Kedah Activities

The coast and its stunning beaches ensure kids are kept happy in Kedah. If you are staying inland, you may like to consider booking into a hotel with good facilities aimed specifically at children. During the rainy season, getting out and about can be difficult due to heavy downpours, making it wise to pack some alternative entertainment for kids. At other times of the year, Kedah offers abundant natural wonders for kids to discover.

Beaches
Kedah is home to a plethora of beaches, the best of which are on Langkawi. Kids can enjoy all the usual beach activities including paddling in the beautifully clear ocean waters, making sandcastles in the soft white sands, playing Frisbee and kite-flying. Some of the most popular beaches include Pantai Cenang, Pantai Datai, Pantai Pasir Hitam and Pantai Pasir Panjang.

Swimming
If you visit Kedah in April, when the weather is at its hottest in the state, then you’ll be glad if you’ve booked into a hotel with a decent sized swimming pool, especially if you have young ones in tow. Parents can relax on a lounger with a good book while kids have fun splashing around in the cool waters. All the big hotels in the state’s main tourist cities have their own swimming pools which are free for guests and often available to non-guests upon payment of a small fee.

The Carnivall
Situated on the premises of the Cinta Sayang Golf & Country Resort, this popular family centre is a water-based attraction with pools, a water coaster and a massive 140 metre long waterslide. There are dry attractions also including shows, games and a jungle playground.

Underwater World
Featuring all things marine-natured, Pantai Cenang’s Underwater World is the ideal place for a family day out, offering something to interest adults and children alike. A total of 117 specially designed tanks are home to more than 5,000 fishes and sea creatures. A special tunnel with a glass ceiling and walls lets visitors get close-up views of many of the creatures residing at the facility; among which are small sharks and stingray. Outside, a garden features koi carp and short clawed otters. Phone: +60 4 955 610

Kedah excels when it comes to places of cultural interest, offering myriad places of historical and religious significance. Places of worship with interesting architectural designs and features are plentiful, while museums and art galleries also feature highly on many visitors’ itineraries. The birth place of Mahathir Mohamad, the country’s ex-prime minister, is often the first place that cultural enthusiasts head for.

Balai Nobat (Hall of Drums)
Belonging to the old Sultanate of Kedah, Balai Nobat is a splendid hall in which the nobat, or royal orchestra instruments, are stored. The instruments, which are brought out for special occasions only, include gongs, drums and a traditional flute.

Balai Besar
Located close to Balai Nobat, Balai Besar is a magnificent old wooden pavilion which was built by Siamese rulers in 1898. The pavillion displays characteristics that are typical of Thai architectural design from that era. The Great Hall inside the structure is still used for important functions such as state and royal functions.

Bujang Valley (Lembah Bujang)
Bujang Valley is of historical interest and is popularly hailed as Malaysia’s richest archaeological area. Visitors can view fascinating archaeological finds at the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum, among which are metal tools, ceramics, ornaments and other items hailing from the valley’s 4^th century Hindu-Buddhist kingdom. Ancient tomb temples found during excavations can also be viewed, with some 50 examples scattered around the area.

Kedah State Art Gallery (Balai Seni Lukis Negeri)
Malaysian art as well as examples of artworks from other Asian countries comprise the collection of works on display at the state art facility. Besides the permanent collection, which includes paintings, photographs and sculptures, the gallery regularly hosts visiting exhibitions.

Kedah State Museum (Muzium Di Raja)
Featuring some interesting Thai architectural influences, the State Museum, or Muzium Di Raja, houses an impressive collection of artefacts relating to the cultural and royal heritage of the state. Among the items available for viewing are examples of Chinese porcelain and historic pieces retrieved from archaeological digs in Lembah Bujang.

Masjid Zahir Mosque
One of Kedah’s best known and most distinctive architectural landmarks, the Masjid Zahir Mosque is an especially beautiful example of Malay-Islamic architecture with its elegant minarets and striking black domes. The building is based on Moorish influences and was inspired by the ideas of the now deceased Sultan Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Abidin II. Essentially a place of worship, the mosque is also known for hosting the annual Kedah Koran reading competition.

Nikrodharam Temple
Located in the state capital Alor Star, this temple is considered the city’s most significant Buddhist shrine. Influences in the building’s architecture include those of Thai and Chinese origin. The temple is available for prayer to Buddhists of both Theravada and Mahayana backgrounds.

Pekan Rabu
For a sense of the local culture, a trip to this vibrant market in Alor Star is a must. The name Pekan Rabu translates as ‘Wednesday Market;’ however, the market’s popularity is such that it now operates throughout the week. Beginning in the early morning and remaining open until midnight, the market is the ideal place to sample local edible delicacies or to pick up some interesting handicrafts.

Rumah Kelahiran Mahathir (Birthplace of Mahathir Mohamad)
The Rumah Kelahiran Mahathir is a popular sightseeing destination that is of great significance to the state of Kedah. The country’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (1981 to 2003) is still greatly revered by Malaysians and a trip to the location where he was born offers a unique perspective on the early days of this highly influential politician.

Kedah’s dining scene is a highly eclectic one, with visitors able to eat noodles at the roadside or international cuisine at one of the state’s top hotels. Regardless of your budget, you can eat well in Kedah, with authentic traditional cuisine widely available and highly affordable.

The local cuisine is Malaysian but with its own unique dishes and interpretation of popular national dishes. Dishes that every visitor should try include gulai nangka, sayur keladi and pekasam. Sticky rice is popular in Kedah and is eaten with both savoury and sweet dishes. Pulut is the Malaysian word for sticky rice and popular local dishes using sticky rice as a base include pulut sambal, pulut inti and tapai pulut.

Shopping in Kedah is equally varied with everything from local markets to mega malls with designer shopping outlets. The local markets are the best places to head for handicrafts and souvenirs. Shopping at the markets can be a fun experience as prices are rarely fixed and customers are encouraged to engage in haggling, in a bid to ensure both vendor and buyer get a deal they are happy with.

Langkawi has its fair share of night markets, with different locations hosting these markets on different nights of the week. Also in Langkawi, you’ll find the Craft Complex at which you can find the gamut of Malaysian handicraft products including ceramics, fabrics, metal sculptures, and local artworks.

For mall-style shopping, Langkawi is again a good destination to try with several large covered shopping centres housing a variety of retailers selling everything from electrical goods to branded clothing. The Langkawi Fair is the best of these malls and is touted as the island’s best one-stop shopping location as well as being its largest duty-free shopping emporium.

Similar to the Langkawi Fair is the Complex Membeli, located in Kuah. While not quite as extensive as Langkawi Fair, it still offers a good selection of shops in a pleasant air-conditioned environment.

With its variety of landscapes and terrains and its proximity to the ocean, Kedah offers plentiful outdoor activities, making it the ideal holiday destination for those who enjoy physical pursuits. Visitors can make use of local knowledge, expertise and equipment provided by travel companies to assist them in pursuing outdoor activities.

Fishing
Fishing is available at a variety of locations in Kedah, with local tour operators offering one-day excursions for sailfish and mackerel fishing. Pantai Merdeka is among the best known locations at which to organise fishing trips.

Golf
Kedah has some excellent golf courses set amid stunning scenery and greenery, offering idyllic settings in which to enjoy a round of the popular game. The Golf Club Datai Bay is an 18-hole, 72-par international standard course in Langkawi that overlooks the Andaman Sea. The Gunung Raya Golf Resort, also in Langkawi, is a similar facility that can be found in a scenic location at the bottom of Gunung Raya, the island's highest peak.

Mount Keriang Recreational Park
A 10km journey out of Alor Star takes visitors to the Mount Keriang Recreational Park, at which there are myriad opportunities for outdoor activity. The park lends itself well to jungle trekking, having some challenging terrain which winds through dense forest areas. Overnight camping is permitted in the park, offering a new experience for families. A selection of caves in the park makes for some interesting exploring; be sure to bring a good torch and plenty of batteries.

Rock Climbing
Enthusiasts will find Kedah offers some ideal rock climbing locations, some of which have regularly climbed, bolted routes and others which experienced climbers can take on with the right equipment. Gunung Keriang is a notable climbing location at which there are currently nine established climbing routes.

Water Sports
Excellent opportunities for enjoying water sports are available at many of Kedah’s coastal locations. Additionally, there’s no shortage of beaches in Kedah, with many of the best found on Langkawi. Visitors will need to seek out the more developed and popular of the beaches in order to find local operators offering equipment and expertise in organised water sports activities. The Pulau Payar Marine Park is an especially notable diving area, but there are coral reefs off much of the Kedah coast where scuba diving opportunities are available. Local companies operate diving excursions to the marine park from Langkawi and Kuala Kedah.

White Water Rafting
This adrenalin-charged activity can be enjoyed on the Sedim River at Kulim, with a number of reputable companies providing the knowledge and equipment for those wishing to take on the challenge. The river has 24 recognised rapids, among which the best known are Kasai Drop, Salak Drop, Triple Rapid, Wall Drop, Kawah Rapid, Lower Head Dam, Jelutong Rapid, Rodeo Rapid, Cyclone Hole and Slip Lip Rapid.