What is Pangkor Island like?
What is Pangkor Island like?
The Charm of Pangkor Island
At first glance, it looks like a B-class island, but…
＿＿＿＿Pangkor Island.
Known in Malay as Pulau Pangkor, this island is a resort island relatively close to Kuala Lumpur.
It’s a small island located off the coast of the Andaman Sea, just a 10-minute ferry ride from a port on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, and small enough to be circled by motorbike or car in less than an hour.
Compared to the islands of Borneo and islands on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula such as Perhentian Island, Redang Island, and Tioman Island, the water clarity is inferior.
Furthermore, because it is less well-known compared to Penang Island and Langkawi Island, it’s a destination that we, as international travelers, would find difficult to choose at first glance.
This is the reality of Pangkor Island.
However, once you visit, you’ll feel a sense of nostalgia for the cheerful and friendly islanders and the simple scenery that shows various expressions throughout the day, making it a very comfortable experience, and you’ll inexplicably want to visit again.
I’d like to introduce you to Pangkor Island, an island that may seem like a B-grade destination at first glance, but where you can find your very own “A-grade sofa" scattered throughout the island.
What is Pangkor Island like?
Beach resorts near Kuala Lumpur
Located approximately 200 km northwest of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.
Pangkor Island is relatively close to Kuala Lumpur, and attracts many tourists from all over the country, especially on weekends and public holidays.
In contrast to Pangkor Laut Island, known as one of Malaysia’s most luxurious resorts, this island is loved as an “easily accessible beach resort island 🏝️" due to its lower travel costs.
For directions to Pangkor Island,
please refer to the “How to get to Pangkor Island" section.
It’s such a small island that you can circle it in about 50 minutes even riding a motorcycle🛵 at a leisurely pace, yet approximately 25,000 people live there.
Meanwhile, on the beaches on the western side of the island, you can see many foreign tourists enjoying a relaxed, long-term stay.
An island where humans and wild animals coexist
Pangkor Island is an island with a large population, yet it retains much of its unspoiled nature, allowing tourists to easily spot various wild animals such as monkeys, squirrels, and wild boars, as well as wild birds like hornbills and insects.
Furthermore, on moonless nights, you can see countless bioluminescent organisms emitting a blue light along the coastline.
This island is also known as a place where you can witness sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach on nights with a full moon between June and August.
Duty-free island
Since 2020, Pangkor Island has become a “duty-free island".
While you can purchase items like chocolates🍫 and high-end cosmetics at duty-free prices at various duty-free shops on the island, tobacco and alcoholic beverages🍺 are not eligible for duty-free treatment and are sold at regular prices (including tax) at mini-markets and convenience stores.
🏝️Ocean transparency
While the water clarity is not as high as in the seas surrounding the islands off the coast of Borneo or the islands on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula, it is relatively clearer compared to the islands on the western side of the Malay Peninsula.
| Ocean transparency (Malay Peninsula) | |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Perhentian Redang Tioman |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Islands around Langkawi |
| ⭐⭐⭐ | Pangkor Pangkor Laut Langkawi |
| ⭐⭐ | Penang |
| ⭐ | Port Dickson |
Please refer to “Marine & Jungle Activities" for more details.
Security on Pangkor Island
Pangkor Island has a relatively good safety record compared to other parts of Malaysia, and is considered safer than many other tourist areas.
For example, a woman walking alone late at night is unlikely to be involved in a crime, but please pay attention to the following points.
- Theft and pickpocketing in the vicinity of the port (ferry terminal)
- Crimes such as theft committed by tourists from other areas (including foreigners) have been increasing in recent years.
While excessive caution isn’t necessary, it’s easy to let your guard down on a tropical island.
Let’s follow the basic rules of travel : “Don’t be careless" and “Stay away from dangerous places."
Information regarding the safety and security of each area on the island can be found in “Recommended Hotels & Guesthouses“.
When is the best time to visit Pangkor Island?
December to March is the best season
The dry season on Pangkor Island and the west coast of the Malay Peninsula generally lasts from October to April, and the best time to travel is from December to March.
However, since this is a region with high annual rainfall, it doesn’t mean that it never rains at all. There are occasional days when heavy rain suddenly falls in the evening or at night, or when there are sudden downpours during the day.
📝Due to the effects of recent climate change, it’s true that in recent years, even in December, which is supposed to be the start of the best season, there have been many years where it rains continuously for days on end.
Mosquitoes🦟 tend to breed in large numbers immediately after a period of prolonged rain, so be sure to take proper precautions against insects, such as using insect repellent spray.
※Mosquito coils are sold at shops on the island.
Ranking of things to do on Pangkor Island
Things everyone wants to do on Pangkor Island
1st place
Marine activities such as snorkeling
2nd place
want to eat delicious seafood dishes.
3rd place
just want to relax