Langkawi has some of the best beaches in Malaysia

 Langkawi has some of the best beaches in Malaysia

Known as ‘the Jewel of Kedah’, Langkawi boasts some of the best beaches in Malaysia along with rainforests teeming with wildlife, villages preserving local traditions and impressive limestone caves. Once a haven for pirates, the 99 tropical islands of this archipelago lying off the northwest coast of Malaysia are fringed with white sand beaches and clear waters ripe for snorkeling and diving. Inland, tangled jungle hides exotic birdlife such as hornbills, while colugos (flying lemurs) swing from tree to tree. If you prefer a more lively atmosphere, you can head to Pantai Cenang beach with its bars, restaurants and live music, while spending days exploring on kayaks, quad bikes and cable cars.

Langkawi has some of the best beaches in Malaysia, offering long stretches of white sand, particularly in the Pelangi area. I also love trekking through the vast rainforest that surrounds the main island, spotting wildlife such as macaques and hornbills in the trees

Things to see and do on your Langkawi vacation
Ride the cable cars at Panorama Langkawi

A collection of far-reaching viewpoints over the island, Panorama Langkawi offers a wide range of mainly outdoor pursuits for all ages. You can take part in quad biking and various lake-based activities, follow the nature trails and visit a 3D art museum. It also boasts the SkyBridge, a 125 m (410 ft) long curved pedestrian bridge that has been built on top of Mount Machinchang at an elevation of 100 m (328 ft), providing views over the tree-covered hills.

The attraction is best known for the SkyCab — one of the world’s steepest cable car rides. It takes you up to the summit of Mount Machinchang at 708 m (2,322 ft) above sea level, where you’ll be greeted with panoramic vistas out over the surrounding islands. Afterwards, head to the Chocohouz shop and café to taste Belgian chocolates or enjoy drinks and snacks at SkyBistro, accompanied by sweeping views.

Kayak through Kilim Geoforest Park

In the north of Langkawi Island, Kilim Geoforest Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring diverse flora and fauna, striking limestone karsts, caves, lagoons and mangrove forests. The 100 sq km (39 sq miles) area is made up of three river estuaries that attract wildlife such as hairy-nosed sea otters, brown-winged kingfishers, sea eagles and swimming macaques. On land you may see monitor lizards and bats.

You can explore the reserve’s channels and waterways by kayak. A five hour guided tour takes you along a maze of trails, through the mangrove jungles lining the water and into limestone caves, including the Bat Cave (Gua Kelawar). Here you can view stalagmites and stalactites as well as hundreds of insectivorous bats.

Kopius Media LLC