Langkawi Island: top attractions and best hotels

Malaysia's real tourist gem is hidden in the north of the country. Welcome to the Langkawi archipelago, which consists of 99 islands. We suggest planning a trip to the largest and most interesting of them - Langkawi. Yes, yes, the name of the archipelago and the largest island are completely the same. We tell you what to do and where to live on Brown Eagle Island.

Langkawi is great for a holiday with family, friends and romantic partners. Every tourist will always find something to their liking on the island. The main thing is to choose the right time for your trip so as not to spoil the impression with the vagaries of the weather.

Langkawi is warm and sunny 12 months a year, and the average air temperature is +30-32°C. We recommend visiting Langkawi from November to March. During these months, the weather on the island is dry and precipitation is quite rare. Beach lovers enjoy warm weather and calm seas. The most popular months among tourists are December, January and February.

If you are planning a trip in April-August, do not rush to get upset. During this period, the influx of tourists decreases, and with it the prices for entertainment, accommodation and food. Be prepared for short periods of precipitation and some clouds.

September and October are the island's famous rainy season. At this time, weather forecasters quite often predict tropical downpours. This does not mean that they go 24 hours a day. By the way, at this time you can go diving or spearfishing.

Langkawi is a relatively small island with an area of only 370 km². Such parameters do not at all prevent tourists from choosing dozens of attractions and entertainment for every taste and budget. We talk about the best temples and mosques, museums and galleries, monuments and natural sites, excursions and free activities.

The name “Langkawi” translates to “brown eagle”. Local residents paid tribute to this animal and erected a 12-meter statue of it in the city of Kuah, the capital of the island. We guarantee that you have never seen eagles the size of a four-story building before!

The red-brown statue of the symbol of Langkawi looks best in the evening in the rays of the setting sun. By the way, there are many restaurants, bars and souvenir shops near the square. This is a great opportunity to combine business with pleasure.

Photography on Eagle Square will be free, and if you are the lucky owner of a drone, be sure to use it in action. Eagle Square is shaped like a five-pointed star, and it's best to capture it that way.

This is the main item on the list of attractions in Langkawi, which we recommend every tourist to check off. These attractions, like the famous eagle from the previous paragraph, are the main symbols of the Malaysian island.

This is the best opportunity to touch the sky with your hand and see the island from a bird's eye view. The cable car lifts visitors in closed cabins to a height of 650 meters, and the entire system stretches for 1.7 kilometers. The main reward awaits ahead - incredible views open up to travelers from two observation platforms at the middle and top stations.

After your cable car ride, be sure to head to the Sky Bridge. At 125 meters long, this curved bridge is one of the longest in the world. The path from the cable car to the bridge is very short, but for an additional fee you can get to it in a cabin.

Please note that the cable car periodically stops operation due to preventive measures. Please check the website for up-to-date information before traveling.

You can buy tickets online here .

Be sure to check out the theme park if you find yourself near Eagle Square. This is a large-scale landscaped area in the heart of the city of Kuah, where you can move from one statue to another all day long. Each of them tells a myth, legend or story that the local population carefully passes on from generation to generation. English-speaking tourists are most fortunate: the details and details of the stories are indicated on the sign in front of each statue in English.

Here you can learn stories about beautiful princesses, villains, and even the origins of the island's main attractions. By the way, there is a beach in the park. True, there are very few people who want to swim and relax on it.

Do you know what the main bonus of the park is? Admission will not cost a single dollar. So, feel free to head to a unique open-air theme park and learn the history of the mythological island.

This is a zoo where more than 1.5 thousand animals live. On its territory you can see rare species of birds, fish and reptiles. By the way, every park visitor can touch and feed them. Special food must be purchased on the territory of the complex; you will not be able to bring treats with you. Are you ready to hand-feed a cute raccoon or a replica of Bambi the deer?

This is a great opportunity to spend the whole day with children and give them an unforgettable experience. Many animals roam freely around the park rather than living in cages. Just imagine the emotions of a child when he sees a monkey in its natural habitat and can feed it. By the way, the park is famous for its flowering plants and waterfalls, which instantly make you fall in love with the real tropics.

We recommend going to the gift shop and buying gifts for yourself and your loved ones. Pay attention to the jewelry store, the materials for which were mined in India and China. Such an exclusive souvenir will be remembered for many years.

Ticket price for an adult is 50 MYR ($11), for a child - 30 MYR ($7).

If for many years you have dreamed of seeing seething streams of water noisily falling from high cliffs, welcome to the Telaga Tujukh waterfall. Its name is translated from the local language as “seven wells”. The waterfall arose thanks to seven streams that dug unique wells in the rock.

Even if you don’t like long climbs uphill, gather all your strength and get to the top of the waterfall. From there, incredible views open up, and you can swim in the cool waters of the wells. You can climb up a special staircase of 638 steps, and the journey takes approximately 20-40 minutes.

There are quite a few waterfalls in Langkawi, so be sure to plan a trip to at least one of them. Such natural attractions will not leave any of you indifferent. By the way, you can see this place completely free of charge.

Mangroves are a vital part of the ecosystem of the entire island. These are not just lush green plants, but a real hallmark of Langkawi flora. Sometimes forests resemble a labyrinth, from which only the bravest can escape.

You can book a standard boat trip or an exciting safari tour . All mangrove forests are part of numerous nature reserves and geoparks, which can be difficult to get to without excursion trips. During the tours, travelers get acquainted not only with the flora, but also with the fauna, and observe the inhabitants of rivers and water surfaces. Set aside at least 5 hours for this activity.

This is one of the most popular excursions on the island, so you can book it both before and after arriving in Langkawi. We advise you to find out in advance what is included in the service package. If it is possible to order the services of a guide, be sure to do so, because he will reveal all the secrets of the island and its life to a tourist who finds himself here for the first time.

You can write songs and write poems about the Asians' love for rice. Langkawi was no exception. Government authorities have created a rice museum to attract tourists to the island and inspire them with the idea of eco-tourism.

This museum is truly unique. Here visitors can learn all about the history, cultivation process, varieties and importance of rice in the life of the local population. Tourists get acquainted with the tools and technologies for growing grains, see hundreds of photographs and interesting artifacts. All information is provided in English and Malay.

For those who are confident in the ease and simplicity of growing rice, a special lesson has been prepared. Anyone can plant seedlings in a real field and process rice using traditional ancient tools.

A pleasant bonus for travelers will be lunch at a local restaurant. Believe me, such a variety of rice dishes will surprise even the most experienced chef. Entry to the museum is free for all visitors. We recommend booking a tour at the museum itself to learn about the culture of rice cultivation.

This mosque is the owner of three titles at once with the prefix “the most”: the largest, most beautiful and famous on the island. Its golden domes are visible long before approaching the entrance, and its snow-white walls instantly make the building stand out against the backdrop of palm trees.

Inside, the hall is decorated with incredible carvings and extracts from the Koran on the walls. Please note the special dress code: it is prohibited to enter the mosque wearing shoes, and the woman’s body must be completely covered.

The mosque itself is located near the city embankment and the Park of Legends, so moving between locations will not take much time.

You can stay in Langkawi in hotels, guesthouses and even bungalows. Many tourists do not book accommodation in advance, but look for the most attractive offer only after arriving on the island.

We have collected recommendations for the best accommodation options in Langkawi (follow the clickable links to find out prices and addresses):

• The RIYAZ Lavanya ;
• Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang ;
• Looma Private Pool Villas ;
• Aloft Langkawi Pantai Tengah ;
• The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa ;
• The St. Regis Langkawi ;
• Temple Tree Resort .