Itinerary For Up To 4 Days On Langkawi Island

Need an itinerary for Langkawi but don’t know where to start? Langkawi Island is a good choice for a getaway with its gorgeous beaches, tax-free products, and food!

Read on to find out what, where and how to get the most out of your time in the jewel of Kedah!

How Long Should You Stay?

There are plenty of Langkawi activities that you can fill your day with!

So, if you want to do more sightseeing than relaxing, a minimum of at least 3 days is advisable. This way, you can cover more ground without rushing around and stressing yourself out.

We don’t recommend coming here just for a weekend. It’ll be over before you know it and it takes quite a lot of time to get to one side of the island to another! And thus, we really think that you should aim to stay on the island for at least 2 nights! 3 is even better else you won’t have time to cover most of the island.

Additionally, we think it is wise to change your accommodation according to the location you’re exploring the next day. This will save you a lot of traveling time (provided you don’t have a lot of luggage and a big group with you!).

Our Suggested 4-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Morning To Afternoon:

• Start off the morning with a good breakfast of local food at Warung Coffee Langkawi close to Cenang Beach. They have both the best nasi lemak in town and a range of western food, so you’ll be spoilt for choice!
• Once you’re filled up, walk over to Cenang beach and enjoy some water sports activities before the hot afternoon sun comes up – Get on a banana boat or go parasailing!
• top by for lunch at the classy The Cliff Restaurant which is not far from Cenang Beach and overlooks the sea.
• Underwater World Langkawi –   Learn about marine life. There’s a 3D theatre and an underwater tunnel too. It costs about RM30/Malaysian adult, and you can spend about 3 hours here (more if you wait for the 3D show)

Option 2:

Join an island-hopping tour from either Cenang Beach or Kuah Town – you should be at the pickup point at least 10 minutes before the stated time. There are usually two pick up times (depending on which service you go for) – one in the morning (~9am) and another in the afternoon around 2pm.

Note: Kuah has many options for breakfast in Langkawi

Tours typically cost ~RM40 per pax or up to ~RM350 if you want a private charter for a group of 8. If the tour package includes 3 islands, expect it to last around 4 hours.

Popular islands to visit include Dayang Bunting Island (Pregnant Maiden) where you can swim in a freshwater lake, Pulau Singa Besar (live eagle feeding session), Pulau Beras Basah.

Notes:

• Only Dayang Bunting Island has toilets
• There is an entrance fee to pay for Pregnant Maiden Lake (this might not be included in the tour package) – it costs RM3 for Malaysian adults, RM6 for foreigners.
• There are rental charges ranging from RM3 to RM10 per pax to rent kayaks, paddle boats, jet skis, banana boats and parasails at the islands. It’s compulsory to rent a life jacket if you want to swim.

Tips for the tours:

• There are no changing rooms at the islands so wear your swimsuit and waterproof shoes (sand has bits of sharp coral) underneath your clothes and pack a towel and a spare set of dry clothes to change into after the tour
• Bring drinking water and reef-safe sunscreen
• Keep food out of sight from monkeys
• Not worth renting a snorkelling set for swimming in the freshwater lake (not many fish)

Option 3:

For a less touristy route, you can take a 10 to 15-minute boat (the boats are new) to the quieter Pulau Tuba from Jeti Pelancongan Pekan Rabu in Kuah.

There’s plenty of parking and from this pier, you can also engage the services of a sunrise cruise tour. Or island hop to Dayang Bunting Lake.

The pier is open from as early as 8am and costs RM10 for a return ticket to and from Pulau Tuba. Ask for the boat departure times or boat schedule back to Kuah.

Pulau Tuba is easy to explore by renting a motorbike (~RM20 for the whole day). It’s also a good place to get some fishing on and eat seafood to your heart’s content. Burn the calories off with a jungle trek or swim.

Evening:

Option 1:

Enjoy water sport activities at Cenang Beach, like parasailing into the sunset! Alternatively, you can go early to save your spot at one of these popular evening hangouts!

• Yellow Beach Café – many come here for dinner and evening drinks as the café faces the beach. There’s also a live band and bean bags upstairs if you want to get comfortable!
• Kalut Café N Bar – another beachfront venue for dinner and drinks. You can relax, unwind and watch an enigmatic fire show! They have bean bag chairs as early at 6pm if you want to watch that sunset too

Option 2:

Head back to Pantai Tengah to spend the evening at Hidden Langkawi. We had a great time here sharing pizza and some drinks with our family. There is also an evening fire performance and it’s worth waiting for! Read more about our experience at Hidden Langkawi.

Option 3:

Alternatively, book a cruise and dinner to enjoy the view of the Andaman Sea on a yacht. The pick up point for the cruise is at Royal Langkawi Yacht Club in Kuah town.

Day 2

Rise early to get a head-start on all the activities listed below!

While day 1 covers the southwest (Cenang Beach) of the island, this day covers the west coast of the island where the famous Langkawi Sky Bridge is!

Morning:

After breakfast, head over to Langkawi Sky Bridge. We spent about 3 hours here. To avoid the worst of the weekend crowds and long queues, we came here early.

And after getting our tickets, we spent some time exploring the Oriental Village and also the 3D art museum (3D Art in Paradise Langkawi) which was surprisingly entertaining (the entrance fees were included in our Sky Bridge passes).

The bridge itself was a cool experience. Not just for the views but for the thrill of walking over it – it’s quite scary if you’re not a fan of heights! We still recommend going though!

Check our separate post on Langkawi Sky Bridge for more photos and information!

Afternoon To Evening:

Option 1

Drive north (~30 minutes) to Telaga Tujuh Waterfall. You can have coffee at CoffeeNuts Café which is right by the Telaga Tujuh Waterfall parking lot if you feel like it.

There’s also a chance to go horseback riding with Island Horses at Telaga Tujuh Waterfall – it’s just a couple minutes’ walk from the waterfall’s parking lot!

To get to Telaga Tujuh Waterfall from the parking lot, you need to do a short hike of around 15 to 20 minutes. Then, you’ll be treated to a gorgeous view at the lower pools of the waterfall!

Note: The waterfalls have very slippery rocks so wear proper waterproof shoes and hiking gear! Only experienced hikers should head to the upper pools which is about an hour long hike.

Option 2

Join the 3pm slot for SKYTREX Adventure Langkawi (long pants, mosquito repellent and gloves are advisable); The Eagle Thrill course is exceptionally fun for outdoor enthusiasts (~RM90 per pax) and involves rope climbing and flying fox.

Depending on what course you take, you can spend up to 3 hours here.

Option 3

If you’ve had enough adventure for the day, we recommend chilling at Teluk Burau. This is a much calmer beach than Cenang Beach. If it’s open, there’s a stall selling some refreshing coconut shakes too!

Option 4

For the romantics, you can have dinner at The Danna Langkawi. Either The Terrace for Italian cuisine or Planter’s for local flavors!

Stop at Perdana Quay Lighthouse to check out the amazing sunset views and take in the fresh beach air!

Day 3

Continue your journey clockwise to northeast of the island. There are several attractions to see here including 2 nice beaches that see less visitors!

Morning:

• Crocodile Adventureland – Learn about different species and catch the live shows – there are feeding sessions too
• Temurun Waterfall – Much less impressive in the rainy season, the main pool of Temurun Waterfall is easy to access from the car park. But if you’re up for it, there are stairs leading to the top!
• Pasir Tengkorak Beach / Sandy Skulls Beach – This beach is well shaded, and you will find crystal clear waters that are perfect for swimming. The beautiful beach overlooks the ex-prison island of Koh Tarutao, Thailand

Note: Beware of monkeys around the Temurun Waterfall and Sandy Skulls Beach, avoid feeding them!

Afternoon:

Continue to Tanjung Rhu Beach where you can take a relaxing stroll. There’s also a chance to do some water sports here. And the fish and chips restaurant (Scarborough Fish & Chips) in this area has good food and views of the sunset as well!

Alternatively, you can go fora mangrove tour at Tanjung Rhu and have a seafood fiesta at Tanjung Rhu Floating Restaurant & Fishfarm.

After a full meal, you can check out the Ayer Hangat Village Friday night market if it is open.

Day 4

Morning:

If there’s time, sign up for a 2-hour boat tour to see the mangroves at Kilim UNESCO Geoforest Park.

After which, you can see some adorable animals at Langkawi Wildlife Park. The park offers visitors a chance to get up close and pet some of the animals as well!

Afternoon:

Make your way back to Kuah Town.

• Dataran Lang – Visit the duty-free shops and take cheesy photos with the huge Eagle Statue of Langkawi!

Evening:

• Dinner Option 1: Have dinner at Kuah Town Seafood where you can feast on a variety of seafood in Langkawi
• Dinner Option 2 (Halal): Restoran RT
• Dinner Option 3: Dinner at Jake’s Charbroil Steaks Langkawi for a hearty meal – they have escargot too if you’re feeling adventurous
• Get to the airport (Langkawi International Airport) – ~20 minutes’ drive

Other attractions and activities we didn’t mention:

• Laman Padi Langkawi – This is a museum where you can learn how rice is planted in paddy fields and even get some hands-on experience too!
• Makam Mahsuri (Mahsuri’s Tomb) – Learn about the local legend of Mahsuri
• Lagenda Park – Get on a buggy ride around this outdoor museum – this is a large and lovely park with some interesting trees from around the world as well as sculptures
• Hike or drive up Gunung Raya to enjoy the sunrise and the view of Langkawi from the highest peak – the drive takes about 25 minutes. Note: It’s worth getting up early to hike before the heat of the day sets in. And if you choose to drive up, you won’t see as much of the flora and fauna, but the view is just as amazing!
• Tandem skydiving – See langkawi from a height of 14,000 ft!
• Immerse in local cuisine and do some shopping at a local night market
• Scuba diving at Pulau Payar Marine Park

When Should You Visit The Island

If you’re trying to decide on the best time to visit Langkawi, the weather in Malaysia is rather unpredictable at times. And even if it’s close to the equator, it still has its own “seasons” concerning monsoons.

There are therefore, 3 ways to break up the seasons to consider:

High Season

This lasts from the end of October towards the beginning of November till April. The weather is considered ideal as it’s usually nice and sunny! Perfect for frolicking on the beaches or going on hikes.

However, that also means that it can reach sweltering temperatures of up to 34 °C! So, pack extra sunscreen.

And because this period coincides with Malaysian school holidays, expect higher rates for hotels, transportation rentals, as well as activities in general.

Mid Season

From April to August, travelling in mid-season is ideal for those who don’t mind the occasional short bursts of rain. In fact, the temperature is relatively cooler as the temperatures can drop below 30°C at times.

Plus, you won’t see as many tourists at this time (I.e. not school holidays) so rates for accommodations will be lower too. And during the fasting month, there will be many package deals to entice tourists!

Low Season

Low season is between September to October and has the highest rate of rainfall. So, unless your sole intention is to shop or see the lush rainforest in full glory, you will be missing out on a lot of water-based activities.

But while temperatures will be on the cool side, hiking or cycling could be more dangerous with soft soil and slippery rocks.

That said, it is unlikely to rain all day. The rain usually starts in the later part of the afternoon and on through the night which still leaves you a decent portion of the day to enjoy some water activities.

One huge bonus of going in low season is fewer tourists and lower prices overall.

Where To Stay

Langkawi is a relatively small island but getting from one corner to the other does take up some time. Depending on where you choose to stay, this can make getting around a breeze or troublesome.

And therefore, you should choose your accommodation carefully. Accommodations close to Cenang beach are usually in high demand.

Budget hotels we recommend:

• Cenang Rooms With Pool by Virgo Star Resort – At around RM120 a night, you will find the rooms to be cozy and the outdoor ambience to be very scenic with a large pool in the middle.It’s only a 5-minute walk to Cenang beach to enjoy water sports and beach side eateries too. Great for those who don’t really need the hotel for anything else but sleep.Furthermore, it takes 10 minutes to drive to both Underwater World Langkawi as well as The Zon Duty Free Zone.
• Sehijau@Cenang – Sehijau@Cenang has standalone single storey houses that resemble traditional Malay houses. If you’re lucky, you can even get deal for a room for less than RM100!The price comes with free parking, aircon and WiFi. And Cenang Beach is just a 4-minute drive away or a 20-minute stroll.5 minutes’ drive away, you can go to Langkawi Gliders for paragliding.

Mid-range hotels we recommend:

• Ombak Villa Langkawi – This affordable hotel in Kuah, Langkawi is 10 minutes away from Cenang beach and 20 minutes away from Panorama Langkawi. The hotel provides recreational activities such as water sports and eco-adventure such as the mangrove and hiking tours.
• Camar Resort Langkawi – This is an affordable hotel with plenty of amenities, including a private section at Pantai Tengah and the longest swimming pool in Langkawi with a swim up bar. Here, you can rent a speed boat to zip around the island too.
• Bayview Hotel Langkawi – This is a 4-star hotel in Kuah with rooms that can cost less than RM200 a night. This hotel is good for those traveling with kids as it is within 10 minutes driving distance from Lagenda Park, Splash Out Langkawi and Dataran Lang! But the closest beach for watersports (Pantai Cenang) is about a 30-minute drive away.

Luxury hotels we recommend:

• Maneh Villa Langkawi – While pricey, you will have an entire villa to yourself as well as a private pool and large garden area! This makes an excellent choice for honeymooners who have a bigger budget.There is breakfast as well and the hotel is a few short steps away from Cenang Beach.
• The Datai Langkawi – The Datai Langkawi screams luxury with its own private beach and accommodations by the rainforest.Choose from 3 different themes – The Canopy Collection, The Rainforest Collection or The Beach Collection – all of which have their own types of villas.

Conclusion

And that wraps up everything you need to know before planning an itinerary for Langkawi Island!

Our suggested itineraries assume that it’s your first time here and you would like to do some water sports and sightseeing.

But feel free to mix and match up days and locations or include more shopping opportunities based on your preferences!

Chocolate Shops In Langkawi

While many do go here to hang out at the beaches, Langkawi Island is also a great place to stock up on chocolates! Don’t leave before checking these places out! Many of these places sell tax free alcohol too.