This is your ultimate, up-to-date guide on island hopping in Langkawi, including how to arrange a tour, expected prices, islands to visit, what to bring with you, and much more.
If you were trying to find the perfect place to indulge in a spot of island-hopping, a tropical archipelago of 99 islands might just sound like the perfect place to visit. With its sparkling seas, inland freshwater lakes, sandy beaches and dozens of rainforest-covered islands, Langkawi is the place island-hopping tours were made for.
For families visiting Malaysia with kids, it’s increasingly common to combine a city break in Kuala Lumpur with a trip north to either Penang or Langkawi. There’s plenty to do in Langkawi with kids aside from the island-hopping tour but we’d fully recommend adding it to your itinerary; in our opinion, it’s one of the best in Malaysia and better than Kota Kinabalu island hopping in Borneo.
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Booking a Langkawi island hopping tour
This is the tour we did: Langkawi Island Hopping Private Boat Tour
The small islands that make up the archipelago are tailor-made for exploration by boat and the island-hopping tours offered by all the tour operators all tend to follow the same itinerary.
What to expect on a Langkawi island hopping tour?
The private island hopping tour starts from McDonald’s Underwater World Langkawi where a minibus driver will meet you and take you onwards to the jetty. You might be asked to take a selfie of your group so they can recognise you. It’s then only a five minute drive to the place where you’ll depart from; don’t expect too much from the jetty, it’s functional rather than glamourous.
If you’ve opted for the private tour there’ll be no hanging around as the boat should be waiting for you, accessible via a pontoon. The drivers tend to be laid-back and more focused on driving than tour-guiding, although they will point out interesting landmarks along the way and explain the itinerary.
Three different types of boat can be booked (8, 12 or 16 seater) so you’ll usually have plenty of space to spread out, with a small amount of under-seat storage available. Kids will usually be allowed to sit on the bow of the boat, but they should hold on tight and be aware of the waves and sea conditions. Lifejackets are provided for everyone and must be worn.
The Langkawi island-hopping tour is comprises of three stops which are nicely spaced out, giving you time to relax and enjoy the speedboat ride between each of them.
1. Tropical inland freshwater lake with kayaks, paddle boat and swimming
Pulau Dayang Bunting (which poetically translates as Pregnant Maiden Island) is a stunning freshwater lake, accessible via a ten-minute walk through the rainforest. The trek from the jetty is fairly easy-going but does go up and down a few steps. It’s best to wear aqua shoes if possible, rather than flip-flops. The reward for the walk is well-worth it though as the lake is ringed by tall trees which cascade down from the surrounding hills.
The secret is out though, and the lake can feel slightly busy with other tourists. The good news is once you’re out onto the lake, there’s always space to paddle away and find your own peaceful corner. You can choose to either hire kayaks or paddle-boats (prices ranges from RM20 to RM30, including lifejackets).
If you fancy a dip into the lake itself, a cordoned-off area has been set aside for swimming. Lifejackets are optional and can be hired from the stall nearby for RM5. As a side note, you’ll see some people carrying their lifejackets with them from the speedboat but technically this isn’t permitted by the tour operators, you’re supposed to leave them on the boat and hire another one at the lake.
The water is deep (at least two or three metres and possibly much deeper; there was only so much research we were prepared to undertake) so any non-swimmers will need a lifejacket. If you’re here with younger kids who aren’t accomplished swimmers, keep a close eye on them as they’ll soon get tired and the water isn’t crystal clear if you needed to rescue them. It’s highly recommended that everyone wears a lifejacket for peace of mind.
Next to the swimming area is a fish-spa where you can dip your feet in and allow little fish to nibble away at the dead skin! Not for everyone, but give it a try if you’re keen.
2. Topical beach and water-sports
After finishing at the lake and walking back to your boat (there’s a small shop selling drinks and snacks here before you get back onto the boat), you’re next speeding towards Pulau Beras Basah (translated as Wet Rice Island) with its sandy beach and water sports.
The beach itself is lovely, though the water a little murky. If you enjoy being thrown around the waves on the back of a speedboat, you can sign up for the doughnut ride, but it’s overpriced at RM40 per person (not per boat).
If you can find shelter under a palm tree, the beach is best for sitting and relaxing, with the occasional dip in the sea. You’ll usually be given 1.5 hours here, but you can message your boat driver if you decide you want to move on.
3. Eagle Feeding
The final stop on the island-hopping tour is at Pulau Singa Besar (and for the final Malay lesson, this translates to Big Lion Island), where you’ll get to observe eagles being fed. Yes, it’s very touristy and managed but it still manages to raise your heartrate as you watch these majestic birds swoop down and collect the meat floating on the surface.
This is one of the prettiest areas of Langkawi and, as you wait for the eagles to perform another dive, take a look around at the beautiful rock formations and open seas.
Is Langkawi island hopping worthwhile?
If you opt to take the private tour, we definitely think the Langkawi island hopping tour is worthwhile and will add an extra dimension to your visit. Whilst the shared tour is cheaper, the lack of flexibility and space is a huge downside. This is especially true if you’re travelling with kids as they can be less predictable and sometimes you need a change of plan depending on energy and/or stress levels.
For example, we wanted to spend longer at the lake and less time at the beach. As we were on a private tour, this was easy to arrange.
The boys especially enjoyed the tour and they loved sitting/clinging to the front of the speedboat as we bounced over the waves. So much of Langkawi is about beach and relaxation time, so it’s nice to get out onto the water and experience the islands from a different angle.
How long is the tour
The island-hopping tour lasts for three to four hours, depending how long you choose to spend at each of the stops. Once you factor in the getting to and from the jetty, it almost adds up to a full day activity.
How much does it cost to go island hopping in Langkawi
The private island hopping tour (in an eight person boat) costs RM350.
A separate charge of RM6 (RM3 for kids) is due for entry to the lake at Tasik Dayang Bunting. As mentioned above, if you decide to do any extras like kayaking or banana-boating, these are all payable separately.
What’s the best way to book?
Klook is the easiest way to book the island tour as it’s fixed price and your tour operator will contact you via WhatsApp.
You can, of course, just turn up to the jetty (click here for location) and book on arrival but don’t expect huge reductions as all the boat operators know each other. You may also find it harder to book a private tour if you turn up on a busy morning in peak season.
Can you buy food and drinks on the island hopping trip?
There’s a small shop/kiosk as you enter/leave the freshwater lake. Otherwise there are some basic (but quite expensive) food options at Pulau Beras Basah. If possible, bring your own drinks and small snacks, ideally after a large breakfast at your hotel.
What should you take island hopping in Kota Kinabalu?
- sunscreen
- towels
- swimwear (including rash vest)
- aqua shoes
- snorkels if you own them
- change of clothes for the trip back
- camera case for water activities, or waterproof camera
- card and cash for paying for activities
Final thoughts on Langkawi island hopping
In a place like Langkawi, it’d be a missed opportunity not to venture out onto the water at least once during your visit. The many islands that make up the archipelago beckon you from afar, and the island-hopping tour is the best and most convenient way to experience them.
If you’re travelling with younger kids, there’s plenty on offer to keep them entertained, particularly with the ‘extras’ like the banana boat and kayaks. Our two boys reported afterwards that the speedboat itself was the best part, with the screams and smiles we witnessed confirming this. The length of tour felt about right for the whole family and we all felt suitably tired (but happy) when we were dropped back to the hotel.
The tours are popular on Langkawi and they do good business, so you won’t have the islands to yourselves and, at times, the arrival of yet another jet-ski tour can temporarily spoil the moment. But once you get away from your fellow tourists and feel the surge of tropical sea air through your air, you’ll forget the crowds and only have eyes for the view.
We also recommend that you do a Langkawi mangrove tour to see the bat caves and a very different side to the island.
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