Pulau Payar Marine Park, a gateway to marine life in Langkawi

Ever wanted to explore the breathtaking (I don’t mean it in the literal sense) underwater world filled with exotic coral reefs and marine life? There are several places that offer this, but there are very few places that are actually worth visiting. One such place is the Pulau Payar Marine Park located between Penang and Langkawi. The Pulau Payar Marine Park is undoubtedly one of the best marine parks in Malaysia.

This marine park spanning over two nautical miles comprises four islands – Pulau Payar, the largest of them all and three smaller isles (Pulau Kaca, Pulau Lembu and Pulau Segantang). None of the islands is inhabited and is very well preserved. As it’s strictly a fisheries protected area, one can find marine life in abundance here. You will catch sight of a variety of marine animals such as the black-tipped reef sharks, clownfish, horse eyed jacks and many more. Not just that, you’ll also find yourself captivated by the beautiful and vibrant coral reefs. So for all you nature lovers and adventure junkies out there, Pulau Payar is the ideal place for you to visit. You can either enjoy the beaches or indulge in a variety of thrilling watersports like snorkelling, scuba diving and so on to explore marine life. 

Basic Information: 

Timings:

Open from 10:00 A.M to 7:00 P.M from Monday to Saturday. 

Entry Fee:

There’s no fixed rate as such. You will have to pre-book the marine park tour and your ticket price depends on the tour package you’re opting for. 

How to reach there?

As it’s located in between Penang and Langkawi, Pulau Payar is accessible from both these places. 

• You can take the regular ferries from Penang, which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach. 
• From Langkawi, you can take a speedboat or catamaran, which takes about an hour to reach. 

When to visit the park?

If you’re someone who doesn’t like crowded places, then you shouldn’t visit the park during Langkawi’s peak season (November through March), especially during the weekends as it gets very crowded. An ideal time to visit the Pulau Payar Marine Park would be from April to June. 

Activities to do at Pulau Payar Marine Park: 

Visit the beach: 

At the Pulau Payar Marine Park, you will find a wooden walkway which will lead you to the beach. The beach is stunning so you can just relax there or you can go for a swim in the pristine waters. 

Also read: Top beaches in Langkawi one shouldn’t miss!

Feeding the sharks:

Although you’re not allowed to feed the sharks from the beach, you can still feed them from the wooden walkways. You can also take part in the feeding sessions that happen at noon. 

Snorkel offshore: 

Snorkelling at the Pulau Payar Marine Park is an amazing experience where you can explore and admire the stunning marine life. There are several sites offshore for you to snorkel. One such perfect offshore site is the House Reef, located near the eastern coastline of the Pulau Payar. You’ll be awestruck by the marine life present here. You’ll find a variety of beautiful and colourful corals such as the brain corals, knob and stony corals, and boulder corals. Snorkelling here would definitely be a memory of a lifetime. 

Scuba diving: 

If you’re looking for a much more thrilling experience, then you should go for scuba diving at the Pulau Payar Marine Park. The best part about this place is that it offers dive sites for everyone, be it professional or first-timers. You’re surely in for a great experience when it comes to scuba diving. 

The Pulau Payar Marine Park is just one of the undiscovered gems in Malaysia. There are many more gems to explore so start crafting your itinerary and book your Malaysia package with Pickyourtrail now!

For more assistance, reach out to the destination experts and they’ll help you plan your much-awaited vacation!