Travelling with family always comes with a mix of excitement and logistics, but Langkawi makes it easy. From ferry rides to mangrove tours, and duty-free chocolate runs to fire shows on the beach, our 3-day island escape after Penang was the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.
Ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi with Cars - 3 hours ride.
We booked the ferry through Langkawi Ro-ro.
🚗 Drive to Kuala Perlis Jetty
🚢 Ferry to Langkawi (≈ 3 hours)
🏨 Check-in: Dayang Bay Resort Langkawi (4⭐)
📸 Dataran Lang (Eagle Square) & Maha Tower
🛍️ Duty-free chocolate shopping at TS Duty Free Shop
🍽️ Dinner at Fish Farm Restaurant or ZF Seafood
🚠 SkyCab cable car ride
🦅 Eagle’s Nest viewpoint
🌉 Walk across the Langkawi SkyBridge
🛍️ Duty-free shopping at The Zon Duty Free Zone
🔥 Fire show at Pantai Cenang Beach
🚤 Kilim Geoforest Park Mangrove Tour
🐒 Monkey area & mangrove sightseeing
🦅 Eagle watching
🐊 Crocodile cave & 🦇 bat cave (RM2 entrance)
🤿 Dangli Island snorkeling
Day 1 – From Penang to Langkawi: Ferry Ride & First Impressions
Morning: Breakfast and Drive
We started our day with a hotel breakfast in Penang around 8 AM — enough energy for a long day ahead. The kids enjoyed the pastries while we sipped coffee, mentally preparing for the drive north.
Afternoon: Ferry to Langkawi
At 2 PM, we boarded the ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi, a ride of about three hours. The sea views were calming, and the kids were excited to watch the mainland slowly fade. A tip for families: bring snacks, water, and motion-sickness tablets just in case.
Evening: Check-In & Sightseeing
We checked in at Dayang Bay Resort Langkawi (4⭐), a comfortable hotel with rooms spacious enough for a family.
Our Apartment Bedroom:
Toilet
We can also view Maha Tower.
After settling in, we explored nearby Dataran Lang (Eagle Square) — the giant eagle statue makes for an iconic photo.
Next, a quick stop at Maha Tower for some skyline pictures.
Maha Tower is just a short drive away, perfect for night photos.
Day 2 – Iconic Langkawi: Sky Bridge & Beach Fun
Morning: Breakfast and Sky Adventure
Breakfast at the hotel was our energy booster again. Today’s highlight was the Langkawi SkyBridge and SkyCab. The queue took about 1.5 hours, so patience is required.
To enter Eagle Nest SkyDome, you’ll need to purchase an additional ticket on-site.
Tip: The weather gets extremely hot — bring a hat and umbrella.
3D Art Museum
Our ticket also included the 3D Art Museum, the largest of its kind in Malaysia. The artworks were incredibly realistic — so convincing that my parents kept reminding me to be careful! It took over 1 hour to complete and was fully air-conditioned. This is a must-visit attraction.
Afternoon: Duty-Free Shopping
We headed to The Zon Duty Free Zone near Pantai Cenang. It’s air-conditioned, easy to navigate, and perfect for a family chocolate run. Tip: compare prices — some items are slightly cheaper in Kuah, some here.
Evening: Fire Show at Pantai Cenang
After a day of sightseeing, we ended our evening at Pantai Cenang Beach, enjoying a fire show. The kids’ eyes lit up as performers twirled flames, and it was a great way to wind down before heading back to the hotel.
You can catch fire performances hosted by different beach cafés. You can either watch from the shore or sit inside a café to enjoy the show.
We also bought kites and beach toys to play during sunset. A visit to The Zon Duty Free followed — prices were decent, but not as attractive as TS Duty Free.
Day 3 – Nature & Local Flavours: Mangroves & Night Market
Afternoon: Kilim Geoforest Park Mangrove Tour
Post-breakfast, we headed out for the Kilim Geoforest Park Mangrove Tour at 2 PM. We booked our tour from here.
Highlights included:
- Monkey and eagle spotting
- Crocodile and bat caves (entrance RM2)
- Stunning views of limestone cliffs and Kilim Geo Park
- Floating restaurant stop for a quick snack
- Snorkelling at Dangli Island
The kids loved the boat ride and wildlife sightings — an educational and fun experience rolled into one. Tip: Bring sunscreen, hats, and waterproof pouches for phones.
We joined a KLIM Geoforest Mangrove Tour at 2:00 PM. The tour lasted about 4 hours, with lunch included. While the weather was hot, the boat ride was windy and pleasant.
Highlights of the tour:
- Mangrove Forest: Fish use mangroves as a safe healing ground because larger predators cannot enter.
- Eagle Feeding: Limited to 50 boats per day.
- Crocodile Cave: Shaped like a crocodile; inaccessible due to high tide and our larger boat.
- Monkey Area: These monkeys are intelligent — they can swim and catch fish and crabs.
- Bat Cave: Entrance fee of RM2. The cave is dark and filled with bats, so a torchlight is essential.
- Lunch at Kelong (Floating restaurant) : Fresh seafood while viewing live fish. They provided us fried chicken with fried rice, a bowl of soup, ice lemon tea and a slice of orange.
- Snorkeling at Daling Island to end the tour.
- Eagle Feeding: Limited to 50 boats per day.
- Crocodile Cave: Shaped like a crocodile; inaccessible due to high tide and our larger boat.
- Monkey Area: These monkeys are intelligent — they can swim and catch fish and crabs.
- Bat Cave: Entrance fee of RM2. The cave is dark and filled with bats, so a torchlight is essential.
- Lunch at Kelong (Floating restaurant) : Fresh seafood while viewing live fish. They provided us fried chicken with fried rice, a bowl of soup, ice lemon tea and a slice of orange.
- Snorkeling at Daling Island to end the tour.
Family Travel Takeaways
- Relaxed pace works best: Travel days can be long; short stops help keep kids comfortable.
- Bring snacks & essentials: Ferries and tours are fun but can stretch for hours.
- Mix sightseeing with downtime: Duty-free shopping and beach time allowed us to rest between adventures.
- Wildlife and nature are a hit: Mangrove tours and SkyBridge views gave the kids memorable experiences.
Langkawi with family is about balance — a little adventure, a little shopping, and a lot of relaxing by the sea. After Penang’s food paradise, this island getaway felt like a breath of fresh, salty air.
