Our 5 Day Langkawi Budget Guide

If you like Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain…

If that’s you- and you also like pristine beaches and rainforest landscapes, then Langkawi could be the spot you want to add to your Malaysia budget itinerary. Follow our 5 day Langkawi itinerary to figure out how to get the most out of your time on these Malaysian islands.

Langkawi islands from the airport window. 5 day langkawi budget guide
palm trees on langkawi

How to get to Langkawi:

  1. By Air: We flew from Penang after spending time in Georgetown and it’s really easy to do the same. There are a lot of budget-friendly flights that leave from the major Malaysian cities that fly directly to Langkawi International Airport. If you want to start your trip in Langkawi, you can also fly from nearby international destinations like Indonesia and Singapore with AirAsia.

There used to be a ferry service that ran from Penang to Langkawi, but when we went the ferry service isn’t running anymore ( seems like a Covid loss…). Definitely do some Googling before your trip to see if the ferry service is back before your trip if you want that option too!

When is the best time to visit Langkawi?

High Season in Langkawi

The most popular time to visit Langkawi is during the dry season from November to March. The weather is warm and sunny and you’ll have a very low chance of rain.

Low Season in Langkawi

We actually visited in June during the middle of the rainy season- but we didn’t get any rain( which isn’t the norm). If you want to take advantage of additional discounts on accommodations and tours ( upwards of 20-40% off), and are willing to take a bit of a risk, then we recommend visiting during the rainy months from May- August. Apparently all- inclusive in Langkawi offer their best rates during the lowest tourism months from September to November!

How many days in Langkawi is enough?

Is there ever such a thing as too much beach time? ( I know, many of you think so- Pat included). Without being rushed, we recommend 3-5 days for your Langkawi itinerary. We met people who were staying on the same island for 1-2 weeks-it’ll all depend on how much time you have to spare and how much you would like to see. For us, our aim of coming to Langkawi was to take a vacation from our travels and we think the Malaysian islands are a great spot to do that.

Now that you know how to get to Langkawi and when you want to go, it’s time to figure out what to do in Langkawi Malaysia.

tropical scenery as part of the 5 day langkawi budget guide

Budget things to do in Langkawi

1)Pantai Cenang– This is Langkawi’s most popular and accessible beach. In June, the beach was ( eerily) empty. It’s quite a large stretch of sand that has restaurants lined up against it which means there is some trash against the back. But overall, the beach won’t be crowded and it’s walkable from the main street.

2) Pantai Tengah– This beach is just a little bit further from the main street, but still walkable. Because it isn’t as convenient as Pantai Cenang, it’ll be even quieter.

3) Sunsets: Langkawi sunsets are beautiful. We made a conscious effort to leave our house every night to go to the water to awe at the bright orange sun slowly lowering over the lapping water. It really is quite nice.

4) Take a Hike: There are a lot of hiking trails that are all free to access. If you’re up for an adventure, make your way to Gunung Raya– the tallest mountain in Langkawi.

5) Langkawi Night Markets: The location of the night market changes depending on the day of the week so it’s helpful to ask a local which location is closest to where you’re staying- and check out this link for the night market schedule. . If you end up at the Tisha Lounge where we stayed, the market is right across the street on Thursday.

6) Go Malaysian Island Hopping– Okay- we are NOT organized tour people and we really like to find budget alternatives to overpriced tours ( one of my favorite successes being our DIY Winery Tour in Chile), but for NINE USD you can not beat the value for this half day tour.

The tour is about 4 hours, includes transportation from a convenient spot on the main street, and stops at Pulau Dayang Bunting which is home to a beautiful lake ( the only thing to ” see” on the island) where we rented a double kayak for a mere $2USD and and then you’ll stop at Pulau Beras Basah. This is definitely an over-visited circuit ( you’ll see MANY other little speed boats following the same route), but again, for the value for 4 hours of an organized trip, I really do think it’s worth your time ( and money).

7) Learn about rice production and the role it plays in Malaysian society at Laman Padi Langkawi. I can’t believe this experience is free. There are hosts available to guide you around the rice field ( which uses traditional means of cultivating rice for a tourism experience) and there is quite a large ( air conditioned) museum that really goes into depth about rice cultivation. I’m not sure if this is the norm or not, but we had a guide privately walk us around for an hour ( and couldn’t/wouldn’t accept a tip) and we had such a personal, memorable experience that I wasn’t expecting from a ” tourist” spot. Definitely give it a try.

One of the most touristy things to do in Langkawi is the sky bridge– and we skipped it ( in true Vic and Pat fashion). The Sky Bridget itself is 6 RM ( $1.35 USD) to walk across ( it used to be free) and you’ll get some great panoramic views. To get up to the bridge, you’ll have to pay for a cable car which you can do ahead of time online ($11 USD). So why didn’t we go? We were just happy relaxing at our guesthouse, swimming in the pool ( which we had to ourselves every single day), and walking the beach.

Budget Restaurants in Langkawi

Yes, you can find international food on the main street if that is what you are after, but we love Malaysian food ( and the price point of said food) so our recommendations aren’t your typical restaurant recommendations you might find on TripAdvisor. Just know that if you need/want tacos, pizza, burgers you CAN find it- just not on this list.

  1. RL Chillout Cafe: A chill local spot with very affordable food
  2. Tony’s Corner–Indian/Malay food with lots of vegetarian options. They also have a few Western breakfast items if you are missing that- but don’t miss out on the roti plate with curry for under $2USD
  3. Banana Leaf Langkawi ( Mommy Mira): Indian/Malay- opt for the banana leaf- it’s like a mini buffet of curries/veggies right in front of you for under $3 USD
  4. Kirthika Kitchen : South Indian dishes with plenty of vegetarian ( and few vegan) options
  5. Sufra Restaurant – Indoor seating ( with air conditioner) and a large menu of Indian food ( again, great vegetarian options). Most curries under $5 USD

The underdog food service in Langkawi is Grab Food. If you’ve traveled around SE Asia for a bit, you’ll understand the luxuries of Grab. In Langkawi, the majority of restaurants we ordered delivery from had NO DELIVERY FEE and had so many vegetarian options for under $3 USD. Needless to say, we ate very well.

If you’re looking for other cheap eats in Malaysia, check out our recommendations for vegetarian places to eat in KL for under $3 USD as part of our larger 3 week Malaysia budget itinerary.

Budget Accommodations in Langkawi

As it’s a tourist destination for both international and Malaysian tourists, you’ll find no shortage of accommodation options.

We decided to stay at Tisha Lounge which we found on Agoda. The best part about this property is that it’s super secluded and private ( away from the main street and surrounded by fields) yet easily walkable to the beach in 15 minutes. The property also has a pool and there are only 6 rooms so it’ll never be crowded. The reality of this property is that the pictures are a bit nicer then the actual stay and there was a good amount of mold in our bathroom, but not enough to scare us away. Overall, I think the pros outweigh the cons and I would still recommend a stay here for around $30 USD/night.

Sri Embun Resort Langkawi ( $27 USD): A centrally located choice with a pool and a small private beach front area. On Agoda it boasts almost 2,000 reviews and maintains a 9.1 rating so it is well loved by travelers!

Bed Attitude Hostel Cenang : Dorm rooms from $11 USD or twin rooms from $35. This hostel has a 9.4/10 review from over 700 guests. Nice common spaces include a pool table and couches.

Best Star Hotel – A popular ( over 11,000 reviews) beachfront property on Cenang Beach with a pool.

A few more questions to consider before planning your 5 day Langkawi trip.

Is Langkawi Malaysia worth visiting?

Langkawi is a great addition to your Malaysia budget itinerary if you are looking for a vacation from your travels and you enjoy the beach!

Why is Langkawi famous?

Langkawi is a great, accessible beach-side paradise near peninsular Malaysia. These west coast Malaysian islands are known for it’s beautiful flora and fauna. Langkawi is actually made up of over 100 islands! Check out this resource on why Langkawi is a great place to visit!

Which part of Langkawi is the best to stay in?

It depends what you are looking for! If you’re looking for a budget friendly spot, then we recommend Pantai Tengah. If you want conveniences, stay in Kuah. If you are looking for a more remote option- try Pantai Cenang.

Can you swim in Langkawi Malaysia?

Yes- the beaches are swimmable and many of the beaches are protected from the open sea. Check out some of the best beaches for swimming.

Is Langkawi expensive?

Because Langkawi is an archipelago of islands, access to resources is more difficult and thus, you can expect slightly higher prices comparatively for Malaysia. We found the prices to be on par with Kuala Lumpur– though it will mainly depend on what type of food you want to eat and if you want to do any organized activities and where you stay on the Malaysian islands.

Best tours in Langkawi Malaysia

We don’t often recommend organized tours because it’s not our travel style and they don’t often fit in our budget BUT we did see some very reasonable tour options that are worthy of a recommendation:

  1. Tanjung Rhu Mangrove Tour ( $13 USD): Take a small boat up close to the mangrove trees that edge the nearby islands.
  2. Sunset cruise: Again, the sunsets in Langkawi are beautiful. If you’re going to splurge on a scenic sunset cruise, this would be the spot to do it ( from $25 USD)
  3. Island Hoping Tour: Our favorite tour for Langkawi. $9 for a 4 hour tour including a boat ride to 2 islands and pick up/drop off from a central location.

Final thoughts on Langkawi Malaysia

We hope our 5 day Langkawi budget guide has convinced you to add Langkawi as part of your Malaysia budget itinerary. Especially off season, Langkawi is a budget friendly, relaxing location that will compliment and round out your Malaysian itinerary from city stays in Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown and nature visits in the Cameron Highlands.

Yes, it’s a bit touristy, but in June there were just a handful of tourists! For it’s convenience and accessibility from peninsular Malaysia- we think Langkawi is a perfect spot to chill out and enjoy the beaches during your travels.

Looking to continue your travels in Malaysia?

Check out some of our best budget itineraries here:

Welcome! We're Vic and Pat- 30 somethings that have accumulated 10+ years of international travel experience who finally have the guts to share their experiences. We focus on budget couple travel in unique locations that aren't necessarily on a "bucketlist." We don't believe in taking time for granted and we do believe in living our life on the move. Sometimes we have long weekends, sometimes we have a 2 week holiday, sometimes we travel and work remotely for 2+ months at a time. Regardless of what chapter of life we're in, we want to show you how to stretch your budget, maximize travel hacks, and create memorable experiences.