Langkawi

Known as the “Jewel of Kedah”, Langkawi is all about nature. If trees, beaches, and sunsets are your thing, then you may wind up visiting this paradise and never leaving. Like Boracay, there are many who have fallen under its spell.

Comprising 99 islands, Langkawi lies in Andaman Sea, off the coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Its main island, Pulau Langkawi, takes its name from the reddish brown eagle that has also become the symbol of the island. The archipelago is known for its natural resources. It may be small but it is packed with all kinds of natural wonders — glorious waterfalls, white beaches, mangrove forests, brackish rivers, limestone cliffs, and diverse wildlife.

When to go

Weather is always a factor when planning a vacation, but that’s less of a concern in Langkawi. Though it officially has a dry (Dec-Feb) and rainy (Mar-Nov) season, it has one of the most stable climates among all Malaysian islands. The reason for this is that it’s shielded from major winds and storms by the mainland on one side and Sumatra on the other. Temperatures are fairly consistent – ranging between 30-35°C during the day and 28-29°C at night – making it suitable for tourism year-round.

Places to Visit in Langkawi

Kilim Geoforest Park

Located at the east-side of Langkawi Island and about 20 minutes from Kuah Town, Kilim Geoforest Park is home to a sprawling mangrove forest and ancient gigantic limestone rocks formations rising from the river bed, formed some 500 million years back.

The beauty of Kilim lies in its diverse natural geological, biological and cultural resources with high heritage value. It is also unique because it's the only place in Malaysia where one can find a coexistence of coastal karst and mangrove ecosystems.

Beaches

Langkawi has many pristine beaches. It’s biggest and most impressive is Pantai Cenang, which is about the same length as Boracay (Philippines) but twice as wide. Its sands aren’t quite as white but they’re just as powder fine. As previously mentioned, Pantai Cenang is one of the main tourist hubs on the island with a long stretch of hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars. Separted by a small cape, next to Pantai Cenang is Pantai Tengah. Other notable beaches on the island include Tanjung Rhu and Pantai Pasir Tengkorak.

Langkawi Cable Car & SkyBridge

The best place for a bird’s eye view of the island. Perched on Mt. Machincang roughly 650 meters above sea level, the SkyCab is a three-station cable car system covering a distance of over 1,700 meters. Observation decks with 360° panoramic vistas of the island are located at both the middle and top stations. Hanging at about 100 meters above the top of Mt. Machincang, you can also take a walk on the SkyBridge which is one of the world’s longest curved suspension bridges at 125 meters. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Waterfalls

There are a few waterfalls on the island but Telaga Tujuh (pictured below) is arguably the most impressive. Frequently billed as the island’s most beautiful natural attraction, its name means Seven Wells Waterfalls which is in reference to its series of seven connected natural pools.

Kuah Town

Langkawi’s most developed area, Kuak Town is a bustling commercial area that’s home to many shops, hotels, and restaurants. It’s also where you’ll find the island’s most prominent landmark, Eagle Square. If you’re traveling to Langkawi by ferry, then you’ll be docking here.

Shopping

Langkawi is a duty-free island. Consequently, you’ll have a fair few shopping options on the island. The biggest malls are in Kuah and in Pantai Cenang. Here, you can get everything from chocolates to alcohol to clothes and accessories to electronics.

Note that while alcohol is included in the tax-exempt status, you are still in Muslim-majority Malaysia and not all shops/eateries sell alcohol.

Langkawi Food & Drinks

Since Langkawi is an island, it’s also a seafood haven. Just walk down the Pantai Cenang main road and you’ll find numerous restaurants with the fresh catch of the day on display.

Beyond the seafood, you can have your pick of everything from:

Thai food (try Siti Thai at the corner of routes 115 and 154) to plenty of local fair (D’Lima, the stalls opposite the Melati Vip Dorms Hostel, and Warung Burger Makteh) to Indian food (try roti and the Popia Basah at the Restauran Almaz) to Shawarma (so much shawarma! but Cruises Kebab has the best lamb shawarma) to authentic pizza (at Pizza Maker in Pantai Tengah) to fast-food and any Western food style you might crave.

If you find yourself on Langkawi on a Thursday night, head over to the Pantai Cenang night market on route 154, near Bohok Guesthouse. The food here is fresh, abundant, and cheaper than anywhere else.

How to Reach Langkawi

By Sea

You can also take a ferry to the island from many different ports, including Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah, Penang, Satun and Ko Lipe, Thailand. The ferries leave at different intervals and take different lengths of time to arrive. The shortest trips are 75 minutes and they leave from Kuala Perlis, Satun and Ko Lipe.

By Air

There are a few ways to get to the island, including by water and air. The closest airport is located on the island and is called Langwaki International Airport, but not all cities service this airport. You can fly here from Singapore, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, and Hat Yat. There are many different airlines that service the flights, including Tigerair, AirAsia, SilkAir, Malaysia Airlines, and Firefly.