A Three-Day, Two-Night Soul-Cleansing Trip to Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia

Malaysia, located in the tropics, boasts a long coastline, making it an excellent vacation destination besides Thailand. Malaysia has many famous and beautiful islands, and this time, my Malaysian friend took me to Pangkor Laut Resort for a holiday. We drove from Kuala Lumpur early in the morning to avoid the busy hours, and it took about three hours. Of course, it’s closer from Ipoh, taking less than two hours to reach Marina Island Jetty. If you drive yourself, there is a parking lot at the jetty, which is very convenient. When you arrive at the jetty, there is a hotel reception area where you can wait for their speedboat to pick you up. The boat ride is very quick, taking about fifteen minutes. As soon as you arrive, you’ll see the overwater villas built along the island, which are very beautiful. Naturally, we checked in immediately upon arrival. Our room was over the water, with a large balcony and bathroom, and the quality was excellent with ample air conditioning. Like other resorts, they offer various water activities, swimming pools, and beaches. Of course, the spa is a must-try, and its quality is quite good. But here, I want to introduce two special places: Beach: To reach their beach, you need to take a shuttle to the other side, to Emerald Bay Beach. The water is very shallow, making it perfect for children to play. There were many long floating objects on the beach, and while everyone was guessing what they were, another guest mentioned they were a type of jellyfish, non-toxic and very special. However, be cautious of monkeys snatching your bags while swimming on the beach, so it’s better to have someone watch over your valuables or keep them with you. Tropical Rainforest Tour: There is a small tropical rainforest area on the island where you can join a free guided tour. Although the area is small, you can see many unique things like large lizards, monkeys, ant nests, and bats. The guide even mentioned that sometimes wild boars swim over from Indonesia, and they catch them and send them back. The tour ends right at the beach, where you can enjoy another swim. The hotel offers a variety of dining options, including Chinese, Western, Malaysian, and Thai cuisines, located in different parts of the island, so you can try each one. The hotel also offers buffets in the morning and evening, with musical performances during the evening buffet, which are worth enjoying. If you want to get close to nature and relax, Pangkor Laut Resort is a great choice.