Best time to visit Langkawi

The best time to visit Langkawi is from December through March during the dry season, although anytime is good to visit this beautiful island.


Langkawi weather

Langkawi experiences a hot tropical climate with a short, dry season. You can expect an average high of 32°C (90°F), with an average night-time low of 25°C (77°F) throughout the year.

There are two distinct seasons: the short, dry season from December through March, followed by the long, wet season from April to November.

However, even in the rainy season you can expect hot, sunny days, with brief tropical downpours during the late afternoon and evening that help to cool things down.

Located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the Malacca Straits and sheltered by mainland mountains, Langkawi generally escapes the worst of the wet northeast winter monsoon that lashes the mainland from November through to January.


What is the best month to visit Langkawi?
January and February are the best months to visit Langkawi since these months receive the least rainfall. February is also the sunniest month of the year.

However, anytime from mid-December through March is good since this is the dry season in Langkawi.

What is the hottest month in Langkawi?
The hottest month in Langkawi is March, with an average high temperature of 33°C (91°F) with intense heat and humidity, and a night-time low of 25°C (77°F).

However, on the warmest days of the month, the temperature may climb to 37°C (98°F).

The hot season lasts from mid-January to mid-April, with an average daily high temperature above 32°C (90°F).

What is the coldest month in Langkawi?
The coldest month of the year in Langkawi is September, with an average low of 25°C (77°F) and a high of 30°C (86°F).

The 'cooler' season in Langkawi lasts from early-August to early-November, with an average daily high temperature below 31°C (87°F).

What is the sunniest month in Langkawi?
The sunniest time of year in Langkawi is normally February with bright sunshine for eight hours each day – that's around 70% of daylight hours.

What is the humidity in Langkawi?
Perceived relative humidity in Langkawi does not vary significantly with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 69% – 85%, with a high of 99%, over the course of the year.

What do the humidity conditions feel like in Langkawi?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.

Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature. 

The average annual dew point in Langkawi is 25°C (77°F), and varies over the course of the year from muggy at 23°C (73°F) to unpleasantly muggy and oppressive at 26°C (79°F). 

Typically, it's humid all year round in Langkawi – almost every day feels muggy or worse.

When is the sea warmest in Langkawi?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Langkawi in June when the water temperature average 30°C (86°F) all month, which is very pleasant for swimming.

You can swim year-round in Langkawi.

What is the wettest month in Langkawi?
October is usually the wettest month in Langkawi, with an average of 207mm (8in) of rainfall, distributed across 23 days.

The wet season lasts from April through November, with a greater than 43% chance of a given day being a wet day. Langkawi receives the most rainfall during September and October.

What is the driest month in Langkawi?
February is the driest month in Langkawi, with 25mm (1in) of rainfall on average, distributed across three days.

The drier season in Langkawi lasts from December through March.

What are the windiest months in Langkawi Island?
The windiest month of the year in Langkawi is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 17 kilometres per hour (10.6 mph; 9 knots).

The windy part of the year lasts from mid-November to mid-February, with average wind speeds of more than 14 kilometres per hour (8.7 mph; 7.6 knots).

The less-windy time of year lasts from mid-February through to mid-November. The calmest month of the year in Langkawi is April, with an average hourly wind speed of 10 kilometres per hour (6 mph; 5 knots).

The predominant average hourly wind direction varies throughout the year: the wind is most often from the west from early-April to early-November, and from the east from early-November to early-April.


Langkawi Weather Averages

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high temperature (°C)
32 33 33 32 31 31 31 31 30 31 31 31
Average low temperature (°C)
25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
Average daily sunshine (hrs)
8 9 8 8 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 7
Average daily daylight (hrs)
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
Comfort level – heat
Very high heat & humidity icon Very high heat & humidity icon Very high heat & humidity icon Very high heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon High heat & humidity icon
Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days)
30 28 31 30 31 30 31 31 30 31 30 31
Average dew point temperature (°C)
23 23 24 26 26 26 25 25 25 25 25 24
Average relative humidity (%)
73 69 74 81 84 84 84 84 85 85 83 77
UV Index (max)
11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11+ 11 11
Average days of rainfall (≥1mm)
4 3 9 15 19 16 16 18 21 23 19 12
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
41 25 44 150 205 113 174 176 174 207 214 87
Average wind speed (km/h)
17 14 11 10 10 11 12 12 13 12 14 17
Average sea temperature (°C)
28 29 29 30 30 30 30 30 29 29 29 29
Kuah, Langkawi, Malaysia

Holiday seasons

Malaysia’s peak seasons follow school and public holidays.

High season: From early-December to the end of January, including the major holidays of Christmas, New Year's Day and Chinese New Year; from June to mid-September, as this coincides with school holidays in the Middle-East; and from mid-May through to the end of June, and again during November and December, which coincides with Singapore's school holidays.

In addition, Malaysia's school holidays occur for two weeks during March, May and August, with a longer break from mid-November through December.

Hari Raya Puasa, which celebrates the end of Ramadan, is held in September, with dates changing from year to year.

Low season: September to mid-November.


Langkawi weather by month


Source: Meteorological data for Langkawi Island is based on weather statistics gathered for the period 2012 to 2021 by the Malaysian Meteorological Department at the closest weather station: Langkawi International Airport (LGK), which is located on the west coast of Langkawi Island around 15km (9mi) from Kuah.

Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.


More about Langkawi…


Latest update: Best time to visit Langkawi: 16 May, 2024


Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.



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