Pulau Ketam Crab Island Travel Guide | Malaysia Travel

Tabiniko
Malaysia trip
February 4, 2026
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Highly Recommended Tourist Spots Near Kuala Lumpur

Hello! Durians are so affordable these days, aren’t they? I’m Ayako, a Japanese wife who absolutely loves durians.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Pulau Ketam, a tourist spot just about an hour away from Kuala Lumpur. Yes, there are floating houses similar to those found in the jetty area of Penang, right near KL! Even better, you can reach it by train and boat, making it the perfect destination to show off to friends visiting from Japan! Are you ever stuck on where to take your friends who’ve traveled all the way from Japan? If so, this is the place for you! (^-^)

Sample Itinerary: Breakfast at the Klang River Ferry Terminal → Sungai Lima → Pulau Ketam → Pak Teh (in Klang; a car is required for this stop)

Near the Sungei Lima jetty, there is a small restaurant, but it takes over 30 minutes from ordering to serving, so we recommend having breakfast at the Port Klang harbor or along the way. For lunch, enjoy some crab dishes at Pulau Ketam, and for dinner, head back to Port Klang for Bak Kut Teh. This itinerary is guaranteed to make for a thoroughly satisfying trip! If you’re driving, there is a parking lot next to the Port Klang jetty. Even if it’s full, there is also a large parking lot a short distance away.

Woman sitting on a colorful pedestrian bridge with rainbow railings in a Malaysian village setting.

Colorful paintings under the tropical sun make for a picturesque scene! It’s a perfect spot for Instagram photos. (This is at Pulau Ketam.)

From the KTM Pelabuhan Klang station (often abbreviated as P. Klang), take a boat from Port Klang, located just ahead and to the right, to Sungai Lima. While there are plenty of boats departing from Port Klang to Pulau Ketam, services to Sungai Lima are extremely limited. Be sure to check the boat schedules carefully and arrive with plenty of time to spare, as you may be turned away if the boat reaches full capacity. Since Pulau Ketam has more to see and do, if you miss the boat to Sungai Lima, don’t worry—just head straight to Pulau Ketam instead.

I took the 10:15 AM ferry to Sungai Rimbun, then the 1:15 PM ferry to Pulau Ketam. I returned to Port Klang on the 6:30 PM ferry and enjoyed some bak kut teh in Klang for a delightful day trip! (Ferry schedule as of May 2018)

Since there are accommodations on the island, you could also just stay there and take it easy! (^-^)

Welcome sign reading SELAMAT DATANG BAGAN SUNGAI LIMA at a traditional stilt village with blue flags and wooden structures.

This is the entrance to Sungai Lima. It’s a charming, handcrafted-looking gateway.

It means “Welcome to Sungai Lima!”

Map of Sungai Lima showing landmarks like the old town, temples, and KTM Komuter station.

A woman in a pink floral hat rakes dried shrimp on a wooden deck at a coastal property in Malaysia.

The island’s specialty product is dried shrimp, and you could see scenes like this all over the place. With the strong sunshine, it looks like they’re making delicious dried shrimp! In Pulau Ketam, dried shrimp souvenirs were sold everywhere.

A woman stands beside a large steamer filled with traditional Malaysian kuih at a local food stall.

The famous brown sugar steamed cake at “Liu Jia Zhuang” (010-534 1752) in Sungai Limau! They sell it freshly steamed, so buy one and eat it right there on the spot!!! Freshly steamed is incredibly delicious! This cake is about 30 cm in diameter, so take the rest home in your backpack. It stays good for a week. Since your travels have just begun and holding it in your hand for a long time would be tiring, a backpack is highly recommended. I’ve even seen people buying around 20 boxes at once (lol).

Freshly steamed, golden-brown Malaysian kuih with a spongy texture, served on a green wire rack.

Colorful wooden deck of a waterside restaurant with rainbow floor, tables, and red lanterns.

Colorful paintings are scattered here and there, making everything so cute (≧◇≦)

A vibrant turquoise and pink traditional house with red lanterns and Chinese couplets, featuring a bicycle parked on the porch.

＜You can stay on the island＞

A woman stands beside a wooden stilt house with a sign reading “Seven Star Coastal Homestay” and a phone number visible.

Woman in a straw hat poses with open arms on a wooden walkway beside drying rice fields in a Malaysian kampung.

Dried shrimp galore! Sungai Lima still has few tourist attractions, and the number of shops is surprisingly low. My impression is that it’s “rustic and simple.” Locals say it’s the perfect place to go and zone out when you’re tired from work. Be sure to look out for the tiny crabs with huge claws in Sungai Lima.

A fiddler crab with a large orange claw rests on a sandy mudflat.

Traditional wooden stilt houses on a muddy riverbank with young mangrove plants in the foreground.

Woman in a hat overlooking a lush mangrove forest from a viewing platform.

Lush mangrove-like trees thrive here.

From Sungai Lima to Pulau Ketam (Crab Island)

＜Pulau Ketam (Crab Island)＞

Woman posing in front of the Pulau Ketam sign featuring a crab and Chinese characters.

Take a boat from Sungai Lima to Pulau Ketam. This is the entrance to Pulau Ketam. Since this area is known for abundant crab catches, there are several crab restaurants near the jetty, and every single one was packed with customers…

Narrow alleyway between pink buildings at Tabinka, featuring arched windows, air conditioning units, and a small spirit house.

This is a residential alleyway, and people actually live here. The colorful paintings under the blazing sun are truly stunning! This island, home to about 9,000 residents, is predominantly Chinese, with fishing serving as the main source of income. There are ten schools, police stations, fire stations, and Chinese temples combined. Remarkably, this island has no cars at all.

During high tide, seawater seems to reach even the underside of the houses, so they are built on stilts, much like traditional stilt houses.

Bustling outdoor dining area at Remember Me Seafood Restaurant with patrons eating at red tables under a large red sign.

The restaurants where you can enjoy crab are packed with customers!!! Since there are crab dishes in a variety of flavors, it’s a great spot for groups to share and try different varieties. It’s incredibly popular! Located just an easy trip from KL, it’s a hotspot loved by locals. Pulau Ketam has a more authentic town vibe! You can also explore the island by bicycle or e-bike, and there are plenty of hotels and homestays available.

A row of rental electric bikes with yellow signs outside Sea Lion Hotel in Malaysia.

Bicycle rentals are also available.

~~Strolling Around~~

Colorful entrance gate with lotus decorations at a Malaysian temple, featuring traditional Chinese architecture and visitors walking through.

Colorful temple entrance with ornate archway and multiple flags flying in the sky.

The island is also home to a temple.

Vibrant street art mural featuring a green-skinned figure and an older man playing chess under Chinese characters.

Interesting painting.

Colorful pink and blue traditional shophouses with bicycles parked along the walkway and red lanterns hanging outside.

A traditional Malay house.

Floating Island for Aquaculture Farms & Fishing Ponds

Woman relaxing in a woven hammock on a wooden deck overlooking a river in Malaysia.

This floating island, located about a 10-minute boat ride from Pulau Ketam, features a fish farm and a fishing pond. At the farm, you can buy live fish at affordable prices. Since there is a kitchen available, you can also have the fish cooked and enjoy it right there on the spot (please bring your own seasonings and condiments). If you bring vegetables and other ingredients, it’s a fun way to enjoy a barbecue right on the sea! ☆彡

Please contact Greenway2u directly. (Note: Japanese is not spoken there, so please be aware.)

https://www.instagram.com/greenway2u_pulau_ketam/

Green floating restaurant complex on calm waters with walkways and blue barrels.

Boats docked at Jeti Pulau Ketam jetty with passengers boarding and a speedboat passing by in the foreground.

We’ll take this boat to the floating island.

View from a wooden boat on calm waters heading towards a lush green mangrove forest.

View of lush mangrove forest along a riverbank from a wooden boat railing

The mangroves are incredibly lush!!

Visitors observe dolphins swimming in a large outdoor marine park enclosure while a dog walks on the nearby walkway.

Floating wooden walkways and blue barrels at a fish farm in Malaysia.

Aerial view of extensive wooden fish farms with green nets in calm waters near a mangrove forest.

A woman smiles at a table full of Malaysian hawker food, including rice, vegetables, and soup, at an outdoor food court.

A bowl of braised pork intestines and a bowl of pork rib soup served with chili sauce and vegetables.

To wrap up the day, we head back to Klang to finish off with some Bak Teh at this spot! The Bak Teh here is incredibly rich and flavorful—absolutely delicious! I’ve been to other famous spots before, but now that I’ve tasted this one, the Bak Teh at other places feels a bit light and leaves me wanting more. It’s a popular spot, so it gets quite crowded. I’m a huge fan of pork intestines, but since not everyone shares the same taste, they’re happy to serve the meat and intestines separately. That way, even those who aren’t fond of intestines can enjoy the dish with just the meat.

Restaurant Name: Ah Her Bak Kut Teh

Address: 818, Jalan Susur, Jln Besar, Pandamaran, 42000 Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor

Must-Know Money-Saving Ayat Info

• It’s extremely hot, so an umbrella, hat, and sunglasses are essential.

If you’re heading to Sungai Lima, don’t forget to check the boat schedules!
When you head to the ferry terminal in Kuala Langat, you’ll find various operators offering boat services. Locals recommend taking a medium-sized boat. It has a roof and comfortable fabric seats, making for a pleasant ride. Large boats, on the other hand, leave passengers on the upper deck exposed to rain, and their plastic seats are far less comfortable. Plus, these medium-sized boats are RM3 cheaper for a round trip compared to the large boats. (As of May 2018) ↓ This type of boat is recommended.

Red and white passenger boat cruising on calm waters near Tabiniko, Malaysia.

Key Selling Points of Plau Ketam, Sungai Lima

“Beautifully vibrant murals” + “Delicious crab dishes” + “Conveniently close to KL, perfect for a day trip”

Pulau Ketam Crab Island Travel Guide | Malaysia Travel

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