Pulau Kapas

Just 15 minutes by speedboat from the mainland, Pulau Kapas is the most accessible of the East Coast resort islands and is the perfect place to chill out for a few days. Try to visit during the week, as this small island with beautiful beaches can become overrun with day trippers on holidays and long weekends. In the unlikely event that even Kapas seems too large, tiny Pulau Gemia (home to a single resort) lies just 800m off the north coast. Although there are a couple of mid-range options, Pulau Kapas enjoys a budget-traveller vibe and has some of the cheapest island resorts in Malaysia with back-to-basic dorms and campgrounds. Most resorts can arrange snorkelling and diving trips.