Langkawi
Why go?
Up in the northwest corner of peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi is a
lush archipelago of around 100 islands, only two of which are
inhabited. Its main island is dominated by a spine of mountains
which rise to a plateau of paddy fields. The coastal fringes are
dotted with fishing kampungs, coconut plantations and a string of
idyllic sandy bays - some developed, others wonderfully
remote.
There's an international airport on the west coast - though most
visitors are from southeast Asia rather than Europe - which makes
access a breeze. To its south are a pair of bustling beaches at
Cenang and Tengah, with all manner of watersports (waterskiing,
sailing, parasailing, banana boat, windsurfing). A couple of small
sandbank islands lie just offshore, one of them reachable on foot
in low tide. Most of the seafront is lined with large, generic
resorts, but a short distance inland you can still find some unsung
gems such as Bon Ton and Temple Tree.
Without doubt the island's best beaches and most virgin tracts of
jungle are tucked away in the northwest corner, around Datai Bay -
which is home to just one very exclusive resort. There's
a golf club nearby, and several waterfalls which you can hike to in
the company of a guide; look out for flying squirrels, flying
snakes, monitor lizards, wild boars, dingos and birds galore.
Any Downsides?
Just a few words of warning: bring a strong mosquito repellent, and watch out for troupes of monkeys (or a herd of cows) when driving. You might also want to keep valuables and food stored safely in your room, in case monkeys start to forage.