Langkawi: The Jewel of Kedah, Malaysia

By ajourneywithme | Sep 2, 2020
Asia > Malaysia > Kedah > Langkawi

It was my fourth day in Penang. After exploring George Town and enjoying the arts, food, Penang Hill, and the beaches in Penang Island, it was time to go to another famous tourist destination in Malaysia, which is Langkawi. Langkawi is a district and an archipelago with 99 islands near the borders of Thailand. Also known as Jewel of Kedah, Langkawi is located northwestern Malaysia.

Cenang Beach Sunset

Cenang Beach Sunset

How to get to Langkawi from Penang


Langkawi is a picturesque island near Penang. The ferryboat travels for three hours from Penang to Langkawi. The ferryboat leaves in the morning at 830 AM and in the afternoon at 2PM. The ferry would traverse the waters of the Strait of Malacca.

Kuah Jetty


Aside from the Langkawi Airport, the port in Kuah Jetty is one way of going to Langkawi. Kuah Jetty is located in Kuah Town, the capital of Langkawi. It is the main passenger port in Langkawi and the Jetty Point Complex serves as the main ferry terminal and locations of Duty-Free shops.

Jetty Complex

Jetty Complex

Dataran Lang


Dataran Lang or Eagle Square is one of the main attractions in Langkawi. The landmark is known for a large sculpture of an eagle overlooking the Strait of Malacca. It is located near Kuah Jetty Port.

Eagle Square

Eagle Square

Getting around Langkawi

Langkawi is an expensive tourist destination compared to Penang. The main problem here is transportation because there is no public transport except for taxi, tourist guide vehicles, and bus tour services. The taxi information counters are outside the taxi stand along with the 7-11 store. There is a matrix for the Langkawi taxi on where you're going. I was booked in Pantai Cenang, the fair is 30 RM. It was a thirty minutes ride going to Pantai Cenang and the taxi dropped us to Sandy Beach where I was staying.

Accommodation: Sandy Beach Resort

Sandy Beach is a beachfront resort in the middle of Pantai Cenang and located along the Pantai Cenang Road. The main resort offers are different rooms in the main resort. There is another building owned by Sandy Beach but it is a little bit far and on the other side of the road. There are different establishment in the Pantai Cenang Road like massage parlors, 7-11, bazaar, mall, restaurants, and other hotels and resorts. Sandy Beach has a restaurant called D'Grill Seafood. The restaurant has the view of the beach where you can enjoy the view of the water, the beautiful sunset and even the night sky.

Day 1


I checked out of Sogor Girls Dormitory in Penang. I waited at the Soul Café had an early lunch before I headed to the ferry. I went to the Super Fast Ferry Venture near the Jubilee Tower and bought my ticket going to Langkawi. I met a solo traveler from Toronto Canada named Inga when I entered the ferry boat. After reaching Langkawi, Inga and I were very hungry and we checked the Food Court inside the Kuah Jetty Port. We reached Kuah Jetty in Langkawi by 5PM in the afternoon. I went to a money changer first to change for Baht to make sure that I have the currency before going to Koh Lipe in Thailand on Sunday. We went to the taxi information and availed of the Langkawi taxi.

After I settled in Sandy Beach, I went to the beachfront of the resort and enjoyed the beautiful sunset. There were so many people on the beach enjoying the beach and had my dinner inside the resort. After dinner, I walked along the Pantai Cenang Road and checked out the stores and restaurants. I bought a ring in one of the accessories stores and had a massage in Le Baron.

Day 2


Pantai Cenang

The following morning after having my breakfast at the resort, Inga and I met up in Sandy Beach at 9 in the morning and started exploring. From the Sandy beach, we walked to the left side of Sandy Beach towards the long stretch of sandbar of Pantai Cenang Beach and reaching The Cliff Bar and Restaurant. We went to the roadside of the Pantai Cenang Road and checked the different hotels and resorts. There are malls in the area, Cenang Mall and The Zon Dutry Free. We entered the Sunset Beach Resort to check their facilities and we end up in the beachfront again. When we reached a not so crowded area of the beach, we enjoyed swimming in the water.
We walked again towards the beach and found a rock formation between the beach of Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah. We entered a resort named The Frangipani Langkawi Hotel and Resort and exit on the main entrance as we reached the main road of Jalan Teluk Baru.

Teluk Baru

Teluk Baru

Pantai Tengah

From Teluk Baru, we reached the Holiday Villa Beach Resort and across the street are different restaurants. We ate at the Woods it was already past 12 in the afternoon. We ordered Malaysian food and also had a coconut juice. After lunch, we walked from the restaurant to the Teluk Baru road going to Pantai Tengah. We checked different restaurants, hotels, resorts and inns along the area. Pantai Tengah is less crowded than Pantai Cenang. There were stores but you have to walk a little before you reach the establishment. The road was not busy with passing cars and taxis. We bought ice cream before heading back to the beach. We entered Pantai Tengah Road to go to the beach. We stayed for about 30 minutes on the beach before going back to Pantai Cenang Road. Inga and I separated here while she went back to her hotel and I went back to Sandy Beach. I stayed at the restaurant area of the beachfront because and ordered a Watermelon shake while enjoying looking at the people and at the beach.

Pantai Tengah

Pantai Tengah

Inga and I went to see each other again and I waited for her in McDonald's. Inga and I went to Sawadee Restaurant to have an early dinner. After eating, Inga said she would have a massage and I told her I checked out the rest of the Cenang Beach going right from Sandy Beach.

Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa

It was already past 6 in the evening. It gets less crowded going into the tip Pantai Cenang. I loved the sand bar in this area because it was whiter and powdery. I reached the curvaceous area of the beach and found the Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa. I stayed at the sand bar in front of Rebak Island and waited for the sunset. The area was also a spot for high-end resorts and hotels along Cenang Beach. I went back to Sandy Beach resort and stayed outside for a while enjoying the stars at night.

Sandbar in front of Pelangi Beach Resort

Sandbar in front of Pelangi Beach Resort

Day 3


I went back to Kuah Jetty early in the morning to catch my ferryboat going to Koh Lipe, Thailand.

Asia Island Malaysia Things to do Transportation Beaches Accommodation Kedah Langkawi

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Written by ajourneywithme
Hi, I am Kei, a freelance writer and a scientist. I am a bacon addict, a beach bum and love the moon, stars, catching the sunrise, and chasing sunsets. I love my country so much and have been to 50 different provinces in the Philippines. I am also currently exploring Asian countries and USA and hopes of conquering the rest of the world.

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