4 days in Langkawi

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. 1
   MorningCheck the sea

   Pulau Dayang Bunting

   An island south of the main island with a freshwater lake in a marble hill, known as the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden and part of the Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park. Boats go out from Kuah and other piers when the sea allows. Macaques live nearby: keep your distance and do not feed them.

   Go when Morning, when the sea is calmest.

   Local tip Boats can be held back by rough weather, so keep the day loose. Ask before you swim in the lake and follow the signs. Macaques live near the path: keep food zipped away, keep your distance and do not feed them.

   About 29 min by car or transit13.4 km
2. 2
   AfternoonWorth a short stop

   Eagle Square

   Dataran Lang, a waterfront park in Kuah with a huge sculpture of an eagle, the symbol of the island. One story links the name Langkawi to the reddish-brown eagle, the brahminy kite. Walk the water's edge and look from the shore.

   Go when Afternoon, then a walk along the shore as it cools.

   Local tip Step back a few paces to take in the whole sculpture. Birds of prey around the harbor are wild: keep your distance and do not feed them.

3. Lunch

   Fish curry with rice

   A mild, coconut-rich fish curry served with white rice and a plate of vegetables. A warm lunch back on the main island after the boat.

   Local tip Ask for the curry less spicy if you like, and tell the staff about any fish allergy first.

   About 12 min walk1.0 km
4. 3
   EveningWorth the time

   Kuah

   The main town of the island, centred on its ferry jetty. Walk the waterfront, look into the shops (the island is duty-free) and eat at a night market or a seafood place. Dress modestly in town.

   Go when Evening, when the waterfront is cooler and the food stalls are out.

   Local tip Dress modestly in town, with shoulders and knees covered, and carry a layer for an air-conditioned shop. Ask which evening a night market runs, as the day can change.

   

5. Dinner

   Satay at a night market

   Small skewers of marinated chicken or beef grilled over charcoal, served with a peanut sauce, rice cakes and cucumber. Markets in Kuah sell them on certain evenings, so ask which.

   Local tip The sauce contains peanuts, so tell the staff about any peanut allergy before you order. Ask which evening the market runs.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Travel from KuahAbout 30 min by car or transit14.2 km

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. 1
   MiddayWorth a short visit

   Laman Padi

   A small rice museum and paddy garden near Pantai Cenang, about how rice is grown on the island. A flat, easy stroll for the middle of the day, and close to the beach for the afternoon.

   Go when Midday, as a slow stop out of the strongest sun.

   Local tip Wear a hat and bring water. A short visit is plenty, and it sits close to the beach for the afternoon.

   About 24 min walk2.0 km
3. 2
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Pantai Tengah

   A beach just south of Pantai Cenang, usually quieter than its neighbour, with soft sand, trees along the back and a few small cafes. A good first swim and a place to lie down after the journey.

   Go when Afternoon, once you have settled in, with a hat and some shade.

   Local tip Check the flags and ask locally before you swim, as the sea can be rough in the wetter months. Bring a hat, and put on sun cream again after you swim.

4. Lunch

   Kedah laksa

   A bowl of rice noodles in a sour, spicy fish broth with herbs, cucumber and pineapple, a northern Malaysian dish and a good light lunch before the beach.

   Local tip Tell the staff about any fish or shellfish allergy before you order, as the broth is made with fish. Ask for it less spicy if you prefer.

   About 20 min walk1.6 km
5. 3
   EveningWorth the time

   Pantai Cenang

   The most popular beach on the island, a long strip of sand facing west with cafes, small shops and beach shacks behind it. Walk the shore, find a table and watch the sky change over the water if the cloud allows.

   Go when Late afternoon into the evening, around sunset (about 6:20 PM).

   Local tip Walk the sand first, then choose a table. The beach is busier near sunset, so arrive a little early. Keep an eye on your bag and phone.

6. Dinner

   Grilled fish at a beach shack

   A whole fish or a few prawns grilled over charcoal with a spicy sauce, served with rice and a salad at a simple table near the sand. A shack on the beach strip is the usual kind of place.

   Local tip Choose a place where you can see the fish on ice, and tell the staff about any allergy first.

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Travel from Pantai CenangAbout 36 min by car or transit21.6 km

   Where Day 2 ended.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Kilim Karst Geoforest Park

   A mangrove park of limestone cliffs, caves and three river estuaries that stretch about ten kilometres from Kisap village to Tanjung Rhu. Most visitors see it from a small boat that follows the channels. Eagles, monkeys, otters and crocodiles live here and may or may not appear.

   Go when Morning, before the heat and while the tide suits the boat.

   Local tip Keep your hands inside the boat, as crocodiles live in these waters. Ask the boatman not to stop to feed eagles or monkeys, and keep your distance from any you see. Wildlife may or may not appear.

   About 26 min by car or transit11.3 km
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Tanjung Rhu

   A long cove of pale sand at the northern tip of the island, with limestone outcrops standing in the sea and the mangrove mouth close by. A calm place for a walk and a swim with nothing on a schedule.

   Go when Midday or early afternoon, with a swim and a long lunch.

   Local tip The sea here can be shallow and the tide changes the beach. Ask locally about the water before you swim, and bring shade.

4. Lunch

   Grilled fish and rice by the sea

   A simple plate of fish grilled with turmeric and chili, with rice and a cucumber salad. A cafe or a beach shack near the cove is the usual kind of place.

   Local tip Ask what was caught that day, and tell the staff about any allergy before you order.

   About 14 min by car or transit4.8 km
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth a short stop

   Black Sand Beach

   Pantai Pasir Hitam, a beach on the north coast named for its dark sand. A quiet stop to walk the shoreline and look at the sand, with a craft complex close by if you want to look at local work.

   Go when Afternoon, as a slow stop on the way back.

   Local tip It is a place to walk and look rather than to swim, so check the water and the flags first. The sand can be hot underfoot at midday.

   

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1. Travel from Black Sand BeachAbout 31 min by car or transit15.0 km

   Where Day 3 ended.
2. 1
   MorningCheck ahead

   Langkawi SkyCab

   A cable car that climbs from the base station at Oriental Village up Gunung Mat Cincang to the top station, over forest and, on a clear day, out to the sea. The line is long and steep, and it stops in strong wind and storms and for upkeep, so check ahead.

   Go when Morning, when the air is usually clearer than later in the day.

   Local tip The cable car stops in strong wind and storms and for upkeep, so ask at the base station or your hotel before you set out. If the top is in cloud, you can wait or come back another day.

   

   About 25 min walk2.0 km
3. 2
   MorningCheck ahead

   Langkawi Sky Bridge

   A curved footbridge 125 metres long, hung about 660 metres above sea level from the peak of Gunung Mat Cincang, reached from the top station by an inclined lift. Low cloud can hide the view, and the bridge closes in wind and for upkeep.

   Go when Morning, soon after you reach the top.

   Local tip The bridge closes in wind and for upkeep, and low cloud can hide the view, so do not count on it. If heights make you uneasy, a look from the platform at the end is enough.

   

4. Lunch

   Nasi campur at a roadside warung

   Rice with a choice of home-style dishes chosen at the counter, such as curry, fried fish, vegetables and egg. A warung is a small family-run cafe, and one on the road near the village suits a simple lunch.

   Local tip Point at what you want, and tell the staff about any allergy first. Many dishes share the same pots and spoons.

   About 21 min walk1.6 km
5. 3
   AfternoonA steep stair

   Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls

   The Seven Wells Waterfall, a series of falls that spill in steps into seven natural pools on the cliff above Burau Bay, a short way north of Oriental Village. Reaching the first pool is about 900 steep steps through forest.

   Go when Late afternoon, in the shade, on a dry day.

   Local tip The stair is about 900 steps and steep, so go slowly, rest and bring water. Wear shoes with a grip, as the steps are slippery after rain. Turning back before the top is fine.

   

6. Dinner

   Seafood supper by the water

   Grilled prawns, squid or fish with rice and a plate of greens, taken at a table near the harbor. The catch changes, so ask what is fresh.

   Local tip Ask the staff to describe each dish, and tell them about any shellfish allergy before you order.