Pulau Pangkor travel and tourist guide
Sunset on Pangkor is magical
Pulau Pangkor is a picturesque island midway up the Peninsular’s west coast with direct flights from Singapore. This is an extremely sedate place with a main town and group of tranquil fishing villages on its west coast and a few beach resorts geared towards tourists scattered down the west.
Weekending city-dwellers flock here in their droves come Friday evening, but if you arrive during the week you are likely to have as much solitude as you could possibly desire and your pick of all the best accommodation at bargain prices.
Below is an overview of the island but 1stopMalaysia has our comprehensive Pulau Pangkor guide.
Orientation
As fishing remains how the vast majority of local people earn their living on Pulau Pangkor, the island is bereft of the sort of high-pressure salesmanship of larger destinations such as Langkawi and Penang.
The island has a single loop road all the way around the coast and a second dissecting road connecting the town on the east side with the beach resort of Pasir Bogak halfway up the west coast. Pangkor Town is where to head for shopping essentials but is not generally geared towards tourists despite a smattering of great value and delicious local restaurants.
Although Pasir Bogak is the nearest tourist area to the Pangkor Town jetty, the beach itself is not the best on the island. Most visitors decide to move a little farther away to the inviting clear water and white sand of Teluk Nipah a few kilometres north. There are many different accommodation options on offer here although it is still wise to book ahead if arriving at the weekend or during a national holiday. Watersports vendors are easy to find and there is fantastic snorkelling at nearby Coral Beach and offshore Coral Island.
What to do on Pulau Pangkor
Visit ornate Kaliaman Temple
Visitors to Pulau Pangkor generally are not wanting to pack a great deal into their day, with most people content just to relax on the soft sand with a good book and allow all the tension to drift from their being. But, if you’ve caught too much sun or want to tire out the kids, there are a few tourist attractions on Pulau Pangkor which will grasp visitors’ interest. A Dutch fort which was first constructed back in the 17th century is worth dropping by plus there is a tiny replica of the Great Wall of China to clamber about and a few old tombs. More on Pangkor Island attractions.
Activities on Pulau Pangkor tend to revolve around the water with snorkelling, sailing and fishing the most popular. There are countless excursions possible to different nearby coves as well as jet skis available on the beach. Nature lovers will want to trek through the thick inland jungle with glorious views from the island’s highest peak slap bang in the centre. Avid twitchers can catch the sight of nesting hornbills whilst golfers can tea off at a uniquely set out three-by-three hole golf course. More on Pangkor activities.
Hospitality on Pulau Pangkor
Seafood is the cuisine of choice on Pangkor Island and most visitors are astounded by the delicious yet low cost array available. There are simple atmospheric offerings right on the sand plus plush fine dining eateries within the five star resorts.
Head down to Pangkor Town for the freshest of the day’s catch with market prices or just relax in your guesthouse for a selection of satay skewers, barbecue meats and steamed fish. Most tourist-orientated places will serve a few beers later in the evening although there is no real party scene on Pangkor to speak of. More on Pangkor Island restaurants and bars.
Pangkor Island is home to a few luxurious hotels and resorts as well as a decent variety of homely backpacker accommodation. Pangkor Laut Resort is the ultimate in paradise with an entire island taken over to form this decadent retreat. But if you are watching the pennies there are still a few cheap guesthouses that will not give the bank manager nightmares. Plus camping facilities are on offer for those who like to get back to nature and sleep under the stars. More on Pangkor Island hotels.
Getting to Pulau Pangkor
Pangkor Island is a brief 40-minute ferry ride from the mainland port of Lumut, but there are direct flights to its small airport from Singapore as well. Getting around the island is a breeze with cheap pink minibus taxis although renting a motorcycle or pushbike represents better value and gives visitors the freedom to get out and about by themselves. More on Pangkor Island transportation.
Visit 1stopMalaysia for more on Pulau Pangkor.
