What to do in Langkawi, Malaysia: the Jewel of Kedah
Langkawi is a breathtaking archipelago nestled in the Andaman Sea on the Western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is home to amazing beaches, a rugged landscape and a lush vegetation. It is also a perfect place for water sports, snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as hiking and waterfall canyoning. While its pristine beaches make it a place to visit on its own, it is quite different than other islands in Malaysia like Perhentian or Tioman, offering a lot more diversity in landscapes and plenty more activities to enjoy. In this post I will walk you through what to do in Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah, as well as a couple of things not to do. I’ll also include some practicalities, such as where to stay and how to get there.
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Top 10 things to do in Langkawi, Malaysia
1. Visit the Iconic Sky Bridge
The Langkawi Sky Bridge is something you wouldn’t necessarily expect from an island like Langkawi. Being a more or less rural area, other than the resort-type beaches in the south of the island, this kind of engineering marvel feels otherworldly! The Sky Bridge is a metal structure suspended by two of the islands tallest peaks. Therefore, it offers some of the greatest views in the area!
Price: 6 MYR (1.2€), Schedule: 9.30am – 6pm
The bridge is suspended 660m above sea level. That is why in order to reach there, you’ll have to take the cable car, which is an attraction in on itself! It is actually the steepest cable car ride in the world, so if you’re afraid of heights, this may not be for you. Otherwise, if you like a thrill, it is a perfect day trip to get to the Sky Bridge and enjoy the views!
The tickets for the Sky Bridge and the SkyCab (the cable car) are sold separately, but there is no other way to reach the Sky Bridge so you’ll have to purchase both. You can buy the SkyCab tickets in advance in the official website, although it may be a bit confusing, and then the Sky Bridge tickets upon arriving in the upper platform. Alternatively, you can buy a bundle though Klook including both. There are also several options regarding the cable car, ranging from the standard gondola to glass bottom. You can also skip the queue (recommended on public holidays).
Travel tip: there is a funicular connecting both called SkyGlide, also sold separately, but you can walk the (short) distance for free!
Price: 85 MYR (17€) for standard gondola
In any case, this is one of the best attractions in the whole island, offering a dramatic view of the incredible landscape of Langkawi and the incredible emerald waters surrounding the archipelago.
2. Take a Mangrove Tour
While the views at the Sky Bridge are amazing and the beaches in the islands paradisiac, for me, the most interesting aspect of Langkawi is its UNESCO Global Geopark, especially the Magrove Forests of the Northeastern shores. Being a UNESCO Geopark means that the area is protected, but it can still be visited in organized tours.
One option is to take a boat tour, in which experienced guides will take you around the Mangrove Forest and explain the importance of this ecosystem for the health of the island.
3. Or go on a kayak tour through the Mangrove Forest!
Alternatively, you can do an even better visit, like we did, and paddle your way through the Geopark in a kayak! Not only you’ll get your exercise on, but also it is a perfect way to meet new people and to avoid polluting this delicate but important environment. The best part is that you get to visit the narrow parts of the river, which the bigger boats cannot go in. We booked our tour with Langkawi Magrove Kayaking by Jack and cannot recommend him enough! He’s a really fun and experienced guide and is very knowledgeable in the biology and ecology of the region (I would know, I am a biologist myself!). Here are his contact details: +60 175849636. You’ll find him here. If you want another option, you can check out these:
This was by far the activity we liked the most in Langkawi. It is the best way to understand the ecosystem of the island, visit in an eco-friendly way, visit remote places that not even tour boats can arrive, and get to know great people in the proces. Not to mention that you’re exercising and getting a tan in the process!
We also saw plenty of interesting fauna, like monkeys, fiddler crabs and mudcreeper fish! It was very exciting for me and my biologist heart was very blessed!
-And we got to plant some mangroves to add our grain of salt in reforesting and combating climate change!
4. Relax on Pantai Cenang Beach
Pantai Cenang is the long beach on the Southwestern coast of the islands where most hotels, restaurants and music bars are located. This means that it is the perfect place to end the day if you want to socialize, get into the island’s foodie scene, party or simple relax and watch the sunset. If you’re looking for quiet, this beach may not be for you, although it is relatively quiet during the day (there’s people but it’s BIG). Conversely, it becomes crowded at sundown when tourists look for a perfect sunset photo-op, a delicious meal by the water or some drinks at a music bar.
5. Dive into the Underwater World Langkawi
If you like scuba diving, Langkawi is one of the best spots in Malaysia to do it! This island is one of the most important hubs of water sports, including scuba diving, and the status of Pulau Payar as a marine park has done a lot to preserve its marine ecosystem. A scuba diving session in Langkawi starts at around 300 MYR (60€) and 1400 MYR (270€) to get the PADI Open Water certification. While this is more expensive than in most of Southeast Asia, this is true about Malaysia as a whole and it is still a relatively decent price. If you’re not into scuba diving, there are still plenty of fish in the sea (sorry for the pun) with a snorkeling session!
Top diving spots in Langkawi:
- Pulau Payar Marine Park: Due to the gentle currents, it is the best spot in the island for beginners. It’s also home to a very diverse marine life.
- Pulau Kaca: known for its great visibility and stunning coral formations.
- Pulau Beras Basah: vibrant coral gardens and an abundance of marine life. It is one of the best places to spot nudibranchs.
- Tanjung Rhu: known for its underwater caves, swim-throughs, and unique rock formations. Divers can encounter schools of fish, seahorses, and even larger marine life like barracudas and reef sharks.
- Pulau Bunting: for more experienced divers. The strong currents around the island provide a thrilling underwater adventure.
Pulau Dayang Bunting (Pregnant Maiden Island)
The second biggest island in the archipelago is also home to the Marble Geoforest Park, which is one of the Langkawi UNESCO Geoparks. It is a heavily forested island with the largest freshwater lake in the region. The lake is known as the Pregnant Maiden Lake, and it has a legend linked to it. Apparently, a fairy princess blessed the lake so any barren woman that drinks from its waters would become pregnant (don’t do this at home kids). In any case, you’ll get the chance to swim or paddle on a kayak in the lake!
Pulau Singa Besar (Big Lion Island)
This stop is a bit more unconventional. The island was home to a “wildlife sanctuary” gone wrong, and boats don’t really stop there anymore. I’d love to think about it as a Jurassic Park situation, but I think it’s more that they introduced foreign species and it didn’t work. In any case, now it serves as a stop to watch the Brahminy Kites and the White Bellied Sea Eagles, the endemic eagle species that dive down into the water to fish.
Travel tip: there are right and wrong ways to see the eagle feeding in Langkawi. These birds have their natural preys (the fish) already in the sea. However, some tour guides like to encourage the birds by throwing some chicken skins. This is neither part of the bird’s natural diet nor helps the birds in the long run, as they get used to not have to “work” to get their food. Ask your tour operator how this is handled and DO NOT book tours in which they feed the eagles!
Pulau Beras Basah (Wet Rice Island)
This island is the most similar to a paradise beach island that you’ll get in Langkawi. Home to white sand beaches and turquoise waters, Pulau Beras Basah is the relaxing spot you were waiting for to get your tan on or swim and snorkel in the crystal clear water of the Andaman Sea. While the island is more or less undeveloped, there are toilets and a snorkeling gear rental hut (the price for googles and snorkel is 20 MYR, 4€). You can also rent banana boats and other rides, which I think kind of ruin the landscape, but it’s only my opinion.
7. Slide Down the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls
Located very close to the Sky Bridge you’ll find Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls. It means Seven Wells waterfall, and it is quite literally what you get! The water trips and falls into seven beautiful pools, which makes it a perfect place for swimming and sliding. The waterfall is beautiful but, most importantly, a fun water activity! It is especially good when traveling with children. I must highlight that it is not a remote nature hike to find a secluded waterfall, but rather a developed tourist attraction that has turned a waterfall into a water park. This also means that, even though it may not be the connection with mother nature that you were looking for, the premises are well kept and there are toilets, changing rooms, photo spots and even a place or two to get a bite. I would personally rather have the secluded natural spot, but it is still a fun stop in a Langkawi itinerary.
Price: free (parking fee of 2 MYR for car and 1 MYR for motorbike – 0,4 and 0,2€, respectively)
Telaga Tujuh in Langkawi, Malaysia. Photo by: WIL with CC BY 2.0 DEED
8. Relax on Tanjung Rhu Beach: Experience Tranquility in Paradise
Where Pantai Cenang beach is the center of tourist life, Tanjung Rhu is the opposite. This gorgeous beach located on the Northeastern short of the island is a quiet escape from the business of Southern Langkawi. Far away from many of the most popular attractions (such as the Sky Bridge or the island hopping tours), most tourist don’t make it this far. This is where we chose to be based on, as we wanted to escape the crowds. And boy did we choos right! The Tanjung Rhu area has a much more local feel. But the best part is the nature, which takes center stage. The beach itself is gorgeous, but it is alos located right next to the Kilim Forest Geopark, one of the mangrove forests and my favourite part of the island! It is worth it to make it to this remote beach in order to escape the crowds and to discover the lesser known areas of Langkawi, including its quaint countryside and empty white-sand beaches.
It is also the perfect place for a swim followed by a delicious seafood meal! We had lunch at Restoran Seafood Anis Tanjung Rhu.
9. Explore the island on a bike or motorbike
On a similar note, while most of the island’s touristic attractions are in or around the Southern coast, most of its charm is in the central and northern areas! The best way to explore the island is to rent a motorbike. It is not difficult to find a scooter rental place in Langkawi. In fact, it is likely that your accommodation will offer that service. We paid 35 MYR (7€) for the day for a nice 125cc scooter. However, prices tend to inflate in the Southern part of the island, especially around Pantai Cenang.
Whether you feel like finding a nice beach such as Sandy Skulls beach, climbing up Gunung Raya for a panoramic view, visiting the Wat Koh Wanararm temple or just get lost in the island’s rice paddies, exploring it on a scooter at your own pace is a great activity!
10. Night Markets
The night market in Langkawi is not as impressive as the ones you can find in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka or Penang, but it is still a nice thing to do when visiting the island. The night market doesn’t have a fixed location, but it moves around the island throughout the week! Here are the locations:
- Monday – Ulu Melaka Market
- Tuesday – Kedawang Market
- Wednesday – Kuah Night Market
- Thursday – Temoyong Night Market
- Friday – Ayer Hangat Night Market
- Saturday – Kuah Night Market
- Sunday – Padang Matsirat Night Market
Things NOT to do in Langkawi, Malaysia
1. Eagle feeding
I mentioned it already in the island hopping and mangrove tours, but this is a common practice in Langkawi and it has to stop. Many of the tours offer “eagle feeding”, which consists on giving chicken skins to the eagles to bring them closer to the boats and get a nice picture. While this may seem good for the animals, it is not. Chicken skin is not part of their natural diet and it alters the entire ecosystem. So, please, try to avoid tours that encourage this kind of behavior!
2. Crocodile farms
There are a few “farms” in Langkawi that have crocodile shows where the animals are used for stunts and as an attraction. This is not good for the animals, so try to avoid these kind of activities. There’s plenty to do in Langkawi without resorting to animal abuse!
How to Get to Langkawi
Langkawi is easily accessible by air and sea. The Langkawi International Airport serves as the main gateway, with direct flights from major cities in Malaysia and other international destinations.
Alternatively, you can take a ferry from various ports in Malaysia, such as Kuala Perlis or Kuala Kedah. During the summer months, ferry services are available from Penang and even from Koh Lipe in Thailand!
Where to Stay in Langkawi
Langkawi offers a very diverse range of accommodations. Most hotels are centered around the Southern coast, especially at Pantai Cenang and Kuah. However, if you prefer some tranquility, I suggest that you look to the Northern coast instead, around Tanjung Rhu.
Budget
If you’re trying to make your money stretch there are a few options for you in Langkawi. For those looking for a more social experience, Bed Attitude Hostel in Pantai Cenang is a great option. If you prefer your own private room, you can check out OYO Home also in Pantai Cenang, although you can get a much nicer experience in Kawah Padi Garden Villa in Kuah.
For a reasonable price and comfortable accommodation in the Tanjung Rhu – Kilim Geoforest, I suggest you have a look at Red Coral Villa and, a bit further away but offering very cheap motorbike rental, DVilla Langkawi.
Mid-range
A gorgeous mid-range hotel close to Pantai Cenang is Temak Villa, with a beautiful outdoors area with a pool and nice and clean bungalows with a terrace. Nearby you can find Kunang Kunang Heritage Villas, an absolutely lovely bungalow-based hotel respecting the authenticity of traditional architecture. Expect elevated wooden huts with amazing views of the garden and pool and restrained but beautiful traditional decor. The beds are super comfortable!
Langkawi Primrose Seaview is a perfect beach getaway. They offer small huts in front of a beautiful beach for a very reasonable price. It is located a short distance from Tanjung Rhu and Kilim Geoforest Park and next to some nice restaurants and warungs.
Luxury
There is no more luxury in Langkawi than The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi. With its use of local architecture and integration in the natural landscape but with a modern luxurious twist, The Ritz-Carlton is one of the best hotels in the island. An alternative for luxury in Pantai Kok is The Danna Langkawi. In Pantai Cenang, a great luxury option is PARKROYAL Langkawi Resort. If you prefer a villa with a private pool, check out Maneh Villa, Looma, Ambong or Adagaya.
If you prefer a more secluded environment in Tanjung Rhu, your best option is the Four Seasons, with a privileged location right in front of the beach.
Closing Statement
Langkawi, with its pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and captivating culture, beckons you to indulge in a tropical paradise. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty, partake in thrilling activities, and embrace the island’s laid-back charm. Plan your trip to Langkawi and uncover the treasures that make this destination an unforgettable island getaway.
There are more posts about Malaysia coming, but for now, have a look at this one:
Kuala Lumpur: discovering the Malaysian capital
Melaka, Malaysia: a Journey through Cultural Heritage
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia: where wild and tamed nature meet
What to do in Penang, Malaysia: the island of cultural tapestry
Ultimate 3 Weeks Malaysia Itinerary for First Timers
Also, if you’re traveling to Southeast Asia, you’ll find these interesting:
What to do in Singapore: Top 11 things to do in Singapore
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