The Most Beautiful
Islands and Beaches of Malaysia
in Selangor

Interested to learn more about the beautiful Islands and Beaches of Malaysia in Selangor? Sure! Let me be your travel guide to some beautiful Islands and beaches in Selangor.

Pulau Ketam

Pulau Ketam, when literally translated, means "Crab Island", is a small island located about 10 km west of Port Klang, Selangor. This island is said to have been discovered by three Hainanese fishermen about 130 years ago. Pulau Ketam is a fishing island famous for its picturesque fishing village and unique stilt houses and shops that rise above the sea.

The reason why the houses and shops are built on stilts is because over 90% of the island is covered by seawater and most of the land consists of swampy mangroves. This makes road building and major construction works not really feasible. The people here mainly travel by bicycles or on foot.

This island is also well known among the locals for its superb seafood restaurants. There are about 15 - 20 restaurants here. When you're here, you can savor a wide variety of seafood specialties. Some of the seafood dishes you must try here is the Curry Crab, shrimp fritters, deep fried squid, and the ginger and garlic chips. Besides that, a wide variety of shellfish as well as different types of fish are also available here. The fish can be cooked in any style you want. I am sure these dishes will definitely tantalize your taste buds!

There are quite a number of things you can do here in Pulau Ketam. You can witness interesting activities such as the processing of shrimp paste relished by the locals and watch jelly fish and crabs being harvested using specially built hatcheries.

Besides that, there are also fishing and bird-watching tours available at this island. Home stays in "Kelong houses", which are located about 2 - 3 kilometers offshore, are also available if you wish to spend more time here.

Getting to Pulau Ketam is fairly easy. Firstly, you need to get to Port Klang, and to get there, you can either take a taxi, a bus or drive there yourself. Another option would be to take the KTM Commuter train to Port Klang from the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. Once you reach Port Klang (Southport), go to the Port Klang Jetty and simply board a ferry to Pulau Ketam.

The schedule of the ferries that sail to Pulau Ketam is a regular one. Ferries dock at the port to pick up and let off passengers every 45 minutes or so, with routes increasing to every half hour or so on Sundays. The air-conditioned ferries cost RM5.50 per trip. The journey from Southport to Pulau Ketam takes approximately half an hour and passes near mangrove swamps.

Carey Island

Carey Island, or Pulau Carey in Malay, is an island situated south of Port Klang in the state of Selangor. It is a huge island separated from the mainland by the Klang river and is connected by a bridge from Chondoi and Teluk Panglima Garang near Banting. This Island was named after Valentine Carey, a former British civil service officer in the olden days Malaya.

Pulau Carey is most famous for two things - First, for their seafood such as crabs, prawns and various types of fishes, and second, for their indigenous Mah Meri (pronounced Mak Miri) people who have a reputation for some of the world's finest wooden masks.

The Mah Meri people have assimilated into modern life, with jobs in the nearby plantations and farms, but they have managed to retain their unique culture and way of life. Apart from their traditional dances and music, Mah Meri are also known for their evocative sculptures, fashioned from a kind of swamp hardwood known as "Nyireh Batu".

If you're interested to find out more about the unique cultures and practices of these indigenous people, you can make a trip to Pulau Carey. Getting there is fairly easy. First you need to hit the North Klang Valley highway to Klang. When you come out of the highway, turn right at the traffic light near Jusco Bukit Raja.

After turning right, keep on driving straight through the heart of Klang and then take the road on the left which heads to Jalan Langat. You will be driving along the road heading towards Banting. Pulau Carey is situated just in between Jalan Langat and Banting. It is helpful to know that while you're driving along the road towards Pulau Carey, you will pass by the Tunku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital on your right.

Just for your information, there is no accomodation on the island but a day trip there is sufficient to fully explore the island.

Beaches of Malaysia in Selangor

Bagan Lalang Beach

Among all the beaches of Malaysia, Bagan Lalang is one of the least known beaches. This beach is located at Sepang, which is about 30 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

One of the reasons why this beach is not really popular is because a lot of people argue that Bagan Lalang is an awful, dirty place and is not as beautiful as the other beaches of Malaysia.

Of course, I would have to admit that there is a certain amount of truth to it but the reality is that Bagan Lalang is situated right on the edge of the Straits of Malacca, one of the most crowded sea passages (in terms of ships per square kilometer of sea) in the world. So, it is not surprising that its waters are slightly more polluted as compared to the other beaches of Malaysia.

Now I'm not saying that Bagan Lalang is such a beat up place and not worth while to visit. Bagan Lalang has its own attractions that not a lot of people know how to appreciate. But for those who do know how to appreciate it come here to experience the quiet and tranquil surroundings of the beach with friends and family members.

During the weekends, you can see families coming here to picnic, swim, and even play kites. When you're here, you'd be able to see a wide variety of colorful kites of all shapes and sizes. And for tourists who wish to play kites, they can buy them from the stalls which are situated nearby.

In my personal opinion, Bagan Lalang is not as bad as what a lot of people say. If you're thinking of taking a break from the hectic city life and you're looking for a place to relax and rejuvenate but do not wish to travel far, Bagan Lalang is definitely the place for you.

If you're interested to check out this beach, getting there is fairly easy. Drive towards KLIA and before reaching KLIA, there is a turning to Sepang F1 Circuit / LCCT (low cost carrier terminal).

Keep on driving straight and as you are reaching the circuit, there will be a signboard to turn off to Sepang Gold Coast (it's quite tricky here, so, I would suggest that you keep to the left side of the road).

Once you have turned in, you will have the Sepang F1 Circuit on your right hand side. Keep driving straight until you reach a cross junction with traffic lights. Turn right (there will be signboards pointing towards "Sungai Pelek").

After turning right, you will notice that the roads are now slightly more narrow and you will feel as though you are entering some small villages. The roads here can be quite tricky. Just follow the signboards that say "Bagan Lalang", "Sepang Gold Coast" and "Sg. Pelek".

You would still have to drive quite a distance before you reach the beach. It is also helpful to know that you would be seeing some "Seri Malaysia" signboards as you are driving towards the beach.

Happy searching and hope you enjoy yourself at one of the least known but definitely one of the most tranquil and relaxing beaches of Malaysia!

And now, since you have already explored the beautiful "Islands and Beaches of Malaysia" in Selangor, feel free to explore the Beaches of Malaysia located in the other states.