Could Langkawi be Malaysia’s answer to Thailand’s Phuket?
LANGKAWI
Self-contained and separated from the mainland by the Malacca Straits this Andaman Sea jewel is in NW Malaysia and just a hop and a skip to Southern Thailand.
Could this be the first part of Malaysia to welcome back fully vaccinated tourists in time for December and January peak season?
It certainly has the potential with its own international airport and well–developed tourist industry. It has plans to implement a similar “sandbox” scheme to that currently being piloted by Phuket, where 10,000 tourist arrivals have now been recorded since reopening.
Langkawi had managed to vaccinate about 50% of locals with a 1st dose and 25% 2nd dose as of mid-July but this would need to be ramped-up quickly over the next few weeks. Phuket in comparison reached 70% vaccination rates by the 1st July opening.
The government has said that they would need to achieve 80% vaccination rates locally before they could consider re-opening, but this is certainly possible by October or possibly sooner with Malaysia’s daily vaccination rates now amongst the highest recorded globally.
Other problems such as tourism workers who have moved back to hometowns returning and getting hotels, restaurants and tourist activities re-opened after such a long closure are also other factors that need addressing.
Look out for Malaysia tourism announcements over the coming weeks.
Fingers crossed that Langkawi can re-open it’s tourism sector soon and that local people and businesses can get back to doing what they do best after an incredibly long and difficult time.
Langkawi is the largest of an archipelago of 99 islands and has a diverse interior of rainforest-clad hills and traditional paddy fields, surrounded by white sandy beaches and a turquoise sea.
It has year-round warm/hot temperatures and a rainy/storm season from June to September.
I have visited several times over the past couple of years whilst living in Malaysia and always had a great time and found plenty to do. It’s a great place for solo travellers, couples and families.
Places to see – Things to do
CENANG BEACH
Cenang Beach is home to the most beach villas and resorts on Langkawi Island. It’s a place of contrasts, with dramatic mountains, lush rainforests, verdant lakes, white sandy beaches, mysterious mangroves, lush rice paddies and the spectacular and romantic sunsets.
The sandy sea floor of Cenang Beach is filled with thousands of colourful tropical fish and coral reefs swaying under the water further offshore.
It’s a vibrant beach, well developed and water sports are very intensive on some parts in the peak season but much quieter at other times of the year.
Relatively speaking, there are not the huge concentrations of beachgoers here that you would expect in other popular worldwide resorts. Tourists tend to come down to the beach and its cafes and small bars in the late afternoon when it is cooler and to see the incredible sunsets this beach is famous for.
The beach scenery is charming, white sand with light green water, surrounded by palm trees. A safe swimming environment with a relatively shallow profile and gentle waves, unless you come during the rainy season when the wind and waves can pick up significantly at times.
If you’re planning your holiday in Pantai Cenang for the first time, you’ll find there’s a huge choice of things to see, eat, shop, and do in Langkawi’s busiest beach town. During the day, Pantai Cenang’s expansive beach strip is great for sunbathing and exciting water sports such as jet skiing and parasailing.
Pantai Cenang is also home to the Underwater World Langkawi and the Rice Garden Museum while souvenir shops and duty-free outlets selling a wide array of imported goods at attractive prices.
Pantai Cenang has numerous beachside cafes and restaurants serving fresh seafood, authentic Asian delicacies, as well as western and European fare.
Pantai Cenang’s nightlife scene comprises rustic beach bars and classy lounges, where you can unwind on the beach with good music, cheap drinks, and friendly locals.
An eclectic mix of high-end resorts, chalets and budget hotels with views of the Andaman Sea are plentiful here, attracting throngs of locals, expats, backpackers, and foreign tourists.
Prices are lower as you move away from the beach and the best deals can be had by booking accommodation just a few minutes walk from the main beach or even a bit further out within range of a 5-10 minute scooter or cheap taxi ride.
Pantai Cenang’s nightlife scene is the liveliest on Langkawi Island, with plenty of beachfront bars and lounges offering inexpensive alcohol (cheaper than the rest of Malaysia as duty free) and snacks, as well as live music and cultural performances, mostly fantastic fire shows, until late.
A paved walkway runs along most of the beach and this links the beachside restaurants and hotels and means that this beach is easy to walk on at night and completely safe.
You generally don’t get the problems of large and often drunk crowds late at night here in Malaysia that often make other resort areas in other countries sometimes feel unsafe for families or perhaps solo female tourists.
Underwater World Langkawi
CENANG Beach
Spread across nearly six acres, Underwater World Langkawi is one of the island’s best-known attractions. Located at the southern end of Pantai Cenang (almost at the border of Pantai Tengah), beside the Zon duty-free shopping centre, it is Malaysia’s largest aquarium.
The huge modern structure houses more than 200 different species of marine and freshwater fish including harbour seals, rockhopper penguins, sharks, giant rays and the enormous Amazonian arapaima – the biggest freshwater fish in the world.
Once you enter the refreshing air-conditioned interior, Araipamas (the world’s largest freshwater fish) can be seen in a medium-sized tank in front of the entrance door.
The complex is divided into three sections: Tropical Rainforest, Temperate and Sub-Antarctic. The Sub-Antarctic was probably the most popular section – the ‘penguin-arium’ houses cute little rockhopper and black-footed penguins that cause quite a few people to crowd around the exhibit to get a good look.
Other highlights of the tourist-friendly Underwater World include an Educational Resource Centre, a cafeteria/shop and a three-dimensional (3D) theatre – be sure to watch the short movie about Michael, a little prehistoric fish and his life before becoming a fossil.
Lastly there’s a giant walk-through six million litre underwater tunnel tank which houses an extensive number of fish including sharks, giant stingrays and green turtles. This is a great place to come during the heat of the day or to escape an afternoon shower during the rainy season for a couple of hours and the entrance price is very reasonable for a really good quality aquarium.
The Zon shopping Paradise
The Zon Shopping Paradise Langkawi is a massive duty-free shopping complex in tourist friendly Pantai Cenang. Spanning 300 square metres.
It is conveniently located beside Underwater World Langkawi, with ample free parking spaces and taxis available on request.
Shopping enthusiasts can find an array of jewellery, souvenirs, watches, kitchenware, perfumes, leather goods, as well as branded sunglasses, luggage and bags, all of which are 10% to 40% lower than normal retail prices.
It is also popular amongst tourists for its impressive collection of beers, whiskies, wines, and spirits. You can buy most popular spirits/liquors at a 30-50% discount on normal Malaysian retail prices.
Adjacent to it is Coco Valley, which stocks imported confectionary brands up to 40% lower than retail prices such as Hershey’s, Lotte, Cadbury, Toblerone, Kit Kat, and Lindt’s.
The Zon Shopping Paradise Langkawi is also surrounded by numerous cafes, bakeries and fast-food outlets such as McDonald’s and Starbucks for visitors to rest and grab a quick bite before heading to their next destination. The Zon Shopping Paradise also has a smaller outlet in Langkawi’s Oriental Village.
While it’s fairly easy to browse through The Zon Shopping Paradise’s well-organised collection of duty-free goods, it can get quite packed with Malaysian shoppers especially during weekends and public holidays.
After all, who can resist a bargain?
Yellow Cafe
restaurants
Yellow Cafe Langkawi, situated beside Langkapuri Inn, is an interesting all-day dining option that transforms into a cosy bar after the sun sets over Pantai Cenang. Proudly marching to its own beat, the vibrant Yellow Cafe clearly stands out for its artistic and unpretentious decor, with chairs, walls and even hammocks all in varying shades of yellow.
The menu focuses on affordably priced local and western fare such as salads, lamb chops, croque madame (grilled ham and cheese sandwich served with fried egg), chicken wings, satay sticks, steaks, pastas and pizzas.
Yellow Cafe is divided into three dining areas: The Steak House Restaurant is comprised of an indoor section with dark wooden furnishings; the Cocktail Bar offers large comfortable sofas, while the Beach Front Lounge is perfect for lounging with several triangle Thai pillows, plush beanbags, and hammocks.
The easy access set-up has earned a steady clientele of tourists and locals alike as diners can enjoy several activities in Yellow Cafe Langkawi, from enjoying a tasty sandwich during lunch time and reading a book in the hammock to returning for a hearty dinner that’s complemented with a tropical cocktail while watching the glorious sun set.
Servers are friendly and there is a very hippie-like atmosphere with guests lounging around in beach shorts and bikinis, and the fun vibe and colourful interior design is not the only reason to visit – the food here is consistently fantastic. Well-frequented for its grilled steaks and pizzas, the medium-high price range is reasonable for portions that are big enough for two persons in a nice setting.
Yellow Cafe Langkawi’s drinks menu has the usual beach café/bar offerings of fruit juices, coffee and tea, as well as beers and some imported wines.
While it is relatively quiet during the day, Yellow Cafe Langkawi draws in a bigger crowd as the sun begins to set thanks to its happy hour promotions. During peak periods, the cafe also hosts live bands performing a variety of music genres such as reggae and salsa.
With a winning combination of good food and casual ambience, Yellow Cafe Langkawi is definitely worth a visit for those looking to mingle with the locals and travellers or to simply unwind and enjoy a relaxing evening by the beach in the cafe’s many hammocks and beanbags and watch the usual fire show.
How to see more of Langkawi’s Picturesque Landscape
activities
The best activities in Langkawi celebrate the island’s picturesque landscape of sprawling beaches and crystal blue waters, dense rainforests, and pristine waterfalls.
There are plenty of Langkawi activities for nature lovers and adventure-seekers, ranging from thrilling water-based adventures such as snorkelling and diving in Pulau Payar Marine Park, as well as island-hopping and eagle-feeding excursions in Pulau Dayang Bunting.
Horseback riding is also very popular in Langkawi where you can enjoy horseback riding along the beaches and jungle trails of Burau Bay.
Sailing
old school fun on the water!
Surrounded by sparkling waters, Langkawi’s 99 islands offer perfect sailing conditions for sunset cruises or day trips. Picnic in the tranquil bay, motorboat rides in the vast ocean, spectacular sunsets in the sparkling waters, and enjoy and experience the charm of Langkawi from every new angle, at different times. The beauty of the Langkawi sunset is amazing, especially on the ocean, watching the red sun slowly sinking into the sea with the backdrop of Langkawi’s limestone landscape, holding beer or cocktail in hand. After the heat of the day, the evening mild sea breeze comes, so that you can deeply feel the beauty of the tropical atmosphere.
Sea motorboats and Jet Skis
Speed over the ocean and keep yourself cool at the same time!
If you can only experience one activity in Langkawi, it must be a “sea motorboat”, an explosive experience! In Langkawi’s endless Andaman Sea, motorboats travel at speeds of 50 nautical miles per hour, the ultimate experience of speed and passion.
The numerous water sports companies also offer reasonably priced jet ski island tours for visitors who are looking for an adrenaline rush during their stay in Langkawi.
Located in Pantai Cenang, its island tours allow guests to visit several tiny islands scattered around Langkawi such as Pulau Dayang Bunting and Pulau Beras Basah. Along the way, there are numerous natural attractions including lakes, lagoons, limestone cliffs, caves, and mangroves.
Visitors can also go for a swim at the freshwater lake, go paddle boarding, kayaking, and go trekking through the surrounding mountain forests.
These companies also rent out jet skis, do parasailing, banana boats and wakeboards for those who want to enjoy a splashing good time at Pantai Cenang.
Parasailing
Experience the thrill of seeing Langkawi from the sky
It is exciting to take a bird’s eye view of the emerald, green water, the coconut fringed beaches, the islands from the sky and experience the thrill of Parasailing.
Breath–taking panoramic views of Langkawi await as you are gently lifted from the boat’s flight deck to the chosen altitude. Share in the fun – bring your friends and family. Flights can accommodate one, two or three people at a time.
For this activity, a speedboat will take you out into the open waters of the Andaman Sea so you can fly! Taste the salty air in the mist of the boat’s spray as it cuts through the ocean glinting in the sunlight.
When you’ve reached the ideal spot in the sea for parasailing, you will be strapped into your harness before lift-off.
After preparations have been done, you will be released and you gently rise as the air fills your shute and before you know it, you’ll be high up in the air being rewarded by a tranquil bird’s-eye view of the Langkawi archipelago!
If you’re someone who loves airtime, parasailing would be one of the best ways to make your flying dreams come true.
Surprisingly, individuals who have phobias of height or falling have claimed that parasailing triggered none of those fears, and instead, they were surprised by how fun and relaxing the activity was once they were in the air.
Many including myself get a buzz everytime and come back for more!
Kilim Karst Geoforest Park
park
Spanning almost 100 square kilometres, it is noteworthy for its mangrove swamps, pristine beaches, and vertical karstic hills .
Langkawi Mangrove Forest
Natural
The Langkawi Mangrove Forest is noteworthy for mangrove swamps, pristine beaches, and vertical karstic hills jutting out towards the Andaman Sea. Set along the northeast tip of Langkawi Island, the park is accessible within a five-minute drive from Tanjung Rhu Beach.
Spanning almost 100 square kilometres, there’s a good variety of wildlife found here, from otters and monitor lizards to macaques and tree crabs hiding amongst the thick mangroves. During the migratory seasons (September to March), you can spot birdlife of varying species, including kingfishers, white-bellied fish eagles and kite eagles.
Mangrove Forest Highlights
Natural
There are plenty of limestone formations that are over 500 million years old, with unique names such as Temple of Borobudur, the Elephant Stone, Gorilla Mountain and the Hanging Gardens. You should make time to explore the numerous caves filled with fossils as well as gigantic stalagmite and stalactites. The most popular caves include Crocodile Cave, Cave of Legends, and Bat Cave.
The best way to explore the Langkawi Mangrove Forest is by joining a riverboat cruise along Kilim River. You can book these from any of the agent’s kiosks along the main Cenang road. Aside from a leisurely experience with an experienced nature guide, visitors are also chartered to the limestone caves and a floating fish farm where they can handfeed stingrays and archer fishes.
My favourite and highly recommended are the Mangrove Forest and eagle watching tours as you can also witness an eagle-feeding session and explore several limestone caves within the park. Lunch, roundtrip transport to and from your hotel, as well as an English-speaking guide are also included in this daytrip.
If you prefer to explore this expansive mangrove park at your own pace, there are private boats, kayaks and jet-ski rentals available with most tour operators in Langkawi. Be sure to wear sunscreen, take a hat and sunglasses and comfortable clothing as it can get rather hot throughout the day in the Langkawi Mangrove Forest.
Coral Island
Island
Coral Island is the most popular because its surrounding waters are ideal for diving and swimming. There is also a coral park in these dive areas, covered by bright, colorful soft corals. You can also experience feeding small sharks by the beach! Visitors can come to Coral Island by high-speed catamaran or speedboat from Guazhen Pier.
Pregnant women's lake
lake
Pregnant Women’s Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Langkawi, is named after a legendary lovely fairy princess. Her first child died shortly after birth, and she was so depressed that she buried it in the crystal clear waters of the lake.
Before she returned to her heavenly home, she cast a holy spell on the lake so that all women who could not conceive could get pregnant after bathing in it.
To get to the lake, visitors need to reach Pregnant Women’s Island and then take a short walk through the forest reserve.
Get the best high view of Langkawi from the SkyBridge and SkyCab cable car
Located at the foothills of Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park on the west coast of Langkawi, Oriental Village is the home of Langkawi SkyCab and Langkawi Sky-Bridge. The area is just a 45-minute drive from Kuah Jetty and only a 20-minute drive from Langkawi International Airport (LIA).
A great destination for early morning or late afternoon and easily accessible for all ages, the 26 acre Oriental Village offers you a very pretty location around a small lake. There are plenty of instagrammable spots to capture your special moments especially on some of the small suspension bridges with the lake in the background.
There are several souvenir and casual clothing shops here and a mix of food types at restaurants (although the couple we have tried have been sadly poor quality and very overpriced) and a good few better value food kiosks and stalls.
Panorama of the Sky Cab
This travels pretty much straight up and gives you the thrill of hovering over the jungle, before slowly crossing the 550 million year old rock formation, and finally visiting the SkyDome, SkyRex and 3D Art Gallery.
The entrance for the Langkawi Cable Car, which takes visitors all the way up to Mount Mat Cincang, Langkawi’s second highest peak, it’s located in The Oriental Village in the upper northwest of Langkawi Island, near Pantai Kok. Entering the village and passing through the pleasant oriental garden and souvenir shops, visitors make their payment at a counter before stepping onto an escalator which brings them to the cable-car pedestal.
Once in, and Langkawi Cable Car ascends, you’ll begin to notice the temperature dropping and a windy breeze begin flowing into the cabin through ventilation slits at the top.
After around 600 metres, the cable car reaches the first station, where you disembark to either; take another cable car up to the peak or hang around the observatory deck and get some great photos of the magnificent view. Most will not spend too long here, as the view from the peak is even more amazing. After a short queue, you can grab another cable car and ride up another wire cable which doesn’t rise too sharply, though the initial jolt of the car leaving the second station can feel quite unnerving.
As the car settles to a decent speed after the brief spurt from the station, passengers will be treated to an even higher view of the rainforest and hills below. The car here is at its coolest and in too short a time, you’ll reach the final station which is where most of the excitement is. Passengers leaving the cab will be greeted by a menagerie of stalls selling souvenirs, toys, snacks and drinks.
You’ll want to climb a set of staircases that cuts through a thin forest to reach the observatory deck above. Once on the top, you can finally enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding horizon, the island’s landscape, skyline and seas beyond. You can also take a smaller, short train–carriage style escalator that takes you directly to the platform, but there is usually a big queue for this. At the side is a steel bridge suspended across Mount Mat Cincang and a neighbouring mountain. Walking across the Sky Bridge is a fantastic experience and offers a different viewpoint of the island and sea towards the north.
Sky Bridge
suspension at its best!
The Langkawi Sky Bridge is located at the ‘end’ of the Cable Car ride. One of the island’s highlights, it is a 410ft-long curved pedestrian bridge above Mount Mat Cinchang. The views from here are simply stunning, especially on a clear morning.
Located 2,300ft above sea level, the views on the way to the top of Langkawi’s second-highest peak include those of the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls and the rainforest. Those with a fear of heights might be a little afraid of the altitude, but it is a very safe bridge with double steel railings and an enclosed wire mesh.
The 1.8m wide bridge has two triangular platforms that act as ‘stops’ where you can admire the view and rest your feet. In fact you can even see Tarutao Island in Thailand. The end of the steel bridge that extends out from Mount Mat Cincang to a neighbouring mountain is the part of the Sky Bridge that is unforgettable.
Although it is a hair-raising experience travelling across it, since the cable-stayed bridge actually curves 125m around a single support, it is truly worthwhile. Photo opportunities are plentiful: and the cooling winds mean you can linger and get lots of selfies or plenty of cool group shots.
Besides shopping for souvenirs at the stalls near the cable car, there is not much else to do here than to take in the views. A fun fact for Bollywood movie enthusiasts: the last scene of the Hindi blockbuster ‘Don: The Chase Begins Again’ was filmed here.
After immersing yourself in the views and getting some good photos the entire process of cable-car ascent is repeated in a descending route. Along the way, you can pick up some souvenirs at the final or base station and then back to the main centre of the Oriental Village and attractions.
Visiting the SkyDome, SkyRex and 3D Art Gallery are certainly worth doing especially if you are with kids and want to fill a bit more time. You can get a combined ticket with the Skywalk attraction from the ticket office or in advance online.
Morac International Karting
fun
Morac International Karting offers go-kart and track rental services for walk-in customers who want to experience a good dose of adrenaline during their stay on Langkawi Island. It is strategically situated beside Langkawi International Airport, approximately ten minutes away from Pantai Cenang.
For inexperienced go-kart drivers, Morac International Karting also provides other services including go-karting classes and courses on go-karting skills and safety rules. It’s a great way to spend an hour especially with friends and to get a chance to compete with each other and experience some inexpensive safe motor sport, not Formula 1 exactly, but fast and fun enough!
Langkawi Scuba Diving
enjoy beautiful undersea world
The best time to dive is from October until May (outside of the west-monsoon season). From June to September, the west wind and rain can cause water visibility to decrease and local dive sites unable to be reached. Langkawi isn’t known for amazing visibility at the best of times, compared to better known sites in East Malaysia, however what it lacks in clear water, it makes up for in its marine biodiversity. From schooling jacks and vibrant purple soft corals in the Pulau Payar Marine Park, to an abundance of seahorses and frogfish hiding in local dive sites, it is well worth trying out whilst in Langkawi.
Top Dive Sites
enjoy beautiful undersea world
Diving around Langkawi can be done at two locations – Pulau Payar Marine Park and the local sites around the Cenang area.
Pulau Payar Marine Park
The Pulau Payar Marine Park can be reached in just 45-90 minutes by a speedboat, ferry or daytrip from Kuah town in Langkawi or from Kuala Kedah on the mainland. For those interested in snorkelling, reef sharks can be spotted from the beach or from the floating platform. If you’re wanting to venture into deeper water, explore a coral encrusted wreck or try your hand at drift diving, scuba dives can be arranged around the island.
Cenang dive sites
enjoy beautiful undersea world
Cepu Island
Just a 20 minute boat ride from Cenang beach, is where you will find this tiny island. Cepu Island is entirely surrounded by coral reef and home to some of Malaysia’s bucket list marine life. Visibility is only 1-4 metres but this can get better later in the season.
The Stables
This popular dive site is known for being a breeding ground for seahorses. You can often find two or three seahorses hiding in one gorgonian. While your guide is searching for frogfish or nudibranch you can get transfixed by the gobies or the feeding arms of a burrowed sea cucumber. Sleeping bamboo sharks and hiding octopus have been spotted here as well.
Tanjung Intan
The slow currents on the Tanjung Intan dive site make it the perfect habitat for stick pipefish, hundreds of clownfish, razorfish and seahorses. Big lobsters have also been spotted here, as well as toadfish which can be found hiding under rocky ledges.
I got my Padi Open Water dive certification at Langkawi Scuba on Cenang Beach. They are an experienced, safe and very professional set-up. The really excellent tuition was in small groups and they have 1 instructor for 2 divers max. I managed a couple of dives with good visibility around Cepu Island and that was in late October, so not far into the season. Saw loads of stuff including moray eels, stingrays, porcupine fish, trigger fish, a bamboo shark and sea horses. A handy place to get certified if you are in Langkawi anyway and then you are ready for when you travel to other places for more diving, as I have done.
