Langkawi, an island located off the northwestern shores of Malaysia, is the perfect location for fun in the sun. Year round the temperature sits between a lovely 75°F to 93°F (24°C to 34°C). The high humidity can make it feel even warmer. The dry season is from November-March wile the wet season is from April-October. This is important to note for planning your trip because Langkawi does periodically see monsoons. Even with possibly rainy weather, it is easy to spend tons of time at the beaches and waterfalls. Here is your perfect guide to planning a trip full of beach time and swimming in chilly waterfalls!
Beaches of Langkawi
During your visit, it’s recommended to plan a couple of beach days to ensure that you have plenty of time to visit all of them. We would recommend spending one day at Paradise 101 and one day split between Cenang and Black Sand beaches.
Paradise 101
Beach days are generally a pretty cheap experience. You bring your own towel and pack some snacks leading to not paying for anything (besides maybe parking). At Paradise 101 you will be paying a higher fee to visit but in turn you get:
- Private Beach
- Jet Ski rides
- Banana Boat rides
- Zip line
- Speed Boat ride
- Kayaking
- Parasailing
- Aqua Park
When looking at the list, the price seems a bit less daunting! Visiting this private island is a unique way to experience the usual beach day.The best part is you can choose a package that meets your own needs for a perfect day. They provide you with a life jacket and towels. There are also lockers to put any valuables. With tons of unique seating options, grabbing lunch with a view is completely possible. On land they have space to play volleyball or just hangout in the sun. The staff are extremely kind and took our photos and videos while doing the activities. Plan to spend a good portion of the day there so pack plenty of sunscreen and any other items you think you will need.
Website: Paradise 101
Cost: MYR40-300 per person (the price range is large primarily because parasailing is much more expensive)
Check out our full post about Paradise 101 here!
Cenang Beach
Spending the day at a busier beach can have great benefits! If you plan to visit Cenang beach during your Langkawi visit, expect to spend around half a day here. The beach itself is large and has tons of space. It is situated with lots of restaurants and shops. This makes it perfect for spending part of the day shopping, grabbing lunch, then heading to the beach. There is a small mall located not far away as well. The mall doesn’t have much going for it but a few restaurants and basic shops. The main things to note for this visit is ensuring you are paying for your parking spot. There are few signs and mostly street parking but it is possible to get a ticket if you do not pay for it. Bring your towel and some dry clothes as well as sunscreen. If you need beach items, the shops all sell options from shoes to clothes to beach toys.
Ocean activities like jet skis and kayaking is also available to rent at this beach.
Cost: Free with optional paid activities
Parking: paid on the street
Black Sand Beach
One of the best beaches to visit is the black sand beach called Pantai Pasir Hitam. It is located on the northern side of the island. The sand is black from a local hot spring rather than a volcano like many other black sand beaches. Upon arrival there is a parking lot next a shopping center. Parking is free! Walk through the shopping center to head to the rainbow stairs that go down to the beach. During our visit, we were the only people there! Take some time to enjoy the swings and get a few photos. Walking down to the more western side will lead to a bunch of large rocks that you can walk on.
There are bathrooms at the shopping center. During our visit, the center was closed so there were no food shops or any other type of shops open if you needed something. Plan to pack your towels and snacks. There are not shops on the beach itself either. We had a kitten follow us during our entire walk along the beach, there are many strays so always be ware regarding safety and cleanliness of the animals around you.
Cost: Free
Parking: Free, medium sized parking lot
Waterfalls on Langkawi
Interested in some natural cold plunges? These are two of the best waterfalls on the island! It’s recommended to go at sunrise to increase probability of having the place to yourself. Make sure to bring flashlights and dry clothes with you!
Temurun
Prepare to make a small trek on slippery steps to reach this lovely waterfall. Though considered the tallest waterfall on the island, the water flow is gentle while the pool at the bottom is perfect for swimming. There is a lower area of the falls where you can just put your feet in. If you head up the left side, it is possible to go up to the swimming pool. I chose to climb up the waterfall itself to get there and it wasn’t very difficult. Wear stable shoes like sandals with backs or water shoes as the stairs and rocks are slippery. Bring a towel and dry clothes if you plan to swim.
Cost: Free
Parking: Free large parking lot
Seven Wells Falls
There are bathrooms at the top section. We also saw a sign for camping and someone sleeping in a hammock so we believe it is possible to camp here. Parking is free and there were a few shops next to the parking lot. We arrived for sunrise and everything was still closed during our visit. Wear sandals with backs or stable shoes in case of slick rocks. Pack a towel if you plan to get close to the spray of water.
Cost: Free
Parking: Free large parking lot
***Hot Tip: the road that takes you to Seven Wells will also take you to the SkyBridge. Check out our other post here for more info on that experience! ***
Langkawi General Recommendations
A few key items we recommend bringing for all of these locations:
- Flashlight if you go at sunrise.
- Towel, water shoes, swimsuit, sunscreen, etc.
- Waterproof phone case.
- Umbrella and jackets during rainy season.
For waterfalls we prefer visiting at sunrise to avoid other people. Be prepared for weather changes. Drink plenty of water as the heat, humidity, and walking can lead to dehydration very quickly.
We hope you found this information helpful! Planning a trip to Langkawi? We would love to hear about it, drop a comment below!
Want to have a cool trip without having the hassle of planning? Check out these guided tours!
