With a ‘golden’ spare four days on my hands, I decided to leave the kids behind with the grandparents. I opted for a solo me-time trip, to visit my aunt and uncle who own a hotel in Langkawi.
A few days before I left, I met up with a friend who asked me what I would be doing in Langkawi. I told her I had no hard plans and just wanted a few days of chill time. She suggested to try a cycling tour through the rice fields, as she had a contact for a tour guide who could organise that.
In the next few days, the image of ‘cycling through the padi fields’ kind of stuck in my brain. So I took action, exchanged messages with a friendly lady named Sandra Loh, and made a date to meet for the ride. Sandra texted me the day before to say there would be one more person joining us. Great! The more, the merrier.
Great food and gorgeous padi fields
We met in Cenang, and set off around 8am. It was total fun from the start, as Langkawi is crazily bike-friendly compared to KL roads. You do have to be careful though on the main roads, and Sandra says that if there are kids on her tours, she stays off the main roads completely. Ulu Melaka and Kuala Teriang were amongst other places we cycled to during our three hour trip, which turned into a nine hour journey.
We made a breakfast stop for Roti Canai Sarang Burung ( Roti Canai Bird’s Nest style) and another one for a refreshing coconut drink. We saw lots and lots of padi fields, cycled through kampungs and said “hi” to the friendly local kids and folk. We went through rubber plantations, and cycled over bridges and through small alleyways.
Needing lunch, we decided to cycle to the Temple Tree Resort at Pantai Cenang. The ride to Pantai Cenang was most challenging, as we were on main roads and experienced heavy headwind (especially when cycling next to Langkawi airport). I nearly quit, but shut myself up and forced my legs to keep going.
We made it!
We finally made it to the gorgeous Temple Tree Resort and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. Much needed – to rest the legs and butts. Our last cycle stop was boutique hotel La Pari Pari in Pantai Tengah, where we enjoyed more scenic views. I was happy to be dropped back to Cenang beach with a van, by which time it was after 5pm.
Other special places to visit in Langkawi
If you have time, do visit the following places.
- Restaurant Scarborough by the seaside at Tanjung Rhu. Its fish and chips are a must-have, especially when washed down with a beer or two.
- Nearby are the Durian Perangin waterfalls, so you can combine that in one day. You can easily hike to the waterfalls in less than half an hour.
- Another ten minutes drive takes you to the Ayer Hangat Hot Springs, the country’s only salt water hot springs. It’s a pity that not all of the amenities were open when I visited, but I got to soak in both the Female Well (not that hot) and the Male Well (which is hotter – between 38 and 42 degrees Celcius . The hot thermal springs are meant to cure skin conditions and many other ailments.
- Visit the mangrove forests of Langkawi. Have a look at our post here.
How to organise your bike trip?
You can contact Sandra Loh on her phone: 011 1223 4948. Let her know ahead and she can prepare bikes for you.
Sandra has lived in Langkawi since 2003 and works as a tour guide there. I only found out later that she has ridden her bike around Peninsula Malaysia and also wrote a sold-out book about her experiences.
Looking for places to stay in Langkawi? Have a look here at our post about Pelangi Beach Hotel & Spa and here about The Westin Langkawi resort & Spa.
This post is written by Ms. Kim Boey, an educator, writer, personal trainer and group fitness instructor.
