The Langkawi archipelago off the north-western coastline of peninsular Malaysia is a burgeoning resort destination that has holidaymakers taking notice. The bulk of the forests that blanket its 99 islands remain untouched wilderness. Long may it remain thus.
I’d read the travel guide descriptions of Langkawi’s 
natural attributes. The statistics speak for themselves: 99 islands (maybe 104, depending upon the prevailing tides), of which only three have any settlement to boast of; Southeast Asia’s oldest rock formations; a total of just 50,000 inhabitants; extensive untouched forests and vast wetlands; some unique wildlife and picture-postcard scenery, which avid film-goers will recognise as the backdrop to Anna and the King.
Having heard tale after tale about the island’s adventure-based recreation, I decided to return to my beloved Langkawi in an active state of mind, booking a room at The Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa (frangipanilangkawi.com) with the intention of progressing swiftly from resort lounging to eco adventuring.
The closest beach to Kuala Lumpur, and several hundred kilometres to the south (50 minutes’ flying time), Langkawi is within convenient weekend-break distance for residents of several regional capitals – a feature that could spell disaster for many eco-lovely destinations, but seems to work here. What makes Langkawi special is that island authorities clearly realise the island’s natural beauty, as seen in their efforts to protect it. This is no Phuket or Bali, but a destination that remains, for the most part, untouched – and its inhabitants are keen to keep it that way.
This was confirmed over dinner with The Frangipani’s owner, Anthony Wong. “Langkawi is basically a community of farmers and fishermen who have seen the benefits that accrue from tourism. This development has happened over the past decade, and while Langkawi could be considered regionally to be a late developer, it has superb infrastructure, from an international airport capable of handling 747s, to an extensive array of resorts, none of which dominates the natural landscape. This is where I think Langkawi sets itself apart from other regional tropical resort islands.
“At The Frangipani we have set about incorporating eco-friendly technology into all renovations, such as microbe treatment of our black water so that it can be safely recycled as irrigation water for our extensive gardens. We hope that the resort will soon become a regional resource for other hotels to model themselves upon.”
By David Bowden
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Courtesy of lifestyleandliving.com
