The Perhentian Islands lie off the east coast of mainland Malaysia and the weather here is heavily influenced by the monsoon.

It is because of the monsoon season that the Perhentian Islands are essentially closed from November to March.

Most hotels close and shipping to the islands is also completely minimised due to rough seas. So don't plan a visit to the islands at all during this period, travel would be very complicated.

For the rest of the year, you can expect pleasant tropical weather with high temperatures and humidity. The sea is pleasantly warm all year round, so you can be in the water practically all day.

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Weather and temperatures throughout the year

Below you will find an overview of the weather in each month during the year.

Weather in January

January is still the monsoon season, so heavy downpours and thunderstorms often arrive and the islands are basically inaccessible.

Weather in February

With an average rainfall of 100mm per month, the rain is a little less, but the surrounding seas can still be very rough.

Weather in March

Temperatures are pleasant at around 30°C, but humidity is still high, and although it is sunny most of the time, there can be sudden and violent downpours.

Weather in April

In April, the monsoons are officially gone and travellers can expect fine weather. The average air temperature is 30 °C.

Weather in May

With an average temperature of 31 °C, May is one of the hottest months of the year in the Perhentians. Rainfall is already rather exceptional, but at the same time the main tourist season hasn't started yet, so the islands are not that crowded.

Weather in June

June is hot and sunny on the islands. It is also the first month of the tourist season, so it is better to book hotels in advance.

Weather in July

In July, you can expect temperatures in the 30°C range and minimal rainfall in the Perhentians. This makes July the ideal month to visit the islands.

Weather in August

August is also an ideal month to visit the islands in terms of weather. The average daily temperature reaches 30 °C, and there may be occasional showers, but most of the time the weather is nice and sunny.

Weather in September

In September, the Perhentians still have good weather, but the main tourist season is no longer in session. This makes September the perfect month to visit the islands if you don't want to deal with the crowds.

Weather in October

October is a transitional month between the dry season and the monsoon season. So some years the weather can be amazing, others it will be raining a lot.

Weather in November

November is the rainiest month on the islands. The surrounding sea is rough, so boats are more rarely seen on the islands and many islanders go to the mainland for the monsoon season.

Weather in December

In December, the monsoon season is in full swing. The humidity is high, the average air temperature is 29°C, but the islands are virtually inaccessible.

Sea temperature

The sea in the Perhentian Islands is at an ideal temperature for swimming all year round. The water temperature oscillates between 27 °C and 30 °C with a maximum in the summer (August) and a minimum at the end of the monsoon season (January, February).

During the monsoon season, the sea is cloudier and more animalistic, so conditions for diving or snorkelling may be worse immediately after the start of the season.