Some of the best things you should consider doing in Langkawi

It is a perfect destination for tourists who want to enjoy some island-living experience. It is located on a Malaysian island called Penang. The laid back atmosphere, breath taking scenery, and beaches on the island makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaysia. Langkawi is a small island, but there are a lot of things you can do there when you visit. There is a wide range of accommodation facilities in the island. Low budget guest rooms are mainly located in the Pentai Cenang Beach while luxurious facilities are found in different parts of the island.

Most tourists prefer visiting the island between December and March as the temperatures are around 30 degrees. As December is almost approaching, be sure to check out cheap flights from Singapore to Langkawi. One of the main challenges for tourists on the island is the lack of an established public transport system. Therefore, some of the transport options for you include hiring a motorbike, a taxi, or your private car. Langkawi is one of the few tourist destinations in the world that have a duty-free status, and this allows tourists to have an amazing shopping experience while on the island. Here is a list of things you should consider doing as you tour around Langkawi:

1. Ride the Langkawi Cable Car



It should be a top priority when you visit this Malaysian island of Langkawi. People travel from different parts of the world to enjoy the cable car ride. You are likely to find long queues of people waiting to ride the car. It involves a steep ride up Mount Mat Cincang, and there are two stops during the ride. You will have an opportunity to view some of the best scenery in the island and to enjoy some local dishes in different cafes.

2. Visit the Eagle Square

The locals refer to the square as Dataran Lang. It is one of the most iconic destinations you can visit while on the island. It is located in the island’s main town called Kuah. The statue measures 12 meters high. It is located near other popular attractions such as the Taman Lagenda Langkawi. You can also enjoy a wide variety of dishes in cafes and restaurants near the square.

3. Enjoy the Street Food at the Night Markets

If you would want to sample local cuisines on the island, you need to visit the night markets. You will find a wide variety of relatively cheap dishes. Some of the most delicious meals that you can buy include grilled chicken, seafood, salads, and pancakes.

4. Explore the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park

The park occupies over 100 square kilometres of land, and some of the most attractive spots in the island include beaches, mangrove forests, and caves. Some online platforms rank the park as the best tourist site on the island.

5. Visit the Underwater World Langkawi



The island of Langkawi is best known for marine life. The tourist destination has about 500 different species of fish. When you visit the island, you will be taken through an underwater tunnel where you will be able to view the different species from every angle.

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5 Top Things to do in Langkawi, Malaysia

Langkawi is one of those destinations that is insanely popular with honeymooning couples from India. Like its South East Asian counterparts – Bali and Krabi/Phuket, Langkawi is extremely popular on the mainstream honeymoon trail due to its proximity to India, simple Malaysian visa process, easy access to Indian food, a heady mix of beach, nature, mountains, culture, shopping and food and its affordability factor.

Boutique luxury properties, villas with private beaches, remote luxury properties in the mountains, many five star hospitality chains, up market, mid market and budget hotels are available in this hotspot thus attracting a diverse audience. Depending on one’s choice of luxury levels and budget, one can book Langkawi hotels on Traveloka, a hotel booking site that charges no booking fee, offers various payment methods and offers a simple, yet intuitive functionality that is easy to compare and book.

I have never visited Langkawi for my honeymoon (as I am still single), but I have visited as a backpacker and on a relaxing holiday with my family. If you are planning either a romantic and/or a relaxing holiday to this archipelago, you will definitely be interested in these top things to do in Langkawi.

1) Be a Beach Baby



The archipelago is blessed with umpteen number of good beach stretches, but my favorites are Tanjung Rhu and Pasir Tengkorak. These 2 beaches located in the northern part of the island and are surrounded by ancient limestone caves, mangrove forests and white sandy beaches with clear and warm waters. The four seasons luxury hotel is located here. The locale is perfect for a relaxed beach holiday.

2) Go Island Hopping



To go island hopping is a no-brainer when it comes to an exotic tropical archipelago such as Langkawi. Island hopping in Langkawi is full of adventure, activity and pristine nature. One can go snorkelling in the stunning coral reefs, go for a swim in some of the gorgeous lagoon lakes, indulge in some rock climbing on some of its famous limestone crags, discover rich birdlife in the mangrove forests, explore the magnificent limestone caves, kayak by some remote tropical islands or simply read a book and soak in the sunshine on one of the many remote stretches of white sandy beach in the archipelago.

3) See Langkawi from a Cable Car



Taking the cable car to the mountain overlooking Pantai Cenang is one of the most touristy things of Langkawi and properly very mainstream. However, the beautiful view of the sea of green from the sky bridge is a must see in Langkawi. One can see neighboring Thailand and more or less the entire archipelago (on a clear day) during this ride. Enroute, one can also visit the Telaga Tujuh waterfalls that breaks into seven emerald pool that make for a refreshing dip amidst green nature.

4) Indulge in Duty Free Shopping

Langkawi is one of those destinations in Malaysia that doubles up as a duty free destination. Alcohol, Cigarettes, Wine, Chocolates, cosmetics, souvenirs, clothes, electronics and many other items are available at a cheaper price than the rest of Malaysia. Usually, anyone staying in Langkawi for 2 days is eligible for duty free shopping. The Langkawi Parade Megamall, the Zon Duty Free Shopping Complex and Cenang Mall are great places to begin your duty free shopping action. Do not miss out the opportunity to indulge in a nice hot cup of Old Town White Coffee while you take a break from your retail therapy.

5) Go High on Adventure



Sailing cruises to the nearby Koh Lipe island, parasailing on the main Langkawi island, exploring remote islands from on a jet ski, Snorkelling and scuba diving in some of the rich coral reefs located close by, kayaking in the lagoons, jungle trekking in the rainforest, climbing up a top quality limestone crag, seeing Langkawi from inside a helicopter or going on a yacht cruise, Langkawi has all the ingredients for an adventure island destination. As this is one of those areas that is picking up steam all over the world, rich adventure action is one of the key reasons for one to plan a holiday to this Malaysian archipelago. You could either book these adventure tours directly through your hotel or through reputed travel agents.

As you can see, there is no paucity of beach, nature, action or shopping in Langkawi. Add international cuisines with fresh seafood, vibrant Malay culture, an international airport, excellent connectivity to Kuala Lumpur and easy getaways to neighboring islands of Thailand and the UNESCO world heritage town of Georgetown to it and we have one of Malaysia’s top holiday destinations. No wonder, all Indians seem to love Langkawi. When are you planning your next holiday to this tropical beach destination?

Note: The first 2 pictures in this article have been borrowed from wikipedia under the Creative Commons license. The borrowed photographs have been linked to their host page on wikipedia.

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Coast of bliss: Pearls of the Andaman Sea

Some of the clearest and bluest water in the world can be found in the Andaman Sea. It’s no surprise then, that the Andaman coast has some of the best beaches in the world. From Indonesia to Malaysia to Bangladesh to Thailand, each country has its own little pearl of a coastal city along the way. For those thinking about a holiday in the sun, here are some of the most beautiful spots you’ll find along the way.



Khao Lak, Thailand A Khao Lak holiday offers the best of all worlds. For the relaxation seekers, there are the long stretches of beaches and warm waves that let the stress fade away. For the adventure seekers, there is some of the best diving in the world, with a gentle sea and rainbow colored coral for explorers. There are also mountains to hike and exotic animals to see at the national parks, all with the north Andaman Sea as a backdrop. Plus, it’s a far cry from the bustle of nearby Phuket’s bigger resort towns.

Langkawi, Malaysia An archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, Langkawi is one of Malaysia’s most popular tourist destinations. While there are the requisite beaches and clear water, the big draw here is the Geopark. Given world Geopark status by UNESCO in 2007, there are three main parks that are unlike anything else in the world. In these parks are a sky bridge that winds over the rainforest canopy, hidden lagoons and caves, and all other kinds of natural wonders.



Ko Tarutao, Thailand An island off of southern Thailand, a holiday here is a bit different from other Andaman holidays. The water is murky compared to other nearby spots, but it makes up for it due to the vast wildlife on the island. Sea turtles, mouse deer, crab-eating macaques, monitor lizards, and more all call the island and the water surrounding it home.

The Similan Islands Considered the best diving site in the Andaman Sea, the Similan Islands are covered in tropical jungle, but it’s the views under water that are the real draw. There are two different dive spots around the islands, both will world renowned sights. Dive sites on the west are filled with massive granite boulders, covered in coral. Dive sites to the east are defined by gently sloping coral reefs.

 

Georgetown, Malaysia A holiday to Georgetown is a different kind of Andaman sea holiday. While there are beaches and water you can take a dip in, the real draw is the city itself. In regards to the city’s architecture and cultural townscape, it has no parallels in Asia. It’s a place where the past is present, with cities and sights that haven’t changed in a decade. Trishaws carry visitors and locals alike through the winding streets while skyscrapers dot the landscape. For even the most discerning traveller, any spot along the Andaman coast is sure to be a fun filled holiday, so why not pack some flip flops and start exploring?

Images by Inchka, Davidlohr Bueso and Joonas used under creative commons license.

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Sweet Inn Motel: Good Budget Accommodation for families and couples in Langkawi, Malaysia

Generally, I stay in backpacker style accommodation or hostels, but since my sister and her husband joined me for a short location, we tried finding a family friendly place in Langkawi and that is how we ended up at the Sweet Inn Motel in the Pantai Cenang area of Langkawi. The below review is based on my recent experience of staying 4 nights here.

1) The hotel comes with decent sized rooms that can fit 3 people comfortably. When I booked these rooms initially over Agoda, I ended up paying 110 Ringgits, but when I extended the initial booking for 2 more nights, the hotel owner was kind enough to give it to me for 70 Ringgits.

2) Each room is air-conditioned and comes with an attached bathroom that has hot shower facility. There is also a shared balcony with 2 easy lounge chairs.

3) Free breakfast is served every morning from 7 AM to 10 AM. This includes, toast, rice/noodles, egg/chicken and cornflakes/milk. The breakfast is nothing special, but not bad too.

4) The place comes with free wi-fi, but sometimes the wi-fi fails to connect in the 1st floor rooms. The speeds are good though.

5) This hotel is all about location. It is one street behind the Pantai Cenang beach and hence that is a plus. It is located close to the taxi stand, laundry stores, travel agencies, restaurants, shops and more. This makes it a great place to stay as one doesn’t need to walk too much to fulfill basic travel needs.

6) The good things about this hotel is that it is located in a very quiet part of the happening area, the people running the place are very cordial and eager to help and the rooms are very clean.

7) The hotel arranges tours too and the cost is more or less similar to what is available with other travel agencies. However, some shops do sell these tours at a much lower cost.

A lot of people staying here were couples or families with young children. They were all happy with the place and so were we. I would stay here again if I went with my family.

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Langkawi: Popular Beach Destination of Malaysia

A lot of locals say that Langkawi was named after the Brahminy Kite, a common bird of prey. But, that is very much debatable. The one thing that is not debatable is the fact that Langkawi is one of the more fiercely popular beach destinations of Malaysia. Its beautiful limestone cliff and forest archipelago of some 100 islands to the north of Penang has an abundance of beautiful scenery and white sandy beaches.


Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah in the southwest are the most popular beaches lined with accommodation, restaurants and souvenir shops. In the northwest are the pretty beach of Burau Bay and the seven step Telaga Tujuh (Seven Wells) waterfall, while the Langkawi cable car brings you to the top of the 708 meter high Gunung Machincang for magnificent views of the surrounding forest and the Andaman sea. The northern beaches has some luxury resorts. Other activities include a limestone mangrove swamp tour in the Kilim nature park, island hopping to enjoy marvelous deserted beaches and snorkeling or diving in the clear waters at Pulau Payar.

To plan a Langkawi trip or a full blown Malaysian holiday, look up Malaysia Tourism. If you are flying from India, look up Make My Trip for some great deals and discounts.

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