Pulau Pangkor (Pangkor Island) is on the West Coast of Peninsula Malaysia. It’s close enough to Kuala Lumpur to make it an accessible beach getaway, which was how I ended up on the island. I had a week in KL en route to China, so rather than staying in KL for a week I wanted to spend a few days on an island. The beaches of the East Coast would have left me rushing to get there and back, so Pangkor was the best option.
If you have already been to the islands and beaches of Thailand then you aren’t going to see anything new here. Most visitors here are day-tripping locals. I met some British travellers here who were staying on Pangkor for a week while their Visa to India was being processed in KL. If you only have a few days in Malaysia or you waiting around KL and you want to rest your heels in some sand, then Pangkor is ideal.
Beaches
When people talk about the beaches of Malaysia, it’s the islands of the Peninsula East Coast that rate the highest. If that is the case then I have got to get over there one day. I mean have a look at this “average” West Coast beach.
[Teluk Nipah Beach.]
Pangkor is half a day of travel from KL, so it can get busy on weekends and public holidays. This was a public holiday crowd.
[Pasir Bogak Beach Crowd.]
Wildlife
Pangkor’s most famous wildlife residents are the Hornbill Birds. It’s quite common to see them swooshing around, they they make a great squawk, which is what I want to hear in a tropical paradise. Some of the guesthouse owners feed them so it is not uncommon to see them sitting around populated areas.
[Hornbills.]
Monitor Lizards are common as well.
[Monitor Lizard.]
The island interior is a jungle, and no jungle in Asia is complete without monkeys. Fortunately you don’t have to go into the jungle to find them.
[Monkeys.]
The island also has beach goats. Of course.
[Beach Goats.]
Accommodation
Most of the budget/backpacker style places are around Teluk Nipah, which happens to have the best beach. It’s not a big scene at Teluk Nipah, as most backpackers head to the Perhentian Islands or Thailand before coming here.
There is a good range of accommodation options in Pangkor – from budget guesthouses to luxury resort hotels.
I was just passing through the region so I wanted to stay in a typical Southeast Asian guesthouse. One with an outside bathroom and cold water shower, and Geckos on the ceiling. I found what I was looking for at Nazri Nipah.
Nipah Guesthouse Pangkor has been renovated since my visit.
Search all hotels on Pangkor Island.
How cool! I slept in that very A frame (and one further back in the jungle)13 years ago. I wonder if the same family still owns it. Thank you for posting these even though I realise it wasn’t just for me.
I’m dying to get to Pangkor!!!
Great photos! This place looks awesome. Remind me not to go swimming there, though, if they have lizards in the water. 🙂
@Marie you are welcome. I didn’t see the one in the jungle, I wonder if it is still there?
@Andi hope you get there one day.
@Gray LOL, It must be the Australian in me as I don’t mind what else is swimming in the water. I saw one near the beach as well but it ran away as soon as I got my camera out. I think they are more scared of us us.
I have went to Malaysia in 1995 and I liked its rural areas except the cities. But now I heard that Malaysia is one of the main tourism country in SE Asia
Thanks
Did you get into the water?
I went for a swim and a snorkel. It was a public holiday in Malaysia so there was quite a crowd in the water.
Hi,
Nazri Nipah Camp looks great but I have trouble finding any accurate email adress for booking. Do you remember any?
Thank you in advance,
Elisabeth
Pangkor island is a small island in Malaysia. We rent a motorbike, for sightseeing and roam around.
Wonderful sunrise and sunset scenery .