9 Best Beaches in Langkawi in 2024

1.Tanjung Rhu Beach

This wide stretch of white, powder-fine sand on Langkawi's northern tip is surrounded by untouched jungle and mangrove forests. The beach provides panoramic views of nearby islands and, on clear days, the coast of Thailand to the north. These sultry views have attracted luxury hotels Four Seasons Resort and Tanjung Rhu Resort to the sandy shores.

Hire a beach chair or lay your towel out on the sand to sit back and soak up the sun. Then, cool off with a dip in water so clear you can see your toes. Hungry beachgoers can buy local snacks like pisang goreng (fried banana) from local food vendors at the beach entrance, or visit beachfront Eagle Nest Café for Western meals like burgers or fish & chips.

Tanjung Rhu is one of two entrances to Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and is a popular starting point for mangrove forest boat tours. Visit the beach as part of a tour or hire a car for a day trip.

Parking: Free

2.Pantai Cenang (Chenang Beach)

Lined with accommodation options from humble guesthouses to 5-star resorts, this 2-kilometer strip of beach is where most visitors to Langkawi choose to stay.

By day, the sandy shores are filled with beach vendors offering island-hopping tours, jet-ski rides, parasailing, and deckchair hire to those willing to brave the peak of Langkawi's humid, hot sunshine.

As the sun softly sets, the sky lights up in hues of purple, pink, and orange as visitors are treated to Langkawi's epic sunsets. Local children splash in lapping waves while smartphone-clasping tourists pose for selfies. This is when watersports vendors are replaced with cocktail bars as beanbags and tables come out for happy hour specials at bars like Yellow Beach Café, Kalut Bar, and Thirstday.

Just behind the beach is main road Jalan Pantai Cenang, popular for its international restaurant options, duty-free stores, and local street vendors selling clothing, accessories, and souvenirs.

Parking: Free

3.Pantai Tengah

Bordering the south of Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah offers cheaper, mid-range accommodation options compared to its popular neighbor. Streets have less souvenir and clothing stalls but still a few international and local restaurants, cafes, and bars.

The beach itself is a long stretch of seashell-dotted white sand where you'll find a handful of vendors offering jet-ski hire and island-hopping tours. The shores are far quieter here with a few strips of natural rock for children to climb and explore while parents sunbake on lounges attached to their beachfront hotel. The wide stretch of sand is the perfect place to bring buckets and spades to make sandcastles or set up for a game of beach football, cricket, or any other sport.

To best experience Pantai Tengah's relaxed vibe, buy a day pass at Dash Beach Club to hire a sun lounge on the beach or by the pool. Lounge hire comes with a free beer or soft drink, towel hire, and access to the hotel swimming pool.

Parking: Free

4.Pantai Pasir Tengkorak (Sandy Skull Beach)

A favorite beach among locals but less popular with tourists due to its remote location in rainforest-laden Datai Bay. Sandy Skull Beach is small compared to other beaches in Langkawi and easily crowded on weekends. This doesn't stop the crystal-clear waters from being among the island's best for swimming. Rock groins at the end of the beach are popular for fishing and for children to climb and explore.

Choose a patch of shade or sun to lay out your towel and get comfy with a good book. Throughout your day at the beach, you'll likely see local fishermen set up on the rocky outcrops and birdlife like hornbills, sea eagles, and Brahminy kites.

Between the parking lot and beach is a large park area where monkeys often loiter for leftover food. As cute as they may seem, it's best not to feed them as they may become aggressive and try to steal from you. Paid toilets and showers are also located in the park, and it's common for food vendors to set up stalls selling cold drinks and local snacks.

Parking: Free

5.Paradise 101

Originally constructed as a wave breaker to protect one of Langkawi's harbors from tsunamis, this man-made island has transformed into aptly named Paradise 101.

If your idea of paradise involves relaxing by the sea, pick a lounge chair on the shady northern beach or hire a cozy elevated daybed on the island's south side. Cocktails and food can be brought to you from the bar while you listen to the latest hits on the island's sound system. Relaxation continues when you book a sunset boat cruise to watch the golden sun light up the sky in previously-unknown shades of orange and pink as you sip a tasty beverage.

If you prefer watersports, book a kayak, jet-ski, banana boat, or parasailing adventure, then race your friends on the inflatable waterpark. You can even take a jet-ski island hopping tour from Paradise 101 and explore nearby islands like Dayang Bunting.

Never go hungry with classic pub meals and local Malay cuisine at OMG! Bar and Restaurant. Order your favorite drink, or try a signature cocktail crafted by a certified mixologist.

Whatever your idea of paradise, take a minute to pose in a series of Insta-friendly giant bird nests, a keepsake to remember your beachy vacation.

Parking: Free

6.Pantai Kok

Directly opposite Paradise 101 and beside Telaga Harbour is Pantai Kok, a sandy beach bordered by leaning palm trees. This beach differs from other in Langkawi due to the commanding lighthouse at its eastern edge and the array of yachts berthed in its silky-smooth waters.

Visit just before sunset to buy a tasty meal of fried rice or laksa from a local food vendor by the parking lot. Lean against a swaying palm to get comfy and watch the golden sunset transform the lighthouse and yachts into mere silhouettes.

Trendy bars and international restaurants abound at neighboring Telabour Harbour park, a modern marina complex. Pantai Kok's luxury hotels, like The Danna, and are a popular accommodation choice among tourists due to their close proximity to Langkawi's best-known attractions, the SkyCab cable car, and Sky Bridge.

Parking: Free

7.Black Sand Beach (Pantai Pasir Hitam)

A quiet beach on Langkawi's northern coast, famous for its marble-textured black and white sand. The beach is more popular with picnicking locals than tourists, who usually make a quick stop to witness a local fable up close.

According to folklore, the black sand is left over burn marks from a fiery battle between land and underwater kingdoms. Scientists, on the other hand, say the dark sand is the result of granite minerals washed down to the beach from Langkawi's tallest mountain, Gunung Raya.

Escape the hot sun under a handful of shady trees while watching local fishing boats and taking in serene views of nearby islands. The views are somewhat hindered by an industrial concrete factory visible towards the west.

2 playgrounds are located between the beach and parking lot, while the footpath is lined with vendors selling drinks, local snacks, clothing, and souvenirs.

Parking: Free

8.Pantai Rekreasi Kastam

Only a 10-minute drive from Tanjung Rhu Beach, Pantai Rekreasi Kastam enjoys similarly spell-binding views of the shimmering Andaman Sea and uninhabited islands nearby.

Unlike Tanjung Rhu, the beach isn't restricted by luxury resorts on its shores, so watersport vendors are welcome. Visitors to this small beach can negotiate a reasonable price for jet-ski hire, parasailing, island-hopping tours, and mangrove tours. It's a happy medium between Tanjung Rhu and Pantai Cenang.

Other vendors lease sun lounges underneath rainbow-colored beach umbrellas, so you can comfortably relax between swims in the crystal-clear sea. A small shack near the carpark sells snacks like popcorn and chips, local meals like laksa, and cold drinks like fresh coconuts.

Pantai Rekreasi Kastam is a popular choice with tourists as its location is slightly less remote than Tanjung Rhu Beach.

Parking: Free

9.Teluk Yu (Shark Bay)

Unique for its landscaped gardens and paved promenade, Teluk Yu is a popular place to sit on a shady bench, get cozy in a gazebo, or take a short stroll while looking out over the sea and nearby islands. Among those islands is Pulau Dangli, one of the few places in Langkawi suitable for snorkeling.

Food stands and a small restaurant are available along the promenade for those who fancy a snack while taking in the views.

The serene coastal vistas are offset by the presence of rare granite boulders, called 'tors', jutting out of the water and along the shore. Locals call these tors 'live stones' because they appear to be moving when, over time, erosion lowers the soil level revealing more rock beneath the surface.

'Teluk Yu' translates to 'Shark Bay' but don't worry about encountering any live sharks, the name was given for the concrete shark statues along the promenade. The calm, warm waters are ideal for swimming.

Located 2km west of Black Sand Beach, Teluk Yu's only downside is the very visible operational cement factory to the west.

Parking: Free