East Coast Malaysia Travel

Hey everyone!

Seeking some honest advice from fellow travellers who know Malaysia well!

I’ll be in Malaysia from September 13–24 and I’m entering from Singapore via bus to Johor Bahru. I prefer avoiding super crowded tourist spots — I’m more of a chill, slow-travel kind of person.

My rough plan:

After arriving in JB, I want to base myself somewhere nearby and explore these islands/beaches:

• Cherating

• Pulau Redang

• Pulau Perhentian

• Pulau Tioman

• Pulau Besar

i want to relax, eat amazing seafood, enjoy the sea, and not rush. That’s it. No packed itineraries!

After about 10 days of island-hopping, I plan to head to Langkawi and then cross to Koh Lipe (Thailand) via speedboat.

Now here’s where I need your help

1. Is this a solid plan, or am I trying to cover too many islands and will end up exhausted from constant moving?

2. Do you think I’ll get bored seeing similar scenery every day, or is each place different enough to keep it interesting?

3. Should I cut some islands short and spend a few days in Penang or Ipoh instead for a change of scenery and food?

4. September is shoulder/rainy season — are any of these islands a bad idea weatherwise?

Would love to hear from anyone who’s done a similar route! All suggestions welcome.