When is the best time to go to Langkawi? Events in Langkawi

I was lucky enough to get to know him personally in the spring of 2012, when, by guessing on the coffee grounds and scanning the space, I chose Malaysia as the place for my next vacation.

The most beautiful beaches on the islands of the archipelago; bathing in a sea as warm as fresh milk; many sights that can be seen on exciting excursions; fine and varied food collected from all over Southeast Asia; delicious fruits all year round; great shopping at attractive prices - all this can be easily found on the island of Langkawi. Our expectations were fully justified, the island really deserves all those warm words that they say about it.

Langkawi, the pearl of the Andaman Sea

Here are the main things you need to know about Langkawi:

Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands located 30 kilometers off the west coast of Malaysia. The city of Kuah is the capital and the largest settlement on the island. Since 1987, the entire island has been one big zone, that is, goods sold on the island are not subject to excise duties, duties or VAT, which will appeal to all lovers of savings.

The average annual temperature both in Langkawi and in Malaysia is +27%, the average water temperature is also +27%. Swimming in the sea is a real pleasure, the water is like fresh milk!

A huge number of beautiful, clean beaches that can be found throughout the island. Everyone will be satisfied, both lovers of "wild" beaches and fully equipped ones.

It falls on the period from May to September, but you can relax here all year round. We were in the month of April, it rains almost on schedule, once a day, exactly at 17.00-17.30, but it doesn’t bother you at all, everything dries almost instantly, you don’t feel any discomfort. In addition, a tropical downpour is something you must see!

The total area of ​​all the islands of the archipelago is 478 square kilometers, while the island of Lagkawi itself occupies “only” 320 square kilometers.

The population of the archipelago at the moment is more than 64 thousand people. The main ethnic group is the Malays, most of whom are Muslims. Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity are also present on the island. In Malaysia, there is freedom of religion, so no one is infringing on anyone. The people inhabiting the island, in general, are extremely good-natured, responsive and adequate.

In addition to the main ethnic group - the Malays, Indians, Chinese, Thais and other nationalities of our ball also live on the island:

In many places you can meet extremely colorful personalities from all over the world:

At one time, a couple of centuries ago, there was a war between Thailand and Malaysia, and the island passed from one hand to another. The Malays left, burned the rice crops, the Thais came and planted the rice; the Thais were again expelled by the Malays, who, before leaving, burned the rice crops ... and this went on for some time, until everything finally calmed down and the island became Malay. But, for several centuries now, the region has been more than calm, so the above facts can only be perceived as historical.

Attractions Langkawi

Of course, today Langkawi is the best place to relax in Malaysia. This is due to many factors. A duty-free zone, a wonderful climate, good-natured locals, a good hotel base, and of course a lot of attractions.

The first thing I would like to draw attention to is the Langkawi Cable Car and Sky Bridge.

They are located in the north-west of the island, and allow you to perfectly view the entire island at a glance.

Sky Brige, to which the Langkawi Cable Car leads, is located on one of the highest peaks in Langkawi.

At the foot of this mountain location is another attraction - Oriental Village (Eastern Village), which is a fine example of an open-air museum. Malay-style buildings with Duty Free shops and many traditional restaurants inside.

Nearby are elephant shows, for a fee you can even ride them. Here you can walk around the beautiful lake, feed the ducks, fortunately the crocodiles are located in other water bodies, but more on that later.

Near the East Village, about a kilometer away, is the Seven Wells waterfall (Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls aka Seven Wells). On the north-western part of the island, on the other side of the mountains, to which the cable car leads, there is the Temurun Waterfall, perhaps the most beautiful in Langkawi. Well, the third waterfall is located in the north-central part of the island, and bears the odorous name Durian Falls (Durian Perangin Waterfall). All these waterfalls can be easily seen in a couple of days by renting a car or scooter.

Also, on the northwestern part of the island is the Crocodile Farm, or as it is also called Crocodile Adventureland (Crocodile Adventureland or Crocodile Farm). An interesting and beautiful park, in the vicinity of which you can see crocodiles of all sizes, colors and species that live in their natural conditions. The farm is considered one of the largest in the world. The park is a must-visit for all lovers of flora, fauna and toothy predators.

Off the west coast, near the airport, there is an open-air museum - Laman Padi Rice Garden, rice fields and a rice museum. Quite an interesting place where you can see how rice is grown in Southeast Asia, see the life and history of the island of Langkawi.

Literally a couple of kilometers from the rice museum, along the main road, there is a wonderful oceanarium "UnderWater World Langkawi". In it you can see many species of fish, corals, underwater life forms. You must visit it without fail, the aquarium will appeal to both adults and young travelers.

Among other attractions, I would like to note the hot springs in the village of Air Hangat (Telaga Air Hangat or Ayer Hangat Village):

Galeria Perdana - Perdana Gallery, a museum exhibiting gifts and souvenirs from the personal collection of Malaysian Prime Minister Mohatir Mohamadu. The museum is simply huge by the standards of the island, there are many interesting and informative exhibits from all over the globe.

Do not forget about the sights of the islands of the archipelago. Near Langkawi is the island of Pulau Dayang, which houses the Lake of the Pregnant maiden - the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. A very interesting legend is connected with the lake, which I will definitely tell about in a separate article. The locals believe that a sip of water from this lake allows even a barren woman to become pregnant.

And of course the city of Kuah, the capital of the island of Langkawi. Here is one of the most curious places - Lagenda Langkawi Dalam Taman - Langkawi Legends Park. As the name suggests, the park tells the legends of the island and is very curious to explore. Near the park is Eagle Square, one of the most famous places in Langkawi.

Tourism and recreation on the island of Langkawi

Mild climate, warm sea, beautiful islands with heavenly beaches, helpful people, all this makes Langkawi one of the best resort places in Malaysia. The most popular and famous beaches are Pantai Cenang, Pantai Kok, Pantai Tentah, Tanjung Ru and Pantai Pasir Hitam.

Tourists from all over the world tend to spend their holidays here. The hotel base on the island is very powerful, everyone will find for himself what he likes and can afford. There are hotels for wealthy people, where the price starts from $1000 per night, and hotels, the cost of which does not exceed $50. In general, absolutely everyone will be satisfied.

Hotels can be selected both in advance, for example through, and directly on the spot. But, the price via the Internet will definitely be cheaper, so the choice is obvious!

Language and population

As mentioned above, the main ethnic group is the Malays. In addition to them, the Chinese, Indians, and Thais live on the island. There are practically no Russians here, you will not meet here like on the island of Phuket in Thailand. On the island, as in Malaysia, freedom of religion, but do not forget that the state religion is Islam.

For the most part, the locals speak and understand English without any problems, we had practically no problems in communication. People are good-natured, sympathetic, some are very rich, but almost all are tolerant.

Safety and prices

As I said, the approximate rate is 1 ringgit = 10 Russian rubles. Prices on the island thanks to the Duty Free zone are very democratic. Accommodation, food and drink are cheaper than in the average Russian city, and even more so than in Moscow. From experience I can say that prices in Malaysia are cheaper than in Thailand, this applies to everything - food, drink, technology and things.

The safety tips are simple. Behave with dignity, keep an eye on valuables, use a safe. If you follow these not tricky recommendations, your vacation will bring only joy and pleasure:

Transport and movement

There is practically no public transport in Langkawi. All movement is carried out either by taxi (cars and minibuses), or by rented cars and scooters. The fare for a taxi is usually fixed and is quite affordable for any tourist.

The price of car rental also does not bite, sometimes renting a small car costs the same as renting a bike. In Malaysia, new Russian driver's licenses are accepted without any problems. I had a case when a Malay woman said that I did not have a mark on my license to drive a scooter. I managed to convince her without any problems that we don’t need a license to drive a scooter, and after 10 minutes we already raced off on bikes towards the jungle ...

Cuisine of Langkawi

Thanks to the mixture of races and cultures in Malaysia, the food and drink in this amazing country is just great! Here you can find everything: seafood and meat, European and Asian cuisine, spicy and lean dishes, in general, everything you want!

Langkawi is not only the largest island of the archipelago of the same name, but also the most popular resort in the country, where countless people from all over the world, including Russia, come every year. The main reason for this popularity is the unique untouched landscapes, white sandy beaches and clear sea. By the way, the sand of local beaches contains a large amount of minerals and is recognized as very beneficial for health, for example, it has been proven that it treats osteochondrosis, rheumatism and bronchitis. No less useful are the magnificent thermal springs and the clean air of the island. Langkawi is also famous for its natural and man-made attractions, which are covered with many legends and myths. The most romantic myth tells of Princess Mahsuri, who was executed on a false charge of adultery and cursed the island, which caused a lot of trouble.

The Malaysian government positions Langkawi as a place for wealthy vacationers, but, of course, in practice this is not at all the case. Of course, the island has several beaches with luxury hotels, where the average tourist can not get. However, most of the beaches, including the most popular beaches of Pantai Tengah and Pantai Cenang, are very democratic in cost and, moreover, are the busiest places. In general, Langkawi is just an ideal place that is suitable for both fun and secluded relaxation.

Climate and weather

Langkawi lies in the equatorial climate zone, so it is always sunny and hot here. On average, the air on the island warms up to +26...+30 °C, and water to +29°C.

It is generally accepted that the best time for a holiday in Langkawi is a dry period from November to April, during which there is practically no rain. However, in general, the weather on the island is excellent throughout the year, so you can relax here in any season. Of course, in Langkawi, as well as throughout this region, there is a wet season (May - September), but the weather during this period is quite unpredictable: precipitation may be absent for many days in a row, but the showers themselves are most often warm and short.

Nature

The island of Langkawi is part of the archipelago of the same name, which consists of 104 islands scattered in andaman sea along the northwestern shores of the Malaysian mainland. The island itself is located in Strait of Malacca, near the border with Thailand. Around Langkawi there are many small islands that create a very beautiful and picturesque seascape.

Nature in Langkawi is truly unique, because, despite the honorable age of the island (more than 5 million years), it has been preserved almost in its original form. For this reason, in 2007 UNESCO declared this paradise island a Geopark. Here you can see the rarest species of animals and plants, beaches with healing sand, caves with stalagmites, wild landscapes and centuries-old trees. The main inhabitants of the island are monkeys, mouse deer, hornbills, colorful butterflies and eagles. Separately, it is worth mentioning the rare chocolate brown eagle, which is the symbol of the island.

Attractions

Basically, the attractions of the island of Langkawi are unique natural objects (mountains, parks, hot springs, waterfalls, etc.), although there are also some very remarkable historical buildings and museums.

The most famous attraction of the main city of Kuah is Eagle Square, which is decorated with artificial reservoirs with bridges and the figure of a red-brown eagle. Located next to the square Park of Legends, the exhibits of which tell about the legends and myths of the archipelago. Also in the city rise the golden baths of the largest and most popular mosque of the island - Al Khan mosques. And not far from Kuah is gallery Perdana with an extensive collection of awards and souvenirs that were presented to former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Among other man-made attractions, it is worth highlighting the only Hindu temple on the island. Hindu Temple. It is also recommended to visit the handicraft Langkawi complex, tomb and house-museum of Princess Mahsuri And Oceanarium "Underwater World", as well as the Museum and Cultural Fund with paintings by the country's most famous artist - Ibrahim Hussein. No less interesting excursion objects are:

• black beach Pantai Pasir Hitam,
• temurun waterfalls,
• durian,
• "Seven Wells"
• snake and crocodile farm,
• "Rice Compound" with the Rice Museum.

Notable tourist complex East Village, where you can get acquainted with the life of typical Malaysians, buy a lot of souvenirs, try exotic dishes and see theatrical performances or performances of folk performers.

Other famous and popular objects of Langkawi include:

• Gua Chrita and Gua Kelavar caves
• observation decks on Mount Mat Chinchang,
• hot springs in the village of Air Khangat,
• cable car with suspension bridge Skybridge,
• the mythical Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, which is located on a neighboring island.

Nutrition

The culinary customs of Langkawi have been influenced by Chinese, Thai and Indian traditions. Therefore, it is not surprising that a characteristic feature of local dishes is a large amount of pepper and spices. At the same time, restaurants with European cuisine can be easily found on the island. They are mainly concentrated in the city. Kuah.

If we talk directly about the national cuisine of Malaysia, then its basis is rice, which is included in most Malay dishes, as well as vegetables, exotic fruits and coconut milk. The most common treats that you can try in any restaurant are rice noodles with eggs and shrimp " cha qui tew", fish curry with rice " nasi dagang", fried rice " nasi goreng and rice with chicken and vermicelli. It is also recommended to taste the vegetable salad " gado gado» with peanut sauce and coconut milk or pineapple salad « rojak» with cucumbers and shrimp fritters.

Local chefs use meat quite rarely, most often on holidays. Among the national meat dishes, meat stewed in coconut milk is most often served. rendang", chicken skewers "sati ayam" with sweet and sour sauce, pancakes with meat " murtabak» and noodles with chicken and curry sauce « laksa curry". Also, Malay cuisine is replete with interesting seafood dishes: shark fin soup, fried scallops, anchovies, cuttlefish salad and much more.

In addition, guests of the island are advised to try local street food, which is sold in the evenings along the coast of Cenang and in the capital. Signature "street" dishes are noodles in curry sauce "laksa-kedah", lamb soup with herbs " sop-ecor» and small kebabs « sate”, which are sold with rice pudding and peanut and chili sauce.

Accommodation

In Langkawi, tourists are provided with the widest choice of hotels and hotels for every taste: from luxurious world-class resort complexes to budget guest houses. Many of the island's hotels are stylized as traditional kampung villages, where you can stay in both bungalow chalets and cozy rooms.

In total, there are 30 hotels on the island, of which more than half are five-star hotels. The beach is one of the most popular places. Pantai Chenang where the big resort is located Pelangi Beach with many cottages and inexpensive hotels. Although a quieter beach is better for families with children Pantai Tengah. In this place, the most convenient location and quality service is famous for the hotel. Langkawi Village. Lovers of expensive and eventful holidays will love the beach Pantai Kok with the most expensive hotels, restaurants, duty-free shops, etc. This is where the famous hotel is located. Berjaya Langkawi Beach Resort & SPA which is quite popular among foreign tourists. Also excellent hotels can be found on the beaches of T Anjung Roux, Datai and in other places.

Entertainment and recreation

The most popular pastime in Langkawi is beach holidays and water sports. The best beaches of the island, which boast white sand and excellent infrastructure, are:

• pantai chenang,
• Pantai Tentah,
• Pantai Kok,
• Tanjung Ru,
• Pantai Pasir Hitam.

Beautiful nature and clear water turned these places into magnificent resorts, where many celebrities, including Margaret Thatcher and Elizabeth II, rested. Almost all beaches offer sports such as windsurfing, snorkeling, boating, yachting, catamarans and boats, beach volleyball, fishing and much more.

Due to its high popularity, Langkawi boasts a large number of resort hotels where all types of recreation are available, as well as many interesting tourist sites where you can have great fun and relax. Of these, the most important is East Village, which is a very colorful place with many duty-free shops, Asian restaurants and souvenir shops. Also here you can see theatrical performances and performances of folk performers or listen to traditional music. No less interesting and popular tourist sites are the grand cable car with a suspension bridge, a huge oceanarium " The underwater world of Langkawi” and the village of Air Hangat, which is an entertainment complex with hot springs.

Nightlife lovers will also have something to do, as there are some great places to dance, drink and listen to live music. Most of these establishments are located in Pantai Chenang And Pantai Tentah, where in addition to clubs there is a huge variety of restaurants and eateries.

Purchases

The island of Langkawi is a free (duty-free) trade zone, so alcohol, cigarettes, bags, clothes, shoes, textiles and souvenirs are sold at fairly low prices. Of course, duty-free shops, which look like souvenir shops, are the most popular among tourists. Duty-free shops operate almost everywhere where there are tourists, but most of them are concentrated in East Village and the beach area Chenang. Well, the main shopping centers of the island are located in the main city of Langkawi - Kuahe. Here for shopping you should go to the mall Teow Soon Huat Duty Free Supermarket & Department Store, on the territory of which there are a lot of shops, 12 restaurants and a large supermarket. You can't ignore shopping malls either. Saga Shopping Center And Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall, where the only McDonalds on the island is located.

Outside of Kuah, there are also many shopping centers and shops, they are mostly concentrated near hotels and main attractions. For example, a gallery shop De' Zone is the island's largest trading center selling souvenirs and local artisans, such as traditional silverware, pewter, gems and batik. A wide selection of interesting souvenirs is provided in the shops skydeep souvenir shop(Pantai Tengah resort area) and Cinnamon's(Pantai Cenang resort area), as well as a great batik shop Atma Ala. In the latter, you can get acquainted with the process of making and painting this fabric, and then buy something for yourself as a keepsake, for example, a bag, wallet, pillow, scarf, painting and much more.

Transport

Langkawi International Airport is located just 20 km from the capital of the island. It receives flights several times a day from Kuala Lumpur. Langkawi is also connected by regular flights to all major cities in Malaysia, London, Osaka, Singapore and Taipei (Taiwan). In addition, there is a continuous ferry service between Langkawi and Penang Island.

Public transport in Langkawi is not well developed and is mainly represented by taxis and buses. Bus service connects the main areas - the pier, airport, Pantai Cenang beach and Kuah city. However, local buses run quite infrequently, and stopping points are not marked in any way. Therefore, if your own time is valuable to you, you should use a taxi or rent a car. Taxis on the island do not operate on meters, but at fixed rates, which are quite high here.

You can rent a car or motorcycle in the city of Kuah, on Patnai Cenang Beach, at the airport or near the pier. The cost of renting a car will cost from $23 per day, and a motorcycle or scooter - from $5 per day. Bicycle rental is available in most hotels ($3-10).

Ferries are another way to get around the island.

Connection

Mobile communications, which are provided by several local operators, operate in the GSM standard. However, roaming rates are quite high here. Broadband Internet is available in the Internet cafes of Kuah and in almost all resorts on the island (about $ 3 per hour). If you have a laptop, wireless internet is available in some resorts.

International calls can be made from any hotel, although it is much more economical to use one of the pay phones that are installed in the capital of the island, at the airport and in other most crowded places. Such machines work from telephone cards, which can be bought at any large store or kiosk.

Safety

In terms of security, Langkawi is a fairly calm place. Tourists here, as a rule, face only the theft of wallets, handbags and photographic equipment. Basically, such crimes happen in crowded places (in shopping areas, on beaches, etc.). Of course, if you follow reasonable precautions, no trouble will happen.

Vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, as well as against polio and malaria, are recommended before travel. It is advised to take with you the necessary set of medicines and medicines. Tap water should be avoided and only boiled or bottled water should be consumed.

It must be remembered that Malaysia is a Muslim country, so some rules must be followed here, for example, women outside the resort areas should prefer modest clothing.

Business climate

Langkawi is an important economic and tourist center of the country, and is also a free trade zone, so the business climate here is very favorable and promises considerable benefits. For example, to organize your own business, the number of shares of a representative of the country and a foreign investor can be distributed 30 to 70%, and not 50 to 50% as in most other countries. Well, the local tax system is simple and has many benefits, for example, there is no need to calculate VAT and pay many types of taxes that are required in other countries. The main tax of local businessmen and entrepreneurs is the income (corporate) tax, which has many benefits.

Real estate

Today, Langkawi is the most popular resort in the country, so there is a high demand for any property. At the same time, despite some excitement, the prices here are quite affordable. For example, buying an apartment, a good villa or a cottage will cost from $70,000, and a one-story bungalow - from $32,000. Although there are very expensive elite objects here. In general, the local real estate market is characterized by stability and high potential, as well as the possibility of year-round rental.

Currency exchange in Langkawi is not a problem, but the rate here is lower than on the island Penang or in Kuala Lumpur, for this reason, it is better to take care of money in the capital. In general, you can exchange currency in almost any hotel, however, at a rather low rate. Also, numerous exchange points are located at the airport, in the city of Kuah, on Pantai Cenang and in some resort areas. The most favorable exchange rates can be found in the shopping centers of the city of Kuah.

The month did not pass in vain and became one of the most interesting among all our trips! Before leaving Malaysia for Thailand, we share our impressions, secrets and photos with the readers of the Traveler's Diary blog. We present a brief review about the rest of the Langkawi archipelago with the whole family with two children. Langkawi Map(Malaysia) with all the most interesting things on the island. Secrets and life hacks. Transport, hotels and restaurants. Food, shops and markets. Beautiful places. The best beaches. The most interesting sights What is the most memorable and must-do in Langkawi...

Before leaving Langkawi for Thailand, we had mixed feelings... We are "tumbleweeds" and just can't stay in one place. On the one side. On the other hand, we have never stayed so long (almost a month) in any of our trips ... We really liked Langkawi and, whatever one may say, we were reluctant to leave. In addition, even in a month, we managed to see far from everything ...

So where do you start? Probably from the most useful, and this is - map of langkawi with our labels. In the map menu, the labels are divided into several sections: Transport and settlements, Hotels, Beaches, Restaurants, Attractions, Shops and markets, ATMs and currency exchange offices. And also, the route around Langkawi by car. Tabs can be closed and opened all together or individually.

Plus: both the article itself and the markers on the map contain useful links to relevant articles.

Pros and Cons of Langkawi

There are a lot of pluses on the island of Langkawi! The most unusual plus is the versatility of the island: despite its small size, both the budget traveler and the most spoiled tourist will find a service for every taste and budget. Langkawi will be good for backpackers, newlyweds, families with children, groups of students, and demanding pensioners from Western Europe. Compared to most Southeast Asian countries, there are clean beaches, clean streets, adequate traffic and pedestrian sidewalks. There are no crowds of tourists, but you can meet a traveler from any corner of the planet. Langkawi has excellent wide white sand beaches and a warm, calm sea. It is believed that the high season in Langkawi is from November to April, but in fact, holidays in Langkawi are possible all year round.

There are optimal morals and culture here, which please after visiting crazy Thailand or Turkey with Egypt, as well as overly strict Muslim countries... Young people will not be molested by transvestites, girls in miniskirts will not be molested by locals, but also to the police for a naked torso or no one will drag you short shorts.

On a small island and the entire archipelago - a huge number of attractions and beautiful places.

The relative disadvantages include the following ... From November to February, there can be a lot of jellyfish in the sea. There is no public transport on the island. Few good department stores (but they do exist!). It is quite difficult and not very cheap to get to Langkawi from Russia. But there are options...

How to get to Langkawi (Malaysia)?

To Langkawi with a child or children

If it were not for the long road, then the island of Langkawi itself is almost ideal for relaxing with a child (children). This is facilitated by a good attitude towards children, a fairly developed infrastructure, sights interesting for children, not too exotic food, a wide selection of baby food and goods ... And, of course, excellent beaches with clean sand and a gentle entrance to the warm sea!

Read more about the nuances of a holiday in Langkawi with children in the articles:

Hotels and hostels

As I said, there is a wide choice of hotels in Langkawi for every taste and budget! From a bed in a hostel for 15 ringgit (3 euros) or a small house for 60 ringgit (13 euros) per night to luxury premium hotels for 4600 ringgit (1000 euros) per night!!!

We mainly cooked ourselves from products purchased in the store and in the markets. And about good shops, and about the wonderful "night markets" in Langkawi - just below ...

Shops and markets on the island

Most shops on the island have a wide range of chips, chocolates and sodas. And where to buy fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, manufactured goods and more? Finding really good big stores in Langkawi is very difficult! It is much better to know where they are in advance) Thanks to the knowledge about supermarkets and "night markets", the traveler will save a lot of time and money, and the food will be very tasty ... It took us more than a week to find what the blog is now sharing with our readers...

A map of Langkawi with a corresponding tab will help you navigate the location of the shops.

There are two supermarkets on Chenang Street - at the beginning and end of the street. The best is Cenang Supermarket in the north, the second is Gecko Minimarket in the south. Another good supermarket Pasaraya Kedawang is located between Chenang and Langkawi Airport. An excellent modern Billion hypermarket is located in Kuah near the Jetty Point and Legend Park.

In addition, there is a complex of duty-free shops on Chenang near the Oceanarium, Cenang Mall shopping center in the center of Pantai Cenang, and large shopping centers near the Jetty Point pier in Kuah.

Attractions Langkawi

On the Langkawi archipelago, despite the small size of the main island, there are many interesting sights for every taste. Our map of Langkawi will help you find almost everything. Some can be easily reached on your own, others will need to book an excursion ... Cenang will give a lot of emotions to both children and adults Aquarium Underwater World Langkawi

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In the west of the island - Kok Beach, East Village, Seven Wells waterfall and of course the stunning Cable Car Panorama Langkawi and the Sky Bridge. In the north of Langkawi - Temurun waterfall and beautiful beaches. In the northeast - mangrove forests and northern islands. To the south - Kuah and the southern islands with the Lake of the pregnant maiden ...

An excursion to the islands or a tour of the mangroves will cost from 30-40 ringgit (6.50-8.50 euros) per person to 300-400 ringgit (65-85 euros) per boat. By the way, numerous excursions to neighboring Thailand also deserve attention: for example, to the very beautiful island of Koh Lipe nearby, Koh Lanta, Phi Phi, Phuket, and even Koh Samui or Bangkok ... Most trips will cost 100-200 ringgit (20-40 euro) per person.

Well, the most wonderful way to see everything interesting on the island itself is to drive around it in a rented car!

Transport: taxi, car or bike rental

There is no public transport in Langkawi. That is, it does not exist at all! There are taxis with reasonable fixed rates. We wrote about taxi in Langkawi in a separate article. Directly at the Airport, after passport control and baggage claim, you will find a taxi ordering desk, to which a queue will immediately line up. In the window, it is enough to name the hotel, the girl will look through their list and name the fixed cost of the trip. Also on the island. Taxi stands are often found on the streets, very similar to bus stops. They have a price list with prices up to most points. You can also call a taxi at the counter of any hotel.

Estimated cost - 1 ringgit (0.20 euros) per kilometer. Although, for short trips, a kilometer will be much more expensive ...

But there is a service "Tour around the island" - up to 4 hours of skiing will cost 120 ringgit (25 euros), and each subsequent hour - 25 ringgit (5 euros) ... A very worthy alternative for a company if there is no right or desire to take car rental!

Our map of Langkawi will show the location of these taxi ranks in Chenang.

There are many rental points, both at the Airport and on the island ... In almost every small travel agency, except for excursions, you can rent a car or a bike ... The cost of renting a bike starts from 10 ringgit (2 euros), a bike - from 20 ringgit (4 euros), car rental - from 65 ringgit (14 euros) per day. As always: longer rent - lower price... Is it possible to get the lowest price when renting just for a day? Yes!) How it is possible and where to do it, we will tell you a secret below...

Yes, by the way, traffic in Malaysia is left-handed, but not loaded - there are few cars on the road. Theoretically, international rights are required, although in fact they were not useful.

The beaches of Langkawi

With the beaches in Langkawi, everything is simple. All the beaches on the island are very good and beautiful. The difference is in infrastructure, hotels and distance from the Airport. We recommend Cenang Beach (Pantai Cenang) to almost all blog readers. It is located very close to the Airport, covered with perfect white sand, has a developed infrastructure and many hotels for absolutely every taste and budget. The Oceanarium is also located here. If you are looking for extreme water activities - then you are a little south to Tengah beach. If you don’t need infrastructure, but are interested in All Inclusive hotels with an excellent beach, you should go to Tanjung Rhu beach. You cannot live without a city - you are in Kuah. If you are interested in the most expensive and exclusive luxury hotel with the best service and a huge golf course - you are in the Datai club in the north of the island...

Secrets and life hacks on the island

• If you don't want to stand in a long queue for a taxi in Langkawi airport, hurry up with passport control and luggage and hurry to the taxi stand.
• On the island of Langkawi hard with ATMs. Withdraw the required amount at the airport ATMs. On the island, there are ATMs in the Cenang Mall, duty-free shopping center, on the Kuah pier ... Our map of Langkawi, thanks to the corresponding tab, will help you find ATMs and exchangers.
• There are very few good general supermarkets on the island. Marked on the map best stores: Pasaraya Kedawang, Cenang Supermarket, Gecko Minimarket and Billion in Kuah. Huge selection and low prices.
• If you want to enjoy the unique atmosphere, arrange unique shopping and try local delicacies - you Langkawi night market. From 17:00 to 22:00 on Thursdays - on Cheang on Bohor Tempoyak, on Tuesdays - on Jalan Kedawang.
• If you are looking for a really inexpensive restaurant with delicious food, we recommend Thai Haji Jelani next to Cenang Supermarket! Very tasty and inexpensive!
• Do you want to rent a car or a bike for just one day and pay the lowest possible price (as when renting for a month)? Welcome to T-Shoppe Chenang! Tariff "Early Birds" allows you to do this if you come in the very first morning and rent for 12 hours from 9:00 to 21:00...
• If for some reason you are not ready to rent a car, but want to drive around the entire island ... Use the taxi fare "Tour around Langkawi". Up to 4 hours of travel around the island will cost 120 ringgit (25 euros), and each subsequent hour - 25 ringgit (5 euros).
• In order not to constantly buy bottled water, you can use special drinking water machines. There are two of them in Cenang: in the center to the left of the Cenang Mall shopping center and in the north of the street next to Cenang Supermarket. A five-liter bottle can be filled for 1 ringgit (€0.20). So you save a decent amount on water and do not harm nature by constantly throwing away plastic containers ... Our map of Langkawi will show their location (Miscellaneous tab).
• Many do not really want to stay in Kuah, thinking that there is no beach. This is wrong. An excellent beach is located right behind the Legend Park, and another one to the south - at the end of Jalan Beringin Street.
• If you want to save on accommodation, look for affordable accommodation in Cenang.

  If you can’t find the right price in the search, book something in the northern part of Chenang for three days, and find suitable accommodation on the spot.

• There is only one pharmacy on the entire Cenang beach - next to the Cenang Supermarket.

By the way, do not forget about insurance:

What is a must-do in Langkawi?

In every country or locality there is something that needs to be done simply by all means! Not just for show, but because it's really worth it... In Paris, for example, you just can't help but climb the Eiffel Tower, visit Notre Dame de Paris, or visit Montmartre... In Malaysia, on the island of Langkawi, too there are things from the category of must-do ... So, during your vacation in Langkawi you must:

• Slowly go around the whole island by rental car. Over 80 km of the way you will see almost all the beaches, take the cable car to a height of 700 meters above sea level, feed the monkeys, visit most of the sights of the island, look into Kuah and this is just a small part of the experience! Stunning views, beautiful photos and great mood are guaranteed! But keep in mind that even moving at a speed of 80 km / h, due to the many interesting things along the way, your trip will last not one hour, but from 10 hours at least to several days )
• Visit the "night market" Langkawi. Very low prices, the widest selection of fruits and seafood, an unforgettable flavor, as well as a lot of tasty treats prepared right in front of you - yes, you must visit!
• Stroll along Cenang Beach during evening low tide... The sea, which has gone far from the shore, will open to your eyes a lot of crabs, fish, sea urchins and stars...
• Spend a day at Kok Beach.
• Of the attractions, we note the Cable Car, Temurun Waterfall, the Oceanarium, an excursion to the southern islands and the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, as well as a tour of the Mangrove forests...

Today we will tell you about our vacation on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia, what interesting places are there and what to do, where are the best beaches.

What is Pulau Langkawi

Langkawi is not a single island, but an archipelago of hundreds of islands in Malaysia. Four of them are inhabited, the rest are too small.

The island of Langkawi is the largest of them (its area is 363 km²), it was on it that we rested.

The main symbol of Langkawi is the reddish-brown eagle because that is the meaning of the word "Langkawi". Pulau means island.

Population: 97,000 people (according to Wikipedia).

Highest point: Mount Gunung Rai (880 m)

The capital of Langkawi is the city of Kuah. It is also the port where ferries arrive.

The name "Kuah" comes from the Malay word which means broth. According to legend, the city arose on the site where two giants Mat Raya and Mat Cincang spilled a cup of broth during a fight between themselves. Now two of the highest mountains on the island are named after them. There is nothing to see in the city itself, and there is no beach there, mainly people come here for shopping and eating seafood.

Currency: Malaysian ringgit. 1 USD ~ 4 MYR. There are enough exchangers, but the exchange rate in Langkawi is bad, it is better to bring ringgits from the mainland or withdraw from ATMs.

The Langkawi Geopark (that is, the entire island) is included in the UNESCO list, the first in Asia.

Langkawi island on the world map

Where is Langkawi located? In the Strait of Malacca in northwestern Malaysia, near the border with Thailand. The island is washed by the Andaman Sea of ​​the Indian Ocean.

Here is a map of Langkawi with all the interesting places and the best beaches:

What to see in Langkawi: all the sights and beaches

In general, at first it was not clear to us why Langkawi is so popular with tourists, because the beaches here are made of yellow-gray sand, which mixes with water, which is why the sea is always muddy, but then we understood.

It is very calm and green here, there are a lot of duty-free shops with reasonable prices for alcohol (in other parts of Malaysia, similar wine and beer are several times more expensive), excellent seafood restaurants, all sorts of spas, a lot of shops with quality souvenirs, good beach dresses , swimming trunks (including for Muslim women)) etc.

The island is cozy, quiet, there is little traffic, there are even sidewalks for walking (which is rare in the rest of Malaysia).

Finding Wi-Fi is not a problem, unlike where even the local phone could barely catch.

The locals say that the water was cloudy due to the rainy season (since we arrived in October) and that the water is very clear in winter, although jellyfish come in January and it gets so hot that people pass out on the streets. In October, the temperature was comfortable, and the rains lasted for a couple of hours three times in five days.

We rented a bike and rode around the island. The dimensions of Langkawi are only 30 by 20 km, so you can easily go around all the interesting places in one day.

Langkawi seems to have a lot of sights, but not all of them interested us, because we have already seen similar ones. Those who have not been to Asia can probably travel here for a week to watch. So we slept more, ate fruit and seafood, processed photos, wrote blog posts, planned the next part of the world tour.

We went to the cable car Langkawi Cable Car- this is a lift to the mountain, from the observation deck you can see half of Langkawi, not obscured by mountains, the Seven Wells waterfall and a bunch of neighboring islands, and some of them are already territory.

Height difference: 680 meters.

Ticket price: RM30-RM55, skip the line RM90-RM105. The worst queues on weekends and school holidays.

In order not to stand in line and not overpay, you need to arrive on a weekday early in the morning or in the evening. You can arrive in the morning, buy a ticket for a certain time, and return to it already.

Opening hours are constantly changing, it is better to check on the official website panoramalangkawi.com.

TO Seven Wells Falls(Telega Tujuh Falls) there is also a walking approach (30 minutes from the end of the road). Many swim right in the waterfall or in the river that flows out of it. Watch out for monkeys that can steal your food and drinks.

From the top lift station you can go to sky bridge langkawi(Langkawi Sky Bridge), stretched between two mountains. The ticket price is 5 ringgit for adults and 3 for children (they are sold at the box office at the upper cable car station).

The length of the sky bridge is 125 meters, it is located at an altitude of 660 meters and almost the entire island is visible from it.

We also went on the popular Island Hopping Tour, that is trip around the islands(3.5 hours for RM35). First, they are taken through very beautiful islands.

Then they unload on the large island of Dayang Bunting, in the middle of which there is a large fresh lake surrounded by mountains. It is called the Lake of the Pregnant Lady (Tasik Dayang Bunting) - it is believed that its shape is similar to a pregnant woman, and the waters of the lake can heal from infertility.

On the way from the pier to the lake (10 minutes) there is a terrible debauchery (macaques mate right on the path in front of the astonished public). And then they scratch each other's tummies and look for fleas.

Or contemplate the meaning of life.

Or they are treated to drinks taken from tourists.

You can swim on the lake, but do not swim further than 5 meters from the pontoon.

Locals dive only with a soldier and a bomb, we showed them how to do it :)

You can still go along the path to the side, there is an observation platform, but only a tiny beach is visible from it, which you cannot go down to.

Then they are taken again through beautiful islands to the feeding place for eagles, which fly up very close (eagles are generally not uncommon in Malaysia, we saw them in 4-5 places).

The last stop is a rather stupid Pulau Beras Basah beach, like for snorkeling, but the water was cloudy, shallow, it's easy to cut yourself on the bottom when swimming, it's all in dead corals, there is no toilet, and they sell drinks and all kinds of unhealthy food like chips and instant noodles for a lot of money. There are also hordes of monkeys who are trying to steal something tasty from tourists (successfully).

In general, the impressions of the tour are twofold.

There was another awkward moment. We were in the same boat with a Hindu family that seemed to be of decent appearance, but the Hindu woman simply brazenly threw her empty water bottle into the sea, as if it were the right thing to do, and then threw the cap: (I wanted to throw it somewhere myself.

Other waterfalls in Langkawi

There are two more small waterfalls here: Air Terjun Temurun and Durian Perangin Falls.

From Langkawi we flew to Indonesia, in. The weather during takeoff was clear, visibility was good :)

What else to do in Langkawi

1. Go to the Langkawi Water Kingdom water park.

2. Visit the Underwater World Langkawi Aquarium.

3. See exotic birds at Langkawi Wildlife Park. They have 150 species of birds there. Open daily from 8.30 to 18, ticket price 39 ringgit, children 22 ringgit.

4. Take a picture with the eagle statue in Kuah - the symbol of Langkawi.

5. Overeat fruits and seafood, drink coconut milk straight from the coconut.

6. Buy souvenirs at the Oriental Village market.

7. Learn all about rice farming at the Rice Garden Museum. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

8. Enjoy vibrant tropical sunsets.

The best beaches on the island

Remember that Malaysia is a Muslim country. Of course, you can swim in an ordinary swimsuit on the beaches of Langkawi, but too open bikinis, thongs, topless and nudists are not welcome here.

So, where to swim in Langkawi:

1. Pantai Cenang Beach is the most popular beach in Langkawi. Good for families with children. White sand, many different water activities, and a lot of people during the season.

2. Pantai Tengah Beach - actually a continuation of Pantai Chenang, they are separated by a rock.

3. Tengkorak Beach - one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in Langkawi: white sand, clear water, a park and few tourists.

4. Tanjung Rhu Beach - a secluded beautiful beach in the northeast of Langkawi overlooking the island of Pulau Chabang (Pulau Chabang).

5. Shark Bay (or Teluk Yu) is a very popular beach.

6. Pantai Kok Beach - a secluded beach in the west of the island.

7. Burau Beach (Pantai Teluk Burau) is a long white sand beach in the northwest of Langkawi.

8. Datai Bay Beach, or Pantai Teluk Datai - a private beach, which is only allowed to guests of three 5-star hotels located in this bay.

9. Batu Hampar Beach - This beach has a minimum of tourists, because everyone thinks that it belongs to a huge 5 * hotel, but in fact it is a public free beach.

Photos of beaches #1-9: langkawi-insight.com

10. Beach with black sand (Black Sand Beach). It is included in the list of the best, but in the photo it is much more beautiful than in life :) We would rename it to Dirty Sand Beach, because here the sand is not like in Iceland or black for the whole beach, but only for a couple of upper centimeters. And a factory smokes nearby.

Sharks in Langkawi

Only reef sharks are found on the island, which themselves will never be the first to attack a person.

Underwater world of Langkawi: snorkeling and diving

Diving here is insanely expensive because people are taken to neighboring islands. For example, two 20-minute dives cost almost $100.

On Langkawi itself, snorkeling is only possible on the private Datai Beach, and on the island of Pulau Chebang, where you can walk from Tanjung Rhu Beach at low tide, otherwise you need to go to neighboring islands.

For snorkeling in Malaysia, it is generally better to go to - there is simply an incredible variety of the underwater world: both corals and living creatures, and all this right near the coast.

On snorkeling, we were on a tour of the islands near Langkawi, and did not check out the local reef at all - faded corals and very few fish.

They write that in Pulau Payar Marine Park you can swim with reef sharks. If someone was there, please write your review in the comments at the bottom of the post. As I understand it, this is good entertainment only in the dry season, when the sea is clear, otherwise it will be muddy and you will not see anything. And even in the dry season, you need to check the weather forecast a couple of days before snorkeling so that there are no waves.

How to get to Langkawi on your own

There is no bridge connecting the island to mainland Malaysia. You need to travel by plane or ferry.

With a trip from Penang to Langkawi, it turned out interesting for us.

We were going to drive from Penang to ferry(3 hours, 66.5 ringit each), but then they learned from fellow travelers that there is a cheap plane (40 minutes, 55 ringit + bus 2.70), so they flew by plane faster and cheaper than they would have taken by ferry.

This is Asian reality :)

Airport on Langkawi

The island has an international airport - Langkawi International Airport (IATA code: LGK). Flights fly here from most cities in Malaysia and from neighboring countries.

How to find cheap flights to Langkawi

To find cheap flights, I usually compare prices using several aggregators. They all have the same principle - they look for tickets in the databases of hundreds of airlines, but their databases may differ, so the price will be better in one or the other - check everything at once.

• - unrealistically flexible search, and there is a guarantee of connection, even if you fly with low-cost airlines and the first flight is delayed!
• - the best prices for tickets from Russia and Kazakhstan, a convenient calendar of low prices.
• - there are good prices for tickets from Ukraine.

By the way, KIWI gives 20 euro coupons for airline tickets to new users, but they can only be received by email. Who needs - I can send an invitation.

Get 20€ on kiwi.com ➜

Airfare low price calendar:

Timetable Kuala Lumpur - Langkawi:

Timetable Penang - Langkawi:

Schedule Singapore - Langkawi:

From Bangkok and other cities, you need to fly with a transfer in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

Ferry Penang - Langkawi

If you have a lot of luggage and the forecast is calm, then you can also take a ferry from Georgetown in Penang to Kuah (Kuah Jetty) in Langkawi.

See schedules and ticket prices at. There are also reviews of tourists and ratings of carriers.

On the same site you can buy ferry tickets from Thailand to Langkawi: from Koh Lipe and Satun.

Motor insurance

If you are going to ride a bike in Langkawi, then keep in mind that ordinary policies do not cover riding motorcycles and mopeds, neither in Malaysia nor in any other country! Need a separate sports insurance. The best option is to buy an insurance policy for active days from - this is international insurance, issued online, even if you are already on a trip, and covers riding a motorcycle. The same insurance covers parasailing.

Excursions to Langkawi

I found a tour of the island of Langkawi with a Russian guide only, for exorbitant money ($ 198 per person).

If you know English at least at some conversational level, a tour of the island will come out much cheaper, and there will be a good selection of options on , and GetYourGuides:

Parasailing in Langkawi

Popular local entertainment - parasailing - is when you fly on a parachute tied to a boat with a rope.

We also tried it - we liked it :) For the first time, they don’t let you in on your own, an instructor hangs behind you, who controls the parachute.

Marina flew first.

Before landing, we flew low over the bushes, I thought that we would land in them now, but the instructor clearly directed us to the water's edge.

Then they quickly loaded Seryoga, who did not even have time to take off his backpack, which contained money and a camera, but everything also went well.

How to save money on parasailing

Parasailing at Pantai Tengah Beach costs RM120. If you approach the boys who ride before 11 in the morning, ask them about the price, they will answer about 120 ringgit, then you need to tell them that our friend rode for 60, and they quite easily agree to the price of 60.

It is important not to come there by taxi!!!

Otherwise, they will have to charge the taxi driver RM60 instead of giving you a discount. Such is the taxi mafia. And so it is with any excursions - the taxi driver who brought the clients up to half the cost of the excursion.

Hotels in Langkawi: where to stay

If you want to live near the beach and close to all the infrastructure (restaurants, cafes, excursions, duty-free shops and souvenirs), then it is best to stay in Pantai Tengah or Pantai Chenang.

If you are interested in 5-star hotels with a private beach, this is Datai Beach.

Do you want solitude and silence, but are you going to go to different beaches? Book a hotel or villa in the mountains.

There are no good beaches in the capital of Langkawi Kuah - it is a big city and a port.

In the high season, you need to book hotels and inns as early as possible, especially on weekends, because at this time many local Malays and Singaporeans come here. In the low season, there is more choice and prices are lower.

🛌 All hotels in Langkawi:

Also, do not forget about the Airbnb service - there are more than 300 offers on the island: from rooms, apartments and bungalows to luxurious villas with a pool.

If you haven't signed up for Airbnb yet:

In hotels, be careful with monkeys! They will crawl through even a small gap and professionally steal everything tasty that you have lost sight of just for a second.

For example, our bungalows were full of monkeys. In the photo is the veranda where we spent a lot of time. The mop stands ready to fend off impudent monkeys. Some kind of makakoparanoia developed here in Malaysia, any food was taken out into the street only under supervision, the door to the room was opened only under supervision, food during walks was securely hidden in a backpack.

On the day of check-in, we were lucky to see local monkeys (I think they are bespectacled langurs). They didn't come back, but the macaques were in abundance, and we almost lost our chocolate pie.

When is the best time to go to Langkawi: seasons, climate and weather by months

peak seasons no matter the weather: between Catholic Christmas and New Year, during Ramadan, during Chinese New Year.

High (dry) season: from January to March. The best weather and almost no rain. But these are also the hottest months. Prices are rising, and at this time you need to book hotels as early as possible, especially in Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah.

transitional season: from April to August. During this time, intermittent rains are possible, although the sea remains calm. During these months, there are much fewer tourists and lower prices.

Low season (rainy season): September and October. We were in Langkawi in mid-October. The rainy season here is mild, there may be showers, but only for a couple of hours, usually in the afternoon or at night. The sea is cloudy but warm. Not hot. There are few people, the prices are pleasant, green and cozy.

average temperature air and water in the sea 27-29°С.

Pro jellyfish season in Langkawi in reports and blogs they just don’t write. Either they are dangerous, or they are safe, and in what months they appear - the information is the most contradictory. On some sites they write that the jellyfish season in Langkawi lasts from January to mid-June, on other sites - from May to October. Perhaps their appearance does not depend on a particular month? It is better to check with the lifeguards on the spot whether there are jellyfish on a particular beach and whether it is possible to swim.

Some beaches have warning signs about jellyfish. If a jellyfish stings, then these signs advise you to contact the lifeguards on the beach, and DO NOT rinse the bite with fresh water! Jellyfish stings found in Langkawi are washed with vinegar.

Visa

Since Langkawi belongs to Malaysia, you need a visa from this country.

Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and Kazakhs have visa-free entry to Malaysia for 30 days.

Citizens of other countries - check the latest information in.

Our review of Langkawi

We liked Langkawi. It is cozy and beautiful here, and there is something to see, and delicious food, and if you come in the right season, then there are relatively few tourists. This is a good place to spend a few vacation days, also with children. But Langkawi is not suitable for a long stay, it will be boring here.

Langkawi or Penang? They are completely different islands. Langkawi is more of a beach resort, while Penang is more of a cultural experience.

Langkawi or Phuket? Both islands are good. Phuket is bigger and more crowded, Langkawi is cozier and quieter. The number of attractions is about the same.

Langkawi or Bali? Bali is much bigger, with more people and traffic, but also more beaches and attractions. For diving and snorkeling, Bali definitely wins.

Langkawi or Koh Samui? We didn’t really like Samui, it’s like an anthill, Langkawi is cozier and calmer.

If you want more privacy, then consider, or.

If you want to go to a large tropical island with good beaches, then in addition to Langkawi, either Indonesia or Thailand will suit you.

»»» () »»» Langkawi island, Malaysia. Beaches, hotels, interesting places.

Langkawi Island is located in Malaysia at a distance of about 40 km. southeast of Thai, popular with tourists.

The size of the island of Langkawi is 30 km. x 20 km., from the mainland the island of Langkawi is separated by 25 km., and from the nearest Thai island, the island - 10 km.

Langkawi Island is the largest Malaysian resort, and this status is confirmed by more than 350 resorts, hotels and guesthouses located on the island, an international airport that receives more than 2 million tourists a year, and a developed network of high-quality roads.

The main attractions of the island of Langkawi are several good (but not great) beaches, an impressive cable car that can climb cliffs 700 meters high, and mangroves with an abundance of various living creatures, which you can and should ride on a sightseeing boat.

Click on the preview to get a high resolution image of the map you need.

The island of Langkawi has an airport that receives planes from the cities of Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Guangzhou and several Malay cities. At the same time, Kuala Lumpur accounts for more than 90% of local flights. There are no direct flights from Bangkok, Phuket and other Thai resorts to Langkawi.

Several airlines fly on the Kuala Lumpur - Langkawi route, including low cost carrier AirAsia. Airfare prices start at RM90. At this price, you can buy a ticket a couple of months before departure. If you buy a ticket a few days before departure, then the price will be noticeably higher, and most likely will exceed 200 ringgit.

Sea communication between the islands of Langkawi and Lipe operates only during the high season, from early November to mid-April. A ticket for this route costs 1200 baht (as of the beginning of 2018), ships and speedboats of different carriers run several times a day, the trip between the islands takes about an hour, not counting the time for passport control and other formalities.

The most popular beaches of Langkawi are Cenang Beach (Pantai Cenang) and Tengah Beach (Pantai Tengah), located within walking distance from each other.

In the area of ​​​​these beaches there is the lion's share of the hotels of the island of Langkawi, and in this place you can settle for relatively modest money, within 100 Malay ringgits per day. There is also a cluster of restaurants and bars, and this is the only place on the island where there is an evening life.

The beaches of Chenang and Tenga themselves are quite pulling by 4 points, however, they clearly do not reach the level of the best Thai beaches. These beaches, especially Chenang, are wide, the sand on the beaches is white, but these beaches are not particularly clean, the sea opposite them is unclear and there is a wave.

To make the score of 4 points more understandable, we can say that beaches are pulled by 5 points, and at least two dozen Thai islands. And as an example of an assessment from below, one can cite the beaches of the well-known Pattaya, which are difficult to rate higher than 3 points.

In addition to the Chenang and Tenga beaches located in the south of the island of Langkawi, the island has several more beaches located in the northern part of the island. These places are more beautiful, the beaches themselves, compared to the southern beaches, are smaller in size, and the entire northern part of the island is the location of expensive resorts, with a price tag that amounts to many hundreds of dollars a day. It is clean, beautiful and respectable here, but at the same time it is rather boring, since there is nothing but hotels in this part of the island.

In the south of the island of Langkawi, there are several more beaches located next to the mountain range that occupies the western part of the island. The same can be said about them as about the northern beaches, but with the caveat that the prices for the resorts located here are somewhat lower.

Photos of the beaches of Cenang (Cenang) and Tenga (Tengah) of the island of Langkawi

The cost of living in hotels in Langkawi. The quality of housing on the island of Langkawi.

Malaysia as a whole is a more expensive country than. However, against the background of the strongly raised prices of the island of Lipe, the special high cost in Langkawi may not be noticed.

Settlement rates around Chenang and Tenga beaches start at $10 per day, and there is a fairly large selection of accommodation in the range of $20-$30 per day.

These rates do not differ much from the prices of Lipe Island, however, the quality of housing, at the same time, will be worse in Langkawi. And this does not concern the furnishings of the rooms at all, since both there and there, for this money, there will be practically nothing in the rooms, but the charm of hotels and their appearance.

It is worth noting that charm is not only bad for cheap hotels, and not only on the island of Langkawi.

The level of taste among the people of Malaysia, in general, will be lower than that of the people of Thailand, and when you come to Malaysia, you should not count on settling in a cunningly built wooden house entwined with orchids. This style is simply beyond the power of the Malays, and cheap housing in Malaysia is usually a simple concrete structure, erected without the slightest hint of aesthetic delights and undertakings.

When choosing a cheap accommodation in Langkawi, do not forget to pay attention to its rating in Booking.com and Agoda.com online booking systems. A good half of the cheap hotels in Langkawi have a rating below 6.0, and this is an extremely low rating, indicating that the quality of these hotels is, to put it mildly, not impressive.

With more expensive hotels and resorts, the situation on the island of Langkawi is somewhat better, and for 50 - 100 dollars a day on the island you can settle in fairly tolerable conditions. And for 150 - 200 dollars a day, you can find a place to live, not without frills, such that the hotel will later remain quite favorable memories.

P.S. A funny feature of the island of Langkawi is that the local property owners like to call their guesthouses motels, and this is despite the fact that you can only theoretically drive into the island with your car. This name should not mislead you, in fact, these motels are guest house vulgaris.

Landmarks of Langkawi island. Things to do in Langkawi.

Ropeway. The main and unique attraction of the island of Langkawi is the cable car, located in the western, mountainous part of the island, and leading to the tops of the rocks, to a height of more than 700 meters.

The cable car is a simplified name for this complex engineering structure, which includes, in addition to the funicular itself, several viewing platforms located on the very tops of the rocks, and a 125-meter suspension bridge thrown over the gorge.

The views from the observation platforms and suspension bridge are breathtakingly beautiful. You can see not only the panoramas of the island of Langkawi, but also distant Thai islands. The viewpoints themselves are at the level of the clouds, and taking into account the fact that clouds almost always envelop them, a walk among the clouds adds an additional charm to viewing the panoramas and surroundings.

If you feel the strength in yourself, then back, from the tops of the rocks, you can go down not on the funicular, but on foot, along the path through the jungle. There is such a possibility. On this trail you can look at several waterfalls, appreciate the variety of tropical vegetation, and meet the monkeys that live in this jungle in incredible numbers.

Trip through the mangroves. Mangroves grow in the northeastern, gently sloping, part of the island of Langkawi. Mangrove trips are monopolized by a single commercial firm and the prices are high, in the region of $100 per boat.

Despite the high cost, it is worth a ride through the mangroves, because the places where they grow, among the rocks and numerous channels, are very beautiful and inhabited by countless of the most diverse living creatures.

A standard mangrove tour includes: a trip to a fish farm, where you can get a close look at stingrays and other exotic fish; feeding eagles, which live in considerable numbers among mangroves; visiting the cave and getting to know the local bats; a walk along the road through the mangroves; and, at the end of the tour, a trip to the open sea to see the impressive rocks.

Driving around the island

The roads on the island of Langkawi are of high quality, there is practically no traffic on them, car rental is cheap, and the island itself is quite diverse.

So, renting a car and exploring the beaches of the island, its rocky western part and luxurious rainforests in the northwest of the island is definitely worth it.

You can rent a car at the Langkawi airport; it is difficult to do this in the area of ​​beaches. It is worth renting a car from 100 ringgit per day. If you prefer to ride a bike, you can rent a bike in the Chenang Beach hotel area, this pleasure is worth 25 ringgit per day.

Snorkeling at Pulau Payar Marine Park. A trip to Pulau Payar Marine Park is one of the most popular excursions in Langkawi. The Marine Park is located 35 km. south of the island of Langkawi, and consists of several tiny islands. The islands themselves are nothing extraordinary, but snorkeling around them is, by the highest standards, good.

Regarding snorkeling off the coast of Langkawi itself, we can say that it is practically non-existent. The water near the beaches of Langkawi, as well as off the coast of all major Asian islands, is muddy and snorkeling in such water is unlikely to please anyone.

Photos of Langkawi cable car

High-resolution photos of the cable car can be viewed here:

Lifestyle in Langkawi

The quality of the beaches of the island of Langkawi is such that it’s not worth it to rush to them. Of the sights on the island, there is only one truly worthwhile thing - this is the cable car. Other sights, mangroves and the underwater world, can be found in Thailand, and the quality is rather better than worse.

Accordingly, the question arises: why do you need to go to the island of Langkawi at all?

There is only one satisfactory answer here: for the sake of broadening one's horizons.

The lifestyle in Langkawi, and in Malaysia in general, is very different from the lifestyle in Thailand. The island of Langkawi itself, not only is it a 100% Muslim island, is also the center of international Muslim tourism. And Muslim tourism is a rather curious sight.

Such a truly Babylonian mixture of nationalities, languages, and clothing styles, as on the island of Langkawi, is still worth looking for. Looking at many tourists, it is impossible even to understand from which countries they came, their appearance is so exotic. Moreover, it is not always possible to understand from which region, from Africa, or from Asia, they come from.

The same can be said about the restaurants of the island, whose cuisine is very diverse. On the island there are establishments of both local and Thai and European cuisine. Indian, Chinese and Arabic cuisines are also very well represented. The island's shops are no less diverse, and there are plenty of not only cosmopolitan tourist shops, but also quite authentic shops in Arabic and Indian style.

In conclusion, it is worth noting one rather curious nuance. If Malaysia can be called a liberal, by Muslim standards, country, then the island of Langkawi is doubly liberal. On the island of Langkawi, alcohol is not just sold, it is also sold cheaply. And many tourists from less progressive Muslim countries come here for this very reason. So scenes when orthodox-looking believers drag boxes of alcohol from duty-free shops are not uncommon for Langkawi. It looks surreal, but, in fairness, it must be said that there are no serious excesses due to the abuse of drinks on the island of Langkawi.

Technical aspects of organizing a trip to Langkawi

The currency of Malaysia is the Malayan ringgit, 100 ringgit is approximately equal to 25 US dollars. There are no problems with currency exchange on the island of Langkawi. The exchange rate, although somewhat worse than in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, is not extortionate.

Boats between Lipe and Langkawi run only during the high season, from early November to mid-April. In the low season, you can also get from the island to the island, but not directly, but by a ring road across the land (Langkawi - the mainland - crossing the border on the mainland - a trip to Satun - and only from Satun by sea to Lipe Island). According to the assurances of travel agents, this road can be mastered in 5 hours, however, in fact, it will take much more time.

Hotels on the island of Langkawi are booked through the well-known websites Booking.com and Agoda.com. In cheap hotels in Chenang, you can check in without a preliminary reservation, as is done in Thailand. However, this is only worth doing if you are at least a little familiar with local realities.

P.S. The island of Langkawi is quite a remarkable place, and you can write a lot about it. However, given that this text was written for the section on the island of Lipe, only the most basic information is given here.