The icon of Langkawi, Eagle Square locally known as Dataran Lang is the home of Langkawi’s giant statue of an eagle. Local folklore suggests the island gets its name from two Malay words – helang (Eagle) and kawi (reddish-brown), hence the name lang-kawi.
Malaysia: Langkawi – Five great things to do
Langkawi is an archipelago of islands on the west coast of Malaysia. Surrounded by the Andaman Sea, the main island offers a mixture of picturesque paddy fields, jungle-clad hills, and tranquil waterfalls.
Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia.
Surrounded by a turquoise sea, the interior of the main island is a mixture of picturesque paddy fields and jungle-clad hills; Langkawi is the ultimate holiday paradise that offers a natural backdrop of sun-drenched beaches and ancient rainforests teeming with exotic plant and animal life. Langkawi is also a Duty Free island. Perfect for shopping!
The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border. On 15 Jul 2008, Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah consented to the change of name to Langkawi Permata Kedah in conjunction with his Golden Jubilee Celebration.
Some of the most popular beaches are Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah, Burau Bay, Pantai Kok and Datai Bay. Pantai Cenang is a picturesque beach with long stretches of fine white sand. It has numerous restaurants and bars for evening entertainment, several hosting live music and for watching the sunset. The beach is lined with tall coconut and casuarina trees. Pantai Tengah is separated from Cenang by a small cape.
Burau Bay, fringed by rocky outcrops, is the favourite place of migratory birds in Langkawi. Pantai Kok is a quiet beach against a backdrop of limestone hills. Datai Bay has a combination of forests and sea, its white sandy beach is backed by lush forest.
1. SKYBRIDGE & SKYPARK
Langkawi Sky Bridge is a 125-metre (410 ft) curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge in Malaysia, completed in 2005. The bridge deck is 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level at the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang on Pulau Langkawi.
2. LANGKAWI GIANT EAGLE
The icon of Langkawi, Eagle Square locally known as Dataran Lang is the home of Langkawi’s giant statue of an eagle. Local folklore suggests the island gets its name from two Malay words – helang (Eagle) and kawi (reddish-brown), hence the name lang-kawi.
3. KILIM KARST GEOFOREST PARK
Kilim Geoforest Park (or Kilim Karst Geoforest Park as its full name) is one of the three geoforest parks associated with the Langkawi Geopark. Langkawi Geopark comprises the whole of Langkawi Island and was endorsed as the 52nd Global Geopark by UNESCO on 1st June 2007.
4. PANTAI CENANG
Pantai Cenang is well located on the west side of the island, where most cafes/restaurants/music bars are located. The long stretch of white sand spans for 2km and is the most popular beach on the island, which makes for a lively, fun atmosphere.
5. ISLAND HOPPING TOUR
Island hopping in Langkawi is one of the top sightseeing activities offered by local Langkawi travel agents and tour guides. And with the Langkawi archipelago having 99 islands (104 at low tide), there is plenty to go at!
The three most popular islands to visit on these tours are Pulau Dayang Bunting, Pulau Singa Besar, and Pulau Beras Basah.
Getting to Langkawi
You can get to Langkawi by air or by sea! Most people take a flight into Langkawi International Airport and then to their hotel.
Alternatively, you can also drive up to Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and head over via a ferry. Ferries also run between two destinations in Thailand – and Satun.
You can buy tickets online or at the jetty using platforms such as Langkawi Ferry Services.You can also check out the official websites of the ferry operators.
You can enjoy the views of the Andaman Sea and the islands along the way. The ferry ride from Kuala Kedah takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, while from Kuala Perlis it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The ferry ride from Penang takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes, while from Thailand it takes about 1 hour.
The best time to visit Langkawi
Langkawi, Malaysia sits under the Am classification of the Köppen climate system – meaning it experiences a tropical monsoon climate. The temperature remains reliably warm year-round with slight fluctuations, while precipitation amounts oscillate noticeably, hinting at distinct wet and dry seasons. The island experiences high temperatures ranging from 31°C to 34°C across the year. The lowest temperatures are in a narrow band of 23°C to 24°C.
Throughout the year, rainfall amounts see a significant variation. Starting with 50mm in January, it increases, reaching peak levels in September and October with 339mm and 344mm respectively. After that, rainfall decreases sharply heading into the year-end, bottoming out at 94mm in December. With respect to rainfall days, lesser numbers during January to March of around 4 to 9 days, rise sharply in the ensuing months to peak at 22 days from September to October. The remainder of the year sees this number taper off gradually.
Unmistakable patterns appear in the number of daylight hours too. The year starts with 11.8 hours in January, gradually increasing to a high of 12.5 hours in June and July before slowly reducing back to 11.8 hours by December. On the other hand, sunshine hours fluctuate minimally, varying between 6 to 8 hours across the year. Even the sea temperature remains fairly constant throughout the year, oscillating between 28°C to 30°C.
The best time to visit Langkawi
Considering the average weather conditions, the optimal time to visit Langkawi would be from January to March. During this period, the rainfall levels are comparably lower ranging from 50mm to 91mm, with rainfall occurring on 4 to 9 days of the month. The sea temperature holds steady at a pleasant 28°C to 29°C, desirable for water-related activities. Additionally, the daylight hours gradually escalate from 11.8 hours to 12.1 hours, leaving ample time for sightseeing. Despite the high UV index of 12 in this period, equipped with suitable sun protection, visitors can enjoy pleasant weather with 8 hours of sunshine each day.
The worst time to visit Langkawi
The months from September to October mark the least favourable period to visit Langkawi owing to high rainfall levels. These months witness the heaviest rainfall, exceeding 330mm, coupled with the highest number of rainfall days at 22. Despite the decent sea temperature oscillating between 29°C to 30°C, the influx of monsoon rains could hinder marine activities and outdoor adventures. While there is significant daylight, with about 12.2 hours to 12 hours, sizable rainfall and an average of 6 hours of sunshine might restrict outdoor pursuits.
Where to stay in Langkawi
1. LUXURY – THE DATAI LANGKAWI
The Datai offers luxurious accommodations with free Wi-Fi. It features a golf course, well-appointed spa and swimming pool.
The rooms at The Datai Langkawi overlook a tropical landscape and feature a living area with a private balcony. Private bathrooms are fitted with a dressing area and bathtub.
The hotel’s spa offers a menu of massage and body treatments. Mountain bikes are also available for usage, at no charge. Guests have access to a fitness center and two tennis courts at Els Club Teluk Datai, which is a 5-minute drive from the resort.
Located away from the hotel in a rainforest, The Gulai House is an open-air restaurant serving Malay and Indian dishes. The Dining Room serves western and local favorites, while The Pavilion offers Thai food in an outdoor setting.
2. MID-RANGE – THE SMITH HOUSE
The Smith House Langkawi is amongst the most pleasant 3-star hotels in Langkawi. This boutique hotel boasts of elegant furnishings coupled with contemporary dcor, thus attracting guests from far and wide, including families, couples and leisure/ business travelers. The hotel offers modern-day services and facilities in order to offer a relaxing and hassle-free stay. It features an azure blue swimming pool wherein guests can enjoy a relaxing dip in cool blue waters. One can also head to the onsite library and enjoy a reading session in tranquility.
3. BUDGET – VILLA ABADI RESORT
Located in Pantai Cenang, a 7-minute walk from Kuala Teriang Beach, Villa Abadi Resort has accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking and a garden. Located around 1.6 miles from Kuala Muda Beach, the hotel with free WiFi is also 1.1 miles away from Telaga Harbour. The hotel has family rooms.
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