Pulau Langkawi Island

Langkawi is a duty-free island off the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, surrounded by mangroves and warm Andaman Sea water. The cruise tender lands at a jetty about eight miles from Kuah, the main town. Taxis and tour vans wait at the pier. The SkyBridge, a curved pedestrian bridge suspended near the top of Mount Mat Cincang, gives wide views across the island and the strait. The cable car ride up is steep and can have long queues. The Makam Mahsuri mausoleum tells the story of a local woman allegedly cursed in the 18th century, a legend tied to much of the island's folklore. Seven Wells waterfall is a series of connected rock pools fed by mountain streams. Kuah's duty-free malls sell chocolate, alcohol, and electronics at prices lower than mainland Malaysia. The food is a mix of Malay, Thai, and Indian, with seafood grilled at open-air hawker stalls along the coast.