Wilderness Kayaking in Langkawi

Langkawi as a beautiful cluster of 99 islands on the edge of the Indian Ocean - most of them uninhabited limestone outcrops. The south of the main island offers fine resorts, duty-free shopping, golf, a wide stretch of beach, and a whole range of sophisticated distractions for holidaymakers serious about getting their tans.

But what Langkawi is only now getting recognised for is what lies on its opposite side just 30 minutes away: One of the biggest and healthiest mangroves in Asia. And the best way to explore them? Wilderness kayaking.

Because of the year-round warm weather here, paddling Langkawi’s sheltered backwaters is a year-round affair, which is ranked among the best sea kayaking destinations in Southeast Asia.

You won't have trouble finding sit-on-top rentals seating one or two. Before you set off on an exploratory adventure, make sure you bring enough water, and tell your guide how energetic you feel. If you want a half-day workout or a two-hour leisurely paddle, make that clear from the start.

Miles and miles of mangrove estuaries await you; and dramatic limestone islets that tower like stone castles above the calm, sheltered sea. Because of these sheltered waterways, it’s a good place for novice kayakers to practice their forward and back paddling, as well as turning techniques. These skills will come in handy when navigating the upper tributaries, which are often just slightly wider than the kayaks!

If you feel brave, you can head out of the estuaries to the open sea and look for pods of porpoises that inhabit these waters. The ‘open sea’ actually faces the nearby Malaysian mainland so the conditions are often calmer than you’d expect. Some days, the water is as flat as glass and the paddling is wonderfully easy.

A typical tour with Ecological Excursions, Langkawi’s leading wilderness kayaking operator, lasts about 5 leisurely hours, takes in untouched estuaries and a secret cave that only the guide knows about, called No Name Cave.

If you have the energy, paddle out to a Hong - a collapsed cave with a lagoon inside with a decidedly Jurassic feel to it. At the end of your tour, you end up on one of the floating fish farms that dot the estuaries, where you can enjoy lunch or dinner.

Another reason wilderness kayaking is growing in popularity along Langkawi’s North-eastern coast is the Sea Eagle feeding spectacle.