Langkawi is a Malaysian archipelago with around 100 islands, two of which are inhabited. Pulau Langkawi is a UNESCO World Geopark and a popular tourist destination with lush forests, beautiful lakes, and many diving sites. The island is tax-free, and renting a car is a great way to explore. Tourists should remember that Langkawi is a Muslim state, and while bikinis are acceptable, going topless is not. The archipelago can be reached by air, train, or boat.
Langkawi is an archipelago of around 100 islands. The exact count varies between sources, perhaps because most of the islands are uninhabited. The archipelago is part of the Malaysian state of Kedah and is located near the border with Thailand, north of the Strait of Malacca. It is found in the Andaman Sea in Southeast Asia.
There are two main inhabited islands in the archipelago: Pulau Tuba and Pulau Langkawi, which is a tourist hub. Pulau Langkawi (pulau means island) is a UNESCO World Geopark and is famous for ecotourism, boasting lush forests, beautiful lakes and many diving sites. Places worth visiting are Pregnant Maiden Lake, Mt. Machincang and Kilim. There is also a large aquatic museum on the island, which houses a huge aquarium with sharks, rays, seals and other marine animals. The whole island is tax free and tourism and shopping are highly encouraged.
Langkawi is home to a well-developed road system and cheap rental cars, so a great way to see the sights is to hire a vehicle and drive. English is spoken by a good number of locals and maps are widely available. By most estimates, you can drive around the island in a day. Hiring a car would be a great way to stay close to the beach and at the same time be able to see Kuah Town, as well as all the other little gems tucked away off the beaten track.
Please note however that while the island of Langkawi is a tropical island with numerous beaches, it would be good to remember that it is also a Muslim state. Therefore, while tourists are certainly free to wear bikinis and skimpy dresses on the beaches and sip cocktails by the pools of their resorts, going topless is definitely frowned upon and, just in case, bring a more modest change of clothing – a shirt, for example – to cover when venturing inland.
Air Asia operates regular flights to Langkawi International Airport from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The archipelago can also be reached by train from other Malaysian cities, and by boat from southern Thailand.
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