Langkawi Island is the largest of the 99 islands that make up the archipelago in the Andaman sea. Which explains why Island Hopping is one of the most popular activities in Langkawi.
When we arrived, we had no idea what island hopping involved. However, after a few hours, it was obvious as every shop along the beach was selling these island hopping tours.
After spending half a day on the water and exploring all the different islands on the coast of Langkawi, we thought we would put together this blog post on island hopping in Langkawi.
This post might contain our affiliate links. This is at no extra cost to you, but you would be doing us a solid if you did use them. It shows us your appreciation after we have written this amazing travel guide for you 😏*
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🗺️ Tour Operators and Locations
👍🏽 A Review Of Our Island Hopping
Island Hopping Langkawi Tour Operators and Locations 🗺️
We stayed in the Pentai Cenang area which is one of the most popular areas with tourists. There are white sandy beaches with emerald green water. Being one of the most popular beaches on the island it can get very busy.
Gone are the days you can expect a beautiful beach to be deserted. Lots of tourists mean lots of shops. It is inevitable but, it can be a blessing and a curse.
When we planned to visit Pentai Cenang beach we knew it would be like this and we tried to embrace the beachside bars and relax with a cocktail while watching the sunset, even if there was pumping music the whole time.
The tour operators run the whole length of this beach, bear that in mind as they will approach you on the beach at least 5 times, so be prepared for that. Even though that can be annoying, this is the time to haggle.
With there being so much competition for the tour companies, you will be able to find a cheap tour by playing them against each other or simply by walking slightly further down the beach to the next vendor.
We went with the company that offered the best price for a half a day island hopping boat tour. Or if you would like to book your trip online, you can book your tour with Klook.
What Is Included In Your Island Hopping Trip 🌊
⇢ Pick up from your accommodation is included in your island hopping tour. The transfer will take you to Teluk Baru Jetty which is where the excitement begins.
Compared to some Island Hopping tours we have previously been on in the Philippines and Thailand, this tour is pretty basic. This tour was classed as half a day, which means you do not get lunch included.
If you take a group tour boat the standard route for these tours is The Pregnant Maiden Lake, followed by the Eagle feeding and finally Pulau Beras Island. The last island is white sand, clear blue water, and a great place to relax.
Transportation Choice 🛥️
You have two choices when it comes to Island Hopping in Langkawi. You can either travel in style on a jet ski or safely in a boat. We chose the boat option as we were carrying camera equipment and Milly was terrified of travelling that far on a jet ski.
We also didn’t want to risk falling into the sea with a drone and camera in our bags.
If we were to do the tour again we think we would try out the jetski Island Hopping Langkawi tours.
Boat Tours and Prices
The Island Hopping Langkawi boat tours are super affordable. Unlike the jet-ski tours, you are on a boat with up to 20 other people. This allows the tour companies to keep the costs down.
For a half-day tour on a group boat, we paid £5 per person.
Most tour companies we found along the beach were this price, give or take 50p. We didn’t feel we needed to barter the price down as to us it seemed very reasonable.
There is the option of island hopping on a private boat tour. This is considerably more expensive, and the prices vary per operator. If you are part of a group and all want to chip in. Then it can end up being the same price as a standard group tour.
Langkawi Jet-Ski Tours and Prices
What better way to get your adrenaline pumping than to experience Langkawi’s Island-Hopping by Jet Ski? A slightly boujee move but using a jet ski to visit all three locations gives you a lot more freedom and is Langkawi’s answer to a private tour.
The tour comes with a guide to show you around each of the islands. It also allows you to get up close and personal when you head to the eagle feeding.
The image is taken from @Klook
The only disadvantage of travelling via Jetski is you will get wet. It is unavoidable, even if you don’t fall in the sea. If you don’t plan to get in the water then we suggest taking in the scenery and jumping on the boat as a safe option.
As with any private tour they are slightly more expensive. We cant give you an exact price for this tour as we took the boat option. However, most places are roughly the same price and it is down to you to barter the price down.
Heading back to Kuala Lumpur, check out our 1-day itinerary.
Island Hopping Langkawi Tour Times 🕒
Early mornings, not your thing? Fear not, as the half-day tours can be in the morning or the afternoon. These types of tours give you much more flexibility if you want to spend more time in bed. There isn’t a huge difference between the number of people in the morning or afternoon tours.
Below are the tour times we took and many of the other tours keep to the same timings. Always check with the company you book with as they could vary slightly.
Morning Tour
Pick up from your hotel or pick-up point will be between 8:00-8:30 am
The official tour times are 9:00-12:30
Afternoon Tour
Pick up from your hotel or pick-up point will be between 13:00-13:30
The official tour times are 14:00 – 17:30
What To Take On You Langkawi Island Hopping Tour 🤿
This list is pretty standard and you can adapt it to your needs. These are the items we took on our tour.
🧴 Suncream
👙 Swimwear
🧢 Hat
🚰 Water
🍌 SNACKS SAVE LIVES
💸 Money, unfortunately, you do have to pay a small fee at certain attractions if you want to swim.
We packed similar things when we visited the Seven Wells Waterfall
Places You Visit On The Island Hopping Langkawi Tour 🏝️
It takes 10 minutes in a speed boat to reach the first stop of the day. We ended up in what seemed like the fasted boat in the water. It seemed like our captain liked to modify his boat with a few extra engines.
Pulau Dayang Bunting (Tasik Dayang Bunting)-The Pregnant Maiden Lake
The first stop on the tour goes by many names but the most common is Pregnant Maiden Lake. The locals say as you approach the island the rock formation looks like a pregnant woman laying down. Inside the centre of the island is a huge freshwater lake, which you can swim in for a small fee.
To reach the lake, you will first have to pay the admission fee of £1 Per adult. The island is included in the Langkawi Geo-Park, which means it is a protected area. Once you had paid your admission fee there is a 15-minute walk up around 100 stairs.
To get anywhere good in Asia there are always steps involved.
As you pass through the jungle you will see lots of monkeys waiting to pounce on unsuspecting tourists. Although they probably won’t pounce on you, they are cheeky and will try to steal any food you have, don’t say we didn’t warn you. 🐵
The freshwater lake is beautifully refreshingly, sunken into the cliffs of the island is stunning. However, for some very annoying reason, being able to swim in a freshwater lagoon and jump off the floating pontoon isn’t enough.
There are now hundreds of solar-powered pedalo boats you can hire, which takes away the natural beauty of the island.
You are given 1 hour to explore the island. If you do decide to swim, wearing a life jacket is compulsory due to the lake being freshwater and the likely hood of drowning. We didn’t wear life jackets as we did not swim, we only jumped in a few times.
There is a small shop on the island to buy a snack before you head back to the boat and your next stop.
Langkawi Eagle Feeding 🦅
The second stop is to an island called Pulau Singa Besar, which is also known as Giant Lion Island. This island is a wildlife sanctuary where the White-bellied Fish and Brahminy Kite Eagles live.
Your boat or jet ski will pull up close to the island. Here you can watch these amazing birds, same with a wingspan up to 4.1 feet wide. Swoop down and pluck the fish from the water right next to your boat, It is an impressive sight.
We were only here for around 15 minutes before we set off again to the final stop.
Pulau Beras Island Langkawi
This little slice of paradise is by far the most picturesque part of the tour. It has everything that makes up the perfect tropical island. Crystal clear blue water, white sandy beaches, and a few palm trees dotted along the coastline.
We were given 45 minutes to explore, so immediately left the groups of other tourists. Most people seemed to stay near to where the boats had moored on the beach. We chose to walk further along the beach towards some rock pools, to enjoy the peace.
The journey back to the Langkawi mainland takes 10 minutes. Your driver will be waiting for you at the jetty, ready to take you back to your accommodation.
A Review Of Our Langkawi Island Hopping Experience 👍🏽
We will keep it short and sweet. We would highly recommend the Island-Hopping tours in Langkawi mainly for their value for money. It is not the most beautiful or cleanest island hopping we have experienced but we are spoilt with our experiences.
For the simple reason that, when you factor in how much you pay and how much you get a see, it’s a no-brainer.
Best Time To Visit Langkawi ☀️
For most of the year, Malaysia has hot and humid weather. However, there are good and bad times to visit the country and the island of Langkawi.
Typically Malaysia’s peak season on the West Coast is between November and February, this is because it is a lot drier.
The wet/low season in Langkawi is between April and October.
*TIP* To get slightly cheaper prices to visit just outside the peak season months.
Getting Around Langkawi 🛵
Although it looks small on the map, Langkawi is quite a big island with lots to do and see. When it comes to getting around, we would recommend hiring a moped or a car if you are not confident on a bike.
You can hire a scooter from most places for £4 a day. We decided to go with the car option as we were on a tight schedule. We paid £14 to hire a car for the day.
If you can’t drive, then booking a tour and taking a grab taxi is going to be your best option.
Things To Do In Langkawi 🚶♀️
Dataran Lang (Eagle Square)
Visit the 12-metre tall statue of an eagle at Dataran Lang, also known as Eagle Square. The eagle is the island’s emblem and can be found all over.
Taken from @Cultretrip
The locals say the name Langkawi came from two Malay words – ‘helang’ (eagle) and ‘kawi’ (reddish brown): hence lang-kawi.
Seven Wells Waterfall
High up in the hills in the North West of the island is there Seven Wells Waterfall. This is one of the best waterfalls on the island. Here you can swim in the plunge pool under the falls. Then climb to the top and take in the incredible view of the amazing infinity pool.
Umgawa Legendary Adventures
The Umgawa Zip-line Adventures starts from the car park of the Seven Wells Waterfall. If you are an adrenaline junkie then zip-lining through the jungle is the perfect way to get your fix.
Spend approximately 1 – 2 1/2 hours on a once-in-a-lifetime zip-line canopy course. The course includes 6 or 12 zip-lines, 3 sky-bridges, a steep descent, spectacular views, and exotic native wildlife.
Tours can be booked every 30 minutes from 8:30 AM until 4.30 PM, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.
Langkawi Sky Bridge and Cable Car
Langkawi is known for its Island Hopping tours, but the Langkawi Sky Bridge and Cable Car is one of the most famous landmarks on the island.
You can take the cable car also known as the SkyCab to the second highest peak in Langkawi. On the ski bridge, you will get a 360-degree view of the island. On a clear day, you can see southern Thailand from the top viewing platform.
Where To Stay In Langkawi 🏨
We know that everyone has different budgets and needs when it comes to booking accommodation in Langkawi. So we have chosen a few of our favourite hotels and hostels on the island. From bunk beds to private beaches, we have catered for all the different types of travellers.
- Bed Attitude Hostel – 🤑
- Dash Resort and Beach Club Langkawi – 🤑 🤑
- Datai Langkawi – 🤑 🤑 🤑
If you don’t like the look of our choices, take a look for yourself at Agoda for the cheapest prices.
Check out our other Malaysian Travel Guide
What Camera Gear Do We Use
- Main Camera: Panasonic G80
- Go To Lens: Panasonic 12-60mm
- Tripod: Manfrotto Adventure Tripod
- Camera Bag: Manfrotto Backpack
- Underwater Camera: GoPro Hero 8
- Drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
- Power Bank: Anker Power Bank
- Hard drive: WD 1TB hard drive
Other Travel Guides
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