Pantai Cenang
The island's main beach, a mile of sand facing the sunset.
Duration
2 hrs – 5 hrs
Best time
Late afternoon
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
Pantai Cenang is Langkawi's main beach, two kilometres of sand in the island's south-west. It faces west, so into the sunset, and the Andaman Sea there is calm most of the year.
Langkawi has been a duty-free zone since 1987: alcohol, chocolate and tobacco are untaxed, which shows in the prices and explains part of its Malaysian tourism. The beach holds the island's accommodation, restaurants and scooter hire.
Getting there
South-west of the island, fifteen minutes from the airport. A scooter is the normal way to get around Langkawi.
What to bring
- Swimsuit
- International driving permit
Rules on site
Jellyfish are present from May to October and stings are common: ask locally before swimming. Jet skis run close in and the swimming area is not always marked.