Tourist Guide

Langkawi is a great place to visit anytime of the year for tourists coming from anywhere across the world. The calm weather, modern facilities and beautiful sights make it worthwhile to take the journey to this island in Malaysia to experience an unforgettable holiday. Outlined here are some travel tips and guidelines to help improve your stay or plan a trip to Langkawi, so that you'll have an enjoyable vacation.

The weather in Langkawi is quite calm and pleasant throughout the year. You can visit anytime, but there are certain periods with higher rainfall. Generally, the drier months are between February till July. The northeast monsoon which hites the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia from October onwards also affects Langkawi (which lies on the Southwest) but it is a welcome element to the weather, as it brings cooling rains in the afternoons that clear up the sky and provide magnificent scenery. This is unlike the east coast, which will be pouring with rain and thunder. The temperature averages between 29°C to 35°C, with the weather getting cooler during rainy periods.

Travelling around Langkawi is relatively easy, as transportation is easily provided by using taxis or renting cars. To ttravel around the island, you can take taxis or cabs that usually charge fixed rates depending on which destination you want to visit. Taxis and cabs are widely available from the Kuah Jetty or Langkawi International Airport. A recent system has been put into place that designates Langkawi into different zones, so you'll be charged fixed rates depending on the zone in which the place falls into. Alternatively, you can rent your own vehicle, such as a car or motorcycle. Prices are charged per day usage (every 24 hours) and type of vehicle; the rates flunctuate with the tourist seasons.

Bahasa Malaysia is the main language spoken on the island, but most people can speak English to a certain degree. As Langkawi falls under Kedah State, the island follows its public holidays. This means that weekends fall on Thursday till Friday, rather than Saturday till Sunday in places like Kuala Lumpur. However, as Langkawi is a prime tourist destination, almost everything is open daily. The official start of the week is on Saturday. Langkawi is relatively safe, police stations abound but you would still be advised to travel in groups and avoid lonely places. Tipping isn't a strong custom, so it's really a personal choice.

International tourists and visitors can purchase products up to MYR500 without any taxes or duties. Certain items are limited in quantities you can bring out - Liquor up to 1 litre, tobacco up to 225 g, which is usually a carton of 10 packs, one pair of leather shoes and clothing up to 2 pieces. Customs does not usually bother with any amount of cigars you decide to carry out, but leave them hidden in your bag still. Having said that, it is actually quite easy to sneak more than you're allowed if you do it discreetly and in not too great an amount. Just dump the extras in your bag and walk through the green lane if the customs look distracted or apathetic.