LANGKAWI

ATTRACTIONGUIDE

Created by :- Omkar Bapat

The document is the abstract of the various attractions and details information. Also some Dos and

Donts.

The name Langkawi is a combination of Lang and Kawi. Which is, Lang comes from the

Malay word helang which means eagles. For your information, in the past, the land was a

home to innumerable eagles (Which eagles species not identified). The word of Kawi is

from Sanskrit word for marble, which is found in excess in this island. Both words are

joined together to form the word Helangkawi. Finally, the name was toned down and

ultimately became Langkawi. But, when the name was formed is unknown. If you can get

the information else where....please let me know....hehehe.

However, another resource and reference found in the book by Tun Mohamed Zahir

titledThe Legends of Langkawi which says that the name is a combination of two sanskrit

words. Langka means beauty and Wi means innumerable.

1) Pantai Pasir Tengkorak Beach :- (May skip if you stay along hotel in Cenang area or if you visit Cenang beach all other beaches can be skipped.)

This beach is hard to locate if you are not familiar with its location. But it is so nice. The

beach is small, located in a protected cove. The water is clean and clear, the white sand is

Powderly with no shells! The beach provides lots of shade. There is a concession stand a

few meters from the water, and there is free toilet and shower stalls to use. But I secretly

hope that it stays this quaint form without swamps of people!!

The beach is located 1/2 hours drive from Cenang on the north east side of Langkawi just

follow the direction to Dantai (Dantai is a private beach at the end of the road). It's easy

to pass it as you can only see a parking space next to the road. Which is great, because it

makes the beach a quiet place to be.

3) Temurun waterfall:- (Depends upon your interest) The spectacular waterfall is normally at its best from June till December, when rainfall is

most frequent and reliable. To reach the peak, you will need to endure an eightminute

climb up the stairs provided. Although a bit strenuous, it is worth the effort to behold the

breathtaking view from the top. No entry charge. The waterfall is on the north east side

of Langkawi between Pasir Tengkorak Beach and Dantai beach. It's easy to pass, because

the sign is hidden in the trees, but it's on your left side just before a big turn to your right.

Be cautious with the residential monkeys (long tail). Avoid taking plastic bags openly

since the monkeys might snatch thinking there is food in it.

4) TAMAN BUAYA :- (Very goodMust Visit)

Langkawi Crocodile Farm Tour 09:00 hrs. - 09:30 hrs. Pick-up from hotels

Place to visit:

Langkawi Bird Park Crocodile Farm Black Sand Beach Gallery Perdana Air Hangat Village

14:00 hrs. Tour ends; send back to hotels.

Here, one can witness and photograph crocodiles and alligators playing and feeding in a controlled environment that closely resembles their natural habitat.

Don't forget to visit Bujang Kawi. An unbelievable sight of such a big and unique crocodile born without teeth, measuring up to about 13 feet and weighing about 1,000 lbs. (and is still growing).

Open: 9:00am to 6:00pm (Daily) Admission: RM7.00 (adult) RM5.00 (child) Tel: 04-959 2559

5) TELAGA TUJUH:- (You will see this during Cable c ar ride). Telaga Tujuh or "The Seven Wells" is a series of seven natural wells where the water

flows from the seven springs. Believed there were seven daughters of heaven and shower

is often very fond of the cold water from the well. There is a prince who lived near the

well and tried to lure and married one of the daughters of this but have not

succeeded. This water is also believed to have a power that can cure several diseases.

6) ORIENTAL VILLAGE :- (Mostly shopping, small acti vities) Oriental Village is best known as the home of the Langkawi Cable Car and Sky Bridge.

At the foothills of Mt. Machincang, lies the quaint Oriental Village. A collection of more than 50 activity & adventure providers; F&B outlets; souvenir & retail stores; galleries and spas, the Oriental Village offers a quality day-out of fun, adventure, shopping and gastronomic delights at one location! Anchored by Langkawi Cable Cararguably the best tourist attraction in the countryit is also the only premier must-visit hotspot on the island. The primary attraction of the Oriental Village is Langkawi Cable Car. However, aside for this exciting ride into Mt. Machincang, the Oriental Village also offers elephant rides, ATV trails, motor-cross rides and SEGWAY tours in and around the Village.

It is a themed open-air complex with a huge lake in the centre and an art gallery, animal exhibits, clothes, souvenir and handicraft stores spread out around it plus a few local and international restaurants. Located in Pantai Kok towards Langkawis western side (past the airport at Padang Matsirat) the Oriental Village is usually busy with visitors. Most tours of the island include trips to the complex, especially since this is where the ticket booth for the Cable Car and Sky Bridge is. Queues are a common sight for most of the galleries and attractions, especially in the mid morning and early afternoon. Meanwhile, the Langkawi Elephant Adventures is home to Lasah, an elephant who will take you on rides. If you are not keen on riding her, you can simply participate in feeding sessions. For those who want a tamer wildlife activity, take a look at the wildlife art collection by local and fledgling artists at the gallery here entrance is free but you have to be appropriately dressed.

7) HARBOUR PARK:- (TELAGA HARBOUR)(visit on the wa ystay 5-10 mins max.) The on water activity and yachts berthed at the harbour will provide picturesque

background to the harbour, creating a lifestyle and attracting tourism.

8) LAMAN PADI (Rice Garden) :- As per review not wo rth visiting. 9) KOTA MAHSURI (Shrine of a princess):- As per review not worth visiting. Mahsuris Tomb (the site where Mahsuri died) was converted into a historical site: it includes

Mahsuris shrine, a fenced-in white slab of marble that stands alone in a shady garden.

10) CABLE CAR :- The Cable Car is the Oriental Villages most popular attraction. It takes passengers up

Mount Mat Chinchang (Langkawis second tallest mountain) which stands at 709m above

sea level. Many wonder what the big deal is and the views from here answer that

question almost without words. Simply spectacular, the journey to the top will let you see

the forested slopes of Mount Mat Chinchang (also known as Gunung Mat Chinchang) and

even the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls.

The Langkawi Cable Car or Panorama Langkawi Cable Car is one of the major attraction.

It provides an aerial link from near Burau Bay Resort at Teluk Burau to the peak

of Gunung Machinchang, which is also the location of the Langkawi Sky Bridge. The total

length is 2.2 km (1.4 mi). Langkawi Cable Car is located just north of Telaga Harbour,

Pantai Kok, with the entrance within 'ORIENTAL VILLAGE' - a theme shopping centre

housing in 30 individually designed buildings showcasing Malaysian and Oriental

architecture. It is located just north of the Langkawi International Airport, on the north-

western coast of the main island of Langkawi. It is just an approximate 40 minutes drive

from Kuah town and 15 minutes drive from Langkawi International Airport.

ATTRACTIONS

Base Station

The Base Station is located at the Oriental Village (at the foot hill of the Machincang mountain range). From the base, visitors will be taken up to the Machincang range via the Langkawi Cable Car on gondolas giving the visitors views of the surroundings forests, the Telaga Tujuh (Seven Wells) waterfall as well as the sea. The cable cars are closed weekly for maintenance.

Middle Station

Cable Car Middle Station

An intermediate Cable Car station on the eastern ridges provides access to the eastern cliffs with its 3 vertical chimneys and the 360-degree views.

The journey from the Base Station to Middle Station will cover 1,700 meters in length and upon reaching the Middle Station at an elevation of 650m above sea level, visitors will be able to alight and walk up to the viewing platforms.

Top Station

Cable Car Top Station

A short walk up the stairs from the Top Station will take visitors to the two viewing platforms at the top of Gunung Machinchang. Here you will have a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the Langkawi islands, Kedah and Southern Thailand as well as of the deep chasms, overhanging cliff walls, isolated pinnacles and some caves.

Cable Car ticket:-

Adults........................... RM50.00 Children 2 - 12 yrs old .... RM30.00

Operating Hours: Monday Thursday 10.00am - 18.00p m

Wednesday 12.00pm - 18.00pm

Friday Sunday & Public Holiday 09.30am - 19.00pm

( www.langkawi-gazette.com ) on the main page.

Turn around trip time 28 mins

Curved Hanging Bridge (This one is closed now). A further attraction is a 125m curved platform, a pedestrian bridge across a deep valley, linking the Top Station with the Machincang mountain range. A short 20 minutes trekking between the Middle Station and Top Station has also been built for the visitors to explore the valley between the two stations. We got to the cable shortly after it opened so there were no queues (which there were when we came back down). The Langkawi Sky Bridge is located at the end of the Cable Car ride. One of the islands highlights, it is a 410ft-long curved pedestrian bridge above Mount Mat Cinchang. It may sound like a clich but it is really true the views from here are simply stunning great for those Kodak moments! Located 2,300ft above sea level, the Sky Bridge is easily accessible by the Langkawi Cable Car. The journey to the top starts out at the Oriental Village in the upper northwest

of Langkawi Island, near Pantai Kok. Once the cable car gets going it gets a little chilly as winds flow through the ventilation slits at the top, so put on a sweater beforehand.

6D CineMotion (Combined ticket for Cable car + Cinemotion is 55 for Adult and 35 for child) As the first outdoor entertainment 6D cinema in Asia, 6D CineMotion takes 3D movie-viewing pleasure to entirely new dimensions! Visitors will be exposed to various combinations of special effects similar to what the onscreen characters are experiencing - all while watching a 3D stereoscopic movie and seated on a 5D special effect seats. Timing:-Every day from 9am until 8pm with shows running once every 15 minutes. We didnt take this as we have seen such before at some other locations.

11) WILDLIFE PARK/Langkawi Bird Paradise: - Langkawi Wildlife Park as we are known is managed by Wildlife Planet Sdn Bhd and

located at Lot 1485, Jalan Ayer Hangat, Kampung Belanga Pecah, 07000 Langkawi,

Kedah, Malaysia. Enjoy new exposures to some amazing, fun, and close interactions with

our animals as well as special services from our internal guide as they accompany you

along your journey inside the park.

Timing: - 8.30 a.m and closes at 7.00 p.m.

Entrance Fee: - Adult @ RM 33.00

Child (3 12 years old) @ RM 18.00

Animal Talk Show:- Daily at 11.00 AM,

Public Holidays & Weekend: 2 sessions, 11.00 AM & 3.00 PM

Location: Aviary

REVIEW TIPS: Do take quadracycle. It can be quite a walk especia lly on a very hot day. Do take extra bottle of water along.

12) GUA CERTIA (Cave of Legends):- MAY BE CANCELLED BUT PREFER BAT CAVE "Cave of Legends" according to old Langkawi folks is linked with the mystical Battle of the Big Birds. Faintly legible on the walls of the cave are some ancient inscriptions, said to be verses from the holy Koran. One has to take a boat across the straits, and climb a wooden ladder to access this cave. Frankly this attraction is rather overated, though I am visited this cave, and also the Bat Cave and the cave at the island of Dayang Bunting--much more worthwhile. The Bat Cave (Gua Kelawar) is located in the southeast, and set among the mangroves, it gives a more "wholesome" nature feeling. The cave at the island of Dayang Bunting is called Gua Tanjung Dendang. Gua means cave in Malay.

13) PANTAI PASIR HITAM (Black Sand Beach):- (Nothin g at allvery disappointing. Only some local shopping of cloths and souvenirs at chea p price outside.)

Black Sand Beach is locally known as Pantai Pasir Hitam. In Malay, Pantai means beach, pasir is sand and hitam stands for black, and therefore such name. Some 2 km west of Tanjung Rhu is Pantai Pasir Hitam, a beach streaked with black sand. The black streaks are caused by the deposits of mineral oxides from a nearby spring. The sea in the area is dotted with large boulders. Along the beach is a jetty where fishing boats moor. Attractions include food and souvenir stalls that sell local crafts and trinkets. Entry to the Black Sand Beach is from the road Jalan Teluk Yu. It is at a short distance to the east of Shark Bay Beach. The entrance is through a shopping market which is full of small stalls and shops that are run by local women selling local dress materials, clothes and accessories. There is a staircase that leads down to the beach. Well, while the beach is a popular tourist attraction because of its unique color of the sand, it is however not clean and well maintained. Advantage:- This is a cool family place. As I said earlier, there are lots of small stalls and shops here selling all kinds of items which are quite cheap. For example, you can get a locally made typical ladies top for RM20. So if you want to pick up small souvenirs, gifts or clothe materials, this can add up as a nice place to your beach agenda. Black Sand Beach is a public beach, accessible 24 hours and there is no entry fee. The shops and the stalls close by sunset. There is a cafe at the end of the shopping corridor that offers snack items like burgers, sandwiches, ice creams etc. Next to the cafe there is a counter that sells fresh coconut water for RM3 and other fruit juices. The facility also has a newly built pay toilet.

14) Handcraft Cultural Centre: - (Not so good revie w. Visit if u want to buy some handcraft items) Located at the northern part of Langkawi near Shark Bay Beach, this craft complex showcases wide range of art & handicraft craft items reflecting the rich culture and heritage of Malaysia and Langkawi. There are museum sections with exhibits depicting several themes like Heritage, History & Legends etc. There are exclusive collections of forest based products, silk batik, ceramics, brass & silverware and lot more which you can buy from the sales gallery. .

14A) Shark Bay (Teluk Yu) Beach Langkawi:- (This al ong with Black and white sand beach can be removed from list if you visit Cenang beach).

Shark Bay Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Langkawi and probably the most popular one with the tourists. Teluk in Malay means bay and Yu means Shark. But such name is given because of few sharks made of stone that are on display at one side of the beach promenade. There are no real sharks here and the water is exceptionally calm. Shark Bay Beach is located on the north shore of Langkawi and between the Pantai Pasir Tengkorak beach on its west and the Pantai Pasir Hitam (Black Sand Beach) on the east. If you are approaching the beach along the road Jalan Teluk Yu, and coming from east towards west, then look for a long low concrete fence with yellow and red colors. Just before the fence, there is an entry way through two concrete structures that leads to a tiny, unknown and a secluded park. This is our most favorite entry point to the beach as this part is not much known to the tourists.

There is another entry to the beach through a lovely concrete promenade which is less than a minute drive from the previous entry point and to its west. This is where most of the tourists come for visiting the beach. There is ample car parking here along the road side. Get into the promenade which has nice seating arrangements some of which are shaded and look like cozy huts overlooking the ocean from the edge of the promenade. The promenade is really wonderful and so is the view. There are many palm trees around and the breeze is strong enough to compensate for the heat. This entire area is called Tawan Amam Teluk Yu, which means Shark Bay Public Park. Shark Bay Beach is a picturesque family beach. The children can enjoy here a lot. The water is calm and great for swimming. The artificial sharks on one side of the promenade can thrill the kids and toddlers. There is also a waterside restaurant where you can take lunch or snacks. Shark Bay Beach is a public beach, accessible 24 hours and there is no entry fee. Shark Bay Beach is located on the road Jalan Teluk Yu opposite to the Cultural Craft Complex and on the northern shoreline of Langkawi. It is about 21kms from Kuah Town and 24kms from the airport.

15) Air Hangat Village:- (Nothing to see)

16) GALERIA PERDANA:- (Depends upon interest of gr p/family members) Galeria Perdana is a museum displaying gifts and awards presented to former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahatir and his wife, Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. Opened in 1995, it is set a little further down the road from the Langkawi Bird Paradise in Mukim Air Hangat, approximately 11km from Kuah. Porcelain, crystal, silver, textile and copper pieces as well as weapons, plaques, musical instruments, Islamic art and paintings are all on display at the Galeria Perdana. Spread across 5,333sqm of beautifully landscaped gardens, the museum is housed in three interconnected two-storey, oriental-style buildings. If you take interest in museums having rare collections, artwork, show crafts & exhibits that provide rich reflections of history and culture from all over the world, then you will love to visit Galeria Perdana. It is a museum created to showcase all the gifts, souvenirs and awards received by the fourth and the longest serving Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad (who was fondly known as Dr. M) and his wife Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah bt. Mohd. Ali. All the gifts and souvenirs were given by delegates, statesmen and leaders from all over the world, Malaysians as well as guests and friends of the family during Tun's tenure of service as the Prime Minister. Budget about 2 hours if you plan to go through all the exhibits.

Admission Fee Foreign Tourists: Adult - RM10; Child (6-12 years) - RM4 Open Hours 8:30am - 5:30pm Daily 8:30am - 6:00pm on school or public holidays

17) DURIAN PERANGIN WATERFALL:- (Not that good rev iew about it. Worth visiting during heavy rainfall) This waterfall is located on the northern slope of Gunung Raya, the highest mountain of Langkawi. Still, the water flow is seasonal and the fall can best be visited during the rainy season, September-October. Access is easy and clearly signposted. This waterfall is considered a great picnic spot by the locals and is regarded as the third easiest waterfall on the island to visit. I guess its because the other waterfalls on the island require a lot of climbing and trekking to get to. Went during drought but still more water than Seven Wells Waterfall. Manage to go for a swim in the pool. Water was quite cold. The walk to the top of the waterfall is quite long & strenuous, made more challenging by the fact that the steps are rocks built into rocks

18) LEGENDA PARK:- (We didnt like much except ent rance and small lakes/ponds). The recently renovated Lagenda Park is a lovely outdoor-garden museum and a great Langkawi experience. The park was built over 50 acres of reclaimed land and its seventeen sculptures tell the story of Langkawis history, an island of many tales. Located beside the Kuah jetty, Lagenda Langkawi Dalam Taman is a beautifully landscaped folklore-themed park. Opened in 1996, the open-air garden museum faces the Kuah waterfront and colourful statues, with signboards in English detailing the myths associated with specific sculptures are spread out across the park. The 50-hectare compound has a total of 17 colourful sculptures depicting Langkawi legends including legends of heroic giants, mythical birds, evil ogres and beautiful princesses. Lagenda Park is a 2-minute walk from Kuah Jetty and Right next to Eagle Square. Lagenda Park includes tales of ogres, giants, princesses and beautiful birds which shaped the island of Langkawi. Kids will be delighted by the displays and there is plenty of room to run around or have a picnic. There are buggies available in the park if you get tired. View of the lights at the night are good. At this park, there are 4 artificial lakes, 17 story-telling monuments, a man made beach, a few resting places and other public facilities for visitors, mostly covered with beautifully designed landscape, giving the park a really natural looking environment. For information: Open Hour: 9.00am - 7.00pm (Daily) Entrance Fee: Adult - RM5.00 / Child - Rm2.50 Not a full day visit place unless you like peace and quiet and take a picnic, but well worth a visit if you are staying in the area which stretches from the rear of the main Kuah Mosque, right along the coastline and finally exits almost next to the Eagle symbol of Langkawi and the main Jetty. - don't forget to continue on at that end and have a look at the very impressive Eagle statue which dominates the sky line. You can enter the Park at either end and also in about the centre, that entrance being nears the Shopping Mall on the main road. It is quite near to Kuah jetty,Eagle square, Lankawi fair mall. Entry is free; some parts are still being constructed. Lots of colourful lights illuminates in the evening. Map of Lankawi on a rock is worth seeing. Good place to take photos of Eagle Suqare & sunset. One of the places to photograph and to learn general formal and informal landscape design.

Lagenda Park is a massive park decorated with statue,hut,lake,pond and most of these are about the myth of langkawi itself. Its really nice as it gives you a very relaxing atmosphere when you take a walk around the park when you have nothing else to do, located in Kuah near Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall and Eagle Square.

19) EAGLE SQUARE (DATARAN LANG):- Located at the southeast corner of Pulau Langkawi, besides offering beautiful views of Kuah Bay, Dataran Lang has beautiful miniature fountains, terraces and bridges, making it the ideal place for those postcard-perfect holiday photos. The square is a good place to watch ferries ply across the harbour but plan a trip here early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is at its least intense. According to folklore Langkawis name came from two Malay words helang (eagle) and kawi' (reddish brown): hence lang-kawi.

20) Underwater World Langkawi (Very goodMust visi t) Spread across nearly six acres, Underwater World Langkawi is one of the islands best-known attractions. Located at the southern end of Pantai Cenang (almost at the border of Pantai Tengah), beside the Zon duty-free shopping centre, it is Malaysias largest aquarium. The huge white-washed structure houses more than 200 different species of marine and freshwater fish including harbour seals, rockhopper penguins, sharks, giant rays and the enormous Amazonian arapaima the biggest freshwater fish in the world.

Entrance Fees Adults RM40 (without MyKad) / RM30 (with MyKad)

Children (3-12 years

old) RM30 (without MyKad) / RM20 (with MyKad)

Exhibition/Display Areas

Daily 10:00 am - 06:00 pm Public/School Holidays 09:30 am - 06:30 pm

Feeding Times Otter Pond 3:30 pm daily

Harbour Seals 10:30 am and 03:00 pm daily

Rockhopper Penguins

11:00 am and 03:30 pm daily

Animal Feeding Sessions (commencing on 1st October 2011) African Penguin 11:00 am and 2:45 pm daily

Rockhopper Penguin 11:15 am and 3:00 pm daily Furseal 02:30 pm daily Tunnel Tank 03:30 pm daily

OTHER ATTRACTIONS:-

1) Bat Cave (known as Gua Kelawar in Malay):- It is located on the Kilim river and close to the Kilim Jetty, but on the opposite side of the river. You will need to take a boat to reach the cave. The cave is part of the Kilim Geopark and also shown as part of the Kilim Geopark Tour. After you get off the boat, there is an wooden footbridge that goes through mangrove swamps and right into the Bat Cave. The cave is so named because of the large population of Malaysian Fruit Bats that reside here. The guide or the boatman will give you a flashlight before you enter the cave. It is quite dark and creepy inside. Its better you carry your own torch as they charge RM 1 as rental only for 10 min visit. How to reach Bat Cave :- You can take a boat from the river jetty of Tanjung Rhu, or from the Kilim Jetty located at the north eastern edge of Langkawi. You will need to take taxi to come to the jetty. The Bat Cave is also covered as part of the Kilim Geopark & Mangrove Tour. The cave is located quite close to the Kilim Jetty. So if you plan to visit only the cave, then take a short boat ride from the Kilim Jetty which will be cheaper and easier. You may prefer a single boat for your family @ RM 250 for 1 hour ride or RM 450 for 2 hour ride. I have seen some people pay RM 90 to travel agent along Cenang area but its with 20-25 people group. 2) MARINE PARK :- We did "Marine Park"..i.e. Pulau Payar trip which is not here as it was decided there. The rate is approx. RM 180 for adults and 150 for child. But we have also seen 150 and 130 at some agents office. There are 2 main companies..Coral Island and Langkawi Coral. We did with 1st one. It's around 4-5 hour tour and 45 mins ferry ride. The tour comprises of snorkeling basically. They write many different stuff but it's all the same. You will see some coral (not colourful) and fish. Also around 1 m long shark. You may also carry bread to feed them. Carry your swimming costumes, towel and drinking water. Tips:- The staff was little arrogant. The food quality was worst. Especially if you are Vegeterian then tough time. It's better if you carry your own food.

TIPS on Taxi service:-

There is no local transport facility in Langkawi ex cept taxis. Government has fixed the max. fare betw een different locations. The taxi drivers we met are ve ry honest in that sense. They are friendly and if y ou ask questions, they will provide answers if they know.

The min. no. of hours charged by local sightseeing if you hire taxi is 4 hours. The per hour rate is 3 0 RM. This includes the waiting time as well. No extra ch arges for waiting time. So its advisable to combin e the attractions per day accordingly. The extra hours ar e charged by different rates by different taxi driv ers. I heard rates ranging from RM 20 to RM 30. It also de pends upon your daily plan and bargaining powers

But its recommended to fix a taxi as per your dail y plan, as some of the attractions (e.g. crocodile farm) its hard to find taxi. Also its convenient as you may stop in between to relax and for photos etc.