I went back after a hiatus to Langkawi and I recalled how clean the beaches now look and the bounties it served.

It is particularly picturesque if you think how there are more than 100 islands on the Andaman sea and geological history dating back to 500 years ago.

We travelled for a week hunting down the best things to do in Langkawi beyond the touristy spots and took a chance to enjoy its booming cafe scene, wild natural habitats and soak in the solitude in unlikely places.

Here are some of the best things to do in Langkawi and places to visit.

Some may be well-trodden paths but maybe it is time to see it through a different lens, go off the beaten path in Langkawi, pause a little and most importantly don’t just stay at your resort and be by the beach!

Also read: 3 Days or More Penang Itinerary Adventure: Things To Do + What To Eat

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Best Things To Do in Langkawi

1. Langkawi Mangrove Tour

Mangroves play an important role in coastal life — mitigating floods and even tsunamis like the December 2006 26th December incident.

To understand their role in our ecosystems and be in awe of Langkawi’s geoforest park is to take an eco-friendly mangrove tour.

The best way is to go on a cruise with Junglewalla.

They will provide you with a thorough overview of the mangrove forests, wildlife in the mangrove forests, the rivers and sea around Langkawi.

Spread over an area of 100 sq. km, the Kilim Nature Park features a beautiful mix of well-protected green mangrove forests, isolated white beaches and blue lagoons.

Cruising down the calm, winding river, I learned much about the park's marine ecosystem, its flora and fauna and the natural inhabitants such as the over-hanging trees, Brown Eagles, Monitor Lizards and Macaques.

It is a hands-on educational experience as we ended the day we a lovely sunset dinner at a floating restaurant!

And most importantly, don’t participate in the eagle feeding exercise..

What’s fed is not even chicken meat but “fried chicken” which are horrible for the eagle’s diet.

Boat operators feed the eagles chicken skin thrown from boats into the sea, which the eagles swoop down to grab. In all seriousness, do select an eco-friendly guide!

2. Take in the scenic views of Gunung Raya

Gunung raya is one of the best places to visit in langkawi, the highest mountain in the island.

Known as the highest mountain in Langkawi with an altitude of 881 metres, the drive up to Gunung Raya proved to be scenic and one of the best highlights of seeing Langkawi from the top.

There are two ways to view up Gunung Raya, you could either drive or go on a trek.

We chose to do a scenic drive through the forest which took us 20-30 minutes and it was a treat to have the cool December breeze on our face and a slight howl from the wind. If you go early, you’ll spot the great hornbills, eagles, different birds and monkeys.

Another option is to climb the 4,287 steps up to Gunung Raya which takes about 4-5 hours. If you have extra time in your hand and wouldn’t mind the sufferfest, then go ahead and trail through!

3. Walk along the Sky Bridge & Cable Car

Take the skycab at langkawi oriental village

It may be touristy to be on top of the Sky Bridge but this is probably the only touristy activity that’s worth the view!

Hanging at a height of 2,170 feet between two mountains, Langkawi Sky Bridge is counted among the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world. It stretches for 410 feet and has clear bottom glass for visitors.

When getting on the cable car at the last stop, it can be quite a queue to wait for the skycab. I would suggest walking the entire stretch. I managed to do it with my mum and while she was tired, she did enjoy the extra 5 minute of workout!

In recent months, the government has even introduced camping on top of Sky Bridge to offer a different view of Langkawi and experience the dense tropical forest!

4. Seven Wells (Telaga Tujuh)

The scenic and cool dipping pools at seven wells - Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls in langkawi

The Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls are one of the nicest spots to chill and unwind in Langkawi. Also known as Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls, it is at the foot bottom of Gunung Mat Cincang.

There’s about 367 steps to climb before dipping yourself in the cool waters.

What’s really cool about this place is that there are several slippery rocks that act as slides for people to slide through these dipping pools.

Go at 8.00am when there’s hardly anyone and you’ll have the whole place to yourself! It is a sight to behold!

5. Sunset Watching at Pantai Tengah

found the pantai tengah to be the better beaches in langkawi

While Pantai Tengah is a continuation of Pantai Cenang, it still is a way better beach compared to Cenang — there are far less tourists, and watersports activities making it the perfect sunset evening stroll to watch the sunset.

I found the beach as clean as Tanjung Rhu — if you want quiet moments without driving all the way to the other side, there’s nothing like chilling at Pantai Tengah!

6. Local Artisans at Night Market

Local scenes at the night market in Langkawi

The night markets in Langkawi is the perfect way to catch local artisans in action and taste the cuisine as well.

There are various night markets with the most popular one in Kuah Town (open Wednesdays and Saturdays) and the other in Padang Matsirat (open on Sundays).

Most of these night markets take place throughout the week in different parts of Langkawi — a closer one near the beach is Pantai Cenang night market.

7. Visit Langkawi’s Artistic Hub

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A post shared by Bon Ton Locale (@bontonlocale)

Run by Bon Ton resort, I just recently found out there’s an artistic hub called Bon Ton Locale that runs from 12pm to 6pm.

They often hosts art exhibitions, clay workshops, or wood working sessions over here. It’s worth following them on Instagram @bontonlocale to find out more.

8. Hike Gunung Machincang and Visit The Blue Lagoon

Most people come to Langkawi for beaches, and not for hiking. But if you’ve eaten too much and savoured the best food in Langkawi, it’ll be worth to test your limits by climbing Gunung Machinchang (Mat Cincang) at 701 metres, the second highest spot in the island.

This is a hard total body workout that somehow reminded me of Bukit Tabur in KL.

The trail starts at Seven Wells and for the first km it is mostly flat and undulating but the terrain changes after that where you’d need to be on all fours to continue climbing all the way to the top, while crossing some big boulders. It’ll take you about 5-6 hours in total, the harder part is obviously on your descent.

On the way down closer to the wells, you’ll see a trail on the left that goes to the blue lagoon.

There are no signboards but you won’t be able to miss it! I would suggest taking a dip before hiking as a lot of people have discovered this alluring blue lagoon that it is no longer “hidden.”

9. Take a rainforest tour afterdark

If you’re looking for a cool experience that’s different from the usual, this tour that take you up to Gunung Raya gives you a taste of what’s it like to encounter unique nocturnal creatures at Lubuk Semilang.

You get to spot various animals such as monkeys, squirrels, and a diverse array of birds including hornbills, rollers, flowerpeckers, and sunbirds.

10. Mini Tour De Langkawi via Cycling

Cycling in langkawi on my own mini tour de langkawi

The roads are pristine in Langkawi and it is no wonder that Langkawi is such a popular sport in Langkawi. While some areas are incredibly hilly, there’s a reason why Le Tour De Langkawi and Ironman Triathlons are such important sporting events making Langkawi the premier destination for cycling.

The best way to enjoy the island on a two-wheeler is to find beautiful routes where you can enjoy the sundown views. Drivers are quite used to seeing cyclists on the roads but just have proper cycling etiquette and keep to the side of the road.

Highly recommended: You could opt for a biking tour at relaxing pace with a guided bike tour that involves biking through the paddy fields followed by a waterfall swim and dessert.

I rented a bicycle from JMB Cycle — a giant mountain bike for RM50 per day and rode from Kuah to Padang Matsirat and Pantai Cenang (avoiding the Bukit Malut route unless you don’t mind hills).

The next day I went around Langkawi via Ulu Melaka paddy fields onwards to Tanjung Rhu and back to Kuah.

To cycle along the paddy fields, the starting point is from Laskar Seni Cafe, take the paddy route way and explore at sunrise.

If you want to test yourself, you could even do half-day cycling up to Gunung Raya in the morning.

11. Have The Most Amazing Stay in this A-frame villa

After staying at beachside resorts, I wanted to experience a chilled out vibe and somethings that’s different. Ezu Isle Villa fits the bill as the perfect place to discover the different side of Langkawi.

Tucked in the village of Kampung Lubuk Setol, lies the perfect bed and breakfast.

You’ll be spoilt silly with their infinity pool facing the paddy fields and a local wonderful breakfasts You’ll notice birds, taste a bit of kampung life in their surroundings and be in love with the little touches that they add to everything!

For my second time in Langkawi, I stayed at Tanjung Rhu Villa & Cottages at Tanjung Rhu, and it was incredibly beautiful and so close to the beach! The bohemian duplex studio was perfect for 4 days as we saw a different side of Langkawi.

12. Day Tripping at Pulau Tuba

Pulau Tuba is almost unheard of when people visit Langkawi. It is sometimes visited when island hopping but there’s more to this island than doing just a tour!

Tuba Island is a remote island not too far from Kuah Town known for its traditional village life, rare wildlife and plants and even birdwatching.

You could rent a motorbike for cheap and zip around the island eating the best seafood, and it is also the perfect place to go trekking and do some birdwatching.

The easiest way to get to Pulau Tuba is to take a boat ride from Kuah Jetty which will take you 20 minutes and it costs approximately RM10.

13. Kayaking or Jetski at Tasik Dayang Bunting

With Dayang Bunting connected via a bridge to Pulau Tuba, you could head over to visit this lake known for its legends, myths.

The lake of the pregnant maiden is situated on the second largest island of the Langkawi archipelago called Dayang Bunting.

The best way is to spend an exciting 4 hours exploring 8 beautiful islands of Dayang Bunting on your very own jet ski.

This tour also lets you leave your jet skis and trek through the abundant jungle, or jump in a kayak to further discover the waters surrounding the island.

Also known as Tasik Dayang Bunting, the lake derives its name from the legend of Mambang Sari, an ethereal princess who lost her infant child within a week after giving birth.

This fresh water lake sits precariously close to the sea and is only separated by a small strip of land.

14. See Clear Waters or Snorkel at Pulau Payar or Dangli Island

the clear waters in pulau payar where you can snorkel

When visiting Langkawi, I didn’t know if it was possible to snorkel. Payar Island is known as a marine park and offers protection for its diverse marine life making it one of the best places to seeing beautiful fishes although the corals were dead at the shore where we swimming.

Visibility was not the best in December but if you’re diving you’re likely to have a better experience.

The sprinkling of jade green islands that make up Pulau Payar lie just 30km south- east of Langkawi. It is about an hour’s boat ride but sometimes they’re not available especially from March to May.

The next best option is to take a day trip to Day Trip to Dangli Island for snorkelling and book this tour.

15. Soak In The Two Waterfalls in Langkawi - Durian Beringin and Temerun Waterfall

When it is rainy and it pours, these two waterfalls are a sight to behold. Durian Peringin waterfall has been named after the Durian trees that bear spiny oval tropical fruits and be found in abundance around this waterfall. It is located at the north eastern side of Langkawi and north of Kilim Village.

Imagine a 14-tier waterfall where you can view at different heights. What’s great is that the waterfall comes down the northern slope of Gunung Raya, the highest mountain in the island.

Temerun waterfall is quite breathtaking and it is located at the Mat Cincang Nature Park in the Datai Bay area of Malaysia. The best place to take in the cool breeze and picnic by the waterfalls is when it rains the day before.

Just remember to keep it clean and do not leave any trace behind!

16. Parasail Your Way Through Langkawi

parasailing in langkawi was one of the best experiences during sunset

If you love the thrill of the breeze and rising high above the ocean with a view of Langkawi’s mountains, parasailing in Langkawi is the best ways to view the island’s coastline.

For RM80, you are taken for a ride on a speedboat and belted in your safety harness before you’re let go to the heavens above.

I tried to convince my mum for the double-seater parasailing buddy ride but she was afraid of the heights. Whatever it is don’t let go of this opportunity to see the beauty of Langkawi.

17. Beach Hopping in Langkawi

The island hopping tours are often loaded with a lot of people during peak season and sometimes the best way to experience the beach yourself is to drive to the best locations.

I saw deals on Klook for RM35 but while it may be worth the money for those who want to go on a quick island hop tour, you’re also sharing the boat with a lot of people.

Here’s a tip, if you have a car drive straight to Tanjung Rhu mangrove tour and you can book a private boat there for RM200 for two hours which includes snorkelling.

It is usually negotiable and sometimes cheaper than the internet prices. (Bonus point: the beach is beautiful and usually shared with neighbouring Four seasons resort!)

On our own self-drive island hopping tour, we drove to this “wild beach” spot (just google wild beach Langkawi) that was within walking distance from Pasir Tengorak Beach, known as Skull Sand or Sandy Skull beach.

Interestingly, there’s a certain mix of black minerals due to the erosion of the granite rock in nearby Gunung Raya.

Sandwiched between Black Sand Beach and Pantai Paris Tengkorak lies Shark Bay Beach (Teluk Yu), the waters are calm and shallow and it even has a promenade featuring these stone sharks with no sharks ofcourse!

Pantai Kok is another beach that is pretty close to Langkawi’s airport, approximately 15 minutes and it is also in between other tourist attractions.

The stunning Mat Chincang Mountain forms the perfect backdrop in the distance while the Telaga Harbour wharf, home to some mega-yachts makes you wonder how many rich people are there in Langkawi.

18. Get Cultured at Padang Matsirat

Next to Langkawi’s airport in Padang Matsirat is also known for its verdant green land, rice fields and many small villages. This area has several great attractions including legendary tombs and shrines, picturesque parks and farmlands nestled in untouched scenic settings.

Visit Air Hangat (also known as Ayer Hangat) Village, a modern cultural complex which houses several duty-free shopping stores and most importantly it is a spa house with three-tiered hot spring water wells filled with salt water.

See the spirit of batik painting come alive in Atma Alam Batik Art Village. It is also a great place to cultivate one’s creativity as there are art classes where students learn to turn plain white fabric into beautiful art pieces with batik prints.

Visit the Field of Burnt Rice, a historically significant site in Langkawi, where local villagers had scorched their rice fields in 1821. As rice is one of the main sources of income in Langkawi, the mass rice paddy burning was conducted in an effort to prevent the paddy fields from falling into the hands of Siamese invaders.

19. Get a Taste of Local Food

Recently, I visited an amazing local cafe set in the paddy fields called Lembayung Cafe. Run by Ibu Miah, she and her sons wanted a cafe that was set in nature because of their love for hiking.

You have to try their blue-pea iced lychee tea and curry mee — made with local ingredients, the ingredients were super fresh and tropical. It was also so calming and serene to be here!

Another cafe set in the surroundings of Ulu Melaka with a view of the paddy fields, Pia’s Padi is a nice place to see a different side of Langkawi that does wonders to your palette. Go during lunchtime and make reservations.

They offer a diverse range of western, northern Indian, Malay and Chinese fare and feature great open-air dining venue which overlooks Gunung Raya and the paddy fields.

But if you’re not up for something too fancy, I spent a lot of time in Langkawi eating local food after staying in the Tanjung Rhu area or Pantai Tengah area.

Some of the best local food with a Western twist include De Daun Cafe — honestly I had one of the best duck pastas here, Nasi Arab Kaki Gunung Cafe, and Dawan Thai Seafood Restaurant as well as Nasi Kukus (in Pantai Tengah).

I also had some of the best doughnuts in Langkawi at Zaomi donuts & pastry, their anchovies sambal donuts and sugar donuts were to die for!

20. Witness the Cafe Scene in Langkawi

Away from the usual beachfront cafes lie hidden, cosy and cute cafes in Langkawi. The beachfront cafes are usually subpar in food quality and make up for it with their ambience but the ones listed below are some of the best that I had tasted in Langkawi.

Try Smiling Buffalo cafe for their delicious mango pancakes, brunch options and good coffee. They’re attached to a boutique chalet property called Panji-Panji which looked incredibly rustic as well if you’d love to stay! Another place that is called Hornbill Hut Cafe.

If you are vegetarian or vegan and find it hard to find good quality vegetarian options in Langkawi, try Indiana vegan cafe and yoga or Kirthika Kitchen they have some really impressive vegetarian food options.

For those loving places with a bit of a vibe, The Fat Frog Langkawi is wonderful for brunch with amazing views over the golf course, ocean and beyond. Something traditional and new is also worth exploring: Jendela Mikael Langkawi.

For dinner, try De Daun Cafe in Langkawi or Yellow Beach Cafe and enjoy the scenic views.

Another cafe is called Kelapa Cafe and it is attached to Tanjung Rhu Villa & Cottages, which I ended up staying for the second time. Their cafe is known for their instagrammable and Bali vibes — while the coffee wasn’t great, thought their pancakes and pasta were pretty good!

Getting Around

Car rental is the go-to option when in Langkawi and it ranges from RM80 a day for a compact car and even up to RM100 for a good quality car. I booked one from Imaani travel and tour and it is possible to call them and arrange for a car right at the airport.

Motorbikes and scooter are another option and they cost RM25 per day.

If you’re not in the mood to drive in Langkawi, Grab is pretty convenient and available everywhere. We only had the car for two days and often used Grab where we could. I would usually walk wherever I can and take a grab on the way back.

To rent bicycles, there is only one shop in Kuah Town where I rented mine from with quality mountain bikes called JMB Cycle.

To push your trip further, you could even travel from Koh Lipe to Langkawi and vice versa.

Where To Stay

stay at cosy B&Bs in langkawi, some of the best places to stay

In Langkawi, accommodations can be pretty tough to strike the right balance between not too expensive and being somewhat affordable and then there’s the question of proper maintenance. It’s not like Bali where you have very good options for less. So here you might end up spending a bit more.

Here are the best places to stay in Langkawi

Ezu Isle Villa Langkawi: The best A-frame villa that’s super private and beautiful!
Tanjung Rhu Villa & Cottages: Booked them through Airbnb and thought they were super rustic, quaint and perfect for a getaway from the usual spots!
La Pari Pari: Quaint and nice place away from the crowds
Temple Tree Resort: Stayed here and it was wonderful because of its heritage vibes.
Sunset Beach Resort: The most affordable beachfront stay. Not the most modern but works!
Panji Panji Tropical Wooden Home: Great place with amazing food!
Bon Ton Antique Wooden Villas: Perfectly styled antique Malay wooden villas.
The Danna Langkawi: Away from the usual stretch and a private resort for yourself!
The Datai: Who doesn’t know the Datai? Luxury and nature at its best!

When Is The Best Time To Travel To Langkawi?

November to january is the best time to visit langkawi

Most people do not know that November onwards heading to the year-end is the best time to visit Langkawi because there is plenty of good sunshine and light rainfall. Temperatures are consistent during the day, ranging from 30°C to 35°C while at night, between 28°C and 29°C but during the day it can get really hot!

The next best time to visit is from January to March. Mid-season follows in between April to August and this is when there are occasional rains with cloudy sky and sometimes thunderstorms. But the best part is there are less tourists and everything is accessible and prices are kept relatively low.

Are there any other spots that I have missed out? Share with me in the comments below.

Also Read: 21 Offbeat Short Getaways in Malaysia From KL For Day Trips/Weekends

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Here are some of the best places to visit and things to do in Langkawi. Some may be well-trodden attractions but maybe it is time to see it through a different lens, go off the beaten path in Langkawi, pause a little and most importantly don’t just …

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