Langkawi, also known as the Jewel of Kedah has been on my bucket list forever. I never made it to the island until now, so I was really thrilled when I received an invitation from Naturally Langkawi to visit the island and do some fun activities.  

 

With an archipelago of 99 islands, Langkawi is a tropical paradise surrounded by white beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, bizarre rock formations and jungles with a wide variety of wildlife. On top of all that, Langkawi is a duty-free island, which means tobacco and booze are ridiculously cheap there. 

 

The best time to visit Langkawi is between December and March, it's dry season and temperatures are around 30°C or more. It can get quite hot, but there is always a nice breeze in Langkawi.

 

So, let's get this started! Here is a list of my favorites things to do in Langkawi... Enjoy!

 

 

1. LANGKAWI SKYCAB

 

Take a ride with Langkawi's popular cable car and enjoy the scenic view over the island. But be aware: the ride is not for the faint hearted, this is one of steepest cable car ropes in the world! I was a bit scared, but of course it's absolutely safe! Once you reach the top of Machincang mountain, you can enjoy a 360 degree view of the islands and the flora around, it's absolutely stunning!

 

Tickets for the SkyCab can be purchased online. Avoid weekends, it can get quite crowded. 

More info here: Panorama Langkawi SkyCab.

 

 

2. STREET FOOD AT THE NIGHT MARKETS

 

I got addicted to the night markets in Langkawi. The food is super delicious and relatively cheap!! There is no better place to try local foods, and it won't hurt your budget!

 

You can find grilled chicken or seafood, fresh juices, homemade ice tea, fresh fruits, salads, satay, samosas and many different sweets such as cookies, pancakes... The list is endless. Go there and eat, I promise you'll love it!

 

The night bazar happens daily from 7-10PM, but it changes its location every night. The weekly locations are as following:  Monday at Ulu Melaka, Tuesday at Kedawang, Wednesday at Kuah Town, Thursday in Pantai Cenang, Friday at Air Hangat, Saturday again at Kuah Town and Sunday at Padang Matsirat.

 

 

3. JETSKI ISLAND HOPPING

 

Hands down, this was my favorite activity in Langkawi! For a half day (4 hours) we were exploring the archipelago of Langkawi. The ride is breathtaking, bizarre rock formations paired with white beaches. We did some stops for exploring the islands, jungle trekking and having a swim in a fresh water lake. 

 

Price for the jetski island hopping starts from MYR500 (US$150) - I know it sounds a lot but believe me, it was so much fun to ride a jetski and get crazy in the open sea. I would definitely do it again! 
More info here: Mega Water Sports.

 

 

4. SKYTREX ADVENTURE

 

If you have too much energy, you will love this! Skytrex is a newly opened outdoor adventure park where you can climb, swing, crawl or glide through the jungle. It's a lot of fun and excitement, but also physically challenging if you're not the fittest person (speaking of myself, haha)...

Needless to say, my favorite was the zipline downhill.

 

Entrance fee starts from MYR45 (US$13) - Book online, it's cheaper! A big thanks to the fantastic staff of Skytrex, they couldn't be more friendly and helpful! More info here: Skytrex Adventure.

 

 

5. KILIM KARST GEOFOREST PARK

 

Take a boat and explore the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, an area of more than 100km², that features a breathtaking landscape of limestone formations, mangrove forests, caves and beaches.

 

The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park is ranked as Langkawi's #01 Attraction on Tripadvisor, you can't leave the island without seeing this natural wonder!

 

More info here: Langkawi Geopark.

 

 

6. LANGKAWI'S SEAFOOD

 

Every time I'm traveling to a place that's near the sea, it's a must for me to eat seafood! Langkawi's cuisine was over the top and I enjoyed some of my most delicious meals there. The image above is taken at a place called Hole In The Wall - a floating restaurant and fish farm inside Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. They offer a wide range of seafood, lobsters, crabs, squid, sea bass, red snapper... You name it, you get it!

 

Alternatively, here is a list of the best seafood restaurants in Langkawi. 

 

 

7. PARASAILING

 

Another favorite of mine: Parasailing and enjoying the beautiful view of Tanjung Rhu, one of the best beaches in Langkawi (more on beaches in #09). Loved this activity, frankly, I could do that for hours but unfortunately after 10 minutes I had to go down. 

 

One day, I will get my own boat and then I will do parasailing all day. Until then I keep staring at this image above.

 

 

8. WANDER ALONG THE RICE PADDIES

 

If you're a city person, you'll probably be amazed by this. I really loved wandering along the rice fields in Pantai Cenang, taking images of the picturesque scenery.

 

There is a Rice Museum, too (and it's free)! It's more like an outdoor museum, a great place to learn about rice cultivation. If you get tired, have a rest at the little restaurant next to the museum, and enjoy the stunning surroundings.

 

 

9. THE BEACHES

 

Langkawi offers some pretty lovely beaches with white powder sand and emerald waters. However I have to admit that the sea is not crystal clear in Langkawi. But the beaches are definitely good enough for a relaxed afternoon picnic, some beach bumming or just watching the sunset. These three were my favorites:

• Tanjung Rhu at the northern tip of Langkawi is probably the most picturesque beach on the island, surrounded by bizarre limestones. 
  
• Pantai Cenang is the most popular beach in the touristic center of the island, at the south-western tip of Langkawi. If you walk towards west, you'll find some grass to lay on. The area in front of Meritus Pelangi Resort is a nice spot to catch the sunset... (photo above).
  
• Tengah Beach further south is a relaxed alternative to Pantai Cenang. A quiet beach without the crowds. The beach is 15-20 minutes walk from Pantai Cenang.

 

10. 3D MUSEUM ART IN PARADISE

 

If you love art and selfies, you will lose yourself in this place. Actually it's hard to capture the giant 3D paintings while taking selfies, make sure to bring a friend or at least a tripod!

 

The museum features places such as the gondolas in Venice, the pyramids in Egypt, safaris and rainforests, surf spots and loads of fantasy landscapes. A great place for a fun afternoon!

 

Entrance fee is MYR38 (US$11). If you plan to visit the Skycab (#01) as well, they sell cheaper combination tickets. More info and images here: Art in Paradise.

 

 

This trip was made possible with Naturally Langkawi. All opinions are, as always, my own.

 

 

Travel Tips Malaysia

 

Are you ready to fly to Malaysia? Here are some quick booking links and resources that I use myself for travel planning. These websites will help you to get started with your Malaysia itinerary!

 

 

Cheap Flights to Langkawi, Malaysia

 

Going to Langkawi is a breeze! Langkawi is an International Airport, served by plenty airlines. Skyscanner is my favorite search engine for finding cheap flights to Malaysia, from anywhere in the world. I always start my flight search here! 

 

 

Transport within Malaysia

 

Bus, boat, and trains: 12Go is one of the most reliable websites when it comes to booking buses, ferries and railway. Get an instant seat confirmation and start your overland travel worry-free. You can travel by bus/train and ferry from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. The overland trip will cost between US$20 - 35 from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. 

 

Taxis: Indrive is my go-to app to call a cab. No more hassles with taxi drivers who don't like to use the meter! 

 

 

Find a Place to Stay in Malaysia

 

Please also check my other blog post Four fabulous places to stay in Langkawi. 

 

Hostels, hotels and resorts: Agoda is excellent if you're looking for hotels from budget to luxury! It's one of the largest hotel booking websites in the world. Plenty of options to book now and pay later, or even pay at the hotel. Risk-free booking, many with free cancellation. My other go to is Booking.com.

 

Homestays and Housesits: For a more authentic and local experience I recommend Homestay.com, a website where you can find places to stay with locals for such a great price. Personally, I'm obsessed with Trusted Housesitters, where you get to stay completely for free in exchange for pet care. Find out more in my article on How to Become a House Sitter and Never Pay for Accommodation.

 

 

Fun Tours and Activities in Langkawi

 

Get your Guide has plenty of fun activities in Langkawi, such as island hopping, hiking tours and water sport activities. There is plenty of choices to keep yourself entertained!

 

Klook is similar than the one above, but offers additional options such as airport transfers, SIM cards, and food & dining experiences. It' a great way to meet other travelers while exploring a new place!

 

 

eSIM - Stay connected with Internet

 

Get an eSIM before you go and have Internet available from the second you arrive! I highly recommend Roamless or JetPac -  they're both highly ranked, inexpensive and reliable. 

 

 

Travel Insurance

 

Never go adventuring without travel insurance! I recommend Genki or SafetyWing - they're both very affordable and will cover you in an emergency. 

 

 

Do I need a Visa for Malaysia?

 

Travelers from most countries are allowed to enter Malaysia visa-free, for a period of 30 - 90 days. You can check on iVisa whether you need a visa and how long you are permitted to stay.

 

 

More Blog Posts about Malaysia

 

• Hotel Review: Casa del Mar Langkawi - A Peaceful Retreat that makes you feel like Home
• Langkawi Island - The Perfect Getaway for Luxury and Adventure Seekers
• Kuala Lumpur In 24 Hours - Five Things To Do In One Day
• Four Fabulous Places to Stay in Langkawi
• 10 Amazing Things to do in Kuala Lumpur (+ 3 Fantastic Places to Stay)

 

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