13 things to do in Langkawi with kids

One of the most beautiful islands I’ve visited, Langkawi manages the tricky combination of idyllic tropical paradise and somewhere which is perfect for a family holiday. Beyond the golden sands and luxurious hotels with pools you can’t resist diving into, there’s plenty to discover in Langkawi with kids too.

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The lush green jungle is home to eagles, bats and unspoiled mangroves, there are attractions to make you giggle or take your breath away, there are shady air conditioned escapes from the heat of the Malaysian climate or places to get out and make the most of the sunshine.

One word of warning: between all the choices and the chilled-out lounging, you’ll need longer than the half dozen days we allowed ourselves to try all my top things to do in Langkawi with kids…

1. Skycab – the Langkawi cable car

One of the unmissable things to do on the island – if your timing is better than ours. Looking forward to the incredible views across the jungle and mountains to the sea, I discovered we’d booked our week right in the middle of two weeks of maintenance (dates change every year).

A good reason to go back though, with the 15-minute cable car ride whisking you up to 708 metres above sea level to mount Mat Cincang, passing jungle waterfalls, and covering over 2km along the way before ending with more great views and a cool breeze to enjoy.

The steepest cable car ride in the world, the Langkawi Skycab starts from Oriental Village (very close to our hotel, The Danna Langkawi) with ticket packages including some of the other attractions at ground level, such as the 3D 360 degree SkyDome, 6D Cinemotion and SkyRex simulator, all with different interactive experiences.

The basic ticket for the cable car costs 85RM for adults, with glass bottomed gondolas and combined tickets available, plus the chance to get off at the middle station and take a guided trek up to the top station.

2. Sky Bridge

The longest free span and curved bridge in the world, the 125 metre-long Sky Bridge is suspended from an 82 metre high pylon, a knee trembling 100m above the ground – as close as you’ll come to flying over the jungle canopy without wings.

With space for 250 people, and two platforms to make the most of the unbeatable views, it’s easily  worth the small extra fee even if you’re not a fan of heights.

On a clear day, you can even see as far as parts of Thailand and Indonesia from the viewing platforms.

You can only get to the bridge by taking the cable car, tickets are available from the counter at the top station (or included in a combined ticketwith cable car and other ground attractions) as well as the base station.

Be prepared for a walk to get to the start of the bridge unless you pay a bit extra for SkyGlide, a sort of glass lift which skips the 15 minute jungle trail to the bridge.

3. 3D Art Langkawi 

If you thought the cable car and bridge sounded scary, that’s nothing compared to escaping from ferocious dinosaurs, a fire-breathing dragon and a panda who’s using you to season his soup.

Posing in front of a string of pictures might not sound enormous fun, but after almost two hours at Art in Paradise, Langkawi’s 3D art museum (or trick eye museum), I can promise that it’s hilarious.

Also in Oriental Village, it’s the second-largest museum of its kind in the world – and the biggest in Malaysia. My daughter had my phone out of my hand in seconds, directing me in how to stand and what faces to pull in front of more than 100 paintings. Before furious giggles from both of us at the results.

Included in many of the combined tickets for the cable car, you’ll need a smartphone, someone to snap the photos and a willingness to ham it right up for the camera!

Check out some of our best photos and more tips here, including my daughter trapped in a bubble and our narrow escape from a hippo…

Although Oriental Village is home to various other attractions, including an ATV Quad bike adventure and Duck Tour, not to mention the other cinematic experiences, I’d only make a special visit for this or the SkyCab/SkyBridge.

4. Mangrove tour

Even the brightly painted scenes of Art in Paradise can’t compare to Langkawi’s breath-taking natural scenery – towering karst hills reflected in the waves of the Andaman Sea or the still green waters of the mangrove forests at Kilim Geoforest Park.

The eagles which give the island its name still soar and spiral overhead, swooping down to feed, while hundreds of bats roost in a cave not far away.

Spot local wildlife including snakes, swimming lizards and snack-happy monkeys along the way, plus fish feeding, floating restaurants and a speedy visit to one of the gorgeous little desert island style coves along the coast.

There are a variety of guided tours, but we loved Dev’s Adventure Tours which are both child-friendly and ethical, ensuring Langkawi’s natural beauty remains unspoiled.

Discover why else we loved these tours of Langkawi with kids in my full review.

5. Langkawi Wildlife Park and Bird Paradise

With more than 150 different species, and over 2,500 birds, the wildlife park is home to monkeys, pythons, raccoons, meerkats and deer, plus the chance to feed some along the way (for a small extra fee).

There’s the chance to feed some of them, as well as to hear talks and learn more about the animals from budgies to crocodiles.

Bird lovers can also walk into the aviary among the free-flying birds or spot more of the feathered inhabitants by the 15m manmade waterfall, perfect for younger animal lovers.

6. Jet Ski tour

Climb onto a jetski and hop around the coast – Langkawi’s main island is just one of 99, so there’s plenty to discover.

There are various different jetski tours lasting up to four hours – some are better if you have more experience, others are led by a guide and some are suitable for kids aged five and up, accompanied by a parent.

Take your pick whether you want to squeeze in eight different islands, the chance to snorkel a little or a visit to Pregnant Maiden Island along the way. Don’t forget to pack a hat…

7. Island hopping boat tour

If your kids are too young (or too reluctant) to hop onto a jetski, or you simply fancy a more laid-back way to discover the island’s coast, try a small boat sea safari.

Pregnant Maiden Island with its freshwater lake and the legends which have grown up around it is a favourite stop, as well as beach visits and the chance to spot more wildlife before the sun sets.

After our fantastic mangrove tour, we stuck with Dev’s Adventure tours for our sea safari – discovering how Pregnant Maiden Lake got its name along the way, but you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to island hopping tours which cruise from small island to small island.

8. Underwater World

Whether your kids are as obsessed with marine life like my daughter, or you’re looking for something to do out of the heat of the sun of Langkawi with kids, it’s tempting to head underwater without a snorkel and discover the sea creatures which live here.

There are over 500 species split into several different zones at Underwater World, from tropical rainforest to sub-Antarctic, as well as a ‘penguinarium’.

But the highlight is the 15m long walk through tunnel with 600,000 litres of seawater, to spot sharks, stingrays and green turtles, plus there’s a coral reef area and seashell display too.

9. Find Langkawi’s best beaches

It wouldn’t be a family holiday without some time at the beach – especially somewhere with so many tempting stretches of sand as Langkawi.

A lot of the hotels border a beach, and will often have a jellyfish net as well (including the Danna Langkawi where we stayed) with many of these open to the public too.

If you’re trying to decide which of the beautiful beaches to visit, Tanjung Rhu beach in the northeast is famously one of the loveliest, with its white sand and shells.

Pantai Cenang beach is one of the busiest, but ideal if you want a beach with bars and restaurants, or to check out the water sports, while nearby Pantai Tengah is similar but slightly quieter.

Or if you’re looking for more secluded white sand beaches, Pantai Kok is surrounded by limestone mountains and jungle, or Datai Bay (attached to one of the island’s luxury resorts but still open to the public) is another peaceful spot.

And for a beach with a difference, head to Pantai Pisar Hitam whose black sand is caused by minerals in the sand, unlike the volcanic black sand beaches of Europe.

10. Go on an ATV tour

Another option that’s ideal for older kids, there are ATV tours on Langkawi that you can try with young children too – Langkawi Adventure has options for five and up.

With mixed reviews for some of the other companies offering Langkawi ATV tours, it goes without saying to check the safety before you book a family outing.

11. Rice garden museum

Discover how rice grows, with a visit to a paddy field and explore the small museum at Laman Padi.

Don’t expect high-tech interactive exhibits but it’s a peaceful spot for kids to learn, and even sometimes get hands on with a chance to understand some Langkawi traditions.

Popular with cruise companies, it’s well worth trying to time your visit to avoid the dozens of ship’s passengers who stop by!

12. Taman Lagenda (Lagenda Park)

Themed around Langkawi history and folklore, this park/outdoor museum stretches over 50 acres of reclaimed land. A series of 17 sculptures tell tales of its legends, from ogres and giants to princesses, with signs in English to bring it to life.

If you don’t fancy exploring on foot, there are also buggies to hire, or enjoy some of the shady paths and water features.

It’s now free to visit, so while some areas are a little in need of care and attention, it’s a fun option to fit into a family day out.

13. Eagle Square (Dataran Lang)

The symbol of the island, a 12m sculpture of an eagle poised to fly dominates this square in Kuah, a few minutes from Taman Lagenda and Kuah Jetty.

According to legend, the name of the island comes from two Malay words – helang (Eagle) and kawi (reddish-brown).

You can take tours of the city, as well as island history tours which stop here, or simply wander through as you explore the waterfront.

You could also stop by as part of a visit to the night market, which moves around the island every night, taking place in Kuah on Wednesdays and Saturdays with some very good food to try as you wander.

When to visit Langkawi

The best time for a family beach holiday in Langkawi is during the dry season, which runs from mid November until early April, or mid season from April to July when the island tends to be quieter.

The rainiest months are September and October, when you can expect a couple of hours of heavy rain every day – although it’s often sunny the rest of the time. While prices are lower, you might find that boat tours are affected as well as some other activities, especially if you’re planning to head into the rainforest.

How to get to Langkawi

For most international visitors, you’ll fly via Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, with frequent domestic flights to the island, although you can also find routes from elsewhere in the country, including neighbouring island Penang which is just a short flight away.

If you’re travelling elsewhere in southeast Asia, there are also direct flights from Singapore as well as some from Thailand.

You can also get ferries to Kuah Town from Koh Lipe and Koh Lanta in Thailand, as well as Kuala Perlis on the Malaysian mainland, although the ferry route from Penang is not running presently.

If you fancy some Malaysian island-hopping, there are some great things to do in Penang as well

*First published 2018, last updated 2024*

PIN FOR LATER: LANGKAWI WITH KIDS

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All ideas for things to do in Langkawi with kids are my own, based on my own recommendations and bookings.

Images: SkyBridge/Eagle courtesy Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels

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