This was my second visit to Langkawi and I must say, I liked it even better than the first time. The island on Malaysia's West coast is a popular holiday destination for those who are seeking fun, luxury, and adventurous activities. 

 

Langkawi offers an amazing set of unique landscapes, you'll find endless beaches, refreshing waterfalls, lush jungles, and an abundant wildlife, over and under the sea.

 

Aside from the stunning nature, Langkawi is becoming more and more a hotspot for luxury vacations. There is an incredible selection of extraordinary resorts on the island - but don't make the mistake and stay all day at your hotel! Go out and explore Langkawi, you won't regret!

 

Are you ready for the ultimate island escape? Enjoy this tropical paradise and make sure to visit a few of the following places... 

 

 

01. Helicopter Ride

 

Without doubt, this is the coolest thing to do in Langkawi, therefore I'll name it right on position one! Nothing more exciting than flying with a helicopter over Langkawi and seeing the archipelago and its 99 islands from a bird's eye view.

 

The helicopter has open sides which gave me an extra adrenaline rush, and some amazing photo opportunities! I made a video from the helicopter ride, you can see it on my Instagram!

 

This is not the most budget-friendly thing to do in Langkawi, but I promise you'll have spectacular views and an experience you won't forget!

 

 

02. Afternoon Tea at St. Regis

 

The spectacular St. Regis Hotel is one of the newest luxury resorts in Langkawi. This is the kind of place to spend your honeymoon - the rooms are absolutely gorgeous and include butler service. Most people (including myself) can't afford to stay there, but that shouldn't stop you to pay a visit and see this stunning property yourself.

 

I recommend to visit the St. Regis for their Afternoon Tea from 3-5PM, offering an exquisite selection of pastries, cup cakes and savory snacks, combined with a glass of champagne. Bring your camera, those treats are almost too pretty to eat! The Afternoon Tea Set cost MYR135 (US$31) or MYR195 (US$45) with champagne.

 

 

03. Zipline Adventure

 

If you love ziplines and jungles, you're at the right place! Exploring the area by zipline offers a super fun adventure for the whole family!

 

It's a great way to explore the rainforest and its exotic wildlife. Walk over sky bridges, fly through the jungles on a canopy course, and enjoy thrilling views from the treetops. No worries about safety, you're attached at all times and a friendly guide will take you through the adventure.

 

Are you ready to fly? The zipline adventure starts from MYR199 (US$45), open 365 days of the year. You can book here.

 

 

04. Spa Day

 

Don't forget to get pampered during your vacation, especially after a long day of hiking and exploring. There are plenty of spas in Langkawi, but if you really want to treat yourself to something special, you should go to Heavenly Spa - they offer the most comprehensive selection of massages on the island, from Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Turkish, Swedish and many more.

 

Close your eyes, let go of your thoughts and enjoy a relaxing treatment by the beach. A 1-hour massage starts from MYR310 (US$72). Heavenly Spa is located at the Westin Hotel in Kuah.

 

 

05. ATV Ride in Tuba Island

 

Another fun thing to do in Langkawi: Jump on an ATV and ride along unspoilt beaches and through the jungles! I did the ATV Adventure at Pulau Tuba. Tuba is a nearby island, just a 15-minutes boat ride away from Kuah, Langkawi.

 

We explored some traditional villages on the way and met some locals who showed us how to produce some exquisite handicraft. Tuba Island is stunningly beautiful, it's a fantastic place to escape the crowds and enjoy a swim on the beach. In fact, you will have the beach all to yourself. There are also come caves and waterfalls to explore on the island.

 

It's a lot of fun to ride the ATV, but make sure to bring a hat or cap, sun protection, good shoes and sun glasses. 

 

 

06. Sunset Dinner Cruise

 

If you're looking for a romantic and relaxing thing to do in Langkawi, you should book a sunset cruise! Spend an evening with your loved one on a spectacular yacht, and sail towards the sunset while sipping on a glass of wine... Sounds fantastic, right?

 

I went sunset sailing with Your Cruise Services, the yacht was absolutely amazing, delicious food, great selection of drinks and super friendly staff on board. It was one of my favorite things to do in Langkawi! The sunset cruise starts from MYR295 (US$69) and can be booked here.

 

 

07. Temurun Waterfall

 

Fancy a swim in a crystal clear pool of fresh water? Then head to Temurun Falls, the tallest waterfall in Langkawi. The magnificent waterfall is located on the northwestern side of Langkawi, in Datai Bay area. It's only a 5-10 minutes walk from the car park to the falls, not too much of hiking - actually it's such a romantic walking path, with gazebos to sit and enjoy the view while listening to the sound of the falls.

 

The waterfall is free to visit. Bring your camera, some swim wear and sun protection. Don't leave your belongings unattended, there are some monkeys around, be aware and don't feed them.

 

If you prefer to go on a guided trip to a waterfall, I recommend to try this tour to Seven Wells Waterfalls in Langkawi.

 

 

08. SkyBridge

 

A walk over the iconic SkyBridge is a great alternative if you can't afford the helicopter ride. The 125m long bridge is often referred as World’s Most Spectacular Pedestrian Bridge, and Tripadvisor named the SkyBridge as one of Malaysia's Top 10 Landmarks. In short, this is a must-see, so don't skip it!

 

It's only MYR5 (US$1,20) to enter the SkyBridge, but in order to get up there, you need to take a 15-minutes ride with a cable car (SkyCab), an experience you surely won't forget! The ride up there was absolutely exhilarating, especially because we had a cable car with a glass bottom. 

 

Once you reach the top of the mountain, you can walk around and explore the SkyBridge which offers an incredible 360 view over Langkawi. You can book the tickets for the cable car and Sky Bridge here.

 

 

09. Wildlife Park

 

The Wildlife Park is a great place for a rainy afternoon, as it's all covered. If you want to get close to some of Langkawi's exotic wildlife, this is the place to go! A guide will accompany you through the park and show you over 150 species of birds, mammals and reptiles, from different parts of the world.

 

You can buy food bags for MYR6 (US$1,40) and hand feed most of the animals, such as birds, rabbits, flamingos and many more. The Wildlife Park located in Kilim area, a 10-minutes drove from Kuah Town. Tickets can be booked here. 

 

 

10. Morning Walk Tour

 

This is a very special tour for nature lovers and outdoor buffs! Irshad Mobarak - a self-taught naturalist - will take you on a fascinating tour through the rainforest, exploring plants, monkeys, and plenty of birds, such as parrots, toucans, hornbills, or even eagles and vultures. Langkawi is home to more than 200 species of birds.

 

Irshad is very passionate and educates people on nature and conservation. I recommend going on one of his expeditions and learn about the beautiful nature of Langkawi. More about Irshad's tours on his website Junglewalla.com.

 

 

As mentioned earlier, there is an incredible variety of hotels and resorts in Langkawi. In an earlier post I already covered Four Fabulous Places to stay in Langkawi, featuring several hotels from luxury to budget.

 

This time I stayed for a week at the Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, and it was absolutely perfect. The beachfront resort is a true oasis, with spectacular panoramic views over the Andaman Sea. They offer different kinds of rooms (starting from US$179/night), from superior rooms to suites, and beachfront villas with private pool! If you bring your entire family, they have a fantastic 5 bedroom villa for larger parties...

 

 

The five-star hotel features four swimming pools along a private beach, spa, gym, tennis court, water sport activities, a kids club and you can even relax in their airport lounge before you leave the island!

 

Furthermore, there is an excellent selection of dining options, spread over several restaurants and bars at the Westin Langkawi. And if you just want to stay in your room, 24-hour In-Room Dining is available as well.

 

The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa is one of the Top 10 hotels in Langkawi, according to Tripadvisor. You can't go wrong with this resort! More info about rates and availability here.

 

 

The best time to visit Langkawi is from November to August. Peak season is from January to March, it's the dry season and perfect weather for outdoor activities. Avoid the rainy season in September and October.

 

I actually visited Langkawi this time in June during Ramadan. It was really quiet and not many tourists were around, there was never any cue at touristic hotspots. I would not hesitate to visit again during Ramadan. This was my second visit to Langkawi, and I'm sure I will come back for a third time.  

 

I hope you found this travel guide helpful and I wish you an unforgettable trip to Langkawi. If you stay longer in the island, also check my other blog post 10 Fun Things to do in Langkawi.

 

 

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
• Kuala Lumpur In 24 Hours - Five Things To Do In One Day
• Four Fabulous Places to Stay in Langkawi
• 10 Fun Things to do in Langkawi, Malaysia
• 10 Amazing Things to do in Kuala Lumpur (+ 3 Fantastic Places to Stay)

 

Thank you for reading. If you like this article, please share!