Travel from Langkawi to Phuket by Ferry - But Not Before Stopping by These Islands.

lady beach relaxing

It's that time of the year again! I'm sure many of us have dreamed of packing our bags and flying off to top beautiful islands all over the world. However, many of us are restricted to a budget and limited time. Traveling to some of the world's best islands may cost a bomb and is far from reasonable to young working adults and students. Most of us Malaysians have even been to some of the few famous islands in our homeland such as Pulau Redang, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Pangkor, and the like. But, we would prefer to travel out of the country, wouldn't we? *snickers*. If you are really adamant on having a long island getaway but wouldn't want to remain at one place for too long, you've come across the right article!

As a fellow island lover myself, I have traveled to a few islands over Malaysia and Thailand and discovered so many beautiful sights, people, and most importantly, experiences. In Thailand, beautiful islands are everywhere! Here, I will be focusing on the islands located in the Andaman Sea, which is on the west of Thailand. We will be beginning our journey in one of the most visited islands in Malaysia, Pulau Langkawi, The Jewel of Kedah!

Langkawi Island

And so our journey begins. Why start at Langkawi,you ask? Why can't I immediately fly to Thailand, you ask? Because it is more cost efficient! You can fly directly to Langkawi via the many budget airlines such as AirAsia or Malindo Air. Besides shopping (duty-free yay!), there are some places of interest you can consider visiting. For those who enjoy history and culture, consider paying a visit to Taman Lagenda Langkawi which is an open-air 'garden museum' allowing visitors to discover for themselves the many stories and legends Langkawi is home to. If you prefer an adventure, you may opt for the Langkawi Island Hopping Tour where you will be brought to the few illustrious islets of Langkawi such as Pulau Singa Besar and Pulau Dayang Bunting.

Koh Lipe

Once satisfied with Langkawi, begin your journey to the beautiful land of smiles: Thailand. Our next stop is Koh Lipe, a fairly small but beautiful island. There are ferries available from Langkawi Island to Koh Lipe. The journey would take approximately one hour. Once you are here, prepare to be amazed by the wonderful sights and crystal waters. Koh Lipe is a fairly small island and you can get around by foot. Snorkeling is a must here, with gear rental charged at only around 50 Baht for a day (price may differ). If time is not a concern, go for snorkeling tours at surrounding islands too for an even more mesmerizing experience. Don't forget to rise early and drop by Sunrise Beach to witness the sunrise. If you are not an early riser, well, become one!

Koh Lanta

The journey here from Koh Lipe is a long one, roughly 4 hours by ferry if all goes well. If you have not gotten much sleep while in Koh Lipe, catch up on it while on the ferry. Koh Lanta is much bigger in comparison to Koh Lipe but it is one of the best islands to go to if your goal is to do relax and do nothing. If you are looking for a party, I suggest you remain on Koh Lipe. However, the party scene is beginning to grow here and various bars can be seen around. Due to it's calm and serene surroundings, this island is a favorite among newlyweds on their honeymoon, and families. My advice would be to party hard at Koh Lipe before resting up before departing for the next stop. Enjoy the calm surroundings accompanied by the sweet sea breeze with the soft white sand between your toes while it lasts.

Koh Phi Phi

This island is by far my personal favorite. A ferry from Koh Lanta would get you here in two hours, whereas speedboat would only take an hour. The Beach - starring Leonardo DiCaprio (oh, sweet Leo) - was filmed at the smaller island of the Phi Phi Islands, Koh Phi Phi Le. Ever since the release of The Beach, Koh Phi Phi has been attracting hordes of tourists to this enchanting paradise. Koh Phi Phi Don is the bigger of the two islands but everyone travels on foot or bicycle. . Local and international can be found anywhere so food shouldn't be a problem, unless you are extremely fussy of course, which you shouldn't be! There are various water activities available to keep yourself occupied throughout the day and lots of bars for you to choose from at night. If drinking and partying isn't your cup of tea, there are still a couple of nice places to chill out around the island so explore!

Phuket

Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, with armies of tourists flooding the island. 6-star hotels are aplenty, but backpackers and those on a budget may find their prices ridiculous. Do not fret though, as there are budget hotels and hostels situated around the island - just not as much as the luxurious ones. You can opt to take a ferry or speedboat from Koh Phi Phi, with the journey taking around two hours or the latter 90 minutes. As this is a highly developed island, things are pricier as compared to the previous islands. Big F&B outlets such as Starbucks and McDonald's are also a common sight. Don't worry about running out of activities as Phuket pretty much never sleeps. From visiting the Big Buddha to watching cabaret shows, it will be an experience one will never forget.

Our journey to these magical islands belonging to our neighboring country has ended and I hope this post has been somewhat helpful. Do bear in mind that you are in a foreign country while traveling to these amazing islands, and keep your belongings close to you at all times. If your hotel provides you with a safe box, put it to good use! That aside, remember to have fun and capture as many memories and experiences as you possible could!