Langkawi (Lang = Eagle and Kawi =Brown in Malay language) is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea. It is located off the north-west coast of Malaysia, bordering Thailand. The largest of these islands is Palau Langkawi (Palau = Island in Malay). While Kuah is the largest town of the island, Pantai Cenang is the most popular beach. Endowed with soft sandy beaches, forested hills and dense mangrove vegetation, the island is a heaven for every nature lover.
Our Itinerary of Langkawi:
Langkawi was the last leg of our 10 nights & 11 days trip of West coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Let me first tell you our complete itinerary of Langkawi:
- Day 1:
- Morning flight from Penang George Town to Langkawi
- Visit Langkawi Sky Cab, Sky Bridge, Sky Dome, 3D Art Museum and Oriental Village
- Hang out at the Pantai Cenang Beach, and enjoy the Fire Show in the evening
- Day 2:
- Half day Island Hopping Tour in the morning
- Sun bathing at the Sandy Skulls Beach
- Duty free shopping in Langkawi
- Day 3:
- Half day Mangrove Tour in the morning from Tanjung Rhu Jetty
- Explore the Tanjung Rhu Beach & Black Sand Beach in the afternoon
- Eagle Square & Kuah in the evening
- Day 4:
- Visit the Underwater World in the morning.
- Afternoon flight from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur, and then the onward flight to Kolkata at night.
Reaching Langkawi:
It was the sunny morning of 13th October 2024, and our Air Asia flight from Penang to Langkawi was scheduled at 9.35 AM. The flight took off 10 minutes before time, and it hardly took 20-25 minutes to land in Langkawi.
After collecting our baggage, we booked a Grab, an e-hailing taxi. Our destination was the Sri Embun Resort, located at a walkable distance from the Pantai Cenang Beach. As the check-in time was at 3 PM, we had planned to keep our luggage in the reception and venture out. But luckily, a room was readily available, and the manager allowed us to check-in early.
Where to Buy Ticket for the Tours?
Mangrove Tour and Island Hopping Tour are the most popular tours of Langkawi. Both span half a day and you need to book a ticket in advance. I had read reviews that offline tickets are cheaper than online. So the first thing that we did after check-in was to head towards the Pantai Cenang Beach.
Along the beach road, we found a number of tour agencies. Out of the couple of travel agents whom we visited, we found the ticket cheapest at the AB Travel Station/ Asthar Travel & Tours (located adjacent to the AB Motel). Their contact numbers are: (+6) 013-488-4300 and (+6) 010-384-3790.
We booked tickets for Island Hopping Tour and Mangrove Tour for the next 2 days, for RM 30 (RM 20 for kids) and RM 50 (RM 40 for kids) respectively.
Apart from these, you can also make bookings for Sunset Cruise and water sports like Jet Ski, Banana Boat, and Parasailing from here.
Day 1:
Langkawi Sky Cab and Sky Bridge:
What’s In There?
The prime attraction of Langkawi is the Sky Bridge. It is a 125 meter long curved suspension bridge, constructed on the peak of Mount Machinchang (Gunung Mat Chinchang).
The day being a Sunday, we were apprehensive of a long queue at the Sky Cab Base Station. But luckily for us, the crowd was minimal at the ticket counter, and we purchased a Combo ticket of Sky Cab + Sky Dome + Sky Rex + 3D Art Gallery.
Confused ?
Let me first tell you about the different attractions here, so that you can take an informative decision about the places to visit:
- Oriental Village: A nicely decorated urban hamlet, spanning from the car parking space till the Sky Cab ticket counter, with small colourful huts and gazebos, restaurants and cafes, pools with colourful fishes and water lilies.
- Sky Cab: The cable car that takes you from the Base Station to the Middle Station, and then to the Top Station.
- Eagles’ Nest Sky Walk: A sky walk at the Middle Station.
- Sky Bridge: The top attraction here – a suspension bridge with astounding views around.
- Sky Glide and Nature Trail: From the Top Station, you have the option to hike along a Nature Trail to the Sky Bridge, or you can take the Sky Glide – an inclined elevator.
- 3D Art Museum: A must visit place, with amazing exhibition of 3D art.
- Sky Dome: An auditorium which plays 3D animated movie.
- Sky Rex: Sitting inside a toy train like compartment, the visitors here experience a simulated 3D adventure. It was closed when we visited the place.
- Machinchang Pet Land: A small zoo.
Sky Cab:
The weather around the Sky Bridge, standing at a height of 2,170 feet above the sea level, changes dramatically – from sunny to cloudy and foggy to rainy. And when the downpours start, the entry to the bridge is usually closed. So, after purchasing the tickets, we first headed for the cable car.
As our cable car slowly moved upwards, we were speechless by the scenic beauty of verdant rich vegetation and the azure Andaman Sea below. Within a couple of minutes, we found the Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh) on our right. With the water flowing through the gentle slope of a huge rock-face, the falls created a beautiful cascade.
Soon we reached the Middle Station, and came out of the cable car. This is a good place to click nice pictures against the backdrop of the deep blue sea. We also got a nice view of the Eagles’ Nest Sky Walk, which resembles the head of an eagle and protrudes out of the cliff.
Sky Bridge:
Soon it started becoming foggy at the Middle Station, and we again got into a cable car to reach the Top Station. Here we found a separate ticket counter for Sky Bridge. We opted for the combo ticket with Sky Glide.
The queue at the Sky Glide was long, as a single car makes the to and fro journey. After a wait of around 15-20 minutes, we hopped into the car and reached the entrance of the Sky Bridge within 5 minutes.
As we stepped out, we were amazed by the marvel that stood in front of us. We moved ahead slowly, amused by the panoramic 360 degree view of Langkawi and the Thailand coast, with the Andaman Sea and the green terrain all around. For a few moments, the cloud seemed to have engulfed us, as a cool misty feeling caressed our skin. We took baby steps, as we appreciated the astounding beauty of nature and covered the length of the entire bridge.
After some time, which seemed like eternity, we came back to the Top Station. Engrossed with the adventure, we had forgotten about lunch till then, and we realized that we were hungry. We found a cafe “Sky Bistro” at the Top Station, where we had a quick bite.
Down to the Sea Level:
The cable car ride from the Top Station to the base was non-stop.
After watching an animated movie at the Sky Dome, we went to the 3D Art Museum. This was a one-of-a-kind experience for us. As we moved from one room to another, we were short of adjectives to describe the masterclass of the artists who created such a canvas of realistic art forms.
Each room has its own distinctive theme, like the Aquarium, Safari, Optical Illusion, Glow in Dark Zone etc. It is a must visit place.
As we strolled forward, we found the Sky Rex to be closed temporarily, and came to the entrance of the Machinchang Pet Land, a small zoo with few animals and birds. It has a separate entry fee. But there is no need to spend the money, as you can see inside through the barbed fencing.
Ticket: Combo ticket of Sky Cab + Sky Dome + Sky Rex + 3D Art Gallery had cost us RM 85 (RM 65 for children). For Sky Bridge, it was RM 6 (RM 4 for kids) and RM 16 (RM 11 for kids), along with Nature Walk and Sky Glide respectively.
Pantai Cenang Beach:
The most popular and happening place of the island is the Pantai Cenang Beach. The vast expanse of soft sand, blue sea, variety of water sports and the scrumptious food of the beach shacks make the place a tourist hotspot.
We reached Pantai Cenang around 5 PM. But it gets dark around 7.30 in the evening, and so there was plenty of light all around. There were tourists buzzing all around, and we settled down a little away from the crowd. As we sipped a hot cuppa of coffee, the kids got engrossed in building a sand castle.
Gradually the Sun dipped towards the horizon, and we immersed ourselves in a magical sunset, as the sky filled up with vibrant colours.
Soon we were dazzled by an amazing Fire show. The artists had put up a captivating performance against the backdrop of the dark sea and the night sky. The experience was truly unforgettable. The show continued for over an hour, as we enjoyed it while having dinner in a beach side restaurant.
Day 2:
We got up early, excited with the adventurous day that lay ahead. The reporting time in front of Asther Tours office was at 8.50 AM.
Our resort, Sri Embun Resort was only 3 minutes walk from the Pantai Cenang Beach.
We came to the beach road, and went inside the Ali Bistro Restaurant. For breakfast, we ordered Roti Canai, a local favourite. It is a flat bread prepared from wheat flour, and served with a bowl of daal (yellow lentils). We also tasted Roti Telur, a variation of Roti Canai that comes with filling of egg.
Island Hopping Tour:
We reached the Teluk Baru Jetty in the tour agency’s minivan. All the Island Hopping tours originate from this jetty.
Around 9.30 AM, we got into a motorized speed boat. Our captain explained to us the places that we will be visiting in the next 3 hours:
- Palau Dayang Bunting and the Lake of Pregnant Maiden
- Eagle Feeding
- Palau Beras Basah
The boat ride was breathtaking, as we navigated through emerald green water, with verdant hills along the shores. After sailing for around 20 minutes, we anchored at the Dayang Bunting Island, the second largest island of the archipelago. The beauty of the surroundings there was equally captivating. Our guide pointed out to a hill that resembled to a pregnant lady, hence the freshwater lake here is named the Lake of Pregnant Maiden.
After short hike through a forest, named the Marble Geo Forest Park, we reached the lake. We found the tourists swimming inside a cordoned-off area or kayaking in the lake. As the time was limited to 1 hour, we preferred to sit on the promenade and dip our feet in the cool water.
Around 11 AM, we started our voyage again. The next attraction was the Eagle Feeding.
We stopped mid-water at a place where we found a lot of brown eagles hovering above. The captain started throwing chunks of raw meat in the air, and the eagles swooped down and tactfully caught them in their beaks.
Palau Beras Basah:
The last stop of our Island Hopping was at the Beras Basah Island, literally meaning Wet Rice Island. It is an amazing island, where you can spend ages sitting on the powdery white sandy beach and gazing at the deep blue sea with small islands rising above the water.
Sandy Skulls Beach:
We came back to the Pantai Cenang around 1 PM, and had a relaxing lunch at one of the beach shacks overlooking the sea.
Next we headed for the virgin Sandy Skulls Beach (Pantai Pasir Tengkorak), located around 28 KM from Pantai Cenang. Initially we had doubts in our mind whether we should travel so far only for exploring a beach. But as soon as we arrived, we didn’t have any regret of any sort.
This hidden gem, with clear blue water and bordered by a dense forest and a rocky surface, can be any beach lover’s favourite.
Only few tourists venture this far and you can even spend the whole day sunbathing in solitude. A word of caution is that, if you are depending on Grab for your commute, make sure that you plan your return journey latest by early evening. Otherwise, you may find it difficult get a commute back to your hotel.
There are 2 more places of interest nearby – Temurun Waterfalls and Crocodile Adventureland, which you can cover if you have time.
Duty Free Shopping in Langkawi:
Langkawi is famous for duty free shopping, and you can see such shops all over Pantai Cenang and Kuah. After the long day, we came back to our resort, freshened up and went out to explore the duty free shops along the Pantai Cenang Beach road.
The biggest ones in Pantai Cenang are the Zon Duty Free Zone and Coco Valley, both adjoining the Underwater World. They sell varied items like household stuff, electronics, travel accessories, chocolates, wine etc.
We also came across a couple of duty-free Chocolate shops. We found it cheaper at the Eastern Chocolate, and bought some to take back home.
Day 3:
Mangrove Boat Tour:
Langkawi’s north-east shore is dotted by dense mangrove vegetation, interspersed by limestone hills. This part of the island is called the Kilim Geo Forest Park.
On our Day 3 in Langkawi, we went for a half day Mangrove Tour in a shared speedboat. Following attractions were covered in this trip:
- Mangrove River Cruise & Kilim Geo Forest Park
- View of Gorilla Mountain
- View of Crocodile Cave
- Eagle Feeding
- Watching Monkeys
- Bat Cave
- Sail through the Andaman Sea
- Visit the Floating Fish Farm
The boat tour starts from the Tanjung Rhu Jetty. We didn’t opt for the chargeable hotel pick-up option, and booked a Grab to reach the jetty, some 26 KM away from our resort.
The speed boat ride:
Our speed boat started around 10 AM and we navigated along a calm river with dense vegetation of mangroves and small hillocks surrounded by dense forest.
We passed by a few interesting rock formations. Our boat’s captain cum guide pointed out to a hill with the shape of a Gorilla, and a cave with the form of Crocodile. During low tide, the boats can enter the Crocodile Cave. But at the time when we visited, the water level was high.
Soon we reached an open space, where a lot of eagles where circling above. Similar to what we saw during the Island Hopping trip, our captain threw chunks of raw flesh, and the birds darted down and grabbed them fiercely.
Next we entered a narrow creek, with monkeys hanging from trees on both the banks. The boat in front of us approached a tree and offered food to the monkeys. They in turn, jumped on to the boat, and started playing with the tourists. That was real fun to watch from the safety of our boat.
The Bat Cave (or, Gua Kelawar) is nestled within a Limestone hill along the mangrove forest. It has a separate entry fee of RM 2 (RM 1 for children). The cave was pitch dark, and we turned on the torch of our mobile phones. We could see the stunning formations of stalactite and the colony of bats hanging above. The cave opened on the other side, where we walked over a wooden plank surrounded by the mangrove all around.
Lunch Break:
Back to the jetty, our captain briefed us that, we will now leave the river and sail through the Andaman Sea. We got super exited. But soon the excitement gave way to tense moments, as we hit the choppy waters of the mid sea, and our boat tossed up and down. After a few anxious minutes, which seemed hours, we arrived at the Fish Farm cum Restaurant.
The tour companies intentionally give a long break at the Fish Farm cum restaurant, so that tourists order food there. We were anyways hungry and decided to have lunch. After placing the order, we went to explore the place. We found many small pools with a variety of fish and other aquatic creatures, some of which we haven’t ever seen before.
After our lunch, we started back for the Tanjung Rhu jetty, a short ride in our speed boat.
Tanjung Rhu Beach:
A short walk from the Tanjung Rhu Jetty brought us to the pristine Tanjung Rhu Beach, where we were welcomed by white sand and clear blue water interspersed by small islands.
It was hot and sunny, and we quickly changed into our beachwear. We spread the towels on the sand and lay down sunbathing. There were only a few tourists around, and we spent some time in solitude before venturing into the cool water. Then we strolled on the soft sand, along the length of the beach.
We realized that it was a good decision to have our lunch at the Fish Farm, as we didn’t find much food options here. Also we didn’t find a proper clean toilet for the visitors.
Black Sands Beach:
I had read a lot of nice reviews about the black sands of the Pantai Pasir Hitam or Black Sand Beach, located around 6 KM from Tanjung Rhu. But once we reached there, we realized that it is not the hype. The sand is a mix of black and yellow and that is all about the place. The beach is also not ideal for sunbathing and lazing around.
From the car parking space, we crossed a children’s park and souvenir & gift shops to reach the beach. Barring a few fishermen sitting on the sailboats tugged to the shore, we didn’t find anyone on the beach.
We didn’t spend much time in the Black Sand Beach, and called a Grab for Kuah.
Eagle Square & Kuah:
Eagle Square or Dataran Lang is the main attraction of Kuah. Overlooking the Strait of Malacca, this open area has a centrally placed huge figure of a brown eagle, the symbol of Langkawi.
Adjacent to the Eagle Square is the Kuah Jetty, the starting point of the sunset cruises.
Day 4:
Underwater World:
As the name suggests, the Underwater World is an aquatic park, and is a prime attraction of Langkawi. As it was near to our resort, we had planned to visit on the morning of our last day in Langkawi.
After a quick breakfast, we reached the Underwater World at 10 AM, when the doors were being opened. As we ventured inside, we were amazed by the wide variety of marine life inside – colourful species of fish, shark, frog, snake, African & Rock-hopper penguin, sea otter, fur seal, jelly fish, stingray, and many more.
The highlight of the visit was an underwater tunnel. It was surreal to walk through the tunnel, with the penguins swimming around us.
The authorities there also arrange feeding sessions for penguins and otters. We enjoyed the African penguins being fed with fish.
Ticket: RM 62 for adults and RM 50 for children
Good bye Langkawi:
After spending two more hours at the Underwater World, we came back to our resort and checked-out. We bade farewell to Pantai Cenang as our Grab sped towards the Langkawi airport.
All good things do come to an end, and so did our wonderful vacation in Malaysia. But Langkawi was definitely the gem in the crown.
Some useful information and tips:
How to reach Langkawi:
Langkawi has its own international airport, and has regular flights to the major cities within the country. The city also has direct international connectivity to the neighbouring nations. Taking a flight is the easiest way to reach the island.
Alternatively, you can also avail the ferry service from Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis. Before Covid-19, there was also a direct ferry service from Penang, but it has been discontinued since then.
Mode of transport within the island:
Private car or bike rentals or Grab (the e-hailing taxis) are the modes of transport within the island. We didn’t find any public transport like buses to ply.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit the entire West coast of Peninsular Malaysia is between November and March. During these months, the weather remains dry and sunny, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities. It also coincides with popular festivals like Chinese New Year and Thaipusam.
The shoulder season is from April to June. The monsoons lash the area between July and October, which you should avoid.
We explored the West Coast of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Malacca and Ipoh) from October 6 to October 16, when the monsoon was receding. So, we experienced mostly sunny weather, with occasional afternoon showers.
Review of Sri Embun Resort, where we stayed in Langkawi:
Sri Embun Resort is located at a short walking from the popular Pantai Cenang Beach.
We arrived early (around 11 AM) and the management allowed us to check-in early without any extra charge. While checking out, we had also kept our luggage in the reception area for some time, before heading to the airport.
We had booked a Family Room. The room was big, with a small adjoining balcony. It had closets, drawers, iron, iron board, electric kettle etc. The management also provided 4 bottles of water and tea bag & instant coffee mix on a daily basis. There is also a small swimming pool, in case you get bored with the beach.
The Deluxe Family Room had cost us RM 137 per night.
***********************************************************************************************
In the Comment Box at the end of the page, please leave a note of how you felt about my post.
If you like my posts, please allow me to send my next published post automatically to your Inbox. Please Subscribe in the form below, and Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Recent Comments