A long time coming
Tourism activities have finally resumed on the island of Langkawi, the first destination placed under Malaysia’s travel bubble initiative.
THE island of Langkawi in Kedah now welcomes all fully vaccinated adults (and their children, if any) for that long-awaited holiday.
And not gonna lie, we are itching to book one ourselves too.
Many of the accommodations listed on booking platforms like Agoda and Booking.com are either sold out or almost at full capacity for the next few weeks. This includes luxury resorts, midrange chain hotels, independent properties and budget stays.
This is a good thing, as it means that all businesses – not just tourism-related ones – on the island will finally be able to earn an income after months of closure or inactivity.
Of course, there is a concern that another spike in Covid-19 cases may happen as a result of the reopening. Although this is a valid concern, authorities, tourism stakeholders and business communities in Langkawi have stated in several reports that they are committed to ensuring everyone adheres to the standard operating procedures.
On Wednesday, Health Minister
Khairy Jamaluddin announced that all travellers, including children aged seven to 17, must undergo a Covid-19 test (RT-PCR or Rtk-antigent) before heading to Langkawi. Only travellers with negative test results will be allowed to either board the plane, or enter the ferry terminal on the mainland.
This is a welcome move from the government as it may help to prevent any outbreak, and at the same time, boost travel confidence among holidaymakers.
Hopefully, all tourists will also follow the SOP and other health and safety guidelines, to ensure that everyone gets to enjoy a safe holiday. This is very important as the resumption of tourism activities in other destinations nationwide is dependent on how Langkawi fares in the travel bubble initiative, as noted by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
If you’re keen on going on a holiday to the island soon, do take note of all the travel requirements and SOP that have been set by the National Security Council, as well as any updates that may be announced along the way.
This includes being fully vaccinated (for adults; children under 18 who are not vaccinated must be accompanied by fully vaccinated parents or guardians) and getting a travel permit from the police for those who are travelling by land. If you’re taking a flight, you do not need one.
To make things easier, engage in the services of a travel agency that can make all the necessary arrangements for you. Some companies offer attractive all-in packages (flight, accommodation, ground transport, etc) so look out for them.
What to do there
Langkawi’s main attractions are its beaches and islands, but there are plenty of other things to see and activities to experience too.
The Kilim Geoforest Park, for example, is a great place to visit for tourists of all ages. It is the first geopark in South-east Asia and is part of the Unesco Network of Global Geoparks.
The park is surrounded by mangrove forests and limestone rock formations, and is home to a myriad flora and fauna. Take a boat ride through the park to see the breathtaking views and spot some wonderful creatures like mud crabs, monitor lizards and white-bellied sea eagles. If you’re lucky you may even get to see a dolphin.
Mangrove tours available will usually also include a short eagle-feeding session, where the boatmen toss food into the water and wait for the birds to come swooping by. Although it is fascinating to see, the food given to the raptors may not be the best option for them. For sustainability reasons, you may want to opt out of this when booking your tour.
Kilim is a 20-minute drive from Kuah town; check with your hotel or resort for more information on how to get there.
On the west coast of the island at the foothills of the Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park, lies the Oriental Village, where you can find the Langkawi Skybridge and Langkawi Skycab. These are considered two of the top man-made attractions on the island.
The Skybridge is a 125m-long pedestrian bridge that sits above Gunung Machincang, or more than 700m above sea level. It is accessible via the Skycab, a cable car service which starts at the base of the mountain. The ride up offers you a look at the surrounding forest, while the final station at the top offers a fantastic panoramic view of the Langkawi islands, as well as Southern Thailand (on a very clear day, that is).
There’s also the Skyglide, a sort of elevator that takes its passengers from the final station to the Skybridge. This is definitely a convenient – and fun! – way to get to the Skybridge, though you would have to pay extra to ride it.
A Skycab ticket will give you free access to the Skyrex, a five-minute simulator ride on a tram that takes you through a fun-filled 3D journey featuring dinosaurs.
The 3D Art Gallery is also nearby, as well as a 6D cinema. For information on ticket prices and opening hours, check out the Panorama Langkawi website (https://panoramalangkawi.com/).
If you’re looking for something interesting to do at night, head to Telaga Harbour Park. This harbour town is where the Perdana Quay is located – it is a boardwalk featuring restaurants serving mostly international cuisines, shopping outlets and entertainment centres.
It’s also a nice place to take pictures as some private yachts are parked at this harbour (they make a great backdrop for your Instagram holiday posts!).
Another nice photo spot is, of course, Dataran Lang or Eagle Square, where the 12m-tall statue of a reddish-brown eagle that Langkawi is famous for stands erect. The square is just a short walk away from the Kuah jetty, and there are lots of shops and stalls nearby.
For those who need a break from the beach and sea, they can make their way to the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls instead. Locals say that the waterfall is home to fairies but this remains a myth to this day. However, when the sunlight is reflected on the water, the place does look very magical.
As its name suggests, there are seven pools to conquer here, and if you choose to check out all of them, do be careful. It may be best to get a local guide to take
you to the waterfall, or just ask your hotel for recommendations.
There are numerous other attractions available in Langkawi, though some may not be ready to reopen to guests just yet. Check websites like Naturally Langkawi (naturallylangkawi.my/), the official page for Langkawi tourism, and Langkawi Development Authority (lada.gov. my/) for more information and updates on SOP.