Langkawi Travel Topics
There is so much about Langkawi that I simply have to divide up all the information I want to share about it into different categories. The following pages provide you one of the riches sources of information on everything to do with Langkawi.
Langkawi, Island of Legends
View Langkawi Travel Guide in a larger map
Pantai Cenang (6 June 2005)
© Timothy Tye
Mat Cincang Walkway (6 June 2005)
© Timothy Tye
Galeria Perdana ceiling design (5 June 2005)
© Timothy Tye
Soft corals, Underwater World Langkawi (4 June 2005)
© Timothy Tye
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Langkawi is a major beach resort destination in Malaysia. It is often known as the Islands of Legend, because of the many legends associated to the island as well as places within the island. Langkawi is an archipelago comprising Pulau Langkawi, the main island, and 99 satellite islands nestling serenely in the tropical waters some 30 kilometers off the coast of Kedah, in the northeast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Langkawi belongs to Kedah state and is administered under the Pulau Langkawi District. It is adjacent to the Tarutao National Park of Thailand. The largest island of the archipelago is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi. Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Dayang Bunting and Pulau Tuba are the only inhabited islands in the archipelago.
Langkawi has been enjoying tax-free status since 1987. This has helped fuel its tourism industry and improve the standard of living of the population, which numbers around 45,000. Numerous hotels of various classes have been built in Langkawi, catering to a wide spectrum of tastes and expectations.
In 2007, the Langkawi Archipelago was declared a Geopark by Unesco. Langkawi Geopark is the only Geopark in Southeast Asia and the 52nd geopark under the Unesco Global Geoparks Network.
Getting to Langkawi
By Air:
Langkawi International Airport has direct links with Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok. The following airlines operate regular flights from Langkawi:
AirAsia has regular services to Kuala Lumpur and to Bangkok.
Malaysia Airlines has regular services to Kuala Lumpur.
SilkAir has regular services to Singapore.
Firefly has regular services to Penang.
By Sea:
There are regular ferry services connecting Kuah, the main town on Langkawi, with Kuala Perlis (45 minutes), Kuala Kedah (90 minutes) and Penang (3 hours) in Malaysia, and with Satun and Koh Lipe in the Tarutao archipelago in Thailand.
Getting Around
Perhaps the most convenient way to explore Langkawi is by renting a car or motorcycle. Other forms of transport is quite limited. You can rent a car or motorcycle directly from both the airport as well as the jetty.
Driving in Langkawi
Driving in Langkawi is fun. The roads are often devoid of traffic. The only drawback is that some of the roads allow only two lanes of traffic. Many of the islanders drive at cattle speed. If you get behind one, it may be a while before you have a chance to overtake.
There are just a few main roads on the island. Confusingly, three of them take the route number of 112. These are Jalan Padang Matsirat, which runs from Kuah town to the village of Padang Mat Sirat; Jalan Ayer Hangat, which skirts the eastern part of Langkawi, from Kuah town to Ayer Hangat village; and Jalan Ulu Melaka, which starts at Ayer Hangat Village and ends at the junction with Jalan Padang Mat Sirat. In a way, if you follow 112, you make a loop around the eastern and central portions of Langkawi.
In addition to Route 112, there are a few other main roads which you should explore. Route 113, also known as Jalan Teluk Yu, begins at Ayer Hangat village, crosses the northern part of Langkawi, and ends at Burau Bay. On the southern part of the island, Jalan Bukit Malut, also known as Route 167, joins Jalan Padang Mat Sirat to Jalan Kedawang.
On the western part of Langkawi, there is Jalan Pantai Cenang, which runs along the main beach belt of Langkawi. To the north of it is Jalan Kuala Muda, which runs along the coast next to the Langkawi International Airport.
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