[2025 Pulau Kerengga Stay] Travel Guide for Gem Island Resort & Spa (Updated Jan)

#malaysia This is a private island with only one resort. This island is just next to the much bigger Pulau Kapas. The hotel rate is more expensive and budget travelers will normally go to Pulau Kapas for cheaper cost and for more happenings. Gemia Island is a nice place to relax because there are not many visitor. Getting there - Parking at Marang Jetty. It is public parking, chargeable at RM6 per night. Boat Transfer from Marang Jetty to the Resort. This is provided by Suria Link Boat Services. The boat is new and safe. Boatman is friendly too. Boat ride is about 15 minutes from Marang. Ambiance/Facilities - Snorkeling, diving, and kayaking. If you are lucky like us, you got to witness the releasing of many one month old leatherback turtles at the beach. One in a lifetime experience. Highlights - The corals were decent, especially on the South China Sea-facing coast and we saw branch & staghorn corals, shelf/plate coral, sea anemone and clown fish, boxfish, sea cucumber and sea slugs, and too many fishes to name. It was great fun kayakking around Gem island (just 30-40 mins.) and we also kayakked over to Pulau Kapas (just the beach facing Gem Island). Food - The food at Gem Island was also quite yummy. The breakfast croissant was light and buttery and the coffee was robust enough. I liked the Indian style chicken curry for dinner and I found the squid cooked in a savoury-sweet-slightly sour gravy yummy. Tips - This resort they have electricity break time in the afternoon for 3 hours and prepared to pay some extra charges at the hotel after checkout. Activities like kayaking not included. Rating - 7/10

#myhiddengems Wonderful small private island with only one resort. Love the water villas, I saw sharks right on our balcony. Small island yet peaceful. You literally canoe to pulau kapas and back. Beautiful as well. The foods included in the package is nice too. I saw a turtle laying eggs on the beach! (Please do not disturb the turtles) very lucky! The staffs were very friendly and helpful. It was a lovely stay.

#mymymemories Gem Island. Wonderful small private island with only one resort. If you dont like crowded,cfull of tourist beach this is the place to go. But if you want to party on the beach then this is not the place. Love the water villas, we saw sharks right on our balcony. We even saw a turtle laying eggs on the beach! If you very lucky like us, they even have a turtle hatchling release at the beach. Such an experience just for us. The staffs were very friendly and helpful. Food was nice. It was a lovely stay. Getting There - Resort Gem Island is a 15-minute boat ride from Marang Jetty. From the jetty, it is a 30-minute drive from the Kuala Terengganu Airport. Attractions at Gemia Resort - Stunning island with 2 beaches for swimming. We even saw a turtle laying eggs on the beach! If you very lucky like us, the turtle sanctuary there will have a turtle hatchling release at the beach. Such an experience just for us. Kayaking for rent and snorkelling is also a must activities at this island. Grey shark can be seen in the morning by the balcony. Next to this Island is Bukit Singa. We kayak for about 30 minutes, and left our kayak at the shore. No one else there so don’t worry much. Hike up to the top and the view is amazing. Worth the sweat. Food - This resort have 1 restaurant. The view from the table is amazing. The foods are yummy, some local dishes by the chef and big portion too well worth the price. I love it overall. #terengganu #malaysiaisland