Places of Interest Langkawi Islands Pulau Payar Langkawi
Pulau Payar, Langkawi
Pulau Payar is one of the most beautiful of all Langkawi islands. This lovely island lies to the south of Langkawi and can be reached within an hour by speed boat.
Pulau Payar boasts some of the finest marine life, including the horse-eyed jack, moray eel, clown fish, 2 meter long groupers, black-tipped reef shark and black-spotted puffer. Pulau Payar also has the largest number of coral species in Malaysia, among them the Tubastrea micrantha and the semi-precious Antipathies.
Pulau Payar Marine Park comprises of four uninhabited islands of Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Kaca and Pulau Segantang. This marine park is famous as the best diving site on Peninsular Malaysia's west coast. At Pulau Payar, the largest of the four, you will find the Marine Park Centre, which was set up and operated by the Fisheries Department. Here, you can find some useful information on the do's and don'ts while visiting the island.
If you are not into water activities, you can check out the two hiking trails that have been constructed that enable you to explore and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding sea and beyond. You can also find gazebos, picnic tables, BBQ pits and restroom facilities. Picnics and camping are allowed but cutting of trees and open burning are strictly prohibited.
Just a short distance away from the jetty is a pontoon, with facilities for easy access to the reef below. The Langkawi Coral Pontoon is moored very near the island where you can find scuba and snorkeling equipment for hire. If you'd prefer to explore the underwater world without getting wet - there is an underwater observatory.
Pulau Payar also have an additional attraction - artificial reefs built from tyres, concrete blocks and old boats, which over the years developed into mature reefs that are teeming with marine life.