Anchor in 6-8 metres in front of the water chalets of the Berjaya Resort. This resort happily serves non-staying guests and there is a choice of other resorts with simpler amenities along the beach.
Also ashore is an excellent independent seafood restaurant, built on stilts at the northwest end of the bay. Prior reservations are essential and can be arranged through the kiosk at the end of the jetty. Remember to take adequate footwear as this beach has a rocky outcrop that you may want to cross.
Two man-made islands have been built in Pantai Kok Bay to protect the entrance to the Telaga Harbour Marina. Shortly after opening in 2004, it was almost completely destroyed by the tsunami, but is now rebuilt and operational again.
A large area of open water behind the islands offers anchorage and moorings in 3-5 metres. The approach to the 67-berth marina leaves both of the artificial islands to port and there is a marked channel towards the lighthouse at the marina entrance. Entering the marina, the fuel and water berth is on the starboard side. Contact VHF channel 69.
Onshore next to the marina office is a café, bank, post office, service station and convenience store. On the other side of the basin are a number of stern-to superyacht berths on a waterfront of restaurants and nightclubs. Close by is the oriental village, which is at the base station of the Langkawi Cable Car and the Seven Wells waterfalls. The cable car goes in two stages to the top of one of the highest peaks on the island and has fabulous panoramic views.
Moving south from Telaga Harbour there are huge cement breakwaters, built to protect the resort beaches, in an arc across the bay, well offshore. Passing inside these breakwaters is not recommended.
The island of Rebak that forms the southern end of this bay has a marina with its entrance on the south side. The creek entrance at the south of the island has been dredged to 2 metres at low tide. The lagoon-shaped marina presently caters for 124 boats up to 35 metres in fully serviced wet berths.
There is room for a further 70 boats on the hardstand. Limited services are available and there is a 60-ton travel-lift. Contact VHF Channel 69. Outboard fuel is not available on the island and restaurant hours are sporadic.
There is also a small resort development with 40 rooms, pool, tennis courts, bars and all hotel facilities available for the use of yachting visitors. A speedboat ferry service operates hourly to and from the Lanka Suka Boat Club, giving access to the main island and the airport.
Anchor just south of Pulau Rebak Kecil in 3-6 metres well off shore, in front of the Pelangi Resort. Watch out for the rocks just north of Pulau Tepor which are well marked on the local charts.
This bay is Langkawi’s main beach resort strip and, as such, has plenty of hotels, bars and restaurants ashore. This is also where you’ll find the main nightlife activity on the island, although nothing as raunchy as in Phuket.
Unfortunately, the anchorage can be uncomfortable as occasional westerly ground swells roll into this shallow, somewhat open, bay.
Further south, just to the east of Pulau Tepor, anchorage can be found in 5-6 metres just off the remote sandy beach. There are no restaurants here but it provides great protection in the southwest season.
On the Southwestern tip of Langkawi, next to the private Star Cruises jetty, where world-class liners dock, is Awana Porto Malai. Anchor in 4-6 metres between Pulau Ular and Langkawi. The Awana Porto Malai has a distinctive Mediterranean feel with boardwalk, shopping and restaurants overlooking the southern islands. There is a small floating pontoon behind the harbour wall for yachts and dinghies.
A great anchorage in 5-7 metres between Pulau Kentot Besar and Pulau Beras Basah off the northern beach of the bigger island. Beware of the rocks at the western end of the bay. This is also a popular day stop for tour boats from Kuah.
The northeast anchorage at (M) has a long, fine white sand beach and is very sheltered in the southwest season. In the northeast tuck in behind Pulau Singa Kechil in 6-8 metres. Further south on the east coast at (N) is a large open bay with good holding in 4-5 metres.
Enjoy the excellent views of this wildlife sanctuary and nature reserve island with many local sea eagles and Bamity Kytes, and monkeys in residence.
The south facing bay at (O) is another great spot when conditions permit. Anchor in 6 metres and check out the snorkelling and fishing around Pulau Chupak in the south of the bay.
Anchor outside this calm and quiet bay in 4 metres on a muddy bottom. There is a small beach ashore with access to a cave and stream.
The northern anchorage (Q) is in 8-12 metres on a muddy bottom surrounded by beautiful remote bush-clad islands. Do not anchor too close to the reef. There is no beach.
The anchorage at (R), on a muddy bottom at 6-8 metres, is a well protected bay in the northeast season and gives access to the dinghy landing jetty.
From here take the path leading to the freshwater lake, otherwise known as the Princess Lake. To the south of the jetty, the lake almost meets the sea and you can scramble over a 5-metre-high rock wall to fill jerry cans.
Further to the south is a very picturesque channel between the small islands and the high cliffs, with deep water right though, leading to a well-protected anchorage (S) in 8-12 metres between the shores of the two islands.
Further east is a beautiful south-facing bay where anchorage (T) in 4 metres gives good access to exploring the cove, with its small beach.
Proceeding around, leaving Pulau Ujung Buloh to the north, is another protected anchorage (U) in 4 metres used by local fishing boats.
Anchor well out in the bay in 4-6 metres. At low tide, enter by dinghy to the long jetty and tie to a fishing boat to avoid the sharp barnacles. At the Malay fishing village there are basic restaurants ashore.
Legend has it that the waters from this lake can bestow fertility upon barren women. The lake was supposedly the favourite bathing place of a celestial princess.
One day a prince chanced upon her while bathing and fell in love with her. He sought the advice of a wise man who told him he should wash his face with the tears of a mermaid to win her love.
After they were married, they were blessed with a baby who died soon after birth and the princess discovered her marriage was through trickery. After casting the baby into the lake she blessed the waters with her magic fertility powers before returning to the heavens, never to appear again
Just to the south of a small islet, west of Pulau Langguan and on the west side of the channel, is a creek opening, locally known as the ‘Hole in the Wall’. (C)
Proceed into the entrance in 7 metres of water, staying in the centre of the “Hole”. Once inside the depth decreases to about 5 metres and the mangroves open up to form a spectacular large enclosed circular anchorage.
Find yourself adequate swinging room and anchor in thick mud. Exploration of the many mangrove creeks by dinghy is a must.
There is a fish farm and a small restaurant near the jetty for great fried rice; telephone and internet are available.
If in doubt, follow the electrical supply wires by dinghy which can be seen along the rocks and through the mangroves. The main passageway will take you to a jetty with car park and taxi service to the rest of the island.
For the more adventurous, the mangrove passageways south and west lead to a number of limestone caves. The branch on the right starts at the fish farm and can be followed for a further two miles northwest to pass right through some caves.
On the other side, continue further through a newly blasted passage into the southern creek head of Tanjong Rhu.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate, the charts of anchorages are based on personal experience and satellite imagery and are intended as a guide only. They should not be used for navigation. Please refer to Official Hydrographic Charts of the respective countries.
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