Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands lying in the north western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is located at the meeting of Straits of Malacca and the waters of the Andaman Seas. This island is unique for the legends and myths associated with it thus it is also called ‘Pulau Lagenda’ (Legendary Island).
The largest island of these islands group is called Langkawi Island while the other islands in this group are Island of Pregnant Maiden (Pulau Dayang Bunting), Lion Island (Pulau Singa Besar) and Beras Basah Island. It is one of the best island with beautiful beaches, world-class infrastructure, mangroves rich in flora and fauna, ultra-cheap duty-free shopping and fascinating legends to be enjoyed and explored by the visitors.
A great place to start your tour in Langkawi is at Kuah town where the tourist information centre is located. Grab all the brochures and maps to assist you in your trip. The harbourside’s parklands near to the jetty includes the Dataran Lang and Lagenda Park, a landscaped square with a concrete statue of the Langkawi eagle and a 20-hectare park consists of the island’s legends in sculptural form.
There are many places to see, explore and visit in Langkawi such as Galeria Perdana, Laman Padi, Craft Cultural Village, Telaga Harbour Park, Langkawi Crystaal, Atma Alam Art Village and many more. You might want lead your way to Makam Mahsuri, the grave of the island’s legendary heroine. The most popular version about Mahsuri stated that she laid a curse on the island for seven generations. Luckily the period of the curse is over now and Langkawi becomes popular and famous from time to time until today. One more interesting attraction that you might want to visit is Padang Matsirat where the Beras Terbakar or “Field of Burnt Rice” is located. Based on the story, the the crop had been burned by local villagers to prevent invading Siamese troops from taking it.
The entire Langkawi island had been declared as a duty free zone thus all goods sold in this island are exempted from government tax and makes it a heaven for the shoppers.You need to stay in Langkawi for a minimum of 48 hours to take with you a reasonable amount of tax free goods from the island. As a duty-free port, the island of scenic and tranquil landscapes, Langkawi has become a favorite destination for local and international visitors from various parts of the world.
A great way to see attractions in Langkawi is by renting a car and drive from place to place based on your plan. Car hire is reasonably priced there and the island is linked by a network of roads together with signages. Besides exploring Langkawi island, you can explore the the neighboring islands where they have their own attractions – crystal-clear waters, snorkeling spots and eerie caves. The recommended islands are Pulau Dayang Bunting, the second largest island with a freshwater lake in the center, Pulau Singa Besar which famous for its wildlife sanctuary, and Pulau Payar, a designated marine park that houses corals and fishes.
Langkawi is accessible by ferry from either Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis. You might want a faster journey so take a domestic flight to the Langkawi airport.
Langkawi is indeed a place for vacation getaway for its beautiful scenery, great adventures and natural beauty.