To say that Langkawi is just an island in Malaysia would be so wrong. Langkawi is actually a whole archipelago of 99 islands. This epic destination is known for its gorgeous beaches, towering hills, spectacular waterfalls and much much more. It was an ideal destination for us to head to for our first trip with toddlers.
If you are curious about what to do in Langkawi for 3 days, you’ve come to the right place because we have the perfect Langkawi itinerary for you. Just bear in mind that 3 days in Langkawi means that your trip will be packed with things to do.
If you want a more laid back experience then consider spending 5 days in Langkawi. That’s what we did. It worked well for us because we finished up all our activities in the first 3 days of our Langkawi itinerary and then spent the remaining two days just relaxing and taking in the island.
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Table of Contents
How Can I Get To Langkawi?
One of the most popular questions when it comes to planning a Langkawi itinerary is how can I get to the island? Luckily, the popular island is well connected.
Flight To Langkawi
This is probably the easiest way if you want to get to Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur. There are a number of flights connecting the island to the capital city. If you book in advance you can snag a good deal.
In fact, this was the option that we chose. We landed at Kuala Lumpur in the morning and caught our connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi immediately after. One thing that you should note is the connecting time at the airport. We had a two hour gap which was great. Unfortunately due to bad weather, our flight from Bangalore to Kuala Lumpur was delayed.
We probably would have missed our flight which would have been a sad start but Shawn was proactive. Since we had booked the tickets with two separate PNRs, he asked the Malaysian airlines staff if they could just transfer our luggage to the next flight. They did and I’m grateful that Shawn had the foresight to do it!
At the airport itself, the Malaysian airlines staff helped everyone move to their flights quickly and expedited some of the processes. We had such a good experience with them. Highly recommend Malaysian airlines over Air Asia (especially if the price difference is small!) anyday!
Ferry To Langkawi
The second popular option is to take the ferry across. There are ferries that come in from all different locations. The ferry system connects Langkawi with Penang, Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and even Satun in Thailand.
Note: The ferry from Thailand to Langkawi hasn’t been operational since the pandemic hit. This is due to restart soon.
You can also book your ferries from Thailand online. These depart from all the following locations.
Where To Stay In Langkawi?
One of the questions that worried me when I was planning our Langkawi itinerary was where should we stay? Was the island too big for just one location?
In the end, we chose to stay at two different locations. One was Chill suites in Kuah and one was Ombak villa which was on the other side of the island. Both these accommodations were very different from each other and we were very very happy with both.
Budget: Chill Suites
⭐️ Rating: 8.3/10 (1,270 Reviews) Price: $38 per night 📍Location: 31 Jalan Mahawangsa 1 Kuah, Kuah Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Chill Suites In Kuah is a great spot for someone who is looking to stay in the city. Kuah has a lot of stuff happening around it and the hotel is very central. Grab taxis are easily accessible, food is right around the corner and so are grocery stores. Plus the Kuah night market is walking distance away.
“Friendly staff, they let us check in very early without hesitation which was awesome after our overnight flight. Scooter rental from the hotel was easy and convenient.”
Anastasia (read more reviews now!)
You can see why this was such an appealing option especially since we had two toddlers in tow.The rooms are extremely clean and comfortable. Plus you get a breakfast along with the room. One of the things that I loved about this place was the staff. Extremely helpful and courteous.
Luxury: Ombak Villa
⭐️ Rating: 8.5/10 (1,221 Reviews) Price: $212 per night 📍Location: Lot 78 Jalan Kuala Muda, Padang Matsirat, Pantai Cenang Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Ombak Villa was on the other side of the island and was a more luxurious accommodation. This one came with a gorgeous room overlooking the sea, sprawling lawns, a buffet breakfast and a pool!
You will find that the staff is super helpful and it makes the stay really nice and easy.
“Quiet & beautiful location ! The facilities are in good condition and the staff is very helpful too Close to the airport and no long drives to main spots in the island Fully recommend for relaxing and enjoying Langkawi”
Omar (read more reviews now!)
The breakfast was a big hit. If you are staying here, try the set meal menu offers. We were very tired on our first day and decided to dine at the restaurant. The chef is really talented and the amount of food that comes with combination menus is a lot.
Transportation In Langkawi
Almost everyone asks me about transportation in Langkawi. While the island isn’t really big, getting from point to point can be a challenge. The easiest way to do it is to catch a cab or a Grab. The Grab app makes things really simple.
Another really great and in the long run cheaper option is to rent a car. We managed to rent ours at 80 MYR and they dropped the car to our hotel. You can negotiate on the pickup and drop off points. Since the island is not that big, most of the rental companies are quite flexible.
Langkawi Itinerary: Day 1
If you have 3 days in Langkawi, you will find that this Langkawi itinerary strikes the perfect balance. You will manage to hit all the spots and yet get some chill time too. Unless you have kids. One thing that our time on the island taught us is that everything is slower with kids. Especially with toddlers. If you are headed to the island with kids, I would recommend spending 4-5 days on the island.
Anyways, I would suggest starting out your first day of your Langkawi itinerary slowly. Do the things that don’t require pre booking. For example, keep island hopping for the next day. Don’t forget to get your sim card in Malaysia too. That way you have a way to navigate and make calls when on the island.
Breakfast
Most of the accommodations in Langkawi provide breakfast. If you’re unfortunate enough to miss this, you will find a number of local breakfast joints close to where you are staying. This is especially true if you stay in Kuah or Pantai Cenang areas.
Old Town White Coffee, Secret Recipe and Loaf are chain restaurants that you can catch a bite at. We particularly like Old Town White Coffee in Kuah. It was one of the best meals that we had in the area.
Mangrove tours at Kilim Geoforest Park
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 (192 Reviews) Price: $36 per person Duration: 6 hours 📍Meeting Point: Kilim Geoforest Park Details: Read more on Viator!
I highly recommend starting off with the mangrove tours at Kilim Geoforest park. The Langkawi archipelago is a UNESCO heritage site and there are a lot of different facets to see. One of them is the mangroves.
There are two ways to book your mangrove tours. One is to head to the ferry point and book a tour through one of the agents.
It is important to note that while you will get it cheaper, it is also a group tour and subject to availability of other participants. You will also need to schedule it for a later time.
“Great experience and value! We love supporting conservation groups and the 3 ringgits for entry to the bat cave was totally worth it. Both the boat captain and the ranger/guide explained what we were seeing and poured out wildlife we would’ve otherwise missed. Highly recommended!”
Susan (read more reviews now!)
Another way to explore the mangroves is to head straight to the Kilim Geoforest Park. You’ll find the location marked on Google. Here you can book tours directly at the counter. These however are private tours. You get charged by the hour. If you head here with a group, you will probably still get it cheaper than pre booking it at the ferry point.
I’ve written a detailed guide on the whole experience so you can check it out if you are headed that way.
Kilim Geoforest park is a must see. There are a whole load of things that you can see when you take the boat ride through the mangroves. From a variety of fish to caves that house bats. The biodiversity is incredible.
One of the interesting activities is to catch sight of the Brahminy Kite as it swoops down on its prey. This is the bird that gave Langkawi its name!
Recommended Tours: You can book a Private Tour of Southern Island Geopark Tour from Langkawi. You could also choose to head out on a kayaking tour of the mangroves. If you are looking for a budget option, check out the half day Langkawi mangrove tour on a sharing basis.
Visit The Beaches In The North Of Langkawi
When planning your Langkawi itinerary, don’t forget to include the beaches in the north.
Since you are already close to the north of the island, use the opportunity to explore the beaches in the north of Langkawi. Tanjung Rhu Beach is one of the best beaches out here. In fact, there are a couple of mangrove tours that you can catch here. So you can also choose to head here directly and book one.
While the sand is gorgeous and the water is calm and clear, Tanjung Rhu beach also offers a host of other attractions. You can rent a kayak or an ATV, camp at the beach or like us just build sand castles! There are also a couple of places to catch a bite to eat.
Lunch At Nasi Campur Jetty
The Nasi Campur jetty is a perfect spot to have lunch during your Langkawi itinerary.
Very close to Public Gardens Teluk Yu is a small restaurant called Nasi Campur Jetty. I highly recommend stopping here for lunch. The main attractions of this location is the good food and the view.
If you haven’t tried Nasi Campur before, you probably need a bit of an introduction. Think of it as a buffet. You get charged for every item that you add to your plate. Nasi Campur Jetty has a huge selection of different curries, meats and seafood. It even has some great cendol here!
There are 3 seating areas. One is covered, one is open and the last one is on the opposite side of the road overlooking the sea. You will find that the restaurant is usually packed with people at lunch time.
Temurun Waterfall
If you are a fan of waterfalls then you definitely add Temurun waterfall to your Langkawi itinerary.
Once you are done with lunch, it is time to hit the road again. Langkawi’s mid-day weather is hot and humid. The best thing to do at this time is to head to a shaded location or experience some indoor activities.
Temurun waterfall is a gorgeous spot to visit to beat the heat. Make sure that you take mosquito repellent though since the mosquitoes are usually out in droves. Temurun is a 3 tiered waterfall. The parking lot is just opposite the park and the walk to the waterfall is a simple and easy one.
If you want to head up to the top, it is a short hike to a lovely clear pool. Highly recommended as part of your Langkawi itinerary!
Langkawi Skybridge
⭐️ Rating: 4/5 (34 Reviews) Price: $37 per person Duration: 1-3 hours Details: Read more on Viator!
The Langkawi Skybridge is one of the most popular things to do in Langkawi. Unfortunately for us, when we visited the skybridge was closed for maintenance.
It was not a wasted trip though since there are loads of other activities to do here. From the petting zoo to the 3D Art in Paradise, you will find something that you like.
When the Skybridge is open, the queues are long. I highly recommend booking your Skybridge ticket online to save time. You can also get a skip the line ticket. It is slightly pricey though.
“We booked the glass bottom which included the express pass and it was worth the extra few bucks. If you don’t want to wait on lines and short on time definitely get the express pass or you can be on line for hours! We placed the order through viator the morning prior so it was a bit late but the company Asni Tours & Travel came through and emailed the confirmation info later that evening. They were also very easy to communicate with via whatsapp.”
Clement (read more reviews now!)
Visit One Of The Night Markets
Langkawi, like Penang, is famous for its night markets. The locations change every day so you need to check up where the market is on the day in question. We visited the market in Kuah and it was a lot of fun.
The night markets give you a chance to taste and experience the local cuisine. You can also check out the local wares on sale. If you don’t like crowds, head to the night markets a little earlier. Post 7 pm the markets are always bustling and there are lines for all the good food. It is however part of the charm.
Note: Make a trip in between to the ferry point to book an island hopping trip. You can also book this through your hotel.
Langkawi Itinerary: Day 2
The Langkawi itinerary on Day 2 is mostly focused on the island hopping trip. Luckily most of these trips start late. Unfortunately it means that you also finish late. Irrespective, it does make for a fun day.
Island Hopping
Island hopping is one of the top activities on any Langkawi itinerary.
⭐️ Rating: 4/5 (25 Reviews) Price: $9 per person Duration: 4 hours 📍Meeting Point: Hotel pickup Details: Read more on Viator!
Island hopping is one of the things that you really cannot miss when you visit Langkawi. The island hopping tours take you to a couple of iconic places. Expect to visit a nice sandy beach with a lot of water activities. Yes. That’s the first stop.
The second stop involves a hike up a hill on an island. Why? To catch a dip in a gorgeous lake at the top. Trust me, it is gorgeous. Here you can also catch a couple of different water sports including kayaking and swimming.
Shawn loved this part and both our toddlers got a chance on the kayak.
“Boat ride was fast and enjoyable. The captain was fab and we felt safe throughout. We had six people on our boat which was such a nice number and would love to do it again. Enjoyed the beach, sea eagle feeding and pregnant lady views more than the fresh water lake activity.”
Ross (read more reviews now!)
The last stop on the tour is the eagle feeding area where you can watch the birds swoop down and catch their prey.
All in all, the island hopping tours in Langkawi take about 4 hours. You’ll reach back by afternoon which means you still have most of the day at your disposal. You can book your island hoping tour online. It will save you a lot of time hunting for the perfect tour.
Legenda Park And Dataran Lang
Your Langkawi itinerary must include a stop at the Dataran Lang.
The island hopping tours will end back near the ferry point. Walk through Legenda beach and Legenda park towards the Dataran Lang. The Dataran Lang is the famous eagle statue in Langkawi.
Interestingly enough, this sculpture is modeled after the Brahminy kite. A guide told us that the word Lang means eagle in the local dialect. Kawi on the other hand refers to the color of the Kawi stone which is very similar to the brown of the Brahminy kite.
Note: You can catch lunch in the area or head to Kuah for lunch. Then head home for a shower and some rest.
Sunset Dinner Cruise
The sunset dinner cruise is another activity that everyone recommends. We however did not head out for this because our kids were tiny and they were always exhausted in the evenings. The cruises head out in the evening and provide a different perspective to the whole area. There is nothing quite like watching the setting sun from the middle of the ocean.
Another big attraction is that the cruises also offer dinner and unlimited drinks.
Recommended tours: You can book a sunset cruise dinner experience online.
Langkawi Itinerary: Day 3
The last day of the Langkawi itinerary is a slow one. This gives you the opportunity to cover anything you missed because of unforeseeable circumstances. It also gives you a chance to kick back and enjoy the island. You even head back to one of the locations you visited and loved.
Darulaman Sanctuary
Start your day out in the hills of Langkawi. Right at the center of the island is the Darulaman sanctuary where you can trek through the forests or just relax in the park. The park is really nice and quiet. It even has a stream running through it where you can wet your legs or where kids can play.
It isn’t as well maintained as it should be though. You can even have a picnic breakfast here.
If you are lucky you may spot some of the local wildlife. We caught sight of some monkeys while we were there. Mosquitoes however got hold of us! So make sure you carry repellent when you visit!
Nasi Dagang Pak Malau
Nasi Dagang Pak Malau is the best spot for food and you should try to fit in your Langkawi itinerary.
This is one restaurant that you just can’t miss because it has the best food in Langkawi. Plus it has scenic views. Nasi Dagang Pak Malau actually started out a long time back. The food was so good that they expanded. Unlike many places, the quality of food did not change.
We visited the place on a rainy day. It was the perfect spot to chill and eat. The food tastes amazing, the menu is simple and it won’t burn a hole into your pocket.
Underwater World Langkawi
A stop at underwater world is a must have on a Langkawi itinerary if you have kids.
The Underwater World in Langkawi is an oceanarium that is a fun place to visit. It is located in Pantai Cenang which has a lot of activities that we will cover during the final day of the Langkawi itinerary.
The Underwater World houses a number of different species of fish and even has some seals, penguins and flamingos. We spent a long while here but that was mainly because we visited with kids.
It also has one of the best and biggest Duty free stores in Langkawi. We bought loads of chocolates here and even got ourselves a bottle of wine for the evening.
Duty Free Shopping In Langkawi
Another great thing to do is to hit the duty free stores. I know that there are loads of duty free shops everywhere but the best ones were found in Pantai Cenang. The Underwater World has one of the largest ones.
Souvenir Shopping
If you want to do some souvenir shopping, I highly recommend browsing through the shops along Pantai Cenang road. It is a fun stroll and you will find everything from wooden toys to decorative tiles. There are some really cool beach clothes on sale too!
Spend The Evening At Beach
Pantai Cenang is a fun stop on your Langkawi itinerary if you love the party scene.
Pantai Cenang is the most popular beach on the island. It is along a long sandy coast which makes it perfect for swimming and other water based activities. In the evenings, this place is also famous for its fire shows.
Beach chairs, bean bags and tables are set up on the sand and talented artists juggle flames. It is the perfect way to sit back, relax and enjoy the end of your Langkawi itinerary.
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