Langkawi – A beach paradise for every traveller

Looking for the best beaches in Langkawi on your next trip? Langkawi is one of the favourite destinations, a place which is visited frequently and a place to be explored intimately.

Langkawi is known as a tourist island with plenty of beaches surrounding the island. If you’re wanting to relax on the sand, this is the place to be.

Although you may have a beach close by to where you’re staying, there might be better beaches a short scooter ride away.

The word for “beach” in Malay is “pantai” and many of the beaches go by their Malay name with “Pantai…” in front of the name. To translate them to English, you would put the word “beach” after. e.g. Pantai Cenang becomes Cenang Beach, which is one of the most popular spots for travelers exploring Langkawi Adventures.

All beaches in Malaysia are considered public property and you are free to visit any beach you like.

Here is an overview of the 10 best beaches in Langkawi for every traveller to visit.

1.   Pantai Cenang

Pantai Cenang is the main beach in the main tourist area of Langkawi. It is likely that you’ll be staying around Cenang and visit this beach at least once.

The large sandy beaches stretch from the Pelangi resort at one end to the Cliff View restaurant at the other. This is the main beach where you will find a number of beach bars, hotels with beach views, restaurants and plenty of watersport operators selling boat tours, jet skis for hire and parasailing.

2.   Pantai Tengah

Pantai Tengah is close to Pantai Cenang and is another place that you are likely to stay when in Langkawi.

This beach is slightly smaller, and at one end, it is very steep, leading up to the Park Royal hotel. There are beach bars like Hidden and jet ski operators on Pantai Tengah, but there is still plenty of room to lay out a towel and sunbathe.

3.   Sandy Skulls Beach

Sandy Skulls Beach or Pantai Pasir Tengorak, is probably one of my favourite beaches as it is in a secluded spot in the north of the island. It is probably one of the hidden gems of Langkawi.

A lot smaller than others, there are no amenities on Sandy Skulls Beach other than a small area for preparing food that is normally filled with locals. It’s been solo travellers or couples with just a towel on the beach and nothing else. Be aware of the monkeys in the trees that sometimes come out for mischief!

4.   Tanjung Rhu

Tanjung Rhu is a beautiful beach in the far north of the island. With the way the beach curves around the coast, you get to see the mangroves, the limestone karst features, and the deep green rainforest punctuated by the white sand.

The beach has a volleyball court, ATVs for hire, and mangrove tours are also available. But the beach itself is quiet.

Slightly further to the south of Tanjung Rhu, the other side of the Four Seasons hotel is Pantai Rekreasi Kastam, a small beach that is also worth a visit if in this part of Langkawi.

5.   Pantai Kok

Unfortunately, it is only possible to enjoy a very small part of Pantai Kok. Close to these public toilets and car parks, you can relax on Pantai Kok and enjoy views of the lighthouse. The rest of the beach is very difficult to get to, as the land around it is private property and owned by Berjaya Langkawi Resort or the Danna. If you do have the means to visit the beach via boat or stay at the resort, you’ll have the place almost to yourself.

6.   Datai Beach

Datai beach is another beach that is secluded and stunning but the only way to visit is by staying at the Datai Hotel, one of the most expensive on the island.

7.   Beaches of Pulau Rebak

Pulau Rebak has a resort and very little else on the island. There are a few beaches on the island, with the best one being in front of the resort itself.

The only way to get to these beaches is by taking a boat from the ferry terminal or if you decide to stay at the resort, you can moor your boat in the marina close by.

8.   Pantai Pasir Hitam

Pantai Pasir Hitam is nice to stop off as there are some artisanal stalls close to the car park, and the fishing boats make for good photographs but there are nicer beaches on the island if you want to spend time sunbathing. For letting kids run around, there is a small children’s playground in the grounds where some local kids spend their time.

9.   Teluk Yu

Teluk Yu is a very small beach between Sandy Skulls Beach and Pantai Pasir Hitam.

It has a small picnic area, a food truck, and plenty of shade. It isn’t a place that is recommended for a day at the beach, but it is a lovely stop to rest and relax if you’re travelling around the island.

10. Pantai Serama

This small beach close to the airport doesn’t get a lot of visitors, but if you like to have planes take off behind you whilst relaxing on the beach, this is the place for you.

There is also an abundance of food stalls lining the main road behind the beach if you’re feeling hungry on the sand. People are not found sunbathing on this beach, and with many local women working close by in the food stalls, it would be recommended to head to one of the other beaches mentioned if you want to lay in your bikini or budgie smugglers. Langkawi is still a relatively conservative island away from the tourist areas.

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