If your idea of the perfect Malaysian vacation includes luxury, nature, privacy and a perfect tropical island, Pangkor Laut Resort & Spa Village could be exactly what you are looking for!
Located in the Straits of Malacca, Pangkor Laut Island (or Pulau Pangkor Laut in Malay) is a 298-acre private island with gorgeous coastline and thick jungle. It’s home to just one resort and the word that popped into my head on the ferry ride here was PARADISE. It really feels like you have found it here.
The 5-star Pangkor Laut Resort is definitely a special place. While you can find some fabulous resorts and islands in Malaysia, this one definitely stands out to me thanks to its relative isolation and just being so gorgeous and well done with amazing service and maybe the best beach in the country. I think it’s my favourite!
Of course, being so special comes with a high Pangkor Laut Resort price. Is it worth it? Should you just stick with easier destinations like a resort in Langkawi?
Click here to see the latest prices now.
Below, I walk you through my full Pangkor Laut Resort review with absolutely everything you need to know about this resort including the room options, what to do in Pangkor Laut Resort, all the facilities, the dining, the weather in Pangkor Laut, how to get there and all my experiences staying at the Pangkor Laut Resort in Malaysia.
You can also see a full video walkthrough of this resort. Then you’ll know for yourself whether a Pangkor Laut Resort package is worth your holiday time.
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Contents
Pangkor Laut Resort Review
A note about this review: This article is based on my personal stay at Pangkor Laut Resort. I’ve updated practical information where possible, but any prices I mention from my visit are included to give you an idea of what I paid rather than as guaranteed current rates. Check the latest prices and inclusions before booking.
The Pangkor Laut Resort is part of the YTL luxury resort brand. I found it well managed with friendly and helpful staff and totally deserving of its 5 star rating. Pangkor Laut Resort reviews always rave about the staff, dining, the whole experience so I am not alone with enjoying this resort. I really can’t say enough good things about the staff and the service.
For example, after check-out, I panicked and thought I had lost my phone. I went back to ask if I could have the key back to check the room. A staff member dropped everything and came straight to the room with me and helped me look everywhere for it and was so relieved when I found it in my handbag. She didn’t even make me feel embarrassed 😀
Pangkor Laut Resort Location
So where is Pangkor Laut located? The Pangkor Laut Resort location is on the tiny island of Pangkor Laut which is to the southwest of the bigger Pangkor Island. This is in the Straits of Malacca off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia basically between Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
You can see exactly where on this Pangkor Laut Resort map.
How To Go To Pangkor Laut Resort
To get to Pangkor Laut Resort, you need to get to the resort’s office at Marina Island Pangkor. You can drive here (there is parking close by), get a taxi or get buses here. I took a taxi from Ipoh airport which cost RM170 for a coupon taxi on arrival at the time of my visit.
The address for this office is Jalan Jeti Kompleks, KM 1, Teluk Muruh 32200 Lumut, Perak, Malaysia.
From here, the resort operates its own speedboat service. This is separate from the regular public ferries travelling to Pangkor Island.
At the time of updating this review, scheduled boats depart Marina Island at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Return departures from the resort are at 8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 3:30pm.
The journey takes approximately 20 minutes, and you need to check in at the Marina Island office at least 20 minutes before your scheduled departure.
The published return transfer fare is RM160 per adult and RM80 per child aged 2–11. An additional fuel surcharge of RM10 per person each way applies, with prevailing service charges and taxes also applicable.
Private speedboat transfers can also be arranged at an additional cost.
Check the latest timetable and transfer charges directly with the resort before travelling.
I did think this was too expensive and should be included in your accommodation price since you don’t have an option.
The boat ride itself was great. There is a lot to look at as part of it is along the Pangkor Island coast and then you get a nice look at Pangkor Laut before arrival as well. There are life jackets for everyone.
You can find my full guide to how to get to Pangkor Island here. The information in this article about how to get to Marina Island is exactly the same whether you are going to Pangkor Laut or its big brother, Pangkor Island.
Pangkor Laut Resort Check-In
The first part of check-in occurs at this office before you take the ferry. On arrival at their office at Marina Island, they took my luggage from the taxi, and I didn’t see it again until I got to my room.
I had thought the whole check-in process would take place here, but it’s really just the part where they take a deposit and check your passport. I was surprised that they didn’t mention any fee for the ferry and you wouldn’t necessarily know there was one if you hadn’t read everything on their site beforehand.
They gave me a cold flannel and a nice welcome drink and there is a nice lounge to wait for the next ferry. I only waited a few minutes and I was off.
When our ferry arrived at the island, we were met by friendly staff and escorted to the reception area. Here, the rest of the check-in process took place. I was too early to get my room key but I did get a lot of information about the resort. I also made a reservation for dinner that night and for the included guided jungle trek the next day.
It was a lot of information, and I was happy for the sheet they gave me with opening hours for restaurants and some other information. However, my one big complaint is that I was only shown a map and not given one. This led to drama for me later as a quick glance at a map was not enough for me to remember where everything was.
Later on that day, I downloaded one I found on the internet which turned out to be out of date and I waited 40 minutes for a shuttle to a restaurant which turned out to be a one-minute walk away. Oops.
Here’s a resort map to help you get your bearings. Check with reception for the most up-to-date version when you arrive:
I had a few hours before I could enter my room but this wasn’t a problem. I took some photos, had a leisurely lunch and then a leisurely swim in the pool, and the time passed too quickly!
Pangkor Laut Resort Rooms
There is a big range of room types from overwater Sea Villas to hillside villas and the totally fancy and out-of-this-world Pangkor Laut estates.
Pangkor Laut Estates
The Estates are a series of eight houses that are meant to recall ” the romantic lifestyle of a British estate manager of old Malaya.”
The Pangkor Laut Resort estate options are all in the northern part of the island, separated for privacy, which have from one to four bedrooms with living and dining areas as well as private pools and great views. Three of the Estates are beachfront.
They have on-call butlers and buggy rides around the island.
Unfortunately, I did not stay in one of these but they look and sound divine.
Villas
Fortunately, I was not really disappointed as the villas are great too. There are seven villa types, mainly differentiated by their location, although some offer additional features. There are also some extra-special suite options.
The inland options include Tropical Garden Villas and Tropical Hill Villas, with the hill villas offering elevated views of the surrounding greenery. Beach Villas and Sea Villas, meanwhile, are closer to the water.
A beach villa has views and is close to the Royal Bay beach (not a swimming beach). They are larger, but did not seem as private to me as other options.
The Sea Villas are built over the water and look absolutely gorgeous. They have large balconies with lounge chairs where you can take in the views, as well as bathrooms with oversized tubs and showers that open onto the sea. I wish I’d picked one of these! They’re smaller than the other room types, but still spacious at 55 square metres.
One important thing to know is that you can’t swim directly from the Sea Villas. The resort permits sea swimming at Emerald Bay, so don’t book an overwater villa expecting to jump straight into the water from your balcony.
They do spread for quite a stretch so you can be a bit of a walk from everything. The upside is if you get a villa a bit further away, it’s much more private.
You can also stay in a Pangkor Laut Resort spa villa. These are also built over the sea with direct access to the Spa Village (more about this soon!).
There are also suite options over the sea which are basically bigger versions of the villa options. They’ll give you a separate bedroom and living areas.
The top villa option is the Pavarotti Suite which is named after Luciano Pavarotti as he was a huge fan of this island and resort. It’s a two-bedroom suite which is 242 square metres – so big! – on a hill in the rainforest with amazing views.
Click here to see the latest prices now.
There are 140 villas which can sound like a lot but remember that this resort has nearly 300 acres of land so it doesn’t feel crowded.
Garden Villa Pangkor Laut Resort
I was staying alone so opted for the relatively budget-friendly Pangkor Laut Resort garden villa. While it’s the more budget-friendly option, it still kicks goals. It’s great. All Pangkor Laut rooms are.
At 71 square metres, it’s big. It’s in a garden setting close to all the facilities. My room was right behind the reception/library area so very easy to get around and still very quiet.
My villa had air-conditioning, a day bed (which could double as an extra bed, it’s single bed sized), flat-screen TV, minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, bathrobe, toiletries and everything you would expect of a 5-star resort including ironing facilities, hair dryer, everything you could need.
There was a lot in this room and I kept discovering more things! Like mosquito repellent in the bedroom and some balm in case you get bitten. There’s also a desk and chair and plenty of cupboard space. It felt like the entry way to the room was a giant walk-in wardrobe.
There were a couple of noodle cups and drinks in the minibar for purchase. These were on the expensive side, and it’s definitely cheaper to drink at one of the bars.
I loved that the “curtains” were wooden boards. Fantastic for privacy and I didn’t have to worry about waking up with the sun.
The layout of your Pangkor Laut Garden Villa depends on whether you stay on the ground floor or first floor. A ground floor villa gets you a bathtub in a private courtyard while first-floor villas have a bathroom that open out to a view of the surrounding gardens.
I had a “ground floor” villa although it was still above the ground. So I had a huge bath outside. I’m usually not a bath person but I had one as soon as I got into my room. I couldn’t help it. Just too gorgeous!
The balcony was fantastic – it was big and wrapped around the villa. On here was a table and two chairs, another day bed and hanging space. The downside of my garden villa was that this balcony looked into the restaurant area so wasn’t very private.
The only other downside was the power points. This room is older style and while it suits its surroundings and is well maintained – I would certainly not describe it as aged – the lack of accessible power points was a little annoying. And it was weird how the basin taps were below it and to the side. These are obviously small issues though, and I did love this room.
Each villa has its own wifi signal, so I had great internet except it was super slow to upload my photos. I did this easily on the faster internet at the reception/restaurant areas without a problem.
As I said, the garden villas are located close to most of the resort’s amenities so are also a great choice if you want to limit walking. While the hill villa views would be amazing – I would have loved their views when there was a thunderstorm with lightning – some were very high up so this is definitely a choice for the able-bodied.
Pangkor Laut Resort Facilities
There is plenty to get you active and entertained – all covered in this Pangkor Laut blog.
Infinity Pool
My personal favourite facility is the infinity pool. While I love looking at a great beach, I am usually a pool person and this one doesn’t disappoint.
The main pool is long and in front of the Royal Beach Club right by the beach in the centre of everything. I love it!
Note that it is quite deep getting up to 1.75 metres.
There’s also a kids’ pool here.
Gym
Next to the pool is the gym. Personally, not a place I want to hang out on my holiday, but it looks good if it’s your cup of tea with great views over the water. I also didn’t see anyone in here so you could maybe get it to yourself.
Sports
If you fancy a game, the resort offers a range of sporting facilities, including tennis, squash, pickleball, futsal and basketball. Check with the resort about equipment and availability during your stay.
Games Room
There’s also the resort’s games room. Here you can play table tennis, a game of pool or foosball. There are also places to sit and a big TV.
It was a very cool space and I can imagine spending some great time here had I visited this hotel in Pangkor Laut with my kids.
Water Sports
The resort also offers water sports, including kayaking, paddleboarding, waterskiing and wakeboarding. Check which activities are available during your stay and whether additional charges apply.
When I visited, kayaks and paddleboards were available to hire rather than included in the room rate. I was surprised by this, as they have been complimentary at many other resorts I’ve stayed at. They were easy to access, though, and there was a large roped-off area where guests could use them.
Pangkor Laut Spa Village
The Pangkor Laut Resort spa is definitely worth a visit. Here, you can really relax and unwind with massage and beauty treatments. It’s quite a “village” too with many pavilions and huts as well as bath houses, napping pavilions and more.
There are many different treatments and you can meet with a specialist at the beginning of your stay to get a recommended programme.
When I visited, massages started at RM325 for a 50-minute treatment.
You can also find another infinity pool here which looked divine right by the water. I stuck to the main pool as it was more convenient for me but I’m sure this adults-only pool would be great too.
Shuttle Service
There’s also a shuttle service between the main resort area, the Spa Village (you can also walk here) and Emerald Bay, the main beach.
This is easy to catch – simply wait for one to come.
The downside is that they can take a loooooong time to come. Like I waited 40 minutes for one and then only a car came with just a few seats and not the usual mini bus which made things tricky.
When it was quick, it was absolutely awesome, but after that long wait, it turned me off going to Emerald Bay as often as I would have liked.
Other Facilities
There’s also a library where you can find something to read, and a tour desk with various activities around the island. You can pick up a souvenir at the gift shop or have your clothes washed.
Water taxis can also be booked back to the mainland or Pangkor Island.
There’s also karaoke.
For families, there is a babysitting service.
Pangkor Laut Resort Dining
There’s no shortage of dining options at Pulau Pangkor Laut Resort and Pangkor Laut reviews always mention how great and consistently good the food is between outlets. I have to say that I (mostly) agree!
There are several restaurants and bars around the resort, which I’ll cover below. You can also arrange special private dining experiences, including dinner on the beach or rocks.
I recommend making dinner reservations in advance, particularly if there’s a specific restaurant or time you have your heart set on. I booked Uncle Lim’s Kitchen as soon as I arrived.
Feast Village Pangkor Laut Resort
Feast Village is where you will head for breakfast. It has a range of choices so you can pick whether to have Asian options or more western options.
I found breakfast to be absolutely amazing. Maybe my best breakfast ever. There is so much on offer here that initially, I did not even realise all the different food stations that are available (keep walking round and don’t think the main buffet area is all there is).
There were many different styles of food and while I could have stuck with the usual western options, I had the most delicious nasi lemak (Malay-style breakfast) and then had a second Indian breakfast with a freshly made roti canai. Just so so so so so so so good. Honestly, I could have been happy at this breakfast buffet for every meal!
It also opens for lunch and dinner with buffet options. I did not try this at other meal times and was told it was RM160++ at the time of my visit.
Fisherman’s Cove
This is the premier place to eat a delicious seafood dinner that’s not just fresh but also focuses on sustainable fishing.
It’s in a beautiful location by the water (actually all the restaurants are in beautiful locations!). I did not get the opportunity to eat here.
Fisherman’s Cove welcomes guests aged 16 and above, and a smart-casual dress code applies. Shorts, sandals and collarless shirts are not permitted.
Uncle Lim Pangkor Laut
Uncle Lim’s Kitchen is frequently praised in reviews of Pangkor Laut Resort as being the best dining option so I reserved this for dinner as soon as I arrived. It specialises in Nyonya and Hock Chew Chinese-style home cooking and uses locally available products that can be personalised to your taste buds.
The restaurant is named after its founding chef, Lim Fang Tat, affectionately known as Uncle Lim. He helped establish the restaurant’s reputation for Nyonya and Hock Chew Chinese-style home cooking, and his culinary legacy continues to influence its menu today.
I was a little disappointed by my meal, a beef rendang. While it was very nice, it wasn’t anything that spectacular like I had been hoping especially with the big price tag.
Royal Bay Beach Club
Behind the pool with views of the beach, the Royal Bay Beach Club is open most of the day and evening and is a great lunch spot or place to get a drink.
Asian and western dishes are available for lunch including burgers and pizzas.
I made a mistake and picked a western option when I ate here as I was craving fries! It was just ok. Definitely pick the Asian options.
Chapman’s Bar
Another place for either lunch or a great drink, Chapman’s Bar is located on the beautiful beach at Emerald Bay. It has a similar selection of Malaysian and western dishes and definitely has my favourite setting of any of the restaurants.
When I visited, Chapman’s Bar had a two-for-one happy hour before dinner, which made it an especially lovely place to enjoy a sunset drink.
The bar itself is named after a British Colonel who hid here from the Japanese in World War II.
I absolutely loved having a drink here as the sun set. It’s such a gorgeous setting.
Straits Bar
Between Uncle Lim’s Kitchen and Feast Village, you can enjoy a sundowner or after-dinner drink at Straits Bar. This small but classy bar is a lovely place to relax over a cocktail or another drink.
Note that Straits Bar welcomes guests aged 16 and above.
Jamu Bar
Last but not least, the Jamu Bar is located in the Spa Village looking over the water. This is the place to go for healthy salads and drinks.
Jamu Bar welcomes guests aged 16 and above.
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Pangkor Laut Resort Restaurant Prices
I know I’m always a little concerned about eating costs when I book a secluded resort like this and I have no choice but to eat at their restaurants.
If you’re like me and wondering about Pangkor Laut food prices, I can tell you that dining was one of the more expensive parts of my stay.
When I visited, I paid RM104++ for beef rendang at Uncle Lim’s Kitchen, which I thought was a lot! Lunch dishes were generally around RM60++, while dinner could cost considerably more. Drinks were expensive too.
I’ve included photographs of some of the menus from my visit above to give you an idea of what I encountered. However, these are historical prices, so check the resort’s current menus when planning your budget.
Also, pay attention to how prices are displayed. The menu prices I encountered were marked with ++, meaning additional service charges (10%) and a service tax (6%) were added. I found this a little annoying, particularly when everything was already expensive!
I didn’t find anywhere to buy snacks during my stay, so I’d recommend bringing a few of your favourites with you.
Pangkor Laut Resort Video Review And Walkthrough
Things To Do In Pangkor Laut Resort
Another thing I can be concerned about when visiting a secluded resort is whether I’ll get bored. While I personally may struggle with weeks at the Pangkor Laut Resort, you aren’t likely to get bored on a shorter trip. There is plenty to do here.
In addition to the Pangkor Laut Resort activities mentioned above – like the pools, spa village, tennis courts, kayaking and more, there are many other Pangkor Laut Island things to do as well. Here are some of them.
Note: If you are thinking about day tripping to Pangkor Laut instead of staying here, you can’t. Only Pangkor Laut Island hotel guests can visit here.
Relax At Emerald Bay Pangkor Laut Resort
The top choice of Pangkor Laut activities has to be to visit Emerald Bay.
This beautiful beach is a short shuttle through the jungle from the main part of the resort. It’s home to the best beach and loveliest spot, in my opinion.
In fact, I think this is one of my favourite spots in Malaysia (which means possibly the world!). The beach is just sooooo pretty. The photos do not do it justice. It’s surrounded by jungle and you’re looking out to the ocean with nothing but the blue sea in front.
Pangkor Laut Emerald Bay is also great for swimming and just relaxing with beautiful views. There are lounge chairs here as well as Chapman’s Bar so you can have a drink or some food while you relax.
It’s quiet and does feel very private, even with the bar.
I can’t emphasise enough how great this spot is. The first photo in this article is also of this beach area.
Go Jungle Trekking
Another of the popular Pangkor Laut things to do is to go jungle trekking. You can go for a walk yourself or there are twice daily guided treks from the library that take about an hour depending on what trek you take. This is free for guests so make sure you check it out.
This is a great way to learn more about the surrounding virgin rainforest that is over two million years old. A naturalist takes the walks and talks about the plant and animal life on the island.
There are two possible paths and which one the group treks take depend on fitness levels and daily conditions. One is 500 metres and one is 2.4 kilometres with stunning views.
They both end at Emerald Bay. Long trousers and sleeves as well as mosquito repellent are recommended for jungle trekking.
Do Yoga Or Tai Chi
There are twice daily yoga and tai chi sessions at the Pangkor Laut Resort (with one rest day a week).
Take The Chef’s Kitchen Experience
A “signature experience” at Pangkor Laut Resort is to take the Chef’s Kitchen Experience.
On this tour, you visit nearby Pangkor Island to buy fresh ingredients from a fishery, dried seafood markets, a noodle maker and a floating fish farm. Back at the resort, your chef will help you cook a great meal with your ingredients and the best Asian herbs and spices.
Finally, of course, you get to eat the meal you created.
Fish
Fishing enthusiasts won’t want to miss the chance to go fishing nearby in the straits of Malacca on either a motorised boat or Oriental junk.
There’s the choice of deep-sea or leisure fishing.
Go Island Hopping
The resort also offers an island hopping tour. Take your choice of a motorised boat or Oriental junk and explore the small islands nearby in the Straits of Malacca and enjoy swims along the way to keep cool.
The tour includes a gourmet picnic basket to eat on the boat.
Take A Sunset Cruise
Most evenings, you can take a sunset cruise on a teakwood Oriental junk. The cruise circles around the island and includes drinks as you watch the sunset.
Visit Pangkor Island
A quick water taxi away is Pangkor Island, Pangkor Laut’s big brother. In fact, there are great views of Pasir Bogak, the main beach on Pangkor, from Pangkor Laut Resort.
This island has a much more local and lively vibe and there are some low-key attractions to check out like Foo Lin Kong Temple above, the floating Mosque, a Dutch Fort and much more as well as some great beaches.
I visited Pangkor Island and stayed a few days after my Pangkor Laut holidays but it’s also very possible to do this as a day trip from the resort. Once on the island, you can easily hire a taxi to take you around the island visiting the sites. I highly recommend you do this.
You can read more about the things to do on Pangkor Island here.
Pangkor Laut Snorkelling And Diving?
The water around Pangkor Laut isn’t ideal for diving or snorkelling. It is possible to organise snorkelling or diving through water sport companies on Pangkor Island though.
Pangkor Laut Weather
Pangkor Laut in Malaysia is in the tropics so you can expect hot and humid weather year-round. It can rain at any time of year but downpours generally don’t last more than an hour or two.
The weather on Pangkor Laut does vary a little throughout the year. December to February are the coolest months with high temperatures averaging 29-30 degrees Celsius. The driest months are June to August. The wettest months are November and December.
The sea temperature only changes between 29 to 30 degrees so it’s always pleasant to swim.
The best time to visit Pangkor Laut Resort is really any time since the weather doesn’t differ that much. If you really can come whenever, January to February has an advantage as it’s a little cooler and it’s also the least busy time for tourists.
I visited in October. It only rained at night (although it rained a lot at night), and I loved it.
Pangkor Laut Resort Promotion
Before staying at Pangkor Laut Resort, I compared prices across different booking options to find the best deal.
For my particular dates, Booking.com worked out around RM200 per night cheaper than booking directly through the resort. That’s a substantial saving, especially at a luxury property like this!
My booking also included breakfast.
Click here to see the latest prices now.
I was very happy with the deal I got, although this won’t necessarily be the case for every stay. I’d recommend comparing Booking.com with the resort’s own website and checking exactly what’s included in each rate, particularly breakfast, speedboat transfers, taxes and cancellation conditions.
There was no downside to booking on Booking.com.
Click here to see more information now.
Check-Out
Check-out was just as smooth and easy as check-in. Someone came to my room and took my suitcase, and it ended up on the ferry with me. I paid my bill and then took the ferry back (after I thought I lost my phone and went looking for it as per the story above!!).
I can’t emphasise enough how friendly and helpful the staff were.
Final Words
If you’ve ever pictured a beautiful island escape in the tropics, you probably pictured here!
Pangkor Laut Malaysia is a fabulous place to stay. While it is a little trickier to get to than some resorts in Malaysia, it’s not hard to get here and its relative isolation adds to the experience.
I stayed here alone but I can see it would be fantastic for a romantic break, a honeymoon or I’d love to bring my family back. My kids would love it, although a family stay here would be tough on the bank balance. There were lots of couples here and quite a few families. The resort maintained a quiet, relaxed atmosphere.
My only real complaint is that I wish more had been included in the price of my stay. For example, when I visited, kayaking cost extra, which surprised me given that it’s been included at many other resorts I’ve stayed at. I also think the compulsory resort speedboat transfer should be included in the accommodation price rather than charged separately. I don’t like having unavoidable extras added to an already expensive stay.
I also think everything on the island cost too much. And while I absolutely loved it and don’t begrudge a cent I spent, it does turn me off coming here with my family of five.
I definitely do have to come back though. I loved it so much and Emerald Bay is just so spectacular. For a couple, the cost is manageable and well and truly worth it.
I hope you found this Pangkor Laut Resort review helpful and you have a great stay here as well.
Click here to see the latest prices now.
Looking for other accommodation options in Pangkor? Read our full guide to the best hotels in Pangkor here. You can also find our full Pangkor Island guide here and our guide to things to do at nearby Pangkor Island here. You can find our podcast episode on Pangkor Island here.
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