Langkawi is probably far from the top of people's lists tropical island destinations. I suspect that many people who know Bali, Phuket or Samui have never heard of this small Malaysian island. Yet Langkawi has some things to offer that these other destinations do not.
The view of Langkawi from atop Mount Mat Chinchang
Langkawi was still a rather sleepy island backwater up until the mid 1980's, when the island was made a duty-free port at the expense of Penang to the south. Millions of dollars then poured in to build new resorts and other tourist facilities. As with a lot of investments made around Asia in the late 1980's and early 1990's, some of the developments weren't well thought out and ran into trouble when the economic crises hit in 1997.
As it happens, that might not have been such a bad thing. Things slowed down at the point where there are now some fabulous secluded resorts, yet there still remains an abundance of wildlife, which often pays a visit right into the hotels!
Although recent efforts have been made to broaden Langkawi's appeal, the main attraction of the island, in my view, is that natural scenery.
Overview
Most of the resorts are along the island's south coast, although a couple of 'super-luxe' properties have staked claims to the north coast. The island's main town is Kuah, in the southeast corner of the island. The main ferry terminal, where boats connecting the island to the mainland and Penang arrive and depart, is located at the south end of Kuah's harbor.
Langkawi's international airport is located near Cenang beach in the middle of the south coast. Most of the island's resorts are located on Cenang beach and Tengah beach to the south.
The western end of the south coast is home to several more resorts as well as several attractions, such as the Mount Mat Chinchang Cable Car.
There's a variety of ways to travel within Malaysia, but actually only two ways to get all the way to Langkawi: by air or by sea.
Planes to Langkawi Air travel is one option to get to Langkawi, although relatively few airlines service the island's Padang Matsirat International Airport (code: LGK). The national carrier, Malaysia Air System, flies between Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, as well as from Penang.
Malaysia Air System The national carrier flies several times daily between Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.
The Westin resort back when it was a Sheraton As a tropical resort island, Langkawi of course has no shortage of resort hotels for you to choose from. The island's many small bays and coves means that almost every hotel has a beach to itself. However, it's worth noting here that all beaches in Malaysia are public. No matter how swank the resort, anybody can use their beach.
The island's sights and nightlife, such as they are, are so spread out that there doesn't seem to be a 'best' location.
$sel = ; $page->menu(); ?> The Sheraton Perdana As a tropical resort island, Langkawi of course has no shortage of resort hotels for you to choose from. The island's many small bays and coves means that almost every hotel has a beach to itself. However, it's worth noting here that all beaches in Malaysia are public. No matter how swank the resort, anybody can use their beach.
The island's sights and nightlife, such as they are, are so spread out that there doesn't seem to be a 'best' location.
Langkawi is a duty-free island, which is why it attracts a fair number of Malaysians, who come on long weekends to stock up. Because of this, you'll see what look like ordinary supermarkets labeled as 'duty free' shops. Generally, there isn't much here to attract the international traveler.
Local products such as batik, crystal and marble are found in the many small shops and special outlets around the island. The biggest concentration of shops is an area of four or five square blocks in the middle of Kuah town.
Langkawi is a tropical island with an appropriately tropical climate to match. The average high and low temperatures only vary by a few degrees throughout the year. The rainy season is rather long, but as with other destinations in the tropics, rain comes in drenching afternoon thunderstorms that last only an hour or so. Much of the rest of the day will be dry and even clear.
Historical Weather Patterns for Langkawi Average Monthly Highs & Lows (°C) Average Monthly Rainfall (cm)
Langkawi's many nooks and crannies form a wide variety of beaches. Most of them are along the island's southwest cost, with a couple more spectacular examples on the north shore.
The 'classic' tropical beach at the former Sheraton Perdana Resort Pantai Cenang In many ways Cenang beach is the island's main beach, and one of its longest. The beach is close to the airport and has a larger selection of restaurants and bars than some of the other locations, so its a bit livelier in the evenings.
The main attractions of Langkawi are its intimate beaches and natural scenery. Away from the beaches, there's not a whole lot to see, and nothing we would really categorize as 'must see'. The closest would be the thrilling cable car ride to the top of Mat Chinchang mountain, with the panoramic views from the top.
Map of Langkawi You can see just about everything there is to see in one afternoon.
With Langkawi's abundant natural scenery and its position in the middle of a large group of tropical islands, it should be no surprise that there are a number of different options for day trips. Half day and full day outings can be booked at most hotel tour desks. In addition, off-island trips to destinations such as Pulau Payar marine park can be booked at counters in the Langkawi jetty terminal.
Langkawi's main town is Kuah, although it's not really all that big. The town lines a long curving bay with the ferry terminal and yacht club at the south end. Next to the ferry terminal is Eagle Square, Dataran Lang in Malay. The square is dominated by a huge statue of a brown eagle built on a pier extended into the bay.
The large eagle statue in Kuah harbor The square is surrounded by arcades covering small souvenir carts and food stalls.
During a tour of the mangrove forest, your tour may enter a small cove set aside for eagle feeding. This is a particularly interesting feature of mangrove forest tours, and its worth checking to see if the tour you're booking will include it. However, it's worth noting that the practice is probably frowned on by environmentalists, so it may be be going on any more.
Some eagles feeding while more circle The feeding starts with the boat circling the cove while revving its engine.
Given how developed Langkawi appears to be at first glance, I was quite surprised at the amount of wildlife I got to see 'up close and personal' during my stay, without really even trying. All of the pictures here were taken in an around my hotel.
On the first afternoon, I was a bit tired from getting up early to leave Penang, so I decided to just explore the hotel and spend some time around the pool.
The Mahsuri legend has become something of a cultural icon for Malaysians. Even though the events recounted in the legend happened little more than 200 years ago, its amazing how many different versions there are of the story. One anthropologist has determined that there are least seven variations. However, the basic events remain very much the same.
The tomb, built in modern times, of Mahsuri Mahsuri was a beautiful young woman born in Langkawi of immigrants from Phuket late in the eighteenth century.
Along the northeast coast of Langkawi, behind Tanjung Rhu beach is a large mangrove forest. Set among the sheer stone outcroppings of the island, a half day boat trip the forest makes for a very interesting trip. In addition to the spectacular scenery, there's an abundance of wildlife to catch sight of as well.
A typical trip starts at the dock in Tanjung Rhu and takes you through several channels lined with mangrove trees, through a cave and eventually to a larger bay where you'll see several large sailboats from all over the world at anchor in the protected cove.
Langkawi is primarily a laid back destination, with very little in the way of action or adventure opportunities. Perhaps the closest thing to a thrill ride is the cable car up to the top of Mount Mat Chinchang.
View from the top, looking towards the airport. The Oriental Village and cable car base station is at the bottom middle. The base station of the cable car line is next to the Oriental Village shopping center.
In 1999, 20th Century Fox decided to make a new version of the fictionalized account of Anna Leonowens' time in the Siamese court. They wanted to film the movie on location in Thailand, but couldn't come to terms with the Thai national film board, which considers the works based on Anna's diaries disrespectful of one of Thailand's most revered monarchs. Given the number of outright fallacies in her diaries, it appears that Anna had a rather loose grip on reality.
