Caribbean of the East: Isle of Legends

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Bask in the sun and soak in the charms of Pulau Langkawi, the “Emerald Enchantment of the North”. Some have even called it the “Caribbean of the East”. But perhaps it is more renowned as the “Isle of Legends” with it many intriguing local myths and legends retold from the generation to generation. Comprising 104 islands at low tide and 99 at high tied, Pulau Langkawi nestles along the coastal region of Kedah, and straddles both the Andaman Sea and the Straits of Malacca. The archipelago of mostly uninhabited island is truly a tropical paradise. Each is surrounded by its own white sandy beaches, shimmering waves, swaying palms, casuarinas and colourful marine life beneath turquoise waters.

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The Langkawi group of islands remains largely untouched with the exception of the main island of Pulau Langkawi, which occupies a land area 478.5 sq km. Although massive development continues to besiege Pulau Langkawi with modern world-class facilities that include marines, luxury hotels, cultural and art villages as well as infrastructure installations, much of the island’s natural splendour is jealously preserved. Since Pulau Langkawi was declared a duty-free zone since 1986, numerous shopping venues have sprung up, especially in the main town of Kuah. The island also has it own international airport offering direct flight to and from Japan, Thailand and Landon.

Langkawi’s appeal has also broadened with the staging of several international scale events such as the Le Tour De Langkawi, the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), the Langkawi International Motor Show, the Ironman Challenge, the Langkawi International Festival of Arts (LIFA) and the Langkawi International Dialogue, all of which have captures international attention.