Where better to relax than a tropical paradise? Alexandra Purcell Garcia grabs her sun hat to explore the rain forest, beaches, and tranquility of Langkawi.
There are two ways to get onto Langkawi – by boat or by airplane. You can take a ferry from Penang, which docks in the south east area of the island. Ferries take just under three hours, and cost approximately 60 Malaysian Ringgit (RM) (¥98)/adult; 45 RM (¥74)/child 3-11 years; and 25 RM (¥41)/child under two. But be warned, the water can get quite choppy depending on the season, so be cautious if anyone is prone to sea sickness. The price for a return journey is just double the single fare rate. You can take a flight from Shanghai Pudong to Kuala Lumpur (KL) (around six hours), then from KL to Langkawi which takes just over an hour. The airport is found on the west side of the island and, although flying is less adventurous than the boat, it can be more convenient. langkawi-ferry.com
A trip to a tropical beach paradise requires a fitting place to rest your head – and the newly opened Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, is the perfect place. Designed by Philippe Villeroux of Kuala Lumpur-based Tropical Area Architects, the resort has been carefully created to fully immerse travelers in the island’s natural ecosystem and local culture. With beautiful guest rooms, suites, and villas available, we visited during the 2017 October break, and they were already fully booked. The private kids club has plenty to keep all ages’ entertained, while the spa, sports facilities, and top-notch restaurants make this resort ideal for the whole family. Grab a spot on the private beach looking out to the Andaman Sea, or chill next to the infinity pool as soothing music wa s over you and your Piña Colada. ritzcarlton.com/langkawi
Langkawi has plenty of activities for the whole family. For the most active of your tribe, check out the great range of water sports, from snorkeling to jet skiing. Island hopping boat tours are also available to take you around the area – with full or half day options available, expect to pay from 245 RM (¥400) per person – based on a family of four – for a four hour private tour. Most hotels will have a wide variety of tour bookings to choose from, with some also offering their own equipment rentals. If heights are your thing, head to the SkyCab – said to be the “steepest cable car ride on earth” according to Panorama Langkawi – at the Oriental Village – where you can journey from the bottom station, to the middle and then top stations. Taking you 708m above sea level to Langkawi’s second highest peak of Mount Machinchang, you’ll also nd the Sky Bridge – a 125m suspended bridge above the canopy of the rainforest, accessed via the top station. With spectacular views out to sea, you’ll get some great holiday snaps. For those wishing to take their adventure to the next level, you can do a sky dive with Asia’s only island beach landing according to Sky Dive Langkawi. What better way to get a real birds-eye-view of this tropical paradise? skydivelangkawi.com
Langkawi is teeming with nature and tropical plants in abundance. It’s almost impossible not to notice some of the islands more permanent inhabitants: monkeys. With two main breeds on the island, macaques and leaf monkeys, these guys are becoming so used to tourists that their confidence is growing – especially the macaques. Something to be mindful of if you have a snack on the beach (or in open-air restaurants): don’t leave food unattended as these little critters will happily sneak up on you and snatch your lunch right out of your hands! To get to grips with the diverse landscape and other inhabitants of the island, it’s worth taking a trip to the Geopark, a unique mangrove forest dotted with limestone formations. A three to four hour experience, try a guided kayak tour via Dev’s Adventure Tours, starting from 240 RM/adults (¥392), 170 RM/children (¥278) aged 5-10 years.
A trip to Malaysia wouldn’t be complete without sampling the delicious local food. Top dishes to try include Nasi Ayam – Malaysia’s famous chicken rice; Nasi Lemak – rice soaked in coconut cream, steamed and often served on banana or pandan leaf, with roasted peanuts, boiled eggs, cucumber pieces, and fried small anchovies; and of course Malaysian Satay – barbecued meat on sticks, usually served with peanut sauce. As Thailand is only a stones throw away, you can also enjoy a romantic dinner at the Pahn-Thai Restaurant. Built on stilts over clear ocean waters at the Berjaya Hotel Resort, it’s located at the end of the pier. Eat by moonlight, while watching the sea life swimming around under your feet. Keep a look out for very large jellyfish and some pretty sizable eels jumping out the water to catch their dinner. berjayahotel.com/langkawi
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