Come with me - to relax in Langkawi

Langkawi - Malaysia’s west coast archipelago, made up of 99 islands. Everything surrounded by perfectly turquoise sea. Landscape of the main island is a mixture of picturesque paddy fields and jungle-clad hills. Whole island is a duty-free zone so you can buy here really cheap alcohol, cigarettes or durian chocolates (if you forgot to eat this amazingly not delicious junk in Kuala Lumpur).

Langkawi is one of Malaysia’s best-known and most popular beach destinations, plus you can easily go from here by boat to Thailand. Cruises are really cheap. Well as almost everything here. Our accommodation was cheap and not bad, food super cheap, even alcohol, due to duty-free zone.

We went there mostly for a beach time, to rest a bit after big cities rush. The place was amazing for that. Not too many tourist, great weather and really nice beaches. We stayed close to most popular beach - Pantau Cenang. There are few as good as this one: Datai Bay and Tanjung Rhu.

Island is not big, but best spots are in some distance from each other so may be easier to rent some vehicle to get to them. We didn’t. We had only one longer trip planed so we went there with Grab.

Langkawi Cable Car

The trip lead us to Langkawi Cable Car. This hovering over jungle and climbing over 550 million years old rock SkyCab takes visitors on a vertiginous 15-minute ride to the top of mount Machincang. You will have one stop on the way on an intermediate cable car station. It provides access to the eastern cliffs with its 3 vertical chimneys and the beautiful 360-degree views. The journey from the Base Station to Middle Station covers 1,700 meters in distance and elevate us at 650m above sea level. Here you can walk up to the viewing platforms and enjoy panoramic view, observe at a close range the unique flora on the ridges and the hills covered by forrest.

When you reach the Top Station elevated 708m above sea level, you will have two viewing platforms at the top of Machincang mountain which provides amazingly picturesque 360 degrees view of the Langkawi islands and Southern Thailand as well with dramatic landscapes with deep chasms, overhangs cliff walls and isolated pinnacles. From there you can have 15 minutes walk through jungle to get to the Langkawi Sky Bridge.

Langkawi Sky Bridge

This 125 metre-long curved pedestrian bridge, set 700 meters above sea level, can accommodate up to 250 people at a time is the longest free span and curved bridge in the world!

Fitted with double steel railings, an enclosed wire mesh, and two triangular platforms where you can relax and enjoy the cool breeze, offers an breathtaking (and sometimes terrifying) view of the verdant Gunung Mat Cincang, Telaja Tujuh waterfalls, and several islets surrounding Langkawi. On the floor you have some glass tails. It is not so great but still you can look down and it gives you thrilling impression of walking in the air.

Island hopping

We went on one Island hopping tour while in Langkawi. It was 4 hours on a boat to see some nearby islands and Langkawi Unesco Global Geopark.

Geopark is located in the northern State of Kedah and protect biodiversity in diverse habitats including: mangroves, tidal flats, beaches, coral reefs, caves, limestone and many more life forms.

We stopped to see brown eagle feeding. Brown eagle is a symbol of the island. There are many suggestions for the origin of the name of Langkawi. According to folklore Langkawi’s name came from two Malay words – ‘helang’ (eagle) and ‘kawi' (reddish brown): hence lang-kawi.

Next stop was Pulau Beras Basah. Is super small island located 25 kilometres southwest of Kuah.

Sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and clear blue waters against a verdant mountain backdrop is what you get here. Looks really amazing. Small paradise in the middle of nowhere. If you want to go there, you will have to take everything you need with you. Despite of the numerous tourists visiting, it is almost virgin. Zero accomodation, few washrooms and rustic-looking stalls selling drinks and snacks for their convenience, that’s all you can spot. Perfect place for one day getaway.