For as long as I can remember I have had a love affair with orangutans.…
Malaysia: Langkawi – Sky Bridge & SkyCab
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.
The plan had been to leave early to reach the SkyCab lift before the crowds assembled. Things did not quite go as expected and we ended up leaving much later than we had wanted. Nevertheless, we set out and were pleased that the weather looked like it would hold out for our visit.
It wasn’t a long journey, nowhere is far in Langkawi, and our destination was the Oriental Village where the cable car, called the SkyCab, leaves for the SkyBridge. The Oriental Village felt like someone’s attempt to reproduce Downtown Disney in Malaysia, but they had failed and sadly it does not seem to have done well during the Covid pandemic – many of the stores were shut. But it was Chinese New Year, and the place was packed with people wanting to go up on the cable car. We went to the ticket booth and bought our timed tickets, and we were pleased to discover we only had less than an hour to wait, which gave us enough time to get a cup of coffee.
Langkawi Cable Car (officially branded as Langkawi SkyCab) may not be the longest or highest cable car in the World, or even in Malaysia (that honour goes to Genting Skyway). The gradient or the slope between the Base Station and the Middle Station is said to be one of the steepest in the world at 42° It has the longest free span for a mono-cable car at 950 m (3,120 ft). The 15-minute cable car ride is 2150 metres long and climbs 680 metres, with magnificent views high above the treetops of dense rain forest and the stunning backdrop of the 450-million-year-old Machincang mountain range (the oldest rock formation in Southeast Asia). This mountain range is part of the Langkawi UNESCO Geopark which also includes the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park.
As we lined up with our cohort of ticket holders Karen and I were getting a little nervous – I don’t particularly like heights, and she doesn’t like cable cars. Many of the people waiting were in larger groups, and they were trying to fill the cable car cabs with six people so we kept getting moved to the front of the line. So, by the time we climbed aboard, we’d probably saved upwards of 30 minutes of queuing time.
On the way up we distracted ourselves by talking to the family we were sharing the ride with. There are two stations on the way up. We climbed out at the first station to take in the views. Just across from the cable car station they were building a new cantilever platform that will extend out over the edge of the cliffs. We didn’t stay here for long, jumping back on the cable car up to the top station.
Up here there are some more platforms with spectacular views across the Langkawi archipelago and the Andaman Sea. The reason we had come up here was to walk across the Skybridge, the access for which was below where were standing. We had to buy more tickets for the Skybridge and had to walk down and up 324 steps or take the inclined lift. Of course, we chose to walk.
The Skybridge is the longest free-span and curved bridge in the world. This curved cable-stayed bridge is 125 metres (410 ft) long and nominally 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) wide and sits at 660 metres (2,170 ft) above sea level. It looks stunning, if somewhat out of place stuck between two mountain peaks surrounded by rainforest. We stood there with trepidation but eventually plucked up the courage to step out onto the bridge with hundreds of metres of fresh air below our feet. Quickly, we got used to it and the views were incredible. Even with stops for photos, it didn’t take long to cross the bridge and walk back. Coming back up from the bridge to the cable car station took a bit of effort, some of the sections were steep, and even up high the humidity and heat were high.
We joined the queue to catch the cable car down. Our fellow passengers were a group of young people, who as they stepped on dropped a plastic water bottle on the floor which rolled around. One of the young girls picked it up as the car was leaving and rather than keep hold of it, threw it out of the closing door into the mechanism of the lift. Karen was unimpressed, to say the least by the act of littering and the potential to damage the lift as we were on it!
At the bottom of SkyCab, we decided not to hang around in Oriental Village and instead headed back to the car park.
Planning your visit to the SkyCab & Sky Bridge
Located on the west coast of the main island of Langkawi, Langkawi SkyCab is situated in the Oriental Village at the foot hill of the Machinchang mountain range. It is approximately 39 minutes of driving from Kuah town and 20 minutes of driving from Langkawi International Airport. For easy search, just download navigation apps to your electronic gadgets: Waze or Google Map, and search for Langkawi Cable Car for the direction to Langkawi SkyCab.
| Website: | https://panoramalangkawi.com/ |
| Address: | 07000 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia |
| Telephone: | +60 4-959 4225 |
| Hours: | 9:30 am – 6:00 pm |
| Cost: |
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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.
Other places to visit while in Langkawi
1. 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.
2. GIANT EAGLE STATUE
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.
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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