Langkawi To Celebrate Geopark Carnival

Join in the festivities when Malaysia marks the first anniversary of the Langkawi Geopark this month. A three-day carnival loaded with various activities will be held at the Dataran Lang in Kuah and the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Padang Matsirat starting on May 30, 2008.


The inclusion of the Langkawi Geopark in the UNESCO's International Network of Geoparks last year lured more tourists to the country from the Middle East and around the world. It is the first destination in Southeast Asia and the 53^rd world-wide to be declared a geopark by the UN body.


The Langkawi Geopark Carnival will be jointly launched by the government, travel and tour agencies, and hotel operators. An exhibit will be held at the event with a special laser display about the geopark’s development.


Langkawi is an archipelago comprised 99 islands representing rich cultural and historical heritage. Five of the islands are only revealed during low tide. Situated some 30 kilometres off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia, Langkawi boasts of scenic sites, which helped earn Langkawi its internationally acclaimed World Geopark status. These include:

• the Mount Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park;
• the Kilim Geoforest Park; and
• the Pulau Tasik Dayang Bunting (Island of the Pregnant Maiden Lake).

The islands’ forests and white sand beaches attracted more than 2.3 million visitors last year compared to 1.8 million visitors in 2006. From the Middle East alone, some 26,000 tourists set foot at the duty-free island chain last year.

Protected from monsoon winds by the mountainous section of the Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi experiences sunny weather for most of the year. It is once called “Malaysia’s best-kept secret.”

Langkawi’s beaches are lined with 5-star hotels and resorts. There is also a wide array of service apartments that offer clean and relaxing accommodations at affordable costs.

• Century Suria Service Suites feature high-ceilinged bedrooms, a glass bubble lift, a children’s playground, a gym, sauna, and an exotic tropical landscape that will surely make your stay a memorable one. It also located near the shopping centre and has Internet access.
  

• Langkawi Boutique Resort offers various packages at discounted rates, including the Easy & Budget Package, the Family Package, and the Honeymoon Package. The small simple rooms are adequately furnished with all your needs and come with balconies or decks. The boutique resort is also home to the Anjung Cenang coffee house, which offers buffet and ala-carte meals, as well as local and Western cuisines.