If you’re looking to visit one of Malaysia’s most underrated and uncrowded islands, Langkawi is the place for you. In this travel guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting Langkawi for the first. We’ll talk about all the best things to do in Langkawi, where to stay, where to eat and so much more!
Our time in Langkawi was unlike anything we have done so far. For the first time during this trip, we stayed put for a whole month. No running around, less crazy exploration. We set ourselves down in the middle of some rice paddy fields, got ourselves a routine with our Workaway, and loved the simple and relaxing island life. We got to know the island so well, and learned about spots only locals know about. So we’re so excited to share our complete guide for your first trip to Langkawi with you.
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Table of Contents
Top things to know about visiting Langkawi
Langkawi is a predominantly Muslim island, so just be respectful of the locals with how you dress – It is a beach city so they are understanding, but when you’re out in local areas, try and dress more conservatively. Also, know that you shouldn’t touch a local of the opposite sex. And easy on the PDA when you are around them.
Also important to note is that there aren’t many ATMs on the island. The main ones are at the airport and in malls. Not many places accept cards, so make sure you always have money on you. But don’t worry, the ATMs don’t charge fees here. Win!
How to get around Langkawi
There is no public transportation on the island so the best thing to do is to rent a car or a scooter. We had the joy of driving around on a scooter the whole time we were here and can say that it’s quite safe and easy. Just make you always carry your license and helmet with you as police roadblocks are quite frequent.
Another easy and quick way to get around is through Grab. Make sure you download the app before getting there. You can easily get someone to pick you up and drop you off and it’s super cheap.
Top things to do in Langkawi in Malaysia
There are quite a few things to do in Langkawi, from fun activities to lazy beaches. There is something for everyone and every budget. Here’s our list of the best activities on the island of Langkawi.
1. Check out the pristine beaches of Langkawi
There are three main beaches on the island, though you will find other small ones too.
Discover Cenang Beach, the most touristic beach in Langkawi
This is the main tourist beach, where you will find all the bars and restaurants. You also have tons of resorts on this stretch of beach. You can also find any water sport that you may be interested in doing on Cenang beach.
The sand is white but very hard and full of shells. The water is nice, but clarity depends on the number of boats running around and if it rained that night. You can rent long chairs to lounge on or do a ton of activities here, but those aren’t free.
For your first trip to Langkawi, this is the area we recommend you stay in. It has the highest concentration of restaurants, bars, and shops. The main hotels are in this area too, so nothing is too far.
Tanjang Rhu Beach, a secluded beach in Langkawi
This is where you will find luxury resorts like the Four Seasons. The beach is fairly secluded as it’s in a more quiet part of the island. The best place to enjoy it is all the way at the end of the strip, near where the mangrove tours leave. There, you have a few local restaurants and shops by the beach, which are perfect for taking a break from the sun. At this beach, expect clear waters, calm seas, and beautiful sunsets.
Skull beach (Pantai Tengkorak), a local’s beach and a hidden gem in Langkawi
This was our favorite beach on the island. It’s a must-see if this is your first trip to Langkawi. Skull beach offers soft white sand, clear blue waters and more importantly, barely anyone around. The first time we went there, there were only a handful of locals. The next time, there was barely anyone else there.
The entrance to this beach is a little odd: There are a few huts and cottages around and the main area around it is gated, but rest assured you can go and enjoy the best beach on the island.
Check out the other smaller beaches in Langkawi
There are a few other beaches too. They are quite smaller than the ones above. But when we find one we like, we just stick to it. You can do the same!
- Pantai Kok is north of Cenang beach. It’s small and in the lagoon with tons of boats around, but it’s quiet and lovely. For an added photo-op, there’s a cute stone lighthouse around the bend from the beach.
- Pantai Tengah is just around the cliff from Cenang beach. It’s quieter, and smaller, but offers better sand.
- Black Sand Beach (Pantai Pasir Hitam), 4 km southwest of Tanjang Rhu, is a stretch of black sand that looks amazing at sunset!
2. Chill out at Dash Resort, what to do in Langkawi for a relaxing day
Dash resort is right on the beach, and it has a beautiful pool! It’s quite different than anything else you’ll find on the island, so it’s pretty cool. If you want to lounge around a beautiful resort pool, Dash is the place. All you need to do to have access is to order food or a drink, then the place is all yours! Ok, you might have to share the pool with others, but each time we went, the crowds were pretty small.
The theme at Dash is “down the rabbit hole”, a theme inspired by Alice in Wonderland. You’ll find statues, paintings, and all other kinds of art from the iconic children’s story.
You can even head down to a nice white sand beach, Pantai Tangah. This beach is quieter than Cenang, and has nicer sand, so win-win if you ask us.
3. Explore the waterfalls on your first trip to Langkawi
The three main waterfalls to see on the island are the 7 Wells, Air Terjun Temurun and the Durian Perangin waterfalls. On your first trip to Langkawi, we recommend visiting these falls.
As you can imagine, the best time to see them is during the rainy season, as they are barely alive during the dry season. It was only the start of the rainy season when we were in Langkawi, in May, so the falls were not as active. The entrance to all these falls is free.
Head to 7 Wells Waterfalls (Telaga Tujuh), the most wonderful natural attraction in Langkawi
Situated near the Cable Car (you can see them from there), these falls are actually seven natural pools that are connected and fed by seven separate waterfalls in Mount Mat Cincang. To get to the wells and the observation deck, you will need to hike up some 690 steep steps, or about 10 minutes. But be warned, it’s a hot and sweaty trek.
Is it worth it? Yeah, after all, these waterfalls are said to be Langkawi’s most wonderful natural attraction… during the rainy season! They were barely full when we were there!
Locals believe that the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls are home to fairies, but it’s probably due to the fact that the nature around the falls is so lush and beautiful! If the heat doesn’t get to you, you can climb to the top of the falls, past huge rocks and through the seven pools. It will take you around 45 minutes, but you’ll be sure to spot plenty of birds and animals. There are no bins along the way, so be sure to bring an adventure bag and your trash back home with you. You know how important it is to be eco-friendly as travelers!
Another added bonus of these falls is that you can bathe in the rock pools or at the bottom of the falls. Just be warned that locals mainly bathe in the pools below the waterfalls. For women, you may want to wear a t-shirt over your bathing suit as the men do stare quite a lot. They are harmless, but if you get uncomfortable easily, this may be a good way to avoid unwanted attention.
If you’re still looking for more to do there, you also have tons of activities at the foot of the hills, like zip-lining through the forest. Make a day out of it and have some fun. These waterfalls are also a short drive from the cable car and Skull beach.
Getting here: As with everything around the island, you will need to get here by your own means (scooter, car or Grab). Just put the name of the falls in your GPS and it will lead you there.
Air Tenjun Temurun, a refreshing waterfall to check out in Langkawi
These waterfalls are in the Mat Cincang Nature Park of Datai. A perfect place to cool down with refreshing waters coming down from the mountains. The cascade down is about a 30-meter drop, with a nice pool below where you can swim. Because the rainy season had barely started during our stay, we skipped these falls. They are only full after the rain, if not, expect more of a trickle than a waterfall.
Getting here: Same as for the other falls, just put it into your GPS or find them here:
Durian Perangin, a must-see waterfall in Langkawi
The Durian waterfalls are near Tanjang Rhu beach, just about 15 minutes away. Thankfully, they don’t smell like durians, but instead, they are quite lovely! This is actually a 14-tier waterfall that cascades down Mount Raya, the island’s tallest mountain. The falls are a stone’s throw away from the hot springs in Kampung Ayer Hangat.
To get to the top of the falls, you have to hike up a few steps, nothing as crazy as the 7 Wells. The hike up here is well worth it, again, especially if it rained before. The locals usually swim at the bottom of the falls, so we had the whole place to ourselves for a good 45 minutes before other travelers showed up.
We had friends go to these falls after heavy rainfall and their experience was quite different from ours. The pool of water was super full and had a strong current down. They could barely swim at the top of the hill. So make sure you check out the conditions before going in!
Getting here: You know the drill, just look up Durian Perangin waterfalls.
4. Catch the view from the Langkawi Skycab, an iconic thing to do on a first trip to Langkawi
This is probably the most popular tourist attraction on the island: the Langkawi Skycab! At 950 meters high, it’s the longest free-span mono car in the world. The views from the top here are pretty amazing, especially on a clear sunny day. While in the Sky Cab, you get a 360-degree view of the lush vegetation, the surrounding islands, the 7 Wells waterfalls, and pretty much everything else! The thrill of going up a super steep cable is also pretty cool and exhilarating, but probably not for those who are scared of heights.
Included in the RM55 per person price tag are the SkyDome, a 360-degree movie experience that is about 7 minutes long; the Sky Rex, a 4D dinosaur ride that stopped working halfway through; and the 3D trick-eye museum. However, the Sky Bridge is not included and costs an additional RM5, and if you want to take the Sky Glide, a weird-looking, slow-moving elevator that takes you from the Sky Cab tower to the Sky Bridge, add another RM10 to your costs.
Our advice would be to head there early for two main reasons. First is the obvious heat. It gets super toasty up there when you’re that close to the sun. You can’t bring water with you so try to avoid the 11 am to 2 pm window. Second, the crowds won’t be there. This is one of the main attractions on the island, so expect tons of people. Try to get there before 10 am or after 4 pm to avoid them.
Although the views and the overall cable car experience were fun, we have one major complaint about the place. They continuously force you to take pictures in front of green screens so that they then slap some random background in the back of you. Even when we refused to take the picture, they would not let us pass until we complied. What a waste of people’s time, of paper and ink! They print out all these forced pictures and sell them to you later in various shapes and forms. We found a trick to avoid them printing it: We would cover our faces or make really ugly grimaces. It worked like a charm! No paper or ink was wasted on us.
Getting here: There are signs all around the island that direct you to the Sky Cab. You can follow those.
5. Climb to the top of Mount Raya, Langkawi’s tallest peak
At 881 meters, Mount Raya (Gunung Raya) is the tallest mountain on Langkawi. It’s why this is one of the best things to do in Langkawi, on your first trip.
Located in central Langkawi, you’ll find the Gunung Raya Golf Course at its base. The mountain is covered with lush rainforest and creates a beautiful backdrop to the island’s landscape! There are two ways you can get to the peak of Gunung Raya, either drive or trek.
The easiest route is obviously to get a ride up there and should take you about 30 min. Take the not-too-steep but narrow winding road Jalan Gunung Raya that starts at its intersection with Jalan Ulu Melaka. Be careful at the turns as many cut corners around here.
Then, if you like to hike, strap your shoes on and get climbing! There are tour operators that will guide you up there, but from what we heard, you can trek on your own as well. It should take between 1 to 1.5 hours. There are no facilities on the way up, so bring food and water, and take your trash back down with you.
Once at the top, there is a resort and a watchtower, with an entrance fee of RM10. You will get the same views as you do at the top of the Cable Car, but there are barely any people here. It’s also a great place to watch the sunset.
6. Go duty-free shopping on your first trip to Langkawi
In case you didn’t know, Langkawi is a duty-free island. Fun fact: in 1987, the Malaysian Government declared Langkawi duty-free in order to boost tourism. So you know what that means, right?! There are tons of shops that will sell you tax-free chocolates, alcohol and tobacco products.
Just note that there is a limit to how much alcohol you can buy and you will need to present your passport when making these purchases. Duty-free shops are clearly marked and can be found all over the island, though they are mainly around Cenang Beach and in Kuah.
How good are the deals? Depending on what you buy, it can be quite cheaper than what you pay back home. For example, a 1-liter of rum back home will set us back $45 CND but cost only RM30 on the island. That’s CND$10. And that friends, is a great deal!
7. Go island-hopping, one of the best things to do around Langkawi
Located off the west coast of Malaysia, Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Melaccan Straits of the Andaman Sea. So as you can only imagine, there are a ton of islands around Langkawi that you can go explore.
Most are uninhabited and are just thick forests, but they are beautiful. The famous Pregnant Maiden island is the most popular and is where couples wishing to get pregnant go because of the legend that made this island popular. Apparently, jumping in the lake there will help you conceive more easily.
If you want to tour the islands, don’t book anything online, as it tends to be more expensive. Instead, you can check with your accommodations, or even walk along Pantai Cenang and ask the vendors there. The competition is quite fierce, so you will likely find something within your budget. Just note that some islands have an entrance fee (around RM6-10) that is probably not included in the price of your ticket.
8. Drive around Langkawi
Because there is no public transportation in Langkawi, the best way to explore the island is to drive around. This may not sound like much, but it’s the perfect way to discover island life.
Go find some water buffalo in the rice paddy fields, stop at the local fruit stand to chat with the vendor and get some insanely fresh fruit. We found the best mangos we have ever had while in Langkawi.
Drive along the coast and admire the natural beauty of the island. You’ll find tons of cute little restaurants that will serve you delicious food for a small price tag!
9. Go on some fun activities during your first trip to Langkawi
There is no shortage of activities to do on the island. There is something for everyone, every type of traveler and every budget. Most vendor stalls along Cenang beach will offer these to you, and so will your accommodations, so scout out prices and go have a blast.
Here are the main activities you can do during your first trip to Langkawi:
Take a mangrove tours, a great activity in Langkawi
These were probably the most popular of the tours offered on the island. The tours take off near Tanjang Rhu beach, starting off on the open ocean before diverting into the narrow tributaries of the mangrove forest on the northeastern part of the island. These tours are guided and expect to see tons of animals. A lot of the tours include other activities as well, like feeding eagles, fish farms and lots more.
Go parasailing to see Langkawi in a different way
All around Cenang Beach, you will find tons of boats and vendors offering to take you parasailing. The best time to go is probably at sunset, as the ones on Cenang beach are some of the best we’ve seen!
Take a jet ski tour around Langkawi
You can also hop on a jet ski and go explore the islands around. Tours are usually sold in blocks of 3 hours and a guide will be with you to show you around. Again, if you are hoping to go on some of the islands, expect to pay an entrance fee.
Go on a boat tour to discover Langkawi by water
There are a ton of boat tours available on the island. They range from more budget-friendly options to higher-end sunset cruises. Take a look around and find one that best suits your needs.
Go zip-lining for an adrenaline push in Langkawi
As we mentioned before, you can go zip line right at the foot of the 7 Wells waterfalls. They have a whole course in the lush forest on the hill.
How long to spend in Langkawi on your first trip
You can enjoy Langkawi and do most of what there is in three days, but if you really want to disconnect and immerse yourself in the sweet island life, then give yourself a good week. After all, you probably took a flight or a ferry to get here, so why not really enjoy the time you have on this beautiful island in Malaysia.
Where to eat – The best restaurants in Langkawi
There is no shortage of options on where to eat in Langkawi. You have something for every budget, so just go out and explore.
1. Check out the Night market in Langkawi for a local experience
The night market in Langkawi is in a different spot every night of the week.
- Monday: Ulu Melaka, Jalam Makam, Mahsuri Lama
- Tuesday: Kedawang, near Cenang beach
- Wednesday: Kuah Town
- Thursday: Temoyong, Mukim Kedawang, Pantai Cenang (Less than 5 minutes walk from the house towards Cenang Beach).
- Friday: Air Hangat, Padang Lalang
- Saturday: Kuah Town
- Sunday: Padang Matsirat, opposite of the Field of Burnt Rice
These night markets were some of our favorite spots to eat in Langkawi. You will often find the locals eating here, so you know it is good. Some of our favorite dishes were the Murtabak, the potato dumplings, noodles, these markets have everything you need. We would often stock up for a few meals here, and the food costs next to nothing! Just beware that food for vegetarians is limited, but you can find some pretty awesome fare still.
2. Devour delicious burgers at Burgersmith
We loved Burgersmith since they offered vegetarian burgers that you could dress with your choice of toppings. Their burgers come with fries and a drink, and all together will run you about 30RM, not bad for some good western food.
3. Check out Tomato 24 for amazing and affordable Indian food
Looking for great, cheap Indian food? This is the best place on the island to find it. Situated near Asean resort, it doesn’t look like much, but it’s delish, especially good for you vegetarians out there. The options are limitless. We absolutely loved the paneer masala, with rice and naan bread! If you want to treat yo’self, splurge on the naan bread with cheese and garlic. And by splurge, we mean to spend the extra $0.50.
Where to stay on your first trip to Langkawi
Of course, we’re going to recommend the places we were running! These Airbnb units are cute and homey, and the hosts who run them, along with their Workaway help, are awesome. You can find the 3 different places here. To help make your choice, here’s a bit about them:
1. Sawah Padi Villa, a beautiful villa in a rice field
Set on a rice paddy field, Sawah Padi Villa is where you’ll see tons of water buffalo and some of the most amazing sunsets ever! This home can accommodate up to 5 people and comes with a full kitchen and living area. It’s about a 20-min walk to Cenang Beach, so you have both the peace and quiet of country living while being close to the action.
2. Halia Village, a great apartment close to the city
A lovely unit with a full kitchen and living area as well, Halia Village accommodates up to 4 people. This place was great for us, as it boasts a kitchen and living room. After all our traveling it is rare that we get the space that Halia Village gave us.
The unit is 15 minutes away from the beach and set in steps away from the rice patty fields
3. Rama Rama, a quiet retreat with amazing views
We help set up Rama Rama, so we hope you like it! These units are more of a peaceful retreat, with breathtaking sea views and nature. Still close enough to the action, but far enough that you can enjoy nature in peace. With your own private veranda, a gazebo and a spot to sunbathe, you may never want to leave this tranquil haven.
If this is your first time using Airbnb, you can use our code to get a discount off your first booking.
Overall, if this is your first trip to Langkawi, we recommend staying in and around the Pantai Cenang Beach area. This is where you’ll find most of the beaches, restaurants, and hotels. Plus, the attractions are never too far away, which is great, regardless of if you want to take a scooter there or a Grab.
How to get to Langkawi
There are 2 main ways to get to the island. And you’ve probably guessed them by now.
1. Fly to the island of Langkawi
There are flights from most major destinations like Kuala Lumpur and Penang from local providers. The flights are usually pretty cheap and quite frequent. From Kuala Lumpur, it should take you about one hour, and a mere 40 minutes from Penang.
2. Take a ferry to Langkawi
Yup, that’s the other way you get to an island. You get on a boat. The ferry takes about three hours and leaves twice daily to and from Penang. It cost about RM70. However, be prepared. From what we’ve heard, it’s quite a choppy ride.
Best time to visit Langkawi
There are three main seasons in Langkawi. The high season, mid-season and low-season. They all coincide with the changes in weather.
January to March is the high season. Expect tons of sun and to do a lot of outdoor activities and tours. This is when there is the least amount of rainfall, the hottest weather and the biggest number of tourists. In fact, most travelers start to flock in from early November until April. This period also happens to coincide with many international school holidays. So expect to pay higher prices for food, accommodations, and activities. You can also expect longer queues and crowds at restaurants and attractions.
April to August is the mid-season. It when many returning tourists prefer to come back. This is when we were in Langkawi – the whole month of May. There were occasional rainfalls with cloudy sky and sometimes thunderstorms, but they were short-lived. Usually, we would get showers in short spurts in the late afternoon or evenings. This didn’t interfere with our exploring or sun chilling, but it did help cool the temperatures! Also, during this season, there were not many tourists around and costs were relatively low. This is also when Ramadan will happen, so expect certain activities to have limited hours of operation.
And finally, September to October is the rainy season in Langkawi, so you won’t see many tourists around. Although it’s the rainy season, truth is that it rains only for about two hours a day, usually in the late afternoon and at night. You can still expect tons of dry time and sunshine during the day. September is also one of the coolest months with the average temperature around 27°C. The upsides of the rainy season are the lush rainforests & landscapes in full bloom and the lack of crowds. A downside, however, is that sometimes the ocean swells and becomes rough, restricting the boat tours and water-based activities.
Our unique experience in Langkawi for a first trip to the island
As we mention in the beginning, our experience in Langkawi was different than any other place we’ve been. A few things made it so:
Experiencing the Malaysian elections
First, the hotly contested Malaysian elections were held during our time on the island. It was really cool to see the flags of the opposing parties placed all over the streets. Residents would proudly display their preferences on their front door and even on their cars.
More than once, we were held behind a procession of cars parading down the streets to show their support. The main candidates were the current prime minister at that time, who was caught in a corruption scandal, and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the longest-running prime minister who had bowed out of politics in the early 2000s.
It was really cool to see the people rejoice after the Doctor won, making him the oldest leader in the world. It’s always nice to see people stand up and demand change from a corrupt government… but don’t get us started on world politics!
Living Ramadan in a Muslim country
Next, during our last 2 weeks on Langkawi, we bore witness to the Holy Month of Ramadan. Ramadan is a celebration held by all Muslims around the world where they commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.
During this whole month, from mid-June to mid-July this year, Muslims around the world fasted from sunrise to sunset, not even drinking a sip of water. They also refrain from smoking, and engaging in sexual relations, and must steer clear of any sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting.
The purpose of this month is not only to cleanse the soul by freeing it from harmful impurities, but it also teaches them self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate. It was really great to see so many people practice this old tradition in solidarity.
During this time, a lot of businesses were closed or changed their working hours, including some local restaurants, tourist attractions and stores. Also, our favorite night market moved, and it took us a good week to find it again. The upside was that the night market was replaced by the Ramadan Bazaar, which was held every day, both in Kuah and near the airport, where Muslims would head out to after sunset to break their fast.
Doing a Workaway
Finally, the last thing that marked our special experience on Langkawi was that we did our first Workaway here. Basically, we stayed put for one month and helped a couple run their Airbnb’s. And after moving around so much, it was nice to have a place to call home and get back into a routine for a little bit.
Make sure you check out our article on Workaway if this is something you’d like to do on your long-term trip.
The 9+ best things to do in Langkawi on a first trip
Here is a recap of all the amazing things to do on your first trip to Langkawi. And don’t forget the most important thing to do here – just chill out! Don’t try to fill your days with tons of activities. Instead, just go with the flow and enjoy it.
- Check out the many pristine beaches of Langkawi
- Chill out at Dash Resort
- Explore the different waterfalls on your first trip to Langkawi
- Catch the view from the Langkawi Skycab
- Climb to the top of Mount Raya
- Go duty-free shopping on your first trip to Langkawi
- Go island-hopping around Langkawi
- Drive around Langkawi
- Go on some fun activities during your first trip to Langkawi
We loved our time in Langkawi. It’s not a very touristic island, and there’s enough to do that you can get away from the crowds if you want to. With tons of activities, delicious and cheap food, friendly locals and pristine waters to just chill and enjoy island life, Langkawi is a perfect little paradise in Malaysia!
Hopefully, our guide has given you enough tips to make your first trip to Langkawi an epic one. Let us know in the comments if we forgot to cover anything!
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Great article thanks