Langkawi

An island of 99 islands off the Thai border with an airport of its own: Pantai Cenang's beach and sunsets, the SkyCab cable car and curved SkyBridge on Gunung Mat Cincang, mangrove boat trips in Kilim Geoforest Park with eagle-feeding, and island-hopping to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. Duty-free, so chocolate and alcohol are cheap. Reached by flight from KL or Penang, or by ferry from Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah or Penang.

Highlights

• SkyCab cable car and SkyBridge
• Sunset on Pantai Cenang
• Kilim Geoforest mangrove boat trip
• Island-hopping to Dayang Bunting
• Tanjung Rhu beach
• Seven Wells waterfall
• Duty-free shopping in Kuah
• Night market at Cenang

Things to do

• SkyCab cable car & SkyBridgeMorning · 3h
• Kilim Geoforest mangrove boat tourMorning · 3h 30m
• Island-hopping: Dayang Bunting, eagle-feeding, Beras BasahMorning · 4h
• Pantai Cenang beach & sunsetEvening · 3h
• Seven Wells (Telaga Tujuh) waterfallAfternoon · 2h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: November – April

• Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri — During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk: Malay restaurants are quiet by day and the evening Ramadan bazaars, with food stalls at every mosque and market, are the best street food of the year. Don't eat or drink in the street in Kelantan and Terengganu. At its end, Hari Raya Aidilfitri brings the "balik kampung" exodus: buses, trains and flights sell out weeks ahead and KL empties for a week. Dates move about 11 days earlier each year; they are set by the new moon.
• Year-end school holidays — Malaysian and Singaporean families travel in December: Cameron Highlands' road jams at weekends, Langkawi and Penang resorts are at their dearest round Christmas and New Year, and Melaka is packed with Singaporean weekenders. Book rooms and buses early.

Part of a longer route

Langkawi is a stop on a curated circuit through Malaysia.