The Jewal of Kedah State
Langkawi island, my first stop after crossing the Malaysian border, easily accessible by ferries departing from the towns of Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah.
An island that is so relaxed and so untouristic that you could stay there for weeks!
Now what does Langkawi have to offer you might think?
The answer is plenty! Stunning beaches, popular daytrips to nearby islands, national parks, outdoor activities and so much more!
So let’s not delay any further shall we, scroll down and find out why you should visit Langkawi Island!
– – Categories – –
How to get there
Langkawi is situated very closely to the Thai border, that makes it a perfect first stop when you are coming over from nearby Thailand.
Or perhaps you are already traveling around Malaysia then I would highly recommend you to NOT skip Langkawi Island!
Langkawi Island has it’s own international airport so most people would be arriving from there.
But you can also take the ferry service towards the island.
Ferries depart from either Kuala Kedah which will take you around 1 hour 45min or from Kuala Perlis which is a bit closer.
Myself I came from the Thai border and went straight to Kuala Perlis and took a ferry the next day.
Taking a ferry from Kuala Perlis takes you around 1 hour and 15min and costs you 18RM one way(3,80eu)
A new option is to depart from Penang Island and take the ferry for around 3 hours.
This will cost you 60RM so around 12,50 euro.
Where to stay
Now for the love of God DON’T stay in Kuah city.
It is the capital city of Langkawi Island but it just feels so underwhelming and soulless.
(The only highlight is the Eagle statue which is also the symbol of Langkawi island)
So no, stay in the Cenang area instead! It has a good location and there are plenty of attractions and shops there.
A really laidback place that has lots of cheap accomodations for backpackers and average priced hotels for those who have a bit more to spend.
Cenang is also located right next to the beach, a beach that offers lots of restaurants and chill places to hangout at!
Are you looking for something a bit more luxurious and romantic?
A romantic place to spice up your wild honeymoon maybe?
Well Langkawi has plenty of those picture perfect resorts that you are looking for!
They are mostly located off the beaten path and are in the more remote areas of Langkawi Island.
Some of the most famous and top rated ones are: The Danna Langkawi, The Westin resort or the Four Season Resort!
Things to do
Langkawi Island is so relaxed and so untouristic compared to for example Thailand that you can stay here for weeks.
The island is filled with breathtaking sights, non crowded beaches and popular daytrip excursions.
But Langkawi has so much more! Waterfalls, jungles, water activities and a cablecar bringing you to the highest point of the island!
Or how about a daytrip towards the: Kilim Geoforest park showing you huge rock formations, mangrove forests and going inside a bat cave.
To give you a glimpse of what Langkawi has to offer I made a list of some activities and a gallery for you to drool upon.
- Jungles
- Waterfalls
- Eagle Statue
- Langkawi cable car and Skybridge
- Kilim Geoforest Park
- Dayang Bunting also known as Lake of the Pregnant
How long should you stay
Langkawi island offers you so many things to do and see that I’d say a week would suffice.
But you can extend your stay for sure, I guess it all depends what you are looking for and how you want to spend the rest of your days in Malaysia!
It is not a party island in any way but if you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere, pleasant temperatures and outdoor activities then this is the place for you!
I stayed there for a week and that’s when I truly felt that I’ve seen it all.
But I didn’t stay in a 5star resort ofcourse.. If I did you could have seen me add another week easily😅
Climate
Langkawi is perfect to travel all year round. Temperatures throughout the year are more or less the same, around 30-35°C during the day and a pleasant 20°C at night.
Warm enough for you to turn the airconditioner on but not hot enough for you to sweat extensively (although I guess that depends on your activities in the bedroom😉😅)
The island has a dry and wet season and thus it suffers from the occasional thunderstorm and heavy downpours.
But its location forms a natural barrier to avoid them becoming too frequent or violent.
Which means that even during the rainy season it is fine to visit.
You can expect nice weather with the occasional short but heavy downpour as seen in other countries in the area.
So the best time to visit also depends on your preferences!
If you want to witness the waterfalls then visit during the wet season.
The water streams are strongest and jungles are super lush and green.
If you plan to spend your days sunbathing on the beaches then you can better go during the dry season.
Dry season: November-March
Wet season: April-October
My Social Media:
Do you want to stay up to date with all the new articles, pictures or find out where I’m off to next? Then feel free to follow me on my Instagram or Facebook:
