Jan
10
Langkawi Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Malaysia
A trip of Langkawi
Langkawi Island is located in Malaysia’s northwest, close to the border with Thailand. This duty-free destination is not only famous for its stunning beaches, but also for several other attractions and annual events including the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. The island is home to museums, art galleries, caves, a book village, fantastic golf courses and a number of historical sites which document the myths and legends associated with Langkawi. Away from the capital town of Kuah, this is still a rural fishing island with rice paddies, water buffaloes and jungles where visitors can benefit from the relaxed charm of the locals.
Flights to Langkawi
Langkawi is not linked to the mainland by a land bridge and the only option to access the island is to take a ferry or fly. Langkawi’s modern and efficient international airport is situated about 12 miles from Kuah and is a tourist attraction as it hosts LIMA, an annual international aerospace event that presents aero performances for the public.
In addition to servicing flights from domestic airports on a daily basis, the air facility also handles international flights from London, Singapore, Osaka and Taipei, sometime with a transit stopover at Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia offers flights between Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi every day, with a flight time of about one hour. To get around the island, there is a well developed road network and car rentals or taxis can be easily arranged at the airport. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Langkawi try lastminute.com.
Langkawi
Sightseeing in Langkawi
Apart from the spectacular beaches and being a tax-free island, another pull in Langkawi is a ride by cable car to the summit of the island’s highest mountain, Gunung Mat Cincang, at 2,460 feet above sea level. Mahsuri’s Tomb is where the legendary Malay princess who cursed the island because she was sentenced to death for a felony she didn’t commit is laid to rest.
Founded by Malaysia’s ex-Prime Minister Dr Mahathir, Gallery Perdana displays a huge collection of gifts from foreign dignitaries including Cambodian silver, woodcarvings from the Easter Islands and items from Africa and the South Pacific. Placed amid a forest, Southeast Asia’s first book village contains thousands of books in several languages, with each traditionally designed house stocking a particular subject.
Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
The island’s capital town of Kuah features dozens of restaurants flanking the main street. However, the best place for mouth-watering seafood is Pantai Tengah. Overlooking the sea, the Charlie Motel offers delicious Malaysian and Thai cuisine, while the Oasis Beach Pub next door serves tandoori chicken together with beer. More stylish dining places can be found at Eagle’s Nest and Tanjung Sanctuary Langkawi towards Pantai Cenang.
Langkawi provides visitors with a number of pubs, bars and nightclubs, some of them presenting live music. Among the options are Black Henry Pub and Disco, Charlie’s Place Restaurant and Bar as well as Coco Jam Fun Pub and Disco. It is recommended you go out drinking in pairs of groups for safety reasons.
Fun by day – shopping and activities
Due to Langkawi’s duty-free status, shopping in Kuah is an excellent leisure time option. The town also features various old-fashioned stores selling beachwear, crafts, souvenirs and other diverse items. Besides the omnipresent water sports activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing, deep sea fishing and kayaking, the island offers guests several stunning golf courses, particularly at Datai Bay. On a rainy day, you can head to the Awana Porto Malai for indoor bowling.
Daytrips
If you are somewhat bored with relaxing on the beach, it is probably time to make one of the exciting daytrips Langkawi has to offer. A great option is a four to five-hour boat ride to the wonderful mangroves. You will pass limestone outcrops, caves, a fossil location and more, and you might be fortunate to observe monkeys, snakes, otters, eagles or lizards.
Another choice is a moderate three-hour trek into the tropical rainforest to discover part of Langkawi’s nature. An experienced guide will take you to some tree species that are up to 230 feet high, and you can watch monkeys, birds and butterflies. When starting in the late afternoon, you are likely to spot flying squirrels and lemurs or perhaps even a civet cat.
Bird lovers should not miss one of the four to five- hour bird watching trips, on which it is possible to see around 30 to 40 species of the over 230 species of birds in the jungle, rice paddies or near rivers. At first you will be guided up to the Gunung Raya, where you might catch sight of the mountain birds, and later taken to particular places populated by various plumed species.
Must-see attractions
Among Langkawi’s major draws are its innumerable caves, especially Gua Kelawar along the Kilim river. It is named after the Malaysian fruit bats which inhabit the cave, and can only be accessed by boat. The stalagmites and stalactites are of enormous proportions, forming bizarre figures that are reminiscent of other-worldly creatures.
Langkawi is also home to diverse spectacular waterfalls, above all Telaga Tujuh or Seven Wells. Surrounded by lush green forest, this geological wonder cascades about 300 feet down via a sequence of seven pools. Durian Perangin is sited in the Raya Mountain Nature Park region and features 12 levels of water cascades, while Temerun is a 100- foot-high waterfall in Mat Cincang Nature Park.
A further alternative is a ride with the Panorama Langkawi Cable Car, which connects the base station at Gunung Machinchang with the top station, covering a total distance of more than 7,000 feet. From above you will enjoy some stunning views of the island’s western coast.
Best time to go
Actually, there is no ‘best time’ for a visit to Langkawi since temperatures remain relatively steady throughout the year, with average low temperatures dropping to around 24°C and highs hovering around 32°C. The rainy season is between September and mid-November, when two hours of daily precipitation come in the afternoon and at night. The following dry season lasts until mid-April, and the mid-season until August. The peak tourist seasons match the dry and rainy periods.
Rainy day suggestions
Should the weather refuse to cooperate, there are plenty of shopping facilities to be found on the island, which in addition enjoys duty free status. Kuah is the hub for shopaholics and presents the Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall, which contains more than 100 retail stores in a two-storey building. Further great outlets are the Langkawi Duty Free, Saga, and the new Parade complexes.
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Hello to all , well this is a scam alert….
Me and my wife who is Malaysian and me from the uk,went to Langkawi the scam started on the Ferry from penang the 8.15am the man who runs the boat will talk to you about renting a car seems ok so you rent the car and pay the deposit, no problem there, the next thing to be aware of is if you are not local people make sure you got the international part to your driving license as you will need it on Langkawi as the police set up Road blocks each day to check.
No international part 300myr fine for you! The scam is when you return the car the operator will say not got the 100myr will bank in for you later, they will not! Tell them you calling the police and do call if you have to this happens regular so please be careful, dont get caught out.