Pantai Cenang

Cenang was once a stretch of coconut plantations and fishing villages on the south-west of Pulau Langkawi. As tourism grew from the late 1980s, after Langkawi gained duty-free status, it developed into the island's main beach belt, with the greatest concentration of hotels and guesthouses. Development has stayed largely low-rise, and the beach keeps its palm-lined character. The nearby Underwater World aquarium, on the headland between Cenang and Tengah, has long been one of the area's best-known attractions.

Cenang is the most international corner of Langkawi, but it remains part of a Malay Muslim community, with mosques a short walk from the beach and halal food widely available. Weekends and school holidays bring many Malaysian families, and the beach becomes a social hub at sunset. Swimwear is fine on the sand; cover up when walking along the main road, in shops and near mosques.