9 Best Beaches In Langkawi, Malaysia: From Bustling Beaches To Tranquil Sandy Shores

Known as the Jewel of Kedah, Langkawi is the perfect beach getaway destination in Malaysia. Made up of 99 islands on the northwestern coast of Malaysia, this sunny tropical paradise is filled with jungle-clad hills, sandy beaches, duty-free chocolate, swaying coconut trees, and beautiful sunsets.

Check out our list of best beaches in Langkawi from the vibrant, exciting stretches to the quieter, more secluded sandy shores (and even a private island!) that are great for those who want a bit more privacy:

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Pantai Cenang is undoubtedly Langkawi's most popular, vibrant, and exciting beach with lots of things to do, see, and eat in along its long stretch. The beach is lined with restaurants, duty-free shopping complexes, resorts, massage parlours, and even the Langkawi Underwater World (the largest aquarium in Malaysia, housing over 200 species of marine life including seals, penguins, giant rays, and sharks!). Watersports are popular here, and you'll be spoilt for choice with so many fun activities available for you to choose from.

The beach is also a popular spot during sunset, with the cafes and bars offering happy hour drinks, and great vantage points to catch a beautiful sunset! Upon nightfall, the beach is goes through another transformation with its lively rows of funky bars, pubs, and restaurants. You'll even get to catch the Temoyang Night Market if you're in the area on a Thursday!

#KlookTip: Pre-book your water activities on Klook for convenience, peace of mind, and savings.

Offering a relaxed vibe that's vastly different from the high-energy Pantai Cenang, Tanjung Rhu is the go-to beach if you'd prefer a more laid-back, relaxing day out in the sun. With waters as clear as crystal, powder-fine sand, and swaying coconut trees, Tanjung Rhu is crisp, clean, and somewhat secluded. Located away from the city hustle at a remote corner of Langkawi, the people who hang out here are usually guests of the Tanjung Rhu Resort, a beautiful 5-star hotel facing the beach.

Pack your beach mat (the beach's sandy shore makes it a great spot for picnics), your favourite book, and some food and you're set for a day here. Do note though that there isn't a lot of shade here, so if you're afraid of the sun, be sure to pop on a hat and slap on your sunscreen. Pamper yourself to a well-deserved spa after a long day out by the beach!

Pantai Tengah is located close to Pantai Cenang, and is the longest stretch of beach in Langkawi. It is relatively quieter than Pantai Cenang, great for those who want somewhere in between an exciting and tranquil beach. Like at Pantai Cenang, the beach is also lined with chic resorts, restaurants, spa and massage parlours, and huts manned by local tour operators offering water activity packages like island hopping, jet skiing, fishing trips, speed boat rides, and more.

Chill at one of the beachfront cafes or restaurants and watch the sun go down with a refreshing cocktail or coconut in hand. If you're looking for a spot for dinner, there's a pretty good selection of restaurants in the area serving everything from seafood to Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Iranian, and Malaysian cuisine.

Located at the northwestern end of Langkawi, Datai Bay is home to some of Langkawi's most exquisite high-end resorts such as The Datai and The Andaman. With clear, inviting waters and clean shores, The curved sandy beach of Datai Bay is known to be exclusive and secluded.

There aren't sightseeing spots or tourist attractions on this side of the island, only calmness and complete tranquility, away from the throngs of crowds that flood the other more popular public beaches. Do note that Datai Bay is located a bit further from other beaches and Kuah, your drive here from Pantai Cenang will take about 45 minutes.

Located a 15-minute drive from Langkawi International Airport, Pantai Kok is surrounded by limestone hills and lush rainforests. It's also within close vicinity to a handful of gorgeous attractions in Langkawi including the beautiful Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls, Telaga Harbour Park, Mat Cincang Mountain, and the Langkawi Cable Car.

Start your day by hopping on an exhilarating 15-minute cable car ride (panoramic views of misty mountains, the ocean, and the surroundings of Langkawi await at the top!), unwind with a refreshing dip at the Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls (claimed by the locals to be the home of faeries *gasps*), and treat yourself to dinner at Telaga Harbour Park, a harbour featuring restaurants and pubs that serve up a variety of local and international cuisine.

Set on a manmade island close to Pantai Kok, Paradise 101 is a private island accessible via a short boat ride. Located smack in the middle of the beautiful Andaman Sea and surrounded by sandy beach and swaying casuarina trees, it's the spot for an ultimate day out in the sand, sun, and sea. The island is a hub for adventure as well as relaxation, and is equipped with everything from an inflatable waterpark to watersports like banana boat rides, jet skiing, parasailing, ziplining, and more.

If you'd prefer a more relaxing time, grab a cocktail from the island bar and watch the day go by from one of the cosy daybeds facing the calm waters! Book your Paradise 101 Day Pass or combo packages on Klook to enjoy discounted rates and maximum fun. Passes come inclusive of all necessary safety equipment, complimentary roundtrip boat transfers to the island, insurance, and more.

Don't worry, there aren't real sharks here. Shark Bay Beach got its name from the few stone sharks displayed at the side of the beach promenade! It is sandwiched between the Black Sand Beach and Pantai Paris Tengkorak (both listed next!), and features calm waters, cosy resting huts, and a promenade with great views. Shark Bay Beach is especially popular amongst families due to its calm, shallow waters that are great for swimming even for the little ones. There's also a restaurant by the beach where you can enjoy a meal or snacks once you start getting hungry!

There is no confirmed conclusion as to why the sand at the Black Sand Beach is black, and why it's only so at this stretch of Langkawi and not elsewhere. The locals have their own legends and myths (involving mermaids, sea people, and even a princess!) to make sense of the phenomena, and scientists have their own explanations and claims, but the truth still remains a mystery up till today.

While the sand isn't as black as you'd expect to be, and swimming is not recommended in the area, it's still worth a visit if you're interested to have a curious glimpse of the unique beach!

Pantai Pasir Tengkorak is translated to Sandy Skull Beach, a name the beach obtained due to a local myth as well as a dark history that you can read up on if you want. *winks* This quiet public beach has calm, shallow waters great for swimming (but be sure to not go too deep as the currents are strong out there), as well as a relaxing shore where you can lay back, sunbathe, or read a book.

The rock formations on both sides of the beach apparently date back to over 500 million years - how impressive is that? The beach is popular with families and group gatherings as its well-equipped with free parking space, toilets, changing rooms, showers, and even tables and gazebos where you can have a picnic at.