The complete guide to reaching Pangkor Island, Malaysia

Pangkor island is tucked away on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is near enough historic Ipoh and conveniently accessible from charming Taiping. Additionally it is within reach of Kuala Lumpur, making this island a great getaway for your next beach break.

When I visited the island, I went from Taiping on my way back to Kuala Lumpur… little did I know this was not the only way to access the beauty of Pangkor. After further research and my own personal love for this island, I created this guide to help you get there from wherever you may be on your trip. Pangkor Island is not to be missed as it shows a much more laid back side of Malaysia, with it’s pristine beaches and small town charm.

Home to 30,000 people , Pangkor island lies off the western coast of the peninsula. It boasts lush jungle, pristine beach and a strong community feeling. Whether you want to relax on a semi-private beach, hike up Pangkor hill or feed hornbills at sunset, Pangkor island provides that slice of paradise… and this is your guide to getting there.

From the capital, Kuala Lumpur:

The main gateway to Pangkor is a small town called Lumut.

• The first step is booking a bus on Easybook from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) to Lumut. See below for directions once in Lumut.

Plenty of companies offer this route. I have always had a good experience with Starmart Express on other routes, though I haven’t take this one.

• The bus ride should take 4-5 hours and cost around RM 30, depending on what company you go with.

Pro tip: Check the arrival times of the bus to see what the corresponding ferry will give you the least wait time… Lumut is nice but making your travel day shorter is always best.

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From Ipoh:

Getting from Perak’s capital, Ipoh, is as short bus ride.

• Take the bus from Ipoh’s Amanjaya Station to Lumut terminal. Tickets can be bought online or in person at the terminal.

The company that runs this route only has three departures a day (all in the afternoon) at the time of writing so be sure to check the schedules in order to plan your trip accordingly.

• The bus ride can take between 2-3 hours and costs around RM 10. The company running from Amanjaya station is Express Kesatuan.

Pro tip: Book the bus from Ipoh in advance as the bus station is a 15 minute drive from Ipoh’s old town, it will allow for a seamless journey without potential wait times. Using Grab or a rideshare is the best way to get to Amanjaya station.

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From Taiping:

Lumut and Pangkor are even accessible from Taiping by means of bus.

• Depart from the Taiping bus station taking the Blue Omnibus company’s bus.
• It runs 3 trips a day to Lumut. It is route 84, following the schedule listed below with frequent updates on their Facebook page for route disruptions.

• The journey is around 1.5 hours and makes stops along the way so can take a bit longer. Tickets are purchased on the bus and should be RM 9.80-10.

Pro tip: Taiping is easily walkable and the bus station is in the town center. Arriving 15-30 minutes early allows you time to ensure the right bus stop, load up your bags and grab a bite at the concession stand. Don’t worry tickets are purchased on the bus and the drivers are typically super helpful.

Once in Lumut:

• Walk across the road and parking lot towards the jetty. It is hard to miss as you just have to walk towards the big building by the water. Here is the google-maps location if you want to plan it.

• At the jetty, you can either purchase your tickets from the kiosk. Or show your pre-booked tickets from Easybook in order to gain access to the waiting area. I booked upon arrival and had no issue receiving tickets for the next sailing.

• The boat ride is about 30 minutes and costs anywhere from RM 13-20. Here is a phot of their schedule from 2023, although they may have more up to date information through their Easybook portal.

Once in Pangkor:

Outside of the jetty terminal you have a few options for transport around the island. If staying in Teluk Nipah on the west coast of the island you can either arrange with your hotel a pick-up, hire a motorcycle for yourself or take the pink shared taxis. These hulking pink vans have set shared fares to different parts of the island. At their rank they have a list of fares and baggage fees. To get to Teluk Nipah is around RM 20. Be sure to confirm with the drivers both your location and price.

Getting to Pangkor is surprisingly easy, if a bit time consuming. With excellent bus connections, a quick ferry and accessible on island transport even if you just spend the weekend Pangkor Island is a great getaway.

Thanks to the easy transport connections all over the country, and especially Pangkor’s infrastructure you are well set up to add it into whatever circuit you have in mind for Malaysia. If you are looking for some places to add to your itinerary, check out my guide here.