Travel Islands Around Malaysia: Pulau Payar, Langkawi, Kedah

Pulau Payar

It is an island covered in tropical forest with mangroves and sandy beaches around the coast. On the island itself there are four small sandy beaches complete with picnic benches and hiking trails so that visitors can explore the island's tropical forests.

On the island itself there are four small sandy beaches which combine to provide a total length of about 200 meters. This island has the friendliest fish you’d ever see. Feeding fishes and baby sharks that come up to the beaches is a popular attraction here.

Two tracking trails have also been made available for visitors to explore the flora and fauna of the island. These tracks appear to be underutilized as few visitors are even aware of their existence. Other amenities provided include picnic tables, barbecue pits, gazebos, and restrooms at strategic points

The Pulau Payar Marine Park

The Pulau Payar Marine Park is the first marine park to be established off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Gazetted in 1985, it includes the islands of Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Segantang and Pulau Kaca which are surrounded by coral reefs.

Named after Pulau Payar, the biggest island of the group, the marine park teems with a fascinating diversity of marine life and vegetation. The average visibility is between 9 to 15 meters, or 30 - 50 feet and best time is from the month of February until November

None of the island is inhabited, except by on-duty officers of the Fisheries Department, who enforce the law. Fishing, either for hobby or commercial, is strictly prohibited around the islands.

Amongst the islands, Pulau Payar is the most popular as its sheltered waters are ideal for snorkelling, diving and swimming.

Scuba divers and and those who snorkel will enjoy the sight of colourful fishes darting playfully in and out of the corals. You'll revel in the company of shoals and shoals of fishes as they go about their busy way.

There are various seashells, shellfishes and slugs that are scattered all over the seabed.
If you don't dive or snorkel, you can still see the spectacular sights below the water from a large floating platform moored off Pulau Payar.

The Coral Langkawi, is a large 49 m x 15 m floating platform that is used for the day boats to moor up at, and as a base for divers and snorkellers alike.

How to Get There

Day tours can be booked through us and it provides for transfers, equipment and lunch. A trip from Kuah takes around 45 minutes. You can also reach the islands from Kuala Kedah on the mainland, which takes about 45 minutes by boat, and from Penang Island which takes just over an hour.

Staying There

A day trip to the Pulau Payar Marine Park is the only option for most tourists as there is no accommodation on the islands.

Best time to go

Anytime except the monsoon season from October till early-January and more importantly, during public and school holidays.

Map of Pulau Payar