Pangkor - the island of Malaysia, not trampled by tourists

A traveler seeking peace and relaxation surrounded by exotic landscapes will surely find what he wants on Pangkor Island, Malaysia. Clean, not trampled by a tourist's foot beaches, the primeval nature of the wild jungle and rhinoceros birds circling in the air every year attract more and more interest among sophisticated tourists. This is not the resort where you will find a variety of hotels and large shopping centers with crowds of vacationers. Pangkor is a haven of tranquility and balance, where the traveler harmonizes with nature and is charged with its energy.

General information

The island of Pangkor, whose name translates as "beautiful", is located northwest of the mainland of Malaysia between the popular resort of Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Malay is recognized as the official language, but many residents speak English well, which was promoted by the long domination of the British Empire in Malaysian territory. Over the past decade, Pangkor authorities have been actively involved in the development of the tourism industry on the island, but fishing is still the main engine of the economy.

Most of the population (about 30,000 people) are Malays and indigenous people, but you can also find Chinese and Indians here. Since Malaysia is very tolerant of religious issues, representatives of various religious movements live on Pangkor. Although Islam is considered the official religion, practiced by about 53% of the population, many Buddhists, Christians and Hindus live on the island, as well as followers of Taoism and Confucianism.

Tourism infrastructure and prices

The island of Pangkor in Malaysia does not belong to those resorts where there are ubiquitous crowds of tourists everywhere, and nightlife rages non-stop. This is a secluded place that cannot boast an abundance of luxury hotels and an avalanche of entertainment. However, one of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia is ready to provide its visitors with all the necessary conditions for organizing a decent vacation.

Hotels

Several modern hotels have been built at different points on the island, and you can also find many budget guest houses here. So, thrifty travelers have the opportunity to stay overnight at a hotel for only $ 15 (for two). On average, the price in the budget segment ranges from $ 20 to $ 45 per night, but more luxurious hotels with a spa, gym and golf course will cost $ 120 - $ 200 per day.Find out RATES or book any accommodation using this form

Food and drink

Pangkor cannot be called a center of culinary delights, but the island has many restaurants and cafes where you can have a tasty and inexpensive lunch. Since fishing is developed here, many establishments offer an extensive menu with seafood, where you can taste dishes from crab, squid, shrimp, oysters, sea bass, etc. There are also restaurants specializing in Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes.

To fully enjoy the exotic of Malaysia, it is worth trying the local cuisine, among the main dishes of which are rice cooked in coconut milk and seasoned with nuts, fish curry, and, of course, rice noodles with vegetables and shellfish. Local salads made from exotic fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy drinks such as freshly squeezed juices and coconut milk deserve special attention.

So that you won’t be tormented by the question of where to eat at Pangkor, we offer you our own selection of the most worthy restaurants for visiting:

• "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 $ 10-12. A glass of beer or a cocktail in a restaurant will cost you $ 2.5, water - $ 0.50.

Transport

There is no public transport on the island, so moving on it is possible only by taxi or by rented bike or car. Taxi on the island is a minibus painted pink. The cost of a trip on this transport is $ 5, but if you find travel companions, you can divide this cost in half.

An alternative to a taxi can be a rented car or a scooter. The minimum price for renting a car per day is $ 20. Scooter is a more popular and less expensive means of transportation on Pangkor, the rent of which for a day will cost on average $ 7.

Some travelers prefer to rent mountain bikes: after all, unlike Kuala Lumpur and other major cities in Malaysia, the traffic on the island is not so intense, and the roads themselves are in good condition. You can rent a bike for only $ 3.5 per day.

Events

At Pangkor, it’s good not only to have a carefree vacation, but also to explore the territory, get acquainted with local animals and vegetation. What can you do on an island in Malaysia?

Catch the fish with your own hands and grill it - what could be nicer? Local fishermen will help you get to your favorite fishing areas for a small fee. Here you can fish with a net, fishing rod and spinning rod. Tackles for every taste are sold right on the beach.

From the Pasir Bogak beach, the famous trail opens leading to the uncharted nature of the rainforest with its hills and panoramic views of the countryside. Here you can watch animals and birds, explore new plants.

Locals offer tourists to go on a tour to explore the underwater world of the island. It also offers windsurfing and kayaking.

Any traveler has the opportunity to swim around Pangkor and visit the islands adjacent to it. To do this, it is enough to rent a boat, rent of which will cost $ 20-25 per hour.

Thus, on the island of Pangkor all the necessary conditions are created that can ensure a good rest. Children here will also be quite interested: even such an unpretentious event as feeding rhinoceros birds will leave in their memory the most vivid memories.

Pangkor beaches

There are about a dozen beaches in Pangkor, for which most tourists come here. Getting to them will not be difficult, but not all of them can please you with clean waters and white sand, so it is important to study the most worthwhile options in advance. A lot of villages are concentrated on the eastern coast of the island, the inhabitants of which are fishing, respectively, and the water with sand there is quite dirty and not suitable for tourists.

The western coastline is considered more favorable for recreation, where in addition to clear water and clean sand, water activities for visitors are also provided (rental of water bikes, snorkeling, etc.). The good news is that most of the time the beach areas are empty. Only on holidays and weekends are they filled with Malays who come from the continent to relax with their family. What beaches are worth visiting at Pangkor? Among them:

You can get to it in just a few minutes from the pier of the village of the same name. It is considered the most favorite place to relax on the island because of its proximity to the city. The sand here is white, the water is clear, but slightly unclear, which was a consequence of the popularity of the place. Along the beach there are several shops where you will cook shrimp and squid on the grill. Pasir Bogak offers a wide range of water activities, from kayak rentals to diving tours.

It is considered the most beautiful beach of the island, it will delight the traveler with its clear water and white sand. Teluk Nipah is quite narrow, but palm trees and trees growing on its banks give a cool shadow and the same exotic atmosphere. There are also several cafes and restaurants, and locals offer water activities.

You can get here in 10 minutes from neighboring Teluk Nipaha. It has become the best beach in Pangkor due to its wide coastal zone, crystal clear water and white sand. At the same time, it is quite calm and serene, there are few tourists, so Coral Bay is great for solitude with nature.

It is located about two kilometers south of Teluk Nipah, which can be reached from here in 30 minutes by leisurely step. Usually this beach is empty, because there are no hotels nearby, but it is worth visiting at least in order to meet a rare species of leathery turtles, after which the area itself was named (Teluk Ketapang - "turtle bay"). This is a beautiful and clean corner with clear water, but very underestimated by tourists.

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 occur for several days in a row, so be sure 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 rather high humidity, which varies from 70-90% depending on the time of year. The island is not characterized by any natural disasters and inclement weather.

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 Pangkor Airport, it currently does not accept regular flights from Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia and only serves private flights (information for January 2018). However, you can get to Pangkor not only by air, but also by land.

The best and cheapest option to get to Pangkor from Kuala Lumpur will be such transport as a long-distance bus. In order to get to the island, first you need to get to the port city of Lumut, from where the ferry to Pangkor leaves all day. The fare from Kuala Lumpur to Lumut by bus will be $ 7, and the trip itself will take about 4 hours.

The bus from Kuala Lumpur leaves from KL Sentral and Pudu Sentral stations and disembarks its passengers in Lumut near the pier, from which the ferry leaves for the island. Ferries from Lumut to Pangkor depart every half hour from 7.00 to 20.30, the fare is $ 1.2, and the journey time is 45 minutes. Upon arrival to 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, traveling in Malaysia, you decide to go to Pangkor from Kuala Lumpur and you have a rented bike, then you can also get to Lumut, and then take a ferry to the island with a scooter. The vessel does not officially transport vehicles, but for a nominal fee ($ 3-5) the team will load your scooter on board. Of course, to get from Kuala Lumpur to the ferry, you can take a taxi, but this is a very expensive option ($ 180).
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Output

If you are in search of the pristine beauty of exotic open spaces not touched by human civilization, go to the island of Pangkor (Malaysia). This exotic place is always ready to receive new seekers of unique sensations.

Ator: Catherine Unal

Watch the video: THE MALDIVES OF MALAYSIA. PANGKOR LAUT RESORT (October 2024).