Driving around Langkawi, Malaysia

A nice way to see Langkawi, Malaysia is to rent a car and drive around the island at your own leisure. Car rentals are reasonably priced and the island is linked by a network of nice roads with ample signage.

A good place to start your sightseeing tour is Kuah, where you'll find the tourist information centre. Grab all the brochures and maps you may need and you're ready to go.

Near the tourist information centre is the harbourside's parklands that house the Dataran Lang and Lagenda Park — the former a landscaped square with a concrete statue of the Langkawi eagle, and the latter a 20-hectare park commemorating the island's legends in sculptural form.

Heading west from Kuah takes you to countryside surrounded by paddy fields. Let the road signs lead you to Makam Mahsuri, the grave of the island's legendary heroine. Being the island's most popular legend, this tomb/shrine is to Langkawi what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris.

Going back to the main road will lead you to Pantai Cenang, the island's longest stretch of beach. This beach has the highest concentration of accommodation providers, ranging from budget chalets to five-star resorts, and is therefore the liveliest spot.

Laman Padi, a "rice museum," is also located in Pantai Cenang for those interested in all aspects of rice farming. The Underwater World, a large aquarium with a fascinating collection of marine life, is further down the same road.

From Pantai Cenang, take the route to the airport. A go-cart racing centre is situated along the way for those who are game to participate. Past the airport is the small town of Padang Matsirat, where  the Beras Terbakar, or "Field of Burnt Rice," is located. Legend has it burnt rice still appears, the remnants of an 18th-century crop torched by villagers to prevent invading Siamese troops from taking it.

From the Padang Matsirat junction, follow the signage to Pantai Kok, a picturesque stretch of beach some say is the finest in Langkawi. You will come across a red Thai-style structure along this road used in the film Anna and the King starring Jodie Foster.

Built as the Summer Palace for the Siamese monarch in the story, the structure has since been turned into a tourist attraction. The admission charge is a bit steep, but the place itself is well maintained and worth a visit. Cultural performances also are carried out at regular intervals here.

Beyond Pantai Kok is Burau Bay, the other contender for Langkawi's most beautiful beach. Burau Bay is actually a cove flanked by the mysterious peaks of Gunung Mat Cincang. Two resorts sit on both ends of the cove: the Burau Bay Resort and the Berjaya Langkawi Beach Resort, both built to blend in with the surrounding environment.

Further up from Burau Bay, you will find the waterfalls of Telaga Tujuh (Seven Wells), a playground of fairies, according to local folklore. Only fit and enthusiastic outdoor-types should try the 30-minute hike up the falls, though.

Backtrack from Telaga Tujuh and turn towards Datai Bay, where "250 million-year-old rainforest meets the sea," or so the brochure claims. Two of Langkawi's most luxurious resorts, the Datai and the Andaman, are nestled among trees in seclusion here. A breathtaking golf course and a spectacular waterfall are also in the vicinity.

The coastal road along Datai will also lead you past the Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation, a showcase for Malaysia's most famous artist, and a crocodile farm where the main attraction is a deformed croc.

Moving up the north coast, you will find Pasir Hitam, the Beach of Black Sand, where the sand is streaked in black, and Kompleks Budaya Kraf, a complex of traditional Malaysian crafts such as batik, silverware and pottery.

At Padang Lalang turn right for Tanjung Rhu, a beautiful beach with shallow lagoons and vast sand flats during low tide. You can also hire boat rides here to mangrove forests and the legendary caves nearby.

Head west on the main road back to Kuah and you will past Air Hangat Village, a cultural centre around a natural hot spring, and the Galeria Perdana, a museum devoted to Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahatir's collection of gifts.

Besides attractions on Langkawi, you can go island hopping to the neighbouring isles, each with their own coves of crystal-clear waters, snorkeling spots, eerie caves and fascinating folklore.

Top on the list of must-see islands are: Dayang Bunting, the archipelago's second-largest island, with a freshwater lake in the centre; Singa Besar, which houses a wildlife sanctuary; and Payar, a marine park teeming with corals, fish and baby sharks.

photo credit: dmytrok via photopin cc