pulau ketam day trip 2022

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How to go to Pulau Ketam 2024 | What to do for a DAY TRIP

Pulau Ketam Day Trip – What to do & How to get there

Pulau Ketam (or Crab Island) is an island nestled off the coast of Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. It is renowned for its colorful houses and fresh seafood, making it a great option for a short getaway near KL.

We planned our Pulau Ketam trip just 3 days in advance, and it ended up being a pleasant weekend getaway.

In this post, I’m going to share a detailed guide on how to go to Pulau Ketam for a day trip . Read until the end to know how to go to Pulau Ketam, how much is the ferry price, what to do in Pulau Ketam, and more.

Read more: 16 Awesome places for a weekend getaway in Selangor

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Table of Contents

1. Interesting Facts about Pulau Ketam

2. how to go to pulau ketam from kl, 3. how much is the pulau ketam ferry ticket price, 4. what to do in pulau ketam, 5. pulau ketam day trip itinerary.

• 6. Best Homestays in Pulau Ketam

7. Pulau Ketam Map

Why is the island called “Pulau Ketam”?

I thought there must be a reason behind the name Pulau Ketam (which means ‘Crab Island’). Therefore, I tried to find the answer on Google, but there was no information available in English. So, during my Pulau Ketam day trip, I decided to observe, and what I saw were crabs, crabs, and more crabs.

When I first arrived at Pulau Ketam Port, the first thing I noticed were mud crabs – thousands of them living in the mud.

Additionally, Pulau Ketam is renowned for its chili crab dish. It’s also interesting that the seafood restaurants place a basket of crabs in front of their seafood restaurants, perhaps to let people know that they sell crabs and indicate how many crabs are available for the day.

Furthermore, I noticed that the locals even painted crabs on the roads and carved or built crab statues on the roofs of Chinese temples and shrines. 

Bicycles are the main means of transport in Pulau Ketam

As the narrow road, the locals can only use bicycles or electric bicycles to travel around the island. If you wish to experience riding a bike around Pulau Ketam, there are many rental shops near the Pulau Ketam Port.

The majority of the population in Pulau Ketam is Chinese

The Crab Island was founded in the 1870s by a group of fishermen from Hainan, China. Over the years, they have built more than 1,000 wooden houses, forming a community of about 8,000 residents on the island today.

To get to Pulau Ketam from Kuala Lumpur, you need to travel from KL to Port Klang and then take a ferry to Pulau Ketam.

Step 1: From KL to Port Klang

By public transportation

• KTM: From KL Sentral station, you can take a KTM Train to Port Klang (the last station). It costs only 6.40RM/adult and 3.2RM/child and takes 1 hour and 25 minutes. KTM tickets can be bought at the ticket vending machine at KL Sentral station.
• Bus: Alternatively, you can take Bus 701 to Port Klang and disembark at Kawasan 6 Klang. This bus station is just a 4-minute walk from Port Klang.

Driving from KL to Port Klang takes around 50-60 minutes.

Parking is available right in front of Port Klang. Remember not to park on the road, as it’s illegal and you’ll likely be fined…that’s from my experience…Yup, lesson learned.

👉 Wanna rent a private car charter from KL to Port Klang ? WhatsApp me (click here) for the best price 💸 💸 .

If you don’t drive and are not confident to travel around by public transportation, then an easy option for you is to join a tour. You can consider this tour: Pulau Ketam Crab Village Rural Adventure Tour which has received quite good reviews from previous customers.

Here is some information about the tour:

• Link to book tour: Click here (enter code DL6KGF to get RM 20 off )
• Inclusion: Round-trip transfers to and from your hotel (in Kuala Lumpur), English-speaking guide, tour at Crab Village Pulau Ketam, simple local lunch, round-trip ferry ticket.
• Duration: from 9:00 to 17:00

Step 2: From Port Klang to Pulau Ketam

From Port Klang, you just need to take a ferry to get to Pulau Ketam. The ferry takes around 45 minutes and the ferry schedule is quite frequent. 

On my Pulau Ketam trip, I took the Alibaba ferry. The boat is pretty clean and comfortable to sit in.

Where to Buy the Ferry Ticket to Pulau Ketam?

You can buy it at Port Klang (Terminal Penumpang South Port) or buy it online via This link . 

We arrived the Port Klang at 10 AM. There was a lady selling ferry tickets approaching us, so we bought directly from her. I saw a ticket counter at the port as well and the price is the same.

• The seller only accepts cash or TNG wallet.
• If you travel on weekends, it’s advisable to buy tickets online in advance. Buy Alibaba ferry tickets online via this link and enter code DL6KGF to get RM 20 off.

How Much is the Pulau Ketam Ferry Ticket Price?

The ticket price for a return trip from Port Klang to Pulau Ketam is RM 20 for adults and RM 12 for children.

For a one-way trip, it costs RM 12 for adults and RM 6 for children.

• This is the price for Alibaba Ferry.
• The schedule is printed on the ticket. However, it’s not very accurate. When we bought the ticket, the seller said there would be a ferry back to the mainland at 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM, and 5:30 PM and marked it on the ticket for us. Thus, we tried to catch the ferry at 3:30 PM, but it was 35 minutes late. We had to stand and queue up at the port for nearly an hour.
• There are two villages in Pulau Ketam: Sugai Lima and Pulau Ketam village. The ferry will make one stop at Sugai Lima first, and then proceed to Pulau Ketam. Therefore, ensure that you get off at the correct stop.

Speed Boat from Port Klang to Pulau Ketam

Besides the ferry, there is another way to reach Pulau Ketam from Port Klang, which is by speed boat. This is a charter service, which means you can rent the entire boat.

Sometimes, they also offer sharing tickets for walk-in customers. The speed boat ticket costs RM 10 for adults and RM 5 for children, and the journey takes about 20 minutes.

But bear in mind that the schedule is not fixed; the boat only departs when there are enough customers.

Therefore, unless you rent the whole boat, it’s recommended to travel from Port Klang to Pulau Ketam by ferry.

 💡 Read my review of other places for a short trip from KL:

• Kuala Selangor – experience Sky mirror, Blue Tears, Fireflies & Eagle feeding
• Sekinchan – take pictures with the lush green paddy field
• Selangor Fruit Valley – Enjoy fruit plucking activities & try seasonal fruits

Here below are the best things to do on your Pulau Ketam day trip.

Try local foods

I realized some famous local foods offered everywhere in Pulau Ketam which are prawn fritters, shrimp balls, fried oyster omelette, Lala omelette, etc.

Personally, I like the prawn fritters the most and their price is very cheap, only 2RM/ piece.

Wander around the village

When coming to Pulau Ketam, I feel like it is Venice of Malaysia with colorful houses and turquoise waters (to be honest, I edited the picture so the color looks more saturated, but it’s also very pretty in real life). Therefore, it’s a good idea to wander around the village to observe the local life and snap some dazzling photos. 

As the main tourist attractions are within walking distance, we can roam around Pulau Ketam village on foot.

Indulge in fresh seafood

What you must do when visiting a fishing village is to eat seafood. Pulau Ketam is especially famous for its crab. Interestingly, you can see a crab basket in front of each seafood restaurant to “show off” how many crabs are left for that day.

However, bear in mind that crabs are mostly sold out during the day. If you stay overnight in Pulau Ketam, expect that it’s quite hard to find crabs during nighttime.

I had lunch at Restaurant Kim Hoe. Personally, I felt like the crab was not so fresh, but the steamed fish and prawns were sweet and tasty. Overall, my rating is 3.5/5. If you want to try crab, I don’t recommend this restaurant.

Ride a bike around the village

This is my favorite thing to do in Pulau Ketam because it’s fun and allows me to explore farther areas of the island. As bicycles are the most common means of transport on Crab Island, numerous shops offer rental services for both manual and electric bikes.

We rented an electric bike at Sealion Hotel @Pulau Ketam for 20RM/hour. A deposit of 10RM is required. Payment can be by cash or TNG wallet. After payment, the shop owner will give you a receipt, keep this receipt till you finish the journey to get back the deposit.

Visit the Snake Temple

As the majority of the population in Pulau Ketam is Chinese, you will find several Chinese temples around the village, and the most famous one is probably the Snake Temple. 

There is a real living giant snake encased in a cage just on the right of the temple. I guess that’s why it’s named Snake Temple.

Stroll around the local market

The best way to see the daily life of the locals is to visit the local market. This is probably the busiest area in Pulau Ketam with a lot of restaurants (both halal and non-halal) and local shops where you can buy souvenirs. If you are looking for a place to have lunch, this is the place to go.

Check out Sugai Lima Village

If you visit Pulau Ketam for 2 days, you can also explore the neighbouring village of Sugai Lima. Some tourist attractions in Sugai Lima Village include a fish farm, mural arts, Hock Leng Keng Temple, and eagle-watching activities. Fresh seafood is also available in this village. 

Note : Transportation between Pulau Ketam Village and Sugai Lima Village is by ferry or speed boat.

To be honest, the village is quite small and there are not many things to do in Pulau Ketam. Therefore, a day trip is enough to explore the village, unless you want to explore Sugai Lima as well.

Here below is the itinerary for my Pulau Ketam day trip :

10:00 AM: Arrived at Port Klang to buy the ferry ticket. The ferry departed at 10:30 AM.

11:15 AM: Arrived at Pulau Ketam Port.

Note: The ferry stopped at Sugai Lima Port before reaching Pulau Ketam. And there was no announcement at all. Thus, check with the staff or look at the port’s name to confirm that you are at the right port.

After arrival, I walked around the village, had some local snacks, and visited some Chinese temples.

12:30 PM: Had lunch at Restaurant Kim Hoe. Our lunch costed 298RM/ 5 people.

2:00 PM: Rented an electric bike to discover a farther part of Pulau Ketam.

2:30 PM: Had fun at KTV.

3:25 PM: Headed back to Pulau Ketam Port. The ferry came at 4:05 PM.

5:10 PM: Reached Port Klang.

In conclusion, my Pulau Ketam day trip took about 9 hours, including transportation between KL and Port Klang. I believe it’s a perfect schedule, not too rushed and not too boring. I got enough time to visit all the tourist attractions in Pulau Ketam and explore farther areas using an electric bike.

6. B est Homestays in Pulau Ketam

If you are planning to stay on Crab Island overnight to explore the neighbouring villages on the next day, here are some homestays with good ratings:

Pulau Ketam D’island Beds & Cafe 别墅一阁

• Address: Jalan Tepi Sungai, 42940 Bagan Pulau Ketam, Malaysia
• Price: from RM 80/double room
• Review: helpful owner, clean room, good location, spacious bathroom.
• Book now: Click here

幸福一家民宿 Happiness Family

• Address: 38 Jalan Satu, 42940 Bagan Pulau Ketam, Malaysia
• Price: about RM 150/ room (4 adults)
• Review: friendly host, clean room but small, good location.

吉胆街坊民宿street Homes Inn Pulau Ketam

• Address: No 71K, Jalan Dua, Pulau Ketam, Selangor, 42940 Bagan Pulau Ketam, Malaysia
• Price: about RM 890/ villa (21 adults)
• Review: central location, many eateries nearby, good hospitality.

Above is my guide on how to go to Pulau Ketam for a day trip. I have shared everything you need to know before getting there including how to go to Pulau Ketam, what to do in Pulau Ketam, how much is the ferry ticket, and more.

I hope you find this post useful and feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. Thanks for reading!

1. Where is Pulau Ketam?

Pulau Ketam is located off the coast of Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. To get there, you have to go to Port Klang and take a ferry to this island.

2. Is Pulau Ketam worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely.

If you are looking for a short trip from KL, Crab Island is a good idea. It offers beautiful scenery, and fresh seafood and is very accessible from the mainland.

However, don’t expect too much for your trip, as mentioned above, the village is small and there are not so many tourist attractions in Pulau Ketam. 

3. Can I drive to Pulau Ketam?

No, you can’t. You can only reach the island by speedboat or ferry.

4. How long does it take from Klang to Pulau Ketam?

From Port Klang, it takes around 45 minutes to reach Crab Island by ferry.

5. How long is the boat ride to Pulau Ketam?

It takes about 40 minutes to go from Port Klang to Pulau Ketam by ferry.

6. How do I get to Pulau Ketam from KL?

To get to Pulau Ketam from KL, you need to take KTM Komuter Train from KL Sentral Station to Port Klang. From Port Klang, you can take the ferry or speed boat to Pulau Ketam. The ferry trip lasts about 40 minutes.

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(4) comments.

Nice simple but good

Hi, u mean that have ktv at ketam island ?

Hi Lim, Yes, You can find Sea lion hotel. The KTV is there

Miii you look like my daughter. I have been to Pulau Ketam many times

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Pulau Ketam Day Trip with 10 Best Attractions

We are always in a hurry and have very little time for a vacation. In this fast-moving life, if we decide to slow down for a moment, then the first thing that comes to our mind is a day trip. And what can be greater than Pulau Ketam Day Trip ?

Pulau Ketam is the Malay language which means “Crab Island”. Those of you who are not familiar with the name Pulau Ketam must have heard the name Crab Island . It is a big mud hill area where visitors mostly come to eat its fresh and delicious seafood, especially crabs. Though besides seafood, it has numerous attractions to explore, which makes it worthwhile for a day trip.

WHAT IS COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE?

Pulau Ketam Residential History

Pulau Ketam was not always a residential area or village. It used to be the regular mud hill where Malaysian fishers of Chinese descent came for fishing crabs. In the 19th century, some of these fishers thought that it could be useful if they built some huts on this island so that they could occasionally spend the night.

Within just 30 years, the huts turned into a whole village. Nearly 100 fishermen used to live on the island that was set between the mangrove forests.

When the Second World War happened, many people came to this island to live as Malaysia was taken over by the Japanese. Gradually, Pulau Ketam becomes one of the major seafood centres of Malaysia, and it also has a great impact on the economy.

Pulau Ketam Tour Package

Klook offers the Pulau Ketam Crab Village Rural Adventure Tour as an option for those seeking an exciting and unique experience. This tour takes you to Pulau Ketam, a village known for its delicious crabs and rural charm. Explore the village and indulge in a crab feast while immersing yourself in the local culture.

Here are the 10 best attractions in Pulau Ketam.

1. pulau ketam jetty .

To get to Pulau Ketam or Crab Island, the first attraction that you get to visit is the Pulau Ketam jetty . Taking a speedboat is the only way to reach Pulau Ketam, and you can take speedboats from the terminal at Port Klang , Selangor. 

Here speedboats are available every daylight hour at the weekends, but during weekdays, it is less frequent. You just have to buy a ticket that may cost you RM12.00 for adults and RM6.00 for children one-way or RM 18 with return .

Remember, no speedboats are available after 5:30pm, so make your trip during daylight. The first speedboats goes to Pulau Ketam from Port Klang is about 10:30 am during weekdays and 9:30 am during weekend.

During your boat journey, you can enjoy the beauty of the water and also see many fishing boats on the way to Pulau Ketam. Moreover, you can access the most significant part of this island by boat because it has so much swampland and mangroves.

2. Pulau Ketam Seafood

One of the primary reasons for visiting Pulau Ketam is the Pulau Ketam Seafood . This island is famous for fresh crabs and dried fish, and that’s why it is called “Crab Island”. Once you arrive at the busy street of Pulau Ketam, you’ll see the line of delicious seafood restaurants everywhere. 

The common thing that you’ll find in front of nearly every restaurant is a big bucket full of live crabs. But those crabs are available only during lunchtime. And if you stay here for the night, you might not get to eat seafood as it finishes very quickly.

The must-try crab dishes of these restaurants are chilli crab and sweet and sour crab that may cost you RM40.00 and RM50.00, respectively. Besides crab items, you can also try bamboo shells, butter prawns, tea, and coke.

Note: For Muslims please see the Halal food section below

Halal Restaurants

It is a bit hard for Muslim visitors to find a Halal restaurant at Pulau Ketam as no restaurant is Halal certified here. But don’t be so upset! We have found three Halal restaurants at Pulau Ketam. Although these three restaurants are not Halal certified, they don’t sell pork or non-Halal food here. 

The first restaurant is Poh Seng . It is located near the Balai Bomba and has Muslim-friendly food. But the food at this restaurant is quite expensive. The owner of Poh Seng restaurant is of Chinese descent, as are most of the residents here. Still, Poh Seng doesn’t have non-Halal food. So you can eat at Poh Seng without hesitation.

The second restaurant is Remember Me, which is located just opposite the Police Station. The restaurant is not so big and runs by a Muslim woman. Here you can have authentic Malay foods which are purely Halal. But Remember Me restaurant doesn’t sell seafood. So if you want Malay Halal food at Pulau Ketam, you can come to this restaurant.

The last restaurant is not really a restaurant. It is pretty similar to a hawker stall. Located behind the Dewan, it is an Indonesian food stall that sells Muslim-friendly foods. If your budget is tight and you want to have Halal food, you can come here.

3. Fishermen’s Village

Fishermen’s Village in Pulau Ketam is one of the most interesting attractions here. This village is not similar to other fishermen’s villages that you may have seen before. The uniqueness of this village is their colourful floating houses. 

Most of the houses are built in such a way that it looks like they are floating in the water. For this reason, the village is also popular as a water village. It is astonishing to see these colourful floating houses on the mud hill.

Most of the fishers of this village are of Chinese descent, and nearly each of them has at least one boat for fishing and moving around. Here you can see dried fish that the villagers kept for drying. 

If you want to have a different experience, you can capture the beauty of this fishermen’s village and residences in your camera. At the same time, this area will give you numerous instagrammable pictures.

4. Dykes and Bikes

When you set your foot on the Island, the first thing that will take your attention is the peaceful and tranquil surroundings. Yes, that’s quite unexpected, but there’s a reason for it! 

Pulau Ketam allows only transport that is rental electric bikes. For this reason, the area has less sound pollution and fewer traffic rules. Even helmets are not available here. 

Just behind the harbour, there are many shops that rent these electric bikes. The cost of them is RM20.00 per hour. But if you’re taking for more than two hours, the cost can be reduced by bargaining.

It would be a unique experience to visit this wonderful Island with an electric bicycle. And you can cover most of the area with these Dykes and bikes.

5. Pulau Ketam Mini Market

Whenever you’re on vacation or visiting a new place, the local market is the thing that no one wants to miss! Pulau Ketam is the fishers’ island, and you certainly don’t want to go back without purchasing its local items. 

Pualau Ketam mini market is the busiest area of this island. Here you will find every type of shop, from groceries to delicious seafood restaurants. This one place can fulfil your every need, so it also saves your time. 

The must-buy item of this market is the local dry fish. You can take it home, and the price is also reasonable.

6. Pulau Ketam Town

We all dream about a town where we can walk without traffic jams and chaos. Though Pulau Ketam is not an official tourist destination or a big city, it is a small village in an island in Selangor near Klang that makes visitors stop and explore its hidden gems.

The uniqueness of Pulau Ketam town is that it will give you an exceptional viewpoint of the people of this island, their uniqueness and it has less air pollution, no traffic jams as the island has only e-bike, e-scooter bicycle only which makes less sound pollution. 

As I mentioned before, this town allows no vehicle but electric bicycles, that’s why it has fewer or no traffic jams at all. A walk around the city is really amusing, and you can have a peaceful visiting experience which is not available in many tourist destinations in Malaysia.

7. Rainbow House

Wherever we go for vacation, we always search for interesting places to click photos to upload on our social media like Instagram , Facebook , or others. In the Pulau Ketam, Rainbow House is that interesting place where you can take your perfect click. 

It is called a rainbow house because of its variety of colours. It could be an amazing background for your Instagram pictures, and it can be more lively if you take group photos. 

8. Jalan Dua Pekan

Jalan Dua Pekan is basically a place in Pulau Ketam that connects the residential area to the main town via a bridge. This place is most suitable for bike riding. With your rental electric bike, you can explore the whole area and capture your moment with a camera. 

The bridge that connects the town and residential area have a stunning colourful look. At the same time, just after crossing the bridge, you will see the colourful and lively houses of fishermen. 

9. Snake Temple

As the majority of this island is of Chinese descent, here, you’ll find numerous Chinese temples to visit. Snake Temple is one of the most renowned Chinese temples in Pulau Ketam. The name of the temple suits it best because here you’re gonna see a giant snake that is captivated in a cage. Just in front of the temple, you’ll get to the cage of this snake. 

Before entering the temple, you need to take off your shoes as they don’t allow shoes inside the temple. The Snake temple has a Chinese architecture style, and its interior and exterior designs are very elegant. Here you’ll find several Chinese curving on the walls.

10. Infrastructure on Pulau Ketam

It’s true that Pulau Ketam is a fishermen’s village, but don’t think that it doesn’t have infrastructure, buildings and facilities. Like any other area of Malaysia, here also you’ll find several schools, police stations, markets, community halls, mosques and even a Maybank branch.

Although most of the villagers are Chinese Buddhists here, but there is also a small Chinese population who are Muslim. And for this minor group of people, Pulau Ketam has an Islamic centre that is used as a mosque.

Pulau Ketam has no shortage of shop buildings and seafood restaurants. If you want to stay here for the night, the island also has a number of hotels to stay at. From luxury to budget hotels, tourists will get every kind of amenities.

How to Get There

From Kuala Lumpur , there is no direct transportation to Pulau Ketam. So to get to Pualau Ketam or Crab Island, at first, you need to reach Port Klang jetty from there you can take a speed boat that will lead you to Pulau Ketam or Crab Island.

Take the KTM Komuter train from KL Sentral to reach the Port Klang station. It will take about an hour to arrive at Port Klang, and the ticket price is RM4.30. From the station, you need to walk for 5 to 10 minutes to arrive at the jetty. 

And if you prefer to drive your own car, it may take only 45 minutes to reach Port Klang.  You can park your car near the jetty as there are plenty of parking bays at Port Klang.

You can either purchase the ticket at the jetty or on the boat. Both are available. The one-way ticket price is RM12.00 for adults and RM6.00 for children, whereas the two-way ticket prices are RM18.00 for adults and RM 10.00 for children.

The ferry departs from 10:30 am to 05:30 pm on weekdays and 09:30 am to 05:30 pm on weekends (time can be changed due to COVID situation). Avoid visiting Pulau Ketam during public holidays or weekends as it gets really crowded.

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Eris Goes To

A food, travel, and lifestyle blog.

Malaysia , Southeast Asia

Pulau Ketam Day Trip 2022 — Selangor’s Unique “Crab Island”

If a foreign friend was traveling to Malaysia for the first time, where would you recommend they visit?

Perhaps Melaka for its rich history, Penang for its art and food, Langkawi for its gorgeous beaches, or Sabah and Sarawak for beautiful nature. Not forgetting Kuala Lumpur —the bustling metropolis and the heart of the Malaysian economy—with its eclectic mix of skyscrapers, glitzy malls, colonial shophouses, and chic cafes; a true melting pot of the region’s culture and influences.

Pulau Ketam, however, is probably not the first place that comes to mind. That should change — because it’s an excellent spot for visitors seeking something truly immersive and local. Doubly so for the Malaysians who have yet to pay this place a visit! You might be surprised at the unique experiences you can find in your own backyard.

Located off the coast of Port Klang in Selangor , Pulau Ketam (or Crab Island) is a fishing village established in the 1880s by Teochew and Hokkien Chinese immigrants. The settlement, built on mudflats surrounded by mangroves, is known for its quaint homes and elevated pathways built over stilts, which gives them the appearance of floating over water during high tide. What started as a small fishing village soon grew; today, the island hosts some 1,000 homes.

In the past, the main industry in Pulau Ketam was fishing, but tourism now contributes a major part to the local economy as well. Visitors to the place are mostly Malaysians; the few times I have been here, I have not seen many foreign tourists. All the more reason to put it on your itinerary !

GETTING THERE

Since there are no roads connecting the island to the mainland, villagers have their own boats in lieu of cars whenever they need to travel for supplies. As for visitors, the only way to access Pulau Ketam is via ferry from the South Port Terminal in Port Klang. If you’re driving, you can park your car at the Asa Niaga Habour City compound, next to the terminal.

The terminal can be quite warm, and crowded on busy days, but there is a canteen where you can order drinks and finger food, as well as stalls selling snacks. There are several ferry operators here, so once you step into the terminal you’ll be greeted by touts yelling out prices.

We went for the Alibaba Cruise (RM20 – return tickets, RM12 – one way) which is slightly cheaper than a speedboat. Regretted this decision, as even though they have scheduled departure times, they still waited for the boat to be full before they left the port. We waited more than 45 minutes on the boat, which was supposed to leave at 11.30AM, but only left around 12.15PM. -_-

Either way, off to Pulau Ketam we go!

The ride takes about 30 to 40 minutes. If your boat has a deck on top, I suggest sitting there so you get a nice view of the mangroves. But maybe not in the afternoon because the weather can get extremely hot.

WHAT TO DO ON PULAU KETAM

I last came here in 2016 and made a blog post about my trip (read it here ) – so you can check the post out if you want a gist. This time around, I’m going to share more photos and commentary, because on my previous trip I didn’t really get to explore as much as I wanted to.

Walk along the pier and enjoy the breeze. If you come in the afternoon, when the tide is low, you’ll see hundreds of tiny crabs and mudskippers crawling around in the mud (hence the name Crab Island).

A new addition since my visit in 2016 – colourful signage and some nautical/ocean-inspired art installations. You’ll also find some interesting murals scattered around the island.

Houses on Pulau Ketam are built on stilts measuring around 1 to 10 metres above the water. Most of the structures are made of either wood or concrete, as are the walkways that form an intricate maze connecting the many different parts of the village. Because of how narrow the streets are, there are no large vehicles, only motorbikes and bicycles. You can rent a bike to get around the island, but I prefer exploring on foot, since you can really take your time to soak in the sights.

Take note that most of the bikes are electric. Since they don’t produce a lot of noise, you have to be aware of your surroundings while making your way through the alleyways!

Despite it’s remote location, Pulau Ketam is well equipped with all sorts of facilities. They have their own police station and volunteer fire brigade, 3 primary schools and a secondary school, a post office, and even a Maybank (so don’t worry if you’re strapped for cash – there’s an ATM machine within).

The internet and call quality is probably better than what I get at home (thanks for the ‘coverage’, Digi!), and they also have a constant supply of electricity and water from the mainland. You might still find a couple of homes with a rainwater harvesting system, which is what they used before a direct water supply was installed in 1991.

Pulau Ketam’s Jalan Besar (main street) bustles with activity, flanked by seafood restaurants, snack stalls and souvenir shops. It was high time for lunch, so we popped into one called Restoran Kim Hoe.

It was just the Hubs and me and we didn’t want to overstuff ourselves, so we went for fried squid and kam heong style bamboo clams to go with our rice. The squid was fresh and springy, the batter deep fried to crunchy perfection. There was some seasoning in the batter so it wasn’t bland, and the chilli sauce complemented it well too.

Bamboo clams get their name from their long, cylindrical shells. I think they taste like a meatier cross between oysters and Live Venus clams (what we call in Malaysia and Singapore as ‘lala’).

Because shellfish tends to have a briny, ‘fishy’ smell, they are usually cooked with strong spices such as curry and kam heong . FYI, kam heong is Cantonese for ‘golden and fragrant’ – a fitting name for an aromatic, rich sauce made from dried shrimps, curry powder, shallots, and garlic. Here’s another fun tidbit: kamheong is a Malaysian Chinese creation! Chinese immigrants here took influences from their Malay and Indian neighbours (hence the curry powder, dried shrimps, and other spices), added it into their own cooking, and voila.

The version at Restoran Kim Hoe is tasty. The clams were not cleaned thoroughy so there was a bit of sand left in them, but I understand that it’s difficult to get the sand out entirely sometimes. Otherwise, an excellent dish!

Chinese immigrant communities back in the day were deeply religious and had strong beliefs in gods and the supernatural. More so for a fishing village, as they were dependent on the sea and nature for a living. As such, you’ll still find many temples scattered across the settlement. The one right after main street is probably the most photographed/popular, but if you wander deeper, you’ll find other temples too. Although small in size, the temples are colourful and richly adorned – great for photography.

Since most of the villagers built their own homes, no two houses on Pulau Ketam are the same and each boasts unique features. They’re mostly single storey, but there are some grander double storey homes as well. They’re also painted in various colourful shades. No two homes next to each other have the same colour – I wonder if they discussed beforehand like “Hey, I’m going to paint my house yellow, so maybe you can take blue instead?” xD

Keep your eyes peeled for interesting murals. I like this creative piece – if you look more closely, you’ll find that the yellow guy on the left has an Ultraman tattoo on his belly drawn in the style of a Chinese deity!

Many homes on Pulau Ketam leave their doors unlocked during the day – something almost impossible to see in the big city. But I guess if you’re stuck on an island (with their own police station to boot), it’s going to be pretty hard to run anywhere unless you have your own boat…

A local Datuk Gong shrine.

Fun fact: a lot of people don’t know this, but the deity/spirit that the Malaysian Chinese here worship as Datuk Gong is actually – wait for it – Malay! That’s why you’ll often see the figure within these shrines dressed in traditional Malay clothing, such as a songkok and sarong .

The story goes that when Chinese immigrants came to Malaya, they brought their folk worship beliefs with them (specifically the worship of Tudi, or the god of the earth/the local deity of whatever land they’ve settled in). It was believed that the Chinese back then blended it with the animisme that some Malays practiced in ancient times, before they embraced Islam – hence why Datuk Gong has the appearance of a Malay personage.

This belief is also prevalent in other Nusantara Chinese communities, such as in Indonesia and Singapore.

A clan association building.

Clan associations were the OG social networks – a place where people could mingle, and where they could go to for support, especially financially. In the 1800s, when many Chinese emigrated overseas in search for a better life, they often travelled long distances and arrived on distant shores with nothing but the clothes on their back. Clan associations were founded as a way to offer a support network for its members, and to build camaraderie and a spirit of kinship in a place far from home.

The associations would pool together resources to help solve problems that their members might face, such as securing a loan so start a business, buying land for burial, or building temples. They also facilitated personal and business introductions, and acted as important links to their homelands back in China. Some of these clan associations became very wealthy and powerful, such as the Khoo clan in Penang.

Today, clan associations are dying off because the roles they used to fulfill have been taken over by modern institutions such as banks or business associations. Also, many Malaysian Chinese communities no longer have any links to China. Their role, if any, has evolved to focus more on culture, education, and social service.

Pulau Ketam is not very big, and you can probably explore everything within the day. We were done by 3.30PM, caught the next ferry back, and reached Port Klang by 5PM.

To be honest, nothing much has changed (aside from the addition of a couple more homestays?) – but that’s the beauty of living in a village like this. Seasons change, but the essence of the place – it’s quaint charm, the friendliness of the locals – remain constant. Personally, I love the story behind how Pulau Ketam came to be, as it’s a testament to the resilience of the Chinese immigrant community in Malaysia, most of whom came to Malaya with nothing, and built a life for themselves here.

There are a couple of things to remember while planning a trip here:

• Bring a hat or sunscreen, as the weather gets super hot. Maybe because they don’t really have trees to shade the place, or because they’re located in an intertidal zone.
• Most places operate with cash, but some have upgraded to accept e-wallets too.
• Please remember these are actual homes and that there are people living in them, so be respectful.
• The last ferry from Pulau Ketam leaves at 6PM on weekends, and 5PM on weekdays. While chatting with a local, she told me that some tourists forget this, miss the last boat, and are forced to spend the night on the island lol. Be mindful of the time!

PS:  I hope you liked this post! Please consider supporting my blog via  Patreon ,  so I can make more. Or buy me a cup of coffee on  Paypal   @erisgoesto

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Amazing storytelling. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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Day trip to Pulau Ketam

• June 18, 2020

Pulau Ketam is a great destination for a day trip from Kuala Lumpur – it is only a 45 minutes drive from the city. Why not bring the family, some sunscreen and your camera as there is plenty to see and do on this island! The kids will love it.

Mud. It’s a great substance. At a stone’s throw from Kuala Lumpur, on Pulau Ketam, there is mud in abundance. Pulau Ketam means Crab Island. But Pulau Lumpur (Mud Island) would have been a more suitable name. Does the island even deserve the suffix ‘land’? The island is actually one big mud hill, barely raised above the surface of the Strait of Malacca. Okay, enough mud throwing at Pulau Ketam. Let’s take a look at the things that make Crab Island such a fun place.

How huts turned into a village

In the olden days, Malaysian fishermen of Chinese descent came regularly to the mud hill, to fish for crab. Halfway through the 19th century, a few of these fishermen thought that it would be useful to build a house there, to occasionally spend the night. More and more Hokkien and Teochew Chinese followed and 30 years later almost 100 fishermen lived on the island between the mangrove forests.

The Second World War broke out and what was then Malaya, was taken over by the Japanese. As a result, many people fled from the main land to the island and the population of Pulau Ketam increased tenfold. This was good for the economy. The collection of houses now started to call themselves a village and the first regular ferry service was opened. You can read more about the history of the island here .

Nowadays, the stilt houses that are connected by concrete dykes and bridges have got a hospital and a school. There are shops and restaurants and even a number of hotels on Pulau Ketam, for the real adventurers among us.

Perhaps the fishermen eventually got bored of the grey and brown colours of the mud. Maybe that explains why they painted many of the wooden houses in the most beautiful bright colours with blue, green, yellow and turquoise. Very Instagrammable indeed!

Dykes and bikes

Peaceful and very quiet. That is the first thing you notice when you set foot on ‘land’. A bit later, we understand why. Just behind the harbour you can see some shops renting out electric bikes. They are the only means of transport allowed on Pulau Ketam. 

The electric bikes cost MYR 20 per hour, but you could bargain if you want to ride them for more than two hours. There doesn’t seem to be too many traffic rules and helmets are not available, but you do get useful advice for free: always stay on the left hand side of the road.

You can cross a good part of the island with an electric bicycle. Watch out for the bumps on the street that are meant to slow down the speed devils among us. Another tip: about 100m before you get to a bridge, just speed up a little bit. If you don’t, you will be standing still halfway on the bridge climb and will have to work both legs to prevent yourself from sliding back down and to peddle your way up. An awkward sight indeed (speaking from experience…).

Snake Temple

Pulau Ketam has its share of nice Chinese temples, of which the Snake Temple was my children’s favourite. The name already gives it away: a giant snake is kept in a cage in front of the temple. There are several smaller jetties around the island, with very nice views across the water. People respond friendly toward the mat sallehs buzzing around on their bikes with their children.

Are the bicycles suitable for children? Yes, certainly! From the age of 12, children can ride the bikes themselves. Until that age, they can simply sit on the back seat. My 14 year old son and his friend had no problem riding a bike by themselves, while our 10 year old daughter had fun sitting behind dad and watch the island life go by.

Le pièce de résistance: crab

We came to Pulau Ketam with the intention to fill our bellies with this delicacy and yes, we did succeed. Especially at the harbourside you can find many restaurants, all of which sell a wide variety of seafood. Choose a place with a crowd and you are guaranteed to a good meal.

Pulau Ketam seafood: chili crab, pepper crab, steamed fish and shellfish, it is all deliciously prepared and easy to wash away with a cold drink.

How to get to Pulau Ketam

Coming from Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Ketam is a great choice for a day trip. If the traffic is good, you can reach Port Klang by car in 45 minutes. You can also take the KTM train from KL to Klang. The ferry to Pulau Ketam leaves from Port Klang’s passenger terminal. There is paid parking available in the parking garage next door.

We went with Alibaba Cruises and paid MYR 18 for adults MYR 10 for kids, for return tickets. The trip to Pulau Ketam takes approximately 40 minutes. Get out at the second jetty. For the curious reader: there is nothing to see at the first jetty. Except grey mud.

For the departure times of the return trip back to the mainland, it is best to inquire at the Alibaba counter. Boats depart every 30 minutes during peak times.

Selamat jalan !

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Malaysia Day Trip: Pulau Ketam (Crab Island)

Alohaaa, friends! This week, let me take you on a Malaysia day trip to Pulau Ketam (Crab Island)🦀😊

Last week, my auntie and uncle visited me. It wasn’t their first time in Malaysia, they’d seen the city and some places. So, we decided to visit Pulau Ketam for a change of scenery.

In the previous blog post, I shared with you my favourite seafood restaurants. Pulau Ketam was also famous for its fresh and affordable seafood, especially crabs!

To reach this island, first, you have to go to Pelabuhan Klang (Port Klang), then buy return tickets to board a small ship to the island.

Return tickets cost you RM20, while a one-way ticket will cost you around RM12. Oh ya, the best time to visit Pulau Ketam is in the morning, when the weather isn’t too hot.

Make sure that you reach the port by 10 am 😊☀️⛵

The boat departs every 30 minutes and there are a few types of boats. I was lucky that I got a nice, small boat Alibaba 5. It had an upper and lower deck.

The lower deck was very comfortable, complete with AC, TV, and toilet. It was very clean and cool.

If you feel sleepy because you woke up too early for this Malaysia day trip, you can sleep for 30 minutes, hehe! 😁

The upper deck was a small open space, but there were few seats. Since it was raining when we were there, we chose to sit on the lower deck.

It was a comfortable 30-minute boat ride. I even watched an interesting Chinese drama though I didn’t understand a single thing! #banana

Also read: “Vietnam Day Trip: Tam Chuc Pagoda” Also read: “Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum, Canal Cruise & Red Light District”

Pulau Ketam Malaysia Day Trip: Crabs, Scooters, and a Peaceful Neighbourhood

As the name suggests, there are many fishermen in Pulau Ketam, Malaysia. It’s also one of the reasons why locals and tourists flock to this island – to eat fresh, affordable seafood!

I didn’t lie when I suggested that you reach Port Klang by 10 am. There were tour buses + locals who fancy this island for a weekend getaway.

The main transportations on this island are scooters and bicycles. There are many scooters available for rent but you don’t have to rent one.

To me, exploring the island on foot is the best!

Since there are many scooters, please be careful when you explore Pulau Ketam . Look to the left and right before you cross the street, and make sure that you don’t walk in the middle of the road.

It’s a peaceful neighbourhood which makes it a pleasant walk. Please keep your voice low and don’t litter.

When I was there, there was many trash in the mud, in the neighbouring area (not the port area). You may see most crabs at the port but please keep the neighbouring area clean too.

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There were some types of houses that you could see in Pulau Ketam, from the humble ones, the normal ones, to the very modern ones that usually had few scooters on the terrace.

Although their neighbourhood was constantly visitted by tourists, the locals were friendly. They would smile at you and wouldn’t be angry when you tok photos of them or their houses.

When my family and I were in Pulau Ketam, one particular house was very popular among the tourists because it had a nice garden.

The owner even opened the house gates so people could go inside and take a look!

We took photos of the mini garden (papaya, watermelon, etc) and the house itself. An old lady was sitting on the terrace and she smiled at all of us.

Also read: “The Desperado Commando” Also read: “Free Kuala Lumpur Walking Tour: East-West Connection”

Malaysia Day Trip: Fresh Seafood and Food Hunting in Pulau Ketam

When my family and I went to Pulau Ketam, we didn’t eat seafood. We thought we just wanted to eat some street foods and had a meal in Klang, sampling the original ba kut teh .

What a bad decision!

The guy that I liked told me that the crabs in Pulau Ketam were good, especially flower crabs.

“It’s almost impossible to find fresh and nice flower crabs in Kuala Lumpur now!” he said.

Other than crabs, he also suggested that I tried a very special fish, the bombay duck fish aka “ teh heu ” (Teochew dialect).

It was also my first time seeing this kind of fish crab. We all thought that it was a fish, but NO.

“Don’t eat the horseshoe crab! Their population is now low, we need to protect them,” he continued.

“Their blood is blue and expensive, used for medicinal purposes. They’re also older than dinosaurs.”

Eh, whaat? I knew the fisherman told us that the crab was 500 years old, but we didn’t believe it 👀👀👀

“How could they survive the apocalypse back then?” I texted him.

“They are living fossils. They could live in the water and survive on the land for 1-2 weeks,” he explained to me.

Unfortunately, my uncle told me that he had eaten a horseshoe crab before in Indonesia.

So, friends… now you know that it’s an endangered species. Please don’t eat them! 😖😖😖

Ok, back to our food hunting. A Malaysian day trip is incomplete without food hunting. Now, let’s sample some street foods in Pulau Ketam !

These shiny, golden balls were fried vegetable choi pan. They were made of rice flour and were typically filled with taro, yam, and chives.

This vegetable choi pan was very chewy and delicious!! But it was very oily too… so control your appetite, guys! You don’t want to leave the island gaining some KGs, hehe!

Oh God, this ice cendol was really, really good!!!

The cendol was chewy and the shaved ice was made of soy milk. If only the seller used Melaka brown sugar, it would taste even better 😍😍😍

Another street food that you have to try when in Pulau Ketam was the oyster omelette. Not a fan of oysters? Don’t worry, they had mushroom and prawn omelettes too!

The omelette that my family and I tried was the one from this stall, at Kedai Kopi Chuan Hiang. It was different from the oyster omelettes that we had in Kuala Lumpur.

The oyster/prawn omelettes at this Pulau Ketam stall were chewy because they were cooked with tapioca flour. Yes, they were oily – but YUMMY! 🤤😋🥰

By the way, if you’re health-conscious like me, please be noted that many places in Pulau Ketam don’t sell hot tea, so you can’t cleanse the oil and fat.

The reason? Because tea is cheap! The locals want to sell drinks that cost at least RM2 so they could get some profit.

If I ever return to Pulau Ketam for a Malaysia day trip, I would bring a thermos so I could enjoy the street foods and drink my tea afterwards!

Alright, I hope you like our short Malaysia day trip to Pulau Ketam (Crab Island). Remember that the boat leaves the port every 30 minutes, guys!

So, what do you think of Pulau Ketam ? Will you visit this island? Let me know what you think in the comment!

Also read: “Cuti-cuti Malaysia: Kuala Selangor and Sekinchan” Also read: “Best Seafood in Malaysia: Restoran Makanan Laut Jeti & Veg Fish Farm Thai”

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What To Do In Pulau Ketam | 2 Days 1 Night

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Trip Overview

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What To Do in Pulau Ketam | 2 Days 1 Night enable you to keep yourself away from hustle life and experience idyllic retreat in a fisherman’s village at Pulau Ketam.

For more info regarding Pulau Ketam Day Trip, you can see here .

We are providing other package, such as Pulau Ketam 2 Days 1 Night Package .

Day 1: Kuala Lumpur - Port Klang Jetty - Pulau Ketam

Seafood Lunch

08:30am: Pick up at hotel.

09:30am: Onboard and depart from Port Klang Jetty to Pulau Ketam.

10:30am: Rent a bicycle and go around the fishing village .

12.00pm: Seafood Lunch.

02.00pm: Hunt for wall murals .

03.00pm: Head out and go through few villages and kelong/fish farms by small boat.

05.00pm: Check in hotel.

05.30pm: Free and easy. Enjoy sunset.

Day 2: Pulau Ketam - Kuala Lumpur

08.00am – Breakfast at own expenses.

09.00am – Fishing. Else can walk around the fishing village and understand the daily life of the village.

12.00am – Check out hotel. Heading back to Port Klang Jetty .

01.00pm – Arrive at Port Klang Jetty. Heading back to hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Tour ends.

What is included?

• 2 ways Ferry Transfer (Port Klang Jetty – Pulau Ketam – Port Klang Jetty).
• 1 Seafood lunch.

What is not included?

• Electric Bikes Rental.
• Fishing gear.

What To Do in Pulau Ketam | 2 Days 1 Night  enable you to keep yourself away from hustle life and experience idyllic retreat in a fisherman’s village at Pulau Ketam.

Tour Style:

Private Journey

Sightseeing

Minimum pax:

Minimum two person

Accommodation:

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Pulau Ketam: Discover The Charm Of Your Perfect Island Getaway

By ReddotExplorer

April 7, 2024

If you're seeking a unique and authentic island experience, look no further than Pulau Ketam in Selangor, Malaysia. Nestled within the picturesque Port Klang, this hidden gem is a haven for travelers in search of tranquility, fresh seafood, and a glimpse into the traditional life of fishermen. 

In this comprehensive guide, we invite you to explore the beauty of Pulau Ketam, where the pace of life is dictated by the ebb and flow of the tides.

The Island's Unique Lifestyle

Pulau Ketam stands out not only for its natural beauty but also for its unique lifestyle. As you step off the ferry onto the island, you'll notice the absence of cars and the prevalence of motorcycles and bicycles. This eco-friendly mode of transport adds to the island's charm and allows you to explore every nook and cranny with ease.

The island is home to a tight-knit fishing community whose livelihood depends on the sea. You can witness the daily life of fishermen as they set out to sea to catch crabs and other seafood treasures. The island's residents have embraced a simpler way of life, and this simplicity is reflected in the island's rustic charm.

Natural Wonders

Pulau Ketam's natural beauty is captivating, offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The island features high and low tides four times a day, creating an ever-changing landscape that is a photographer's dream. The pristine beaches may not be as well-known as some of Malaysia's famous counterparts, but they offer a peaceful retreat for those looking to unwind.

Culinary Delights

One of the highlights of visiting Pulau Ketam is undoubtedly the delectable seafood. The island's restaurants serve up a mouthwatering array of freshly caught seafood dishes. From succulent crab to flavorful prawns, you'll savor the taste of the sea in every bite. Don't forget to try the famous fried ice cream—a local delicacy that will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Getting To Pulau Ketam From Singapore

Getting to Pulau Ketam is an adventure in itself. To reach this enchanting island, you have to get to Port Klang first. From there, you will get a ferry ride.

If you are already in Kuala Lumpur, you can take the train (komuter) from downtown Kuala Lumpur to the Klang port terminal station (pelabuhan klang). 

From there, it's just a short 10-minute walk to the pier, where you'll embark on a ferry ride through the mesmerizing mangrove area before arriving at Pulau Ketam.

Making The Most Of Your Visit

1. Plan Ahead

When planning your trip to Pulau Ketam, it's essential to keep in mind that the island is relatively small, making it a perfect day-trip destination. The best time to visit is during the cooler months to avoid the scorching heat that can come with being surrounded by the sea.

2. Embrace Nature

Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in Pulau Ketam's natural beauty. Explore the mangroves, go bird-watching, or simply relax on the tranquil beaches. The island's untouched landscapes are a nature enthusiast's paradise.

3. Sample Local Cuisine

One of the highlights of Pulau Ketam is undoubtedly its culinary offerings. Indulge in fresh seafood and authentic Malaysian dishes at local eateries. Be sure to try the renowned crab dishes, a true delight for food lovers.

4. Respect the Environment

As a responsible traveler, it's essential to respect the environment. Follow eco-friendly practices, dispose of waste responsibly, and help preserve the island's natural beauty for future generations to enjoy.

5. Engage with Locals

Interact with the friendly locals to gain insights into the island's culture and traditions. They may share hidden gems and secret spots worth exploring that you won't find in guidebooks.

Accommodation Near Pulau Ketam

While Pulau Ketam itself offers a unique and tranquil experience, you may choose to stay in nearby accommodations to make the most of your visit. Here are some options:

Hotel d'Spark Port Klang: Located 17.02 kilometers away, this hotel offers comfortable rooms and is known for its value and proximity to Port Klang.

Hotel d'Spark Port Klang

Check Availability

Tlj Hotel: Just 17.69 kilometers from Pulau Ketam, Tlj Hotel provides a range of amenities for travelers.

Crystal Crown Hotel Harbour View, Port Klang: This hotel, situated 18.42 kilometers away, offers a comfortable stay with a view of the harbor.

Crystal Crown Hotel Harbour View, Port Klang

Hotel Orkid Port Klang: A 17.09-kilometer journey from Pulau Ketam will take you to this hotel, known for its pleasant atmosphere.

Hotel Orkid Port Klang

Grand Kapar Hotel: Located 18.49 kilometers away, Grand Kapar Hotel is another option for those seeking accommodations near Pulau Ketam.

Grand Kapar Hotel

These nearby hotels offer convenience and a range of services, allowing you to explore Pulau Ketam and return to a comfortable stay.

FAQs: Pulau Ketam

How do i get to pulau ketam from singapore, what is the best time to visit pulau ketam, are there car rentals available on pulau ketam, what are the must-try dishes on pulau ketam, can i explore pulau ketam in a day, pulau ketam conclusion.

Pulau Ketam offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and culinary delights. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a foodie, or simply seeking a break from the ordinary, Pulau Ketam is an idyllic destination worth exploring. 

Embrace the simplicity, savor the seafood, and relish the serenity of this charming island paradise. Plan your getaway to Pulau Ketam today and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Pulau Ketam

• 1. The Island's Unique Lifestyle
• 2. Natural Wonders
• 3. Culinary Delights
• 4. Getting To Pulau Ketam From Singapore
• 5. Making The Most Of Your Visit
• 6. Accommodation Near Pulau Ketam
• 7. Pulau Ketam Conclusion

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A Traveller’s Guide: A One-Day Trip to Pulau Ketam

We love seafood.

In need of a short getaway? How about an island trip? Pulau Ketam, literally translating to Crab Island, is a small island off the coast of Port Klang, Selangor. It’s predominantly home to two small Chinese fishing villages, as well as a community of Orang Asli. It’s no secret that most people journey here for the seafood; after all, it is called Crab Island. Still, there are plenty of other hidden gems to explore on this quaint island. Although the locals mainly speak Teochew, Hokkien and Mandarin, don’t let the language barrier curb your wanderlust!

Pulau Ketam is a haven for those seeking a small escape from city life, and you can catch a glimpse into local life. First established in the 1880s, the sleepy settlements on this island have grown to host over 1,000 homes. Visitors can access the island via ferry from the South Port Terminal in Port Klang for about RM20 for a two-way journey. You can park your car at the Asa Niaga Habour City compound, located right next to the terminal.

If you prefer to take public transportation, take the KTM Komuter train from KL Sentral to Port Klang station. The journey will take about an hour, and the ticket is priced at RM4.30. From the station, it’ll be a 5-10 minute walk to the jetty. 

To make sure you make the most out of your day trip to Pulau Ketam, have a look at the ferry schedule . There are a few operators, so take your pick. You can buy your tickets right at the terminal. No promises that the ferries will be on schedule, though.

Pulau Ketam Day Trip Itinerary

Explore the fishing villages, rent a bicycle, tour the temples, feast on seafood, head to crab island mini market, go shopping.

The first ferry will leave for Pulau Ketam starting from 9am on weekdays, and 8.25am on weekends. Depending on your plans, this should give you plenty of time to thoroughly explore the island. The ferry ride will take about 30-45 minutes, so remember to pack some Mo Far K or or anti-nausea medication if you tend to get queasy.

If the weather is good, then remember to take a moment to enjoy the scenic views of the glittering ocean, blue skies, and even the mangrove trees of the island. If you’re really lucky, then you might even catch a glimpse of an eagle or two soaring in the sky!

You’ll first notice the giant signage, indicating that you’ve arrived at Pulau Ketam. Be sure to take lots of photos; after all, no picture, no proof, right?

When you arrive, you might be surprised at how colourful the houses are. They’re also built on stilts, and most of them are either made of wood or concrete. You’ll also notice the amount of bicycles – the roads are very narrow, so locals exclusively walk or cycle around the island. You can rent an electrical bicycle for yourself to get around the island, too.

Pulau Ketam has two main fishing villages, Pulau Ketam Village (on the northern side) and Sungai Lima Village (on the northeastern side). The ferries will typically arrive at Sungai Lima Village, before heading to Pulau Ketam Village, so ask around if you’re unsure of where you’re going.

The island’s main economic activity is fishing, so walk around the fishing villages to catch a glimpse of daily life at Pulau Ketam. You’ll see the locals going about their daily activities, such as repairing fishing nets, and unloading the day’s catch. Don’t be shy to talk to them, they’re often super friendly. It’s also a great way to learn about the island’s history, traditions, and cultural heritage.

To blend in with the locals and to simply get around the island faster, rent a bicycle. Explore the island at your own pace, and the island’s flat terrain makes it perfect for cycling. Be sure not to crowd the street if you’re travelling with a group, and always be careful of the surroundings, and oncoming cyclists and pedestrians.

Visit scenic spots, discover hidden gems, and experience small town life. The island is filled with gorgeous murals, so take your time to cycle through the island to explore all the alleyways and discover all the hidden artwork. Plus, cycling is just more fun than walking.

The first settlers of Pulau Ketam mainly composed of Teochew and Hokkien Chinese who were deeply religious, and dependant on the sea to provide for their living. As such, the island has several temples, each with its unique charm. These temples may be smaller than those that you might be used to seeing in the city, but they’re very colourful and still places for the locals to practise their faith. You can explore the various temples on the island, and the vibrant colors and intricate designs make for a fascinating cultural experience.Don’t be shy to take pictures of the temples, they make for great Instagram stories and posts.

As expected of a fishing island, there are plenty of seafood restaurants just waiting for you. Tourists mainly go to Pulau Ketam to experience extremely fresh seafood, so take your pick of the many seafood restaurants available.

The island doesn’t have halal-certified restaurants, but they do have muslim-friendly eateries that only serve halal-compliant food. Recommended choices include Remember Me Seafood restaurant, which is halal-friendly and run by a Muslim woman. Definitely go for their chilli crab and squid sambal.

You could also go to Poh Seng restaurant, which is near the police station. This restaurant doesn’t serve any pork or lard, and favourites at this restaurant include the curry bamboo clams and steamed flower crabs. Alternatively, you could also go to Kim Hoe restaurant for kam heong style bamboo clams, sweet and sour crab, butter prawns, and fried squid.

The busiest part of the island, you’ll find loads of locals selling their catch of the day here. You can’t go to a fishing island without bringing home some fresh seafood! The island is also famous for its dried fishes, and they’re all pretty affordable.

What is a day trip to Pulau Ketam without some shopping, anyway? Most of the island’s stores and restaurants are located at Jalan Besar, which is Pulau Ketam’s main road. Explore the island’s adorable and traditional shops for unique souvenirs. Handcrafted items and local products make for perfect mementos of your trip. Plus, you’ll be supporting local, which is always a huge plus in our books.

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to follow Glitz on Facebook and Instagram for more!

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Top 7 Things To Do In Pulau Ketam

Pulau Ketam is an idyllic fishing village that does not offer much in terms of adventure or excitement. During my visit, many of the shops prepared to close for the day by 7pm!

Maybe due to this extremely laid back lifestyle, a lot of my friends who live in Kuala Lumpur have not visited Pulau Ketam before because, and I quote, “What’s there to do on the island?”

Despite this “setback”, Pulau Ketam is an island worth visiting. In my opinion, it would suffice for a visitor to spend three days here because one can walk everywhere on the island, so you can imagine its size.

Do take note, Pulau Ketam is a mangrove island unlike those that offer sun, sand and surf. This one offers sun and mud. So, keep those bikinis at home but don’t forget the tube of sunscreen lotion.

Really, what’s there to do? After spending 4D/3N there recently, I have come up with a list for you. Here are the activities, in random order:

Although it is possible to walk everywhere, it helps if you have a bicycle to cycle around. Bicycles are available for rent at only RM5 per day. Motorised ones are RM50 per day. Obviously, you are responsible to take good care of your rented vehicle. You crash, you pay for the damages.

Wall murals are beginning to grow on the island. I like to hunt for them, similar to what I did in Ipoh, Penang, Shah Alam and other places. I have no idea who drew these paintings; they are really talented.

I don’t like fishing and can never understand how a person can sit (or stand) around for hours waiting for fish to bite the bait. Urgh!!! Still, this is one activity not to be missed by those who do love to fish!

Pulau Ketam is a fishing village, so the primary economic industry is related to fishing and sea products. Therefore, whether it is a trip to a fish farm or a cottage that processes shrimp for sale, it is educational. The locals are friendly and willingly share their knowledge with visitors.

If you have finished exploring Pulau Ketam, perhaps it is a good idea to expand your trip to the island beyond land. How about renting a wooden boat and cruise the waters.

Pulau Ketam has a vintage feel to it. The rickety wooden houses on stilts and other sights on and around the island produce enchanting photographs. Make friends with the locals to find out from them the best spots to catch sunrise or sunset.

What’s better to eat when on an island than the freshest seafood for breakfast, lunch and dinner? There are many eateries dotting the island, including pork-free establishments. Just take note of their business hours!

So, there you have it! The top seven things to do during your visit to Pulau Ketam. My favourite thing to do is No. 8 , which is to do nothing !

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10 thoughts on “ Top 7 Things To Do In Pulau Ketam ”

I love this tips. My next plan after Raya. Me too!!! don’t understand how can a person possibly sit there and wait for the fish to bite the bait. I die waiting!

woah. I have been there for only once. but surprisingly it doesnt change much. I wish to travel there again.

if i spend holiday to pulau ketam, sure, i will renting a wooden boat and cruise the waters also.

never been to pulau ketam. this seems very nice and helpful. thanks so much!

I love seafood. wanna go there for sure, been waiting for years… and my dear so busy

There’s so much to do even at the small island like this. I am sure there will be more in the future.

Hahahahha I lol-ed too hard at no.8! I would definitely love to try out their seafood…and of course mural hunting seems like a very good idea…imagine all the unique ootd that I could take…

Ooooh I think I like this place!!! I love small fishing villages like this which has some activities but not too much that the place becomes rowdy and filled with tourist

Lots to do at Pulau Ketam… especially eating seafood . I’ll be sure to visit soon.

Fishing & read something so that you’re doing a 2 in 1 works ha ha

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Food.Travel.Family

Journey with Shane & Alice

Day Trip to Pulau Ketam

Pulau Ketam

Pulau Ketam literally means “Crab Island” in Malay language is a Chinese fisherman island off Port Klang. I visited Pulau Ketam as a young kid, joining a neighbor’s family to her relative living there. As my memory is sketchy, I only remember how horrified I felt to see a hole cut out on the wooden plank floor and told this was where I can pee! Many years later, this vision is still etched in my memory and I want to show Shane. I know it’s an awful way of introducing him to a new experience but I want him to see how other people live their lives.

Getting there

Getting there is easy since our rental house is near the KTM (train) Telok Gadong station and we are 3 stations away to the last line in Port Klang. From there we take a ferry ride at the South Port Passenger Terminal to Pulau Ketam. A giant crab greets passengers so we know we are in the right place. We buy return tickets for the Alibaba Cruises boat ride with reminder to check the schedules for our return ride in Pulau Ketam. Alibaba ferry service is our first choice because the boat looks new. It has an upper deck to enjoy the breeze and scene unhindered by the confine of the passenger deck below. The upper deck seating area is also equipped with life vests. This is one of the first thing to check when we get onboard.

Sights from onboard the boat

The upper deck is the best observation area to enjoy the sights as we cruise along. There is a floating fish farm a distance away and the mangrove forest as we approach Pulau Ketam. Scattered wooden houses on stilts lined the island and they become more compact as we reach the ferry landing. Today’s crowd is more local to the island with traders coming in with goods purchased from the mainland. It is absolutely better to visit during the week days to avoid the tourist crowd.

Pulau Ketam Facelift

It has been 40 some years since my last visit and Pulau Ketam has a new facelift. The island looks cleaner and there is a community effort to recycle plastic waste. We arrive at low tide so there is garbage strewn all over on the soft tidal mudflats. I suspect most are brought in by the tides from mainland. Garbage means crows and they are everywhere. This must be really frustrating for the locals and is an environmental concern. Hold your noses to stench in some areas. And YES…the wooden toilet with a hole on the floor still exists but a visit to the first ‘hotel’ just after the jetty shows it has sitting toilets that flushes!

Wooden houses on stilts

According to  Wikipedia , the island is submerged during high tide. Housing on the island consists of “floating houses” perched on wooden stilts 1 to 10 meters (3 to 33 feet) above sea level.

The main thoroughfares are narrow concreted pavements, whilst in the residential areas, the older rickety wooden plank bridges can still be seen. There are no cars on the island; bicycles and electric motorbikes are the main means of transportation within the villages. There are no pavements linking the villages. The only means of transportation between villages is by boat. Daily ferry services link the island to Port Klang jetty on the mainland.

What we think of Pulau Ketam

We’ll say – keep an open mind and enjoy what the village has to offer. Hire an electric motorbike or bicycle. They are the best and quicker way to go around the village. The concrete pavements in the ‘village central’ leads to narrower wooden planks as we ride further inland. At some points it is nerve wrecking for me but Shane has a lot of fun. I prefer to get off the bike and walk while he takes off up a rickety steep bridge that rattles as he rides on. He even makes a few rounds and hopefully we don’t annoy some locals when we ride too slow on some narrow boardwalks. Some houses are brightly painted and here and there are attempts at growing plants in pots. Pulau Ketam is a fishing village and we visit this island to see how the villagers go about their daily lives.

Seafood Restaurants

I have read people saying the seafood restaurants in Pulau Ketam are good. I’m not sure about it and we don’t have the stomach to eat any crabs considering all the outdoor toilets we have seen. I am sure they catch their crabs from neighboring islands but so far I haven’t any information to confirm this. We have our lunch at a restaurant back at the ‘central’. It is a simple rice meal with a vegetable stir fry and a plate of buttered prawns. The dishes taste the same as other restaurants we have eaten on the mainland. Food prices are slightly higher but it’s fair because everything is brought in from the mainland including drinking water and piped electricity.

Overall, it was a place worth at least a day trip and overnight to more adventurous souls. There are more activities you can do by joining some tours. The villagers of Pulau Ketam have survived many years in all conditions. They have my respect for sustaining themselves independently and attracting visitors to their island.

Map and a video

Here’s a map of Pulau Ketam and a video showing Shane getting a kick out of riding an electric motorbike on a narrow boardwalk.

Check out more of our Malaysia travel posts.

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Day trips from kl — 8 best day trips from kuala lumpur you should take.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and is also an attractive tourist destination. It has a diverse culture, many famous tourist attractions such as the ancient Chinatown, the skyscraper Petronas Twin Towers, the bustling KL Sentral, etc. However, if you have explored all of the bustling city, and if you want to find a new place to visit and worthy travel destination, go a little further outside the city with other equally famous and beautiful tourist attractions. It doesn’t take too long, you take those trips during the day and take a break to avoid the crowds as well the hustle and bustle of the city. Therefore, here we would like to introduce “8 best day trips from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia” for you refer to.

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So, where do you go for one day trip from Kuala Lumpur (one day trip from KL, one day trip from Kuala Lumpur, one day trip in Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur, 1 day trip from KL, 1 day trip from Kuala Lumpur)? Let’s check out our suggested 8 best day trips from Kuala Lumpur (best day trips from KL) with detailed destinations information as follows!

Best day trips from Kuala Lumpur: Putrajaya City

Putrajaya is a city with an area of ​​​​nearly 5,000 hectares and is located only 25 km from the capital Kuala Lumpur. Putrajaya is a wetland, which is also a pride of Malaysia because it possesses an elegantly designed European-style streets, along with large paved roads, while the buildings are designed to blend modern architecture with Islamic art. There are also shopping centers, many parks planted with green trees, suitable for sightseeing, shopping and camping. From Kuala Lumpur, you can take a bus, train or taxi to get to Putrajaya.

Putrajaya and River Cruise Tour

Coming to this beautiful city, visit the botanical garden which is a park designed as a palace, also a national reserve, education and research center. Meanwhile, there’s an annual event: “Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta” – it’s a huge, crowded hot air balloon festival and the sight of colorful hot air balloons rising up into the sky is really impressive. You should not miss the bridge and Putrajaya lake – both an urban view and a distinct romance. Opposite the lake is the Putra Mosque, one of the most modern mosques in the world, with modern architecture blending traditional art and the use of indigenous materials.

Putrajaya Tour with Traditional Boat Ride from Kuala Lumpur

Putrajaya Putra Complex is a complex with lake view including: Office of Prime Minister, office of Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary General of Government. The Prime Minister’s residence is also notable, called “Seri Perdana Complex”, very luxurious and spacious. After that, you should move to District 21 – an adventure-themed park located in IOI City Mall Putrajaya, where visitors of all ages can have fun and challenging obstacle course activities. You must have heard of the Putrajaya Iron Mosque (Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque) – the mosque has a design influenced by German and Chinese architecture and is built mainly from steel; Masjid Raja Fisabilillah Cyberjaya mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque is large with a capacity of up to tens of thousands of people. Finally, is the Putrajaya Landmark that will surprise you with its towering heights.

[Muslim Friendly] Putrajaya Islamic Walking Tour from Kuala Lumpur

It can be seen that Putrajaya can be a city with many unique architectures such as government buildings, mosques, commercial centers,… Along with the green trees in the parks, botanical gardens,… You can also enjoy local delicacies at Putrajaya Farmers Market, so if you come to Kuala Lumpur, don’t miss Putrajaya city.

Sekinchan Village

Sekinchan is known as a small farming and fishing village north of Kuala Lumpur. Sekinchan has an extremely large area, is also a place to supply rice and seafood in Malaysia.

Starting from Kuala Lumpur, you will enjoy the view of palm trees along the coastal road before reaching Sekinchan. Once there, take in the beautiful scenery of the vast, endless rice fields. From March to May and from mid-September to November, the rice fields are still green; From mid-May to June and mid-November to December, the fields gradually turn yellow. If you are lucky, you can also watch migratory birds from Sumatra soaring into the air in flocks. You can also learn about rice harvesting, processing and packaging. If you can’t see it with your own eyes, go to the rice processing showroom.

According to local beliefs, you can pray and fulfill your wishes at the “Sekinchan Wishing Tree” by throwing a lucky red cloth that writes what you want on the tree. Since Sekinchan was originally a fishing village, you can explore the life of the fishermen, learning from preparation, catching to seafood processing. And finally, to end this day trip from KL, watch the sunset over the sea and then head to a local restaurant for extremely fresh and delicious seafood at affordable prices.

Sky Mirror & Sekinchan Paddy Field Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur

Best day trips from Kuala Lumpur: Pulau Ketam Village (Crab Island)

Pulau Ketam, better known as Crab Island, is a fishing village located on a small island off the coast of Klang. To go to this island, you have to go by ferry for around RM7 per person (about $1.53). Note that the first ferry is at 7:45am and the last ferry is at 5:30pm.

Coming here, you will surely be impressed with the strange floating houses on the water. These houses sit on long wooden pillars. Going deep inside, you will find the village, although rustic, but the home to about 8,000 inhabitants. Pulau Ketam village is made up of wooden paths and houses on stilts that stand on mangrove swamps. Rent a bicycle for S$5 for the whole day to cycle around the village, you will be free to explore the colorful houses and murals such as: Boat factory, majestic Chinese temple, fresh local market. You should also try the experience of finding and catching small crabs in the mud at low tide.

Pulau Ketam Crab Village Rural Adventure Tour

In Pulau Ketam, visitors will witness and experience the extremely unique lifestyle of fishermen. You should enjoy delectable seafood dishes made from fish, shrimp, squid, crab,… at local restaurants. This is a paradise for seafood connoisseurs. This small island off Port Klang offers a glimpse into vibrant life in a rustic Malaysian setting. This is also a destination for you to escape air pollution and traffic jams. Enjoy a spectacular ferry ride to the fishing village and go on a fascinating excursion that is sure to be an enjoyable experience to remember during your trip.

Pulau Ketam and Sungai Lima Twin Islands Tour from Kuala Lumpur

One day trip from Kuala Lumpur: Ipoh Town

Ipoh Private Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur

Ipoh is a town located in the state of Perak, a three-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. This is a great tourist destination with lots of places to explore. This town is also a perfect choice to get away from the hectic, hustle and bustle city of Kuala Lumpur. Although the town is gradually developing and attracting more tourists, it still retains most of the simple charm of its early days because it still has many restaurants and cafes built from many decades ago are still in operation today.

Explore the town of Ipoh with us. First, visit Kellie Castle – an old, ancient but elegant castle with secret passages on a rubber plantation. Then explore the temples and limestone caves of Gua Tempurung, Sam Poh Tong and Kek Lok Tong. Those are places that have not been exploited too much by humans, so they still retain the most pristine beauty of mother nature. You should also visit Han Chin Pet Soo to learn about the mining history, development and culture of this town. If you are an art lover, walk around the “Art of Old Town” and take pictures with the murals there, some of which were designed by the famous artist Ernest Zacharevic who is the creator of vivid and unique wall paintings in Penang. And of course, after the tiring trip, stop to enjoy the specialties in Ipoh such as: Steamed chicken with green beans served with rice, chicken kway teow soup, especially specialty of chicken rice balls… and drink with white coffee with special flavor color.

Old Town Ipoh Sightseeing Food Tour from Kuala Lumpur

Ipoh Private Day Tour from Penang

Best day trips from KL: Bentong Town

Bentong is a small town just 40km southwest of Kuala Lumpur. This town is an attractive tourist destination not only in the heart of the town but also around the town. Bentong has an extremely poetic location, that is, it is located by the Repas and Perting rivers – where there are high mountain slopes built by tin miners after they found tin by the river. Because of the high terrain, if you go from Kuala Lumpur to Bentong, you should make sure the steering wheel is firm and go very carefully.

ATV Rides in Bentong

Here, you can take a walk around the “Colmar Tropical French Themed” Resort designed in a modern, formal French style. You can also admire the ancient architectural buildings from the 16th century, relax and have fun by the Chamang waterfall in the Bukit Tinggi Forest Reserve. After that, you definitely have to eat some fragrant, fatty durian pieces at the Jimmy Highway area. Those who love this strange durian flavor often come here just to enjoy it.

You can dine in town when you’re tired at local restaurants, and famous dishes like kaya and pineapple cakes are homemade by the locals – fluffy, soft, fluffy cakes covered with kaya jam and pineapple, it’s worth enjoying, isn’t it?

1 day trip from Kuala Lumpur: Melaka Town

Melaka is a historic town and home to the Peranakan culture – a mixture of Chinese and Malay cultures that emerged around 1,400 when Chinese immigrants settled and married with locals.

Melaka Day Tour with Attraction Tickets from Kuala Lumpur

If you come here, visit famous cultural heritage sites to explore and learn about how Melaka became a wonderful town from colonial times to now. It is a series of places to visit such as: Fort A Famosa, Red Square, St. Paul’s Hill and St. Paul’s Church,… From the outside to the inside, they record a glorious and beautiful history of the historical land. this Melaka history.

If you are a coffee lover, want to relax a little or simply create an interesting space to chat with friends and relatives, then come to some of the famous cafes here. like The Daily Fix,… Walking around the town, you will come across a lot of street art murals, and don’t forget to take some pictures there to share with everyone or save memories. Some attractive local delicacies such as: Nyonya curry laksa noodle, satay celup, chicken rice, cendol,… you should try it during your short trip.

Historical Melaka Tour with Lunch from Kuala Lumpur

One day trip from Kuala Lumpur: Fraser Hill

Fraser Hill in state of Pahang is a popular short-trip destination in Malaysia. Above the hillside there was a small village, crumbling colonial houses in the jungle. After a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, you will feel a completely different atmosphere from the capital – a cooler, fresher air. It’s not smoky, noisy, but very close to beautiful nature.

Private Transfers for Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Penang, Genting Highlands And More

Fraser Hill is one of Malaysia’s top spots to see birds in the air. There is also a very diverse flora and fauna. Fraser Hill is located quite high, so the temperature will be colder than Kuala Lumpur, especially at night, so please ensure your health by preparing warm clothes.

Fraser Hill is suitable for hiking. There are eight nature trails available from easy to difficult for everyone to conquer. Try the Maxwell Trail – a short and easy hike that lets you enjoy the cool mountain air; either or or the 6km Pine Tree Trail – a longer trail that takes you through some dramatic scenery and ends near Jeriau Waterfalls, the perfect spot for fun, photography. Some of the popular medium-length trails include: Abu Suradi Trail, Bishop Trail, and Mager Trail that will not only tire you out but also help you learn about the colonial history and wildlife of the Fraser Hills. After take such a long walk, stop by Ye Old Smokehouse to enjoy delicious food or simply sit and enjoy tea and relax. This is also a restaurant with a beautiful garden, so remember to bring your camera to capture memorable moments.

[Seasonal Activity] Fraser Hill and Durian Orchard Tour From Kuala Lumpur

1 day trip from Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Selangor Village

Kuala Selangor is just an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, where you can make the most of your limited time to explore a traditional fishing village, cruise along the mangrove swamps and see the sparkling fireflies at night. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the chance to see silver-leaf monkeys (The silvery lutung ) as well as resident and migratory birds.

Bukit Melawati with Fireflies and Blue Tears Tour at Kuala Selangor from Kuala Lumpur

First, head to the historic and ancient Laingsburg Fort built in the 18th century. At the foot of the fort is the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, consisting of forests, wetlands, mudflats and mangrove swamps. In the middle of the park is a large sparrow house and an artificial lake – also a place to live and nurture resident and migratory birds. After sunset, don’t head back to Kuala Lumpur soon, but continue your journey with a boat ride along the mangrove swamps to spot thousands of bioluminescent fireflies. Along this coast, you can also observe the lifestyle of the fishermen as they fish, grow rubber and pick oil palm fruits. Because this is a fishing village, do not miss the extremely attractive seafood dishes, fresh ingredients from the fishermen who have just caught.

2D1N Kuala Selangor Adventure Gateway Tour

Klook Pass Kuala Selangor

Not only in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city, there are interesting places for entertainment and tourism, but let’s go a little further out with a day trip, to both stay away from the noisy crowds, the greenhouse gas emissions, while being able to enjoy another world. It is the world of ancient architectures, very pristine caves, or forests, hills are dense with trees,… Finally, wish you have a trip with many interesting experiences and good memories.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to from Kuala Lumpur you can refer to

• Private Airport Transfers (KLIA/KLIA2) for Kuala Lumpur
• Kuala Lumpur Half Day City Tour
• KL Pass in Kuala Lumpur
• Kuala Lumpur City Full Day Tour
• Kuala Lumpur Suburbs and Batu Caves
• Kuala Lumpur Food Experience
• KL Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass (24/48 Hours)
• Genting Highlands Day Trip
• KL TravelPass (Metro Card) in Kuala Lumpur
• [SALE] 4G Prepaid SIM Card (MY Airports Pick Up) for Malaysia
• 4G WiFi (MY Airport Pick Up) for Malaysia
• KLIA Ekspres Airport Train Tickets (QR Code Direct Entry)

Are you looking for more Kuala Lumpur travel guide and top things to do in Kuala Lumpur: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Kuala Lumpur blog (KL blog) — The fullest guide for a budget trip to Kuala Lumpur And Kuala Lumpur 1 day itinerary — How to spend 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur ?

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Weekend for the arts: return of BookStreet, Pulau Ketam art fest day trip

Friday, 02 Sep 2022

The BookStreet event returns after two years with over 35 rare book vendors set to welcome book lovers and collectors to Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya this weekend. Photo: Zari Mahmood

RARE BOOK MARKET: BOOKSTREET

Venue: Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya

Date: Sept 3 and 4

It’s taken more than two years to get the BookStreet event back on track. It is set for a reboot at Amcorp Mall this weekend.

With over 35 used and rare book vendors on board, this book community-based event is set to reconnect with seasoned collectors and also to welcome curious visitors who want to start their vintage book journey.

This niche event, with a vast network of sellers, specialises in mainly vintage/rare, out-of-print and first edition books.

Books on Malaysian history, politics and academic titles right to comics, fashion and food titles will be on sale.

Muzium Negara via its Department of Museums Malaysia’s library will also exhibit its popular publications.

Also, don’t miss the mini exhibition at BookStreet that will showcase rare book covers and photographs.

The Bookstreet event is free admission. It will run from 10am to 8pm.

A line-up of pop-up coffee kiosks will add quality caffeine to zest up the book hunting fun.

ART: PULAU KETAM INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL

Venue: Multiple community, arts spaces on Pulau Ketam, Selangor

Date: Sept 2-5

The Pulau Ketam International Art Festival makes a return this weekend with a line-up of local and foreign artists that will set up workshops and exhibitions at a few community spaces on this fishing village island, off Port Klang in Selangor.

The free admission festival, themed "Actour" is a collaboration between the Pulau Ketam Art Association, Angkatan Pelukis SeMalaysia and The Malaysia Watercolour Society, with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia and National Art Gallery.

The programme will include a flag banner painting session on Sept 3, while the Hwa Lien Chinese school hall is set to welcome visitors with a series of art workshops and live painting sessions.

Make a day trip to this festival. Enjoy the art on parade and don't miss out on Pulau Ketam's charming attractions and seafood.

Tip: do sort out comfortable walking shoes that will help you wander through wooden stilts, bridges and temples in this rustic fishing village that hugs the coastline.

More info here.

TALK: CONSTRUCTIONS OF RACE AND IDENTITY: FASHION IN PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE MALAY PENINSULA, 1890-1940

Venue: Rumah Attap Library and Collective, Zhongshan Building, KL

Date: Sept 3, 3pm

This sharing session by Li-Xuan Teo, a historian and cultural researcher, provides an overview of how ideas about race and cultural identities were presented through the use of fashion and design in photographs from Singapore and the Malay Peninsula from 1890 to 1940.

It will examine a range of sources, including postcards, ethnographic photographs, and studio portraiture, to explore how questions of agency, personhood, and modernity affected the lives of everyday people in the colonial era – looking past the idyllic landscapes and smiling faces, into the circumstances surrounding the creation of the image itself.

This event, organised by Malaysia Design Archive, starts at 3pm.

FILM SCREENING: PANGILLAN LANG

Venue: Ilham Gallery, KL

Ilham Gallery will host a special screening of artist Cheng Yen Pheng’s Panggilan Lang tomorrow at 3pm.

During her research of communities in Terengganu in 2020, Cheng discovered the “Wau Lang”, which is a distinctive type of wau (kite) that is only made and played by a specific community from the kampung areas in Chendering, Terengganu during the monsoon season.

Panggilan Lang offers a story based on this unique kite and the communities keeping this tradition alive. Cheng also collaborated with traditional performing arts troupe BaiZam Generation to create a brand new wayang kulit piece that tells the story of Wau Lang.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A session. Email [email protected] to book a film screening spot.

ART: RIMBUN DAHAN OPEN DAY

Venue: Rimbun Dahan, Kuang, Selangor

Date: Sept 4

If you are keen on a scenic trip via kampung roads to an independent art gallery/space outside the KL art circuit, then a visit to the Rimbun Dahan Open Day this Sunday is just what the doctor ordered.

Rimbun Dahan is the home of renowned architect Hijjas Kasturi and Angela Hijjas, in the village of Kuang in Selangor.

Current resident artists Emma O’Hara and Paul Nickson Atia will display the works they have made during their residency and art lovers can also check out the studio installation series “Please Do Not Sit” by resident artist Dhavinder Singh.

This Sunday, Rimbun Dahan’s heritage houses and its “Underground Gallery” will also be open for visits.

Free entry, no registration required. The day-long event runs from 10am to 6pm.

For early birds, Angela Hijjas will give a tour of her 5.6ha indigenous South-East Asian garden from 9am. Bookings for garden tour required. Whatsapp 017-310-3769 or email [email protected].

PHOTOGRAPHY: SELETAR EXHIBITION AND PHOTOBOOK LAUNCH

Venue: Gallery Gerimis, Level 3, GMBB, KL

Date: Sept 4, 2pm

Gerimis Art Project has another memorable community event ahead with the launch of Orang Asli artist Jefree Salim’s photography exhibition and photobook titled Seletar.

During the launch event (2pm-5pm), Gerimis will host a sharing session, as well as a guided tour by Jefree.

Jefree is a self-taught photographer and a fisherman from the Orang Seletar village of Kampung Sungai Temon, Johor Baru. His photographic work revolves around the lives of the Orang Seletar, capturing the moments of his people as they work, swim, and play in the sea and what remains of the mangroves at the coast of Johor.

His 76-paged bilingual photobook features selected photographs from over the past years, a brief history of the sea people and his family genealogy, and a look into the lives of the Orang Seletar through his lens.

The exhibition features 11 of Jefree’s best work, and a video installation as well as an art installation by Gerimis.

The exhibition will run from Sept 4 to Nov 30.

Tags / Keywords: Arts , Culture , Events , Kuala Lumpur , Selangor

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