Pangkor Laut Resort, West Coast Malaysiafeatured
Pangkor Laut Resort is part of the YTL collection of exclusive resorts and luxury properties around the world. Located on a small island on the West Coast of Malaysian Peninsula, Pangkor Laut Resort offers pristine rain-forest and emerald seawater. After 3-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and a short boat ride, you can immerse yourself in the serenity and beauty of this magical land. Pangkor Laut Resort is truly designed for a complete relaxation experience. From the second you take the first step onto the Island till the moment you leave you will be surrounded by smiles, comfort and impeccable service. It is a place where couples come to propose, spend their honeymoon or just get totally romantic. At the same time families come here with kids to enjoy some quiet time together. It is a “One Island One Resort”!
Your accommodation choices at Pangkor Laut Resort are overwater bungalows or villas on the hill. We highly recommend the villas as the elevated views of the island will leave you breathless! If you don’t feel like walking up the hill, you can catch a minibus that will take you anywhere you want to go to the Island anytime!
You get plenty of exotic visitors on your villa balcony moreover, at some stage, you can make friends with a monkey or two. The monkeys on Pangkor Island are accustomed to people and come to visit, they will eat your bananas and apples if left unattended! They are very cute and inquisitive and they just jump onto your balcony when least expected! They will smile at you just before they grab something, it is adorable to watch. Just don’t leave the doors open to your villa, they will come inside and steal something. Oriental Hornbills also provide plenty of entertainment, they are everywhere and definitely a signature creature of the resort!
Spend a full day soaking up the warm tropical sun at the Emerald Bay. The water is actually emerald in color! Make sure you stay until sunset, it is tranquil and simply magnificent! The beach is half a mile long and surrounded by 300 acres of tropical rainforest. There are a few hammocks amongst the trees and a lovely cafe by the water.
Get pampered beyond your imagination at the Day Spa! Indulge yourself in a whole range of extravagant spa treatments. Your experience begins with watching beautiful golden fish swim in tranquility. You then enter the spa through a cascade of water, absorb the smells of relaxing burning essences and prepare yourself for a treat of body and mind! They even have a magic wishing well to make your dreams come true!
In the evening, attend a cocktail reception at the Fisherman’s Cove or for some private time go on a sunset cruise around the island. The boat will take you to some magnificent places whilst you are being served drinks and canapés!
We found that the best way to explore the Island is to go on a Jungle trek. The longest route is only 2.4km and it will take you through the lush tropical forest. There are several rare animal species that live on Pangkor Island that you can find in the Jungle. We challenge you to spot the Great Hornbills also known as Great Indian Hornbills. These are found in the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia and they are permanent residents at Pangkor Island. They are 95-130 cm head-to-tail length with a 152cm wingspan. These are a rare find as there are only 4-6 pairs living on Pangkor. We were lucky to catch one mid-flight and then found a pair at sunset that came to look for an evening meal.
For the best experience at Pangkor Laut Resort:
What to Pack:
It is hot and humid and as result given the water is so warm in the Bay that you will spend a lot of time on the beach. Bring your best beachwear and hiking shoes! Take some beautiful dresses as at night it will be your time to shine in a number of resort’s restaurants. Speaking of restaurants, book a table at the Fisherman’s Cove for a very special night out or organize a private dinner on the beach!
Camera gear:
This is a relaxation resort for people seeking privacy. Keep it small and discrete. Having said that, I made great use of my 70-200 lens in my quest to find the rare large birds of paradise! Use your phone or small video camera to capture monkeys in action. My Sony RX100 was very handy. If you bring a drone, which we had, seek management permission and fly it away and high above the island.
Communication:
Upon arrival, you receive a small Wi-Fi router that you will carry around with you if you are in need of internet somewhere in the jungle. You will stay connected if you wish.
Something extra:
A really memorable activity to do at the resort is to participate in a Tree Planting Ceremony. You get to plant a sea apple tree and you receive a Certificate with your name on it. It will be nurtured for you for years to come on this tropical island and maybe one day you actually go back and see it grown. Each tree has its own GPS tracking system so you will definitely find your own actual tree!