Pulau Langkawi
The series of freshwater rock pools at Telaga Tujuh, located at the top of a waterfall inland from Pantai Kok, makes a refreshing alternative to splashing…
Pulau Langkawi
The series of freshwater rock pools at Telaga Tujuh, located at the top of a waterfall inland from Pantai Kok, makes a refreshing alternative to splashing…
Pulau Langkawi
The jetty near Tanjung Rhu is the main departure point for boat trips into the extensive mangrove forests with stunning limestone formations that edge…
Pulau Langkawi
The highlight of this family-friendly amusement park is SkyCab, a cable car that whisks visitors to the top of Gunung Machinchang (713m). For an extra RM6…
Pulau Langkawi
On the north coast, Tanjung Rhu is one of Langkawi’s wider and better beaches, fronted by magnificent limestone stacks that bend the ocean into a pleasant…
Pulau Langkawi
On the far northwestern corner of Pulau Langkawi, the beaches at Teluk Datai are arguably some of the island’s most beautiful and secluded, but are really…
Kedah
Muzium Padi is all about Kedah’s main crop: rice. It’s located 10km northwest of Alor Setar amid green rice paddies; a taxi costs RM25. The complex, which…
Pulau Langkawi
This beautiful, secluded public beach, with its soft white sand, clear water, shady trees and jungle backdrop, is popular with locals on weekends; during…
Pulau Langkawi
The busiest and most developed beach is the 2km-long strip of sand at Pantai Cenang. The beach is gorgeous: white sand, teal water and green palms. There…
Kedah
This fort, completed in 1780, is opposite Kuala Kedah town on the far bank of Sungai Kedah, a 10-minute taxi ride from the ferry terminal. It was once…
Kedah
The Kedah state mosque instantly impresses with its richly decorated arches and five broad domes, which represent the pillars of Islam. Built in 1912,…
Pulau Langkawi
The tallest mountain on Pulau Langkawi (881m) can be reached by a snaking, paved road through the jungle. It’s a spectacular drive to the top with views…
Pulau Langkawi
The swimming pools here are a 10-minute walk up paved steps through the forest, with pagoda-like shaded seating areas along the way. The water is always…
Kedah
If the Petronas Towers in KL isn't enough for you, the second-tallest tower in the country is Menara Alor Setar, which at 165.5m is by far the tallest…
Pulau Langkawi
The story of Mahsuri, a Malay princess who was unjustly accused of adultery and put a curse on Langkawi in revenge, is commemorated at this historical…
Kedah
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s seventh and longest-serving prime minister, was born the youngest of nine children in Alor Setar in 1925. Rumah Kelahiran…
Kedah
Although Alor Setar has weathered periods of Thai rule over the years, its main Buddhist community is Chinese in heritage. Thus the presence of this cross…
Kedah
Built in 1906, this is a striking octagonal tower topped by an onion-shaped dome. It’s the repository of the nobat (royal orchestra), principally composed…
Pulau Langkawi
West of Tanjung Rhu is Langkawi’s much touted but ultimately disappointing ‘black-sand beach’. It isn’t technically a black-sand beach, but mineral oxides…
Kedah
Now a museum, these connected structures with creaking wooden floorboards formerly served as the royal palace for the sultan and other members of the…
Kedah
The former High Court, erected in 1922, is today a museum dedicated to Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, twice Malaysia’s head of state, the Yang Di Pertuan…
Pulau Langkawi
Head south and Langkawi gets a little more polished; the road loops around a rocky headland, taking you to upscale Pantai Tengah. It’s a slightly smaller,…
Pulau Langkawi
Located in the western part of Pulau Langkawi, 12km north of Pantai Cenang, Pantai Kok fronts a beautiful bay surrounded by limestone mountains and jungle…
Pulau Langkawi
With an imposing facade that makes it something of a landmark on the main Cenang strip, this aquarium features 500 species of marine and freshwater…
Kedah
This open-sided structure was built in 1896 and is still used by the sultan of Kedah for royal and state ceremonies, though it is not open to the public…
Pulau Langkawi
A brief walk from the main road up to Teluk Datai, the falls here – the island’s tallest – are worth a look, though beware of food-stealing monkeys. The…
Pulau Langkawi
This complex comprises rice paddies populated by water buffalo and ducks. Call in advance to arrange a tour to learn about, and even have a hand in,…
Kedah
This clock tower was erected in the early 1900s so that the muezzin at the neighbouring mosque would know when to call the faithful to prayer.
Pulau Langkawi
Established by prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was born in Kedah and is credited with transforming the fortunes of Langkawi by granting it duty…
Kedah
The State Museum is 2km north of the main square. The collection includes early Chinese porcelain, information on the archaeological finds at the former…
Kedah
Closed for renovation when we stopped by, on previous visits, the elegant structure of this gallery, built in 1893 as a courthouse, was enough of a reason…
Pulau Langkawi
While there are plenty of animals around (with an emphasis on exotic birds), feeding is encouraged and animals are kept in relatively poor conditions…
Pulau Langkawi
A landscaped ‘folklore theme park’ that stretches along the waterfront. Brightly coloured statues around the lakes illustrate several Langkawi legends,…
Pulau Langkawi
There are a handful of fast-food restaurants and souvenir shops at this open-air mall, where the main attraction is the SkyCab cable car at Panorama…
Pulau Langkawi
Telaga Harbour Park is a yachting marina and shopping complex surrounded by nature.