Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway, or have some more time on your hands, Pangkor Island, Malaysia has it all. Pangkor is located on the north-west part of Malaysia, and the islands are just a quick ferry ride from the mainland in Lumut.
Where to Stay
We stayed at Pangkor Island Beach Resort which had all kinds of activities available, including:
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Kayaking
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Bike Rental
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Jet Ski Rental
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Snorkeling
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Swiming
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Beach-ing
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Eating your own weight in buffet items
If you do decide to stay at this hotel, I recommend purchasing the deal that comes with breakfast and dinner buffets. This will ensure that you eat WAY too much for every meal and are vacationing properly 
. I would also recommend ordering the Pina Coladas from the beach bar and hanging out poolside to soak up some rays.
Pangkor Island Wildlife
While we were in our Pina Colada Paradise, we realized that a large monitor lizard was making it’s way towards the pool. He was amazing to watch and a lot less shy than others I’d seen around. After that, a peacock strolled by! And all day long, we watched the hornbill birds majestically swoop from palm to palm. It was like living in a discovery channel episode! I really couldn’t believe it. There were Monitor Lizard in the shadows (and pool), a peacock strolling past, and many hornbills in the palms!
Other than the nature, zooming around on the Jet Skis was for sure the other highlight. I haven’tbeen on one of those for a long time, since most islands are more environmentally protective. But it was a lot of fun, and I think I only ran over one jellyfish, so my impact wasn’t all that bad. On the way back though I was able to talk my way into a tractor ride from the owner, which proved to be a bit more exciting (and bumpy!) than the Jet Ski ride.
Overall, I would say Pangkor Island, Malaysia is a perfect place for a weekend (or long weekend) getaway! It has a great combination of nature, activities, rest & relaxation. A word of warning though, be sure to keep your balconies closed and locked — as the monkeys seem to be intruders here! Check out our warning on our balcony door! I didn’t believe it, until I spotted one myself… Bad Monkey!
I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips, and have a wonderful weekend getaway–wherever you are!!
