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Here is a guide to the best beaches of Langkawi in 2026. In the best article we will review and recommend our favourite beaches in Langkawi.
Langkawi is a beautiful tropical island located off the Northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Langkawi is well known for its beautiful tropical beaches, amazing food and awesome activities. As a top tourist spot in Malaysia Langkawi also has a wide range of excellent hotels, resorts & villas.
ALSO you may be interested in our step by step 5 day Langkawi itinerary
HERE is your ultimate guide to THE BEST beaches of Langkawi…
THE BEST beaches of Langkawi MAP
Why visit the beaches of Langkawi?
Langkawi is a very beautiful tropical island with loads of adventurous and enjoyable things-to-do. Beaches of Langkawi are relatively clean, with soft golden sand and beautiful views of surrounding Islands. On some of the teachers in Langkawi you can also do water sports such as jet skiing, parasailing, sea kayaking, paddle boarding and surfing. Some of the Langkawi beaches also have good holiday vibes with restaurants, coffee shops and happy people. AND of course – don’t miss the awesome sunsets in Langkawi too.
BUT it is important to keep your expectations in check. The water around Langkawi is not especially clear so this is the best place for snorkeling. If you are hoping to go snorkeling in Langkawi we recommend either visiting the Perdana Marine Park – this is an innovative eco-project with salt water marine pools filled with sea life. Alternatively, arrange a boat trip to Pulau Payar – this is more expensive as you will need to arrange a small boat tour with a local operator. If you’re all about the clear water, consider visiting some of the islands on the east coast of Malaysia such as the Perhentians, Redang or Tioman island.
1 Pantai Cenang
Pantai Cenang is one of the most popular beaches of Langkawi. Pantai Cenang is also the main spot for tourist attractions in Langkawi. Along the seafront there are convenience stores, cafes, kebab shops, restaurants and duty free shops.
You can also find plenty of hotels, guest houses and resorts in this area. Pantai Cenang is also a very beautiful and clean Beach. As a west facing beach, Pantai Cenang offers excellent sunset views. This is a great spot for surfing during windy periods (especially in the rainy season) and there are also lots of water sports available at Pantai Cenang.
For example, you can often find parasailing and jet skiing in this area. So whether you want to stroll along the beach with a fruit shake or get an adrenaline rush on a jet ski. Pantai Cenang is a MUST DO if you are visiting Langkawi.
Need a place to stay near Cenang Beach? Don’t miss the STUNNING Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa. Or if you’re looking for somewhere offering amazing value for money – check out Shell Out for clean and well designed rooms at very competitive prices.
2 Pantai Tengah
Pantai Tengah is one of the quieter beaches of Langkawi. This is a great beach to visit if you’re looking for a nice tranquil spot to enjoy the sunset. Located just south of Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah is a smaller and less crowded west facing beach. Pantai Tengah is relatively clean with soft golden sand and a couple of surf shacks.
One of the main attractions on Pantai Tengah is the stylish cafe and bar called Hidden Langkawi. They serve a range of tempting meals, cakes and a delicious selection of drinks. Hidden Langkawi is stylish, sociable and has great ocean views – BUT it is on the expensive side for food and drinks here. Pantai Tengah is also a popular beach for surfing – especially during windy periods in the rainy season.
Looking for somewhere to stay near Pantai Tengah? Check out the Ambong Private Pool Villas. If you want something cheaper near the beach check out Charlie Motel.
3 Pantai Hujung Airport Beach
Pantai Hujung Airport Beach may not be the first beach that comes to mind when you think about the beaches of Langkawi. However, Pantai Hujung Airport Beach is a surprisingly charming and serene beach. This beach is located right next to the Langkawi airport.
You may think but this would make it a noisy and unpleasant location. However, the Langkawi airport itself is a very quiet airport so the airplanes are more of a novelty than a nuisance. The location of Pantai Hujung Airport Beach AND the protection of a wave breaker (out to sea) makes the water very calm and still in this area. Pantai Hujung Airport beach is very nice however, some sections are polluted with rubbish detracting from the epic scenery.
This is a popular spot for locals and holiday makers to stop and there are several food stalls selling street food here – including fried noodles, laksa soups, fruit shakes and more. There are also some seating areas near the food stalls. Trees along the beach afford shade from the intense tropical sun. Apart from the rubbish, overall this is a very nice beach.
4 Teluk Yu Beach
Teluk Yu Beach is a quiet beach on the north coast of Langkawi. Teluk Yu is relatively clean and this location affords an impressive view of the small islands to the north of Langkawi. Along this section of beachfront you can often find street food vendors. Teluk Yu is one of the more quiet beaches of Langkawi.
A few of the beautiful islands are Pulau Dangali, Pulau Gasing and Pulau Pasir. In this area don’t miss the Scarborough Fish and Chips Restaurant – located right on the beach, they serve English style fish and chips with crisp white wine. Scarborough Fish and Chips is on the expensive side – but it is a beautiful spot for a tasty meal.
5 Tanjung Rhu Beach
Tanjung Rhu is one of the most beautiful beaches of Langkawi. Located on the north east corner of Langkawi, this lovely little beach is next to the mysterious Langkawi Mangroves. Tanjung Rhu beach has trees offering shade.
This bay is reminiscent of the Thai marine parks with small beautiful islands and turquoise water. You can find water sports and ATV rental on this beach. At this beach you can go jet skiing, sea kayaking and paddle boarding.
If you take a kayak you can paddle out to a rocky island called Pulau Kelam Baya. At Tanjung Rhu you can also arrange Mangrove boat tours (this is much cheaper than trying to arrange a trip with a tour operator in town). The Mangrove Jetty is located right next to Tanjung Rhu beach.
LOOKING for somewhere amazing to stay? Don’t miss the superlative Four Seasons Resort. This stunning resorts is one of the most Luxurious Resorts in Langkawi.
6 Sandy Skulls Beach
If you’re looking for tranquil HIDDEN beaches of Langkawi don’t miss the Sandy Skulls Beach. As ominous as the name sounds, this is actually one of the most BEAUTIFUL and quiet beaches in Langkawi. Located in the wild and hilly north west corner of Langkawi, this lovely little beach has a car park and public toilets. Sandy Skulls beach is a clean white sand beach with trees for shade and beautiful views of Koh Tarutao island (this is actually a Thai island).
NEAR Sandy Skulls Beach you can also find the impressive Temurun falls – this amazing waterfall also has a plunge pool that you can swim in. Sandy Skulls is one of the BEST secret beaches of Langkawi.
Looking for somewhere LUXURIOUS and WILD to stay. Don’t miss the incredible JUNGLE villas with private swimming pools at the Datai Resort.
How do you stay safe on the beaches of Langkawi?
If you are planning a holiday in Langkawi it is very important to beware of a few things about the beaches:
Firstly, if you are planning to visit the beaches of Langkawi to swim – the season is very important. During the rainy season (the monsoon season), the waves and currents in the water can be very strong. During periods of strong winds this is a popular location for surfers. However, we do not recommend swimming in the water, especially during monsoon season. Watch out for strong waves and currents. Secondly, the waters around Malaysia do have jellyfish. There are some potentially lethal jellyfish in these tropical waters.
HOPEFULLY we haven’t scared you off too much. The beaches of Langkawi are genuinely beautiful and many people enjoy these beaches safely.
