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Birds Eye's View of Langkawi
It is a very strange feeling to look down on planes as they are landing. Normally we make these observations from the ground looking up. Recently, I had a distant aerial view of an Air Asia 737 as it came in to land at Langkawi International Airport. I was able to do this thanks to the recently opened Langkawi Cable Car, which rises to the summit of one of the island's highest peaks, Mount Mat Cincang.
Mat Cincang is not the highest mountain in Langkawi as this distinction goes to Mount Raya, but Mat Cincang's serrated ridgeline forms a spectacular backdrop to Burau Bay. The Austrian-built cable car has only been open for a few months but is already generating a 'wow factor' on the sunny tourist island. The idea for the cable car was conceived a few years ago and after considerable effort in getting the cables and facilities in place, the much-awaited cable car is now operating.
The views from the peak are spectacular and enable one to look over Langkawi as well as into the neighbouring Thai islands. The cable car journey starts from just behind the Oriental Village within walking distance of the Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort. The cable car rises to a height of over 700m. above sea level. The horizontal lift is over two kilometres and, over this distance, the engineers have installed just two pylons as support. This decision was made to protect the rainforests that cover the steep rocky outcrops rather than spoil them with support towers. The rocks of this mountainous area are also worth noting and interpretive signs and a visitors' centre are planned in the near future. The granite rocks here are over 350 million years old, which makes them some of Asia's oldest rocks. The expanse of cable from the second pylon to the first observation station is suspended over a one-kilometre expanse, which is quite an amazing engineering feat.
This is where passengers really have to place faith in technology and the engineering skills of the Austrian construction team. The journey is not for the faint-hearted so if heights are not your thing, you had best lie back on the sandy beaches of Langkawi and soak up some more ultra violet rays. The view is simply stunning and the ride to appreciate this view is exhilarating. The weather will have a lot to do with your appreciation so if it is overcast or raining, you may want to wait for a clearer day. The cable car operators carefully monitor the wind velocity and stop their operations if it gets too strong.
There are two viewing stations and it's possible to get off and rejoin the cable car at the first station. There is also a walking track from Station One, uphill to Station Two for those who want to take in the scenery and to have a refreshing walk through the forest. There are few signs now but there are plans to erect interpretative signs so that visitors can understand the environment they are passing through. The plants that grow in these difficult circumstances of climate and thin soils are biologically unique and the services of a botanical guide would be worthwhile if you are interested. There are some very good guides on the island but they do not operate from the cable car; you have to secure their services from your hotel Recreation Counter. The views from Station One face southeast and the Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort below can be seen nestled in the forest besides the beaches of Pantai Kok and Burau Bay. In the far distance are Pantai Cenang and its long expanse of yellow sands.
To access Station Two, passengers have to get back on one of the slowly moving cable cars for the short ride to the summit. Getting on and off the cars is easy as they slow right down at each station. Anyone who has snow skied will be familiar with such systems. The views from here include those from Station One but also the forested northern side of the island and off in the distance to Tarutao National Park in southern Thailand. Thailand is under 10 km. northwards across the Andaman Sea.
At the end of your cable car journey, the 36 boutiques at the Oriental Village and associated restaurants provide a good distraction and the chance to benefit from Langkawi's duty free status. The cable car ride is well worth the RM15 (adult) and RM10 (child) charge. It operates from 10am to 7pm daily except in conditions of high wind.
The new Langkawi cable car offers an excellent bird's-eye view of Langkawi and is just one of many attractions on Langkawi that make it a destination that can be visited time and time again.
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