Pantai Bisikan Bayu - also known as Pantai Dalam Rhu - is just a scenic 50km drive south of Kota Bharu, Kelantan's capital. Around the village of Semerak, gentle breezes rustle the casuarina trees lining the beach producing a hushed sound that, locals say, sounds like a soothing whisper.

Surfing is good at certain times of the year, and wind surfers will find great conditions here during the North-East Monsoon from November to April.

But nothing beats resting in the shade of the tall casuarina trees, staring out to sea, listening to the whispering wind and sipping on a cool coconut. Perfect R & R…

Are you into shopping? Then buy another piece of luggage because you'll need it when you come here. Virtually the whole brightly lit street called Jalan Temenggong is lined with colourful craft shops selling gold and silver jewellery, textiles, brassware and wood carvings. All items are proudly made by local artisans.

But be prepared to bargain and search for the best deals. And don't be afraid to shop around!

Key Tips:
This is Bargaining Heaven. But be ready to haggle hard and always do so with a smile!

A good way to get to know a Malaysian town is to visit its markets, the economic centre of the community. Siti Khadijah Market is named after Prophet Muhammad's entrepreneurial wife. A fitting name for a market mostly run by women.

This market has something for everyone, from fresh produce to traditional crafts and cakes. It is also a slice of life in Kelantan, abuzz with colour, scents and sounds of the local community.

Key Tips:

By all means, take photos, but if you want to take close-ups of the sellers with their vibrantly coloured wares, it's a good idea to ask for permission first.

Pulau Lang Tengah is a very small island located between Perhentian Island and Redang Island. This little island is accessible by a 30-minute boat ride from the Merang jetty. According to locals, Lang Tengah takes its name from 'Lang' which comes from helang which means 'eagle' in the Malay language, and tengah, meaning 'middle'. Thus, Lang Tengah means eagles resting on the middle island.

The island is very small indeed. A round-island trip by speed boat takes only 10 minutes. The beach is narrow and land is limited. However, its small size gives it its best advantage - Lang Tengah Island holds only 4 resort operators, ensuring a peaceful visit.

Pulau Redang, located 45km off the coast of Kuala Terengganu, is the largest of a group of nine protected islands dotting the South China Sea off the Terengganu coast. The island offers crystal clear waters and numerous dive sites for enthusiasts. Sheltered within the Pulau Redang Marine Park, the waters here are rich in marine life. At midday when sun rays penetrate the sea, brilliant hues of coral, anemones and fish can be seen.

The waters around Pulau Redang also contain two historic shipwrecks: The H.M.S. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse, which sank here at the start of World War II, setting the stage for the Japanese occupation of Malaya. This paradise island is perfect for snorkelling, swimming, scuba-diving, jungle trekking, boating and canoeing. No fishing is allowed within a 3.2km radius of the island as Pulau Redang is gazetted as a marine park. The collection of corals and other aquatic life is also strictly prohibited. Berjaya Resort offers a golf course in an idyllic setting.

Key Tips

Pulau Redang is larger and has more activity on it, the two Pulau Perhentian islands are smaller and quieter.

How to get there

By Boat:

Begin your island-hopping adventure by catching a boat at any of the jetties in Kuala Terengganu and Merang. Travelling time to Redang is one hour from Kuala Terengganu and 50 minutes from Merang.

Who to contact:

For more information, please contact Terengganu Tourism Office Tel: +609-622 1433 / 1893

About 6km off the coast of Marang is Pulau Kapas, an island renowned for its clear waters, sandy white beaches and swaying palms. Relatively isolated from the hustle and bustle of the mainland, this island is the perfect getaway for those looking for some blissful relaxation. Making it a must-visit destination, especially for discerning divers and snorkellers, is the incredible variety of hard and soft corals, seashells, fish and turtles.

The laidback atmosphere gives a perfect excuse to do nothing. Still, if you are feeling restless, there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied. Take your pick: diving, swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing, kayaking, boating and even fishing.

Key Tips

Pulau Kapas is difficult to access during the monsoon (November - March).

Another place that should be on every visitor's itinerary is Rantau Abang, 60km south of Kuala Terengganu. There, visitors can lie quietly in wait from midnight to dawn to watch giant leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The turtles, lumbering slowly up the white sandy beaches to lay eggs, are a memorable sight.

These giant turtles grow up to 2.5m long and sometimes weigh more than 375kg. Rantau Abang is one of only six places in the world visited by these turtles, from the months of May to September.

These turtles and their eggs are also protected. Their eggs are located and replanted by scientists in incubator centres where controlled conditions can influence the sex of young turtles, helping the species survive.

Pulau Tenggol is another beautiful diving getaway and lies just 45 minutes off Kuala Dungun in the south of Terengganu. It is small - just 3 km long and 2 km wide. However, this doesn't prevent it from being a paradise, especially diving enthusiasts.

The interior of the island is filled with steep, rocky cliffs. This rocky terrain extends from the interior of the island right into the ocean and has created a dramatic 'drop-off' - a sort of vertical canvas of marine life - that divers never seem to tire of.

The Desa Craft is an interesting handicraft centre which showcases songket weaving, brassware, traditional and contemporary batik.

This centre was developed by the Terengganu State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) as part of its effort to promote Kuala Terengganu as a popular tourist destination and as a showcase for the cultural handicrafts that the state is so well known for.

Terengganu is endowed with a wealth of superb natural landscapes. It is often said to have the most amazing geographic and natural diversity of all the states in the nation. Few visitors would disagree...

It has beaches, exotic islands, lush virgin tropical jungles, quaint fishing villages, dazzling waterfalls and much, much more. Miles and miles of white, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters stretch the length of its coastline from Besut in the north to Kemaman in the south.

Her islands are among the most picturesque and romantic in the country. From its myriad of colourful pastimes, which include batik-printing and songket-weaving, to the celebration of its many cultural and traditional heritages handed down from generation-to-generation, Terengganu is indeed a very blessed state.

Terengganu's population is predominantly Malay and speak in a dialect almost foreign to the rest of the country. The pace of life in Kuala Terengganu, the state capital, and all the towns and villages in Terengganu is countrified and unhurried.