Open left menu Langkawi. When is the best time to go to Langkawi? Beach holidays in Langkawi

»»» () »»» Langkawi Island, Malaysia. Beaches, hotels, interesting places.

Langkawi Island is located in Malaysia at a distance of about 40 km. southeast of the popular tourist destination Thai.

The size of the island of Langkawi is 30 km. x 20 km, the island of Langkawi is separated from the mainland by 25 km, and from the nearest Thai island - 10 km.

Langkawi Island is the largest Malaysian resort, and this status is confirmed by more than 350 resorts, hotels and guesthouses located on the island, international Airport, receiving more than 2 million tourists a year, and a developed network of high-quality roads.

Langkawi's main attractions are a few good (but not great) beaches, an impressive cable car that takes you up 700-metre cliffs, and mangroves with an abundance of wildlife that you can and should take a tour boat through.

Click on the preview to get a high-resolution image of the map you need.

The island of Langkawi has an airport that receives planes from the cities of Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Guangzhou and several Malay cities. Kuala Lumpur, however, accounts for more than 90% of local flights. There are no direct flights from Bangkok, Phuket and other Thai resorts to Langkawi.

Several airlines fly on the Kuala Lumpur - Langkawi route, including the low-cost airline AirAsia. Flight prices start from RM90. At this price, an air ticket can be purchased a couple of months before departure. If you buy a ticket a few days before departure, the price will be noticeably higher, and most likely will exceed 200 ringgit.

Sea communication between the islands of Langkawi and Lipe operates only in the high season, from early November to mid-April. A ticket on this route costs 1,200 baht (as of the beginning of 2018), ships and speedboats of different carriers sail several times a day, the trip between the islands takes about an hour, not counting the time for passport control and other formalities.

The most popular beaches on Langkawi island are Pantai Cenang Beach and Pantai Tengah Beach, located within walking distance of each other.

The lion's share of hotels on the island of Langkawi are located in the area of these beaches, and you can stay in this place for relatively modest money, within 100 Malaysian ringgit per day. There is also a cluster of restaurants and bars, and this is the only place on the island where there is evening life.

The beaches of Chenang and Tenga themselves are quite worthy of 4 points, however, they clearly do not reach the level of the best Thai beaches. These beaches, especially Chenang, are wide, the sand on the beaches is white, but these beaches are not particularly clean, the sea opposite them is somewhat cloudy and there is a wave.

To make the rating of 4 points more clear, we can say that the beaches and at least two dozen more Thai islands are worth 5 points. And as an example of a rating from below, we can cite the beaches of the well-known Pattaya, which are difficult to rate higher than 3 points.

In addition to the Chenang and Tengah beaches located in the south of Langkawi, the island has several more beaches located in the northern part of the island. These places are more beautiful, the beaches themselves are smaller compared to the southern beaches, and the entire northern part of the island is home to expensive resorts, with a price tag of many hundreds of dollars per day. It is clean, beautiful and respectable, but at the same time quite boring, since there is nothing but hotels in this part of the island.

In the south of the island of Langkawi there are several more beaches located near the mountain range that occupies the western part of the island. The same can be said about them as about the northern beaches, but with the caveat that the prices for the resorts located here are somewhat lower.

Photos of Cenang and Tengah beaches on Langkawi island

Cost of living in hotels on Langkawi island. Quality of housing on the island of Langkawi.

Malaysia is generally a more expensive country than . However, against the backdrop of highly elevated prices on the island of Lipe, you may not notice much high prices in Langkawi.

Accommodation rates in the area of Chenang and Tengah beaches start from $10 per day, and there is a fairly large selection of accommodation in the range of $20 - $30 per day.

These prices are not very different from the prices on Lipe Island, however, the quality of housing in Langkawi will be worse. And this does not concern the furnishings of the rooms at all, since in both cases, for this money there will be practically nothing in the rooms, but rather the charm of the hotels and their appearance.

It is worth especially noting that not only cheap hotels, and not only on the island of Langkawi, have a bad situation with charm.

The taste level of Malaysians will, in general, be lower than those of Thailand, and when you come to Malaysia, you shouldn’t expect to live in a cleverly built wooden house covered with orchids. The Malays simply cannot afford this style, and cheap housing in Malaysia is usually a simple concrete structure, erected without the slightest hint of aesthetic delights or ideas.

When choosing cheap accommodation on the island of Langkawi, do not forget to pay attention to its rating in the online reservation systems Booking.com and Agoda.com. A good half of the cheap hotels on the island of Langkawi have a rating below 6.0, and this is an extremely low rating, indicating that the quality of these hotels is, to put it mildly, not impressive.

With more expensive hotels and resorts, the situation on the island of Langkawi is somewhat better, and for 50 - 100 dollars a day you can stay on the island in fairly tolerable conditions. And for 150 - 200 dollars a day you can find accommodation that is not without frills, such that you will later have quite favorable memories of the hotel.

P.S. A funny feature of the island of Langkawi is that property owners there like to call their guesthouses motels, and this despite the fact that you can drive onto the island with your own car only in theory. This name should not mislead you; in fact, these motels are guesthouse vulgaris.

Sights of Langkawi island. Things to do on Langkawi island.

Cable car. The main and unique attraction of the island of Langkawi is the cable car, located in the western, mountainous part of the island, and leading to the tops of the rocks, to an altitude of more than 700 meters.

The cable car is a simplified name for this complex engineering structure, which includes, in addition to the funicular itself, several observation platforms located at the very tops of the rocks, and a 125-meter-long suspension bridge spanning the gorge.

The views from the observation decks and the suspension bridge are breathtakingly beautiful. You can see not only panoramas of the island of Langkawi itself, but also distant Thai islands. The viewing platforms themselves are at the level of the clouds, and given the fact that clouds almost always envelop them, a walk among the clouds adds additional charm to viewing the panoramas and surroundings.

If you feel strong enough, you can go back from the tops of the rocks not by cable car, but on foot, along a path through the jungle. There is such a possibility. On this trail you can see several waterfalls, appreciate the diversity of tropical vegetation, and meet monkeys that live in incredible numbers in this jungle.

Drive through the mangroves. Mangroves grow in the northeastern, gently sloping part of the island of Langkawi. Mangrove trips are monopolized by one commercial firm, and prices are high, around $100 per boat.

Despite the high cost, it is worth taking a ride through the mangroves, since the places where they grow, among the rocks and numerous channels, are very beautiful and inhabited by countless different living creatures.

A standard excursion to mangroves includes: a trip to a fish farm, where you can see stingrays and other exotic fish up close; feeding eagles, which live in large numbers among the mangroves; visiting a cave and meeting the locals bats; a walk along the road through mangroves; and, at the end of the excursion, a trip to the open sea to explore the impressive cliffs.

Traveling by car around the island

The roads on the island of Langkawi are of high quality, there is practically no traffic on them, car rental is cheap, and the island itself is quite diverse.

So, rent a car and explore the beaches of the island, its rocky western part and luxurious rainforests in the northwest of the island, definitely worth it.

You can rent a car at Langkawi airport; this is difficult to do near the beaches. Car rental costs from 100 ringgit per day. If you prefer to ride a bike, you can rent a bike in the hotel area of Chenang Beach, this pleasure costs from 25 ringgit per day.

Snorkeling in Pulau Payar Marine Park. Trips to Pulau Payar Marine Park are one of the most popular excursions on the island of Langkawi. The marine park is located 35 km away. south of the island of Langkawi, and consists of several tiny islands. The islands themselves are nothing extraordinary, but the snorkeling around them is, by the highest standards, good.

Regarding snorkeling off the coast of the island of Langkawi itself, we can say that it is practically non-existent. The water near the beaches of the island of Langkawi, as well as off the coast of all large Asian islands, is muddy and snorkeling in such water is unlikely to bring pleasure to anyone.

Photos of the Langkawi cable car

High-resolution photographs of the cable car can be viewed here:

Lifestyle on Langkawi Island

The quality of the beaches on the island of Langkawi is such that it’s not worth rushing to see them. Of the attractions on the island, there is only one thing that is truly worthwhile - this is the cable car. The rest of the attractions, mangroves and the underwater world, can be found in Thailand, and the quality is rather better than worse.

Accordingly, the question arises: why do you need to go to the island of Langkawi at all?

There is only one satisfactory answer here: for the sake of broadening one’s horizons.

The lifestyle in Langkawi, and in Malaysia in general, is very different from the lifestyle in Thailand. The island of Langkawi itself, not only is it a 100% Muslim island, is also a center for international Muslim tourism. And Muslim tourism is a rather interesting sight.

Such a truly Babylonian mixture of nationalities, languages, and clothing styles, as on the island of Langkawi, is worth looking for. Looking at many tourists, it is impossible to even understand what countries they came from, their appearance is so exotic. Moreover, it is not always possible to understand which region, Africa or Asia, they come from.

The same can be said about the island's restaurants, whose cuisine is very diverse. On the island there are establishments of both local, Thai and European cuisine. Indian, Chinese and Arabic cuisines are also very well represented. The island's shops are no less varied, with not only cosmopolitan tourist shops in abundance, but also quite authentic Arabic and Indian-style shops.

In conclusion, it is worth noting one rather interesting nuance. If Malaysia can be called a liberal country, by Muslim standards, then the island of Langkawi is doubly liberal. On the island of Langkawi, alcohol is not only sold, it is also sold cheaply. And many tourists from less progressive Muslim countries come here just for this. So scenes of orthodox-looking believers carrying boxes of alcohol from duty-free stores are not uncommon in Langkawi. It looks surreal, but, in fairness, it must be said that there are no serious excesses due to the abuse of drinks on the island of Langkawi.

Technical aspects of organizing a trip to Langkawi island

The currency of Malaysia is the Malayan ringgit, 100 ringgit is approximately equal to 25 US dollars. There are no problems with currency exchange on the island of Langkawi. The exchange rate, although slightly worse than in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, is not extortionate.

Boats between Lipe and Langkawi operate only in high season, from early November to mid-April. In the low season, you can also get from island to island, but not directly, but by a roundabout road across land (Langkawi - mainland - border crossing on the mainland - trip to Satun - and only from Satun by sea to Lipe Island). According to travel agents, this road can be covered in 5 hours, however, in fact, it will take much longer.

Hotels on the island of Langkawi are booked through the well-known sites Booking.com and Agoda.com. You can check into cheap hotels in Chenang without making a reservation, just as it is done in Thailand. However, you should only do this if you know at least a little about local realities.

P.S. The island of Langkawi is quite a remarkable place, and a lot can be written about it. However, given that this text was written for the section on Lipe Island, only the most basic information is given here.

The month was not wasted and became one of the most interesting of all our travels! Before leaving Malaysia for Thailand, we share our impressions, secrets and photos with the readers of the Traveler's Diary blog. We present a short review about a holiday in the Langkawi archipelago with the whole family with two children. Langkawi Map(Malaysia) with all the most interesting things on the island. Secrets and "lifehacks". Transport, hotels and restaurants. Food, shops and markets. Beautiful places. The best beaches. The most interesting sights. What was most memorable and what is a must do in Langkawi...

Before leaving Langkawi for Thailand, we had mixed feelings... We are tumbleweeds and simply cannot stay in one place. On the one side. On the other hand, we have never stayed so long (almost a month) on any of our trips... We really liked Langkawi and, whatever one may say, we left with reluctance. Besides, even in a month, we didn’t manage to see everything...

So where to start? Probably from the most useful, and this is - Langkawi map with our marks. In the map menu, the tags are divided into several sections: Transport and settlements, Hotels, Beaches, Restaurants, Attractions, Shops and markets, ATMs and currency exchange offices. And also, a route around Langkawi by car. Tabs can be closed and opened all together or individually.

Plus: both the article itself and the markers on the map contain useful links to the relevant articles.

Pros and cons of Langkawi

The island of Langkawi has a lot of advantages! The most unusual plus is the versatility of the island: despite its small size, both the budget traveler and the most pampered tourist will find a service here to suit every taste and budget. Langkawi will be good for backpackers, newlyweds, families with children, groups of students, and demanding retirees from Western Europe. Compared to most countries in the South East Asia, Here clean beaches, clean streets, adequate traffic and there are pedestrian sidewalks. There are no crowds of tourists here, but you can meet travelers from any corner of the planet. Langkawi has excellent wide white sand beaches and warm, calm seas. It is believed that the high season in Langkawi is from November to April, but in fact, holidays in Langkawi are possible all year round.

There are optimal morals and culture here, making you happy after visiting crazy Thailand or Turkey with Egypt, as well as overly strict Muslim countries... Young people will not be harassed by transvestites, girls in a miniskirt will not be harassed by locals, but also to the police for a naked torso or short shorts no one will drag you down.

The small island and the entire archipelago have a huge number of attractions and beautiful places.

The relative disadvantages include the following... From November to February there can be a lot of jellyfish in the sea. Not on the island public transport. There are few good department stores (but they exist!). It is quite difficult and not very cheap to get to Langkawi from Russia. But there are options...

How to get to Langkawi (Malaysia)?

In Langkawi with a child or children

If it were not for the long road, the island of Langkawi itself is almost ideal for a holiday with a child (children). This is facilitated by a good attitude towards children, a fairly developed infrastructure, attractions interesting to children, not too exotic food, a wide selection of baby food and goods... And, of course, excellent beaches with clean sand and a gentle entrance to the warm sea!

Read more about the nuances of holidaying in Langkawi with children in the articles:

Hotels and hostels

As I already said, Langkawi has a wide selection of hotels to suit every taste and budget! From a bed in a hostel for 15 ringgit (3 euros) or a small house for 60 ringgit (13 euros) per day to luxury premium hotels for 4600 ringgit (1000 euros) per day!!!

We mainly cooked ourselves from products purchased in stores and markets. And about good shops and wonderful “night markets” in Langkawi - just below...

Shops and markets on the island

Most shops on the island have a wide range of chips, chocolates and soda. Where can you buy fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, manufactured goods, etc.? Finding really good big stores in Langkawi is very difficult! It is much better to know in advance where they are) Thanks to knowledge about supermarkets and “night markets”, the traveler will save a lot of time and money, and the food will be very tasty... It took us more than a week to find what the blog is now sharing with our readers...

A map of Langkawi with the corresponding tab will help you navigate the location of stores.

There are two supermarkets on Cenang Street - at the beginning and end of the street. The best is Cenang Supermarket in the north, the second is Gecko Minimarket in the south. Another good supermarket, Pasaraya Kedawang, is located between Cenang and Langkawi Airport. An excellent modern hypermarket, Billion, is located in Kuah near Jetti Point and Legend Park.

In addition, in Cenang next to the Oceanarium there is a complex of duty-free shops, in the center of Pantai Cenang there is the Cenang Mall shopping center, and in Kuah there are large shopping centers near the Jetti Point pier.

Sights of Langkawi

In the Langkawi archipelago, despite the small size of the main island, there are many interesting attractions for every taste. Our Langkawi map will help you find almost everything. Some can be easily reached on your own, others will need to be booked on an excursion... Chenang will give a lot of emotions to both children and adults Underwater World Langkawi

In the west of the island there is Kok Beach, the Eastern Village, the Seven Wells waterfall and of course the stunning Cable Car Panorama Langkawi and the Sky Bridge. In the north of Langkawi - Temurun Falls and beautiful beaches. In the northeast there are mangrove forests and northern islands. To the south - Kuah and southern islands with the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden...

An excursion to the islands or a mangrove forest tour will cost from 30-40 ringgit (6.50-8.50 euros) per person to 300-400 ringgit (65-85 euros) per boat. By the way, numerous excursions to neighboring Thailand also deserve attention: for example, to a very beautiful island Koh Lipe is nearby, Koh Lanta, Phi Phi, Phuket, and even Samui or Bangkok... Most trips will cost 100-200 ringgit (20-40 euros) per person.

Well, the most wonderful way to see everything interesting on the island itself is to drive around it in a rented car!

Transport: taxi, rent a car or bike

There is no public transport in Langkawi. That is, it doesn’t exist at all! There are taxis with reasonable fixed prices. We wrote about taxi in Langkawi in a separate article. Right at the Airport, after passport control and baggage collection, you will find a taxi ordering counter, to which a queue will immediately form. In the window you just need to name the hotel, the girl will look through their list and name the fixed cost of the trip. Also on the island. On the streets there are often taxi stands very similar to bus stops. They have a price list with prices for most items. You can call a taxi at the counter of any hotel.

The estimated cost is 1 ringgit (0.20 euros) per kilometer. Although, for short trips a kilometer will be significantly more expensive...

But there is a service “Tour around the island” - up to 4 hours of riding will cost 120 ringgit (25 euros), and each subsequent hour - 25 ringgit (5 euros)... A very worthy alternative for a company if there is no license or desire to take car rental!

Our Langkawi map will show you the location of these taxi ranks in Cenang.

There are many rental points, both at the Airport and on the island... In almost every small travel agency, in addition to excursions, you can rent a car or bike... The cost of renting a bike starts from 10 ringgit (2 euros), a bike - from 20 ringgit (4 euros), car rental - from 65 ringgit (14 euros) per day. As always: longer rental - lower price... Is it possible to rent at the lowest price when renting for just a day? Yes!) How this is possible and where to do it, we’ll tell you in secret just below...

Yes, by the way, traffic in Malaysia is on the left, but not congested - there are few cars on the road. In theory, international rights are required, although in fact they were not useful.

Beaches of Langkawi

The beaches in Langkawi are simple. All the beaches on the island are very good and beautiful. The difference is in infrastructure, hotels and distance from the Airport. We recommend Cenang Beach (Pantai Cenang) to almost all blog readers. It is located very close to the Airport, covered with perfect white sand, has a developed infrastructure and many hotels for absolutely every taste and budget. The Oceanarium is also located here. If you are looking for extreme water activities- then you go a little south to Tengah beach. If you don’t need infrastructure, but are interested in All Inclusive hotels with an excellent beach, go to Tanjung Rhu beach. If you can't live without a city, Kuah is for you. If you are interested in the most expensive and exclusive luxury hotel with the most best service and a huge golf course - head to the Datai club in the north of the island...

Secrets and lifehacks on the island

If you don't want to stand in a huge queue for a taxi in Langkawi airport, hurry up with passport control and luggage and hurry to the taxi stand.
ATMs are difficult on the island of Langkawi. Withdraw the required amount from the Airport ATMs. On the island there are ATMs in the Cenang Mall shopping center, duty-free shopping center, at the Kuah pier... Our Langkawi map, thanks to the corresponding tab, will help you find ATMs and exchangers.
There are very few good general supermarkets on the island. Marked on the map best stores: Pasaraya Kedawang, Cenang Supermarket, Gecko Minimarket and Billion in Kuah. Huge selection and low prices.
If you want to enjoy a unique atmosphere, have a unique shopping experience and try local delicacies - you can visit Langkawi Night Market. From 17:00 to 22:00 on Thursdays - on Cheang at Bohor Tempoyak, on Tuesdays - on Jalan Kedawang.
If you're looking for a really inexpensive restaurant with delicious food, we recommend Thai Haji Jelani next to Cenang Supermarket! Very tasty and inexpensive!
Do you want to rent a car or bike for just one day and pay the lowest possible price (like renting for a month)? To the T-Shoppe store in Chenang! Tariff "Early Birds" allows you to do this if you come very first in the morning and rent for 12 hours from 9:00 to 21:00...
If for some reason you are not ready to rent a car, but want to travel around the entire island... Use the taxi tariff "Tour around Langkawi". Up to 4 hours of travel around the island will cost 120 ringgit (25 euros), and each subsequent hour - 25 ringgit (5 euros).
To avoid constantly buying bottled water, you can use special drinking water machines. There are two of them in Cheng: in the center to the left of the Cenang Mall shopping center and in the north of the street next to the Cenang Supermarket. A five liter bottle can be filled for RM1 (€0.20). This way you will save a decent amount on water and will not harm the environment by constantly throwing away plastic containers... Our map of Langkawi will show their location (Miscellaneous tab).
Many people don't really want to stay in Kuah, thinking that there is no beach there. This is wrong. There is an excellent beach located right behind Legend Park, and another one to the south - at the end of Jalan Beringin.
If you want to save money on accommodation, look for inexpensive accommodation in Cenang.
If you can’t find the required price in the search, book something for three days in the northern part of Chenang, and find suitable accommodation on the spot.
There is only one pharmacy on the entire Cenang Beach - next to the Cenang Supermarket.

By the way, don't forget about insurance:

What are the must-dos in Langkawi?

In every country or locality there is something that simply needs to be done! Not just for show, but because it’s really worth it... In Paris, for example, you simply can’t help but climb the Eiffel Tower, go to Notre Dame de Paris or visit Montmartre... In Malaysia, on the island of Langkawi too there are must-do things... So, during your holiday in Langkawi you must:

Slowly drive around the whole island by rented car. During the 80 km journey you will see almost all the beaches, take a cable car to a height of 700 meters above sea level, feed the monkeys, visit most of the island’s attractions, visit Kuah and this is only a small part of the impressions! Stunning views beautiful photos and a great mood are guaranteed! But keep in mind that even moving at a speed of 80 km/h, due to the many interesting things along the way, your trip will last not one hour, but from 10 hours at least to several days )
Visit the Langkawi night market. Very low prices, a wide selection of fruits and seafood, an unforgettable flavor, as well as a lot of delicacies prepared right in front of you - yes, a must-visit!
Take a stroll along Cenang Beach during evening low tide... The sea, which has gone far from the shore, will reveal to your gaze a multitude of crabs, fish, sea urchins and stars...
Spend the day at Kok Beach.
Among the attractions we note the Cable Car, Temurun Falls, the Oceanarium, an excursion to the southern islands and the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, as well as a tour of the Mangrove Forests...

Langkawi Island in Malaysia- one of the islands of the archipelago of the same name, the most popular destination for a holiday in Malaysia with our tourists. We vacationed in Langkawi for several days, or rather, we stopped on the way from Koh Lipe to the Perhentian Islands :) Therefore, I’ll tell you about the island of Langkawi from the point of view of a tourist, not a long-liver.

general information

Langkawi Island is located in the north-west of Malaysia near Thailand in the Strait of Malacca in the Andaman Sea, part of a group of 99 islands in the Langkawi archipelago, of which only four islands are inhabited. The length of the island from north to south is about 25 km, and from east to west – about 30 km (in a straight line 🙂), and in general around the island there is a “ring road” about 75 km long (strange, the road around is 60 km, and the island of Langkawi seems much bigger than Koh Samui...)

Langkawi Island. View from an airplane :)
Langkawi is an island of the same name, an archipelago of 99 islands

The symbol of the island is the eagle, a statue of which is installed in the capital of Langkawi, Kuah. According to one version, the name “Langkawi” means “brown-red eagle”; these eagles actually live on the island.

The eagle is the symbol of Langkawi island

The island of Langkawi is covered with lush tropical vegetation, surprises with its empty roads and sometimes completely deserted areas, and on the other hand pleases with its developed infrastructure for tourists. The island is home to many wild monkeys who are not afraid to come out to people :) For example, we saw a flock of monkeys brazenly rummaging through a trash can right in the parking lot near a large shopping center in Kuah... And it was in Langkawi that we first saw black monkeys in the wild with white faces. They are so funny!

Completely empty roads in the center of the island

Monkeys who are not at all afraid to go out to people

There are a lot of monkeys in Langkawi, they feel at home here. Well, this is how cats and dogs walk around our yards; in Langkawi, monkeys walk the same way :)

Black monkeys with white faces - for us this is unusual phenomenon 🙂

Seasons and weather in Langkawi

Like other regions of Asia, Langkawi can be divided into two seasons:

High or dry season from November - December to June
Rainy season from June to October

Most precipitation occurs in September and October. In fact, the climate in last years It changes so much that it is difficult to predict what the weather will be like in Langkawi.

In summer and early autumn there can be strong storms at sea; during this period, water communication between Langkawi and Koh Lipe is even canceled. But in winter there are jellyfish in the sea in Langkawi...

How to get there

On the island of Langkawi there is an airport where planes fly from cities and China, as well as two ports where ferries and boats arrive from the mainland, Malaysia, and in high season from. Therefore, you can get to Langkawi directly by plane or by ferry/boat.

To get to Langkawi from Russia/Ukraine, you first need to fly to Kuala Lumpur, and then get to the island by plane or bus + ferry. Or you can buy a comprehensive plane ticket directly to the island (most likely it will be more expensive!). Another option to get to Langkawi from Russia is through Thailand: fly to Bangkok, and then to Langkawi.

Detailed article on how to get to Langkawi:

Transport on the island of Langkawi

There is no public transport in Langkawi, so you can get around by:

Taxi
Bike
Car

From Langkawi Airport you can use a pre-booked transfer.

Taxi Langkawi

Taxis in Langkawi generally charge a flat rate. Below is a photo of taxi prices in Langkawi:

Taxi rates from Oriental Village to different points on the island

Taxi prices from Cenang Beach to attractions and other places on the island

Rent a bike in Langkawi

Unlike Thailand, in Malaysia not everything is so simple with renting a bike:

Firstly, in Malaysia, when renting a bike from us always asked to see my driver's license(it’s good that we have laws that are valid in many Asian countries and also international Russian laws)
Secondly, the bikes themselves in Malaysia, including in Langkawi, are some old and unusual models for us. In general, we got a small, uncomfortable bike with mechanics...
Bikes in Langkawi are not available for rent at every turn, but you still have to look hard!

We saw bike rentals on the pier in Kuah, and rented them ourselves on Chenang Beach. Prices for renting a bike in Langkawi are 25 - 50 MYR per day.

We arrived in Langkawi on holidays and had difficulty finding a free bike to rent on Cenang Beach. We rented for 45 ringgit per day, but on regular days you can find it cheaper!

Car rental in Langkawi

Most tourists prefer to rent a car in Langkawi rather than a bike. Many Europeans drive small cars. The price of renting a car in Langkawi may not be much higher than renting a motorbike.

Arena car in Langkawi

Langkawi Hotels

Choosing a hotel in Langkawi depends on your preferences, and most importantly, your budget. On the island there are luxurious five-star hotels with their own beaches in closed bays, and there are cheap hotels (here they are often called not guesthouses, as in Thailand, but motels), which are located in a field in the middle of the road and you can’t get out of them without transport...

When choosing a hotel in Langkawi, carefully study its location. Look not only at Booking-Agoda maps, but also at Google Maps. I almost chose this hotel, but it turned out to be almost in an open field! 🙂

Hotel on the highway in a field :)

Finding the best hotels in Langkawi in terms of price, quality and location is not so easy!

We stayed in two hotels on the island of Langkawi:

Geo Park Hotel – in the park next to the cable car. Review .
Best Start Resort – on Cenang Beach

If the first hotel, although a little shabby, is quite cheap by Malaysian standards and I can safely recommend it for a stay for a few days on the island (but you need a car to drive around the area!), then the second hotel left some not very pleasant memories and I cannot recommend it. Although many tourists like it, the rating of this hotel on booking is quite good - 7.1.

Our room at the Geo Park Hotel

Our room at Best Start Resort

The Best Start Resort hotel is built in the shape of a “P” and many rooms have windows overlooking the hotel’s courtyard

5 star hotels in Langkawi

Sights of Langkawi, what to see on the island

1. Sky Bridge

The Sky Bridge, in our opinion, is one of the best attractions in Langkawi, a must-see place on the island. The Langkawi Sky Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world, located on top of a mountain that offers stunning views of Langkawi and neighboring islands.

Cost of visiting the bridge: 5 MYR for adults and 3 MYR for children.

Visiting time: from 9:30 to 18:30 It is best to arrive either in the morning or already at sunset.

Sky Bridge in Langkawi

It’s scary to walk on a bridge that is not clear how it is fixed at a huge height :) Sky Bridge

2. Cable car (Sky Cab)

The Langkawi Sky Cab takes you up the mountain and to the sky bridge over 700m above sea level. Along the way he makes one stop, where you can go to the observation deck.

Cable car fare: 55 MYR for adults and 40 MYR for children.

Opening hours: from 9:30 to 19:00.

Langkawi cable car

This is the beauty that opens from the cable car cabin

3. Oriental Village

Oriental Village is a tourist village with shops, cafes and entertainment. It is here that the lower station of the cable car is located, which takes you high into the mountains and to the sky bridge.

Oriental Village Park

Detailed article about the main attractions of Langkawi Oriental Village, cable car and sky bridge:

4. Mount Gunung Raya

Mount Gunung Raya is located almost in the center of Langkawi, it is the highest point of the island, its height is 880 m. There is a good road to the top of the mountain highway, and around is located national park with trekking routes. At the very top there is a telecommunications station, the D’Coconut Hill Resort Langkawi hotel (which was in some kind of abandoned state when we visited) and an observation tower, which can be reached at the very top by elevator.

At the top of the tower there is an observation terrace with chairs and tables, where you can drink a cup of tea and enjoy the views of the island.

Cost: climbing the observation tower 10 MYR per person.

We're going to the very high point islands - Mount Gunung Raya

At the top of the mountain there is an observation tower and a hotel

You can relax on the observation tower with a view of the surrounding area

And drink a cup or two of strong, delicious tea (tea is included in the price of the ticket to the tower)

View from the observation tower

Mount Gunung Raya along with the sky bridge left the best impressions of Langkawi :) If you came to the island on short term and decide what to see in Langkawi, then These sights are a must see in my opinion.

5. Langkawi Waterfalls

There are several waterfalls in Langkawi:

Seven Wells Waterfall
Temurun Waterfall
Durian Waterfall

Of course, all waterfalls are best visited in wet season or immediately after it. All Langkawi waterfalls are free to visit.

We visited only one waterfall on the island - Seven Wells Falls, which is located in the western part next to Oriental Village Park. If you are not afraid of 638 steps, then I advise you to walk through the jungle to the top of the waterfall :) More details here:

Lower Seven Wells Waterfall

Inside Seven Wells Waterfall Park

6. Hot springs (Air Hangat Village). The cost of visiting the complex is 5 MYR + you can additionally take a private hot bath mineral water, jacuzzi, massage.

7. Park wildlife(Langkawi Wildlife Park) is a former bird park, which now houses not only birds, but also other small animals. You can feed them with pre-purchased food! The cost of visiting is 39 MYR for adults and 22 MYR for children.

8. Crocodile farm - for those who want to see crocodiles at a very close distance. There are shows and feedings of crocodiles several times a day. The cost of visiting is 25 MYR for adults and 18 MYR for children.

9. Oceanarium (Underwater World Langkawi). Large aquarium near Chenang Beach. Cost of admission is 46 MYR for adults and 36 MYR for children.

10. Mosques, temples

Mosque in Langkawi

Hindu temple

11. Eagle Square in Kuah and Langkawi Legends Park

The symbol of the island, the eagle, is displayed on the square near the port of Kuah. Nearby is the large Legends of Langkawi Park, which contains sculptures telling the history of the island and its legends.

Eagle Square in Langkawi

Embankment near the eagle

The main attractions of Langkawi are marked on

Excursions in Langkawi

Any travel agency will offer you excursions to neighboring islands and the island itself.

Popular excursions in Langkawi:

Mangrove tour around the islands of the Langkawi archipelago with a visit to the cave (Mangrove River Safari tour) ~ from 90 MYR per person.
Excursion to the southern islands with a visit to Lake Pregnant Maiden lasting 3-4 hours (Island Hopping). Cost from 25 MYR per person.
Fishing – from 450 MYR per boat.
Mangrove kayak tour lasting 5-6 hours. Cost ~ 220 MYR per person.

Prices for excursions in Langkawi

Shops, cafes, food in Langkawi

The shops

Langkawi is a duty free zone, there are duty free shops all over the island where you can buy alcohol, candy, perfumes, etc. and so on. Prices for the same goods vary from store to store.

Peculiarities:

When purchasing any product (even a bottle of water) they always ask passport.
Restrictions per month for the purchase of alcohol and cigarettes for one passport are as follows: 72 cans of beer, 5 liters of other alcohol, 30 packs of cigarettes. Yes, and they don’t sell alcohol to Muslims :)
Payment by card is only possible for purchases over 50 MYR.

Duty Free shops in Kuah Port

Huge Duty Free store on Chenang Beach

Purchase conditions and restrictions on the amount of alcohol in Duty Free

Hoegaarden is less than a dollar a bottle! After the wild prices for beer in Thailand, this is simply paradise :)

Of course, in addition to Duty Free stores in Langkawi, there are also large stores with clothes, souvenirs, etc. and so on. (Cenang Mall, Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall) and others. But, in my opinion, there is no normal shopping in Langkawi, the things in the stores, and the stores themselves, made a depressing impression... You have to go to Kuala Lumpur for shopping!

Cafes, restaurants, food in Langkawi

In addition to Malaysian cuisine and fast food, Langkawi offers cuisines different countries world: there are Mexican, Italian, German restaurants. There are a lot of cafes with Arabic cuisine. In a word - there are no problems with food in Langkawi!

Fruits are sold along the roads; prices are slightly higher than in Thailand, but not significantly.

In Langkawi there are McDonald's, KFC, Italian, Mexican, etc. and so on. restaurants

Our delicious dinner in an Arabic cafe

Fruit stalls along the road

Some prices for food in Langkawi at the cafe on Cenang Beach:

Small cement factory in the north of the island
View from the mountain to the island and surrounding area
View from the mountain to the island
View of the island and sea from the observation deck near the sky bridge
Low tide at Cenang Beach
Malaysians' favorite pastime is parachuting over the sea.
Landscapes of the north of the island
The boat is being transported :)
Just some area
Gorgeous sunset on Cenang Beach

Have a nice holiday in Langkawi! 🙂

Langkawi island on the map

The map shows the beaches and attractions of Langkawi

Langkawi is a tropical island in Malaysia that is famous for its white sandy beaches, duty free shops, aquatic species sport and luxury resort hotels. But since Langkawi is located in the tropics, it has the same problem as most other tropical regions of the world, that is, rain. In this article we will tell you about best season for a holiday in Langkawi, as well as about the rainy season on this island.

Best season to visit Langkawi

If you want rain to be rare during your holiday in Langkawi, then you should go to this island between January and March. The air temperature during the day at this time rises above 30 degrees Celsius, but it is still not as hot here as, for example, in May. However, this season has one big drawback - between January and March, hotel prices in Langkawi are at their highest.

Between late August and late October (sometimes early November), Langkawi experiences frequent rainfall. What can you do when it rains? It is clear that you will not be able to swim in the sea (the point is not even the rain itself, but the fact that it is dangerous to swim in the sea at this time), you will not be able to visit attractions and other places under open air. You can just sit under the roof and watch the raindrops. You can also take a taxi to a shopping center and spend time there. You can go to a restaurant, bar or other place under the roof. In truth, the choice of things to do in Langkawi during rainy weather is very limited. But still, it doesn’t rain here as often as you probably already thought. In most cases, rain in Langkawi falls in the evening or at night, so it hardly interferes with rest during the day. Moreover, frequent cloudy weather softens the effects of the sun, so the risk of getting a sunburn is significantly reduced.
Note that during the entire rainy season, 600-1000 mm of precipitation falls in Langkawi. At the same time, the rainy season in Langkawi is a wonderful period for budget holiday on the island, since hotels offer the lowest room rates in September and October.

Not far from the border with Thailand, in Malaysia, washed by the Andaman Sea, is the Langkawi archipelago. Of the numerous islands of the magnificent archipelago, only Pulau Dayang Bunting, Pulau Tuba, Pulau Singa, and the largest of them, Langkawi, are inhabited.

Langkawi Island (Malaysia) is a real paradise for travelers who prefer a comfortable and relaxing holiday. The best time to come here is from November to July. From July to October the rainy season begins in these parts.

Description of the island

Today, Malaysia has become very attractive for many tourists. Langkawi, which always gets rave reviews, amazes guests with its beauty. The archipelago consists of 104 islands located in the Andaman Sea. Most of them are uninhabited.

The largest of them, the island of Langkawi, which you can see in our article, has a well-developed infrastructure. Its name can be translated as “red eagle island.” This is not at all accidental - rare birds actually live here. These are eagles with brick-red wings.

Langkawi Island (Malaysia) is located near the border with Thailand. Its area is 478 sq. km. The population is 65 thousand people. The capital of the island is Kuaha.

Natural conditions

This is a warm and sunny country - Malaysia. Langkawi is no exception. The average air temperature is about 25 °C (annual). The island of Langkawi, which is often featured in travel agency brochures today, is distinguished by its rich flora and fauna.

Local population except tourism business engaged in livestock and crop production. A variety of fruits and vegetables, grain crops are grown here, and livestock is raised. The most convenient way to get around the island is by renting a car at one of the many points.

What attracts tourists to the island?

Malaysia (Langkawi, in particular) is famous for its luxurious beaches, comfortable hotels, perfectly clear emerald water, rich underwater world, mysterious caves covered in many legends. One of them tells the story of the beautiful princess Mahsuri, who was unjustly accused of adultery by her enemies and sentenced to death. We will tell you more about it below.

Another legend says that on one of the nearby islands there is a lake of a pregnant maiden. According to legend, a barren woman who bathes in it will certainly soon become a mother. And today thousands of women suffering from this disease come to the “magic” lake.

The island began to prosper after Mahathir Mohamed took over as Prime Minister. The island of Langkawi became a free trade zone (1987) and began to gradually turn into a center of international tourism.

Rest

Every year the island of Langkawi (Malaysia) becomes more and more popular among tourists from all over the world. Holidays here can be very diverse - from beach to excursion. Here you can swim with a mask and snorkel, dive into the depths with scuba gear, ride a jet ski on the waves, or fly behind a boat on a parachute.

Wildlife lovers will be interested in hiking in the jungle or exploring amazing world and caves. Local spa centers are also popular, they restore harmony of body and soul.

Sailing enthusiasts will not be bored either. They know Malaysia well. Langkawi is famous for its luxurious Royal Yacht Club, which regularly hosts sailing regattas.

Beaches

The main beaches of the island are located in its northern and western parts. The more democratic ones are south of the airport- these are Cenang and Tangan. On the border of these beaches is the Underwater World Aquarium, as well as a duty free shop.

Very popular hotels have been built on Cenang Beach: Holiday Villa, Frangipane, Meritus Pelangi. Langkawi (Malaysia) has beaches for every taste. For example, those who want to spend time in a deserted place can recommend the secluded and calm KOK beach. It is located northwest of the airport. There are several luxury hotels here.

Many tourists believe that the most best beach The island is located in Danai Bay. He belongs the best hotels Andaman and Datai. Another picturesque beach is located in the northeast of the island - Tanuung. During low tide, tourists can see here how the spit opens, connecting Langkawi with the neighboring island.

Hotels

Malaysia is famous for its many beautiful hotels. The island of Langkawi offers hotels for every taste. Let's introduce you to some of them.

Tanjung Langkawi

This luxury hotel is one of the most romantic on the island. Newlyweds and families with small children like to stay here. It offers a total of 136 rooms.

The hotel is located in the north of the island, has its own beach, which is famous for its snow-white sand, the clearest sea and a magnificent sunset. Vacationers have access to a bar, 4 restaurants, two swimming pools (outdoor), one of which is filled with sea water, and a children's club.

The hotel rooms have panoramic views and are decorated in oriental style. Soft and delicate Thai silk and Indian fabrics are used here, as well as amazing tropical flowers.

The Anjungan

This is a small resort located on the most popular Pangkor beach. It consists of 2-3-story buildings. The rooms have a balcony (or veranda), as well as access to the courtyard or pool. The hotel is suitable for families with children; its rooms can accommodate up to five people.

There is a small swimming pool, a public beach is a five-minute walk away, and a secluded beach is fifteen minutes away. (Malaysia), according to tourists, are distinguished by well-groomed territory and a harmonious combination of price and quality.

There are numerous cafes and bars nearby. Just a five-minute boat ride takes you to a picturesque island where you can go snorkeling. Internet is paid, there is a safe at the reception.

Pangkor Laut Resort

This is an excellent complex, which consists of several villas on stilts. It is located on Pangkor Laut (private) island. The hotel is distinguished by the highest level of services offered and the highest level of service that can amaze the most demanding guests.

The luxurious beach belonging to the complex is washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal. Here you can fully enjoy privacy. The rooms are spacious and elegantly decorated, with beautiful views of the sea and the jungle, inhabited by monitor lizards, monkeys, and tropical birds.

Malaysia, Langkawi: attractions

Tourists who have visited this wonderful island note that, in addition to a wonderful beach holiday, they spent a lot of time exploring local memorable places.

So that guests of the island can fully appreciate its beauty, a Sky Bridge was built at an altitude of seven hundred meters between the Gunung Mountains. Langkawi (Malaysia) can be proud of this structure. It reaches into the skies and offers stunning views.

This magnificent structure was built in 2004 and became accessible to the public in 2005. Today it is recognized as the highest (single-support) bridge on our planet. Amazingly, it actually rests on a single support made of heavy-duty metal. Its weight is distributed over eight cables, which are attached to the support. It hangs over the abyss and in windy weather its swaying is especially noticeable.

This amazing place- Langkawi island (Malaysia). At first glance, the bridge does not seem very reliable, however, its safety was in the first place during the design. Experts say it is completely safe. It has a carefully thought out evacuation system (for emergencies).

In addition, at the highest level there are durable handrails made of a special type of steel, thick wire mesh and wood flooring. The length of the bridge is 125 meters, width - 1.8 meters. Along its edges there are triangular platforms. They play a role observation platforms, on which you can stand and admire the magnificent views of the Andaman Sea, Langkawi Island and neighboring islands. Thanks to its curved shape, you can appreciate landscapes from different angles.

Cable car

Today Malaysia has become very popular. Lankawi is an island famous for its cable car. It originates in the Oriental Village. A modern cabin takes tourists to the top of Mount Mat Chinchang. From this point the entire island is in full view.

In clear weather you can see the Thai coastline to the north and the silhouette of Indonesia to the west. The cable car is included in all tourist routes. It is located at an altitude of 708 meters. The air temperature at the top is about five degrees lower than at its foot.

Oceanarium

"Underwater World Langkawi" is the largest aquarium in Asia, which is famous for the fact that it has more than 5 thousand sea creatures living in a hundred tanks. The uniqueness of the structure lies in the fact that it is a 15-meter tunnel that is filled with 800 thousand liters of sea water. Here you can admire the diversity of the underwater world.

Predatory sharks swim very close to visitors. They are separated from sea life by 38 mm of high-strength sheet glass. It is considered very rare in the world.

Mausoleum of Mahsuri

This building is located very close to the capital of the island - the city of Kuah (12 km). A sad, but slightly embellished legend is associated with him. Legend has it that the sandy snow-white shores of the island of Langkawi are nothing more than the light blood of an innocently murdered extraordinary beauty - Princess Mahsuri, who was accused of cheating on her husband and killed.

In vain she tried to explain that her enemies had slandered her - the judges were unforgiving. The executioner, who pierced the beauty with a dagger, like all the inhabitants of the island, saw that the young woman’s blood was white. This spoke of her purity and therefore confirmed that an unjustified murder had been committed. Dying, the princess said that in the future the island would face various troubles - black buffaloes would give birth to white cows, the sand would turn black (this is the kind of sand that covers Pasir Hitam beach), and Langwari Island would completely disappear.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Thais repeatedly tried to wipe out the island of Langkawi from the face of the Earth, and the man responsible for the death of the unfortunate princess died unexpectedly. At the site of the murder of the innocent victim, the Mahsuri Mausoleum was built from snow-white marble, like her soul. Today, tourists come here from all over the world to pay tribute to innocence and purity.

Mahsuri's grave is now a place of worship; when entering the mausoleum, you must remove your shoes. In the garden you will be shown an ancient well, which, according to legend, was dug by the princess herself. Even in the dry months it does not dry out. Local residents claim that if you wash your face with water from it, happiness will never leave you.

Telaga Tujuh

This is the name of the seven magnificent lakes, which are located one above the other on the gentle slope of the mountain. Ice water flows from lake to lake. Ancient legend It says that beautiful fairies came down here from the top of the mountain to wash their luxurious hair and bathe in crystal clear water. And nearby is the Durian Perangin waterfall. Nature divided it into seven streams. The height of this giant is ninety meters. At its foot, below, there is a so-called bath - a natural depression, which is chosen by tourists for swimming. You can approach it along a narrow path cut in the jungle.

Along the way, it is likely that you will meet dozens of curious monkeys. If you are not careful, they will definitely try to steal something from you. Children will be happy to slide into the water along the slopes of the lower “wells”.

Kuah City

This small town is the capital of the island of Langkawi. It is located in the southeast of the island. Its population is about 24 thousand people. Until recently it was a small village.

The name of the city translates as “gravy” or “sauce.” This strange name it owes to two legendary giants who, in a contest of strength, knocked over a vessel of hot curry sauce on the very spot where the city stands today. In any case, this version of the origin of the name is contained in an ancient legend that is told local residents.

This quiet tiny town, after it was declared a free trade zone, gradually began to turn into an international tourist center with magnificent hotels, parks, public gardens and shopping centers. In Kuah there are many supermarkets and quite large stores of famous world brands, small shops that sell products made by craftsmen, restaurants and cafes offering dishes of Asian, Oriental and European cuisine.

The fashionable resort of Langkawi Island is located in Kuah. Connoisseurs of scuba diving can travel from the capital every day by small boat to the island of Pulau Payar, where you can admire the magnificent coral reefs.

Eagle Square

This is one of the most frequently visited attractions in Langkawi. On a high pedestal there is a sculpture of an eagle preparing to take off. Its height is 12 meters. From the square where it is installed, there is a stunning view of the bay and the city of Kuah.

There are also small fountains, spacious terraces and openwork bridges - this is a great place for memorable photos. The figure of a reddish-brown eagle is the symbol of the island of Langkawi. The name of the island comes from two words: eagle (helang) and reddish brown (kawi).

Bird Park

Talking about interesting places of this marvelous island, one cannot fail to mention the Bird Park. It contains more than two and a half thousand representatives of a wide variety of birds - owls and eagles, canaries, hornbills, flamingos, toucans. Some of the park's inhabitants can only be found in Asia.

In addition to birds, other animals also feel quite comfortable here - for example, an amazing animal that looks like both a cat and a bear. It is called binturonga. In addition, this park has the opportunity to make a most exciting walk along a 15-meter enclosure with an artificially created waterfall. This is a great place to relax with children.

Crocodile Adventure Land

By many interesting places Malaysia is famous. Langkawi, which has simply rave reviews, invites its guests to visit this amazing attraction. It is created for tourists on one of the world's largest crocodile farms. There are more than 1000 predators here. If you have already visited crocodile farm, for example, in Thailand, then you will not be very surprised. If you have never visited such menageries, then we are sure that the impressions received here will last you for a long time.

Twice a day, trainers show a fascinating show of crocodiles for visitors. Here you can also buy products made from and stuffed reptiles. And as a gift you will be given a real crocodile tooth.

Rice Museum

The unique museum was created in order to attract and interest tourists in eco-tourism. In addition to the rice itself of various varieties, the exhibits of the unusual museum are countless illustrations and photographs, mechanisms and tools that allow the cultivation of this crop. The museum, together with it, occupies an area of 5.5 hectares.

Langkawi Island (Malaysia): reviews from tourists

Most people who are lucky enough to attend this amazing island, express undisguised delight from the trip. Magnificent nature, exotic plants and animals, hospitable locals and the highest level of service exceed the wildest expectations of even experienced travelers.

The island of Langkawi (Malaysia) is perfect for families with children. Reviews from tourists confirm that children here can not only splash around in the warm sea to their heart’s content, but also get acquainted with exotic plants and animals.