11 top things to do in Langkawi with kids

One thing we were sure of on our holiday in Langkawi was beach time! Visiting Langkawi meant one thing, water activities in Langkawi but neither Mark nor myself had really any idea what sort of water activities were on offer where we were staying in the popular area of Pantai Cenang beach Langkawi. Would they be the top things to do in Langkawi with kids or were there better activities to do in Langkawi?

One thing we knew for sure was our Langkawi trip was going to be spent on or near the water it is famous for. So here are our best water activities in Langkawi that we tried with our kids and all the other Langkawi attractions for kids.

Know before you go! Our top Langkawi travel tips

A relaxing holiday in Langkawi with kids is what everyone needs but there are so many things to do in Langkawi that sitting by the pool might be one thing you don’t do a lot of. Take our top tips and find the perfect activities in Langkawi for your stay.

How to get to Langkawi

Langkawi International Airport is an airport in Padang Matsirat, Langkawi. You will find most international flights come into Langkawi via Kuala Lumpur.

Airport Transport & Transfers

The best option is to take a taxi to your hotel. There is a pre-paid taxi counter at the arrival hall with published rates for different destinations. This is the easiest and most convenient option to get from the airport when you visit Langkawi with kids.

You can also pre-book a rental car and pick it up at the airport. We recommend this option as the traffic is mild and the island is big enough to warrant a car to explore.

Where to stay in Langkawi with kids

• Luxury Accommodation: Minutes away from the Cable Car and Underwater World Langkawi is The Dana Langkawi. The Dana is one of the top-rated luxury hotels for families on the island. featuring swimming pools, onsite golf courses, canoeing, windsurfing and more.
• Mid-range Accommodation: Located in a prime location this cozy accommodation is a place to stay in Langkawi with kids. De Baron Resort Langkawi. Featuring swimming pools, family rooms and a tour desk.
• Budget Accommodation: Rating a 7.1 from over 4300 reviews and starting at $44US per night for a family room with 2 double beds. Malibest Resort is right on the main street of Cenang and has beach access with a location score of 8.3. There is also a pool on-site with a waterslide, you have free wi-fi, toiletries and private bathrooms at this Langkawi family hotel
• Unique stay in Langkawi: If this is what you want to do then the best place to stay in Langkawi for you is the Ocean Residence. This beautiful apartment-style accommodation is made from recycled shipping containers and is the most relaxing place we have ever stayed. We stayed here for 3 nights with our daughters and if you are looking at where to stay in Langkawi with family you should look no further.

Apartment alternative for your stay in Langkawi

If you prefer a home away from home-style accommodation in Langkawi with kids then an apartment is the best choice for you on your family holiday to Malaysia. There are so many options for singles, and families and budget-friendly options for staying near the best Langkawi beaches. Click here to find the perfect Langkawi apartment for your vacation in Langkawi.

Do you need a sim card for your trip to Malaysia?

Relying on Wi-fi when you are travelling can be hard. Making calls and staying in contact with who you need is a top priority. Plan your trip out and order your sim before you leave home to stop any stress about travelling, data and calls.

Money in Malaysia

The official currency of Malaysia is the Ringgit. The Malaysian Ringgit comes in RM1, RM5, RM10, RM20, RM50, and RM100 notes. 1 Ringgit = 0.24 USD

Travel Insurance for your Langkawi trip with family

We recommend using Travel Insurance Master, their website will compare the best deals from a number of providers and present you with the best value for money policy on the market. Click through to Insurance Masters to get a free quote.

What to do in Langkawi with kids

Many of the top Pantai Cenang beach activities will include jet skis, parasailing, skiing, wakeboarding or going on a cruise to see the islands. These are all things you can do in Langkawi with kids or without them too!

If you are going to visit Langkawi some of these fun water activities absolutely have to be on your list of things to do in Langkawi and there is no better spot to do them than at Pantai Cenang one of the best beaches in Langkawi.

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Langkawi Jetski tour

This was one of our favourite things to do on a Langkawi family holiday. Going on a tour with one of the best Langkawi water sports companies Mega Water Sports, we had a guide, Tong and some help learning how to drive them.

With a company like this too, we had insurance and there was no ‘damage’ to the jet ski to be discovered later which is a scam we have seen before. Going on a jet ski is one of the top Langkawi water sports for you to try and you don’t want it to end badly.

You have insurance coverage for RM5,000,000.00 included in your tour price if you go with Mega Water Sports.

The Langkawi Island hopping tour with Mega Water Sports was amazing and we were out of the water for about 4 hours. Both our daughters had time to drive themselves during our freestyle time which they both loved. This was one of the best ways to do some Langkawi sightseeing.

Top tips for Jet skiing in Langkawi:

• Take plenty of sunscreens

• Be ready for a heap of fun

• Mega water sports have waterproof bags you can put your phone in during your tour

• It’s best not to take the good cameras as the bouncing around inside the jetski will not be good for it

• Take plenty of water but in a small bottle…freeze some if you can as it gets really hot.

• Take some money (cash) with you so you can get a drink and a snack at the Pregnant Lady Lake. Prices start at RM15 for vanilla ice cream in a cone. (It is a famous Langkawi tourist spot so prices are a little higher there)

The only problem we had on our Island-hopping Langkawi tour was when we stopped at the Pregnant Lady Lake. The tide was out and we had to walk through some mud to get to the island but it was still one of the most fun activities in Langkawi for families.

Our guide helped us by getting us back to the jetty and we got to land that way. This shouldn’t stop you from going on a jet ski tour in Langkawi with kids though as it was a great stop and one of our Langkawi highlights.

*Also Tong warned us about the monkeys at Pregnant Lady Lake. It is a top Langkawi tourist spot so over time they have become quite aggressive and you should avoid feeding them. Also, make sure that all of your belongings are secured as they have been known to take them.

Mega Water Sports Jet Ski Langkawi price

TOUR 1: Three Island Tour
Duration: 4 Hours
Riding Alone: RM 700.00 Riding with a Passenger: RM 800.00

TOUR 2: Dayang Bunting Island Tour
Duration: 4 Hours
Riding Alone: RM 850.00 Riding with a Passenger: RM 1000.00

TOUR 3: Lunch and Fishing Village Tour
Duration: 4 Hours
Riding Alone: RM 1000.00 Riding with a Passenger: N/A

Read more: The best guide for Langkawi for families

Hire a jet ski on your own in Langkawi

If you just want to have a go on a jet ski and hire your own we still highly recommend you use a reputable company rather than just hiring one off the beach. Going on a jet ski is one of the most popular Langkawi water sports and a great way to do some Langkawi sightseeing but it can become a huge problem if you do not use a reputable company.

We did see a very loud altercation between two men over a ‘damaged’ jet ski. The gentleman who seemed to have hired it looked utterly stunned that it was damaged. This is a very common travel scam that tourists visiting Langkawi need to be aware of.

Jetski Hire:                  

Duration: 30 minutes
RM400 for up to 2 people on one jet ski

Parasailing Langkawi off a boat

This was something the girls really wanted to do but we just couldn’t seem to fit it into our Langkawi Itinerary. If you are a bit of an adrenaline junkie or your kids are this is a must-do in Langkawi.

Tips for parasailing in Langkawi

• Prices vary from boat to beach

• You can book through your accommodation or on the beach

• Check if you have to pay to go in the boat to supervise your kids

Cost of parasailing Langkawi by boat:

10 minutes RM150 15 minutes RM200

There is also an option to parasail sail from the beach which is slightly cheaper.

Day Cruise around the Langkawi Islands

We did a beautiful Geopark day cruise with Crystal Yacht Holidays. We boarded our catamaran just out of Pantai Cenang at Resorts World. We sat comfortably on top of the catamaran and watched the gorgeous Langkawi Islands sail by. This has to be one of the best relaxing Langkawi family attractions

Tips for the Geopark day cruise

• Bring plenty of sunscreen

• Drinks are provided during the cruise

• Have a small backpack to keep all of your belongings together

Cost for the Geopark day cruise with Crystal Yacht Holidays

Duration 6 hours From RM340 per person

Langkawi attractions for kids -Sunset Cruise

This was another Langkawi highlight with kids. Not only did we get to see an epic sunset from the boat we also got to spend a few hours with some other families. This was by far one of the best things to do in Langkawi for us as we had people to talk to! Our Langkawi Sunset cruise was with Tropical Charters.

Banana Boat off Pantai Cenang beach

One of the most fun things you will see off the Pantai Cenang beach is the people getting jostled about on the Banana boat as they go full speed over the waves. We could hear them laughing and screaming as they hit the water. This would be one of the best water activities in Langkawi for a group of friends to do.

How much does a ride on the Banana boat cost?

It will set you back around 30-40 Malaysian Ringgit per person for a go.

Just sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in

If you are going to visit Langkawi with kids this would have to be on the top of your list of things to do in Langkawi with kids. It is also free! There are not too many kids that don’t just love a trip to the beach to build a sandcastle and run like crazy away from the waves as they slowly roll in.

Pantai Cenang Beach Langkawi is the perfect spot to do this as it is a nice and calm beach. There are some things you do need to be aware of though.

Good things about Pantai Cenang Beach Langkawi

• It is pretty clean, both the sand and the water

• Some sections are patrolled, so if you are not a strong swimmer head to those spots

• It is a nice calm beach with nice small waves rolling in

• It stays fairly even as it goes out rather than having a large drop in one area

• You can hire a lounge chair that normally comes with an umbrella for extra shade

Not so good things about Pantai Cenang Beach Langkawi

• It is a busy beach for traffic with cars driving on the beach to get jet skis from the water

• Some people can become itchy from the water. Just make sure you have some freshwater with you to wash the skin

What do I need for a day at Pantai Cenang Beach?

You won’t need much but you might like to take a few of these things for your kids so a visit to Pantai Cenang will be one of their Langkawi highlights.

• Water- little people having fun get thirsty quick!

• A good rashie to keep you from getting burnt

• Some equipment to help build the best castle ever

• Sunglasses to help with the glare from the water

Langkawi Night Market

This is a must-visit when you are in Langkawi with kids. This popular Langkawi tourist attraction is a heap of fun for the whole family and the food is pretty good too. We found that we ate really well when we visited and probably way more than we needed. Here is a rough guide on what we ate and paid.

One thing that you need to be wary of is that the Langkawi Night market moves every night. Here we have the current timetable so you can visit with your family. You may also find that some of your favourite stalls do have some nights off. We just asked our favourite ones what night they did.

Tips for the Langkawi night market with kids:

• There are no tables and chairs so you can find it hard to eat

• Take smaller notes if you can as some of the stalls find it hard to change large notes

• Plan ahead and know where the market will be but if you are getting a Grab most of the drivers will know where it is on that night.

Oriental Village – Langkawi with kids

This is where you will get your tickets to catch the Langkawi Cable Car. This little village is home to a heap of activities that the kids will love and even some stuff for the adults. You can do a small amount of shopping there as well as just wander around the attraction.

There are some people who have animals there that you can pose with as well, although we decided against it.

Langkawi attractions for family – 3D Art Museum

This was a heap of fun. It was one of the best things to do in Langkawi with kids and we all enjoyed going through all the different rooms posing with the pictures.

There are little spots on the floor that direct you where to stand to get the best picture you can with the 3D effects. If you are visiting Langkawi with children this must be on our list.

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Best Langkawi Island attractions – Jurassic World

While the effects weren’t that current it was a part of our ticket so we lined up for it. It would be great if your kids were a little bit younger.

Langkawi Cable Car

If you are scared of heights this is one that you might want to not look at until you are on there. It has to be one of the best activities in Langkawi on a beautiful day and to be honest the ride up is not that bad (coming from someone who doesn’t even stand on a chair)

The ride takes around 15 minutes to get to the top and the view while up there are stunning. You can walk around for different views, walk along the Sky Bridge, grab a bite to eat or a drink and even post a postcard home to someone special.

Opening Hours:

• Monday and Tuesday 10:00 – 19:00

• Wednesday 12:00 – 19:00

• Thursday 10:00 – 19:00,

• Friday and Saturday 9:30 – 19:00

Entry cost to Langkawi Cable Car:

• Adults RM35
• Children RM25 (aged two to 12 years old)

Langkawi Sky Bridge

Once you get to the top of the Cable Car ride you are met with plenty of options of how you want to get all the views. You can walk from the viewpoints to the sky bridge or you can get a little glass elevator. These will all cost you extra money if you decide to do them.

Make sure you have your wristbands with you at all times as you are wandering around up there. You can also purchase some extra if you thought it would be easier than it is! Yep, I did that!

Langkawi sky bridge entrance fee is RM5.00 for adults and RM3.00 for children.

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Budget accommodation in Langkawi tip

We stayed at the Malibest Resort during our stay in Langkawi Malaysia. We did have an issue with the internet in our first room which was not part of the main complex it was over the road and further back from the actual resort. We upgraded rooms to one in the main complex.

Our sink smelt a fair bit (we just shut the bathroom door) but the room was cleaned, serviced daily and was much easier to get to the pool and beach from. We felt safe here and there was very easy access to restaurants and mini-marts. While our stay started off rocky we ended up enjoying our time there and we have since spoken to people that had no issues when they stayed.

Our visit to Langkawi with kids was both relaxing and fun. We had never really been water activity, people, before but our time in Langkawi certainly changed that. We think these are the best things to do in Langkawi with kids and we hope you get to try them out on your next visit to Langkawi.

We hope this article from us here at Wyld Family Travel has you inspired to plan a trip to Langkawi for a relaxing beachside holiday when you visit Malaysia. For more amazing ideas on where to holiday in Malaysia click through to our Malaysia Destination Guide page for more brilliant inspiration.

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