A traveler looking for peace and relaxation surrounded by exotic landscapes will surely find what they want on Pangkor Island, Malaysia. Clean beaches that are not trampled by the tourist’s foot, the primitiveness of the wild jungle and the rhinoceros birds circling in the air are attracting more and more interest from sophisticated tourists every year. This is not a resort where you will find a variety of hotels and large shopping centers with crowds of vacationers. Pangkor is a haven of calm and balance, where the traveler harmonizes with nature and is charged with its energy.
General information
Pangkor Island, whose name translates as “beautiful”, is located northwest of the Malaysian mainland between the popular resort of Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Malay is recognized as the official language here, but many residents speak good English, which was facilitated by the long-term dominance of the British Empire in Malaysian territory. Over the past decade, the authorities of Pangkor have been actively involved in the development of tourism on the island, but the main engine of the economy is still fishing.
Most of the population (about 30,000 people) is made up of Malays and indigenous people, but you can also meet Chinese and Indians here. Since Malaysia is very tolerant in matters of religion, Pangkor is home to representatives of various religious movements. Although Islam is considered the official religion here, which is practiced by about 53% of the population, there are many Buddhists, Christians and Hindus on the island, as well as followers of Taoism and Confucianism.
Tourist infrastructure and prices
Pangkor Island in Malaysia is not one of those resorts where noisy crowds of tourists are everywhere, and the nightlife is bustling in non-stop mode. This is a secluded place that does not boast an abundance of luxury hotels and an avalanche of entertainment programs. However, one of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia is ready to provide its visitors with all the necessary conditions for organizing a decent holiday.
Useful to know! In 2020, the island was granted the status of duty-free trade, after which the number of tourists increased by 40% compared to 2017.
Hotels
Several modern hotels have been built in different parts of the island, and you can also find a lot of budget guest houses here. So, budget travelers have the opportunity to stay overnight in a hotel for just $16 (double room). On average, the price in the budget segment ranges from $22 to $45 per night, but more luxurious hotels with a spa, gym and golf course will cost $120-200 per day.
Food and beverages
Pangkor can’t be called the center of culinary delights, but there are many restaurants and cafes on the island where you can have a delicious and inexpensive lunch. Since fishing is developed here, many establishments offer an extensive menu with seafood, where you can taste dishes from crabs, squid, shrimp, oysters, sea bass, etc. There are also restaurants that specialize in Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes.
To fully enjoy the exoticism of Malaysia, it is worth trying out the local cuisine, among the main dishes of which there is rice cooked in coconut milk and seasoned with nuts, fish curry, and, of course, rice noodles with vegetables and shellfish. Special attention should be paid to local salads made with exotic vegetables and fruits, as well as healthy drinks such as fresh juices and coconut milk.
So that you do not have to worry about where to eat in Pangkor, we offer you our own selection of the most worthy restaurants to visit:
- «Uncle Lim’s Kitchen»
- «Fisherman’s Cove»
- «Nipah Deli Steamboat & Noodle House»
- «Island One Cafe & Bakery»
- «Daddy’s cafe»
The average check for lunch at a local cafe will be $20-30. A glass of beer or cocktail in the restaurant will cost you $3.5-5, water – $0.5.
Transport
There is no public transport on the island, so you can only get around by taxi or by rented bike or car. Taxi on the island is a minibus, painted in pink. The cost of traveling on this transport is $4-5, but if you find fellow travelers, you can divide this cost in half.
An alternative to a taxi can be a rented car or scooter. The minimum price for renting a car per day is $20-25. A scooter is a more popular and less expensive means of transportation on Pangkor, which will cost an average of $7-10 to rent per day.
Some travelers prefer to rent mountain bikes: unlike Kuala Lumpur and other major cities in Malaysia, the traffic flow on the island is not so intense, and the roads themselves are in good condition. You can rent a bike for just $4 a day, and the island itself can be explored in an hour.
Entertainments
In Pangkor, it is good not only to lead a carefree holiday, but also to explore the territory, get acquainted with local animals and vegetation. What can you do on an island in Malaysia?
Fishing
Catch a fish with your own hands and fry it on the grill-what could be more pleasant? Local fishermen can help you reach your favorite fishing areas for a small fee. Here you can fish with a net, fishing rod and spinning rod. Gear for every taste is sold right on the beach.
Jungle Hike
Pasir Bogak Beach offers a famous trail leading to the uncharted nature of the rainforest with its rolling hills and panoramic views of the countryside. Here you can watch animals and birds, explore new plants.
Snorkeling and diving
Local residents offer tourists to go on a tour to explore the underwater world of the island. Windsurfing and kayaking are also available.
Boat trip
Any traveler has the opportunity to swim around Pangkor and visit the adjacent islands. To do this, just rent a boat, which will cost $20-25 per hour.
Thus, the island of Pangkor has all the necessary conditions that can provide a full-fledged rest. It will also be quite interesting for children here: even such a simple event as feeding rhinoceros birds will leave the most vivid memories in their memory.
Beaches of Pangkor
On Pangkor, there are about a dozen beaches, for which most tourists come here. Getting to them is not difficult, but not all of them can please with clear waters and white sand, so it is important to study the most worthwhile options in advance. On the east coast of the island, many villages are concentrated, whose inhabitants are fishing, respectively, and the water with sand there is quite dirty and not suitable for swimming.
The western coastline is considered more favorable for recreation, where in addition to clear water and clean sand, water activities are provided for visitors (jet ski rental, snorkeling, etc.). I am glad that most of the time the beach areas are empty. Only on public holidays and weekends are they filled with Malays who come from the continent to relax with their family. What are the best beaches to visit in Pangkor? Among them are the following.
Pasir Bogak
It can be reached in just a few minutes from the pier of the village of the same name. It is a popular holiday destination on the island due to its close proximity to the city. The sand here is white, the water is clear, but slightly cloudy, which is a consequence of the popularity of the place. There are several shops along the beach where you can enjoy grilled shrimp and squid. Pasir Bogak offers a wide range of water activities, ranging from kayak rentals to diving tours.
There are no public showers or toilets on Pantai Pasir Bogak.
Teluk Nipah
Considered the most beautiful beach on the island, it will delight travelers with its clear water and snow-white sand. Teluk Nipah is quite narrow, but the palm trees and trees growing on its banks give a cool shade and the very atmosphere of exoticism. In several places, swings are tied to trees — the photos are great. In high season, the beach is quite crowded, as a result, there is garbage here.
There are also several cafes and restaurants, and local residents offer water activities. Teluk Nipah is located by the road, where there are many shops, groceries and beach accessories.
Coral Bay
It is a 10-minute drive from nearby Teluk Nipaha. It has become the best beach in Pangkor due to its wide coastal area, clean water and white sand. At the same time, it is quite calm and serene here, there are few tourists, so Coral Bay is great for enjoying nature. You can sit in the shade of trees or rent a sunbed for 10 ringgit.
The entrance to the water is smooth and shallow, which is good for children. There are several restaurants nearby, 2 of them located right on the beach. There is an outdoor shower next to Daddy’s Cafe.
Teluk Ketapang
It is located about two kilometers south of Teluk Nipaha, from which you can get here in 30 minutes at a leisurely pace. Usually this beach is empty, because there are no hotels nearby, but you should visit it at least in order to meet a rare species of leatherback turtles, after which the area itself was named (Teluk Ketapang – “turtle Bay”). This is a beautiful and clean area with clear water, but very undervalued by tourists.
Mallaka — what is interesting about the city of Malaysia
Climate
You can go to Pangkor at any time, because its equatorial climate provides hot weather all year round. Although the period from November to February is considered the rainy season, in reality precipitation may not fall for several days in a row, so feel free to plan a vacation for these months.
The average temperature during the day is at least 31°C, and at night the heat gives way to pleasant air, cooling to 25°C. Pangkor has a fairly high humidity, which varies between 70-90% depending on the time of year. The island is not characterized by any natural disasters and inclement weather.
| Month | Average daytime temperature | Average temperature at night | Water temperature | Number of sunny days | Daylight length | Number of rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31.5°C | 26°C | 29°C | 16 | 11,8 | 11 |
| february | 31.7°C | 26°C | 29°C | 19 | 11,9 | 9 |
| March | 32°C | 27°C | 30°C | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| april | 33°C | 28°C | 30°C | 21 | 12,3 | 10 |
| May | 33,4°C | 28°C | 30,4°C | 17 | 12,4 | 10 |
| June | 33,5°C | 28°C | 30°C | 22 | 12,4 | 5 |
| July | 33,3 | 27°C | 30°C | 21 | 12,3 | 7 |
| august | 33°C | 27°C | 29,8°C | 19 | 12,2 | 10 |
| september | 32°C | 27°C | 29,7°C | 13 | 12,1 | 10 |
| october | 32°C | 27°C | 29,5°C | 14 | 12 | 16 |
| November | 31,7°C | 27°C | 29,5°C | 6 | 12 | 19 |
| december | 31°C | 26,5 °C | 29,5°C | 10 | 11,9 | 16 |
How to get to Pangkor from Kuala Lumpur
Pangkor is located north of Kuala Lumpur, and the distance between them in a straight line is about 170 km. Although the island has a small airport, Pangkor Airport, currently it does not accept regular flights from Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia and only serves private flights. However, you can get to Pangkor not only by air,but also by land and water.
The most optimal and inexpensive way to get to Pangkor from Kuala Lumpur will be such transport as an intercity bus. In order to get to the island, first you need to drive to the port city of Lumut. There are 6 ferries a day from Lumut Pier to Pangkor. The cost of travel from Kuala Lumpur to Lumut by bus will be $7, and the trip itself will take about 4-5 hours. Schedule and tickets-on the website https://12go.asia.
A bus from Kuala Lumpur departs from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan and drops off its passengers in Lumut near the pier from which the ferry departs to the island. Ferries from Lumut to Pangkor depart every half hour from 7: 15 to 18: 30, the fare is $1.75, and the journey time is 33-45 minutes. You can check the current schedule and purchase tickets on the website www.easybook.com tickets can also be purchased at the ticket office at the pier itself.
Upon arrival on the island, you can use the services of a pink minibus (taxi), which will take you to the hotel you need for $4-5.
If you are traveling in Malaysia, you decide to go to Pangkor from Kuala Lumpur and you have a rented bike, then you can also go to Lumut, and then take the ferry to the island with a scooter. The ship does not officially transport vehicles, but for a nominal fee ($3-5), the crew will load your scooter on board. Of course, to get from Kuala Lumpur to the ferry, you can use taxi services, but this is a very expensive option ($180).
Conclusion
If you are in search of the pristine beauty of exotic expanses untouched by human civilization, go to the island of Pangkor (Malaysia). This exotic place is always ready to welcome new seekers of unique sensations.
