When planning a trip to Malaysia the usual itinerary includes the famous islands of Langkawi, Perhentian, Redang, and for the most adventurous, Tioman Island is usually squeezed in too. But today we’re here to spill the tea and share the best well-kept secret of Peninsular Malaysia: Pangkor Island!
The best part? This paradisiac island is located only a 4-hour ride north of Kuala Lumpur and it is still free from big resorts and large-scale tourism, meaning you can still experience its pristine nature without breaking the bank.
Also read: From Langkawi to Tioman: 7 Must-Visit Malaysian Islands
Top things to do on Pangkor Island
1. Coral Beach
Along the western coast, you will find our favorite beach in Malaysia so far! Make your way to Lin Je Kong Temple, walk past the rocky area all the way to Coral Beach and you’ll be surprised by white soft sand, turquoise water, giant rocks, and all of it framed by mountains and lots of nature. It is exactly what paradise must look like!
We do recommend going early in the afternoon, as locals only frequent the beach by the end of the day and you will have this place all to yourself. It is also when the tide is at its lowest so you don’t have to worry about getting marooned and having to swim back.
It is worth mentioning that most of the local community is Muslim, so you might not feel comfortable walking around in bikinis. It’s not forbidden though, and Nick used bikinis at the beach without any problems.
Note: When you type Coral Beach on Google Maps, it will direct you to Pantai Pasir Giam. This is not the correct beach, to make your life easier, you can click here for the exact Coral Beach location.
2. 17th-century Dutch Fort Ruins
On the southeastern end of the island, you’ll find one of the oldest forts in Malaysia, a testament to Pangkor’s colonial heritage. Built by the Dutch in 1670, they used to mine tin in the area and used the fort as storage. The area was mostly rebuilt in 1973 for conservation and tourism purposes and information boards were added to provide insight into the 183 years of the Dutch colonial period in Malaysia.
Hot tip: this is a free attraction! We recommend buying a cup of coconut water (it comes with coconut meat inside!) or any other products to support the local community.
Also read: Perhentian Islands – The ULTIMATE Travel Guide
3. Snorkel at Mentagor or Giam Islands
At Teluk Nipah, you will find lots of boat operators offering half-day snorkeling tours to Mentagor Island and Giam Island. The islands are pretty close to the beach, although we don’t think it’s possible to swim there, and the tours cost around RM 380 (83 euros) per boat (6 people) to Mentagor and around RM 30-40 (7-9 euros) per boat to Giam Island.
Also read: What to Do in Langkawi – 15 Bucket List Activities
4. Go Diving and see Glowing Plankton on Sembilan Islands
Pangkor’s diving oasis, this mini-archipelago compromises nine uninhabited islands that host some of Malaysia’s best diving and snorkeling spots. Diving trips to this area only happen between November and March and the boats depart from Teluk Nipah. Here you will find hard corals, barracuda, parrotfish, and lots of other marine life.
The islands are uninhabited however you can stay overnight (camping) on weekends. If you’re spending the night, you might get to see the famous “Blue Tears” – a sort of glowing plankton, along the coastlines.
Hot tip: The best time to spot blue tears here is between June and November. You can also spot Glowing Plankton on the islands of Koh Lipe and Phi Phi and the Krabi province, in Thailand!
5. Pangkor’s Iconic Floating Mosque
This iconic monument is so worth the visit! The Mosque of a Thousand Blessings (Masjid Al-Badr Seribu Selawat) is the first floating mosque in Perak and has been named in reference to the thousand prayers carved on its walls and pillars.
Note: the Mosque is open to visitors, including non-Muslims (only during non-prayer times). You should dress appropriately, covering legs and shoulders, and women should also cover their hair. You can rent a cloak at the entrance in case you come unprepared.
6. Feed Wild Hornbills
Hornbills are Malaysia’s national birds, and when on Pangkor Island, you can participate in one of the hornbill feedings organized by Sunset View Chalet every day at 6:30 PM. The island is home to hundreds of them and quite a few fly down to the hotel for a fruit feast. If you’re brave enough – the birds are big! – you can lift a slice of banana up in the air and wait for them to snatch it from your fingertips.
7. Visit different Temples
Pangkor Island is also home to quite a few temples, such as Fu Lin Kong Temple, a Taoist temple that has a mini Great Wall of China in its gardens; Lin Je Kong Temple, a Chinese temple with giant and colorful statues; and Kali Amman Temple, Pangkor’s only Hindu temple, and also Malaysia’s only sea-facing Indian shrine.
Also read: Temple Etiquette: A Guide to Visiting Temples in Southeast Asia
8. Enjoy Pristine Beaches
Pangkor Island has lots of amazing beaches! The nicest ones are Coral Beach, Teluk Ketapang (Turtle Bay), Pasir Giam, Teluk Dalam (and the small beach after Teluk Dalam Jetty). If you have access to a boat: Teluk Belanga, Teluk Rimau, and Teluk Segadas are the ones to go!
9. Hike Pangkor Hill
Pangkor Island’s highest point, known as Pangkor Hill, sits 350 meters above sea level. Marked trails start near Pasir Bogak and lead through the lush jungle vegetation all the way to the summit. The hike takes around 90 minutes and it is considered moderate, although you should always remember that hiking in Malaysia is harder than usual due to the highly humid and hot weather. Nature is unbelievable on the hikes here, with hornbills, monitor lizards, and monkeys keeping you company!
Pangkor Island’s Historical Importance
It was on Pangkor Island and its three smaller sisters — Pangkor Laut, Pulau Mentagor, and Pulau Giam — that in 1874, the Pangkor Treaty was signed by the British and the Sultan of Perak, officially starting their rule over Malaysia.
In 1945, a British Colonel, Freddy Spencer Chapman D.S.O, spent 36 hours in Pangkor Laut’s Emerald Bay planning his escape from the country. He had spent over 3 years hiding from the occupying Japanese army during World War II in the wild jungles of Malaysia, and after reaching the island, he finally made his escape by swimming 45 meters out to sea in the dark of night to be rescued by the Royal Navy submarine, HMS Statesman.
How to get to Pangkor Island
You can get here by taking a quick ferry from the small towns of Lumut or Marina Island. From Lumut, the ferry journey takes around 30-45 minutes depending on sea conditions, and there are ferries departing roughly every hour or so. From Marina Island, the ferry journey takes around 10-20 minutes depending on sea conditions and the schedule is available on the Pangkor Ferry website. Ferries cost RM 20 (around 4.50 euros) return.
You can also book your ferry tickets using BookAway, 12Go Asia, or EasyBook. We took our ferry via Lumut as our bus stopped there coming from Ipoh, and recommend doing so if you’re on a budget since Marina Island is only accessible by taxi/Grab.
Note: Lumut bus station is within walking distance of the Jetty, although the bus station is more of a car park than a bus station. To get to Lumut Jetty, you can look for Lumut Pangkor Ferry Jetty on Google Maps.
There is also a direct 55-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur, but flights are currently not available because of the pandemic – unless you have your own private jet!
Also read: Top ESSENTIAL Apps for Travel in Southeast Asia
Getting around
You can’t bring cars or motorbikes to the island and there is no public bus service, so upon arrival, you will have to catch one of their distinct (and super cute) pink taxis to get to your hotel. We paid RM 15 to cross the island to Pasir Bogak Beach, and the prices usually range from RM 10-20 for any trip really.
Hot tip: get the taxi driver’s phone number at the Jetty so you can arrange your trip back on your own! Most budget accommodations won’t call a taxi for you for some reason.
As for getting around the island, taxis take lots of people at once so they will only take your ride if your destination is similar to the other people already onboard.
To make your life easier, you can easily rent bicycles and motorbikes per day. Prices range from RM 10-20 a day for bikes and RM 30-50 a day for motorbikes, and we recommend getting the motorbikes as the roads on the island are fairly hilly.
Where to Stay on Pangkor Island
If you’re on a budget you will want to stay at Teluk Nipah, where you’ll find cheap accommodation and food, right next to the main attractions on the island. If your budget is really tight, you can camp here on the beach (tent rental costs around 8 euros).
The best area to find mid to high-end accommodation is at Pasir Bogak Beach, and the best luxury hotel is located on a private island just a few minutes away by boat from Pangkor Island: the beautiful Pangkor Laut Resort.
Note: make sure to read our reviews of Pangkor Laut Resort and AVI Pangkor for more details!
Pro tip: make sure to book ahead to guarantee cheap rooms if visiting during holidays or weekends as the island gets really busy with locals. Agoda is the best to find good deals in Asia!
Where to Eat on Pangkor Island
The best place to eat on Pangkor Island is in the northern part of Teluk Nipah, where you will find a number of small family-run restaurants with fresh seafood dishes and lots of street food options. You can also find Western food at Daddy’s Cafe, on Coral Beach, although the prices are more expensive.
Next to the Jetty, we recommend the Pangkor Seafood Cusine, a lovely little restaurant with great and cheap food!
Pro tip: don’t forget to try the fried soft-shell crab!
Pangkor Island on a Budget
Pangkor Island is more expensive than mainland Malaysia, but you can still travel cheaply here. If you’re on a budget, 45-60 euros per couple is enough.
🏠 Accommodation: the cheapest accommodations start at €14-30 a night for budget private rooms.
🍔 Food: you can find street food for as little as €1-2 and most local food ranges between €3-4. Grilled seafood and Western dishes cost around €5-10.
🚗 Transport: the ferry costs €5 return. You can rent bikes for around €2-5 and motorbikes for €7-11. A taxi ride should cost around €3-5 depending on where you’re going.
🎟️ Activities: there are several boat trips that you can do around the island and most of them cost between €18-30. Watersports games like jet-skiing or banana boat rides range from €5-10.
Pro tip: bring cash! The ATMs are located only on one side of the island (which is opposite where the cool stuff is), and most places only accept cash.
Drones on Pangkor Island
Pangkor Island is home to Pangkor Airport, and although the airport is currently not operating any commercial flights, the flight restrictions for drones still apply. The island is quite small, so the restrictions take a good part of the island and you should be aware of that when flying your drone here. There are plenty of great photo opportunities on the island so we definitely recommend bringing your drone!
Also read: Top 11 Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur
