The best part of our Langkawi trip - Kilim Geoforest park.
Initially I was thinking to bring kids to experience snorkeling in Pulau Payar, as it is shallow water which is perfect for kids and they will be able to swim with real baby shark. However, review from Tripadvisor seems to suggest that it is badly maintained. On the other hand, this Kilim Geoforest Park has many good review.
I thought mangroves tour is just another kids-friendly tour, but I enjoyed it as much as all the kiddos. It was well organized and the scenery is truly amazing. It was quite an adventure especially for kids and they learned a lot too.
There are many highlights in our 4 hours journey :
- Traveled in speedboat along the Kilim river with magnificent view of Mangrove trees and gigantic limestone rocks. It feels like Phi Phi Island, or the Amazon river cruise that I saw from TV before.
- Walked in silent into a dark cave with just torchlight and seeing hundreds and hundreds of tiny bats hanging on to the roof of the caves.
- Wading through knee-high water in a small dark cave
- Towards the end of the caving journey, saw a danger sign hanging on a wooden stairs heading to a small cave on top. Tour guide told us that it is now habitat of a snake, with a snake skin hanging outside. Somehow this is Cayden’s favourite part of the trip.
- Saw archer fish shoot water with perfect aim and a loud sound.
- Learned about the most dangerous fish in Kilim river ( I can’t remember its name) and witnessed how fast and strong they are when the guide feed them.
- Screamed when large number of monkeys jumped onto our boat to look for food. I felt like I was in horror movie when a few monkeys jumped on the boat roof and some tried to snatch food from us.
- Giggled when seeing monkeys stuffed their mouth full of bread and swim / jumped back to the forest.
- Watched 30-40 eagles swooping down to catch the chicken skin floating on the water and take off in split seconds.
- Went under a low cave in the speed boat and nearly stuck inside. We would be trapped if the tide is high. Coming out to realize that we passed through the crocodile cave with no crocodile. It has its name because the shape of the cave looks like a crocodile. We saw a lizard though.
- Traveled in speedboat along the Kilim river with magnificent view of Mangrove trees and gigantic limestone rocks. It feels like Phi Phi Island, or the Amazon river cruise that I saw from TV before.
- Walked in silent into a dark cave with just torchlight and seeing hundreds and hundreds of tiny bats hanging on to the roof of the caves.
- Wading through knee-high water in a small dark cave
- Towards the end of the caving journey, saw a danger sign hanging on a wooden stairs heading to a small cave on top. Tour guide told us that it is now habitat of a snake, with a snake skin hanging outside. Somehow this is Cayden’s favourite part of the trip.
- Saw archer fish shoot water with perfect aim and a loud sound.
- Learned about the most dangerous fish in Kilim river ( I can’t remember its name) and witnessed how fast and strong they are when the guide feed them.
- Screamed when large number of monkeys jumped onto our boat to look for food. I felt like I was in horror movie when a few monkeys jumped on the boat roof and some tried to snatch food from us.
- Giggled when seeing monkeys stuffed their mouth full of bread and swim / jumped back to the forest.
- Watched 30-40 eagles swooping down to catch the chicken skin floating on the water and take off in split seconds.
- Went under a low cave in the speed boat and nearly stuck inside. We would be trapped if the tide is high. Coming out to realize that we passed through the crocodile cave with no crocodile. It has its name because the shape of the cave looks like a crocodile. We saw a lizard though.
On the way to the open sea was the best part of the day. At first Nicole spotted 2 dolphins. Then we saw 4, and then we found ourselves surrounded by group of dolphins! 10 or 20? I lost counts. We witnessed a few of them jump out of water in front of us, at least 4 times. My first encounter with wild dolphins. They were so near to us and kids love it so much. This is not part of the itinerary, but it’s definitely an unforgettable one. Highly recommended tour if you visit Langkawi.
The not-so-good part of the tour:
- The lunch at the floating fish farm was overpriced and they overcooked the freshly caught fish. We ordered non-spicy dishes for kids but even the steam fish was spicy.
- We didn't get to see and feed coral fish. There was no fish due to sea current change that day, according to the guide.
- We were supposed to swim in an uninhabited island, but I think the boat driver brought us to a hotel beach in Tanjung Rhu instead.
- The lunch at the floating fish farm was overpriced and they overcooked the freshly caught fish. We ordered non-spicy dishes for kids but even the steam fish was spicy.
- We didn't get to see and feed coral fish. There was no fish due to sea current change that day, according to the guide.
- We were supposed to swim in an uninhabited island, but I think the boat driver brought us to a hotel beach in Tanjung Rhu instead.
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| Beautiful weather, sunny day with lots of cloud so not too hot. |
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| First stop, the bat cave. We are all ready with our torchlight. |
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| Floating fish farm. The guide was friendly and funny. He introduced us their 3 stingrays named Ali, Abu and Ah Chong. Kids got to touch Ali. We also saw the archer fish shoot water to get its food. Other fish includes the piranha’s cousin fish and the most dangerous fish in Kilim river who is fast and strong. The not so good part is the lunch there is overpriced and they overcooked the fresh fish we ordered. We asked for non-spicy dishes for kids but even the steam fish was spicy. |
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| First time traveling with his best friend. They play and they fight; they sing, dance and swim together. A memorable trip for all of us. |
