Lang Tengah Island: The Most Underrated Island in Malaysia

Pulau Lang Tengah is a hidden gem locate in Terengganu, Malaysia. The island nestled between the more famous Pulau Redang and Pulau Perhentian. ‘Tengah’ directly translate to middle. If you enjoy a more laidback and relax vibe island, Pulau Lang Tengah should be in your top choice to go to. You can enjoy white sandy beach, relax under the sun and even have the beach all to yourself during certain time of the day.

Getting to Pulau Lang Tengah

To get to Pulau Lang Tengah, you will need to head out to Merang Jetty and it is a 40 minutes boat ride from Jetty to Pulau Lang Tengah.

If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur, you can drive up to Merang Jetty – which takes around 5 hours. There is a parking bay available at the jetty priced at RM15 per night.

If you are not keen on driving for long hours, you can opt to take a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu. Once you arrive in Kuala Terengganu, hire a taxi to Merang Jetty which takes about 40 minutes drive.

Do take note of your time of arrival at the jetty as boat schedule only runs twice a day to Pulau Lang Tengah. You can refer the updated boat schedule here. Best if you can reach before 10AM to catch the earliest boat which leaves at 10AM. If you make arrangement directly with your resort, do confirm the timing with them so you don’t miss the boat!

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Pulau Lang Tengah is between March and October. March is when resort starts to open up after Monsoon season and is the ‘shoulder’ months so you might get a great off peak rates. There’s less visitors during ‘shoulder’ month, so you can enjoy the beach all to yourself. 

Between April and September are the peak months and you are almost guaranteed to have the best weather during these times. With sunny, clear skies and clear water all day.

East coast of Terengganu is affected by Monsoon during November to February and resorts will normally cease operation – so do avoid visiting during this time.

Where to Stay

There’s only three resorts on the island and each comes with its private beach stretch. You can walk from one resort to another and there’s a good distance between each resort so it won’t be particularly crowded in any single area.

Summer Bay Resort $$$

I personally stayed here during my stay on the island as it had the best reviews. I booked it via Agoda with breakfast option or you can also book directly from their website.

The resort comes with a few room options such as the deluxe pool access, allamanda room, family room and premium room. They usually offer all in package that includes four meals a day, snorkeling excursion, both transfer and other complimentary activities. Price starts at RM1088 per pax for 3 days 2 nights package and children below 1 year old stays for free.

If you want a fuss free holiday, not thinking of additional budget to fork out while on the island, you should consider their all in package. Additionally, there’s limited food options on the island and best if you take up the package as meals are sorted.

If you only book for the accommodation and breakfast, fret not as Summer Bay has five restaurants for ala carte options and offers variety of cuisines including local and western food. They are priced above average considering its on an island. My husband and I had pasta at Seaview Cafe which was pretty good and fulfilling.

I stayed in Allamanda room, it comes with a queen bed, air conditioner and water heater. It was clean and comfortable. I was particularly amazed that they have good water pressure considering we are on an island.

Sari Pacifica Resort $$

Sari Pacifica Resort is located on the same stretch of beach as Summer Bay. Price starts at RM500 ++ per pax for a 3 days 2 nights all inclusive package. This is the mid range resort on the island.

They have a few types of room that covers all the basic amenities such water heater and air conditioning. The resort looks much laid back and quieter compare to Summer Bay.

D’coconut Lagoon $

This resort is the most affordable option on the island and located on the other side of the island. Peak season price starts at Rm300++ per night for 2 pax which includes the basic bed and breakfast.

We walked from Summer Bay to D’coconut Lagoon which takes around 15 to 20 minutes. The resort actually looks pretty good from the exterior and I would consider to stay on this side of the island if I were to visit again.

It has a nice stretch of beach although the sand is not as soft and powdery as the one near Summer Bay. There’s a small shop adjacent to the resort that sells pretty good local food and with cheaper option. We had our lunch there and ordered fish, vegetables and rice while enjoying the beach.

Things to do in Pulau Lang Tengah

1. Snorkeling

There are a few snorkeling spots in Lang Tengah and you can hop on the excursion at the resort you are staying. If it’s not part of the package, you can always add on during check in.

Lang Tengah has pretty good water visibility and you can see coral reefs, sea cucumber, sting rays and baby sharks. If you’re lucky, you can also spot sea turtles!  Lang Tengah is one of the hot spots in Malaysia for turtle sighting.

2. Diving

If you are a licensed Scuba diver and keen to explore the deep sea, fret not, Lang Tengah has one of the best diving spots in Malaysia. The resorts have their own dive center and they can arrange the excursion for you.

3. Hiking

Just a short hike away to Batu Bulan, and you can enjoy amazing sunrise view. The hike starts just at the back of Summer Bay resort and it will take around 30 minutes to get to Batu Bulan. The trail is beginner friendly. If I can hike at 5 months pregnant, you can too! Just don’t forget to wear proper shoes and bring bottled water.

Travel Tips

  • If you are driving, bring a steering lock and sun shade when you leave your car at the open car park area.
  • There’s no ATM on the island. Bring sufficient cash during your stay.
  • There’s a small mini mart at Summer Bay if you need to get any necessities but it is quite pricey. Bring some snacks and drinks with you to the island
  • Don’t forget to bring your sunblock, sunshades and your beach outfit!
  • Just take it slow and enjoy the beach and island

Conclusion

Pulau Lang Tengah is one of the untouched beauty in Peninsular Malaysia. It is best to allocate at least 4 days 3 nights for you to truly enjoy the island. This is one of the island that I will re-visit. If you have travelled to Lang Tengah, I would love to hear your thoughts on Lang Tengah😊