PANGKOR ISLAND / PULAU PANGKOR

Situated just off the west coast of Perak in Peninsular Malaysia is one of the most enchanting islands you'll ever come across. It has a land area of only 8 square kilometers, and a population of approximately 25,000 islanders. It is heavily promoted as a low-key tourist destination by the Malaysian government, but fishing and fish products remain major industries.

Dried Seafood

Remembering Pangkor's past...

Historically, Pangkor was a refuge for local fishermen, merchants and pirates. In the 17th century, the Dutch built a fort in an effort to control the Perak tin trade. In 1874, it was the location of a historic treaty between the British government and a contender for the Perak throne (The Pangkor Treaty), which began the British colonial domination of the Malay Peninsula.

Dutch Fort on Pangkor

Pangkor Nowadays…

Pangkor today is a thriving tourist destination that somehow does not reflect her turbulent past. Visitors will be charmed by the serenity of her fishing villages, her small but bustling towns and her splendid selection of world-class holiday resorts.

Pangkor is famous for its fine beaches and a mix of low budget to 5 star accommodations. Teluk Nipah and Coral Bay on the north west of the island is extremely popular with travellers from Europe. The quality of sand in the Pasir Bogak Beach is far superior to that elsewhere on the island. The sand is golden brown, quite similar to most leading prime beaches. There are a few resorts in Teluk Nipah or Nipah Bay.

Nipah Bay

Tourist Attractions…

The main attractions in Pangkor Island are the beaches. Other attractions include:

• Pangkor Town
• Fishing Villages
• Fu Lin Kong Temple
• Kali Amman Temple
• Batu Bersurat and Tiger Rock
• Dutch Fort (Kota Belanda)
• The Tombs
• Tortoise Hill

Sunset at a Beach of Pangkor

How To Get There…

Currently Berjaya Air is the only airline that is operating flights to Pangkor Airport (PKG), from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB).

Buses from many parts of the country arrive frequently in Lumut at the bus station which is opposite the Lumut Jetty. Tourists are not allowed to bring their cars to the island; however, motorcycles and bicycles can be transported.

Ferry services are frequent (every 30 mins during the day, RM 10 for a return ticket). The ferry takes 40 minutes and stops first in Sungai Pinang Kecil. This has been well accepted as a special feature associated with commuting to and from Pangkor.

There are no bridges connecting the island to the mainland because there exists a policy to control the number of vehicles on the island, partly because of there being no real necessity for them and partly because of space constraints. All these have contributed to the preservation of wildlife in the tropical rain forest where many rare species still exist, including hornbills and monitor lizards.

Hornbills