Malaysia

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Langkawi

Duty-free island of beaches, mangroves and rainforest

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Langkawi Plan a trip around Malaysia

Best time to visit: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Currency: MYR
Time zone: UTC+8
Country: Malaysia

Photo: Ttt.Osakanman, CC BY-SA 4.0

An island group off Malaysia's northwest coast, with sandy beaches, mangrove channels, a cable car into the rainforest and duty-free shopping.

Largest cities

Kuala Lumpur
Johor Bahru
George Town
Ipoh
Kota Kinabalu

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Malaysia
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Island population: 100,000
Population of Malaysia: 34.1M
Country area: 330,803 km²
Official language: Malay
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) · 1 USD ≈ 4.09 MYR
Time zone: UTC+8
Calling code: +60
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 10 m
Plugs: G · 240V
Emergency numbers: 999 · 112
Best time to visit: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	32°	33°	34°	33°	32°	31°	31°	31°	31°	31°	31°	31°
Low	23°	23°	24°	25°	25°	25°	24°	24°	24°	24°	24°	23°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$43
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$110
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$340

Plan a trip to Langkawi

Top things to do

≈ $35
SkyCab and Sky Bridge
A steep cable car up to a curved walkway hanging over the rainforest; closes in high wind and for maintenance.
- Half day
- Gunung Mat Cincang
- Good for kids
≈ $30
Kilim Geoforest mangrove boat
A boat tour through limestone and mangrove channels, with a bat cave and eagles overhead.
- Half day
- Kilim mangroves
- Good for kids
Free
Pantai Cenang at sunset
The island's main beach, with water sports by day and cafés on the sand at sunset.
- Half day
- Pantai Cenang
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $20
Island hopping
A boat trip to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, eagle feeding and a swim at Beras Basah island.
- Half day
- Kuah town
- Good for kids
Free
Seven Wells waterfall
Steps through the forest to a series of rock pools at the top of a waterfall, near the cable car.
- Half day
- Gunung Mat Cincang
≈ $15
Underwater World aquarium
Tanks of tropical fish, penguins and a walk-through tunnel; a good rainy-day plan.
- Half day
- Pantai Cenang
- Good for kids
- Indoors

Before you go

Entry and visas

Most visitors must submit the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within 3 days before arriving. Visa rules depend on your passport; check with the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

Official website

From the airport

Langkawi International Airport has flights from Kuala Lumpur (about 1 hour) and Penang; Pantai Cenang is 10 minutes by taxi. Ferries run from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis.

Getting around

There is little public transport: rent a car (cheap, and driving is on the left) or use Grab and taxis.

Local tips

Langkawi is duty-free: chocolate and some goods are cheaper than on the mainland.
Jellyfish can appear in the rainy season; ask before swimming.
Don't feed the monkeys, and keep food out of sight.
The SkyCab can close without notice in bad weather; keep a backup morning.

Areas worth knowing

Kuah town
Kilim mangroves
Pantai Cenang
Gunung Mat Cincang

Official travel advice

The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on March 19, 2026. The advice includes warnings against travel to some areas. Read it before booking.

Read the advice on GOV.UK