Malaysia - Langkawi

About Langkawi

Langkawi is the tiny Malaysian island north of Penang. Founded in the 1st century AD, Langkawi is a relic of the kingdom of Langasuka. One of the earliest Hindu settlements in South East Asia. This is the island of eagles - personified by the giant bird statue at Eagle (or Lang) Square. One guide describes Langkawi as "a group of 104 tropical islands during the low tide and 99 islands during the high tide".

Langkawi is unspoilt, friendly, and genteel. This is no mystical Bali, throbbing Phuket, or curry-in-a-hurry Penang. It is a place to unwind and relax, preferably with a large good book or a slim good friend. It is a place for walks, waterfalls, reflection, and mid-life crises with no one to interrupt your beachside rant.

Langkawi's beaches while not the finest in Asia, are pretty decent with a few white sand stretches to rival any. The sunny and hot dry season runs from November to March with the monsoons trickling in May onwards.

Our Langkawi travel guide includes hotel guide with a review of resorts, spas, duty-free shopping, beaches and activities.

The capital Kuah,is a dusty shambles, with a bizarre style of architecture ranging from utilitarian white concrete blocks to the pink towers and turrets of the new Tiara Hotel.

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Getting to Langkawi

Flying in from Kuala Lumpur the plane descends over glorious, palm fringed beaches, tiny kampongs and rolling hills. But almost the first thing to catch the eye on the road from the airport is the island's cement works. Langkawi is less relentlessly picturesque than other "paradise" islands, which may yet save it from death by tourism.

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Getting around Langkawi

Before you plunge in you might want to look at a Langkawi map.

Rent a car its the best way to get around (around RM80 per day for a Nissan Sunny from a company like Indra Travel and Tours, tel: [60-4] 966-0163, or RM30 up for a 110cc motorbike from a local dealer). Petrol is RM1.44 per litre (about the same as mineral water).

Taxis cost about RM20 per ride from Pantai Cenang (or the airport) to Kuah Town. Fares to the more distant Tanjung Rhu and Datai will incur further charges.

A taxi can be hired by the hour for RM20 per hour with a minimum three hours. With just a few roads to choose from, all excellently signposted and maintained, it is unlikely you will get lost. Therefore it makes sense then to rent.

The Malaysian ringgit to US dollar exchange rate is US$1 = RM3.83.

It takes about two hours to drive right around the island. The flattish south is where the airport and Kuah town are located while the north features a hilly spine clad in verdant rainforest and rubber plantations.

Both the forests, and the plantations with their graceful white-bark trees set in evenly spaced rows, are endangered species. Forests are endangered due to the creeping development and the plantation due to the steady evaporation of the original Indian migrant workers brought in to tap the rubber.

The north is where Langkawi comes alive and nature is at its most vibrant. It may well be that the island will emerge eventually as a colourful, varied and sustainable eco-tourism destination.

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Where to stay in Langkawi

[Click here for full LANGKAWI hotel listings]

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Langkawi Fast Facts

Most rates listed here are the published "rack rates" for reference. Retail rates online or through travel agents will be lower. Rates also vary dramatically between high and low seasons. High season is the dry period November to March. There may be an additional 5 percent government tax and 10 percent service charge.

The Malaysian ringgit to US dollar exchange rate is US$1 = RM3.83.

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Langkawi Seasons

HIGH SEASON
Between mid-November until mid-April there is very little rain and long sunny days. During this period a gentle dry wind blows offshore towards the west. This is the period favored by European tourists and is generally the island's busiest time.

MID SEASON
From mid-April until August you can expect wonderful sunny mornings, with the afternoons becoming overcast. The lack of direct sunshine in the afternoon favors the outdoor activities as there is less risk of sunburn. Often at night during this period Langkawi generally experiences around 1 hour of rain a day. The rain comes in the form of tropical downpours which can be seen coming.

RAINY SEASON
From September until mid November we experience the heaviest rainfall. As in mid-season, the mornings are often perfect and sunny, with overcast afternoons. At this time rainfall increases to an average of 2 hours a day, with about half that falling at night. There is a prefernce to visit during rainy season as there is still plenty of sunshine and warm overcast afternoons, and the island tends to be a bit quieter.

Langkawi Satellite Image with thanks from MyForecast.com.

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Things to do in Langkawi

There are all the usual hysterical trappings of modern tourism - crocodile farms where alligators do things God never intended, bird shows, aquariums and so on - that have been dumped here and there in an attempt to tart up the place. Give them all a miss!

Langkawi gets World Class Snorkel and Diving

Divers around the world know that the islands of Ko Lipe, Ko Adang, Ko Tarutao and 50 more that comprise the Tarutao National park in Thailand as a dream destination that is difficult to access.

Comprising of Kilometers of colorful coral, white powder sand beaches, dozens of world class scuba diving sites and high concentrations of amazing underwater life including dolphins, whale sharks, manta, migrating whales, turtles and more.

Available year round to Langkawi visitors due to a new ferry service opening 8 June 2005. Through the cooperation of the Thai and Malaysian governments and the opening of a Thai Consulate in Langkawi last month this service is now operating.

Daytrips to the national park from Langkawi usually operate three days a week and more frequently during peak season. This will include the one-hour ferry trip, island hopping by speedboat, snorkel gear and a buffet lunch with refreshments.

Special trips might include scuba diving trips with 2 dives, game fishing trips (catch & return), and a guided ecotour to explore the island"s corals and forests with a trained naturalist.

- LANGKAWI CORAL
Snorkeling and diving packages near the Pulau Payer Marine Park in Malaysia.
(http://www.langkawicoral.com)

- LANGKAWI INSIDER SELECTION
(http://www.langkawi-insider.com/dive-snorkel.html)

- SNORKEL & DIVING DAYTRIPS FROM LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA TO THE BUTANG ISLANDS, THAILAND
(http://www.butang-islands.com/info.htm)

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Golf

One of the most refreshing and scenic golf resorts in Langkawi resides at the foothills of the majestic Gunung Raya. With over 300 acres of former rubber plantation land, Gunung Raya Golf Resort boasts an intriguing international-standard golf course designed by renowned American golf architect Max Wexler.

Here within its lush landscapes there are beautiful rolling greens, panoramic tees, and impeccable fairways, magnificently contoured with sand traps and water hazards.

Gunung Raya Golf Resort - (http://www.golfgr.com.my)
We are also proud to introduce our new and improved website where you will be able to make online bookings of the course, customize your golf packages, keep yourselves updated with the latest news and events, or simply browsing for information about Gunung Raya Golf Resort. Catering to the need of golfers, we have every thing that you need to make your game here a fun and exciting one.

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Swampy

COMING SOON!!

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Shopping in Langkawi

Langkawi is a duty-free shopping zone. Here you can find an attractive range of local and imported goods. Most of the island's shopping areas can be found in and around Kuah.

The modern Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall consists of 100 retail lots housed in a 2-storey building. The mall's anchor tenant, Samudra Duty Free Department Store, has a wide selection of goods, including perfumes and fragrances, cosmetics, leatherwear and sports gear.

The other shopping outlets in Kuah is the Langkawi Duty Free (M) Sdn. Bhd and the Saga Shopping Centre. The Langkawi Duty Free (M) Sdn. Bhd sells a range of duty free items. Saga Shopping Centre is a variety of imported kitchenware and household appliances, clothing, luggage, confectionery and assorted goods.

Worthwhile exploring is the Teow Soon Huat Departmental Store in Pokok Assam is just outside the town and is another shopping outlet.

Visitors to the Langkawi Underwater World at Pantai Cenang should not miss the one Shopping Paradise Duty Free Centre housed within the same complex. Items on sale include cigarette, liquor, cosmetics, watches,fashion ware, jewellery, confectionery and batik.

Especially for visitors departing Langkawi by ferry is the Jetty Point Duty Free Complex. A 5-minute taxi ride from Kuah there is also an attractive range of duty free items available including ladies and men's apparel and bric-a-brac. Items for sale include souvenir items such as pewter, handicraft, batik, crystals and glassware. Others include confectionery, liquor, silk fabrics, perfumes and fragrances, cosmetics, shoes and seafood items. Visitors are allowed to bring back to the mainland one bottle of liquor and one carton of cigarettes after staying at least 48 hours on the island.

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Air Trekking in Langkawi Jungle Treetops

Langkawi is ideal as it is founded on its environmental and ecological opportunities, as an Air Trekking System enables tourists, scientists, professional and amateur photographers and film teams to discover the rainforest canopy world by day and night from a completely new perspective.

Click here for Malaysia Wildlife (http://www.malaysia-wildlife.com/) - owned and Manage by Langkawi naturalist Irshad Mobarak. Providing nature adventures trips that are well developed and conducted by a group of dedicated and passionate wildlife guides.

For other nature watching visits in Asia
Wild Asia (http://wildasia.net/main/index_directories.cfm?activityID=6)

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Useful Links

Malaysia Truly Asia -
(http://www.malaysiatrulyasia.co.uk/conference_destination/langkawi.html)

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