Langkawi: Malaysia’s astonishing archipelago

Malaysia

Known as the Jewel of Kedah state, Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands along Malaysia’s west coast. Once a sleepy, near-deserted backwater, in the mid-80s Malaysia’s then-prime minister decided to make Langkawi a tropical tourist paradise.

Pulau Langkawi, one of only four inhabited islands in the archipelago, is by far the largest - and in fact is often simply called Langkawi. Today, the island’s powdery-white shoreline is fringed with slender palms and with laid-back bars. Venture inland and you’ll find jungle-cloaked mountains and picturesque paddy fields as well a plethora of duty-free bargains - a big draw for travellers since 1987.

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