A Review of Pangkor Nature View House
Time and again during our travels I am wowed by the amazing hostels, hotels and homestays we have been able to stay in.
When you consider that one night’s stay at a roadside hotel in the UK can set you back upwards of £70, it absolutely blows my mind how you can stay two, three, four or sometimes even more nights somewhere so unique, for the same kind of price.
Nature View House, on the paradise island of Pangkor in Malaysia, is one such example. This beautiful homestay, just a five minute walk from golden sandy beaches & a night market, offered a significant en suite room, luxurious pool and huge gardens. All for around £30 a night (based on two people sharing).
Pangkor, a popular destination for Malaysian holidaymakers, may be well off the beaten tourist track. But if you do find yourself heading this way here’s why I highly recommend you stay here.
What Makes Pangkor Nature View House Special?
The Location
I have chosen to feature Pangkor Nature View House in my unique stays list for several reasons. Firstly, location.
The accommodation is located on the west side of the island around a five minute walk to the beautiful Teluk Nipah Beach, and 15 minutes from the even more stunning Coral Beach. Set towards the back of the village, its grounds are surrounded by jungle. Whether swimming in the pool or sitting in the gardens the only sounds you’re likely to hear are the birds, bats and monkeys.
The building consists of one main ‘house’ where you will find the reception desk and an airy, high-ceilinged shared area with lots of seating space to hang out. Adjacent to this is the beautiful pool (which we pretty much always had to ourselves).
Additional detached bungalows run along the outer edge of the grounds, offering an exclusive-feel for those who want a little more privacy. These were more expensive than our room in the main building, which was plenty good enough!
While you’ll need to rent a bike or book a taxi to the other side of the island (where the port is) there’s plenty of restaurants, shops and beaches within walking distance. There’s also a do it yourself launderette two minutes away.
The Staff
Secondly, the owners & staff. The team at Nature View were extremely friendly and more than happy to show us around. We got a guided tour of the on site pond and gardens (where they have a couple of tortoises roaming around). Every morning we were met with ‘good mornings’ and a cheerful smile.
At the same time they were more than happy to leave us to our own devices. Sometimes in homestays you can feel like you’re always under the watchful eye of the owners. It definitely didn’t feel like this here!
Free filtered hot and cold water was available throughout the day, as well as teas, coffees and sugars. These were regularly monitored and stocked up accordingly.
Have The Place To Yourself
Because of the way the house and gardens are designed – large and open plan (with only 20 rooms in total) – there is a lot of space to roam around and not feel claustrophobic of other guests.
It often felt like we had the place to ourselves during the day, and although people dipped in and out of the pool, there was plenty of room and a good number of seats and sun loungers.
The Wildlife
Sitting just outside of the jungle, we were able to catch a glimpse of numerous birds, animals and bugs (not in our room though, don’t worry!).
Alongside the standard geckos and lizards that travelers of Southeast Asia will be more than familiar with, we were also able to spot all sorts of different birds, including eagles, the Hornbill (Malaysia’s national bird), Macaques and even a wild pig!
Nearby, an abandoned building is now home to hundreds of bats, which make themselves known via their distinct noise which echoes across the gardens throughout the day, and which comes out in full force when the sun sets.
The Homestay Experience
The word ‘homestay’ refers to the experience of a traveller staying with a local family when visiting a place. Typically a homestay allows tourists to pair-up with locals and get a better insight into what it’s like to live there.
I have noticed that in southeast Asia, and Malaysia in particular, homestays are very popular accommodation options, and although Nature View offered a more hotel experience homestay, it was still lovely to spend our time in Pangkor and support a local family business.
Getting Here
Nature View House is such a special place and having only opened in 2022, feels something of a hidden gem. The facilities are clean, modern and spacious and I can only imagine it will increase in popularity!
If you’re interested in visiting Pangkor island you can read my easy guide to getting to Pangkor from mainland Malaysia here.
Address: LOT4391, Teluk Nipah, 32300 Pulau Pangkor, Perak, Malaysia
Until next time,
Lica xoxo
