Island hopping: Dayang Bunting lake, eagles & Beras Basah

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The standard half-day speedboat loop south of the island: a swim in Tasik Dayang Bunting, a freshwater lake in a collapsed cave on the Pregnant Maiden island, an eagle stop off Pulau Singa Besar and 90 minutes on the beach at Pulau Beras Basah. At RM 40–55 a head from the Teluk Baru jetty it is the cheapest big thing you can do in Langkawi. Budget the RM 20 lake fee on top, wear shoes for the steps, and go in the morning.

Tickets

From
₹950
Tiers
  • Shared boat from Teluk Baru jetty — ₹950 · RM 40 adult / RM 30 child (2–10) direct from a jetty operator; RM 55 / RM 45 with Cenang hotel pickup
  • Private 8-seater boat — ₹9,400 · RM 400 for up to 8, RM 550 for 12 — same loop, your own timing
  • Tasik Dayang Bunting conservation fee — ₹470 · RM 20 adult / RM 10 child for non-Malaysians, cash at the island counter — not in the tour price; ignore sites still quoting RM 6
  • Life jacket and kayak at the lake — ₹120 · Life jacket RM 5; kayak or paddle boat RM 20–30 per half hour

Best time to go

Best time
9am departure — cooler, calmer sea, the lake before the 11am boats
Avoid
Sep–Oct rough seas (tours get cancelled), and swimming after heavy rain when box jellyfish drift inshore
Notes
  • Lake open daily 9am–5pm; boats run 9am and 2pm
  • Rough-sea cancellations are refunded or rescheduled by most operators
  • Under-2s ride free

How long to spend

Recommended hours
4
Min hours
3.5

Highlights

  • Tasik Dayang Bunting — A collapsed-cave lake 10 m deep with no shallows — swim in the roped area off the platform, jacket on · 1
  • Eagles off Pulau Singa Besar — Hundreds of kites and sea eagles wheel over the boat for ten minutes — the feeding that draws them is the controversial part · 2
  • Pulau Beras Basah — A sandbar beach with 1.5 hours to swim; water is murky, snacks are pricey, the RM 40 doughnut ride is not worth it · 3

Strategy

Tips
  • Book at the Teluk Baru jetty or through your hotel, not from a stranger on the Cenang strip — MOTAC lists unlicensed Langkawi sellers
  • Carry RM 25 per person in cash for the lake fee and a life jacket; there is no card machine on the island
  • The lake is a 10–15 minute walk over roughly 290 steps — aqua shoes, not flip-flops, and nothing loose for the macaques
  • Take a motion-sickness tablet 30 minutes before if you're prone; the crossing is short but choppy

Food nearby

Inside
  • Dayang Café at the lake — Drinks and basic snacks only
  • Beras Basah stalls — Basic and expensive — eat a late lunch back on the Cenang strip

Getting there

Options
  • Teluk Baru jetty (south tip) — 10 min by Grab from Pantai Cenang; meet 20 minutes before your slot
  • Hotel pickup — Included in the RM 55 Cenang/Tengah packages — the easiest for families
  • From Kuah — Boats also leave from Jetty Syed Omar next to the Jetty Point ferry terminal

What to carry

  • Swimwear plus a rash vest or swim leggings (sun and jellyfish)
  • Aqua shoes for the lake steps and the beach
  • Towel and a change of clothes — no changing rooms at the lake
  • Dry bag, sunscreen, and RM 25 per person in cash

Pro tips

  • The boat's life jackets are meant to stay on the boat — hire one at the lake for RM 5 rather than carrying yours up
  • Box jellyfish stings peak Jul and Oct–Dec; flood a sting with vinegar, never fresh water, and get to the Cenang rescue tower or Hospital Sultanah Maliha
  • Malaysians get free life jackets at the lake; foreigners pay — that's the same RM 20 fee funding conservation since Dec 2024