The Perhentian Islands was one of our favorite places in Malaysia. With so much beauty and awesome things to do, its no surprise we ended up extending our stay for an extra week 😉

On this “no hurry no worry” island, as we’ve dubbed it, you can spend your days lounging, diving, snorkeling, hiking, boating, or trekking through the lush jungles and white sandy beaches. The Perhentians offer something for everyone.

One thing that should be on everyones “must see” list if you like to explore off the beaten path places is a hike to the Windmill Staircase and the Blue Lagoon.

Check out this video below and you’ll know what we’re talking about 😉

Panoramic views, windmills in the background, lush jungle, a myriad of winding stairs down to the water, and the crystal clear, turquoise ocean greet you at our favorite spot on Pulau Perhentian Kecil.

Since this spot is a bit more remote you’ll often have the place to yourself. When we were there it didn’t seem like many people make the trek to the windmills and even fewer are brave enough to traverse the path with 500+ stairs wrought with holes and rusted supports. But that makes it all the more exciting! 

What To Know: Windmill Hike & Blue Lagoon

Location: Pulau Perhentian Kecil, one cove over from Long Beach.
Difficulty level: Moderate (some slight uphill and lots of stairs).
Hike Time: 40min – 1 hr 15 min (depending on comfort level with stairs and where you start from).

What To Pack For Your Adventure

• Sunscreen 
• Water 
• Swimsuit
• Towel
• Camera/GoPro
• Snacks or lunch (if you plan on staying a while… and why wouldn’t you?)
• Sturdy shoes (unless you’re comfortable climbing in flip flops) 

Getting To The Windmills Above Blue Lagoon 

Time to Windmills from Long Beach: 30-40 min

There are a few starting points to reach the windmills, which is how you access the stairs to the Blue Lagoon (unless you’re arriving by boat or kayak). The best are on Long Beach side and take off right next to Mohsin Chalet (for a slightly longer trek) or next to the Santai Restaurant near the tent camping (for a more direct route). With either, you’ll find signs along the way pointing you in the right direction. 

From Mohsin Chalet walk to the inter-island path and heads towards Coral Beach. Turn right at the Tropicana Inn and follow the sign to the Windmills and the Blue Lagoon. Following this path, you’ll be walking in the jungle for longer instead of on the beach like you would if you took off from the camp site. 

After a few minutes, the path will disappear and be replaced by housing developments and some local homes. Walk straight through until you find the housing development road. Turn right on it (walking towards the beach again) and you’ll see the path pick back up on your left about 100 feet down. 

Back in the jungle, you’ll continue straight for a little while before coming across a sign pointing you uphill towards the windmills. Follow it and not too much later you’ll be standing face to face with the fence that surrounds these giant machines. Now onto the staircase! 

How To Get To The Blue Lagoon 

From the Windmills: 10-35 min (depending on comfort level and number of photos taken 🙂 

From the windmill fence, you can turn left or right. We prefer going right and walking around the perimeter of the fence to the other side. Once you see the lookout tower, you’ve arrived at the staircase! 

Enjoy the view, grab some water, and begin the journey down the dilapidated steps to the amazing Blue Lagoon when you’re ready. Make sure to take your time as some of the steps are loose and you’ll want to test your footing from time to time. 

If you want a rest part way down, or on your way back up, there’s another lookout spot about halfway down to the water. 

If you’re like Alli, you’ll probably want your camera out to capture the amazing views from different angles!

Once you reach the bottom of the stairs you’ll need to make it onto the broken dock – the best place to jump into the ocean. It’s best to leave your stuff on the flat surface before climbing down the log ladder to the sinking dock so that it doesn’t slide off into the ocean. We almost lost a pair of glasses and had to go diving for them! 

Depending on the water level you can jump from the broken dock or the flat part above. Just make sure you check the depth before you jump. 

Enjoy jumping, swimming about, and floating around for as long as your heart desires. You can even climb on some of the rocks at the water’s edge if you’d like to explore some more.

Are you going to hike to the Blue Lagoon? Let us know what you think in the comments below! 

Eager to explore more of the Perhentians? Try kayaking around the entire island.

Heading To The Perhentians? Here’s Everything You Need To Know!

Exploration Guide: Pulau Perhentian Kecil 

And Some Tips On Getting There

Our Journey From Kuala Terengganu to Pulau Perhentian Kecil 

When You Visit Pehentian Kecil Kayaking Is A Must!

What To Do In Perhentian Kecil: Kayak!

Also, While You’re In Malaysia You Should Go See Kek Lok Si…

22 Photos To Inspire You To Visit Kek Lok Si Temple

A Few Lessons We Learned From Another Beautiful Island In Malaysia…

Tioman Island: Why You Should Always Double Check Where The Closest ATM Is Located…

What We Learned From Making Friends With A Group Of Dive Masters

And Learn To Order Food Without Making A Fool Of Yourself 🤣

Learning To Order Food Like A Local

Share this: Let us know if you have any questions in the comments and be sure to share the stories of your adventures with us on Facebook and Instagram (tag @LifeIsMeantForExploring we will see it). Pinterest fan? Pin one of the images below! Have fun exploring the Perhentians!