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DESTINATION
– Langkawi, Malaysia –
THE JEWEL
OF KEDAH
WHILE SCORING HIGH ON A CHECKLIST FOR PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS, IT IS THE
MESMERISING BEAUTY OF LANGKAWI THAT GETS A SAILOR’S HEART LEAPING FOR JOY.
By Kamila Delart
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DESTINATION
– Langkawi, Malaysia –
SHIELDED FROM WIND AND STORMS, and with monsoon rains falling mainly at night, the
Malaysian archipelago of Langkawi is one of the world’s few boating destinations with year-round
appeal. With straightforward immigration and yacht registration procedures, three fabulous
marinas and duty-free status, it’s a true paradise for yachting enthusiasts.
Yet to be discovered by the masses, the archipelago consists of 104 tiny deserted islands
sprinkled about the emerald-green Andaman Sea that lure travellers with secluded bays, tranquil
anchorages and white sandy beaches with no other souls around. The archipelago is part of the
State of Kedah, which borders Thailand. The largest island, Pulau Langkawi, is about 480 square
kilometres, has an international airport and a population of about 65,000.
Above the glistening water, magnificent towering limestone formations with colourful streaks
of mineral sediments mark the passage of time as far back as 550 million years. Set only some 200
feet apart and covered by a dense jungle ruled by monkeys and primordial reptiles, a few islands
form canyon-like corridors – making it feel as though you’re sailing through a rainforest.
Board a dinghy and you may discover a secret “pirate lagoon” or a hidden cavern with giant
stalactites and stalagmites. If the magic hasn’t gotten to you completely yet, wait until the night
falls and the velvety sky lights up with millions of stars that seem to shine just for you.
A Voyage of Discovery
Only a day’s cruise away from Penang, Phuket and other popular boating destinations, the
archipelago is easy to reach with your yacht. Or charter one locally to enjoy a leisurely cruise
aboard a classic sailing sloop, seek the thrill of a fast motor yacht or host an exclusive event on a
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majestic three-masted barquentine. There are many charter companies in
Langkawi, including Blue Water Star Sailing, the island’s leading crewed
yacht charter agency with a fleet of 20 yachts. Simpson Yacht Charter in
Phuket offers charters to/from Langkawi.
If you’re looking for a unique sailing experience, book the
spectacular Indulgence Cruise on the 97-foot Naga Pelangi. With a
name that translates as Rainbow Dragon, the traditional Malaysian
wooden junk schooner boasts dark red sails and an interior inspired by
the palace of the Sultan of Terengganu. With a private chef on board,
free-flow champagne and exquisite spa treatments, this is a luxury treat
to remember for years to come.
Where To Stay Onshore
While cruises with Naga Pelangi are exclusive to the guests of The
Datai Langkawi, spending at least a couple of days at this iconic luxury
hideaway should be part of your itinerary anyway. Hidden deep in a
10-million-year-old rainforest, overlooking a dreamy bay voted by
National Geographic as one of the world’s Top 10 beaches, The Datai
Langkawi lures with stunning architecture by Kerry Hill and breathtaking scenery. Seamlessly blending into the surrounding nature and
resembling a majestic fortress, the main building is made of black shale
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DESTINATION
– Langkawi, Malaysia –
rocks and exposed timber wood with a graceful patina of time. Veiled by
dense foliage, the rainforest villas are set on a mountain slope, rising on
stilts above the purling stream of Sungai Datai. Follow the path all the
way to the seashore to discover magnificent beach villas surrounded by
tropical gardens with private pools. Life in the jungle follows its natural
course, allowing you to experience breath-taking moments even while
standing on the balconies watching the monkeys forage in the trees.
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On the remote rocky part of the beach, Long-Tailed Macaques hunt
for crabs, groups of Sea Otters bask in the sun and if you are really lucky,
you may even spot a few White Dolphins. While enjoying a leisurely
breakfast, you will hear the mysterious laugh of the Great Hornbill
soaring above the jungle canopy. As you explore the 750-acre property,
you may catch sight of an adorable Dusky Leaf Monkey, a sleeping
Colugo clinging to a branch, or a Monitor Lizard.
Set on a stretch of a white sandy beach and surrounded by
spectacular limestone formations and mangrove forests, the Four
Seasons Resort Langkawi enchants with stunning elements of Moorish
architecture, featuring soaring walls in warm terracotta hues, airy
courtyards, reflecting pools and plentiful fountains. Resembling secret
keyholes, the horseshoe arches emblematic of Islamic art offer a glimpse
into the dreamy landscapes. Pathways made of reclaimed railway
sleepers lead to lavish beach villas and charming two-storey Melaleuca
Pavilions with floor-to-ceiling windows that make the lush tropical
foliage and constantly changing colour of the sea part of the ambiance.
While offering a variety of nature-based activities from rainforest
immersion and mangrove exploration to archery and rock climbing, the
most unique is the holistic experience at the resort’s Geo Spa. Inspired
by the surrounding nature, the concept draws upon the abundant gifts of
the Kilim Geoforest Park – incorporating healing mud from mangroves,
indigenous rainforest plants and the energy of primordial rocks to
purify and nurture your body, illuminate your spirit and facilitate
energy flow to help you achieve equilibrium.
Another stunning resort is The Danna. Overlooking a picturesque
marina with white sails of luxury yachts proudly glistening against
the emerald green Andaman Sea, the resort revives the memory of a
lavish colonial era and the hedonistic lifestyle of affluent traders and
merchants who settled in the tropics centuries ago, chasing the dream of
exotic fruits, aromatic spices and ships loaded with silk, pearls and tea.
USEFUL INFO
Located off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi is only a
day’s cruise from Penang, Phuket or the Similan Islands.
The Langkawi International Airport receives several daily flights
from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore. With Air Asia planning to
turn Langkawi into one of its hubs, direct flights to/from more places are
to be launched in the near future.
VIDEOwww.youtube.com/watch?v=hsaID2W2tNo
YACHT REGISTRATION www.myyachtregistration.com
MARINASwww.telagaharbour.com
www.rebakmarina.com
www.langkawiyachtclub.com
CHARTERwww.simpsonyachtcharter.com
www.bluewaterstarsailing.com
ACCOMMODATION www.thedatai.com/langkawi
www.fourseasons.com/langkawi
www.thedanna.com
www.templetree.com.my
GOLFwww.elsclubmalaysia.com/teluk-datai/
ADVENTUREwww.langkawi-gazette.com/adventure-guide
DININGwww.langkawi-gazette.com/trendy-restaurants
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– Langkawi, Malaysia –
ASIA PACIFIC SUPERYACHTS LANGKAWI – LANGKAWI HARBOUR AT SUNSET
DESTINATION
IDEAL FOR YACHT JOURNEYS
Luring with grandeur and opulence, The Danna is built around a
courtyard with lush vegetation, cascading fountains and a Koi pond. The
interior astounds with soaring ceilings, towering pillars, and sparkling
chandeliers. The black-and-white photographs along the corridors
capture grand railway stations, horse-drawn carriages, gentlemen with
elegant hats and ladies in corset-gowns with petticoats, bringing back
the glory of a bygone era with a waft of nostalgia.
The resort’s Straits & Co tempts with an Afternoon Tea introduced
in the early 1840s by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. The Planter’s
celebrates a dining experience in the style of decadent colonial banquets,
reviving the memory of sparking diamond earrings and skirts swaying
to a piano music, while The Drawing Room with heavy leather chairs
tempts in the evenings with vintage wine and fine hand-rolled cigars.
Those fascinated by the colourful blend of local cultures should
stay at the Temple Tree. Built on a coconut plantation around a sacred
tree with an adjacent Taoist shrine, the unique property celebrates the
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country’s multicultural heritage and showcases nine historic villas from
various parts of the Malay Peninsula. Lovingly restored to their former
glory in a grid style typical for settlements a hundred years ago, there
is a grand Colonial House built by a wealthy goldsmith trader from
Penang, a traditional long house that used to serve as accommodation
for Indian rubber plantation workers, as well as the opulent Chinese
House with verandas offering breath-taking views of the mountains.
Furnished with hand-selected antiques, each of the estates tells a
different story, taking you on a contemplative journey into the past.
Flora and Fauna
Wherever you choose to stay, take some time to explore the island of
Langkawi. Declared in 2007 as the first UNESCO Geopark in Southeast
Asia, Langkawi is famous for its geo-diversity and unique flora and
fauna. With an excellent network of roads that allow you to travel from
north to south in half an hour and from west to east in 50 minutes, all
places of interest are within reach.
Play a round of golf at the Els Club Teluk Datai recently named the
world’s best new golf course. Designed by the golf legend Ernie Els as
a tribute to the surrounding nature the 18-hole, par-72 championship
golf course is nestled in a virgin rainforest with a magnificent backdrop
of the Machinchang mountain range, stretching all the way to the
picturesque coast of the Andaman Sea.
To experience the beauty of Langkawi from a bird’s perspective, book
a private sightseeing tour by helicopter or take a ride with the world’s
steepest cable car to the summit of Gunung Machinchang, a mountain
older than the Himalayas.
One of the absolute highlights is a kayaking tour that takes you to
the Kilim Geoforest Park with spectacular limestone formations, hidden
caves and a labyrinth of secret waterways that wind their way through a
mangrove forest.
If you love trekking, visit Temurun, Durian Perangin or the
myth-enshrouded Seven Wells Waterfall. Or join a guided hike through
the 10-million-year-old rainforest to discover wild orchids, a Resak Tree
whose fragrant resin is a sought-after perfume ingredient, or Tongkat
Ali, one of the world’s most potent aphrodisiacs. With a bit of luck,
you may spot Langkawi’s “Flying Five”: airborne lemurs, lizards, frogs,
squirrels and tree snakes. Langkawi is home to 226 bird species – nearly
twice as much as found in Australia – so bird-watching expeditions or a
wildlife photography tours are an absolute must.
Exotic Local Cuisines
To get a true taste of Langkawi, you have to experience the
exotic blend of local cuisines. Coupled with spectacular settings,
a Langkawi dining experience at the following restaurants will
stimulate all of your senses.
The Andaman Resort’s Jala restaurant is set on the shores of
pristine Datai Bay, enchanting diners with the dreamlike seaview and
seafood specialties, with a daily catch delivered in a small boat by
a local fisherman. The menu marries exotic Malay ingredients and
Danish culinary philosophy. Give your sandals to the shoe concierge
and enjoy the soft powdery sand underneath your feet – a very
sensory experience.
Situated in the heart of a virgin rainforest, The Gulai House enchants
with the rustic atmosphere of a traditional Malay kampung house and
the ever-present symphony of wild birds, crickets and frogs. Following
a traditional hand-wash ritual, authentic Malay and Indian dishes
are served in dreamy alcoves shielded by airy organza drapes with
traditional Malay low tables and hand-woven pandan mats.
Floating in the rainforest canopy some 32 feet above the ground,
The Pavilion lures with a distant ocean view and the silhouettes of
the Thai Tarutao islands on the horizon. Celebrating the culinary art
of Siam, the dishes prepared a la minute with fresh Thai herbs are so
exquisite, the restaurant has earned numerous culinary awards.
“Most superyacht charters start their cruising journey in Asia
in Langkawi, with its unrivalled yachting facilities and natural
beauty,” reports Captain Charlie Dwyer, who heads up the Asia
Pacific Superyachts Langkawi agency that is part of the APS
network of 15 branches in 17 countries. “The duty-free port
includes a shipyard and duty-free spare parts and provisions.
This is the perfect starting point to process paperwork (and avoid
bureaucracy delays in other countries), pick up fuel and load up
on fresh provisions.”
A typical journey will start from Langkawi to cruise north
towards Thailand, to Koh Lipe and the Butang Group of Islands in
the Tarutao National Park. Thailand’s first Marine National Park
consists of 51 islands close to the Malaysian border, and of the 51
islands all but Koh Lipe are uninhabited. Departing the Butang Archipelago the islands of the Andaman
Sea beckon with Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, Tarutao, Similan and
Surin all fantastic options – or cruise farther on to mysterious
Myanmar (formerly Burma) and the Mergui Archipelago.
To learn more about this centrepiece of Malaysia’s tourism
industry and premier yachting destination in the region, contact
[email protected].
www.asia-pacific-superyachts.com
Situated in a 90-year-old estate that enchants with a dreamy colonial
ambience and antiques, the Straits Club Restaurant boasts a small
private dining room and an airy verandah with a tranquil garden view,
serving exquisite fusion cuisine with indigenous spices.
Blessed with marina views of yachts glistening against the backdrop
of jungle-covered hills, Tapaz embraces the Mediterranean theme of
Telaga Harbour, delighting guests with an eclectic mix of the famous
Spanish appetisers. With oversized sofas and dining tables made of
rustic wine barrels, it’s the perfect spot for a leisurely siesta.
A wonderful way to spend an evening on the island – especially
the final night before departure – is to experience the spectacular
sunset at the Rhu Bar. Take a seat in the giant Mogul swing, savour
the tantalising flavour of a signature cocktail – and wait for the sky to
explode in golden, orange and crimson hues. It’s the perfect finale to a
magical journey.
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