Whether you arrive on an island-hopping cruise or make like James Bond on your own personal watercraft, Beras Basah Island makes a lovely spot to chill out for an hour or two. Most travelers visit on an island-hopping tour, with a stop at Dayang Bunting Lake (Pregnant Maiden Lake), a freshwater lake on Dayang Bunting Island, and another at Singa Besar Island to see the eagles. But you can also glide by on a sunset cruise, a dinner cruise, a fishing trip, or a private boat charter.
Beras Basah Island sits off Langkawi’s southern coast, about four miles (six kilometers) due south of Pantai Cenang. It’s just to the west of Singa Besar Island, and about 2.5 miles (four kilometers) west of Dayang Bunting Island. The only way to reach here is on an organized cruise or a private boat charter.
Langkawi’s calm waters are navigable all year round but the area can get very busy during the Christmas and Lunar New Year periods. Island-hopping trips are often more fun between March and August, after peak season is past.
Langkawi is known for its white-sand beaches. Pantai Cenang, a long strip of white sand in the south, offers technicolor sunsets—and beach bars to enjoy them from. Tanjung Rhu Beach, to the north, boasts powder-fine sand and an undeveloped feel. The curving crescent of Datai Beach, studded with tiny islands, is gorgeous, but you’ll need to stay at one of two 5-star resorts to enjoy it.