Pulau Langkawi - General Info
Description:
Langkawi is a large island off the west coast close to the border with Thailand. The island is duty-free.
With many safe anchorages surrounded by wooded cliffs, fringed at their base by mangrove swamps and a labyrinth of narrow channels accessible by dinghy, this place is a firm favourite with cruisers. However, recent reports indicate that officials are becoming less “yacht friendly” than they have been in the past.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
There is a large sunken yacht at approximate position 06° 14.249’N 099° 45.603’E. The three masts are clearly visible above the water and it is not lit at night as beacons get stolen. This hazard was still in place November 2022.
Cruiser Highlights:
Good place for repairs and maintenance, good provisioning, well stocked chandleries and competent tradesmen.
Position:
06°18.25’N, 99°50.82’E (Bass harbour)
Last updated: May 2023
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Related to following destinations: Malaysia, Pulau Langkawi, West Coast (Malaysia)
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Rebak Marina
We are thinking of staying at Rebak for a couple of months over Christmas & New Year. Would be interested in anyone’s experience of staying here, usual things such as facilities, provisioning, gas, fuel are of interest. Thanks in advance.
I am looking for a slip/T-Head for my 52′ Catamaran anywhere in Langkawi (or very near buy) to keep her for 3-4 months. Any suggestions/contact info much appreciated.
Thanks! Scott “Go Dog Go”
Did you get any responses on this? We are looking for similar! 👍
Hi Scott, all the marinas in Langkawi have T heads, however perhaps not the ideal spot to leave your boat unattended as exposed to passing boats and possible theft. See Explore Port + info. + docking for marina details under related businesses.
Check-in Langkawi – Telaga Port:
You can check in with the marina office acting as the agent. Cost: $50USD check in/check out ($100USD total). It saves you the trip to the Harbour master in Kuah and it’s a flawless process done in 20 mins with Immigration and Customs.
You have to have third party liability insurance (now all over Malaysia).
Visa is granted for 90 days.
The new online MDAC system is in place since 1.Jan 24 (entrance card for any person entering Malaysia).
If you leave the Marina, you have to check out with customs and Harbour Master and need to check in/check out at any port you go around Malaysia. A very time consuming and inefficient process for sailors, but thats the current requirement.
Diesel available at Telaga Port. Currently at 72 Euro cent / Ltr.
Difficult to find LPG refill service in Langkawi. The only one I know now is the owner of Rebak Harbour Store can help arrange that. But the price is high. Asking 18 MYR/KG + pick up & delivery service 30 MYR from Langkawi Yacht Club.
Langkawi Yacht Club is no longer selling fuel (for how long we don’t know). Apparantly petrol stations ashore can only sell 1 x 20L container at a time. The only other shore based dock is Telaga Harbour. There is a fuel barge in Kuah Harbour that has a small fuel nozzle for yachts now.
The Port Authority in Langkawi requires a P&I insurance or a boat insurance covering those.
Probably the other ports will require the same, although it is a requirement for ships over 300 tons.
Especially if the insurance do not cover wreck removal, they are very though.
At the moment some boats already decided to Leave from Pangkor instead of coming to Langkawi.
I think the Marine department circular is NPM 04/2019. It stipulates P&I applies to tankers and vessels over 300 tonnes. The LGK harbor master staff forced me to sign an apology for not compliance to a rule that doesn’t apply to my sailboat. I have a confirmation from Maine department HO that it only applies to over 300.
Entrance Notes and Cautions: A yacht has sunk (February 2021) at approximate position 06° 14.249’N 099° 45.603’E. The 3 masts are clearly visible above the water but it is not lit at night as beacons get stolen.
nautinauti says:
Jan 26, 2019 02:09 AM
I want to give a high five and recommendation to Yacht Supply Malaysia Chandlery at Rebak Island Marina. Mark and Emma are managing a well-equipped marine store and are attentive, helpful and detail oriented with knowledge and crew to match.
Whatever your situation, they are there to help and make your yachting needs easier to manage. As an added bonus….they have some of the best fresh ground coffee drinks in the area free to customers, yummm.
Reported by Anthony Swanston: Checking in and out at Kuah, Langkawi
Lots of boats have arrived today from Phuket for the regatta. They all checked in at Kuah Jetty without using an agent and no problems have been reported.
Sometimes, however, problems do arise. Some people have asked the officials to fill in the forms for them. Others have asked many questions. Things like this make the officials think that you need help, i.e. an agent.
So the advice is to arrive well dressed, bring your own pen and answer questions; don’t ask them.
If you are a motorboat or you are over 24 metres you need an agent. This is a long-standing rule.
If you are in Telaga or Rebak you have to do customs and immigration either at Telaga or the airport. There is no longer a harbour master at Telaga so you have to come to Kuah for that, then back to your end of the island for the other two.
I hope this clarifies matters.
Anthony
sv Wild Fox
http://www.blog.mailasail.com/wildfox
Yes, noonsite has received confirmation from the senior officer of Immigration that Motor Vessels/Yachts and any vessel over 24 meters, now requires an Officially Approved agent to clear in and out in Langkawi.
Sailing Yachts with an auxiliary engine (or engines) are still permitted to clear in and out independently, however, using an agent is encouraged to simplify the procedure.
Reported by Bob Mott:
There are issues now in Langkawi with some boat owners being told they have to use an agent. There is a sign on the wall stating that power boat owners have to use an agent. Departments down there are telling catamaran owners that they have 2 x engines so are considered to be power boats. All sorts of varying reports with some people having no problems and others being mucked around.
One person argued and I think to save face the officer asked for their original bill of sale which they had and once they produced that they were processed.
The agent’s fee is around 345 RM which is around 100US$.
There was also a case reported by a yacht checking in that due to them only having 2 people aboard an agent was not required. This again was after some arguing by the yacht owner. Officials again came up with a “get out of jail card” / save face and introduced the 2 person exemption.
People need to be aware of these circumstances and be prepared.
Suggest that best clothes are worn, long trousers and shirt collar and proper shoes to get a feeling of respect from the various departments and that the person checking in/out remains calm and patient and makes sure that everyone on the boat is there in person with their passports and that they all stay until all of the procedures are completed in all the departments, in case they are needed for some “on the spot” reason.
Reconfirming that insurance cover for all yachts arriving and departing Langkawi needs to be valid and in date and they need to see the document.
Feedback from SY Galacsea:
We’d like to recommend Robbie Andersson as a fantastically competent, resourceful and thorough mechanics in Langkawi. We worked with him three times on engine issues (both mechanical & electrical). That was in May and June 2018. Each time, he found a good approach and all was intelligently investigated & cleanly resolved.
His main training is in boat mechanics, but he’s also available for general boat repairs and maintenance, including electrical, plumbing and hydraulics. More helpful, you won’t find: as we got stuck in Penang while on our way to Pangkor with an electrical issue (starter), he agreed to fly from Langkawi to Penang to bail us out. His contacts: +6019-505-8393 ((WhatsApp) – andersson.marines@gmail.com.
Reported by Iris Kroencke:
Telaga Marina/Harbour, Langkawi, Malaysia
Check-In/Out in General
Malaysia must be the easiest country we’ve checked in, ever.
There are immigration and customs at Telaga (the latter was on a 5-day leave when we arrived).
1) You first have to go to immigration to get your passports stamped.
You then have several days to register with
2) Harbour Master / Jabatan Laut (in Malay)
Since 2016, there’s only one on the island, it is at Jetty Point in Kuah, located on the very western point, kind of adjacent to the building complex with its own entry.
It took us a while to find it as Jetty Point is a busy ferry terminal with lots of duty-free shops.
Since 2016, they need a copy of your insurance and boat registration. That seems to be the only documents they need.
3) Customs
You have to go to the closest customs office, depending on where your boat is stationed.
I know of three:
– Jetty Point, Kuah
– Airport
– Telaga Harbour
They need your clearance from where you left and the Harbour Master’s document.
There does not seem to be a restriction on how long your boat can stay.
Telaga Marina seems to have been a pretty and busy place. Now it seems a bit dated and many shops are gone. There are still some restaurants, we tried one, it was very good.
Marina rents out cars for 90 RM/day or 20 RM for the first hour, 10 for every following hour.
Very convenient to get organised, especially if it’s pouring with rain!
Anchorage in front of Marina was nice when we were there (Nov 2018).
Muddy and shallow, we heard of several boats dragging.
Not so much ferry traffic anymore.
Cool breeze at night from the mountains.
Sometimes some traffic from jet skis, shuttle boats and music from the water park event island on one of the artificial islands, but mainly on weekends and not late at night.
Thanks for providing so much great info for us yachties!
Reported by a yacht owner in Langkawi – 1st June 2018
This decree came in, in 2016 but not enforced, the reason we were given was activated only when expo Lima was on, or a politician was on Langkawi, security reasons. Last year spoke to Port officer, said we can anchor anywhere around.
2 days ago Maritim Malaysia anchored and asked to come aboard and informed us cannot anchor and wave the decree in our face, we were at Palau Singa Besar. We explained that we had permission by the port officer, we showed the form she wrote her name at the right-hand corner of the declaration. Maritim said they will make enquiries and get back to us.
Today Maritim RIB with commander arrived, told us anywhere around Langkawi was no anchor and it was only possible in Kuah (Bass Harbour) or marinas. He said later that Langkawi did not want yachts here – too much trouble. He finally agreed you can anchor anywhere, but 1 night only then move on! There were 4 yachts anchored with us, all were told to move on. Definitely a problem for the yachties currently here and the ones that are coming this year.
Reported by R Hoare:
Royal Langkawi Yacht Club – Important News
The management have allowed their computer system to be hacked and virus-containing emails are being sent to, I believe, everyone whose details were kept on the club’s computer system. I received 3 emails on the same day from the harbour master stating there was an enclosure. They looked like virus emails and were junked.
Langkawi is truly a beautiful Island. We came up through Indonesia, and had work booked with Mark Robertson, from Seaspray Marine Services. While we waited for our scheduled time slot we anchored in Telaga! WOw! So beautiful, and we walked to the waterfalls several times that week. Duty free shopping, and local shops have good enough produce. We had to get a parcel sent,from USA, and the freight time was a nightmare.
Parcel was held up in KL, and local agents pretty tardy, but it arrived safely, and no Customs Duties! We had some solar panels fitted, teak work, and basic antifouling and polishing done by Marks Seaspray team. That guy is onto it and picked out an even easier solution to our wiring and charging system. Down to earth couple running that business there now for 10 years, so well established. Highly recommend them.
We also used Mr Sin for an alternator repair: SIn Engineering,04 966 8625. As well as Nasir for some canvas work. Rachel from Seaspray helped to organize the Canvas work. Timur Utara Hardware and HE Trading are both well stocked Hardware stores. Over all, a great time in Langkawi and we will be back after cruising in Thailand for a bit.
Hi YES, I agree, these guys are really good. Mark Robertson did amazing diagnostics on our boat and saved us lots of time and money with his local knowledge. Really down to earth.
There is now also a jam night on a Tuesday. More of a strum along, rather than a performance. Tuesday sessions relaxed, all levels, lots of different instruments. Great fun.
In 2017, Immigration is still open in Telaga. Almost always Customs is open if you are patient. The Harbor Master, it would take a miracle, but it could happen!
The Harbor Master does charge a small amount if your boat is over 15 gross tons. It is usually 3 dollars US for 3 months.
About repair of diesel engines.
I used the service of Mr Sukesh, phone 0162049817.
Speaks English, competent, reliable, punctual reasonable fees. He can work in any place on the island…Daniel, on sy Ronin
My wife and I spent a few days cruising around Langkawi recently. We had thought the Datai Resort in Datai Bay welcomed people from yachts for drinks and dinners at their restaurants. Upon landing with our dinghy we were informed by a polite, but assertive, the security guard that we were not welcome.
We went back to our boat scratching our heads, unsure if it was something we had done since it was Ramadan time. I rang the resort and they said there should have been no issue.
We then went back to the beach only to be chased away again. As I say, not sure of the policy they actually have.
The bay is lovely and we had two very nice days there, however no meal at the Datai.
We went to the Andaman next door and there was no problem.
Regards
Brett W
Feedback from Rachel Robertson of Seaspray Marine Services, Langkawi:
Marina facilities in Rebak have improved, along with the wifi reception.
Boat work should be planned as per the seasons, and the wet season (April-November) can be a terrible time for any external work, i.e. painting or varnishing. Not impossible, but you have to really juggle the weather.
I was reading through a couple of comments by Rex, ie clearance. You should NEVER have to pay the Harbour Master here! We never have heard of this! Immigration, Harbor Master and customs clearances can be done both in TELAGA and at the main port in KUAH. All simple, easy, and free.
Anchoring in Kuah means easy walking access to supermarkets and to hardware stores, all within a 5-10 min walk.
Report on successful antifouling experience with thanks to Mr Noel Bradley of the chandlery in Rebak Marina – by SY Keyif:
Antifouling did 3-5 March 2016, haulout 9 May 2017.
As we haul Keyif out of the water today, in Curacao, after 13 months and 15000 miles at sea, some of which were spent in seriously warm tropical waters, across the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, northwest bound in the Atlantic to the Caribbean, we are happily surprised at how clean her bottom is.
We want to thank Mr Noel Bradley of the chandlery in Rebak Marina for his advice on our antifouling, saving us a lot of money, time, effort and frustration.
His paint was ten times more efficient than the famous International Trilux, at a third of the price.
Having painted our boats ourselves for more than 20 years, and having spent a small fortune on Keyif’s antifouling because she is aluminium and needs special no copper paint, we were extremely unhappy with our results with International.
Barnacle growth started in the first months we splashed, and conversations with other aluminium boat owners led to the conclusion that the company is tricking the cruisers, by not using proper ingredients.
Everyone was joking that they were selling us fertilizer instead of antifouling. Now, thanks to Mr Bradley, we will never buy International again, and use his paint instead, wherever we are in the world, as it is efficient, inexpensive and without the poisonous TBT!
Posted on behalf of Anthony Swanston – SY Wild Fox (www.blog.mailasail.com/wildfox):
I support everything in the excellent report by Yindee Plus (August 2015) but would just add a few additional comments.
The island of Langkawi is duty-free so a great place to buy laptops and booze.
The staff both marina side and resort side could not have been more friendly and helpful. This is a five-star resort so expect to pay a bit more, but it is still cheap by western standards. Berth holders get a 35% discount on everything at the resort.
After the privations of Indonesia, the swim up cocktail bar was a real luxury. At RN35 the breakfast was enormous – a huge buffet. You could eat for the day! (Residents pay RN95).
The jamming session is now on Fridays at the beach bar.
The 3G signal on the island is weak, besides the pool is best. I used the marina Wifi which was fine for emails etc. but you will need an antenna to get this on the boat.
The showers are so scruffy that most people showered on the boat. The toilets are now verging on the disgusting. I used the loo by the main resort restaurant and it was always pristine. Such a contrast with the marina side.
The haul out area is good but there is a limit to the work you can get done, so check first. The jib on the travel lift to remove masts is broken. The manager told me in an email that there were no plans to repair it!
I stayed for a month; it really was a great place to chill out. But watch out. Barnacle growth at Rebak is legendary. If you stay any length of time you will need to clean the bottom, especially your propeller. Folding props may not even open properly after a month…
Posted on behalf of David McKay:
The yacht Diomedea stayed at Rebak marina Langkawi and hauled out there for antifouling and other repair work. These jobs were carried out to a high standard by Mark Robertson and his team from Seaspray Marina, Rebak. I would recommend their services to anyone wishing to have general yacht repair and maintenance done whilst in the Langkawi area. Email is Seaspraymarine@hotmail.com
Posted on behalf of Alison Innes:
I just wanted to update you on the recent experience we had checking in and out of Telaga, Langkawi. We sailed from Phuket to Telaga and were wanting to check in and check out on the same day.
This was very easy as Immigration, Customs and the Harbour Master are all conveniently located in the one building located behind the service station. We anchored just outside and took the dinghy into the marina wharf. Immigration is open every day from 8 am -7 pm, customs and the harbour master from 8 am -5 pm.
The process for check-in is:
1. Immigration
2. Harbour Master
3. Customs
And to check out is:
1. Harbour Master
2. Customs
3. Immigration.
All staff were extremely friendly and professional and the whole process only took 25 minutes. Just make sure that you have a small amount of Malaysian currency with you as you will need to pay the Harbour Master and unfortunately the ATM nearby had run out of money (I think this is a regular occurrence – so don’t rely on it).
Alison Innes
Rex 1