Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Beach at Mutiara Burau Bay Resort

Mutiara Burau Bay Resort is separated from Berjaya Beach Resort by a small peninsula, but you can get across from one resort to the other by walking along the beach. The beach at Mutiara Burau Bay is often over-rated by travel websites and tourist marketing brochures. But it is still a great beach to enjoy and appreciate unless you have 'over-rated' expectations.

The beach here is shorter than at Berjaya Beach Resort, stretching for only 200 metres (650 feet). The beach is also not as wide, about 20 metres (65 feet) during low tide. Nevertheless, it is white, sandy, uncrowded and the waters usually calm for a swim. For a little adventure, you can walk across to Burau Island during low tide and explore the small island.

Beach in front of Mutiara Burau Bay Resort

Secluded section of the beach

View from a local eatery beside the resort

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Mutiara Burau Bay Resort

Mutiara Burau Bay Resort is the other resort on Burau Bay besides the 4-star Berjaya Beach Resort. It's a 3-star star resort comprising of separate wooden chalets with rates starting from around RM300 (USD93). The resort may not be in the same category as Berjaya Beach Resort but the rooms are large and equipped with modern room facilities for a comfortable stay.

The resort has a village atmosphere (well, may be not like my mother-in-law's village) with a laid back feel. Trees provide shady cover over the chalets and there are lounge chairs for reading a book or just lazing under the trees. The sandy beach here is smaller than at Berjaya Beach Resort (anyway, you can always walk across since it's a public beach) but quieter and more secluded.

Note: Mutiara Burau Bay Resort is currently closed for renovation and expected to reopen sometime around 2015.

Entrance to Mutiara Burau Bay

The wooden chalets

Beach in front of Mutiara Burau Bay

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Monkeys at Berjaya Beach Resort

Staying in the rainforest chalet at the Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort offered a unique experience of having (macaque) monkeys visiting your doorstep. Sure, in this part of Asia I have seen monkeys outside the zoo, roaming in the parks, in the villages, plantations and so on. But these hairy creatures coming right to your doorstep was a first for me and the family.

The rainforest is large enough for the monkeys to live undisturbed and sustain them, but have acquired a taste of we humans eat. Advice from the resort's management is to never feed the monkeys (leave them alone in their natural environment), close the doors and windows when they come visiting. Anyway, the monkeys don't bother anyone if you leave them alone.

The rainforest chalet

Uninvited but welcomed visitor

On the balconey

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Staying at Berjaya Beach Resort

The water chalets at Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort offer scenic views of the emerald waters of Burau Bay and a backdrop of the forested mountains. During high tide, you can hear waves roll below the floor. The rainforest chalet is situated on a foothill surrounded by lush tropical trees. If you have never visited a tropical rainforest, this is the closest you will ever get.

Whether it's the chalet in the sea or rainforest, the rooms are large with pleasant interiors and modern facilities - my previous stay was in the rainforest chalet. All the chalets are equipped with air-conditioning, colour TV, in-house cable movie, private bathroom, a mini-bar and coffee/tea making facilities. There are also balconies with chairs to relax and enjoy the view of the sea of rainforest.

Water chalet

Rainforest chalet

Inside the rainforest chalet

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Berjaya Beach Resort

Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort is a 4-star resort on Langkawi Island. It is situated on the coast of Burau Bay (western corner of the island), about 25 minutes drive from Langkawi International Airport and 40 minutes from Kuah Town. Rooms comprises of chalets situated on the fringes of a rainforest and on the sea coast. It may be designated a 4-star resort but give it 5-star anytime.

Berjaya Beach Resort is not for the budget traveller with rates during the low season starting from RM540 (USD167) and water chalet from RM700 (USD217), but doubles during the peak season. My family have stayed here and certainly on my recommended list of beach resorts in Langkawi, but expect to pay the price! Beautiful beach, fantastic rooms, splendid facilities and great food!

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Beach at Berjaya Beach Resort

The beach directly in front of Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort is a public beach. Since the resort is a distance from the main tourist spots and the only other resort here is Mutiara Burau Bay, the beach here is fairly uncrowded. Even during the peak seasons, it is still an uncrowded beach. Don't miss the sun set at the beach - it's truly a beautiful sight.

The beach here is wide and sandy, sloping gently into the shallow water - great for kids and non-swimmers. Palm trees line the course of the beach and complemented with a scenic backdrop of the rainforest mountains. Besides swimming and strolling, sundecks are available along the beach for the resort's guests to relax and spend a lazy day.

Beach at Berjaya Beach Resort

Swaying palm trees along the beach

Backdrop of the forested mountains

Sunset at the beach

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Skybridge at Mt Machinchang

I am not much of a person for towering heights - heights simply terrify me but I gave an exception to Langkawi's Skybridge. I went with my mom (happens to be in her late seventies) and my two young boys (not yet in their teens) to accompany me for some confidence building. Heights do not seem to terrify them - shocking for a guy who consider himself to be very manly!

The Skybridge is a curved suspension bridge situated slightly above 700 metres (2,300 feet) above sea level. The bridge is 125 metres (410 feet) long supported by cables and the view from the bridge is magnificent! Worth my terrifying effort! During strong winds, walking along the bridge is not allowed - possibility of people being blown off rather than the bridge collapsing.

The Skybridge at the top of Mt Machinchang

Cables supporting the Skybridge

Viewing Mt Machinchang from the Skybridge

Walking on the Skybridge

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Getting to the top of Mt Machinchang

The 708-metre (2,322 feet) Mount Machinchang is located in the northwestern corner of Langkawi Island. To get to the top of Mt Machinchang, take the cable car at the base station located at Oriental Village. The distance of the cable car ride is 1,700 metres (slightly more than a mile) and during the ride, visitors have to get off and change to another cable car at the mid-station before reaching the top. 

There are viewing platforms at the mid-station and at the top of the mountain. The cable car ride and the viewing platforms offer scenic views of the highland forest below and the sea beyond. On a clear day you can get good views of the neighbouring smaller islands and the 880 metres (2,887 feet) Mt Raya, which is actually the highest mountain on Langkawi Island. 

Top of Mt Machinchang

Cable car to Mt Machinchang

Viewing platform at the mid-station

Viewing platform at the top of Mt Machinchang

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Oriental Village

There is not much reason for me to go to the Oriental Village, except to take the cable car to Mt Machinchang. The Oriental Village is located not far from the Berjaya Beach Resort and Mutiara Burau Bay Resort. Situated on the fringes of the Geopark, the Oriental Village itself comprises of a few snack bars, shops and the Geopark Hotel.

There is a nice rock garden at Oriental Village with a Japanese bridge crossing a large pond - probably good for a wedding photo if you are into that sort of thing. Those interested in geology, there is the Langkawi Geopark Information Centre with a small gallery displaying stones dating 'zillions' of years ago. There is aslo a mini-zoo (yes, it is actually mini) with a handful of animals.

Entrance to Oriental Village

Base station for the cable car

Japanese Bridge at Oriental Village

Shops at Oriental Village

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Underwater World

Langkawi's Underwater World is not far from Kuah Town and situated along the popular Pantai (Beach) Cenang. Underwater World claims to be the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, but I'm not sure. Anyway, it's worth going if you are interested or at least curious about the aquatic world. If not, save your money and spend it at the duty-free shops.

There are various species of marine and freshwater creatures on display at Underwater World including fishes (not to mention the sharks and stingrays), crustaceans, jellyfish and sea horses. My personal favourite are the Rockhopper penguins from South Africa. Another is the unbelievably large South American Arapiama freshwater fish.

Underwater World

Penguins at Underwater World

Tropical fish in an aquariun

Behind a 'waterfall'

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Car & Motorbike Rentals

Its hard to get lost driving around Langkawi Island, which is not a very large island and there are not too many roads to confuse you. There are several registered car, motorbike and scooter rental companies around the island. Some are located at Langkawi airport, in Kuah Town and some near the beach resorts. You need a driving a licence but in most cases, the rental companies never check. It's kind of fun driving around the island - very little traffic. If travelling with family or group and you prefer someone else do the driving, you can always hire a mini-bus (van).

Cars and motorbikes for rent

The sign speaks for itself

Mini-bus for hire

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Pleasure of Driving on the Island

No traffic jams and smooth driving - just pure pleasure! That's my description about driving on Langkawi Island or at least when I was there the last time. There are plenty of car rental companies in Langkawi and with the large number of tourists arriving on this island every year, I would expect roads choked with cars! It's not the case, pure pleasure compared to driving in the cities on the mainland.

I also find driving on the island easier since there are not many diverging roads. You just can't get lost driving in Langkawi even for a person like me, who is hopeless in finding his way around anywhere. Outside of Kuah Town, the roads passes through laid back villages, sleepy towns, along the beaches, marinas and several scenic mountains. The only thing I have to beware are the village goats and cows crossing the road.

Road leading to Telaga Harbour

Main trunk road on the island

Street in Kuah Town

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Ferry Services to the Island

You can either fly within Malaysia to Langkawi Island from airports near Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kuching or take the ferry arriving at Kuah Jetty (just beside Jetty Point) located in Kuah Town. There are ferry services departing from the mainland at Kuala Perlis (45 minutes) and Kuala Kedah (90 minutes). There is also a ferry service from the island of Penang and the journey takes about 3 hours. For those arriving from southern Thailand, there is a ferry service from Satun.

Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal

Boats at Kuah Jetty

Departure area at Kuah Jetty

Ticket counters at Kuah Jetty

Langkawi Islands, Malaysia - Jetty Point

Kuah Town is the island's capital and commercial centre but not to sure the heart of the town is located. I guess, the nearest would be the Jetty Point and the surrounding area. Why do I say this? Probably because this is where most of the people including tourists seem to crowd. I can't think of any other reason than this. Jetty Point is a shopping centre located just beside the ferry terminal.

One thing for sure about Jetty Point is it is a medium-size shopping centre with several duty-free shops housed in the building. Besides the shops, there are a few local restaurants and Starbucks as well as two fast food restaurants just outside the main building. There are also several counters outside the main building, where you can make travel arrangements on the island.

Main entrance to Jetty Point

Shop at Jetty Point

Starbucks at Jetty Point

KFC outside the main building

Booking counters