Langkawi is an archipelago of ninety-nine islands tucked against the Thai border in the northwest corner of peninsular Malaysia, and the main island shares the name. White sand, warm water, limestone karsts, mangrove forests, and eagles wheeling overhead: it's the beach holiday that Malaysia knows how to do well, and since it was declared a duty-free zone in 1987, prices are famously cheap.
The island is roughly three hours by ferry from Penang or an hour's flight from Kuala Lumpur. Most visitors base themselves at Pantai Cenang on the west coast, the busiest beach strip with the widest spread of restaurants and bars, or at the upscale resorts tucked into coves further north. Kuah Town on the east coast is the administrative centre and ferry port.
The headline attractions are natural: the Langkawi Sky Bridge, a curved 125-metre walkway slung across a mountain saddle accessed by cable car; the Mangrove tour through Kilim Geoforest Park with its eagles, caves, and monitor lizards; and the island-hopping boat trip to Pulau Dayang Bunting with its freshwater Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. Scuba and snorkelling trips run out to Pulau Payar Marine Park further south.
Langkawi's pace is slow. It rains in bursts between May and October, with the best weather November through March. If you're combining Malaysia with southern Thailand, Langkawi pairs well with Koh Lipe just across the border — there are direct speedboat connections during the dry season.