SeasonMapPerhentian Islands (Perhentian) weather by month
Malaysia
The best time to visit Perhentian Islands (Perhentian) is February, March and July — 90/100 in March, 29°C and 10 rainy days. The best season is the dry season, February to September (83/100 on average).
The worst month is November at 57/100 — hot, soaked, clean air. See November →
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Planning the wider trip? Best time to visit Malaysia →
Perhentian Islands, month by month
Comfort score out of 100 for the kind of trip Perhentian Islands is best for, the average high, rainy days and hours of sun a day from the climate normals, and how busy it tends to be.
| Month | Score | Tier | High | Rain | Sun | Crowds | On |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanJanuary | 71 | B | 27°C | 20 d | 9 h | Shoulder | 2 |
| FebFebruary | 84 | A | 28°C | 13 d | 11 h | Peak | 3 |
| MarMarch | 90 | S | 29°C | 10 d | 11 h | Peak | 3 |
| AprApril | 81 | A | 30°C | 14 d | 11 h | Peak | 3 |
| MayMay | 79 | B | 31°C | 20 d | 11 h | Peak | 3 |
| JunJune | 82 | A | 30°C | 17 d | 10 h | Peak | 3 |
| JulJuly | 87 | A | 30°C | 16 d | 10 h | Peak | 3 |
| AugAugust | 83 | A | 30°C | 18 d | 11 h | Peak | 3 |
| SepSeptember | 80 | A | 30°C | 20 d | 10 h | Peak | 3 |
| OctOctober | 69 | C | 29°C | 25 d | 9 h | Quiet | 1 |
| NovNovember | 57 | D | 28°C | 28 d | 8 h | Quiet | 2 |
| DecDecember | 58 | D | 27°C | 23 d | 8 h | Busy | 2 |
What's on in Perhentian Islands through the year
Festivals, natural spectacles, holidays and the seasons to watch out for — curated and sourced. The month pages carry the detail.
- February
- Ramadan and Hari Raya5 Feb – 25 Apr (usually)Holiday
- March
- The islands reopen1–31 Mar (usually)Opening
- April
- Turtle nesting1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Nature
- Open season, clear water1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)Season
- May
- Malaysian school holidays20 May – 15 Sep (usually)Holiday
- October
- Northeast monsoon15 Oct – 1 Mar (usually)Season
- November
- Islands shut for the monsoon1 Nov – 28 Feb (usually)Closure
Crowds in Perhentian Islands in March
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsRamadan and Hari Raya, Term-1 break (Hari Raya 2026) in Malaysia, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Traveller notes on Perhentian Islands
What people who have been say about the place — the year-round notes first, then month by month.
Perhentian Islands' forum is candid that March is a coin flip — some years it's calm, clear-water conditions perfect for the beach, others it's still catching the tail end of the monsoon with rough, murky seas. Regulars say the north-east monsoon usually eases by mid-March but doesn't stick to a schedule, so it's worth playing it by ear rather than booking too far ahead.
Add your own note from Perhentian Islands's card on the map.