Malaysia Places To Visit – Kedah & Langkawi

Somewhere in the far north of Peninsular Malaysia, there is a state with vast expenses of paddy fields, old

Kedah is Malaysia main rice producing state and its land dominated by paddy fields and traditional Malay wooden houses. melancholic townships, limestone outcrop, green hills and pleasing views.

Alor Setar is the capital city; a mixture of old and new buildings. Together with Sungai Petani, Jitra and as well as Kulim; one of Malaysia major industrial site.

So what can you do in Langkawi?

The main tourist spot for Kedah both locally and internationally is Langkawi. There are many travel agencies providing Langkawi Packages and Langkawi Tours. The island itself borne of fascinating legends and folklore. It boasts of 99 secondary islands off the coast of Kedah with fine beaches, luxury resorts and unique natural attractions. The island also has the distinction of being the Geopark accorded by UNESCO. 

Making it one of the more preferred travel destinations in Malaysia. Travelers came from Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Spain, Japan and from other parts of the world.

Visit the Eagle Square or Dataran Lang which is the prominent landmark of the island. Then go to Kuah Town to enjoy a variety of duty free goods. Sun kissed beaches awaits you in Pantai Tengah and Pantai Cenang which are among the liveliest beaches in Langkawi. But for more tranquility you could try Pantai Mok, Burau Bay, Tanjung Rhu and the more secluded Datai Bay with luxury resorts adorning the coastline.

For nature lovers, try Pulau Paya Marine Park. Take a speedboat or a catamaran. It takes about 45 minutes from Kuah Jetty. Other options are boat cruises through Kilim River where you can take pictures of mangrove, its distinctive inhabitants and of limestone formations. Take a trip to Dayang Bunting Lake, Langkawi Wildlife Park or stroll around vast paddy fields.

One of the foremost attractions of Langkawi is the Langkawi cable car. With swift ride up to Mount Mat Cincang you can view the marvelous Andaman Sea and the islands surrounding it. Close by you could see overhanging cliffs and pinnacles.

The cable car is situated at the Oriental Village in Burau Bay about 30 minutes away from Kuah Town. The Geopark Centre is also in the Oriental Village where you can get more info on Langkawi geological heritage.

Now, away from island, right in the other side of Kedah, you can visit museums, temples, mosque and traditional Malay houses. Have a taste of archaeology in Bujang Valley. Or trek through jungles in Ulu Muda Eco Park, Bukit Hijau Recreational Forest Reserve, Mount Jerai or visit Mount Keriang Caves. For the more adventurous, try white water rafting in Sedim River or visit Mount Inas Forest Reserve for more jungle trekking, mountain hiking and also overnights camping.

Those who needed a relaxing getaway, there are many resorts that provides all the necessity for a personal or family retreats. There are golf resorts; the more famous one being the Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Resort or the Black Forest Golf & Country Club. Those who want more native experiences should try for homestays in Kedah. Recommended are the Kampung Relau Homestay and Kampung Raga Homestay. There are a few other homestays so choose the one nearer to your main destinations.

So how to get to Kedah?

You can get to Kedah by air. You can get daily direct flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by Malaysian Airlines System (MAS) or use AirAsia from LCCT to Kepala Batas which is about 20 minutes from Alor Setar. Getting to Kedah by land also quite easy. Either drive by your own using the North South Expressway or take a bus from Hentian Duta Bus Terminal or Puduraya Bus Terminal. You can opt for a train ride by Keretapi Tanah Melayu that provides daily rail service by the Senandung Langkawi Express. The main station is at Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

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Personally, I think Kedah is a place to visit if you are more of a nature lover. The best way to explore the state is by driving. But if you’re interested more in the some of the forest reserve, you should be prepared with a good backpack and hiking equipment.

For more information on Kedah and how to get there do check out the government tourism site.

Tourism Malaysia – Kedah.