Travellers visiting SouthEast Asia tend to flock to locations such as Bali in Indonesia and Thai Islands like Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samui. These destinations have become major hotspots over the years, known for their sandy beaches and wonderful scenery.
Millions of travellers escape to these spots for meditation and relaxation with wellness retreats more popular than ever. Langkawi, an island located off Malaysia compares favourably to these famous locations and proved to be the perfect getaway.
I stayed in Langkawi for five nights, giving myself enough time to rewind after the city break in Kuala Lumper. After arriving into the airport I booked a ‘Grab’ to my accommodation and noticed the lack of traffic.
Unlike Bali, Langkawi was exceptionally quiet, only months after reopening post-pandemic it had not yet gained back its swarm of tourists. I was surprised to learn Langkawi is a duty-free Island with most items low priced, especially alcohol, chocolate, perfume and clothing.
Accommodation in Langkawi is varied, catering to a wide range of tourists. Prices for a luxury retreat such as the ‘Four Seasons’ begins at €450 per night, inclusive of a private beach. Holistic and rainforest retreats are plentiful and range from high-end prices to lower cost home-stays. There are countless hotels and hostels in Langkawi at affordable rates. I opted for a budget hotel at €25 per night, it was modern and spacious in a great location next to the beach.
The beaches in Langkawi were just as beautiful as other Island hotspots I have visited but without the crowds, pollution and persistent hawkers. There were beach clubs dotted along the coast and while not as glamorous as Bali, they were more laid back and welcoming.
Most beach clubs hosted fire shows nightly. The first fire show I witnessed in SouthEast Asia was here on a beach called ‘Pantai Chenang’. Using props soaked with flammable gasoline the performers juggled and twirled fire in the air for hours after Langkawi’s breathtaking sunset.
As well as relaxing on the beach there was a lot of seaside activities in Langkawi like jet-skiing, parasailing, kayaking and my personal favourite surfboard yoga. Thousands of mainland Malay residents visit Langkawi every year for vacations engaging in scuba diving and snorkelling north of Langkawi, close to the Thailand border.
The busiest area of Langkawi was the famous cable car and Skywalk attraction, it is one of the world's steepest cable cars and is 2,170 feet above ground. Having never experienced a cable ride before I didn’t know what to expect.
The glass carriages were completely transparent, giving a panoramic view of the island, forested valley and ‘Seven Wells’ waterfall. Taking thirty minutes to complete, there were three stations to stop at along the line, each with a more impressive viewpoint than the last. The Skybridge was the last stop and required a separate ticket and entrance fee. Located at the peak of Mt. Mat Cincang, it provided an eagle eyed view of Asia’s first UNESCO Geo-forest park.
Restaurants in Langkawi were readily available, providing a mix of Malay and western food at affordable prices. Enriched with flavour, the Malay food was unique, both sweet and sour, rich and spicy.
Enjoying the cuisine so much I decided to take a beginners' cooking class where I learned how to make my favourite dishes. The Malay food was rich in variety and extremely delicious, although I was still longing for an Irish Sunday roast!
Often overlooked, Langkawi demonstrates serene tranquility and is a brilliant relaxation destination. With something for everyone, Langkawi easily compares to the other romanticised Islands in SouthEast Asia and I believe it will become very popular quite soon.
— Aisling Cowley is a GMIT hospitality student touring South East Asia.
