Exploring Tenggol Island, Malaysia’s forgotten paradise


The water on Tenggol Island is crystal clear. — Photos: ABBI KANTHASAMY

There's something about Tenggol Island that feels like a secret. This small, tear-shaped gem off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia doesn’t shout for your attention like its glitzier neighbours. It whispers. A soft call of powdery sands, turquoise waters, and an underwater world so rich and vibrant, it feels like a waking dream.

Getting here isn’t easy – it’s a boat ride from Kuala Dungun, a sleepy fishing town in Terengganu. Tenggol’s relative obscurity is its greatest strength. This is not a destination for travellers seeking infinity pools or Instagrammable beach bars. It’s a place for the curious, the adventurous, and the ones who still believe that the best experiences aren’t wrapped in shiny packages.

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