To get to the natural attractions and iconic beaches of Langkawi, you may think you’ll first have to fly to Kuala Lumpur. But just across the border, Thailand’s southern city of Hat Yai offers a much quicker way to get to Malaysia’s so-called Pearl of the North.
Shorter than an hour’s drive from Hat Yai airport, the state of Perlis greets you first through the bustling Malaysian border town of Padang Besar. From there, nature beckons at Gua Kelam and at a zoo-like Snake Park, considered to be Malaysia’s finest. And finally, a short ferry ride takes you to Langkawi, an island-hopper’s laid-back paradise. Here’s a two-day itinerary to make the most of this charming land-based trip from southern Thailand.
Perlis: Nature’s Diverse Attractions on Land
Morning: Arrive at Hat Yai airport in the morning and take a one-hour taxi or minivan ride that brings you to Padang Besar, a Thai-Malaysian border town thriving on commercial activity and duty-free shopping. Once you’ve crossed into Malaysia, head towards Bazar Pedang Besar and soak in the scene as vendors switch fluently between Bahasa and Thai, shouting out prices in different languages. Don’t forget to see the fervor for Thai food as Thailand’s neighbors slurp on Thai-style noodles and wipe their sweat from the heat of Thai-style spicy salads. Word has it that Malaysians come to this border just to eat Thai food. But save your energy, as this is only a pit stop – the most exciting part of Perlis awaits.
Afternoon: A 20-minute drive west brings you to Gua Kelam (“The Dark Cave”), a limestone sanctuary, with a storied tin mining past. Here a well-paved, raised walkway takes explorers through the 370m cave’s stalactites, stalagmites and otherworldly gour pools. It’s an easy adventure for most people. If you love relaxing in clear streams that give your legs a natural massage, you’ll appreciate how the Gua Kelam walkway ends: at a wide recreational park, where water gently massages you. Children can spend hours playing, while you laze nearby in the cool shade of the large trees, marveling at the limestone cave’s grandeur from the outside. The wonders of nature continue on your way into town, at the Perlis Snake Farm. It’s the primary snake farm of Malaysia. It’s a sprawling space and houses more than snakes. An energetic ostrich, for example, roams the grounds.
Evening: Watch the sunset at the highly Instagrammable Rainbow Village. This entire neighborhood of wooden homes on stilts, restored by a fresh coat of rainbow-colored paint, brings joy to people of any age. Watch as locals collect baskets of fish they’ve left out to dry in front of their colorful doors. A mountainous rainbow-color bridge that sways gently with the wind brings you into this part of town. At the peak, do pause for a few minutes to take in the breathtaking view of fishermen’s ships.
Langkawi: Beaches and Island-Hopping
Morning: Catch the 11:30AM ferry from Perlis, traversing the Strait of Malacca to arrive in Kuah, the district capital of Langkawi. There aren’t many tourists on this route, and you’ll enjoy a truly local experience in these darkly lit boats. Once at Kuah jetty, find a tour operator to book an island-hopping tour for the following day. An unforgettable itinerary takes you via speedboat to Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, a large freshwater lake, then to Pulau Beras for a saltwater alternative.
Afternoon: To fuel up, have lunch at Haroo+, a Korean restaurant frequented by Koreans. If you prefer to go local, get a ride to the no-frills Food Paradise. In addition to the delicious food, it’s also home to one of the most diligent flatbread makers in action. His chapatis and pratas are the soft, chewy stuff of dreams and should help you last till your next nature destination: Black Sand Beach, a beautiful and sparsely populated stretch of interwoven black and white sand at the foot of a photogenic set of stairs. At low-tide, it’s possible to get on swings that have been positioned in the sea, rocking back and forth as you look at the colorful speed boats docked in a row. It’s possible to spend hours at Black Sand Beach, getting lost in time, and drawing black-and-white patterns in the sand.
With all the ways nature impresses in northern Malaysia, it’s easy to now see the Thailand-Malaysia border and Hat Yai as more than a Thai destination, but also the gateway to a laid back, serene holiday, where bazars, caves, snake parks, rainbow villages, freshwater lakes and salty seas all come together via seamless roads and straits.
If you can, get to Perlis during June–July, when the famous and rare harumanis is in season. This fragrant, and silky mango that can only be found in this part of Malaysia and is the perfect fuel for all that’s recommended above.
Ready for an adventure in and around Hat Yai? Fly directly to Hat Yai with Thai Airways.
