Pulau Pangkor: an unspoilt Malaysian island paradise
Pulau Pangkor literally means beautiful island, and it’s easy to see how it got its name. Once a hideout for pirates, it has had a fascinating history involving Dutch forts, the tin trade, a period of colonial rule and a coup by a local ruler.
On your Pangkor Island holiday, however, the island’s troubled history is hard to reconcile with today’s laid-back, village atmosphere. While the island attracts relatively few foreign visitors, it is a popular weekend retreat for Malaysians who come to enjoy a brief respite from their busy lives.
A trip to Pangkor Island offers the chance to enjoy both the idyllic white sandy beaches, which you will have mostly to yourself during the working week, and the wild, uncultivated jungle interior where wildlife like monkey and hornbill are easy to spot.
If you can bring yourself to leave the beach, villages like Sungai Pinang Kecil and Teluk Gedong are waiting to be explored.