What sea excursions are there from Pangkor Island? Pangkor is a paradise island in Malaysia. Where to order an airport transfer

Liliya Khakimova

Moscow - Pangkor Island - Kota Bharu - Kuala Lumpur - Moscow. This is what the route of our first joint trip to Southeast Asia looked like.

Timur and I have never been to the equatorial zone and have never been to an island. Malaysia, one of the most unpopular resorts in Asia among Russians, was chosen by us because we found cheap tickets there. My husband visited a month before this trip neighboring state Indonesia, was surprised and intrigued by the area, so the decision to buy tickets to Malaysia was made literally within a few hours. During the same time, my parents were also involved in the adventure, who had already learned the taste of traveling with us, first in Spain, then in Egypt. In addition, Malaysia has a high level of prosperity, it is the third largest economy in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. So we have almost freed you from stereotypes and doubts about whether you should go there with your child, if you had any.

In this post I will tell you about how we planned our route, how it took us a day to get to the appointed place and, in fact, about the holiday itself on a Malaysian island.

Route planning

After purchasing quite profitable tickets Moscow - Kuala Lumpur airlines Etihad(with a 5-hour layover in Abu Dhabi) we almost immediately started planning the route. I have read a million reports from desperate parents of small children, some of which were useful, but most of them led me to a dead end, because many of the reports, yes, bright, yes, colorful, but just terribly not detailed, as if 90 percent of the Russian population were traveling in Asia three times a year. At the same time, I read Seryozha’s reports, and then we spent two or three nights trying to create our almost two-week itinerary.

Problems we encountered while planning a trip to Malaysia:

1. Lots of photos and great amount moving around the islands, but at the same time there is a lack of information about what transport to get there, what schedule it runs on, what real alternatives exist, how much it costs. Part of this problem is due to the fact that people had time and could afford to wander around for several days, wondering whether to go somewhere or not to go.
2. There is practically no such information in at least accessible English, not only in reports, but also in the Internet space. To understand something, you have to scour forums, check everything with a map, and transport connection Changes every now and then, therefore the information becomes outdated
3. There are some problems finding accommodation on the island. Many people come to the island and look for accommodation on the spot, but we arrived at night, so this option did not suit us. It’s not so easy to find something decent on the usual booking sites and airnbnb. In short, we had to choose from what was available. There is also a purely Asian housing search service, agoda.com, which, by the way, also has quite a few unflattering reviews.

There is one more nuance that is worth mentioning. The dates we have chosen ( end of November - beginning of December) It is officially considered the rainy season in Malaysia. If you are in doubt about whether to go there during this season, the answer is to go. And don’t let the forecast with clouds for every day at a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius scare you, because these rains are not like ours. They occur mainly at night or in the evening, they are very warm and pass quickly. However, at this time you should refrain from visiting the East Coast of Malaysia (where the South China Sea is, which also includes the Perhentian Islands) if your goal is to lie on the beach and swim. Moreover, the island of Borneo, as they say, can be visited in any season.

Our way there

We took off from Moscow in the afternoon at 2 p.m., flew five hours before United Arab Emirates, there at Abu Dhabi airport we waited another five hours for a transfer. And finally, we flew for about another seven hours to the capital of Malaysia. The airline is great, zero complaints.

As an experienced aerophobe, I officially declare that flying is very calm and comfortable. The food was so delicious that I even forgot about my problem (I think it was all about the food). Seryozha ordered me a seafood menu, so they even added fish to the omelette.

When our plane landed in Kuala Lumpur, local time it was 14:30. According to the trip plan, the bus we needed from the airport to the port city of Lumut or the neighboring city of Citiawan departed at approximately 15:30. The schedule and cost can be found on this website, where you can also buy tickets.

We didn’t buy tickets in advance because we didn’t know for sure whether there would be flight delays or how quickly we would get our bearings at the airport. By the way, they did the right thing, because you can buy everything on site at the bus station at the airport. There at the bus station in open hall While waiting, you can dine on inexpensive Malaysian food (very spicy!)

The journey to Sitiawan took us another four hours in a very comfortable bus, in which I rested much more than on the two previous planes. Wide seats, large space in the aisles, free water, air conditioning.

There is one drawback - the air conditioning makes it very cold, so a warm blanket became an indispensable assistant on this trip. From Sitiawan we urgently needed to go to the pier in Lumut, because in a few minutes the last ferry to the island departed from there (at 20:30). We took a taxi and 10 minutes later we were already at the ferry ticket office. If we didn’t have time, we would have had to spend the night in Lumut.

The ferry departs from 7 am to 20:30 pm on average every half hour (telephone ticket office in Lumut 05-683-58-00, 05-683-21-88. full ferry schedule). We made it to the ferry safely. Tickets, by the way, are sold immediately there and back. The journey by ferry to the final pier takes only 40 minutes; there is only one stop along the way - in a fishing village. So, it’s night and we are there. Hooray!

Pangkor Island

Among all the islands on the West Coast of Malaysia, we chose Pangkor Island for our holiday. What were you guided by? It is considered the most rustic and not party island, in contrast to those located to the north of Penang and Langkawi, which, by the way, many put it in the negative. We learned that Penang does not have the best beaches, and Langkawi is too party-oriented, in addition, there is a duty-free shopping area, cheap alcohol (in the rest of Malaysia, alcoholic drinks high taxes and they are really very expensive, even in chain stores). All we needed was the sea. We also rejected the idea of ​​​​moving between islands (many routes suggested exactly this), because my husband is not a fan of beach holidays (he could hardly bear these seven days on the island!).

At home, we carefully studied the map of the island and realized that we needed to look for housing in its western part, where the main beaches are located. In the east of the island, as you can see, there is a port where ferries from Lumut arrive, as well as fishing villages.

We realized that we were in a village as soon as we got off the ferry and landed on the ground. The taxi driver took us to the hotel, which had been pre-booked through booking. The hotel is terrible, I will give you a link to it, and you try never to go there. In short: everything stinks, everything is old, full of holes, all the taps are leaking, the bed linen is dirty and other delights of life. We were told that we were not satisfied with the room provided that same evening. In the morning they promised to change our room, but the promise remained just a promise. Therefore, this is my advice: book a room in advance for only one night, and then decide whether to stay in this place or look for something else. For clarity, a photo of a lovely hotel.

On the second day we went for a swim in the sea and realized that the beaches were completely empty. Have you forgotten that it’s winter here?! We looked around and decided that we should still change our place of residence, so Seryozha and I set off to look for something more decent. All the bungalows were occupied (and most importantly, it’s not very clear by whom, because the beaches are really empty), so we decided to look for hotels and settled on this hotel with access to the beach.

There turned out to be quite a decent restaurant with not only Asian but also European cuisine (this is important, but details later), a swimming pool, very clean and pleasant rooms.

As for the beaches, we lived in the southwestern part of the island, but then we realized that all the best beaches are located a little to the north. Look at the map of the island and choose accommodation near the beaches Teluk Nepah And Coral Bay.

These beaches are cleaner and more beautiful than those in the south, plus from there you can take a boat to small islands for snorkeling. In recent days we went to these beaches. The sea deserves special praise. I have never swam in such a warm sea! You can spend an hour in the water and not even feel the cold. Ideal place for children.

Dad and I, remembering our wonderful snorkeling experience in Egypt, decided to see what this activity was like in the Strait of Melaka. Well, what can I say... there is nothing special to see where all the tourists are taken en masse. The spectacle is, of course, funny. A crowd of Asians in orange vests crowds near the shore to watch the fish. As I understand it, none of them knows how to swim, so they don’t swim more than a couple of steps from the shore.

My dad and I decided to sail around this small island. Of course, we didn’t see any fish there, but dad saw a monitor lizard and picked a beautiful wild fruit that looked like a pineapple. The system for sending to small islands works like this: you pay 20 ringgits per person and you are taken to the island along with a mask, and you name the time when you want to return before departure. You can spend at least the whole day there. It's actually worth it because it's also home to a marine park that happens to be one of the best in western Malaysia. Simply put, this is such a quiet lagoon that is surrounded by coral reefs and clear water. My dad and I swam there and were delighted!

A separate song. Taught by the bitter experience of vacationing in resort towns, we knew that it was hardly worth even trying to look for accommodation with a kitchen on the island, because we wouldn’t find normal food there. They thought correctly. Asian food is very unique and spicy, so it’s not for everyone. With a child, this point must be taken into account and be sure to take cereal with you (however, we take it on any trip). We were saved by that very restaurant in our hotel, where there was European cuisine, because even though we love spicy food, it’s unbearable to eat it three times a day. As you probably guessed, there are no normal shops on the island either. And why are they needed?! By the way, there are good restaurants on these two beaches. Fruit can only be bought in the eastern part of the island near the port in small tents.

If you don't even know English, then learn the word western. This word will save you from gastritis when you want some ordinary potatoes without spices or Bolognese pasta... Sometimes this word is written on the menu, thereby indicating that there is Western cuisine. And also learn the word spicy, because if you are with a child, then every time you come to a restaurant you should begin with a question if they have anything that is not spicy. Just don’t put much faith in these Malays! They are very cunning! What is not spicy for them, for us... we can sometimes climb the wall. Timur was so used to it that before every meal he asked whether it was spicy or not.

Transport

There is no public transport on the island because no one needs it here. For tourists, there are taxis that cost between RM10 and RM15, depending on the distance. They all look like this.

All other people ride scooters. And they even carry newborn children on them. Scooters can be rented. You just need to take into account that traffic in Malaysia is on the left, and you need to get used to it.

Dad rented a scooter and he and Seryozha drove around the island in a couple of hours. When renting, we were given a map that showed all the attractions, as well as gas stations. Gasoline on the island is not expensive, and gas stations are staffed by women in bright clothes.

You can also go to the beaches this way. There are also bicycle rentals on the island. We knew about this, so we took Timur a bicycle helmet in advance, but when I saw the serpentine roads that stretch on the island along the jungle and when we once walked along such a side and came across a flock of monkeys (more on this later), I decided that with It is dangerous for a child to travel this way. Seryozha was indignant for a long time that I was a coward!

Flora, fauna and our smaller friends

I have never seen the jungle as close as I did at Pangkor. This is truly an island of untouched nature. The main inhabitants of the tropical forest are monkeys. All maps in hotels even indicate places where there are especially many primates. We are used to imagining monkeys as cute animals, but there they are something like... our rats, if only they could climb trees and jump. They steal food and things from tourists, and they can even attack if they deem it necessary. When we were walking along the jungle along the road, a whole flock of monkeys ran out to the side of the road and began to be indignant. It became scary because these cute creatures can take a stone or other heavy object in their paws and throw themselves. But the animals we are used to are also there (in the photo, by the way, there is a cemetery).

Local residents advise fighting off monkeys with sticks, but to do this you need to find a leader in the pack and fight him, because he decides for everyone whether the object is dangerous or whether it is better not to touch it. From the Chinese temple at the end of Coral Bay beach, a jungle path begins (it is marked on the map as Jungle Trak). There are also wild, untouched beaches that tourists love very much. This is where these cute creatures will lie in wait for you. Never leave valuables unattended and never feed monkeys, because they will bring their friends and will not leave you alone next time, even if you have no food.

I was able to take a photo with them once near the Coral Bay beach when they were robbing some house nearby.

There is also a hornbill living on Pangkor Island. Many hotels and restaurants are named after this bird - Hornbil. You may not see this bird up close, although they are said to be very tame, but you will always hear it: they have a very characteristic singing. Despite the fact that the beak of these birds can scare many, you still need to look for such family birds: they look after each other, clean their feathers, the male always chooses a nest for the female and invites her there so that she can evaluate and give the go-ahead. In addition, the male takes care of the chicks and their mother until the children mature. There is a place on the island (this bird is shown on the map) where hornbills are fed, you can come and see this spectacle (though we never went).

What else?

Malaysia is a Muslim country. There are many mosques here, there are two of them on the island (a crescent moon on the map). Almost every hotel, every public place, and train stations have specially equipped prayer rooms.

Every hotel room even has an arrow on the ceiling indicating the direction in which to pray. Then I found out that many Russians are annoyed by this (just think, an arrow!). However, the lack of popularity of alcohol in this country is another reason why Russians do not often consider Malaysia as a holiday destination.

Dutch fort. One of the few colonial period landmarks in Malaysia. The fort was built by the Dutch in the 17th century to control the Strait of Malacca: to protect against pirates, which until recently were famous for these waters, and local tribes. The fort was then destroyed and rebuilt in 1743 to serve as a garrison for Dutch soldiers. Reconstruction of the ruins was carried out already in the 20th century. Now there is a mini-bazaar for tourists here.

Here, near the Dutch Font, there is a garden, from where the road leads to the Jungle. We didn't dare go there.

Even in ancient times, the island was a refuge for merchants, pirates, and sailors sailing along the Strait of Malacca. In addition, sailors have always lived on Pangkor. There are a huge number of different fish, both simple and exotic, and there are also turtles, stingrays, and crabs. Fishing still makes a significant contribution to the island's economy.

Here you can visit fishing villages, go fishing, and also visit a factory where fish is produced. And dried and dried fish itself is sold on almost every corner: any market or shop with fish smells a kilometer away - so you won’t pass by!

Infrastructure. There are two banks on the island that are open from 9 am to 4 pm, Friday is a short day, Saturday and Sunday are days off. ATMs work a little longer, but they often run out of money. Ideally, of course, you need to come to the island with ringgit. Cash is a must.

In addition to banking infrastructure, the island has a fire and police station, an ambulance station and even a library.

There is also a tourist center (it is located near the port, just between the bank street and the fire station), whose opening hours are also limited. We never managed to get into it. All infrastructure is located in the eastern part of the island.

The week on the island flew by very quickly. I think that for such an island this time is enough, but nevertheless, it always seems that two days were not enough. We left rested, and some of us were sunburnt (by the way, you can get sunburned here even in the shade, so fanatically apply cream!). During our entire stay at Pangkor, we did not meet a single Russian, moreover, we only saw Europeans there once. I’ve never been to such a place in my life, it’s even indecently unusual.

So, briefly. In what case, in my opinion, should you go to Pangkor Island?

1. If you want to relax in a place without fuss, people and parties on beautiful sandy beaches with emerald water;

2. If you are ready to sacrifice some of your comfort, such as a five-star all-inclusive hotel, for a week in such a semi-wild place;

3. If you want to visit an island near the capital of Malaysia, then Pangkor is ideal. You can spend several days here, and then, without wasting time, go to the capital or some other city. This island (like neighboring Penang and Langkawi) is definitely not worth spending the entire trip here, like, for example, the famous Borneo (Kalimantan) or Perhentian Islands in the South China Sea.

So our journey will continue in the eastern part of Malaysia.

Financial part (including flights + transfers to and from the island)

Flight Moscow - Abu Dhabi - Kuala Lumpur (and back) = 18,250 rubles (for children it cost exactly 15 thousand)

Bus from Kuala Lumpur Airport (on ticket purchasing sites it is designated as KLIA - Kuala-Lumpur International Airport) to Sitiawan (or to Lumut, depending on your luck) = 48 ringgit (in rubles, something like 720 rubles) per person (child up to four years rides for free)

Ferry from Lumut to Pangkor Island (round-trip ticket, you can’t buy a one-way ticket) = 10 ringgit per person (something about 150 rubles). Again, the child rode for free.

Accommodation = $90 per night for a two-bedroom room at DJ Resort Pangkor; A double room at Puteri Bayu Beach Resort cost RM155 per day (a child under four years old stays free).

Scooter rental = RM 30 per day (excluding petrol cost).

Bicycle rental = RM10 per day

Average bill in a cafe = 50 ringgit (about 750 rubles) for 4 people

Cream of Chicken Soup = RM5

Tom yum soup = RM10

French fries = RM5

Main course (fish or meat) = 8 riggits

Fresh juice = RM5-8

Taxi on Pangkor Island = 10-15 ringgit (our average price for a trip). And here is the full tariff schedule:

For organization independent travel to Malaysia, use our

This small island is connected to the mainland by high-speed ferry and Berjaya Air flights from Kuala Lumpur. Pangkor is quite small: only 12 km long and 4 km wide. Fishing villages, small settlements and world-class luxury hotels coexist peacefully here. The island boasts a sapphire blue ocean and natural fine sand.

The island is home to Tiluk Nipah Marine Park, the best on the west coast of Malaysia.

How to get there

Berjaya Air flies five times a week from Kuala Lumpur to Pangkor and back.

You can take a ferry from Kuala Lumpur to the town of Limut on Pangkor. There are several sea piers on the island: SPK Jetty in the village of Sungai Pinang, Pangkor Jetty in the town of Pangkor Town and Pangkor Island Beach Resort Jetty in the resort of Teluk Dalam. The latter is used only by hotel guests.

Search for flights to Kuala Lumpur (closest airport to Pangkor)

Beaches of Pangkor

The main attraction here is the beaches, the most beautiful of which is Pantai Puteri Devi (Princess in Love Beach). Popular spots for snorkeling include Pasir Bogak Beach and Teluk Nepah Park Marine Reserve.

Popular hotels in Pangkor

Entertainment and attractions

In the town of Sungai Pinang Besar, in the Fu Ling Kong Temple you can admire a small copy of the Great Wall of China. And in the Pangkor Forest Reserve - the splendor of the exotic flora and fauna of the island. Finally, it is worth visiting the ruins of an ancient Dutch fort in Teluk Gedung. The fort was built in 1670 and was used to protect against pirates.

Coast of Pangkor

Diving at Pangkor

Tiluk Nipah is an island marine park, the best on the west coast of Malaysia. Situated in a quiet sea backwater surrounded by coral reefs, it has become an excellent place for divers - both beginners and experienced. All diving equipment can be rented here on special catamarans moored off the coast.

Another popular dive site on Pangkor is the White Rock, standing alone in the sea, with steep slopes and a lighthouse at the top.

27 km from Pangkor, around the Sembilan island group are great places for diving. Nine uninhabited islands, travel to which must be coordinated with local operators (usually based in Kuala Lumpur). Season: November to March. The landscape consists of large boulders, covered with sea sponges, and mostly hard corals everywhere. Sea World: fusiliers, parrotfish, groupers, seahorses, wrasses, groupers, rays, reef fish and barracudas.

• Where to stay: On four of the 99 inhabited islands of the Langkawi archipelago, on the main island of the same name, tourists have excellent “fours” and “fives”. Pangkor is a peaceful coexistence of fishing villages, small settlements and world-class luxury hotels. Penang is famous for its luxurious beaches and wild nightlife, and Georgetown has a colorful life to boot. Tranquility and excellent diving are worth looking for in Redang and Perhentian, and Tengol, Kapas and Payar are attractive due to their almost complete “separation” from civilization.
• What to see: Magnificent underwater world in coastal waters

We arrived on Pangkor Island for a couple of days. Pulau Pangkor translates to " beautiful island" This very small island is located on the west coast of Malaysia just a couple of kilometers from the mainland, so getting here is simple, quick and inexpensive, unlike Phi Phi, Koh Chang in Thailand, and Langkawi in Malaysia, which are overloaded with tourists.

Despite its accessibility, this place has retained some rustic charm and tranquility. And we were also in the off-season and in the middle of the week, so we felt complete relaxation :-) There are no large chain hotels here yet, tourists are not bothered by taxi drivers, and at 8 pm the silence is broken only by the sounds of the jungle and rare passing cars and bikes. This place was once a haven for fishermen and pirates, as well as an important stronghold in the Strait of Malacca.

A very small island opposite Pangkor

Read also other articles about Malaysia:

The coastline is built literally 100 meters deep, and in many places it looks like this: a beach, a road, an impassable jungle. All. Interesting hornbills with funny beaks live in the surrounding forests; they fly to feed directly on the hotel lawn or on the table in a cafe. Well, we’ll tell you more about them below. Monkeys also came to our courtyard, which means you really live in a real jungle, but with some comfort. The monkeys generally behaved decently, but on the last night they emptied all the trash cans in our resort :-)

Orientation on the island

Boats sail to the eastern side to the small town of Pangkor. From it there is a road to the west to the opposite coast, first passing through the village of Pasir Bogak, then to the beaches of Teluk Nipah and Coral Beach. The road then leads to the airport and loops back to Pangkor town through the villages of Sungai Pinang Kecil and Sungai Pinang Besar.

How to get to Pangkor?

By plane

It’s not surprising, but at this small island there is an airport served by the airline Berjaya Air, which operates flights from Kuala Lumpur to Pangkor three times a week, costing from 200 RM (about $50 at the exchange rate for February 2016).

On the boat

The coastal town of Lumut is the main access point to Pangkor. Here, right next to the bus station, there is a pier from where large high-speed boats depart to the island, somewhat similar to “Rockets” (they used to go along our rivers).

They first stop at the Sungai Pinang Kecil pier in the village of the same name, you don’t need to get off there, you will stop at the next one, in the town of Pangkor.

The fare is 10 RM ($2.5) round trip, and boats run every 30-45 minutes depending on the time of day from morning to evening. When you buy a ticket, you will be given a piece of paper with the boat schedule, so that you arrive back on time and don’t have to wait for the next one.

The expensive hotels Pangkor Island Beach Resort and Pangkor Laut Resort (on the island of Pangkor Laut) have their own piers, which can also be reached from Lumut.

How to get to Lumut?

Lumut itself can be reached by bus from different cities Malaysia, for example:

Kuala Lumpur - 4 hours, 25 RM.

Butterworth (Penang) - 3.5 hours, 15-19 RM.

Ipoh (for transfer to Cameron Highlands) - 2.5 hours 8-10 RM.

Singapore - 9 hours, 55-60 RM.

Transport on the island

To get from the pier to the beaches on the opposite western shore, the most convenient way is to take a pink minibus, of which there are plenty. Common price to Teluk Nipah Beach 15-20 RM per car, we were four of us and paid 5 RM each, so it will be useful to meet someone along the way :-)

To ride around the island, you can rent a bike (30 RM per day) or a mountain bike (15 RM per day). The road has a lot of ups and downs, but the asphalt is good and there is little traffic, so driving here is a real pleasure.

Living landmark of Pangkor

Beaches of Pangkor Island

There are several beaches on Pangkor, but for a good rest and swimming it is best to go to the western part of the island.

Pasir Bogak Beach is just a few minutes' drive from the pier in the village of the same name. Tourism on Pangkor began with it, so it is here that there is a large selection of accommodation and a relatively developed infrastructure. Pasir Bogak is a fairly long crescent-shaped beach with pleasant sand and sea. Nowadays there is quite active development of the coast here. large buildings- this is of course a minus. We apparently arrived in the off-season, so I didn’t meet any people at all!

Teluk Nipah Beach It was busier during our visit, although many of the beach establishments were closed. There are several budget guesthouses and resorts, as well as more expensive hotels, as well as cafes and restaurants ranging from simple to decent. The beach itself is quite narrow, but the overhanging trees create a pleasant shade. Local residents offer various water activities: diving, jet skis, snorkeling and more.

Coral Beach. Everyone goes for a swim here, because this is perhaps the best beach on Pangkor - wide, with white sand and clear water in the sea. Nearby there are also several simple resorts and cafes, water activities. It is especially pleasant to come here early in the morning, when the sea is simply charming and serenely calm.

Coral Beach

Pantai Puteri Devi Beach, As far as I understand, it belongs to the luxurious Pangkor Island Beach Resort, access to it may be closed, but check it if necessary.

What to see on the island?

In addition to beach holidays, the island has several points of interest.

On east coast there is a large-scale chinese temple Fu Lin Kong with a small copy of the Great Wall of China. There, on the eastern shore, look at the fishing villages and ships.

Fu Lin Kong Temple

A little south of the city Pangkora has the ruins of an ancient Dutch fort.

Remains of a Dutch fort

You can also go kayaking, diving, snorkeling and don’t forget to feed the hornbills. Every day, in front of the Sunset View Chalet at 6-30 pm, a local man brings out food for them and lets everyone feed the birds from their hands. All this is absolutely free. Despite their impressive beak, they are very neat and even delicate! The oldest and most experienced bird is not afraid to sit among people and brazenly eat straight from a papaya box. The rest need to be thrown so that they can be caught on the fly.