5 Reasons You Need to Add This Malaysian Archipelago to Your Bucket List

Updated on July 9, 2017 at 4:10 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Lisa Horten

In planning a trip to Southeast Asia, Thailand and Indonesia top most travelers' lists. But the destination that's earned a spot as one of my family's all-time favorites in the world is Langkawi, an archipelago located off the coast of Malaysian Borneo. The region's landscape features wild jungles and a pristine coastline with crystal-clear water.

You can have dinner alongside dusky leaf monkeys, brave your way across the spectacular Langkawi SkyBridge, and cruise through mangrove forests — just the right balance of adventure and relaxation, and it's all set against the dreamiest backdrop. Read on to learn more about why this far-off destination is well worth the journey.

You can experience island living.

As Americans living in Asia, one of the nicest things that we've found is that you can travel incredibly well at a fraction of the cost of what you'd spend at beach resorts on the other side of the globe.

Malaysian hospitality is exceptional, and while Langkawi has become somewhat built up, it's still very low-key compared to places like Phuket and Bali.

We stayed at The Datai Langkawi, one of the area's original resorts — it's actually about to shut down for nearly a year (September 2017-July 2018) for renovations. If you're considering a trip after then, check it out. It's really a special place that makes full use of its natural surroundings. Other properties worth exploring include the St. Regis Langkawi (as luxe as you'd expect) and Bon Ton Restaurant and Resort, which offers a more intimate boutique hotel experience — guests get to stay in one of eight traditional Malay villas.

You get the full-on jungle experience, too.

Flying lemurs, macaque monkeys, eagles . . . Langkawi offers a full-on jungle experience. One of best ways to experience the incredible array of wildlife that the region has to offer is a mangrove cruise.

We used Junglewalla for a half-day excursion and thought the outing was very well done and that the naturalist on board (a local) was informative and friendly.

Here's a tip, though: contact Junglewalla (or research other providers, there are plenty of them) on your own. Our resort offered to arrange the trip for us, and the upcharge of having the concierge make the call was substantial.

The beaches are beautiful!

Datai Bay (known locally as Teluk Datai) was rated one of National Geographic's top 10 beaches in the world, and the Andaman Sea is a popular destination for divers. Those who prefer to stay shoreside will discover pristine white sand and crystal-clear water to wade or swim in. The mountainous landscape doesn't hurt, either.

You can learn about the people, food, and culture.

Traditional Malaysian cuisine merges influences of Chinese, Indian, and Malay food, and it's seriously delicious. For an authentic and memorable dining experience, book a table at The Gulai House. The restaurant is set in the jungle, and you'll get to experience a customary Malaysian hand-wash ritual before eating off of banana leaves and handmade ceramics. The night we were there, there were monkeys swinging in the trees surrounding the open-air restaurant and wild boars running around by the entryway.

We found that everyone we encountered in Malaysia was eager to share their culture and knowledge of their surroundings — it's a very warm and inclusive vibe.

You can get a view from the top.

The cable car ride up to the summit of Gunung Machinchang and walk across the curved suspension bridge known as the Langkawi Sky Bridge is worth it. The views are magnificent, and while those with a fear of heights might get a little queasy walking upon a bridge suspended 328 feet in the air, it was an excursion that my 1-and-a-half-year-old and 4-and-a-half-year-old were able to handle (and enjoy).