Family-Friendly Spring Festival Getaway: Exploring Langkawi with Kids in Malaysia

2/3~2/5 Langkawi
Island hopping + Mangrove private boat tour + Pantai Cenang Beach

Accommodation: Kuah Bayview Hotel, but for a more vibrant and convenient stay, Pantai Cenang is highly recommended. Kuah town lacks nightlife, making it less appealing for those seeking evening entertainment.

Transport: In Langkawi, your main options are Grab and car rentals. Renting a car is the preferred choice, as it offers more flexibility. Surprisingly, car rental companies do not require a translated driving license, and despite my inexperience with right-hand drive vehicles, I opted to use Grab throughout the trip.

Itinerary: For larger groups, booking a private mangrove boat tour that includes snorkeling is a fantastic option. Island hopping is also available, but it’s optional. The free Tanjung Rhu Beach, located opposite the mangroves, is a convenient alternative. Although the sand quality isn’t as fine as at Pantai Cenang or the beaches further ahead, it’s still a pleasant spot.

Day 1️⃣ Early morning, head to Pantai Cenang to book an island hopping adventure. We avoided the cheapest AB motel, choosing a slightly pricier option at RM40 per adult and RM30 per child. Our group of eight shared the boat with a friendly Malaysian family of three, meeting at the Pantai Cenang mall at 14:00.

The boat driver was exceptionally enthusiastic, introducing us to Lion Island, Pregnant Maiden Island, and even letting us feed tropical fish—an experience that delighted the children. After feeding the eagles, we stopped at Wet Rice Island for two hours of leisure time. The island has several restaurants, and renting snorkeling equipment from the boat driver was a bargain at RM20.

Unfortunately, the water was too murky for swimming that day. In the evening, we returned to Pantai Cenang to watch the sunset and booked a private boat for the next day, costing RM380. If you don’t plan to snorkel, there’s no need to book a private boat; the AB itinerary is sufficient.

Day 2️⃣ The private boat offered flexible timing, and we started our journey at 2 PM, taking a Grab to the mangroves. A quick check on Klook revealed a booking for 510 RMB, which was cheaper than what we had booked, though it was unclear if it included snorkeling. Our first stop was Pulau Dayang Bunting for an hour of snorkeling.

Regrettably, the boat driver’s service and attitude were disappointing. While other boats provided life jackets for children, ours refused, and attempts at polite communication only led to the driver becoming angry and hitting the boat. Despite this, we managed to visit the Bat Cave, Fish Farm, Crocodile (shaped) Cave, and fed eagles near the jetty.

The tour concluded before 5 PM, but extending the duration would likely be possible, depending on the boat hired. After the tour, we visited the Tuesday night market in Kedawang, which, though small, offered a simple dinner. Following the market, we took a taxi to Pantai Cenang, where we enjoyed a fire show at a fenced bar.

The atmosphere and prices were better than the neighboring establishments. For our group of three adults and two children, the staff informed us that each adult needed to order just one drink, with non-alcoholic options ranging from RM15 to RM20. The pre-show began at 19:30, and we spent a total of RM50.

Day 3️⃣ In the morning, we relaxed by the hotel pool. Grab rides can be quite expensive, so we decided to skip buying chocolate at TS and instead picked up some Beryl’s chocolates from the duty-free shop downstairs. We then checked in at Eagle Square and transferred back home in the afternoon.

I highly recommend WONDERLAND FOOT STORE, a charming establishment run by Chinese proprietors and perfect for diners of all ages. The service is impressively efficient, with dishes arriving promptly and each one a delightful symphony of taste, color, and aroma.

For our group of five, the total bill came to 398 RMB, which we conveniently paid via Alipay. Following the restaurant’s helpful suggestions, we opted for smaller portions, which included an array of delectable dishes: succulent tiger prawns, crispy soft-shell crab, fresh clams, savory fried kway teow, perfectly stir-fried water spinach, a comforting seaweed egg drop soup, a refreshing jug of longan juice, and steamed rice.

While the rice was loose and long-grained, it wasn’t a standout, so I would suggest focusing on the other, more flavorful options.