Officially known as "Langkawi the Jewel of Kedah", Langkawi is an archipelago with 104 islands.
1. Pulau Payar Marine Park
Of the four inhabited Langkawi islands, Pulau Payar Marine Park remains the most go-to site for snorkelers, scuba-divers and other water sport enthusiasts. The Coral Garden is a major attraction here; a section partitioned off here to protect and preserve the colourful corals and marine species here. Fishing is strictly prohibited. Visitors will find a range of facilities such as picnic tables and barbecue pits to use throughout the park. Pulau Payar Marine Park is a 45-minute boat ride away from the Kuah Jetty, with Langkawi Coral as its official tour operator.
2. Pulau Dayang Bunting
Pulau Dayang Bunting is about 7 miles from Kuah town, modestly populated on one side and uninhabited on the other. Tourists can access the island from a 15-minute boat ride from Kuah Jetty. Surrounded by hills of mangrove trees in dense rainforests, the freshwater lake is great for swimming. You can also choose to rent a motorboat or kayak to cruise on it. The lake revolves around an urban legend where locals believe swimming in it will improve women fertility and endow them with a baby. Therefore, its name is literally translated as “Island of the Pregnant Maiden”.
3. Pulau Beras Basah
Pulau Beras Basah is perhaps most well-known for its beautiful white sandy beaches, palm trees and clear blue waters against a magnificent mountain backdrop. The shallow waters here make it ideal for children to play and swim in. Banana boats and jet-skis are also available for rent. Beras Basah is not as developed as other Langkawi islands with relatively basic facilities like washrooms and drink stalls, allowing it to retain much of its natural charm. Located 15 miles southwest of Kuah, the best way to visit Pulau Beras Basah is via an island-hopping tour, which also charters visitors to the other main islands.
4. Pulau Singa Besar
A gorgeous Langkawi island, Pulau Singa Besar is a wildlife sanctuary that is mostly untouched by human life. The island boasts a spectacular scenery on its stunning beaches, full of tall palm trees and warm tropical sand. Nestled between Pulau Beras Basah and Pulau Dayang Bunting, visitors here often drop by as part of the major island-hopping tour packages offered in Langkawi. While the standard water sport activities are available, nature-lovers will also appreciate the different species of birds and animals on this island, often setting up camps here. There is also an eagle-watching tradition on Pulau Singa Besar where visitors are given photo opportunities as majestic birds swoop in for the meat that tour guides entice them with.
With its beautiful natural landscapes and ideal climates, the treasured Langkawi islands with folktales of legends past remains to be a prime tourist destination.