Season guide · Langkawi · Malaysia
Langkawi in the dry season
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Sunny, calm and clear, with the best conditions for beaches, snorkelling and the cable car, and the highest prices around Christmas and Chinese New Year. Expect highs up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 19 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 23°C (73°F) to 33°C (91°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 19
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F) to 29°C (84°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in the dry season
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 | 11.8 h | 5/5 |
| February | 33°C (91°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 5 | 11.9 h | 4/5 |
| December | 31°C (88°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 9 | 11.8 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 32°C (90°F), and 19 of the year's roughly 169 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in the dry season
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Chinese New Year — family holidays fill hotels (late January or February)
- February: Chinese New Year (some years)
- December: Malaysian school holidays (usually December)
- December: New Year's Eve on Pantai Cenang
Make the most of the weather
Viewpoint · Pantai Kok
SkyCab cable car
The Langkawi Cable Car climbs from the Oriental Village to the top station on Gunung Mat Cincang at about 700 metres, with a middle station on the way.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the Sky Bridge
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- Photo spot
Architecture · Pantai Kok
Langkawi Sky Bridge
Check before you go whether the bridge is open; it closes for maintenance and in bad weather even when the cable car runs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Nature · Kilim
Kilim Karst Geoforest Park mangrove tour
Boats leave the Kilim jetty in the northeast to weave through mangrove channels between limestone cliffs, usually stopping at a bat cave, a floating fish farm and an opening to the sea.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Beach · Pantai Cenang
Pantai Cenang beach
Swim at the southern or northern ends away from the jet-ski launch areas, and come back for sunset with a drink from a beach bar.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Nature · Pantai Kok
Seven Wells Waterfall (Telaga Tujuh)
A series of seven connected pools on Gunung Mat Cincang feeds a waterfall that drops down the mountainside near the Oriental Village.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Day trips in the dry season
- Pulau Payar Marine Park (About 45–60 minutes by boat) — A protected group of small islands south of Langkawi with coral gardens, reef fish and juvenile blacktip reef sharks in the shallows.
- Penang (About 3 hours each way by ferry) — George Town's UNESCO-listed old quarter of shophouses, clan houses and hawker food is a long day trip from Langkawi, so most travellers continue there or stay a night.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is the dry season a good time to visit Langkawi?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Sunny, calm and clear, with the best conditions for beaches, snorkelling and the cable car, and the highest prices around Christmas and Chinese New Year.
+What is the weather like in Langkawi in the dry season?
Highs of up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 19 rainy days over the season.