Tropical island escapes are a winter favourite for many West Australians and with Asia being so close it’s a region that’s easily accessible. But if you’re tired of the crowds in Bali or you’ve already visited Thailand and Vietnam, why not head to the beautiful archipelago of Langkawi.
Located off the Malaysian mainland, in the State of Kedah, the archipelago comprises 99 islands and is a quick 50-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur. Only two of the archipelago’s islands are inhabited with Pulau Langkawi being the largest with a population of around 65,000.
Langkawi Island has all you could wish for in a relaxed island holiday: sandy beaches, lush jungle, craggy mountain peaks and luxury resorts aplenty. It also has duty-free status which means enjoying cocktails by the pool is an easy choice and beer is almost cheaper than water.
Peak tourist season is from November to March but I visited in early July and while there was occasional rain, it didn’t dampen my enjoyment. Be mindful that some tourist attractions close during off-peak months so check them out before you visit to avoid disappointment.
Undoubtedly the number one attraction on the island is a trip up the mountain by cable car, known as the Langkawi SkyCab. This 2.2km gondola ride has the steepest gradient in the world and also has the world’s longest free span for a mono-cable car.
While I do have an extreme fear of heights I decided to be brave and the 15-minute ride rewarded me with spectacular views over the island below and the archipelago beyond. Riding the cable car is also the only way of reaching the SkyBridge at the top of the mountain.
The SkyBridge is 700 metres high and 125 metres long, making it the world’s longest curved suspension bridge. My words of advice here are buy tickets for the cable car and bridge walk in advance and absolutely get there prior to opening time as the queues of tourists can have you waiting more than an hour. Also remember to carry your passport and a metal water bottle as single-use plastic bottles aren’t allowed. Thankfully you can buy water on the mountain top.
But if you prefer activities closer to sea level you’ll be spoilt for choice. You can take a guided boat tour through the mangrove forests, join a sunset cruise, go island hopping or take a jet ski tour. Scuba diving and parasailing are also popular and most of these adventures are available from Pantai Cenang, Langkawi’s main beach.
It’s wise to note that while Cenang is the area that offers the most activities and beach front restaurants, it does get very busy and noisy. The fumes from all the watercraft are also unpleasant. My advice is to avoid staying along this beach and opt for a quieter location.
My choice was to stay at Pantai Tengah (Tengah Beach) as, with the island’s small size, you’re never far away from where you want to go or what you want to see.
The cheapest transport option is Grab – Langkawi’s equivalent to Uber – and a ten minute Grab ride will cost you around $5. The island is very safe to drive around either on two wheels or four. The roads are good, with minimal traffic and with a maximum speed limit of 60-km per hour, driving is a breeze. But as taxis are so cheap, why bother driving yourself?
Hiring a chauffeur for half a day is also an excellent idea as it takes only an hour to drive around the island. Pretty waterfalls, the craft centre in the north as well as decorative temples and towering statues built into the side of sheer cliff faces are some of the things you can ask your driver to visit. A driver will cost between $50-$80 for the four hours. Hotels offer good advice on drivers and can book you one but it’s always wise to check that they’re experienced, knowledgeable and speak good English.
Langkawi also has some great seafood and the best crab meal I found was at the Palm View Restaurant along the main road in Cenang.
Note that Langkawi is still rather rustic, except for the big hotels. It suffered greatly from the effects of the pandemic and its tourism industry has yet to recover so don’t expect the nightlife, shopping and all the bells and whistles found in other tropical tourist meccas. But for me that’s the best reason of all for going there.
Top Travel Tips
• Download the ‘Grab’ taxi app before you go as a ride is at least 50% cheaper than usual taxis.
• Other than hotels there’s very little free wifi so consider getting an international SIM card.
• Take some local currency as Grab drivers only accept cash and you’ll also need cash for local markets, small restaurants and shops.
• Watch out for the monkeys – stay clear, never ever feed them and never visibly carry food when they’re around.
• Do your research when booking activities. Safety should be a top priority so pay a little more to get the best option.
