This is your ultimate, up-to-date guide on taking a mangrove tour in Langkawi, including how to arrange a tour, expected prices, what to bring with you, and much more.
The classic portrait of Langkawi might be all about sandy beaches and tropical island hopping, but if you scratch a little beneath the surface, a diverse and hidden landscape is ready and waiting. Large parts of the coastline are home to mangroves, providing a barrier to human settlement but an ideal ecosystem and habitat for a range of flora and fauna. This is Kilim Geoforest Park, the first geopark in Southeast Asia
During a visit to Langkawi with kids, be sure to set aside a few hours of your time for a Royal Mangrove Tour. It’s an ideal way to explore the other side of Langkawi, and get up close and personal to this fascinating habitat.
We’ve now experienced this tour twice. Once with just the boys in incredible weather, and the second time with the grandparents in rather storm weather (it was quite an exhilarating ride across the open sea on our second trip!).
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Booking a Langkawi mangrove tour
This is the tour we did: Royal Mangrove Tour in Langkawi. We booked a private tour.
What to expect on a Langkawi mangrove tour
The Langkawi Mangrove tour starts from the Tanjung Rhu Mangrove Jetty at the northernmost tip of Langkawi Island. If you’re catching a Grab from either Kuah or Pantai Cenang, make sure you leave at least 45 minutes to get over here.
The jetty can feel slightly disorganised when you first arrive, so you might need to speak to a few people before you find the right boat. There are a few food options here, both small local restaurants and shops selling soft drinks and snacks.
The boat drivers on all the Langkawi tours tend to be pleasantly relaxed and low-key; they’ll point out wildlife and interesting rock formations, outline the itinerary and answer any questions, but don’t expect non-stop tourist patter. We preferred it this way.
This really is one tour we’d suggest doing privately, rather than as part of a large group. Particularly at the bat cave, the experience can be spoiled somewhat if you’re there at the same time as many other people. Being on a private tour and in charge of your own itinerary (within reason) will also give you more time to relax at the fish farm and restaurant.
There are several other tours offered in Langkawi, including the island hopping tour. Whilst all the tours offer something unique and exciting, we think the Mangrove Tour is a real highlight and is arguably a better option than the island hopping tour.
Please also note that the below itinerary isn’t set in stone. Your boat driver may do the tour in the opposite direction. In fact, we’ve taken the grandparents back to Langkawi to do this tour and we indeed experienced it the other way around, heading out into the open water first. This may have been due to bad weather.
Drop in on the macaque family
Within the first few minutes of the tour, you’ll drift away from the main waterway and into the mangroves, with the trees arching into the water only a few feet away. The tunnel effect makes the atmosphere still and peaceful, with the near-silence only broken by the distant calls of a macaque family.
If you’re lucky, you may see the macaque family going about their morning routine on a set of rocks, probably just as interested in you, as you are of them. Give them a wave but watch your belongings.
Eagle watching
Another stop on the tour has an nature element, with the chance to feed eagles. The driver will drop chicken scraps into the water for the waiting birds to swoop down and grab a quick brunch. It’s all very touristy of course, and isn’t the most natural of displays, but it’s still a treat to see these graceful birds effortlessly spot, target and collect the offerings.
Fish farm and restaurant
One of the main set-pieces of the tour comes at the fish farm and restaurant. After climbing out of your boat, a member of the family will give you a slightly rushed run-through of the different fish and crustaceans kept in the small pens. It’s not always easy to see or hear what you’re being shown and the fish don’t always play ball, but it’s still interesting and worth a stop. If you’re feeling brave, there’s a chance to feed a stingray (don’t worry, the mouth is a long way from the tail).
Try to make time for a drink at the fish restaurant as it’s a picturesque setting overlooking the river and if you catch it at a quiet time, it’s also a relaxing place to take in the scenery and watch the water flow gently past the balcony. They also offer freshly cooked seafood, plus some standard Malay dishes.
Gorilla Mountain
On a few different occasions, the towering Gorilla Mountain will appear on the horizon. Now, we’ve seen our fair share of these rock formations around the world which are supposedly reminiscent of one animal or another. They often require quite the imagination leap to make the connection and only carry a passing resemblance to their supposed animal twin.
We’re happy to report that this one is amazing. It genuinely does look like a majestic gorilla perched on a hillside, passively watching the world go by. We were exceptionally in awe of it, and you probably will be too.
Bat Cave
Alongside the fish farm, the other main drawcard of the tour is the Bat Cave. The cave system is only accessible via the river and is home to hundreds of bats that cling to the roof of the cave as tourists stroll past on purpose-built walkways.
There’s a separate entrance fee (RM2 for adults, RM1 for kids aged 4-12). Torches can be hired for RM1 (recommended).
If you’re here at low tide, it’s possible to complete a loop walk of the cave system, otherwise you’ll need to turn back at the end and return the same way. The best part is the twenty metre section in the cave itself, with several viewing areas to observe the bats and their surroundings. Stalactites and stalagmites frame all of your shots and provide natural columns for the walkway to follow. As you leave the cave, the walkway continues past ponds and grand trees before the turnaround or exit point.
Our boys really enjoyed the cave, especially as they carefully illuminated the bats or searched out rock formations. The narrow walkway can get busy if you coincide with a tour group. As is the trend nowadays, everyone apparently needs their own photographic memento of the cave and the queues to avoid the selfie sticks can become an annoyance factor. Bear with it though, the cave is well worth the trouble.
Cruising the Andaman Sea and views of Thailand
The final stage of the tour is a thrilling speedboat burst out into the open Andaman Sea, with no-one around and only the waves for company. Thai islands appear on the starboard side, so close you can almost smell the Pad Thai; indeed, you may well receive a ‘Welcome to Thailand’ text message on your mobile phone!
It’s a fantastic way to end the tour, remember to salute Gorilla Mountain as you pass it for the final time.
Do note that in bad weather, the water here can be rather choppy. It makes for a thrilling boat ride. Just hold on tight!
Is a Langkawi mangrove tour worthwhile?
Yes, it’s a highly-recommended tour, especially if you can afford to do the private version. Do try and stretch the budget if you can, otherwise you’ll be shunted around with the rest of your shared group.
As a family, we enjoyed spending more time on the boat than we did on the island hopping tour. The mangrove tour feels more relaxing and as if you’re getting to see a more hidden side of Langkawi.
How long is the tour?
The Royal Mangrove Tour last for 2-3hours, depending how long you choose to spend at the fish farm, restaurant and Bat Cave. Factor in the 45 minutes transfer time back to the main tourist centres in Langkawi before and afterwards.
How much does a Langkawi Mangrove tour cost?
The tour costs RM270 for the private eight-seater boat. You can pay an extra RM250 if you opt for your own specialist guide.
The only extras are the small entry fee to the Bat Cave, tips (by no means expected or compulsory) and food at the fish restaurant.
Can you buy food and drinks on the tour?
The only place to buy food and drinks on the tour itself is at the fish restaurant. If you need to stock-up beforehand, it’s best to bring food with you, but there are a few shops at the jetty selling sweets, crisps and drinks.
What should you take on the tour?
- sunscreen
- hats
- comfortable shoes for jumping in and out of the boat but flip-flops are fine
- small torch for the bat cave (although you can hire these for RM1)
- cash for paying for bat cave entrance and fish restaurant
- a waterproof case is handy for your mobile phone as there can be some splashing
- poncho to keep you dry in bad weather
Note that you don’t need swimming gear as there’s no opportunity to go into the water.
Final thoughts on the Langkawi mangrove tour
Time spent on Langkawi is often focused around the beach and relaxation but there’s more to the archipelago than that. The Royal Mangrove Tour is the perfect choice if you’re keen to see another side of the island, that of mangroves and caves. The tour is more relaxing than the island hopping version, with a greater proportion of the trip spent in the boat and less time spent on activities.
The two main stops at the fish farm and bat cave are fun for adults and kids alike, with the fish restaurant an ideal place to grab some food and drink in a tranquil location. Save some sightseeing energy for the final stretch though; the route back via the open seas, almost swinging to within touching distance of Thailand is a great ending, especially with Gorilla Mountain waiting to welcome you home.
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