Nature's Best: Langkawi

The emerald isle of Langkawi is a duty-free enclave and an immensely popular holiday destination. Renowned for its many spectacular white-sand beaches like Pantai Cenang, Pantai Kok, Pantai Tengah and Tanjong Rhu, which host a variety of beach resorts and much water sporting action, the island is also well-known destination for nature tourism.

Langkawi is bestowed with a unique topography, which in addition to pristine beachfronts also features wide open fields, rolling hills, ancient rain forests, dense mangrove swamps, sea caves and tunnels and unique karst formations. In fact the island has recently been designated as South-East Asia’s first Geopark by UNESCO and now in addition to sun worshippers, snorkelers and scuba enthusiasts also attracts nature lovers in droves.

Popular attractions for nature lovers on the island of Langkawi include:-

The Pulau Payar Marine Park

Pulau Payar Marine Park is situated 30 kms south-east of Langkawi. The park can be accessed via a one-hour boat ride from Langkawi. The park is known for its rich marine and coral life and also offers facilities for diving and snorkeling.

The Sungei Kilim Nature Park

The Sungei Kilim Nature Park is a protected enclave located on the northeast tip of the island of Langkawi. This nature reserve is bestowed with an extremely diverse landscape featuring dense mangrove forests, pristine powder sand beach fronts, flat mudflats and sparkling blue water lagoons. The Sungei Kilim River flows through the park and hosts much native flora and fauna on its banks like tree crabs, long-tailed macaques and the white-bellied fish eagle. The park is also renowned for its many bizarre limestone formations which seem to emerge directly from the sea bed in the midst of the dense mangrove swamps. These formations are known by their strange yet funny names like the Temple of Borobodur, the Hanging Gardens and the Elephant Stone. The mudflat terrain of the park serves as a rest stop for several species of migratory birds during the months of September to March and hence is a popular spot for bird watching. In fact excellent bird-watching spots can be found all over the island as Langkawi is believed to host more than 200 species of birds.

Butterflies

The island of Langkawi is home to more than 500 species of stunning butterflies. Anywhere you go in Langkawi, you are bound to spot butterflies like Malaysia’s famed electric green butterfly, the Rajah Brooke’s birdwing flitting about.  Langkawi is thus said to be a heaven for butterfly enthusiasts.

Telaga Tujuh Waterfall

Langkawi’s mystical, ethereal landmark, the Telaga Tujuh waterfall is believed by locals to be the abode of fairies for it is a magical, mysterious spot. Consisting of seven interlinked pools which are fed by seven different waterfalls, this awe-inspiring natural attraction also hosts various forms of native flora and fauna.

Any nature enthusiast is bound to be enthralled by the many diverse natural attractions