Pangkor Island in Perak has empty beaches, a colonial fort and hundreds of hornbills. The small island in the Straits of Melaka is less than 200 kilometers (124 miles) northwest of Kuala Lumpur. Pangkor remains under the radar, and visitors feel like they have the place to themselves. And it’s close enough for a side trip from the capital.
What is the significance of Pangkor?
Pangkor was a way-station where this modest, crumbling brick fort overlooking the coast was used to store tin ore in transit. Look out for the 17th-century graffiti carved by bored europeans on sentry duty. Pangkor’s rugged, rainforest-covered interior is protected in a series of small wildlife preserves.
What to do on Pangkor Laut?
Pangkor Island gets only a handful of tourists. Pangkor Laut Island, its baby sister, gets even fewer. Rather than guesthouses and a beach lifestyle, Pangkor Laut has a more elegant atmosphere. Fisherman’s Cove is the go-to place. The restaurant/bar has coastal views like those in the Maldives.
What is the biggest temple on Pangkor Island?
Pangkor Island’s largest Taoist temple (and a Great Wall replica) A huge blue and red archway mark the entrance to the Foo Lin Kong Temple. The Taoist temple stands in the heart of Chinatown. Dozens of bronze Buddha statues, spiritual artifacts and Taoist relics decorate the inside.
