Interesting activities in Pulau Langkawi
Snorkelling
In Langkawi, snorkelling and diving can be done in the Pulau Payar Marine Park, which is 19 nautical miles off Langkawi Island. Langkawi does not have any proper dive or snorkelling spots, but Pulau Payar is a fantastic place for such activities that some consider even on par with Tioman and Redang. The simplicity of the setup and arrangement for these activities also make it very accessible for amateur divers. There are daily trips to Pulau Payar that start in the morning with a pick-up from your hotel, on to Kuah Jetty and a 1-hour trip to the island. Many tour operators offer this service which may be booked from counters in Kuah Jetty next to the car park and waiting area. Snorkelling gear is provided in the packages and you get a snorkel and a pair of flippers.
Once you’ve reached the jetty, you can simply jump into the water and begin snorkeling. Indeed, the rich coral gardens in the immediate waters are wonderful, teeming with small and colourful creatures such as fish, shrimps and eels. Look out for the baby black-tipped sharks that come often to these waters. The water gets to around 4-meters deep before you reach a line of floats that has been suspended from one side of a cape to the jetty, for safety purposes.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is another activity that’s offered by the tour operators to Pulau Payar. Once you book a trip to the island, the operators will approach you on the ferry to see if you’re interested in scuba diving. The dive masters provide a one on one guide for those who decide to take up on the offer, so that those who have never dived before can do so. The deeper waters where the operators bring you hold a richer variety of large fish. Guided by experienced divers, you’ll see schools of large fish including barracudas, cod and snappers which are absent from the shallow waters of the beach in Pulau Payar. After an hour or two in the deep water, the divers will head back to Pulau Payar for some fun and relaxation.
Bird watching
Langkawi is home to approximately 200 species of birds, of which about one third are migrants. These migrants winter here between the months of September and April. This tour is suitable for both the serious birder and the birding enthusiast. The open corridor between the rainforest is best for observing rainforest birds. Among the birds we may see are Flower Peckers, Hill Mynas, Dollarbirds, Green Pigeons, Drongos, Tailorbirds, Babblers, Bulbuls, Sunbirds, Eagles, Woodpeckers and Oriental-pied Hornbill
Team Building
Cable Car
The Oriental Village in the upper northwest of Langkawi Island, near Pantai Kok, is the entrance for the cable-car ride, which takes visitors all the way up to Mount Mat Cincang, Langkawi’s second highest peak. Entering the village and passing through the pleasant oriental garden and souvenir shops, visitors make their payment at a counter before stepping onto an escalator which brings them to the cable-car pedestal. Once in, the cable-car ascends; you’ll begin to notice the temperature dropping and a windy breeze begin flowing into the cabin through ventilation slits at the top. As it gets cooler, the landscape below begins to appear smaller, and at after climbing at a 42° angle for a few hundred feet, you can start snapping pictures of the rainforest below. Look out at the side for a view of the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls, which cascades down a grey rock face.
Underwater World
Sprawling 6.2 acres, Langkawi Underwater World can be divided into various sections. Passing the entrance, you will step into the Rainforest Section that makes visitors feel like visiting an open-concept zoo instead of aquaria. In this section, you will be able to see numerous of elegant pink flamingos, living harmoniously with the Mandarin ducks and swans. Colorful parrots and the tiny long-tailed Marmoset live in this section as well. Besides, there is a huge cylinder fish tank in the middle, known as the Freshwater Section, displaying various tropical and freshwater fishes. Next will be the Sub-Antarctic Section. Here, you will see the rare and adorable Rockhopper penguins. Currently there are about 20 Rockhopper penguins in this section and they have been brought into the aquaria since December, 2003. There will be penguin feeding show on a daily basis and it is indeed an interesting show not to be missed. Adjacent to the Sub-Antarctic section, there are fur seals living in the Temperate Section. You can observe how they swim gracefully and play with each other in the huge tank.
Horse-ridding
Horse-riding in Langkawi is among the premier attractions of adventure sports enthusiasts visiting Malaysia. The lush green valleys and dales of Langkawi seem more inviting to the horse lovers. Who would not wish to ride a fine mare and canter away deep into the sprawling panoramic surroundings? With a mild sunshine and inviting breeze to keep company, most horse riders find Langkawi the ideal tourist destination and others who happen to chance upon this activity while in the island vouch for its thrills.
Island Hopping
The Langkawi Island Hopping Tour takes you on a journey to explore Langkawi’s most illustrious islets. First you’ll be taken to visit verdant ‘Pulau Singa Besar’ – Big Lion Island; the boat stops just shy of the shores and you’ll get the chance to watch the king of the skies – eagles – as they soar overhead. Observe as they dive to catch their prey, chicken bits that the boat driver has thrown into the water, with deadly precision – it’s a great photo and video opportunity. Next head on over to Pulau Dayang Bunting – the silhouette of the pregnant maiden from a distance is truly awe-inspiring; meanwhile the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden – overflowing with supposed ‘magical’ waters is another breathtaking sight. Relax on the adjoining buoys on the shores, dip your feet into the waters or splash and swim around in the enclosed sections. The day ends with a visit to ‘Beras Basah Island’ – or Wet Rice Island – another pristine Langkawi beach with clear waters and far-reaching views of the sea where you can relax and soak up the sun and sea after a day spent trekking up to the Pregnant Maiden Lake and feeding the eagles.
Telaga Tujuh
One can easily reach here by hiring taxis, or by boarding buses from the island. The Telaga Tujuh, precisely called Seven Wells, is a beautifully crafted geological manifestation. While taking the cable car ride to the top of Gunung Mat Cincang, you can perceive the awe-inspiring view of Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls. Located along Gunung Mat Cincang in the north-western corner of Pulau Langkawi, this picturesque waterfall is named such because its gushing water stream is broken by a series of seven natural pools.
