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You can circle around the south-western part of Perhentian Besar (the big island) on foot.
A very rough map of tracks I modified – you can find better on the island
The best blog I have found on the islands is this:
http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/2011/07/perhentian-islands.html
But I will give my account. There are three tracks, and I will deal with them clockwise from Tuna Bay Resort. Here it is called jungle trekking.
What you need – Part 1 & 2: Flip flops, although shoes would make walking easier. And trousers rather than shorts would protect you better from insects and scratches. I just wore a swimming costume and flip flops. Something to drink unless you have a drink before setting off on each stage. Hat, swimming costume, sunglasses for the beaches, insect repellent, camera, money for drinks before each stage.
Part 1 – Tuna Bay to PIR – see last year’s blog.
Part 2 – PIR to Arwana Beach Resort. 12.09 start, 12.59 arrived at Arwana Resort.
The walk starts a bit behind the resort near the jetty and is signposted – it’s easy to ask at reception, too.
the start of the second stage – behind PIR
Walk up the path up the hill and you find an electrical substation and Maxis mobile mast next to the path after about five minutes. These first few minutes the path is a little rough.
the first part was easy
Soon after you come to a T intersection. I don’t know where the path on the right leads, but probably to Mamas – we took the left hand path.
a lot of the track was quite smooth
the purpose of the path was to access infrastructure, I suppose
Mostly the walk is quite easy, but there are a few rocky spots where you have to be careful with your footing and balance negotiating a slope. A couple of paths led on to the path we were on, but I also don’t know from where they came.
sometimes you saw the water pipes
there was mud in places
and on
and on
There were also a few fallen trees to clamber over or climb under along the route.
there were some fallen trees
climb over or under
mostly descended towards sea level again
10 minutes before the end, the vegetation becomes bushier and can scratch your legs and the path was a little wet or swampy in places.
more level now
will arrive soon
some flowers
almost there
saw a couple of monitor lizards – they are shy
The path arrives behind the Arwana Resort and you can walk through it to the beach.
the back of Arwana Resort
cross the bridge
and now you’ve arrived at Flora Bay
There are a lot of low key resorts here, and it seems very quiet. Turn right and walk along the beach to the end if you want to take the path back to Tuna Bay.
turn right onto the beach
Part 3 – Arwana – Tuna Bay. 13.44 start, 14.21 arrived at the beach – then another 10 – 15 minutes easy walk along the beach and around a couple of headlands to Tuna Bay.
Just skip this and catch a water taxi to Abdul’s for RM 12 each. However, if you are determined, then… (By the way, a water taxi in the reverse direction is RM15!?)
This track involves a lot of clambering over and between rocks ascending or descending. Great for kids. As previously stated I wore just a swimming costume and flip flops, and survived. But shoes are recommended, and I would wear them should I wish to walk / clamber this track again. And I would wear trousers too, as the mosquitoes are ferocious – with shorts on if you stop for a break you provide a quick snack for marauding insects.
After arriving at Arwana’s beach, turn right / north and walk to the end of the beach, and then turn inland, with the last building on your right and follow the path for about 20 metres.
take the path to the left of the last building
A sign indicates jungle trekking to the left.
a few metres down the path you see the sign
the next left into the jungle
Then clamber away. About 70% of the path is clambering over rocks, and the rest is reasonably easy. If you stop the mosquitos come. So it’s better not to.
a lot of the path is rough
much of the path is climbing through rocks
it’s slow going
As you approach the end of the track the walk becomes very easy – the track splits off in different directions – I kept right, but the other tracks possibly take you further towards the southern end of the beach, or even to the next beach south. All within a few minutes walk of each other. There are no shops until you get to Abdul’s in another 10 minutes or so.
having descended the going is easy
and now almost at the beach
the sign pointing back to Flora Bay
arriving at the beach
then an easy walk
around one of the headlands
back at Abdul’s, a few minutes walk to Tuna Bay
For me, I will do the first two walks again. As for the third, I think I’d use a water taxi instead.
