Renowned for colourful coral reefs teeming with various species of marine life, the Palau Payar Marine Park in Malaysia is a popular tourist destination, which attracts many holidaymakers.
The Park
The marine park which is spread over two nautical miles is made up of four islands, the Pulau Payar, Pulau Kaca, Pulau Lembu and Pulau Segantang. The area is also strictly regulated by the Fisheries Department of Kedah to protect and maintain the reefs pristine condition.
How to Get There
The only way to visit the park is to join daily tours. Many a hotel in Langkawi including the likes of Berjaya Langkawi Resort would arrange for a tour upon request of guests. Usually, a snorkelling or diving session would take up the best part of the day so its best to leave first thing in the morning. The tours most often include pick up and drop offs, free use of equipment and lunch.
Things to Keep in mind
Due to coral bleeding and other issues, visitors are instructed to follow a few rules such as not standing on corals and not touching or feeding the fish. It would also be prudent to be mindful of disposing of waste in an environmentally friendly way.
Alternatives
If you do not get the opportunity to visit the marine park, one always has the option of heading to the Thai island of Koh Lipe, which happens to be just 30 minutes away from Langkawi.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+