'''Lumut''' is a small town in Perak, on the west coast of Malaysia, almost exactly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Penang. It is the gateway to the island of Pangkor.

Get in

By bus

  • '''Kuala Lumpur''' - very frequent departures (several per hour at peak times) between 07:30 and 01:00 - typical fare 18 ringgit
  • '''Ipoh''' - frequent departures (at least one per hour) between 09:00 and 19:00 - typical fare 6.5 ringgit
  • '''Butterworth/Penang''' - several departures daily - typical fare 19 ringgit
  • '''Other destinations''' with direct or semi-direct service (may go via another town, but no change of bus) include: Alor Star, Dungun, Johor Bahru/Singapore, Kangar, Kelang, Kota Bharu (~30 ringgit), Kuala Perlis, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Malacca, Muar, Seremban, Sungai Petani, Termeloh. For many longer-distance routes, both daytime and overnight services are available.
  • By car

    You can take a taxi or rental car from Kuala Lumpur or Penang (guarded car parks are available if you have your own car).

    By ferry

    From the Lumut pier, ferries depart regularly to different parts of Pangkor Island. Fares are 10 ringgit per person, and 1 ringgit for bicycles. First departure from Lumut is at 07:00, last at 20:30. First departure from Pangkor is at 06:30, last at 20:30. Departures are at 30-45 minutes intervals, depending on the time of day, and the crossing usually takes no more than 45 minutes.

    Since March 2007 there is a ferry from Lumut to Belawan (the port for Medan, in Sumatra, Indonesia). Fares are 100 ringgit one way, 180 ringgit return. The ferry departs Lumut every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:30, and from Belawan every Friday and Monday at 10:00. Latest schedule can be confirmed with [mailto:imn_tsc@streamyx.com imn_tsc@streamyx.com] or by calling ''+60-5''-6056804000.

    Get around

    See

    Do

    Buy

    Eat

    There's an abundance of typical Malaysian diners around the Pangkor ferry piers, plus a lone KFC franchise (these are normally paired with a Pizza Hut outlet, but not here).

  • '''Era Restaurant''', ground floor, 7&9 Jalan Raja Muda Musa (''directly opposite the bus station, 2-3 mins. walk from the ferry pier'') - conveniently located but other unremarkable except for the fact that it's open 24 hours. Open sided, fairly large, spacious and clean, has an entirely Malaysian menu with all mains priced between 3-4.5 ringgit.
  • Drink

    Sleep

    Budget

    There are a few budget Chinese hotels on Jalan Titi Panjang.

  • '''Hotel Era''' ("Backpackers Lodge") 1st floor, 7&9 Jalan Raja Muda Musa, tel:05-6838910 has a very convenient location - it's directly opposite the bus station, and 2-3 minutes walk from the Pangkor ferry jetty. Prices are on the high side - 25 ringgit for a single person fan room with shared bathroom, and 60 ringgit for an air-con double with private bathroom. For 35 ringgit you get a room with two very small (shorter than normal) and very saggy beds with no blanket or top sheet, a fan, and a hole in the ceiling. Not recommended for light sleepers - the curtains are tissue thin and flashing "Christmas-tree" lights are hung outside, plus it's very noisy - as well as the busy main road traffic, there are two TVs in the ground floor restaurant (which is open 24 hours) and another in the hotel lobby, and the local mosque has loudspeakers just along the street which issue loud and lengthy calls to prayer. The shared bathrooms (only two - one male, one female - so expect queues) are grubby but serviceable, with western toilets and cold showers.
  • Mid-range

    There are about a dozen mid-range hotels within a few minutes walk of the Pangkor ferry jetty, most with rates starting around 60-75 ringgit for air-con double rooms.

    Splurge

    Contact

    Internet

  • '''De Villa''' - Lot 3A, Lumut Waterfront Villa, Jalan Titi Panjang, tel:05-6835585 fax: 05-6804800 [mailto:sales@devilla.com.my sales@devilla.com.my] [http://www.devilla.com.my] open Mon-Sat 10:00-midnight, Sun+hols noon-midnight. Internet access 3 ringgit/hour.
  • Cope

    Left luggage

    Shops #5 (open 08:00-19:00) & #6 (open 10:00-21:00) at the bus station charge 1 ringgit/item/day.

    Get out