> > by Margaret McGuire
As tropical islands go, Langkawi is right up there for all the ‘tick off’ attributes – warm, sunny days? Tick. Golden beaches? You bet. Natural attractions above and below the water? Got it. Nightlife and restaurants? Balmy, romantic nights? Fabulous accommodation? It’s got the lot. Just an hour’s flight from Kuala Lumpur, it’s the perfect destination to relax and enjoy all the pleasures of a tropical island – and is it the heat of the tropics which makes the locals so relaxed and laid-back? Even the cows take to the beach, or stoll along the roads – and nobody frets – they go home eventually!
Lazy days on the beach can be alternated with excursions to Pulau Payar Marine Park where snorkelling and scuba diving take you under the surface to another world of colourful fish and coral reefs and warm, clear water. Fishing, sailing and island hopping are also on offer, and the island is compact enough to mean that everything is easily accessible. If you are feeling adventurous, take the Panorama Langkawi Cable Car to the top of Mat Chinchang forest reserve for fabulous views over the island. Feeling energetic? Try the rainforest canopy adventure where you will swing through the forest on a flying fox, or take to the treetops for a bird’s-eye view of the forest below. Still got plenty of energy? Hire or borrow a bike – keep off the beaten track and discover the locals at home, at work and at school. The waterfall at Durian Perangin is one of several on the island, and the road that takes you there through fields of green ends in a cool pool at the base of the waterfall. NEED TO KNOW
DO visit BonTon, where one of the island’s best restaurants, Nam, is located. Set on a lily-filled lagoon on the site of a former coconut plantation, this is a wonderful setting for a pre-dinner drink and a fabulous meal.
DON’T miss the mangrove tour. There are plenty on offer, and basically they take you through the torturous maze of the mangroves – it doesn’t sound romantic does it? But the stillness of the waterways, the flash of the abundant birdlife, and above all, the quiet, are totally enthralling and utterly peaceful. If you’re lucky you’ll see river otters, which are rather rare.
COUPLES WILL LOVE there’s so much to love about Langkawi: the green countryside, the blue and gold beaches, the orange and red of the sunset – and just for contrast, the thump of the music at the Sun Bar, or any of the many clubs and nightspots on the island; the thrill of flying through the forest canopy, or bathing in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall at Durian Perangin.