Pangkor Island is located is in in the state of Perak, on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia. It has been developing as a popular tourist destination in Malaysia. It island has a population of over 25,000 people. What are the things to do on Pangkor Island Malaysia?
Pangkor Island is a resort island is may not be the biggest island in Malaysia but it has some of the west coast’s best and most tranquil beaches with crystal clear blue water and sandy beaches. You can go scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming or enjoy the bars, and the great local food.
In this post, we will go through things to do on Pangkor Island Malaysia. Let’s get started!
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Is Pangkor Island Worth Visiting?
Pangkor Island is a traditional beach getaway. Other than beach activities such as sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving there’s enough to keep you occupied for a few days.
Things To Do On Pangkor Island Malaysia
Pangkor Island is really a beach destination but there are interesting things to do that will keep you busy for a few days while you are in Pangkor Island.
Here is our list of things to do on Pangkor Island Malaysia.
Visit The Fantastic Beaches
Since this is an island, the first thing you must do is definitely enjoy the beach. This island has several beaches you can go to such as Coral Beach and Nipah Beach. These two beaches are quite amazing.
Besides Nipah and Coral Beach, you can also go to Pasir Bogak Beach. Here you will see long lines of golden sand. The weather is generally good with a cool breeze.
Most people usually swim in the daytime. But, we suggest you do it at night time as well because you will be able to see blue plankton glowing under the water.
Ketapang Beach is also amazing. This white-sand beach is quite popular as a picnic location for the locals. It also has a lookout tower that you can use to see the horizon.
Go Snorkeling
If you want to see the underwater world, then you can go snorkeling. Not far from Nipah Beach, you will find some shops where you can rent snorkeling equipment. There is an impression given that to go snorkeling, is so easy that all you have to do is put on a snorkeling mask, a snorkel, and fins.
And then jump in. You do need to be comfortable in the water and if you can not swim or are not a strong swimmer you use a life jacket
Some small isles are great for snorkeling. You will get a chance to see other varieties of exotic fishes and other sea life. We recommend you spend your time snorkeling near Mentagor or Giam Islets. You will have a great time snorkeling.
Try Other Water Sports
Snorkeling is not the only water sport you can do at Nipah Beach or Coral Beach. There are other water sports which can be quite fun. You can choose a wide range of water sports such as a banana boat, jet ski, or even parasailing. There are also kayak rentals if you would like to go around the island.
Visit The Old Dutch Fortress
Malaysia used to be colonized by the Netherlands. So, it is not surprising to see some old buildings from the times when the Dutch were in the country. One of them is the old Dutch Fortress.
This building was originally built in 1670. The Dutch colony used this place as storage for their tin supplies.
It may not look like it now since the Malay people destroyed the fort. People tried to rebuild it in 1743, but they abandoned it years later. You will learn several versions of the history behind it but none of them sound overly pleasant.
Hike Pangkor Hill
If you enjoy hiking, you can go jungle hiking. One of the best treks around this island is Pangkor Hill. The thick and shady rainforest is worth trekking. And, the top of the hill is not that far too.
It takes roughly one or two hours to get there. You can start trekking from Bogak Beach. Its path will take you to a small Pinang River and continue to the east.
Don’t worry about getting lost as there are path markers along the way. They will help you to gauge your current location.
Explore The Temples
Pangkor Island has several temples you can visit. One of them is Foo Lin Kong Temple. There are two life-sized statues of fishermen that act as the guardians of this Taoist-style temple.
As you enter the large red and blue gate, you will see more unique statues as well as characters.
The main temple itself has an outstanding construction complete with animal statues like dragons and lions. There are also 12 Chinese zodiac signs on the temple’s roof. Try to spot them all if you can.
That will be very entertaining, especially when you do it with your family or friends.
Go Bird Watching
Do you enjoy watching birds? Then you will need to get up early in the morning near Nipah Beach. You will see a lot of hornbills hanging on the trees. They are everywhere around the island.
Some locals often give them fruits served in bowls. You can feed them too if you want. Simply go to Sunset View Chalet from around 17.30 to 19.00. You can feed the birds with some slices of banana prepared by the guesthouse.
This is also a great place for photographs.
Enjoy The Seafood Cuisine
Any trip would not be complete without enjoying the local food on Pangkor Island. The main dish you will find here is mostly seafood. And, they are fresh out of the sea.
For seafood addicts, Lin Restaurant at Bogak Beach is the best choice. This place opens in the evening hours and it is often full. You should make a reservation first to enjoy their premium seafood cuisine.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, as you see there is a decent range of things to do in Pangkor Island Malaysia that will keep you busy for a few days. Most of the activities are beach-related as it is mostly a beach destination. Pangkor Island is worth visiting if you enjoy the beach but not if you are looking to party.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on things to do on Pangkor Island Malaysia has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.