Unwind on tiny Pangkor Island, home to authentic fishing villages and some of the finest beaches to be found on Malaysia’s west coast.
At just 800ha in size, Pangkor offers a choice of tranquil coves and secluded beaches linked by a single road that fringes the jungle-clad mountains of the interior – just perfect for a honeymon or romantic getaway.
Pangkor Island offers a great choice of pretty beaches that typically host accommodation options from budget chalets to luxury resorts, including the following…
Located on the north-west coast, this wide, 1.2km-long crunchy white-sand beach spans the whole bay and is surrounded by hills of virgin rain forest.
Teluk Belanga fronts the Pangkor Island Beach Resort, which offers a range of creature comforts as well as numerous water- and land-based activities.
This wide bay offers several beach resorts, food stalls and a smooth and wide beach that shelves into crystal clear water.
The beach is home to several resorts including the Pangkor Bay View Beach Resort, which offers guests a wide range of water- and land-based activities.
A short walk north along the beach followed by a swim around the headland (or a climb over rocks at low tide) leads to Coral Beach, one of the best beaches (for snorkelling) on west coast of the island.
This small crescent of perfect white sand faces the pretty island of Giam, which is easy to reach during low tide.
While walking across, look out for colourful corals and aquatic life including seaweeds and sea cucumbers.
The small island of Giam is very popular for snorkelling and for picnics.
The pretty white-sand beach of Teluk Ketapang (Turtle Bay) is a quiet alternative to Pasir Bogak Beach, which lies 2km further south.
The beach is named for the increasingly rare giant leatherback turtles that often lay their eggs there.
Make footprints on this palm-fringed white-sand beach that stretches in a narrow crescent around a turquoise bay that is just perfect for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and fishing.
Pasir Bogak Beach lies at the northern end of Coral Bay on the south-west coast of Pangkor Island. It's the most developed of Pangkor Island's beaches, playing host to several beachfront resorts, including the Pangkor Sandy Beach Resort and the Coral Bay Resort.
Enjoy a picnic in the shade or relax over a cold drink at one of the many restaurants.
Discover a crescent of soft white sand fringed by dense jungle that reaches up the sides of Bukit Pangkor, one of the island's three peaks that sits on the south-west coast of Pangkor.
With rocky headlands and crystal clear, emerald-green water, this is probably the best region on Pangkor Island for snorkelling. Coral Bay is home to Pasir Bogak Beach as well as several resorts scattered around the bay.
Climb Pangkor Hill or hike through pristine rainforest at Pangkor Forest Reserve to see local flora and fauna, including rare orchids, macaque monkeys, monitor lizards and giant yellow pied hornbills as they glide majestically through the trees.
Sunbathe on idyllic white-sand beaches, swim or snorkel in secluded coves, hike through virgin rainforest or visit historical sites such as Kota Belanda, the 17th century Dutch fort at Teluk Gudang, by bicycle, car or motorcycle.
Must-see attractions on Pangkor Island include…
Fu Lin Kong Temple – Explore this mix of theme park (which includes a mini-version of the Great Wall of China) and the colourful temple.
Kota Belanda – Located close to the village of Teluk Gudang stand the remains of a Dutch fort that protected the islands from attacks by local Malays and pirates in the 17th century.
Only the foundations of the fort remain, including the ruined walls of a later reconstruction.
Pangkor Forest Reserve – Discover rare flora and fauna – including orchids, colourful butterflies, birds, monkeys and giant hornbills – on a hike through this pristine rainforest.
Shopping – Best buys include hand-printed batik creations such as shirts, blouses, pareos and scarves, as well as handbags made from mengkuang leaves.
An excellent mix of resort accommodation can be found on Pangkor Island, from the 4-star Pangkor Island Beach Resort (photo) to a wide range of budget accommodation located within several beachside fishing villages.
The best resort accommodation on Pangkor Island and Pangkor Laut Island, including the following…
Pangkor Laut Resort
Location: Pangkor Laut Island
Rating: 5-star
Prices: from AUD277 per room
Description: This luxury resorts sits on a private white-sand beach and offers a choice of sea, spa, hill and garden villas. Spa villas comprise wooden Malay-style chalets perched atop stilts, connected by wooden boardwalks over the sea, while hill and garden villas are set amidst the nearby hills and lush vegetaion. Each villa offers Malaysian arts and textiles with warm wood interiors, contemporary wood furnishings, king-size beds, writing tables and a private sun deck furnished with chaise lounges. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers with jetted bathtubs, complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.
Facilities incl.: 4 restaurants, 2 bars, 2 outdoor pools, TV lounge, health club, spa, room service, 3 floodlet tennis courts, squash court and watersport activities.
Pangkor Island Beach Resort
Location: Pangkor Island
Rating: 4-star
Prices: from AUD121 per room
Description: Surrounded by hills of pristine rain forest, this resort fronts a white-sand beach facing a secluded bay overlooking the Andaman Sea. This Malaysian-styled, 258-room resort is situated on 73 acres of jungle reserve that faces a beach at the north end of Pangkor Island. The Pangkor Island Beach Resort is about one mile off the west of Peninsular Malaysia. A choice of comfortable villas and guestrooms feature traditional Malay architecture with sun decks and garden or ocean views. Amenities include TV with satellite channels, electronic safes and complimentary Wi-Fi Internet in lobby.
Facilities incl.: 2 restaurants, 2 bars, 2 outdoor pools, spa and watersport activities.
The best time to visit Pangkor Island is in January and February, and from June to September.
You can expect warm, sunny days with cool nights. Temperatures range from 22°C (71°F) at night up to 30°C (86°F) during the day.
Short downpours can happen at any time of the year, but normally last only an hour or two. The wettest months include March and April, and from October to December.
More information about Pangkor weather…
Pangkor Island is located 3.5km (2.2mi) off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the Straits of Malacca.
The most convenient route to Pangkor is by air to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) or Penang Airport (PEN), followed by transfer to the island.
Major resorts on Pangkor Island can arrange pick-up by prior arrangement from Kuala Lumpur International Airport or Penang Airport, as well as providing guests with boat transfer from Lumut Ferry Terminal to the island.
Alternatively, you can either drive or catch a bus from Kuala Lumpur (3 hrs 55 mins) or Penang (2 hrs 30 mins) to Lumut, then take the 32-minute ferry ride to Sungai Pinang Ferry Terminal on Pangkor Island. Ferries depart every 45 minutes from Lumut to Pangkor Island.
Lumut sits approximately 83km (51mi) southwest of Ipoh, 160km (99mi) south of Penang and 220km (136mi) northwest of Kuala Lumpur.
From Singapore, you can also fly into Ipoh Airport followed by a 1-hour and 12-minute drive to Lumut.
More information about how to get to Pangkor Island…
Latest update: Pangkor Island: 16 June, 2022
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