OUR LANGKAWI

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The island of Langkawi is an exotic holiday destination that offers world-class accommodation and amenities sitting side by side with idyllic beaches, ancient rainforests and quaint villages. Langkawi, part of the State of Kedah, was named after the eagle (helang in the Malay,language - pronounced 'Lang'), hence the imposing eagle statue at Dataran Lang (Eagle Square), welcoming visitors who arrive on the island through the Kuah Jetty.
Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 tropical islands off the north-western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, about 30km from Kuala Perlis on the mainland. The main island is Pulau Langkawi. The archipelago has some of the world's most pristine rainforests, limestone and karst formations, caves with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, and among the world's most beautiful beaches washed by clear emerald waters teeming with marine life.

ISLAND ACTIVITIES

Island Hopping



Several operators offer tours to the smaller islands. Most trips include a stop at the 'wildlife' reserve on Pulau Singa Besar and the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden or Pulau Dayang Bunting. Some will stop at other islands. Tours usually leave from either the jetty in Kuah or from Pantai Cenang. The seas are usually too rough for tours during the rainy season, which can start in June through September.

Sailing


Get away from the ordinary and enjoy the pristine islands & beaches of Langkawi. Have a communion with nature, explore the lush forests and wild life of the islands from a different perspective. You will get to enjoy deserted beaches all to yourself as something special to remember and cherish for a long time. Go on, hire a boat and just do it.

Snorkelling

Pulau Payar- a jewel of an island, is one of Langkawi's major draws, famous for its spectacularly beautiful coral gardens. You can either dive or snorkel to be among the fishes and explore the corals. If you don't wish to get wet, the special Underwater Observatory allows you to experience a close-up view of marine life.

Mangrove Tour


On the northwest corner of the island, near Tanjung Rhu beach, is a large mangrove forest with spectacular natural scenery. You can take a trip through the forest by boat. Cruise silently along the mangrove channels and appreciate what these natural living buffer zones mean to the ecology. Some trips also include an eagle feeding session.

Jet Skiing


Jet Skiing is a popular water-based activity in Langkawi. However, when engaging in this activity please abide by the rules for safety of other water users. Avoid using boats anchored off-shore as 'marker buoys' to zoom around, you could hit a vessel and be liable for VERY COSTLY repairs, not to mention that there may be divers nearby.

Diving


Dive sites are plentiful.These include: Pulau Lembu, Pulau Kaca with its wrecks, the aptly named spot known as Lobster Garden and the Tyre Reef of Pulau Segantang. There are plenty of groupers in most of these places as well as reef fishes, including schools of Barracuda, snappers and black-tip reef sharks.

Kayaking


Langkawi is a great place for kayaking. With the 99 islands located close to each other, kayaking is another way to do your island hopping - at your own pace. Resorts and tour operators offer affordable daily rental of kayaks. Before starting off on your kayak tour check weather conditions and plan your itinerary well.

Jungle Trekking


Start by taking in the breathtaking view across the Langkawi archipelago from its highest peak, Gunung Raya, at 890 m above sea level. Then hike through the verdant rainforest along the river at the Lubok Sembilang Recreational Park. Discover medicinal plants, uniquely camouflaged wildlife and other wonders of nature. The trekking convener can customise the outing for all age groups and abilities

Air Trekking / Canopy Adventure


Air Trekking involves abseiling, rappelling, climbing, jungle trekking and gliding high above the ground on a cable system resembling a flying fox. The adventure appeals to extreme sports enthusiasts and offers a fantastic adrenalin rush. Made famous by Sean Connery in the movie 'The Medicine Man', Langkawi is the second location in the world to have this activity.

Biking


Bicycles can be hired from a number of outlets throughout the island and many resorts rent them out at reasonable rates to guests. The terrain of the inhabited areas of Langkawi is conducive for cycling. Besides being more environment friendly, quieter and healthier, exploring the island on a bicycle allows you to access more remote areas easier than driving a car

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Although the majority of islanders are Muslims and the official religion is Islam, the other races are free to profess and practice any religion. Besides the abundance of mosques and mussallahs all over the Langkawi islands to cater for the huge Muslim population, there are also Buddhist temples, a church, a Sai Baba centre, and Hindu temples located mostly in and around Kuah town. For Buddhists, a new temple has been consecrated near Kilim. One of the most venerated monks from Thailand travelled to Langkawi in June 2006, attracting a huge following of Buddhists from Malaysia, Thailand and other places for ceremonial blessing.
The main Hindu temple in Langkawi, the Sri Subramaniar Temple is located at Pokok Asam in Kuah town. It is just a short distance from the Langkawi Parade Shopping Mall. The temple is contactable at this telephone number: 012-493 6546 (Mr. Sivamuni) or 012-4723116 (Mr. Gunasegaran -Secretary) or Treasurer, Mr. Arunasalam at 012-4886930. The priest is Mr. Ubandran Gurukal. There is another Hindu temple on the south side of the island where most of the Indian community live. Comprising mostly of rubber plantation workers, the community has been in this area for a long time, hence the establishment of a Hindu temple there.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Electricity Last Updated : 2008-04-08 17:59:46

Voltage is 220 240 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Most hotels provide 110 120 volts adapters as well extension plugs.

Entry Requirements Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:00:18

Non Malaysians entering Langkawi from abroad must possess a valid passport or other internationally recognised travel documents that are valid for at least six months beyond the intended visiting period.

Health & Insurance Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:03:53

The health standards in Malaysia are one of the best in Asia and Langkawi is part of it. Hospitals, private clinics, medical supplies and pharmacies are widely available in Langkawi especially at Kuah Town. However, if you are stationing yourself a while at remote areas, please try to stock up on basic necessities as pharmacies are hard to come by. Bring along a good supply of electric mosquito destroyer refills (dont forget the heating unit), some mosquito coils if you are camping and insect repellents.Medicine for temporary relief of pain can be obtained from the major pharmacies. The stronger varieties such as ibuprofen and the like are controlled and may need prescription, though. Travellers coming from yellow fever infected areas on the African and South American continents have to produce their yellow fever vaccination certificates for entry into Langkawi. Travellers are also advised to buy travel and health insurance before visiting Langkawi. The Langkawi Hospital, provides 24 hour assistance services in Langkawi.

News Papers and Magazines Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:05:39

The main daily newspapers in the country are available in Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese and Tamil. The English dailies that are available in Langkawi are the News Straits Times (popularly known as NST and The Star. Both offer comprehensive coverage of local and international news. The hard copy versions for both newspapers are priced at RM1.20 each. The papers may reach Langkawi about mid-morning (around 10 a.m.) as they need to be transported by air or ferry from the mainland. Both newspapers have northern editions for northern readership. The most popular Malay newspapers are Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, Kosmo and Harian Metro. All the mainstream newspapers have online versions that can be accessed for free. However, the day's update may be quite late for some. The most popular business newspaper is The Edge Daily. Many foreign and local magazines, including Newsweek and Time (Asian edition) are available at the bookshops in Kuah and at the airport.

Television & Radio Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:06:26

Langkawi has its own radio station (Langkawi FM), which is part of the Government-owned RTM group. Broadcasting on the 104.8Mhz frequency in both English and Bahasa Melayu, this is the station that keeps you in touch with whats happening on the island. RTM offers two TV channels - TV1 & TV2. There are currently 6 free-to-air TV channels in Malaysia. The private free-to-air channels comprising TV3, Channel 9, 8TV and NTV7 are all owned by the Media Prima Group. All of these channels, except Channel 9 and 8TV are accessible in Langkawi although there are areas where coverage may not be up to the mark if not impossible. The satellite television, ASTRO owned by ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc, offers 55 channels, both local and international including HBO, CNN, CNBC, BBC, and Al-Jazeera. ASTRO also now operates eight FM terrestrial radio stations and several broadcasts via satellite. There are also other private radio stations catering for niche markets in Malaysia that you can tune-in while in Langkawi. You can also readily tune in to Thai radio broadcasts while on the island.

Postal Services Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:07:00

Pos Malaysia Berhad provides various postal services for letters, postcards, small packets, parcels, cash on delivery, remittances, and philately. For letters and other items, the mode of delivery can be by airmail or sea mail to anywhere overseas. Other than the ordinary delivery services, there is a courier service called the Expedited Mail Service (EMS) or locally known as Pos Laju. The postal rates for the various postal services vary according to the respective services, weight and destinations. Post offices open on Saturday to Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Telecommunications Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:07:37

Public phones are abundant in Langkawi, especially at strategic or high traffic places, airport, and Kuah town. The telephones are coin-operated, using pre-paid phone cards or both. Phone cards can be purchased at stores, newstands or shops. They are sold in denominations of RM5, RM10 and RM20. Public payphones in Langkawi are offered by private operators and TM (the national operator). The phone cards are different for the different payphones offered by the operators and are not interchangeable. The usage of mobile phones is very common in Langkawi. There are many companies that provide cellular phone services such as DiGi (016), Maxis (012 / 017), and Celcom (019 / 013). The DiGi chatz IDD calling card can enable you to make overseas calls for a very low price. You can use the card from any mobile phone or touch tone phone and it is available at all DiGi Centres and convenience stores. Overseas calls can be made from Malaysia by dialling the international access code (00), then followed by the country code. To call a particular state in Malaysia from another state, first dial the area code, followed by the telephone number. Internet centres are also available in Kuah towns as well as tourist spots.

Time Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:08:08

Malaysia is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard Time. It shares the same time zone with Singapore.

Tipping Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:08:40

Tipping is not necessary although it is appreciated, as most hotels and restaurants have already added a 10% service charge. However, if the services provided are satisfactory, it is common for guests to leave some tips. You can also leave behind the loose change if you want to.

Tourist Information Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:09:13

Information in Langkawi can be obtained from Tourist Information Centre in Kuah Town.

What to Wear & What to Bring Last Updated : 2008-04-08 18:09:42

Since Malaysia enjoys a tropical climate, which is hot and sunny, lightweight clothing, as well as cotton, is ideal when going for sightseeing or travelling around Langkawi. Generally, T-shirts and shorts are acceptable. However, do dress appropriately when dining out in restaurants or going for a night out. Certain establishments also have a dress code. It is also important to dress decently (no skimpy shorts) when visiting villages and also any places of worship.

TRAVEL ESSANTIALS

Last Updated : 2008-04-08 16:21:01

Distance to Langkawi

London, United Kingdom to Langkawi : 6,219 miles (10,169 km) Paris, France to Langkawi 6,228 miles (10,023 km) Rome, Italy to langkawi : 4,616 miles (7,428 km) Stockholm, Sweden to Langkawi : 5,559 miles (8,946 km) Berlin, Germany to Langkawi : 5,719 miles (9,203 km) Madrid, Spain to Langkawi : 6,637 miles (10,681 km) New York, USA to Langkawi : 9,172 miles (14,760 km) Los Angeles, USA to Langkawi : 8,790 miles (14,144 km) Vancouver, Canada to Langkawi : 7,944 miles (12,783 km) Tokyo, Japan to Langkawi : 3,245 miles (5,222 km) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Langkawi : 3,727 miles (5,998 km)

Currency

The unit of currency is Malaysian Ringgit indicated as RM. USD1 is roughly equivalent to RM3.80. Foreign currency can be converted at banks, money changers and at some hotels.

Banking Hours

Sat – Wed: 9.30am – 4.00pm; Thur: 9.30am – 11.30am; Fri: closed

Post Offices

Open from 8.00am to 5.00pm daily except Fridays and public holidays.

Time

Eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.

Electricity

Voltage is 220 – 240 volts AC at 50 cycles per second. Standard 3-pin square plugs and sockets.

Weights and Measures

Like the rest of Malaysia, Langkawi follows the metric system in weights and measures.

Telephones

Local calls can be made from public phones using coins or pre-paid cards. International calls can be made from public phones with card phone facilities or at the TM office in Kuah town.

Accommodation

Langkawi has a wide range of accommodation at competitive rates. International standard, medium and budget hotels; youth hostels; and timeshare apartments are just some of the types of accommodation available. Location can be the determining factor in fixing rates. Beach hotels may be higher priced.

MARINAS

Langkawi is a haven for yachties. At least four mooring locations are available, three of which are full-fledged marinas with modern international-class facilities. The marinas at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club and Rebak Marina on the island of Pulau Rebak Besar have made their presence felt for quite some time. Rebak Marina has been expanded and now has a range of repair facilities as well as a dry dock. It is a safe place to leave the boat while visiting Langkawi. A latest addition, which is the newly developed Langasuka Boat Club is located about just behind the breakwater near Padang Mat Sirat. It provides a number of safe moorings and a few essential services for boats on transit to or from Thailand.

In Kuah, there is a small dock for yachts and small boats just towards the rear of the Jeti Pelancongan (Tourism Jetty) near the Al-Hana Mosque. The dock currently charges about RM70 per week for sailboats and RM19 per week for dinghy (Tel: 04-969 8300). Plans for a tripper boat dock in 2007 may reduce the size of the anchorage.

The December 2004 Tsunami, which caused a 'shadow wave' to hit certain parts of the island caused some serious damage to pontoons and berth at Rebak Marina and Telaga Harbour. All of of these have since been fully repaired. The Bass Harbour, which fronts Kuah Jetty allows anchoring for yachts.





Royal Langkawi Yacht Club
Last Updated : 2008-04-19 12:14:28


This world-class 205 berth marina is on the south-east of Langkawi island close to Kuah town. It is conveniently accessible to the island's duty-free shops, administrative and business facilities. The marina accommodates mega-yachts up to 60m with a low tide depth of 3 meters. Pontoons have direct electricity, fuel and water supply and offer high-speed wi-fi internet.

Telaga Harbour
Last Updated : 2008-04-19 13:13:08


The facilities and services available also make the marina an ideal destination for transient, and home base yachts of various sizes including mega yachts. The on-water activity and yachts berthed at the harbour provide picturesque background to the harbour, creating a lifestyle and attracting tourism. Telaga Harbour Park is the one and only such harbour town within the region.



Rebak Marina
Last Updated : 2008-04-19 13:51:19


The Rebak Marina is located on Pulau Rebak Besar as part of the facilities provided by the Rebak Marina Resort. This beautiful and quiet marina was built on the site of a former mangrove swamp in the centre of the island. It is connected by 15-minute ferry to the main island of Langkawi and well protected from the elements. Minimum depth 2.5 metres.

DUTY FREE SHOPPING

Langkawi is the premier duty-free shopping destination in Malaysia. Shops, bazaars and shopping centres throughout the island, especially those in the high-traffic areas such as Kuah, Oriental Village, Pantai Chenang and Pantai Tengah offer a good selection of clothing, cosmetics, shoes, handbags, household products and electronics. From the antique and the exotic to the latest in fashion, the constantly changing product range includes an extensive collection of designer labels from the fashion capitals of the world that have made their way to this paradise of an island.

The duty exemption on a range of items in Malaysia has resulted in competitive pricing and makes shopping in Langkawi an even more attractive option. Duty-free items like cameras, watches, pens, cosmetics, perfume, cigarettes, liquor and electronic goods are among the cheapest in the world. Local regulations ensure that items are price-tagged and prominently displayed, particularly at department stores where prices are fixed.

Shopping malls in Langkawi where everything is designed for shopper convenience have foreign currency exchange counters, restaurants, supermarkets and lots of shops offering tremendous variety. There are currently four shopping malls on the island -- Jetty Point Mall, Langkawi Fair Shopping Centre, Langkawi Parade and the much smaller one-tenant Zon Shopping Centre that adjoins the Underwater World at Pantai Cenang as well as at the Langkawi Wildlife Park at Jalan Air Hangat.

Duty-free shopping for wines, spirits and beers can also be made at most of the popular tourism centres, including Pantai Tengah, Telaga Harbour, Oriental Village, Pantai Cenang, Padang Mat Sirat (airport) an, of course, Kuah town. Check out the prices, as some may be more competitive than others despite the duty-free tag.

A good place to start your shopping spree is the modern Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall, consisting of 100 retail lots housed in a 2-storey building. Its anchor tenant, the Billion Department Store, stocks a wide selection of items such as perfumes and fragrances, cosmetics, leather wear, sports gear, ladies' accessories, confectionery, liquor and cigarettes The other shopping outlets to check out in Kuah is the Langkawi Duty Free (M) Sdn. Bhd, Haji Ismail Group and the Saga Shopping Centre. All the establishments offer almost similar range of duty-free products. The difference is probably in the pricing and staff friendliness.

Most of the outlets at the Kuah town shopping area stock loads of cheap luggage bags, kitchen and household items. This is due to the fact that such items are popular among Malaysian shoppers from the mainland.