Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi
After the hustle and bustle of Singapore, Malacca, and Kuala Lumpur, we were longing to get away from the cities and head to the beach under the palm trees. Our destination was the island of Langkawi, located off the northwest coast of Malaysia, and we had booked flights with Malaysia Airlines.
The flight departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which is about 60 kilometers from the city center. We ordered a Grab from our hotel and headed to the airport, allowing 1-2 hours for the journey depending on traffic. Our trip took just over an hour and the fare, including tolls, was 75 RM (approximately 13 €). The flight to Langkawi is short, taking one hour from takeoff to landing.
At Langkawi airport, we ordered another Grab and headed to the Pantai Cenang area, where we had booked a hotel. The journey took 20 minutes and cost 17 RM (approximately 3,30 €).
Hotels in Langkawi
We stayed in two different hotels in Langkawi, both located in the Pantai Cenang area, which is the island’s main beach and service hub.
One of the hotels we stayed at was Aneeda Inn, which we can recommend for accommodation in Langkawi. The hotel was very clean, both in the common areas and the rooms. The room was spacious with a balcony facing the pool. The only slight drawback was the bathroom, which was not very modern but still clean. This small, family-run hotel had friendly staff and the courtyard and pool were maintained every evening. The hotel is located in a quiet area off a side street, about 400 meters from the main street. We stayed here for the majority of our 10-day visit to Langkawi, for over a week.
In general, we noticed that the hygiene standards in Malaysia are not quite up to European levels, and cleaning in many places is not as thorough. For example, bed linens might be used even if they have stains that haven’t come out in the wash.
Pantai Cenang – The Heart of Langkawi
Pantai Cenang is Langkawi’s busiest beach area, with the widest selection of hotels and services. If you want some activity around you, it’s a good idea to choose accommodation in this area.
The beach itself is long and beautiful, lined with palm trees and some islands offshore providing a scenic view.
Along the main street, you’ll find many different shops, restaurants, activity providers, and small car rental agencies. The shops offer everything from traditional souvenir stores to smaller craft shops selling jewelry, clothing, and accessories. In addition to the smaller shops, there is also a small shopping mall near the village square where you can browse shops and cool off from the scorching sun.
Spectacular Fire Shows on the Beach
The village square is a small central area that provides access to the main beach. Here, you’ll find two large beach bars, each hosting impressive fire shows every evening. We enjoyed these shows multiple times during our stay. The beach bars have cordoned-off areas on the beach where you can watch the fire shows from bean bags, but you can also view the shows from the perimeter without entering the area. The bars offer both cocktails and mocktails. Our favorite of the two bars was Sangkut Bar on the right. The fire shows, which start around 7-8 PM, were definitely a highlight of our Langkawi visit and are highly recommended.
The central square also featured amazing dancing Transformers. These performers attracted crowds day after day, and we watched them several times. It was incredible how they managed to dance in those suits all evening, keeping the energy up from early evening until late at night.
Laman Padi Langkawi
Laman Padi Langkawi is a beautiful museum area consisting of fine buildings, rice fields, and gardens. You can spend at least an hour here wandering through the rice fields and exploring the buildings. The area is informative, detailing the history of rice cultivation in the region. We also saw water buffalo, which are an impressive sight in these surroundings, and a staff member in a rice hat feeding fish in a pond. There is also a restaurant here, and entry to the area itself is free.
Underwater World Langkawi
Underwater World Langkawi is one of Malaysia’s largest aquariums, housing animals from sharks to flamingos and penguins to various types of jellyfish. The aquarium is very entertaining and well-executed. The penguins were a particular highlight, and it was fun to watch them waddle around. The aquarium has several sections, and the route through them is logical. There’s even a tunnel under the penguin pool where you can watch the adorable penguins swim gracefully. Tickets cost 45 RM (approximately €9), and you can easily spend a couple of hours here.
Hidden Langkawi
Hidden Langkawi is a beach bar located on the Pantai Tengah side, offering a beautiful spot to relax with food or drinks while watching the sunset. True to its name, the bar is a bit hidden, but it’s well-known enough that if you want to secure the best spots right by the terrace edge, it’s a good idea to reserve a table in advance.
Rent a Car or Scooter and Explore the Island
Renting a vehicle is highly recommended so you can explore the island at your own pace. Rental shops are scattered along the main street. We rented a car from a small stall near our accommodation; the process was smooth, and the rental required a driver’s license and passport. A monetary deposit of 100 RM (approximately 20 €) was required, and the rental price was 80 RM/day (approximately 16 €).
It’s worth noting that rental agencies are very strict about driving license categories. We initially planned to rent a scooter, but because we didn’t have an A-class license, and there were no mopeds available, the agency wouldn’t rent us a larger scooter, so we opted for a car instead. In many other Southeast Asian countries, rental agencies are not as strict about licenses, but here the police had apparently reprimanded the rental agency for renting out scooters without the appropriate licenses.
Traffic on the island is calm, so even though Malaysia drives on the left side of the road, you should manage fine even if it’s your first time driving on the “wrong” side. We had limited experience with left-side driving, but everything went smoothly without any problems.
We had the car for three days and enjoyed being able to see other parts of the island, which is highly recommended.
