Pulau Payar

Pulau Payar was located 30 km Southeast of Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. It just take a hour boat ride to the best marine park in Malaysia's West Coast, making it an ideal choice for a day outing.

Pulau Payar is a largest well-preserved, uninhabited marine park extends over a number of islands. Your base out here is the floating platform moored off Pulau Payar. But the real attraction of this platform lies below sea level. The island of 1.7km long and spread over only 31 hectares consist of 3 others smaller island, namely Pulau Lembu, Pulau Segantang and Pulau Kaca and are surrounded by magnificent coral reefs.

GETTING THERE

You can get to Pulau Payar from the Kuah jetty point by catamaran or speed boat. The catamaran services operated by Langkawi Coral, takes about 45 minutes to get to Pulau Payar while the speed boat from Penang takes an hour. Enquiries can be made with any travel agent in Kuah or at the jetty point for those intending to travel by speed boat.

There is three ways you can reach and return which is:

• From Penang to Pulau Payar and ferry will continue to Langkawi
• From Penang to Pulau Payar and return to Penang
• From Langkawi to Pulau Payar and return to Langkawi

Apart from the fare, a levy of RM5.00 for adults and RM2.50 for children is charged for entry to the marine park. For a day tour, it will cost about RM 150 to RM 220 which includes transportation to and from various hotels, lunch and the free usage of reef viewing platform.

Pulau Payar can be visited all year round but the best time will at between March to September.

ACCOMMODATION

There is no accommodation provided in Pulau Payar. This is to preserve this nature location. However, tourist can stay at numerous accommodation in Langkawi or Penang.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

You do not allow to bring any food & beverages in this island. there will provide you the lunch box or buffet lunch inclusive in the tour package.

ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTION

Snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving are the main activities that you can do here. Being a marine park means that most of the marine life and vegetation in the sea are still thriving here. The popular diving site is known as Coral Garden and is located at the south-west of Pulau Payar where you will be able to see the bright and multi-coloured soft corals.

The fascinating feature of this park is that there are many artificial reefs built from old boats, concrete blocks and tires that have developed into mature reefs with plenty of sea creatures around them. Visibility on a good day can go up to 15 m.

Jungle Tracking is another activity that you can do over here. There are 2 trails that you can use to explore the flora and fauna of Payar Island.

Baby Shark Feeding will be a memorable experience to do for you and your children. See the video of shark feeding in Payar Island.

IMPORTANT TIPS

Being a marine park means that you are not allowed to do the followings:

• No fishing or killing of fish.
• No collecting of corals or other marine organisms.
• No collecting of sand, dead shells or dead corals.
• No polluting or littering.
• No anchoring on reefs.
• No building or erecting any type of structure on the water.
• Keeping strictly to these rules and regulations will ensure that this park will remain pristine for many years to come.

Besides, there is no accommodation in Pulau Payar. They  a small chalet for you who want to relax before the wait time back to Langkawi. 

Some of the island's prayer to pray when you get time. 

The island has no fresh water supply and toilet uses sea water. Carry enough bottled water for drinking and cleaning. The island has no shops.  A visit to Pulau Payar with the return trip and activity usually takes from morning to evening. So make sure you make room for a special day here.