Langkawi Malaysia travel and tourist guide
Pantai Cenang is a long flat strip of white sand
Pulau Langkawi is constantly growing in popularity as an international holiday destination and it is extremely easy to see why. The tropical island may have been a sleepy backwater just decades ago, but duty free status as seen a swell in visitors as ever more tourists flock to discover her pristine hidden beaches as well as shop ’til they drop on tax-free bargains. Plus there are enough high-end hospitality options to rival anywhere in Asia.
Below is a short introduction to Pulau Langkawi but for a thorough guide click here or visit 1stopMalaysia.
Visiting Langkawi from Penang
Pulau Langkawi is undeniably a gorgeous paradise island, but it is doubtful whether its would have gained such notoriety had it not been for the imposition of duty free status. This has kept fun-loving Western tourists flocking here in search of the cheapest alcohol in Malaysia and maintained the island’s place firmly on the Southeast Asian backpacking route. But there’s a lot more to Langkawi than just shopping, and the island boasts majestic landscape, perfect beaches and diverse flora and fauna.
Kuah is the main town of Langkawi and lies in the southeast of the island. This is also where the main jetty is located which handles the vast majority of ferry transport. Most of the tourist accommodation occupies the southwest part including the main beach areas of Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah. Langkawi International Airport is found to the northeast with connections to KL, Phuket Penang and even as far as Japan. There are sights, restaurants and attractions all over the island, and even offshore with more than 100 different tropical inlets to explore on island hopping day trips.
There is no real reason to worry about crime in Langkawi as the relaxed local residents are generally extremely welcoming and hospitable. The only minor inconveniences with regards a visit here revolve around perennial nasties such as sandflies and jellyfish. The latter only appear between February and March and are generally not dangerous, but the itch of sandfly bites is a year-round pest. These are easy to avoid, however, if visitors avoid lying directly on the beach but use a lounger or sarong instead.
What to do and see in Pulau Langkawi
Langkawi means red-brown eagle
There are numerous attractions and tourist sights to explore on Pulau Langkawi and the best way to navigate the island is by renting a car or motorbike. This provides visitors with the freedom to access inland waterfalls, crocodile farm, different golf courses and the medicinal hot springs.
One must-see attraction is the Langkawi Cable Car which makes a perfect first stop as it boasts marvellous panoramic views of the entire island and beyond as far as Thailand. The Seven Wells Waterfall is extremely close by and features moss-covered pools which visitors can slide down. More on Langkawi attractions.
Whilst the lovely sandy beaches are a massive draw for people staying on Pulau Langkawi, there are also plenty of opportunities to get active on the island. There are three championship-standard golf courses for avid swingers as well as sailing boats to hire and deep sea fishing trips. Naturalists will love hiking through the Malaysian jungle and discovering hornbills, monitor lizards and different monkey species whilst kids will love spending time at the crocodile farm with more than 1,000 snappers. More on Langkawi activities.
Hospitality on Pulau Langkawi
Pulau Langkawi boasts accommodation options for all pockets with some delightful boutique hotels and backpacker hostels as well as numerous five star resorts. Pantai Cenang is the main budget area with lots of cheap rooms set back from the beach with shared bathrooms and dormitories as well. At the other end of the spectrum, there are plenty of resorts dotted around the island which feature inhouse spas, a choice of restaurants, sports facilities and private beaches. More on Langkawi hotels.
Malaysians love to eat and there are few better places to indulge one’s appetite than Pulau Langkawi. Seafood features heavily in the diet of local people and fishing remains a major industry, so there’s no excuse not to delve into some hearty platters of lobster, crab, muscles and enormous king prawns. There are even fish farms where you can hook your own live catch and then wait while expert chefs delicately prepare your meal. More on Langkawi restaurants.
Duty free Langkawi is a Mecca for backpackers and budget travellers who have been struggling with Malaysia’s prohibitive alcohol prices and want to let their hair down. There are proportionally more bars and pubs around Pulau Langkawi than any equivalent Malaysian resort, and many of these are expat-run and offer superb service. Irish pubs and sports bars are popular for late night soccer games while there are some discos for dancing into the wee hours as well. More on Langkawi bars and nightlife.
Getting to and away from Pulau Langkawi
Although there is no bridge linking Langkawi to mainland Malaysia, getting here is no major hassle. Regular ferries from the mainland take around an hour and there are bus connections to major Malaysian destinations from the nearby town of Alor Setah. This is where travellers can catch the main train line north to the Thai capital of Bangkok or south to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. There is an international airport on Pulau Langkawi with direct flights to Penang, KL, Phuket and as far as Japan. More on Langkawi transportation.
For more info on Pulau Langkawi try visiting 1stopMalaysia.
