Pangkor Island

Pangkor Island, or Pulau Pangkor to locals, is a beautiful island located off the coastal town of Lumut in Perak State of Malaysia. This delightful island is famous for its seafood and the sale of dried snacks derived from it, as well as being a popular tourist destination for locals and international visitors. Its proximity to the mainland means that a ferry ride takes only about 15 minutes to reach Pangkor.

Upon reaching the jetty, visitors can rent cars and bikes or take a taxi for getting around the island. Pangkor has a wide range of accommodation, ranging from budget inns to world class resorts, usually situated by the beach. Scuba diving and snorkelling are available at some parts of the island while avid anglers can charter speedboats to fish in the deeper waters. Some of the beaches found in Pangkor are postcard perfect, providing tranquil surroundings for relaxation. In terms of nature, Pangkor is a mix of coastal rainforest and mangrove swamps. Birds, squirrels and monitor lizards are very common on the island, but you can spot rarer wildlife such as the elusive king cobra if you're lucky while trekking. A few trails that cross the island through the dense greenery can be accessed from main roads fronting the southern and eastern parts of Pangkor.

Maps are readily available at the jetty so you can find your way to these jungle paths. While exploring the island, you'll most likely encounter the famous residents of Pangkor island; the lesser hornbill. These majestic birds are smaller than the greater hornbill found in Borneo, but are much more noisy and bold. Hotel and restaurant operators around the island have made it a habit to feed these birds in order to draw visitors.

During such feeding times, flocks of lesser hornbills will congregate around these places and feast on stale bread and chopped fruit provided by their hosts, while tourists happily snap away. Another common resident in these parts is the shore pit-viper which comes out to hunt prey such as rats and frogs during the night.

The coastals forests are also full of sounds during this time, with wild boar grunting, night birds crackling and the ocassional monkey screeching. Finally, you can even explore Lumut instead of just Pangkor Island. There are more jungle trails that cross through the coastal forests and mangrove swamps around this town that provide fascinating nature exploration opportunities.