Where to go

Welcome to the Geological Wonder of Kedah and Isle of myths and legends

   The Langkawi Islands (Kedah) are located off the north-western coast of mainland Kedah on the Malaysian peninsular, consists of over 100 amazingly beautiful islands. Langkawi on June 1, 2007 was accorded the status of a Geopark by UNESCO, the first in South-east Asia.

    The Langkawi archipelago is a district in Kedah with 99 islands visible normally but 104 islands see at low tide. The main island, Pulau Langkawi or Langkawi island, is about 50 km from the town of Kuala Kedah on the peninsular. The largest town on this island is Kuah. (Free Map of Langkawi)

Langkawi Geopark

Where to go and what to do in Langkawi

Enjoy authentic Malaysian (Malay, Chinese or Indian) food and Thai food in Langkawi. Though you will not find hot sleazy bars such as in Phuket but drinker find a nice pub or hotel lounges that serve good and cheap alcoholic drinks and beer (since the island is a tax free destination). There are bars and pubs in Kuah and at Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah.  Experience the exotic setting at some of these exclusive restaurants:

Barn Thai - the world’s first ‘mangrove’ restaurant located within a rich mangrove forest. The restaurant sits on stilts on the banks of Sungai Belanga Pechah, near the mouth of Sungai Kisap.

Nam Restaurant, Bon Ton Restaurant & Resort, Pantai Cenang. The Bon Ton is a classy resort com restaurant set in a kampong surroundings.

Shrimpz Farm and Restaurant - offers dinners the opportunity to eat what they catch from the shrimp and fish ponds.

Orkid Restuarant, Pantai Cenang - Sea food and various dishes cooked in Chinese / Malaysian styles.

    However, if you are looking for good but less pricier places to eat, just walk around Kuah, where you will find Malay, Chinese and Thai or seafood stalls and restaurants everywhere. Besides these restaurants, there are numerous smaller eateries, open air restaurants or diners and street stalls, that serve cheap local food - Penang food or Kedah food, in Kuah or a the beach. 

  In Kedah be sure to enjoy local fruits - tropical fruits of Malaysia.

What to eat in Langkawi

.Kedah food at Malaysian food here .

You can get to Langkawi by road or rail followed by ferry, or fly to Pulau Langkawi. By road, get to the nearest jetty in Kedah, Perlis or Penang; or Satun, south Thailand.

By air     Malaysia airlines and AirAsia flies to Langkawi daily from Kuala Lumpur and Penang island. You can also fly direct from Singapore or even London. Air Asia will soon start flying you from Bangkok to Langkawi. Firefly, a low-cost airline under Malaysia airlines, based in Penang, flies from Penang to Langkawi and to Thailand. SilkAir also flies from Singapore to Langkawi

Nearest airports: Langkawi International Airport (Langkawi island), Alor Star (via KLIA), Penang International Airport.

(Details on Asian airports and Asian Airlines, air asia malaysia here).

By rail     If you travel by rail from Haadyai (or Hat Yai, Thailand), KL or Singapore, stop at Alor Setar or Arau and travel by road to the ferry terminal at Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis.  If the train stops at Arau, travel to Kuala Perlis to take the ferry. Take a taxi to the ferry terminals.

By road and ferry      Travellers to Langkawi island can travel by passenger ferry from Penang island, Kuala Kedah (Kedah) or Kuala Perlis (Perlis). At Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis, ferries are available half hourly to hourly (or two hourly) interval depending on the terminal and time of day. There are more ferries departing from in the morning. If you intend to travel from Penang, you have to book early.

     If you travel by the North-South expressway (toll highway), exit the expressway at Alor Setar to go to Kuala Kedah. If you are on the trunk road from Padang Besar or Kangar (Perlis), go to Kuala Perlis. Trunk roads in Kedah also leads you to these ferry terminals. There is also a highway that links you directly from Changlun to Kuala Perlis.

     You can also travel by ferry from Satun, Thailand. Penang Island is linked by ferry and road to the North-South expressway (from Johor to the Malaysia-Thai border). Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis is also linked to the expressway by trunk roads. There are special overnight parking facilities in Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis near the terminal (not in Penang).

Important note: Langkawi is a free port so some items are taxable and you are required to show proof of your stay (ferry tickets/flight/hotel - 2nights stay) to take some items out tax free (Check with the Malaysian Customs)

Ferry terminals and journey by normal ferry to Langkawi island:

Car ferry or cargo ferry only depart from Kuala Kedah. You have to contact the ferry services 48 hours ahead and have the appropriate documents for the customs. Visitor seldom take their vehicle across unless they need the vehicle for a week or so.

By private yacht

The port of Langkawi is an administrative stop for immigration, customs and harbour clearance, for yachts crossing the Malaysian-Thai maritime border.

For transportation details also check out

Travel from Thailand into Malaysia

Travel from Singapore to Malaysia  

Travel from Indonesia to Malaysia

Transport options to and in Malaysia

Langkawi is the premier holiday destination in Asia. Be sure to book your hotel accommodations or lodgings early during the Malaysia and Singapore holidays (check our 2007 calendar of holidays)

     In Langkawi you can stay in quaint kampong houses, chalets, beach motels, boutique resorts or in a 5 star hotel.

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