The coral reefs in the marine parks resemble one of the most beautiful gardens you ever seen. They can be found in the Pulau Payar Marine Park. It is the only dive spots in the West Coast of the Pennisula Malaysia and is relatively unknown over the more famous dive spots like the Sipadan Island.
Pulau Payar Marine Park, 19 nautical miles south of Pulau Langkawi and 32 nautical miles north of Pulau Pinang consists of Pulau Payar, Pulau Kaca, Pulau Lembu and Pulau Segantang. The coral reefs here are made up of soft corals with its magnificent colors and sheer diversity, and an abundance of hard corals like Boulder which is like its namesake, Staghorn which is shaped like deer antlers and Brain corals. The colors of the exotic reef fishes are particularly captivating like somebody painted them from every color of the rainbow with unique strips, spots and dots on them.These coral reefs take thousands of years to develop and they are one of our national treasures. That is why education is important and people must be made to realize that.
Pulau Payar Marine Park was conceived with the long term objective of preserving and enhancing valuable marine resources and the fragile marine ecosystem so that the visitors can enjoy it in perpetuity. Marine Rangers will always patrol the park water to ensure the marine ecosystem is adequately protected. Activities that may cause negative impacts to the marine resources are prohobited in order to ensure the conservation and enrichment of marine resources.
Langkawi Coral is the Malaysia’s 1st & Only Reef Platform in Pulau Payar Marine Park. The reef platform has been designed to have as minimal impact on the local corals and fishes population as possible so as to preserve the natural beauty of the marine park. Floating like a tiny island in the sea, it comes equipped to facilitate all the activities conducted with comfort from snorkeling, scuba diving, coral viewing to sunbathing and fish feeding. Whatever you do, there is something for everyone at Langkawi Coral.
National Park
Langkawi is an archipelago of some 99 islands in the Andaman Sea. The islands are blessed with innumerable beauty of white sandy beaches and its abundance of nature make it a true eco-getaway from marine life to rock formations, there certainly much to do and see.Langkawi is also rich in folklore and legends. It is most known as the site of the Mahsuri legend. The legend speaks of a young woman was executed for adultery and white blood flowed from her to proving her innocence.
Langkawi Geopark was declared a National Goepark on the 31st May 2006 and has been endorsed as the 52nd member of the UNESCO Global Network of National Geoparks on 1st June 2007. It is Malaysia’s first geopark comprising of Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park with the total area of about 478 square kilometers. A Geopark is a nationally protected area that is unique for its significant geological heritage. The Machinchang Formation is the oldest geological formation in the world at 550million years old, it is said that Langkawi is the birthplace of the region! Kilim Geoforest Park boasts of a magnificently formed landscape of nearly vertical to sub-rounded karstic hills with pinnacles of various shapes and sizes. The name Langkawi is thought to have come from the Brahminy Kite Eagle which nested here. Dayang Bunting Geoforest Park hosts a showcase of marvelous marbles resulted from depositing of Chuping limestone dated back 280million years old. A unique feature of the park is the Tasik Dayang Bunting fresh water lake or Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, it is believed that women unable to conceive becoming pregnant once immersed in its “magical’ waters.
Within these Geoforest Parks, caves are plentiful for exploration activities. One of the many interesting caves has to be Gua Kelawar or Bat Cave with its stunning stalactites and stalagmites, taunt the adventurous to unravel ancient secrets.
Wetland Park
Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year. Mangrove swamps are coastal wetlands found in estuaries, where fresh water meets salt water and are infamous for mangrove trees due to their ability to survive in both salt and fresh water. Most plants are killed by salt, but the mangrove trees are able to filter salt out through specialized salt glands under the leaf surface. Also, most plants die if their roots are drowned in water thus leaving them without oxygen, and in the mud of mangrove swamps, the rotting leaves usually consume all available oxygen. However, mangrove trees have developed aerial roots that stick out of the mud and project into the air to get oxygen.
Long regarded as wasteland, mangrove swamps are now recognized as the important features in the landscape that provide numerous beneficial services for people, fish, and wildlife. Mangrove swamps, like other wetlands, function like natural sponges absorbing and storing excess water, and slowly releasing it during times of flooding to reduce the risk of costly property damages and loss of life. Mangrove root systems provide a filtering system for run-off, allowing sediments to be removed before entering open water otherwise this sediment would cover and kill coral reef colonies. They improve the water quality by trapping debris, sediments, excess nutrients and toxicants through their natural filtering processes. Mangrove swamps also serve as natural barriers against torrential storms by acting as wave breaks to preserve the coastline and prevent shore erosion.
Often called nurseries of life, wetlands are most fertile and productive ecosystem in the world, rivaling the likes of tropical rainforests and coral reefs in their productivity and the diversity of species they support. Two thirds of all fish consumed worldwide are dependent on coastal wetlands at some stage in their life cycle. Migratory birds use wetlands as resting and breeding areas and as an abundant food source.
Malaysia is a country rich with natural splendors from tropical islands with enchanting beaches to national parks with vast diversity of fauna and flora, and exotic marine parks surrounded by superb coral garden that is home to great diversity of magnificent corals and colorful marine life. It is also blessed with a rich cultural heritage, peace and harmony. Visitors come from the world over to get away from the stress of the modern world and to appreciate the nature in Malaysia. More people nowadays are more environmentally conscious and prefer to see nature over “man-made attractions”.
They understand that by supporting eco-tourism, they are helping to protect the sites. They are eco-tourists, conscious that their action can upset the fragile balance of these natural places and that they may not last longer if nothing is done to preserve them. Others see eco-tourism as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life, a chance to get back in touch with nature. It is also a good opportunity to expose their children to appreciate nature and treasure it. Our natural heritage is part of the legacy that we will leave to future generations. Its beauty dwarfs any made monument and takes thousands of years to form.
Helping to make sure our national treasures survives for future generation is a company that has become synonymous with eco-tourism. Langkawi Saga Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd was established in 1998 with primary activities to focus in eco-tourism. Over the years, the company has played a part in contributing to preserving the environment as well as educating the visitors on conservations and eco-system of the coral reefs. The company also aims to share with those that visit national parks and marine parks not the beauty but about the importance of conservation.
We are a member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, PATA and Professional Association of Diving Instructors, PADI.
What to See 
