Bali of Malaysia: 19 New and unique things to do in Langkawi for an exciting island getaway

Comprising 99 beautiful islands in the Andaman Sea, Langkawi, known as the jewel of Kedah, is one of the places you should visit if you like me love islands. Besides being the perfect setting for your romantic journey and getaway with epic oceanfront resorts for a honeymoon in Malaysia, Langkawi offers a lot of exciting activities you might never have heard of!

We love the beach too of course but it doesn’t mean you have to stay on the beach all the time. Whether it’s hopping on a yacht and cruising at sunset, or zip-lining through the treetops of Malaysia’s oldest rainforest, there’s no telling what adventures await once you book a flight here!

Read more:

12 Romantic oceanfront resorts in Langkawi with direct beach access, over-water villas, ocean view spas and more for couples!

Stay in the middle of the paddy fields near Cenang Beach – The Gemalai Village

15 Romantic resorts in Malaysia that will make you feel like you are overseas without flying!

1. Almost like a beach club in Bali! – Hidden Langkawi

Blue skies, blue seas, blue seats and blue accents on white wood. Everything may seem blue, but there’s nothing blue about dancing and enjoying your evening away at this beachside restaurant that will remind you of Bali!

Despite its name, this not-so-hidden joint has Instagrammers going crazy for their picturesque corners, especially when it has the backdrop of the Langkawi sea. It’s a perfect place to throw a beach party if you ask me. Serving a fusion of Western, Italian and a hint of Mexican food, you’ll have plenty to choose from to satisfy your cravings.

2. Cruise into the sunset with the best people around – Langkawi Sunset Dinner Cruise

If you haven’t been on a sunset cruise yet, here’s your chance! Langkawi Sunset Dinner Cruise offers an amazing sunset cruise package that includes a BBQ dinner, open bar, personal insurance, and hotel transfers for you and your crew at a good price!

You’ll be cruising into the sunset and watch the beauty of Langkawi come to life on a yacht with a saltwater jacuzzi. And if you’re lucky, you might be able to catch some dolphins and flying fish along the way!

Something to take note: The meet-up points are Pekan Rabu Pier and Awana Pier, however once you’ve booked, your agent will reconfirm with you where to meet 1 day before the activity!

3. Dine in the middle of a paddy field – Kerisik Restaurant Cenang

Are you craving for something hearty, something filling? Check out this beautiful restaurant with Malay Kampung influences that lets you dine in the calming serene green of a paddy field!

Encapsulating the classic Melayu culture, this restaurant mixes traditional and modern influences seamlessly through their food and interior decor. This might be one of the perfect places to introduce your foreign friends to Malay cuisine.

During the right season, they might also serve a variety of durians here too! (Check out their Facebook page for the latest updates on this.)

4. Splish splash your worries away! – Splash Out Waterpark

This park is huge (the size of 7 football fields to be exact) with 12 different water rides, including a 6-storey-high waterslide – the Perfect Storm sends you on a 40-degree bowl-shaped ride on a raft with a twisting effect (almost like as though you are spiralling into the eye of a storm) before splashing down all the way down to ground level!

Other highlights include Ragin’ Racers which sends you down a thrilling slide with your friends at 50km/h, Shipwreck Falls which is an extreme ride that plummets downwards before propelling you upwards again in various ups and downs like a roller coaster on water, Poseidon’s Revenge which slides you at top speed into a burst of Instagrammable visual effects (only that of course, you will be going too fast to actually take pictures!).

If you want a break from all the adrenaline, float down the River of Life to enjoy a few moments of peace before challenging yourselves on more crazy rides!

5. For fun couples who like eclectic ambience! – Dash Beach Club

If you search up Dash Beach Club on Instagram, you’ll notice how fun and vibrant this place is. It’s almost like a mini Miami city or Bali in Langkawi.

With an oceanfront infinity pool, bright blue couches decked out at the lounge area that perfectly faces the sun, and rainbow-coloured changing rooms, this place is where you need to be for some fun in the sun!

What’s more, they serve amazing fun cocktails and snacks too. This is definitely the place to be for a beach party!

6. Say CHEESE!…with a side of scrambled eggs and a smile! – Smiling Buffalo

If you’re looking for an out-of-the-way cafe from the busy town of Cenang, Smiling Buffalo is the place to be. With its open-air floor concept and a hut-like structure, this place catches a lot of attention from tourists and island goers.

Many people have raved about its tasty breakfast selection and chill ambience, accompanied by an acoustic live-band performance on weekends. And of course, adding to its cozy factor, this place has a lot of greens, so you can wake up and enjoy a peaceful breakfast here! Try out their Big Breakfast, tomato poached egg, pancakes and waffles!

7. Have an all-in-one beach fun at the Andaman Sea – Paradise Island 101

Thankfully in Malaysia, every day is summer and what better way to have some fun in the sun than a beach getaway where you can do everything from kayaking, ziplining, jet-skiing, parasailing and banana boating all in one place?

This private island sanctuary located on the Andaman Sea has plenty to offer besides its beach activities. By day, you could be bouncing around in their inflatable obstacle course, Aqua Park and by night, you could be dancing the night away at their OMG bar. All you need is good company!

However, do take note; Paradise 101 has no overnight accommodation, since it’s a day resort.

8. Well, well, well, look at this beauty right here – Seven Wells Waterfall

Time to detox and get yourself equipped, ‘cause you’ll be hiking up to one of Langkawi’s seven beautiful natural pools overlooking the hills of Langkawi island. Each pool is formed at a different level along the waterfall, and the water streams that go into the pool flows from the second highest mountain in Langkawi – Mount Mat Cincang.

Be careful though, always remember to drink your water and have some snacks before starting the hike! Watch out for slippery rocks too!

9. Wine and dine at sunset by the beach – Yellow Beach Cafe Langkawi

The story behind this cafe’s name will have you giggling at your screens. You might think it’s named after the colour yellow, but surprise! it’s actually a nickname given to the owner before his business took off.

Thierry Phal was just enjoying his trip in Thailand, when locals started referring to him as ‘hey, you, houhou, hello, coucou…’ rather than his actual name which was difficult to pronounce! Long story short, he’s since adopted a nickname, Yellow amongst his peers, and thus Yellow Cafe was born!

As unique as its name, you can expect a wonderful experience here as well! Enjoy some of their sweet Western cuisine and drinks with a beautiful sunset backdrop over the beach!

10. Dine in a room full of art – Arts Cafe Langkawi

Oh to dine in a room full of fine art pieces… Seems pretty unique, doesn’t it? Although it may not be like the Louvre, this cafe still has eye-catching art pieces around their cafe.

Their food is delicious as well! Almost everything on the menu is good, and most people enjoy their Lamb Shank, Chicken fillet with rosti, and salmon too! Hmm maybe I should come by here too for some creative inspiration…

11. Pasta lovers, here’s your go-to fix! – Red Tomato Langkawi

Known as a staple along the shores of Pantai Cenang, this popular eatery has foodies coming back for more of their tasty Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Here, they serve fresh daily bread, and offer gluten free, vegan and lactose-free food options for customers as well!

Their place also has indoor and outdoor dining spots, but in my honest opinion, I prefer eating outdoors because of the pretty plants and decor around! I like to enjoy my food surrounded by tasteful decor as well.

12. You can’t just skip out on seafood if you’re on an island! – Orkid Ria Seafood Restaurant

Based on my personal experiences, seafood joints served on islands or ones by the sea always have the bombest flavours around! Something about the freshness of the harvest, and perhaps the ambience of the place just makes it taste better. Orkid Ria Seafood Restaurant is one local favourite when it comes to seafood. Not only are they delicious and fresh, but the price is reasonable as well! This place is non-Halal but pork-free (just a little heads up for our Muslim readers!). Their signature dishes include black pepper tiger prawns, chili crab and cheese-baked lobster!

13. Zipline through Malaysia’s oldest rainforest – Umgawa Zipline Eco Adventure

Note: This attraction is currently closed.

Do you want to be like Tarzan and swing from tree to tree? Although that may not be possible (your safety is our main priority), you can zipline through the treetops and waterfalls in Malaysia’s oldest rainforests!

At Umgawa’s Zipline Eco Adventure, you can soar on their 12 ziplines with lengths of 200 metres through the Seven Wells Waterfall and rainforest canopy. Not to mention being able to take in a breathtaking view of the Andaman Sea too!

14. Just you, your partner, and free-falling through the clouds – Skydive Langkawi

Note: This attraction is currently temporarily closed but let’s keep it in our plans for next time!

This activity is not for the faint-hearted. Although I personally love the idea of skydiving, to actually do it seems pretty scary.

But if you’re someone who loves to live life on the edge, check out Skydive Langkawi! You can literally see the beauty of Langkawi from a bird’s eye view! So, ready to jump?

15. Dip your toes in a natural saltwater hot spring – Ayer Hangat Village Langkawi

Phew… Touring around can be pretty exhausting at times don’t you think? There’s so much to see, so much to do, but your feet might not be able to keep up with you.

But if you’re around Ayer Hangat, you need to head to Ayer Hangat Village, where you can treat yourself to some much needed TLC with their wonderful natural saltwater hot springs, or even hop into their jacuzzi for a spa day!

16. Take a boat ride into the wilderness – Kilim Geoforest Park

Rich in its bountiful biodiversity and geographical heritage, this park is a must-see for anyone travelling in Langkawi. Kilim is known for being the only place in Malaysia where you can find that their coastal karst and mangrove ecosystems harmoniously coexist.

Here you can take boat rides that tours around the park where you can see bat caves, go for a quick swim or snorkeling session, watch eagles and more! There’s many packages to choose from, and it’s always fun with more people around!

17. Eagle feeding and island hopping? Sign me up! – Pulau Dayang Bunting Island

How often do you come across a place in Malaysia that has pristine white sandy beaches and emerald green freshwater lake?

Pulau Dayang Bunting is abundant in hidden island gems, with a unique story behind its name as well. Also known as Lake of The Pregnant Maiden, people believed that this island was named after the legend of Mat Teja and a fairy princess who lived at a lake on the island, Mambang Sari. Similar to Romeo & Juliet, it was a forbidden love, as one was a mortal, and the other was a fairy. Unfortunately, when the couple had a son, the baby passed away shortly. To honour her baby, Mambang Sari laid her child to rest in peace in the lake on the island to return to her home in the sky. In doing so, she blessed the lake so that any childless woman who bathed in it would be able to conceive after. Beautiful isn’t it?

Most tourists also praise the freshwater lake that resides in between the trees on the island, and you can swim or go kayaking at a good price as well! Nearby you can also hop over to the powdery white seashore of Pulau Beras Basah or catch a view of an eagle up close and more personal at Pulau Singa Besar.

18. Go on a surprising night market food hunt – Ayer Hangat Friday Night Market

This Pasar Malam (Night Market) blew us away with the sheer range of food available. Walking through the market, there were so many delicious smells and interesting food we had never seen before (both Singaporeans and Malaysians went on the trip!).

Have your dinner at the market and enjoy exploring the local street food on offer here!

19. See the world through a bird’s eye view on Langkawi’s highest mountain – Gunung Raya

Something about reaching the peak of a mountain just makes you gleam with accomplishment. Reaching a peak of 881 metres in height, Gunung Raya is home to several unique wildlife species here, such as leaf monkeys, flying foxes, macaque monkeys and many more.

The name of the mountain itself also carries a unique story as it was locally believed that this mountain was actually a cursed form of a giant called Mat Raya, who once lived on the island.

This somehow reminds me of the Island Goddess from Moana! But don’t worry, Gunung Raya would not suddenly wake up from its slumber and cause chaos like in the movie. If anything, this place is wonderful for jungle trekking and for nature enthusiasts out there. If you are travelling here for the first time, it’s advisable to have an expert with you. The hiking trail starts at the peak of Gunung Raya.

Special Mention

Although these attractions below are already well-known, they are iconic in Langkawi and we recommend you to check them out if you haven’t! Some have seasonal promos too!

1. Watch penguins playfully swim above you! – Underwater World Langkawi

As a kid, I remembered how magical going to aquariums was for me. It felt like a whole new world, seeing a huge stingray floating above my head as I walked in the tunnel, seeing the beautiful colours of the tiny fishes and corals.

From there, it built a sense of appreciation inside me towards our ecosystem and the ocean at a young age. At Underwater World Langkawi, it’s a great place to get our little ones introduced to life under the sea.

What’s more, wouldn’t you love seeing those little men in tuxedos (aka penguins ;)) in real life and have them playfully swim above your head?

2. Get a 360 view of Langkawi – Langkawi Skycab

Undoubtedly one of the most popular spots, Langkawi Skycab is a top attraction for tourists. Hovering over Langkawi’s vast jungle and ancient rocks that’s as old as 550 million years old, Skycab offers a unique experience that you won’t forget!

You’ll truly get to see a 360-view of Langkawi, so don’t worry about missing out on any angles. 😉 Over here you can also visit their 6D Cinemotion or their 3D Art Langkawi, something the kids would enjoy!

3. Walk on the world’s longest free span and curved bridge – Skybridge Langkawi

Yup, you read that right! Skybridge Langkawi is the longest free span and curved bridge in the world! Suspended from a 82-metre-high singly pylon, this bridge hangs about 100 metres above ground (does that scare you?) and it can hold up to 250 people at a time.

I remember coming here as a kid, but I never managed to walk all the way across this bridge, as my Mom was afraid of heights, so that meant I had to stay behind with her at the lounge area nearby. But I’ll definitely be back! If you didn’t know, Skybridge Langkawi is at the same location as Langkawi Skycab, so you don’t need to worry about walking too far from the skycab.

Car charters and car rentals

Not sure how to travel around Langkawi? Check out these car charter and rental services!

Book car rental (self-drive) on Klook

Book private car charter (with driver) on Klook

Have we inspired you to travel to Langkawi again? With so many new attractions (and some evergreen ones that are fun to visit again and again), tag your travel buddies and plan your next trip!

PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you! Tell us

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