Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi the Jewel of Kedah
(Malay: Langkawi Permata Kedah), is an archipelago of 104 islands in the
Andaman Sea, some 30km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The
islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border.
On 15 July 2008, Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah had consented to the change of
name to Langkawi Permata Kedah in conjunction with his Golden Jubilee
Celebration. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Langkawi Island
with a population of some 64,792, the only other inhabited island being nearby
Tuba Island. Langkawi is also an administrative district with the town of Kuah
as largest town. Langkawi is a duty-free island. [Source: Wiki]
For many travelers Langkawi is the first acquaintance with
the beautiful country Malaysia as it is not only one of the most beautiful
islands of Malaysia; it is also very easily accessible. You have amazing
beaches and the inland is very beautiful. Thai islands a bit up north. You can
visit Langkawi throughout the entire year; there is no real monsoon season. It
can rain daily (sometimes quite heavily) but this is quite normal in these
parts of the world. Should it rain, it usually doesn't last for more than an
hour. The rainy season in Langkawi falls between the months of May and
September. During these months, it rains a bit more then it usually does.
I know enough people who went to Langkawi for some days, but
stayed for weeks. Should you only stay for a couple of days, use your time
wisely. Just rent a small motorcycle and explore the
complete island. Officially you need to be able to show your international
motorcycle license, though outside of Kuah they will probably not ask you for
this. Around Kuah you often cannot get a motorbike without valid proof of a
motorcycle license as local police not only check tourists occasionally, but
also the rental company where those tourists got their motorbike.
As said before, Langkawi Events and Festivals transform this
typically tranquil island into a vibrant hub that’s filled with cultural
performances, food markets, and colourful decorations. As a multicultural
nation, Malaysia celebrates several annual festivals all year long, including
Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas, but Langkawi Island also
celebrate relatively unique religious events.