The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia

Tripoto
2nd Jun 2015
Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal
Day 1

About: Langkawi is a cluster/archipelago of 104 islands on the Malaysian west coast. Langkawi is officially known as Langkawi, the jewel of Kedah. The islands are the part of the state of Kedah, Malaysia. According to the folklore, Langkawi’s name came from two Malay words – ‘helang’ (eagle) and ‘kawi' (reddish brown): hence lang-kawi. The emblem of Langkawi is the white-breasted eagle.

Visa Requirements: Indians with the Malaysian Visa (Tourist/Business) can visit these Islands.

Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) 1 MYR (RM) =15 INR

Best time to visit: The peak season is from January to March.It is the summer in Langkawi the hotel and tours are expensive compared to the mid-season ie April to August. September and October are not advisable as it is rainy there. Also, consider the Ramadan dates while planning a trip here. A majority of the locals observe fast during the Ramadan month and thus there are very few activities that you can enjoy during that time. We visited the place during the first week of June

Recommended time to be spent: 3-4 Days

How to reach: The best and the fastest way to reach is the domestic flight from KaulaLumpur International airport to Langkawi. Air Asia and Malaysia airline offer low fare flights. It takes an hour to reach the Islands. Alternatively one can take flights from Penang too. There are ferries available from Kaula Kedah, Penang and Kaula Perlis if one is on low budget travel. The travel time from Kaula Perlis to Langkawi is 1 hour and 15 minutes and costs around 18 RM per person (economy tickets).

We reached Langkawi at around 2 PM in the afternoon from KL. Checked in to our beach resort at around 2:30 PM. After freshening up, we started for our pre- booked Mangrove tour.

Langkawi Places to visit:

1) Take a Mangrove tour: Mangrove tours are package tour starting from RM200 for two people. The price of the tour depends on the tour operator you book with. You can check online for best deals.This tour is by motorboat (private or a group tour). This tour offers truly incredible views of nature. We travel around the Kilim Geo forest in the boat to see the well protected Mangrove forests, the flora and the fauna of the area. Keep a watch on the shores for the animal life. One can see monkeys, squirrels, monitor lizards, otters etc. The tour operators stop at the Gua Kelawar (the bat caves) and Fish farms. The bat caves are made of limestone formation and a really creepy place.

The motor boats for the mangrove tour

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Entrance to the bat caves

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The mangrove forest

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The boat way through the rocks

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal
Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The mangrove tress

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The sea otters

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Way to bat caves

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

inside the bat caves-limestone deposits

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

We found a huge crab like thingy inside the cave

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

motor boat in Kilim river

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Kilim Geoforest Park

Photo of Langkawi International Airport (LGK) Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Eagle feeding: Eagle feeding activity is usually included in the Mangrove tour. The tour guide shuts down the engines at eagle feeding sites and throws dead fishes or chicken pieces in the water. Within few minutes, one can see dozens of eagles swooping in from the sky to grab off with the food.

The white breasted eagle

Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Floating Fish Farms: Here you can see many varieties of fishes that are bred here. You can hand feed few fishes. The guide from the fish farm will take you around and show various types of fishes and aquatic beings that are on the farm.

The Fish farms

Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

A sea horse (how cute is this!)

Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Sea urchin! Aww

Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

After the three activities, the tour guide dropped us to our hotel in Pantai Cenang. Our hotel was right in front of the Cenang beach. So we went on to watch the beautiful sunset. There are lots of restaurants in Cenang area (Even Indian Restaurants).We had dinner in one of the Italian restaurants there.

Sunset from our hotel

Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The tiny pool facing the sea

Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal
Day 2

Dayang Bunting Geo forest and the Lake of the Pregnant maiden: We visited this place on our second day in Langkawi. The Dayang Bunting Geo Forest is the second largest Island in Langkawi. To reach the Lake of the pregnant maiden, one has to go trek your way up to the hill. One the way you can see natural marble formation and various types of local trees and plants. There are a lot of monkeys too.

The view from the dock where we started Island hopping

Photo of Pulau Dayang Bunting Langkawi, Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

On the way-Island hopping

Photo of Pulau Dayang Bunting Langkawi, Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The view !!

Photo of Pulau Dayang Bunting Langkawi, Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The path

Photo of Pulau Dayang Bunting Langkawi, Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

One tiny island

Photo of Pulau Dayang Bunting Langkawi, Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Dayang Bunting Geoforest Park

Photo of Pulau Dayang Bunting Langkawi, Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Lake of the pregnant maiden: This is a fresh water lake on the top of the mountain.There is an ancient story associated with this place. The Princess of the land married a local common man and had a son, unfortunately, the son could not live for long and both of them buried him in the lake. Along with giving their son to the lake, the Princess also prayed for all the woman having difficulty in having a baby. It is believed that having a dip in this lake can solve infertility problems in women.

Also if you observe closely, the surrounding mountains are in the shape of a sleeping pregnant woman. Here one can take a dip in the river, take a kayak or a peddle boat for rent or sit at the river bank and let the beauty of the place sink in.

Peddle boats for rent, The lake of pregnant maiden

Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Island hopping tour: This tour takes you to 3-4 islands including the Dayang Bunting. One can book this tour with the local tour agents for around 200 RM per person.We also visited an Island called Beras Basah. It was a beautiful island with the white sand beach. We had a great time on the beach there.

Photo of The Jewel of Kedah-A paradise called Langkawi,Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Underwater world: The entrance fees is RM 46 per person. Timings:10 AM-6 PM.

This is Malaysia’s largest aquarium and houses more than 200 species of marine and freshwater fishes.

underwater world : source Langkawiinfo

Photo of UnderWater World Langkawi Jalan Pantai Chenang Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Duty-free shopping: Yes!! Langkawi is Duty-free zone. On our second day, we visited The Zon duty-free and the Cenang mall ( it is near the underwater world) for shopping. No wonder this place is also called as the shoppers’ paradise.

Day 3

3D art museum: This is one of the most visited places in Langkawi and often very crowded.The 3D art museum is the largest of its kind in Malaysia and 2nd largest in the world. It is situated in the Oriental village, next to the sky cables. Tickets: RM 38 per person.

Langkawi sky cab and the sky bridge: This was one of the most exciting parts of our trip. Langkawi sky cab is the steepest ride in the world. The ride in standard gondolas cost around 55 RM per person. There are VIP gondolas too. The ride takes you to Mount Mat Cincang, Langkawi’s second highest peak.The view from the cab is breathtaking. After around 600 M, disembark in the first station to have a look around and visit the viewpoint and then take another cable car to reach the second level. One has to ascend a series of steps to reach the observatory deck. The view from here is indescribable.

Photo of Langkawi Sky Bridge Jalan Telaga Tujuh Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Woah!!

Photo of Langkawi Sky Bridge Jalan Telaga Tujuh Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The view from the gondola

Photo of Langkawi Sky Bridge Jalan Telaga Tujuh Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

view from the gondola

Photo of Langkawi Sky Bridge Jalan Telaga Tujuh Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Observation deck

Photo of Langkawi Sky Bridge Jalan Telaga Tujuh Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Langkawi Sky bridge: Is the tallest suspended bridge at the height of 2300 ft above sea level.The view is simply amazing. This is a great place for a photo stop.

View of the skybridge from the Observation Deck

Photo of Langkawi Sky Bridge Langkawi, Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Dataran Lang ( The eagle square): the 12m high sculpture of the reddish brown eagle at Dataran Lang was built as an emblem of the Island.This huge statue is placed on the star-shaped platform.This place offers a great view of the Kuah bay and is a great photo point. There are food courts, shops, small ponds, cafes nearby.

The open area .There are shops where you can buy souvenirs

Photo of Eagle Square Kuah Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The mighty eagle

Photo of Eagle Square Kuah Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal
Photo of Eagle Square Kuah Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

The view of the bay of Kuah

Photo of Eagle Square Kuah Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

Ariel view source: Langkawiinfo.com

Photo of Eagle Square Kuah Langkawi Kedah Malaysia by Panchami Bekal

We reached our room by evening and went around the Pantai Cenang hunting for souvenirs. There are lots of spas offering a range of services here.( check for the authentic ones before you go).We also got the foot massage for RM25 per person before leaving to KL from the Langkawi airport.

Langkawi is indeed a jewel of Kedah. This is one of my most cherished trips.

Frequent Searches Leading To This Page:-

Cheap Malaysia Packages, Family Package For Malaysia, Malaysia Family Holiday Packages, Malaysia Sightseeing Tours, Malaysia City Tour Package, Famous Tourist Places In Malaysia