contemporaries have lost theirs - the natural environment andwildlife that first made it famous.

    First among animals, on land at least, are the giant monitor lizards that roam among the kampungs(Malay for villages) in search of food. Don't worry, they avoid humans. Most of the time.

    Where to stay: They dont come more recommended than Bagus Place Retreat , winner of a 2012Travellers Choice award from TripAdvisor. For a boutique experience, check out JapaMala .

    Getting there: There are bus services from all over Malaysia to Mersing,; from here it's a two-hour boat

    ride to the first jetty on the island. Tioman also has a small airport, which Berjaya Airways flies to from

    Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

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    Langkawi: Best for luxury

    Don't worry, Lankawai has the same stunning beaches as the rest of these islands. We just thought you

    might be tired of looking at white sand.

    Located hard by the border with Thailand, Langkawi is part of the Malaysian state of Kedah, not Perliswhich is in fact directly adjacent.

    Famously, the island was believed to have been cursed in 1819, when a woman named Mahsuri, wasput to death for alleged adultery. Before she died, she uttered the words, There shall be no peace andprosperity on this island for a period of seven generations.

    Two years later Langkawi fell to the invading Thais, with much of its population subsequently dying fromstarvation. The island was then indeed barren for a long time, before Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamed - the colossus of Malaysian politics who also built Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers and the Sepang F1circuit - decided to turn it into a resort island in 1986.

    He declared it a duty-free island, and ever since then Langkawi's growth has been nothing short ofspectacular, with high-profile resorts dotting its sandy shores.

    The best way to take it all in is on the 2,200-meter-long cable car, which rises some 710 meters abovesea level. Interestingly, Mahsuri's husband and son moved to Phuket after the Thai invasion, and it wason that island that her seventh generation descendant was born - in the year 1986. Coincidence?

    Where to stay: They dont come much more stylish - or eclectic - than Bon Ton , eight traditionalMalay homes set in a former coconut plantation. Or theres always the Four Seasons Resort Langkawi .

    Getting there: Langkawi has by far the best flight connections of any Malaysian island, with dozens ofdaily flights to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Penang.

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    Penang: Food and heritage

    Dusk falls over Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang's capital, Georgetown.

    The Pearl of the Orient has a long and illustrious history. "Discovered" by Captain Francis Light in 1786,

    Prince of Wales island, as it once was known, was for a long time one of the jewels of the British empire.

    Alongside Melaka and Singapore it was known as one of the Straits Settlements, a string of outpoststhat dominated the sea trade between India and the rest of Asia.

    However, its importance gradually waned over the centuries, before it was rediscovered as a holidaydestination and reinvented as an IT hub.

    Today, under the close eye of Malaysian opposition and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, theisland is proudly parading its past - the UNESCO status granted to historic Georgetown in 2008guarantees that.

    But its greatest attraction is its street food - from Penang laksa off Macalister Road to banana leaf inLittle India to seafood on Gurney Drive - you'll find it all here.

    Alongside a raft of improvements designed to attract even more visitors, including investment in publictransport, a tree planting program, pedestrianization schemes and a schedule of new cultural festivalsand fairs, this magnificent island - only slightly smaller than Singapore - is once again making its markon the world stage.

    Where to stay: Since 1948, the recently restored Lone Pine sits serenely on the north shore of theisland, while for city digs look no further than the Hotel Penaga , heritage buildings in the heart of town.Attracting a lot of attention among luxury lovers is the Eastern & Oriental Hotel , a restored colonialproperty.

    Getting there: Flights from around the world land at Penang International Airport. From there,

    inexpensive taxis can transport you to destinations around the island, or you can catch the airport businto town.

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    Labuan: An isle of bankers

    Clear waters, white sands and offshore banks. What everyone looks for in an island.

    Located off the coast of East Malaysia, sandwiched between Sarawak and Sabah, Labuan is one ofthree Federal Territories (the others are Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya). Its special status as aninternational offshore financial centre and free trade zone has allowed it to attract outside investmentfrom the financial sector (some 6,500 offshore companies are based here).

    Long-term, the Malaysian government envisions the island as becoming one of the worlds majoroffshore business centres, akin to the Middle Eastern hubs of Dubai or Bahrain.

    While it has some way to go to achieve similar status, the nation has a track record of dreaming big andmaking it happen -- the Petronas Towers and annual F1 race attest to that.

    If youre not involved in the financial services, there are other reasons to visit such as wreck diving. Over

    the years, numerous ships were sunk in the shallow waters off Labuan, making it ideal for novice divers.These are simply known as the American, Australian, Blue Water and Cement Wreck.

    There is also a well-tended War Cemetery, where an annual remembrance ceremony is held for some3,900 Allied soldiers who died during in World War II.

    Where to stay: For both service and quality, its a close toss-up between the Tiara Labuan andthe Grand Dorsett .

    Getting there: There are daily flights to Labuan Airport from Kuala Lumpur, Miri in Sarawak and KotaKinabalu in Sabah. There is also an air-conditionied ferry to Brunei.

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    Layang-Layang: Isolation guaranteed

    Would you call this an island? Layang-Layang's isolation makes it one of Asia's best diving experiences.

    Little more than a coral reef with a runway, the tiny island of Layang-Layang is located some 300

    kilometers northwest of the Sabah capital of Kota Kinabalu (KK), the state to which it belongs.

    A creation of the Malaysian Navy, which reclaimed land from the sea in order to state the nations

    sovereignty over the Spratlys, that South China Sea island group also claimed whole or in part by China,

    Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.

    Surrounded by pristine waters that drop to 2,000 meters, Layang-Layang is often ranked as one of the

    top 10 dive sites in the world due to its remarkable array of marine life.

    Due to the Navy's presence, the coral reef has been spared the explosive damage caused by dynamite

    fishing and other destructive practices, leading to underwater visibility of more than 40 meters.

    Particularly of note are the schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, which can sometimes number in

    the hundreds, though you can also expect to see manta rays, dolphins, barracuda and turtles.

    Where to stay: Easy one to answer. At the only game in town, the traditional-styled Layang Layang

    Island Resort run by the Avillion group.

    Getting there: The only way in and out is on a charter flight from Kota Kinbalu, with the price included in

    the various packages offered by the only place to stay on the island.

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    Sipadan: For hard-core divers

    In his 1989 film "Borneo: The Ghost of the Sea Turtle," famed underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau

    said, "I have seen other places l ike Sipadan, 45 years ago, but now no more. Now we have found an

    untouched piece of art."

    At the end of 2002, following a long dispute with Indonesia, the International Court of Justice ruled thatthe island of Sipadan was Malaysian.

    The country, and the state of Sabah which it is part of, have reason to be relieved. Sipadan is oftenrated as the worlds best dive site, with a location in the centre of the planets most bio-diverse marinehabitat.

    In order to protect the fragile ecosystem, in 2004 the government ordered all of the dive resorts off theisland, banned night dives and set a limit of 120 divers per day.

    The move worked, as the surrounding waters continue to teem with life. It's home to 3,000 species offish, hundreds of species of coral, an abundance of rays and sharks and large populations of green andhawksbill turtles - so much so there is a famous turtle tomb, an underwater labyrinth that has drownedmany of the unfortunate sea creatures.

    Where to stay: As you are not allowed to stay on Sipadan itself, stay close by at the Sipadan KapalaiDive Resort built on stilts over the water or Sipadan Pom Pom Resort .

    Getting there: Its a 55-minute flight from Kota Kinbalu to the town of Tawau, an hours drive to theeven smaller township of Semporna, and then a 40-minute speedboat ride.

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    Redang: For a "Summer Holiday"

    If you get tired of white beaches, Redang has plenty of wildlife, including monkeys, deer and monitor

    lizards.

    The Redang archipelago actually consists of nine islands, namely Lima, Paku Besar, Paku Kecil,Kerengga Besar, Kerengga Kecil, Ekor Tebu, Ling, Pinang and Redang itself.

    Together, they form a marine park situated 45 kilometers off the east Peninsular Malaysia state ofTerengganu.

    Unlike its close cousins, the backpacker-filled Perhentian islands to the north, Redang is very much anupmarket destination, with mostly resort accommodation on offer.

    Accordingly, the island also has its own airport, served by Berjaya Air, which since 2004 has flown dailyto Kuala Lumpurs Subang Airport and Singapores Changi.

    With excellently preserved coral, the main attractions of Redang are snorkeling, diving and the crystalclear waters.

    Youll need to stick close to the shoreline regardless, as the interior is mostly impassable, apart from aroad that connects the airport with the coast.

    In 2000, the island was the setting for Hong Kong movie "Summer Holiday," which featured Cantopopstar Sammi Cheng and Taiwanese heartthrob Richie Ren. The success of the film led to a sudden influxof tourists.

    Where to stay: The same company that owns the only airport and airline to fly in, also has the bestplace to stay, The Taaras , by Berjaya. However, film fans should head to the Laguna Redang IslandResort , where the colourful souvenir shop was a key setting in the movie "Summer Holiday."

    Getting there: If you dont want to pay to fly in directly, the alternative is to fly to Kuala Terengganu, andthen continue by car and take a ferry from the port of Merang.

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    Rawa: For a weekend break

    Not all of us have opportunities to stay in a sultan's lair. Rawa is the next best thing.

    There arent many chances to stay on a Sultans private island. Rawa is one. Owned by the family of theSultanate of Johor, Rawa is a small island 16 kilometers off the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia.

    Only two resorts hug its white-sand fringed west coast, which is accessible by boat from the mainlandport of Mersing (also the departure point for more distant Tioman).

    Because of this exclusivity, Rawa attracts tourists looking for a more secluded vacation. While the westcoast is postcard perfect, the rest of the shoreline consists of inaccessible, dramatic rocky cliffs thatplunge directly into the sea.

    To check these out, take the easy way and rent a canoe or hike up steep steps to the summit of theisland, from where you have vantages of the eastern shore, the coast of Johor and the other 12 smallislands that make up the Johor Marine Park.

    As your choice of accommodation is limited -- it can often fill up quick with young Singaporeans lookingfor a weekend getaway -- so book up early.

    Where to stay: There are only two places to stay on the island: Rawa Island Resort or thesmaller Alangs Rawa .

    Getting there: From Kuala Lumpur, catch a bus or drive to Mersing, from where regular ferries depart.Note that during low season (November to March), ferry frequency can drop sharply.

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    Pangkor: Loved by locals

    Tiny Pulau Pangkor lies off Perak on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia.

    Despite measuring just eight square kilometres, Pulau Pangkor (pulau is the Malay word for island) is

    one of the most popular beach getaways in Malaysia -- among locals, that is.

    Pangkor is one of the country's most accessible islands, yet it is overwhelmingly the preserve of

    Malaysians, who head there every long weekend for a little rest and relaxation.

    There is little in terms of nightlife but instead you'll find uncrowded sandy beaches, a huge variety of

    amazing local cuisine and friendly people.

    Where to stay: For a splurge, book a sea villa at the exclusive Pangkor Laut resort. This stunning one-

    of-a-kind property has a small island all to itself. Or, try the Pangkor Island Beach Resort , part of the

    YTL group of hotels.

    Getting there: There are direct flights to the island from Subang's Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport via

    Kuala Lumpur, or it's a 30 minute ferry ride from the town of Lumut.