Perak Islands and Beaches, Malaysia

Banding Island

Next to the lake is Banding Island, a quiet getaway for outdoor activities. Accommodations include the Banding Island Resort and a comfortable rest house.

Pangkor Island

Across the Manjung Straits opposite Lumut is a bustling fishing village on Pulau Pangkor, the largest of nine islands in a small group of islands. The name Pangkor might have originated from the Thai word Pang Ko meaning 'beautiful island'.

However, others believe it might have been named after Pang Kui, a legendary Chinese adventurer said to have lent his skills in seamanship to bands of pirates this island once sheltered.

Pangkor, with its quaint mix of fishing settlements and resorts, is a fascinating holiday destination. It presents the visitor the rare chance to live near fishermen and observe their lifestyle, or to simply enjoy the fine beaches and resort amenities.

The fishermen live in scattered settlements on the eastern side, facing the town of Lumut and Teluk Batik. Visitors get a chance to see some of them on the 40-minute ferry ride from Lumut as the ferry stops at the main settlements of Sungai Pinang Kecil and Sungai Pinang Besar before landing at Pangkor Town.

Pangkor's two popular beach areas of Pasir Bogak and Teluk Nipah offer sun and sea enthusiasts activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, wind-surfing and fishing. While Pasir Bogak is quite developed, Teluk Nipah still retains its kampung, or village, atmosphere.

The island has accommodations to suit every budget and visitors can hire vans and motorbikes for island sightseeing. Food is available in most locations around the island and there are some good seafood restaurants in Pangkor Town itself.

Pangkor Beaches

Pasir Bogak
This narrow stretch of white sand is one of the most popular spots for tourists from the mainland and gets crowded during holiday seasons and weekends. There are shallow, crystal clear waters and areas of still unspoilt coral reefs for snorkelling enthusiasts.

Teluk Ketapang
North of Pasir Bogak is Teluk Ketapang, or Turtle Bay, where the turtles make an annual pilgrimage to lay their eggs. The best months for turtle watching are between May and July.

Teluk Nipah
Teluk Nipah further north has a wider beach and is less crowded. It is a beautiful strip of beach, and at a place known as Coral Bay, the water is a beautiful emerald green.

Pantai Puteri Dewi
This beautiful beach paradise was named Pantai Puteri Dewi (Beach of Lovely Princess). Pangkor Island Beach Resort (formerly Pan Pacific Pangkor Island) has a prime location along this stretch of beach and offers elegant rooms and facilities, including a sports complex and a golf course. There are some wildlife to be found here, including monkeys, lizards and hornbills.

Pangkor Laut
On the nearby island of Pulau Pangkor Kecil is the Pangkor Laut Resort, an international standard resort. The beach at Emerald Bay is touted as one of the best Malaysian beaches.

For more information on diving in Pangkor, please visit the Pangkor Diving Adventure page >>

Getting There
By Sea
Pangkor is a 40-minute ferry ride from Lumut. There are departures every half hour.

By Air
The private carrier Berjaya Air flies 5 times a week from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport just outside Kuala Lumpur to Pangkor.

Useful Contacts
Tourism Malaysia Perak
Phone: 603-2615 8527
Fax: 603-2692 4554

Pulau Sembilan

Just 10 miles south of Pulau Pangkor lies a cluster of nine islands called Pulau Sembilan: Pulau Agas, Pulau Payong, Pulau Nipis, Pulau Rumbia, Pulau Lalang, Pulau Saga, Pulau Buluh, Black Rock and White Rock.

Secluded and uninhabited, they are popular with campers during weekends and public holidays, especially from November to March. The favourite of the nine is Pulau Lalang, which has a refreshing clear stream and soft sandy beach ideal for camping.

Snorkelling & Diving
For snorkelling and diving, the channel between Pulau Rumbia and Pulau Lalang is especially excellent. Just 15 metres deep, its sandy bottom is embellished with a myriad of colourful corals. Among the many exotic marine life found here are groupers, snappers and barracudas.

Another great site is the channel between Pulau Buluh and Pulau Saga, which is named 'Grouper Country' by local fishermen. Strewn with big boulders, green tree coral can be found at a depth of 10m. In the waters on the eastern side of Pulau Buluh, there are small rocks, hard corals and coral fish.

Also recommended is White Rock, where jacks and barracudas are commonly sighted. In the crevices of the coral and rocky substrate, many large groupers and snappers are frequently spotted.

Getting There
Hire a fishing trawler from nearby Pangkor Laut Island. However, it is strongly advised that bookings are made with tour agents in Pangkor or dive operators in Kuala Lumpur.