Comparison · Langkawi vs Phuket · Malaysia / Thailand
Langkawi vs Phuket
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ttt.Osakanman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Langkawi for SkyCab and Sky Bridge, Mangrove tours, lower day-to-day costs and a short break; choose Phuket for Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and day trips. Langkawi is generally less expensive, and the two are about 230 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 230 km
- Less expensive
- Langkawi
- Best time for Langkawi
- December–March
- Best time for Phuket
- December–March
Side by side
| Langkawi | Phuket | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malaysia | Thailand |
| Known for | SkyCab and Sky Bridge, Mangrove tours and Pantai Cenang beach | Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi Islands day trips |
| Best time to visit | December–March | December–March |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$160 | $90–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | March, 34°C (93°F) | March, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | September, 31°C (88°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 2 | 6 |
| Beaches | Pantai Cenang | Kata Beach |
| Airports | LGK | HKT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Langkawi for…
SkyCab and Sky Bridge, Mangrove tours, lower day-to-day costs and a short break. Langkawi is an archipelago of about 99 islands in the Andaman Sea off the Kedah coast, and most visitors stay on the main island. The west coast holds the beaches — Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah and the resort coves of Datai Bay — while the north and east are…
Choose Phuket for…
Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and day trips. Thailand's largest island, about 50 km long, lines its west coast with sandy bays from lively Patong to calmer Kata, Kamala and Nai Harn, all facing the Andaman Sea. Inland, rubber plantations and forested hills hide the Big Buddha and waterfalls, while…
Top sights compared
| # | Langkawi | Phuket |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SkyCab cable car | Big Buddha |
| 2 | Langkawi Sky Bridge | Old Phuket Town |
| 3 | Kilim Karst Geoforest Park mangrove tour | Wat Chalong |
| 4 | Pantai Cenang beach | Promthep Cape |
| 5 | Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh) | Karon Viewpoint |
Food compared
| Langkawi | Phuket |
|---|---|
| Nasi lemak | Phuket Hokkien noodles |
| Laksa Kedah | Moo hong |
| Ikan bakar | Khanom jeen |
| Roti canai | Phuket dim sum |
Which is cheaper?
Langkawi is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$160 per person there, against $90–$200 in Phuket (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Langkawi on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Langkawi and Phuket are about 230 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Langkawi and 7 in Phuket.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Langkawi or Phuket cheaper?
Langkawi is usually less expensive: about $80–$160 a day mid-range against $90–$200 (estimates).
+Is Langkawi or Phuket better for a first trip?
Pick Langkawi for SkyCab and Sky Bridge, Mangrove tours, lower day-to-day costs and a short break, or Phuket for Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and day trips.
+How far is Langkawi from Phuket?
About 230 km in a straight line.