Perak

A quiet, unassuming state Perak rarely makes the big headlines as far as Malaysian tourism is concerned. Having said this, there are some neat places to explore, most notably the exquisite beaches along Pulau Pangkor (’Pulau’ means Island in the Malay language).

Places To See & Do In Perak

Pulau Pangkor – Promoted as one of Malaysia’s finest beaches, the tiny island of Panglor (it’s total area is under 10 sq km) boasts some spectacular beaches. For example, it’s in Pangkor that you will find the beaches of Coral Bay, Pasir Bogak and Teluk Ketapang.

If you can afford it, the exclusive Pangkor Laut Resort owns the fabulous Emerald Bay beach, attracting five star travelers who can laze in the stunning sands and crystal clear waters that the bay offers.

Pangkor Town is a small, and largely smutty place, and even though it’s not one to spend any great length of time, it’s worth stopping by just for a look around. Because it’s a tiny island, it’s possible to explore Pangkor within a day (it barely takes a couple of hours if you have transport) and aside from the awesome beaches there is not a great deal to do or see. Notable points of interest on the island include a Hindu temple and the Kota Belanda fort.

Because of the outstanding beaches, Pangkor is a good place to enjoy a spot of snorkeling or water-sports. You can snorkel at Pangkor Laut Resort if you’re staying there as it offers very good snorkeling facilities for guests. Alternatively, head to Pasir Bogak beach where you can hire some snorkeling equipment and do it yourself.

Hotels, Restaurants & Places To Relax In Pangkor

There’s only one place to stay in Pangkor if your budget allows, and that’s the exquisite Pangkor Laut Resort. Yes, this will practically break the bank but the stunning rooms (often accompanied by equally splendid views) as well as the right to use the guests-only beach (one of the best in Malaysia) makes it worthwhile.

There’s nothing else to compare with Pangkor Laut Resort on the island, but there are other places for travelers with a budget:

In Teluk Nipah (one of the main beach areas with a splurge of fair, budget accommodation) there are the following hotels and chalets:

Nipah Bay Villa

Sunset View Chalet

Suria Beach Resort

Indah Beach

Havana Beach Resort

The other popular beach area that also has a decent sprinkling of places to stay is Pasir Bogak. Here you’ll find more budget places such as:

Coral Bay Resort

Vikri Beach Resort

Sea View Hotel

Most of these places offer very modest accommodation but are clean and of good value – often, travelers to Malaysia don’t care about the type of accommodation thanks to the many awesome sights and sounds that the country offers outside of the hotel room.

The capital city of Perak is Ipoh.  The premier tourist attraction in Ipoh city is the Tambun Theme Park.  Here there are exciting rides and activities for the whole family.  Besides that, Ipoh has a beautiful botanical garden called the D.R. Botanical Gardens, situated right in the city center itself.

Just outside the city are magnificent limestone caves that house some Chinese temples.  These are also very popular with the tourists.

If you want to stay in Ipoh, the most popular hotel is the four-star Imperial Casuarina Hotel.  It offers good and clean accommodation at a reasonable price.  But if you’re backpacking, there are numerous backpackers lodges available in and around Ipoh city.

Video On Pulau Pangkor & Kuala Selangor (Courtesy Of YouTube):