Langkawi

What You Should Know More About Langkawi

• About the destination

  Langkawi is a beautiful Malaysian island that is beautified with pristine and extensive beaches, rich paddy fields and the lush flora and fauna are delight to the eyes. Enveloped by the calm and serene turquoise waters and the incredible holiday facilities assure an unprecedented experience to the tourists. What may appeal many is the duty free shopping of the chocolate and alcohol is great. Seafood restaurants, innumerable spas and the exquisite bars at the beach embellish the beauty of the place. Swinging coconut trees and the shoreline is filled with white sand thereby assuring a perfect sight for all natural lovers.  

  This archipelago of 99 islands is rich both in terms of scenic and culture views. Situated in the state of Kedah in Malaysia, Langkawi very well translates to the eagles that are usually reddish brown in this part of the world.

  Sprawling over an area of 32,000 hectares of land, the most significant thing about Langkawi is its hills, beautiful mountain and the natural vegetation that cover approximately two third of the total landmass of Langkawi.  Official language of the archipelago remains Bahasa Malaysia however English is a widely spoke language that is understood in every part of the city. You can reach Langkawi via air. The climate here is warm all round the year with temperature usually variable between 23 to 35 degree Celsius.

• Travel Advice

  • In Langkawi and in Malaysia as a whole, the taxi drivers are a little canny. They are seeking a chance to deceive you. So, if they get to know that you are an uninformed tourist, they’ll leave no chance to overcharge you. Hence, it is a good idea to know about the destination you are traveling to, its approximate fare and other important things. You must either sit in a metered taxi or cab or negotiate the fare before sitting in the taxi. This will prevent a case of over charging.   

  • Thefts are a routine affair here. So, make sure you keep your valuables and cash in a safe place. Never flash your important stuff or valuables in public.

  • Do not go to crowded places with too much cash in your pocket.

  • Avoid keeping your wallet in back pocket of your denims.

  • Traffic is a common site in Langkawi. So, always have patience whenever you are riding with public vehicle.

  • In case you have rented a vehicle for self drive, make sure you follow the local rules. Sometimes the rules prevalent maybe different from the ones prevalent in your country.

  • Keep the beggars and touts at bay.

  • Have a copy of your ID with you always.

  • Do not over indulge in alcohol.

  • Always drink bottled mineral water. Check the seal before purchasing a bottle.

  • Never let anyone mislead you.

  • Monkeys are notorious beings here. They tend to snatch away the eatables and even mobile phones sometimes. So, make sure you put everything in your handbags when you see a monkey around.

  • Do not indulge in narcotics of any form. It can land you in a deep soup.

  • If indulging in street food, check the quality.

• Drinking Laws

  For Non Muslims, the legal age for drinking in Langkawi is 18 years. On the other hand, there is no legal age for drinking for the Muslims as it is against the law.

  
  

• Our recommendations: What you can't afford to miss?

  Langkawi Sky Bridge

  It is a 125 meter long curved pedestrian bridges that offers a thrilling view of the breathtaking Telaja Tujuh waterfalls, Gunung Mat Cincang and the surrounding islands of the city. Nestled about 700 meters above the sea level, the bridge is very well accessible via the last station of the Cable Car ride. It is a robust bridge that is capable of accommodating about 250 people at a time. Relaxing and enjoying the cool breeze are few important things people do here.

  Eagle Square

  Eagle Square also known as the Dataran Lang is a dazzling 12 meter tall sculpture of an eagle waiting to take a long flight. It is displayed on the zenith of the elevated platform. It is a beautiful place to see and is only a 5 minute walk from the Kuah Jetty. Several malls, restaurants as well as duty free shops can be found here.

  Gunung Raya

  Located at an altitude of 881 meters, Gunung Raya is the highest peak in the city. If legends are to be believed, the mountain is cursed form of Mat Raya who once lived here. It is immensely popular destination for hiking. You can spot mountain hawk eagles, flying foxes, leaf monkeys, great hornbills, squirrels, macaque monkeys and white bellied sea eagles here.

  Langkawi Wildlife Park & Bird Paradise

  One of the best sightseeing attraction of Langkawi the Langkawi Wildlife Park & Bird Paradise houses more than 150 species of birds like toucans, parakeets, canaries, flamingos, eagles, hornbills, owls and ducks. Another attraction here is the manmade waterfall which is 15 meters tall.

  
  

  Langkawi Art in Paradise 3D Museum

  Langkawi Art in Paradise 3D Museum is an important tourist attraction of Langkawi that has over 200 alluring artworks that look nearly art life when captured in a picture. This museum is regarded as the biggest 3D museum of Malaysia. It is a three storey building that has nine interactive zones.
  

• What you will like there?

  Discover a UNESCO World Geo Park

  In the year 2007, the majestic archipelago of the Langkawi was declared as the Southeast Asia’s first UNESCO World Geopark. Putting forth a history of 550 million years, it has some of the most intriguing and naturally evolved gems that are not worth missing.  The city has largely been shaped by the volcanic activity, erosion, plate tectonics and ocean submersion. As of today, several rock formations have also shaped the natural habitats. This indeed makes Langkawi a must visit tourist attraction.  

  Embark on a mangrove safari

  Delve into the spectacular limestone caves, wetlands and the secluded caves that can be accessed only by boat, to get the real flavor of Langkawi’s sightseeing. If you need to go ahead and explore further there is an exquisite natural oasis coupled with wildlife to keep you entertained. Langkawi possesses a wonderful bunch of surprises for the tourists. The forests of the sea are bona fide sites that are worth a visit. You can easily spot some monitor lizards, walking fish, eagles and fiddler crabs. Indulge in the wonders of rich ecology of Langkawi with a naturalist or a guide led boat safari from the beach resort. In this boat ride, you can learn from the guide how the mangroves have successfully contributed so well in this region.  

  Sail among picturesque islands

  Langkawi is a group of 99 islands that are all surrounded by placid waters which offer ideal sailing condition for island hopping and sunset cruise. In the past few years, Langkawi has become one of the most prominent boating destination that has four marinas which play a host to several prominent events like the Royal Langkawi International Regatta. Attending this event is indeed is an important thing to do in Langkawi.

  Go on a cultural tour

  Undertake a guided bicycle tour which meanders across the rural villages of the city to revel in the agrarian beauty of the rustic wooden houses that lie amidst the pervasive vistas of the rubber plantations, mud-soaked water buffaloes and the lush paddy fields. You can even find the local fishermen coming back with their day’s catch in the village of the Kuala Teriang. One important local tradition you’ll find here is milk tea being served with deep fried banana fritters which is widely loved but can be availed in the afternoon only.

  Food

  The Malay food can just impress anyone. Its sheer variety in the delicious dining options reflect the best in the Malaysian cuisine. But then, it is way more than that. Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur are indeed the finest place to indulge in the finest culinary delights. Here you not only get the Malay dishes but also cuisines such as Indian and Chinese. You can also relish on the native to inter continental and gourmet dishes. The traditional dishes here are characterized by the sweet smelling aroma, spicy flavor and the highly curried ingredients. Favorite Malay cuisine is known as Sambal which is made of lime juice, prawn paste and a hot paste of the chilies. Usually eaten with rice, this is one cuisine you simply cannot miss out in Malaysia.

  Ride a cable car to Mat Cincang Peak

  Another important thing to do in Malaysia is taking a cable car ride to the Mat Cincang mountain range. It is one of the oldest rock formations of the South east Asia. In order to explore it completely, you must take a thrilling aerial ride over the bushy forests at a height of 2,323 feet. It will assure invigorating views of the Langkawi coastline, surrounding islands and the peaks.

  Spot birds on Gunung Raya

  Gunung Raya is the highest peak in Langkawi. You’ll need to undertake a 13 km trek to reach the peak. The view atop is completely worth it all. From top of the peak, you can see the Mat Cincang Mountain, islands of the Thailand as well as the Kuah harbour. Bird watching is an important activity here. There are over 190 different species of birds found here. The place is in its full bloom during the months of April and October

  Relish on the underwater wonders

  At the Pulau Payar Marine Park, you can try out some interesting water sports like snorkeling or diving. It is one of the best marine park of the region and is enveloped by well-protected coral reefs that has several marine species. The mesmerizing marine life of the Andaman Sea is worth a watch.  

  
  

• Recommended reads for destination (govt. websites, travel forum articles)?

  Website: 

  Langkawi Travel Website

  
  

  Forum: 

  TripAdvisor Travel Forum