The longer you look at these hills, the clearer it becomes: life in Langkawi is ancient. The prehistoric flora dotting its limestone cliffs – some of the oldest in the world to have risen from the seabed – lends it the air of a land before time.
Langkawi is a 478.5 square kilometer (184.7 square miles) cluster of islands off the coast of northeastern Malaysia. It’s lovingly called the Jewel of Kedah, and for good reasons. It is home to over 99 islands of various shapes and sizes, many with pristine sea beaches, nestled in 550-million-year-old rock formations and under a canopy of dense mangrove forests.
This trove of natural gems earned the island a UNESCO World Geopark status in 2007 and drew nearly 2.9 million visitors in 2024 alone, generating an estimated $1.72 billion in tourism receipts, according to the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA).
Legends come alive
However, things were not always rosy for Langkawi. According to a local legend, the island’s modern prosperity only began after a 200-year-old curse was lifted. In the late 18th century, a beautiful woman named Mahsuri was falsely accused of adultery by a jealous rival and sentenced to death.
As she was being executed, it is said she bled white blood – a sign of her innocence – and used her dying breath to curse Langkawi to be “barren and unprosperous” for seven generations. Historically, the island suffered from foreign invasions and economic hardship shortly after her death. Locals believe the curse finally ended in the 1980s, which coincides precisely with when Langkawi began to boom as a tourist destination.
The flight from the capital Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi’s tiny but well-maintained airport will take you around an hour. For Turkish travelers, wear light, breathable clothing and be ready for a warm – around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Farenhiet) – welcome on the tarmac, thanks to its tropical monsoon climate.
Flights to Langkawi International Airport from mainland Malaysia take just over an hour, Langkawi, Malaysia, Dec. 8, 2025. (Photo: Sudib Sontoran)
The island offers one of the best road networks of any island in Southeast Asia, with well-paved, wide and scenic routes, making self-driving the No. 1 recommendation for tourists. The main “ring road” efficiently circles the island of 99,000 people and connects all six residential administrations or mukims: Ayer Hangat, Bohor, Kedawang, Kuah, Padang Matsirat and Ulu Melaka.
Hospitality hotspot
Across the six mukims, Langkawi offers a diverse choice for hospitality and dining – ranging from $15 hostels and $2 street food to thousand-dollar villas and Michelin-level restaurants.
In Pantai Cenang and Kuah, two of the busiest areas, you can easily find budget motels and hotels. For those looking for the ultra-luxury treatment – this is where Langkawi competes globally – head for Datai Bay and Tanjung Rhu for resorts offering restricted beaches, royal suites and private ocean-view villas.
However, Pantai Tengah is the “sweet spot” for many, especially families with young children, said Ibrahim Çağrı Sağlık, marketing manager at Tourism Malaysia Istanbul. It offers a choice of boutique resorts as well as 4 and 5-star hotels for moderate and affordable prices. Most offer complimentary breakfast with a selection of Western and Eastern cuisines, top-notch restaurants, beautiful regular and infinity pools overlooking the sea, while some have their own private beaches.
Beach and beyond
Once checked in, unpack and hit the poolside, lounge with your favorite novel, cocktail on the side and savor the midday sun. Then wind down further with a Dream Forest Langkawi night walk – a 1.2-kilometer (0.75-mile) illuminated trail through an ancient rainforest. With lights, soundscapes and immersive storytelling through animation, it blends the island’s history with legends – perfect for adults and young children alike.
Kilim Geoforest Park is one of Langkawi Geopark’s three main conservation areas, Langkawi, Malaysia, Dec. 9, 2025. (Photo: Sudib Sontoran)
Next stop is the Kilim Geoforest Park, one of Langkawi Geopark’s three main conservation areas besides Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park.
Kilim feels like waking inside a real-life documentary of a mangrove forest, consisting of limestone caves and snaking rivers. The lush mangroves greet you first with their arching greenery, breathing roots and long-tailed macaques perched on branches and cliffs. Boats shuffle in and out of the numerous narrow channels, some of which can only be accessed at high tide.
One of the must-sees in Kilim is the Kelawar Cave, or the bat cave, a 60-meter (196.85-foot) limestone tunnel that houses hundreds of roosting bats. Inside, water drips steadily from stalactites to stalagmites, a slow conversation between stone and gravity. Watch your head inside the cave and when you exit, make sure to look up and you’ll spot a cycad – the so-called living fossil – clinging to a cliff face.
Back on the boat, the winding channels then carry you to an open gallery of natural sculptures, the Baby Face Rock, watched over by a larger, sterner Apache Face Rock. You may also explore the rows of busy floating fish farms and restaurants, awkwardly juxtaposed with a half-submerged boat and a visibly rundown dining deck.
Once ashore, top off your mangrove tour with a glass of delicious fresh coconut water or the Malaysian special, coconut shake!
One of Langkawi’s most dramatic proofs of transformation from its agricultural roots to an almost entirely tourism-dependent economy stands at 660 meters above sea level: the Langkawi SkyBridge at the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang.
A 30-minute drive from Kuah town and 15 minutes from Langkawi International Airport, the 125-meter pedestrian bridge, a marvel of modern engineering, can be reached by the 2.2-kilometer Langkawi SkyCab.
The Sky-Bridge is a curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge on the west coast of the island, Langkawi, Malaysia, Dec. 29, 2019. (Getty Images Photo)
Ancient cliffs
The SkyCab base station is located at the Oriental Village, a themed shopping center. From there, visitors can ride above the ancient Machincang range to first reach the newly opened Eagle’s Nest Skywalk, an observation deck made entirely of glass. It lets you hover over deep valleys, take in the surrounding mountains, while a Malaysian flag flutters proudly in the wind.
From the Eagle’s Nest, the SkyCab gondolas take visitors up to the SkyBridge, which offers panoramic views that stretch toward the Andaman Sea, surrounding islands and on a clear day into southern Thailand.
After a day in the highlands, unwind with a sunset dinner cruise or explore one of Langkawi’s night markets, famous for their selection of fresh fruits – from durians to rambutans – or freshly cooked local food, like Malaysia’s national dish nasi lemak, as well as satay and roti canai.
The Eagle’s Nest offers panoramic views that stretch toward the Andaman Sea, surrounding islands and on a clear day into southern Thailand, Langkawi, Malaysia, Dec. 9, 2025. (Photo by Sudib Sontoran)
Finally, no Langkawi tour is complete without a day of island hopping on a Jet Ski and soaking up the sun at some of its unspoiled sea beaches.
Head off to Pantai Cenang for a thrilling hourslong guided tour across the island’s turquoise waters and explore up to eight islands, from the famous Tasik Dayang Bunting or Pregnant Maiden Lake, to the echo wall and other smaller islands, with stops for swimming, sightseeing and watching Langkawi’s symbol, the Brahminy kites in action.
Langkawi is famous for its world-renowned coastline, where the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea meet some of the world’s oldest rock formations and some of the softest white sand in Southeast Asia.
Pantai Cenang serves as the island’s most famous and developed beach, stretching over 2 kilometers with fine, flour-like sand.
Pantai Tanjung Rhu sits on the northern coast and the water here is notably clearer than on the western coast and the surrounding much quieter, Langkawi, Malaysia, Dec. 10, 2025. (Photo: Sudib Sontoran)
During the day, it is defined by the hum of Jet Skis, the colorful kites of parasailers dotting the horizon and a shoreline lined with duty-free shops and beach bars. In the evening, the beach transforms into a travelers’ hot spot as people gather to watch the sunset.
For those seeking a more cinematic and tranquil escape, Pantai Tanjung Rhu sits on the northern coast, coved by ancient limestone crags that rise from the sea. The water here is notably clearer than on the western coast and the surrounding much quieter, making it the top choice for beach-goers who want to enjoy the sun, sand and sound of the waves.
No Langkawi tour is complete without a day of soaking up the sun at some of its pristine sea beaches, Langkawi, Malaysia, Dec. 10, 2025. (Photo: Sudib Sontoran)
A 190-year-old Greek Orthodox church in Kayseri, central Türkiye, whose restoration was completed last year, stands out for its striking wall paintings and is set to become part of the Cappadocia tourism circuit.
Built in 1836, the Church of St. Eustathios is an important historical and cultural landmark in Kayseri’s Incesu district and features numerous paintings and other remnants on its interior walls.
The three-aisled, vaulted church underwent restoration by the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality in 2021. Its load-bearing walls and historic fabric were reinforced using materials and techniques compatible with the original structure.
The stonework and frescoes, or wall paintings, inside the church were preserved, while Karamanlı inscriptions – Turkish written in the Greek alphabet – depicting various scenes, as well as charitable endowment records, reliefs and carvings on the walls, were conserved and brought to light.
Restoration of the church was completed last year using archival photographs and documents as references to ensure the building remained faithful to its original appearance. The site, known for its distinctive wall paintings, will serve as the Incesu City Museum.
A view of the frescoes inside the 190-year-old St. Eustathios Greek Orthodox Church, Kayseri, Türkiye, Sept. 29, 2026. (AA Photo)
More than 80% of the exhibition and interior arrangement work has been completed. The church is also being prepared for inclusion in the Cappadocia tourism circuit, with nearby destinations such as Avanos, Ürgüp and Göreme located 45 to 50 kilometers (28 to 31 miles) from Incesu.
Tayfun Talaslı, head of the municipality’s Historical Buildings and Museums Branch Directorate, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the three-aisled, vaulted church, built on a rectangular plan, is an example of classical Greek Orthodox architecture in Anatolia.
Talaslı said the building served as a place of worship until the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Türkiye, after which it was used for various purposes, including as a military warehouse, archive, theater and vocational school.
He said restoration work began toward the end of 2021 under a protocol signed between the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality and Incesu Municipality and was completed last year.
An exterior view of the 190-year-old St. Eustathios Greek Orthodox Church, Kayseri, Türkiye, Sept. 29, 2026. (AA Photo)
Talaslı emphasized that the main principle guiding the largely completed exhibition and interior arrangement work was to avoid causing any damage to the historic structure and said preserving the building’s original character was a top priority throughout the restoration.
“We used old photographs of the church as references during the restoration. We also based the project on art history reports that took into account the oral histories of people who once lived here,” he said.
He said the remaining work is expected to be completed soon, after which the museum will open to visitors.
“We are creating a museum on the ground floor of the building, which we have repurposed as the Incesu City Museum, focusing on the city’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage,” Talaslı said.
A view of the frescoes inside the 190-year-old St. Eustathios Greek Orthodox Church, Kayseri, Türkiye, Sept. 29, 2026. (AA Photo)
“Visitors will be able to trace Incesu’s history, learn about notable figures who were born here or left their mark on the city and explore its architectural heritage,” he said. “We will highlight a wide range of local treasures, from the Kara Mustafa Pasha Complex to the Roman-era milestone that has become one of the symbols of Incesu.”
Talaslı said visitors will also be able to see ceramics and other archaeological finds unearthed in Örenşehir, while the museum will offer a broader look at Incesu’s heritage, from its cuisine and population to the 1923 population exchange and the city’s historical development.
“We will cover everything from who the building was commissioned for to the area’s flora and fauna, geological structure, agriculture and grape production,” he said.
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The Karaelmas Touristic Express, which operates between Ankara and Zonguldak, will return to the rails on Oct. 2, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced, offering travelers a chance to explore the region’s natural, historical and cultural treasures by train.
In a written statement, Uraloğlu said the tourist train, launched by TCDD Transportation in cooperation with the Western Black Sea Development Agency (BAKKA) and the Zonguldak Provincial Special Administration, contributes to tourism-focused rail travel between Ankara and Zonguldak.
The train will begin this year’s service Oct. 2, Uraloğlu said.
The Ankara-Zonguldak service will depart on Oct. 2, 16 and 30 and Nov. 13, while trains traveling from Zonguldak to Ankara will depart on Oct. 3, 17 and 31 and Nov. 14.
Trains from Ankara to Zonguldak will leave at 11 p.m. on Fridays, while return services will depart Zonguldak at 11 p.m. on Saturdays. The train will have a total of seven carriages, including six sleeper cars and one dining car, with a capacity of 120 passengers.
The Karaelmas Express first operated as a tourist service in 2025, completing four outbound and four return journeys along the Ankara-Zonguldak-Ankara route, for a total of eight trips.
Since its inaugural journey, the train has offered passengers a different way to discover the Western Black Sea’s natural, cultural and industrial heritage, Uraloğlu said.
“For the 2026 schedule, passengers traveling from Ankara to Zonguldak will make sightseeing stops in Yenice, while those on the return journey will stop in Çankırı and Kalecik,” Uraloğlu said. “This journey, stretching from Yenice’s natural beauty and Zonguldak’s history to Çankırı’s cultural heritage and Kalecik’s local treasures, will bring rail travel and tourism together.”
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Venice is looking at expanding its tourist entry fee, applying it for a longer period of the year and raising the daily charge to as much as €30 ($34), a senior official in the city government has said.
Budget and taxation councilor Michele Zuin said the current fee of €5 to €10 ($5.7 to $11.5 ) was too low to safeguard against overtourism, but said the new price for 2027 would have to be discussed and agreed with the government.
“The current €5-10 charge is affordable for virtually everyone; the risk is that it no longer has the deterrent effect that this measure is supposed to have,” Zuin told the Sunday edition of regional daily Il Gazzettino.
In remarks that were widely picked up by national media on Monday, the councillor said there was “even talk of (going up to) €50 ($57),” but added that authorities could settle for a maximum charge of €30.
The tourist fee, applicable only to day-trippers, was introduced in 2024, in a world first. Early bookers get to pay the lower rate and there are several exemptions, including for children under 14.
In 2026, it was operational on selected days from April 3 to July 26, from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and brought into city coffers more than €5.2 million ($5.9 million) from the sale of just under 680,000 entry tickets.
In a city that has long suffered from overtourism and depopulation, local officials say the scheme is meant to encourage visitors to avoid the most crowded periods of the year, such as the May Day public holiday.
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Tokyo tourist hot spot Shinjuku will impose a ban on more than half of its holiday rentals, including homes on Airbnb, an official said Monday, after a surge in complaints about visitors.
Known for its buzzing commercial and entertainment district, the ward hosts nearly 10% of Japan’s 42,000 short-term rentals.
But it also has a large residential population, who have become increasingly exasperated with tourists who fail to properly dispose of rubbish, smoke where they’re not supposed to, and make too much noise.
A Shinjuku official supervising holiday rentals told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the district was “planning to revise the current ordinance … to ban private lodging” in residential zones and areas near schools.
“As the number of private lodging businesses has risen, complaints and troubles around them have increased,” the official said on customary condition of anonymity.
More than 50% of short-term rentals in Shinjuku face a ban under the new rules, he said, adding that the plan would formally be announced by the Shinjuku mayor on Tuesday.
Shinjuku’s policy will apply to existing properties, he added.
The move comes as other cities around the world attempt to crack down on private lodgings available on Airbnb and other platforms, including New York City and Barcelona.
Like elsewhere, overtourism has emerged as a major issue in Japan.
Residents of Kyoto and other hot spots have expressed annoyance at selfie-taking crowds as well as traffic congestion and soaring land prices.
In Shinjuku, the number of complaints over vacation rentals increased by around 40% in the fiscal year to March, the official said.
“Many complaints are about the violation of trash disposal rules while others include smoking and trespassing,” he said.
Shinjuku’s ban comes after the Japan Tourism Agency in July gave municipalities the right to regulate short-term lodgings if “a tranquil living and educational environment” is under threat or if they “hinder the maintenance of a permanent population and local community.”
Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto is also considering a ban on short-term lodging, but only for new rentals within residential and industrial areas.
Several Airbnb hosts contacted by AFP declined to comment.
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Visitors to Hasankeyf, one of southeastern Türkiye’s major tourism destinations, are exploring the district’s historic and natural attractions through boat tours on the Ilısu Dam reservoir.
Located in Batman province, Hasankeyf is considered one of the world’s oldest settlements and continues to attract visitors with traces of civilizations that have shaped the region over centuries.
The district is known for historic landmarks including the Imam Abdullah Tomb, Zeynel Bey Tomb, Artuqid Bath, Hasankeyf Museum and Er-Rızk Mosque. The Ilısu Dam reservoir has also given the area a new character, offering visitors an opportunity to experience its landscape from the water.
An aerial view shows a tour boat on the Ilısu Dam reservoir in Hasankeyf, Batman, southeastern Türkiye, Aug. 23, 2026. (AA Photo)
Domestic and international tourists visiting Hasankeyf can tour its historic sites before taking boat trips across the reservoir to see its canyons and Hasankeyf Castle.
Before setting off, guides brief passengers on safety rules and provide information about the historic castles, caves and canyons along the route. The boat tours last about an hour, allowing visitors to take in the area’s natural and historic scenery.
‘The boat tour was excellent’
Mustafa Yıldız, who traveled from Manisa as part of a tour of the southeastern Anatolia region, said his group visited Hasankeyf after stopping in Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Mardin.
“I really liked Hasankeyf. The boat tour was especially excellent. We really enjoyed seeing the canyons and caves,” Yıldız told Anadolu Agency.
Ramazan Kızar, who traveled from Batman to visit the district, said Hasankeyf was an important destination for cultural and historical tourism.
A tour boat carrying visitors cruises the Ilısu Dam reservoir in Hasankeyf, Batman, southeastern Türkiye, Aug. 23, 2026. (AA Photo)
Kızar said the boat tour gave him the chance to see the historic castle and canyons.
“Thanks to the boat tour I took with my daughter and wife, we are exploring Hasankeyf’s unique beauty,” he said.
52,000 visitors take boat tours
Şehmus Batıhan, a captain and member of the Hasankeyf Kale Tourism Cooperative, said the cooperative operates eight boats offering tours of the reservoir.
Hasankeyf becomes particularly busy with domestic and international visitors during the summer months, Batıhan said, adding that the boat tours have brought additional activity to the district alongside its historic sites.
Boats carrying visitors are seen on the Ilısu Dam reservoir in Hasankeyf, Batman, southeastern Türkiye, Aug. 23, 2026. (AA Photo)
Visitors are picked up at the harbor and taken on a tour covering the area where the old settlement once stood. The tours last approximately one hour, he said.
“About 52,000 guests have taken advantage of the boat tours in the past eight months,” Batıhan said. “We also provide our guests with information about Hasankeyf’s history during the tours.”
He added that many visitors from European countries join the boat trips.
“Visitors can see many important historical works here and they really enjoy the boat tours,” Batıhan said.
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Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo, is enjoying a robust summer season, with concerts, cultural events and its internationally renowned film festival drawing visitors from across Europe and beyond.
More than 100,000 tourists visited the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina in July, according to the Federal News Agency, as the city increasingly attracts travelers for its music, cinema, gastronomy and natural attractions alongside its historical heritage.
Three concerts by regional music star Dino Merlin at Kosevo Stadium in late July and early August attracted more than 200,000 people in total.
Visitors traveled from across the Balkans and other parts of Europe, putting hotels and private accommodation under significant pressure.
Sarajevo recorded nearly 78 million euros ($91 million) in fiscal turnover during the three concert days, with restaurants, cafes, shops and transportation companies benefiting from the influx.
The concerts were followed by a performance by British electronic music group The Prodigy on Aug. 13 and by the opening of the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) the following day.
Established in 1995 during the final year of the siege of Sarajevo, the festival has developed into one of southeastern Europe’s leading film events. This year’s guests included Woody Harrelson, Emily Watson, Pawel Pawlikowski, Diego Luna, Asghar Farhadi and Celine Sciamma.
U.S. actor Woody Harrelson (L) signs autographs for fans on the red carpet at the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Aug. 18, 2026. (AFP Photo)
In addition to these entertainment and cultural events, Sarajevo offers a blend of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture, along with landmarks linked to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and sites preserving the memory of the 1992-1995 siege.
Its proximity to the Olympic mountains of Trebevic, Bjelasnica, Igman and Jahorina also allows travelers to combine a city break with hiking, cycling and winter sports.
Major events are becoming increasingly important for Sarajevo’s tourism economy by attracting new visitors, extending stays and boosting spending across the city.
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