Langkawi
An archipelago of 99 islands off Kedah: a cable car to a mountain-top bridge, mangrove boat trips and west-coast beaches.
Ninety-nine islands off Kedah
Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands off the coast of Kedah in north-west Malaysia. UNESCO recognised it as a Global Geopark in 2007, the first in Southeast Asia; the geopark covers every island and three geoforest parks, Machinchang, Kilim Karst and Dayang Bunting. The SkyCab cable car climbs Mount Machinchang to a top station at 708 metres, where the curved, 125-metre SkyBridge hangs over the forest. On the north-east coast, boats run through the mangroves, limestone and bat cave of the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. Langkawi is on Malaysia's west coast, away from the northeast monsoon rains that the meteorological department places on the east coast.
Explore Langkawi on the map
City locations, drawn from our published destination data. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are not mapped yet.
The unmissable Langkawi
What to do in Langkawi
The two geoforest parks with visitor access give the island its two main days out.
Mount Machinchang
- Ride the Langkawi SkyCab; its middle station, at 650 metres, has all-round views.
- Walk the Langkawi Sky Bridge from the top station.
- On clear days the operator says southern Thailand is visible from the top.
Kilim
- Take the Kilim mangrove boat tour from the Sungai Kilim tourism jetty.
- Follow the wooden walkway through the mangroves to the bat cave.
- Look for macaques, tree crabs and the limestone formations along the channel.
Kuah and around
- See Dataran Lang (Eagle Square), where a 12-metre eagle statue overlooks the Kuah jetty.
- The island's tourism authority also lists Kota Mahsuri, Temurun Waterfall, Durian Perangin Waterfall and Pantai Pasir Tengkorak.
Three days on Langkawi
Machinchang
Ride the Langkawi SkyCab to the top station and walk the Sky Bridge. Go early if the day is clear.
Kilim and Kuah
Take the Kilim mangrove boat tour through the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, then stop at Eagle Square by the Kuah jetty.
Beach day
Keep a day free for the beach and the hotel.
Ferries and getting around
Ferries arrive at Kuah; on the island you travel by taxi, ride-hailing or hired vehicle.
By sea
- Ferries run to Kuah Jetty from Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and Satun in Thailand.
- Langkawi Ferry Line asks passengers to be inside the terminal at least 60 minutes before departure.
On the island
- Taxis are not metered; drivers carry a fixed rate card.
- Grab operates across the island.
- Cars, motorcycles and bicycles can be hired; the official guide advises arranging an international driving licence before travelling.
Langkawi at a glance
Figures from the geopark and the island's tourism authority.
The geopark takes in all 99 islands.
The geopark describes its Palaeozoic record as the oldest and most complete in the region.
The eagle at Kuah is the island's emblem.
The tourism authority derives Langkawi from the Malay for eagle and reddish brown.
Planning notes
Checks worth making before fixing the days.
Timing
- The SkyCab calendar has shown weekly maintenance entries on Wednesdays; check the operator's calendar before choosing the day.
- For the north-west of the peninsula the meteorological department puts the driest months at January and February and the wettest at October and November.
Getting about
- The main sights are spread across the island, so plan a taxi or hired car for each day out.
- Allow extra time at the ferry terminal on weekends and holidays, when the operator warns of longer checks.
Related to Langkawi
Journeys that include Langkawi — each one visits the city as part of its itinerary.
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