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Lumut

The gateway to Pangkor with the ferries and other attractions


Lumut
 
is a harbor town and stations the National Navy biggest base on the west coast of Malaysia. You won't be able to visit the naval base (as a foreigner) but you will see the base on the left hand when you take the ferry speedboat to Pulau Pangkor.

Lumut is a small town, basically a one street town. On the main street, there are local shops, restaurants, banks, a few bars and some of the hotels. There is a small (tourist) market opposite of the ferry building.

Originally the villagers made their living in the fishing industry. Some of the locals are still fishermen. However, many of the locals work these days in the tourist industry. Others find their work at the nearby Lumut Port.

Lumut from the air
Lumut from the air
photo printed with permission
© Syed Kamalrul Sufian

The town can be used as a great base to explore Pangkor but gives also the opportunity to explore the surrounding mainland. And this is well worth!

There are some excellent hotels and western styled restaurants which are popular with the foreigners who work in the nearby plant.

There's a Tourist Information Centre which is located just across the road of the new ferry building next to the Pangkor Laut office. Opposite of to the ferry building, there is the Post office.

Just around the corner of the Tourist Information Centre is the bus station.

For more information on the busses, see the bus schedule page

The ferries

Lumut, the new ferry building
Lumut, the new ferry building

Recently a new ferry building was build. There are little souvenir and food stalls.

Tickets can be purchased inside the building although outside there are also a few vendors available. The prices do not differ from each other. A return fare to Pangkor costs RM 10.00.

The best and safest ferry is the Mesra Ferry. Why bother when the trip takes only 40 minutes? Well, safety is everything and with two motors on each ship plus a surplus of safety measures and experienced captains, you're in the best hands possible. Besides, the Mesra ferries have an upper deck so you will be able to shoot some photos of the surrounding area when you sail to Pangkor.

Read more about the Mesra Ferries

Click here for more information on the ferry schedules.

Activities in Lumut

Lumut
Lumut

At first sight, there seems not a lot to do in Lumut apart of shopping for souvenirs and having a meal in one of the local or western styled restaurants. It's just the surface that has to be scratched a bit.

Daily activities can include a range of activities worthwhile. Let's explore:

The Lumut Waterfront

The new Lumut Waterfront is a great place to end your day with an ABC ice-cream and watch life passing by. Personally I like to sit there after a good bike ride in the area. The waterfront is nicely designed and has good views over the Dindingh river.

More about the Lumut Waterfront.

Lumut hiking

Getting a bit of action? You're in the right place. There's a few hikes to walk in the area. One of them starts right in the middle of the town and it will cost you quite a bit of sweat:
Click here for details about hiking in Lumut

Another hike can be done from Teluk Batik, a few kilometers out of Lumut. This hike can take as short as 2 hours but you can easily hang out in this area for an afternoon. This hike is much nicer with some spectacular climbs and views over the Straits of Malacca and Teluk Rubiah Golf Course. Read more this hike from Teluk Batik to Teluk Rubiah

Mangrove trekking

This is something which is really interesting. Parts of the coastline of Perak is Mangrove forest.

Locals hunt here for crab and fish. But there's great day treks to do. And no knows the paths better then Mr. Syed.

Survival trek near Lumut, 
	who is watching who?
Survival in the Mangrove forest around Lumut
who is watching who?

Mangrove trees grow their roots partly above the ground in salt water. Therefore the mangrove forest has a unique ecosystem with all kinds of wildlife including fish, crab but also monitor lizards, bird, lots of monkeys and snakes. A guide is essential. Mr. Syed can help you further, he owns the Era Bed & Breakfast guesthouse and hotel and can help you further for mangrove trekking. You can also call him on his mobile: 013 5983005.

Read more about mangrove forest trekking here

Places to stay and eat

Although the town is small, it offers a wide range of hotels. We have selected just a few of the best in each price class.

The Lumut Valley Resort Condominium

It is always difficult to recommend a hotel in a town where there are so many. However, in Lumut it's not difficult. Of course it's a personal view but I may say that the Condominium is a great choice. If you come for work in the Naval Base or in the Power Plant you will find a home away from home.

Lumut Valley Resort Condominium
Lumut Valley Resort Condominium

For the retired traveler the Condominium is an excellent choice. Everything is potentially included, breakfast, cleaning etc.

How about me coming for holiday? I hear you asking. With it's great views over the bay and the Straits of Malacca you will enjoy your stay even more then you can imagine. The rooms are all on levels from 10 to 50 meters above sea level.

The Pangkor ferry is a 10 minute walk and there are fine western styled cafes and restaurants available. Other facilities the management can arrange for you.

Check the details on the Lumut Valley Resort Condominium

Era Backpackers Hotel

Great view from the balcony 
	of Era Bed & Brealfast hotel
Great views over the hills near Lumut from the Era Bed & breakfast Hotel balcony

Opposite of the bus station is the Era Back packers hotel, a convenient and cheap hotel with basic facilities for a good price. The hotel is nicely located in the middle of Lumut. It's a few minutes to the restaurants and shop but also to the ferry. It's an ideal place for backpackers and people who want a good and cheap hotel.

Check the details here

Restaurants

Lumut offers some fine western styled restaurants. They offer excellent local and western dishes. The restaurants included: Jook Joint, Restoran Melayu and Restoran Supreme.

At night you can have a beer in a few of the western styled bars like Jook Joint and Rockafellar. Rockafellar is also a popular place for playing some snooker although it might be a bit difficult to get a pool table since it is very popular.

Looking out in the direction of Damar Laut and near the ferry, there's some local stalls (Lumut Waterfront. Here you have a view on the in and out going ships from the Port. The stalls serve some excellent "ABC", a ice cream specialty with peanuts and local sweets. It is a popular place by the locals and not for nothing. The ABC is highly recommended.

The Port

Lumut, the main street

The Port is a bit out of the main town. The usual tourist won't see much of the port apart of ships sailing in and out of the harbor. Sometimes ship lay their anchor near the town. Lumut praises itself as a growing port in this part of Malaysia. Fortunately it is not as big as, lets say, Rotterdam, Hong Kong or Singapore.

For those who are interested in the business facilities and opportunities of the Port, there is an excellent website available: http://www.lumutport.com/

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The Dinding River

Few pay attention to the Dinding river when they arrive in Lumut. They are too busy getting the ferry to Pulau Pangkor. Fair enough. However, it is worth to get a boat and visit the swamps and mangrove forest in the area.

Visit the mangrove forest just out Lumut

or do a river cruise at the Dinding river with Mr. Syed


Lumut less then a decade ago

Pieter Kruger from South Africa has lived and worked for a few years in Lumut. He saw a very different Lumut as we know it today. When I came to Lumut, in 2003, the old ferry was no longer in service. Yet, Pieter went to Pangkor with the old ferry.

He was kind enough to send us some photos of his days in Lumut, not even 10 years ago. But it has dramatically changed!

More photos of Lumut


Cycling/motor biking around the Damar Laut

Opposite of Lumut is an area seldom visited by travelers. It's still nice to cycle, or motorcycle around

Damar Laut

Here is more about Damar Laut


River fishing around Lumut

The Dingding river is maybe not very deep but it does contain a range of opportunities for fishermen to gain their daily meal. I went with them to see how they work:

River fishing around Lumut


Thai Buddhist temple in Sitiawan

The Thai temple in Sitiawan (Kampong Koh) is quite unknown but worth a visit. The temple has a small but active community.

Thai Buddhist temple in Sitiawan





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