My journey through Penang and Langkawi began in sunny Kuala Lumpur, where I met with the Enrich team, bright-eyed and ready for a Northern Peninsular Malaysia escapade. The trip had been designed by Enrich, the Travel & Lifestyle Programme of Malaysia Airlines, for the media to experience and immerse ourselves in its branded products and partners.
Are you ready to experience Penang and Langkawi just as I did? I’m appending the itinerary below for your next getaway. Now, let’s get down to it!
Day 1, morning: Lounge access & departing from Kuala Lumpur
Of course, we had to kick off our trip with a comfortable flight on Malaysia Airlines. But, before our flight to Penang, a laid-back breakfast at the Domestic Golden Lounge was in order. The lounge had plenty of natural sunlight streaming into the space and was a comfortable respite for a hearty breakfast before our flight.
The Domestic Golden Lounge is accessible for Enrich Gold and Platinum members and business class travellers. You can also redeem Enrich Points for Lounge Access! For flights, Enrich members will earn Enrich Points from their flight purchase, or they can opt to use Enrich Saver, a fixed Points redemption option starting from 4,200 Enrich Points.
Day 1, afternoon: Penang Nasi Kandar, hotel check-in & some shopping
As Malaysians, our love for food trumps everything else. Hence, upon landing in Penang, we dove head-first into the local dish, Nasi Kandar. We had lunch at Hameediyah, which has been operating on Lebuh Campbell since 1907 and holds the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for being the country’s oldest nasi kandar restaurant.
After a satisfying lunch, we headed to G Hotel at Gurney Drive to check into our accommodation for the first day. The hotel can be booked through the Enrich Hotels platform, where Enrich members can earn and redeem points for properties worldwide. You’ll get a 20% discount on hotel bookings if you’re a first-time booker on the platform.
My favourite part about G Hotel is the pillow menu. With four different pillows to choose from, those who need special pillows to sleep (like me) can put their minds at ease, knowing their necks and backs will be well supported. I got the Natural Response Contour Pillow, which helped immensely in ensuring I did not wake up with neck aches the following day.
We took some time to settle into our rooms before exploring the nearby Gurney Paragon Mall, which was only a short five-minute walk away. It was a great opportunity to immerse ourselves into the local culture at Kapten Batik Boutique with their modern artisanal batik wear and goods. As Enrich’s lifestyle partner, Enrich members get an exclusive 10% discount when shopping at Kapten Batik.
I bought some pocket squares as gifts for a friend who loves the finer things in life. Kapten Batik’s tote bags are lovely too, elevating the daily functional tote into a stylish piece.
Shopping tip: Use your EnrichMoney Visa prepaid card to accumulate EnrichMoney Points, which can be used to redeem cashback post-purchases. Plus, with this multi-currency e-wallet, you can buy, sell, and store up to 20 foreign currencies at competitive conversion rates. This means you can spend like a local overseas with your EnrichMoney card at Visa merchants worldwide and enjoy zero transaction fees!
Day 1, evening: Dinner at China House
As evening came, we went to the popular China House on Beach Street to bask in its unique ambience. The first thing I noticed was the length of the entire shophouse; it took us about five minutes to walk from one end to the other. You’ll see an eclectic mix of decor, and walking into different rooms will give you a different ambience.
It’s worth exploring and getting to know the place more through its three different restaurants and the art spaces on the upper floor. We settled into BTB Restaurant for dinner, where we had fusion dishes influenced by a mix of local, Asian, and Western cuisine. Our five senses were in for an adventure that night.
Day 2, morning till noon: The Habitat Penang Hill, lunch & off to Langkawi!
On the second day, we had some time in the morning to explore a little more of Penang before flying off to our next destination, Langkawi. After fueling ourselves up with the buffet breakfast spread at G Hotel, we were off to a dreamy morning atop Penang Hill.
The Habitat, Penang Hill’s award-winning rainforest discovery centre, offered breathtaking views of Penang and its surroundings. I got the chance to learn about and get up close with some of the flora and fauna that call the rainforest their home. You can book tickets for The Habitat through Enrich Xperience.
Lunch was at China Muslim Restaurant (CMR 3.0), which serves authentic Chinese Halal food curated by a Muslim Chef from Ningxia, China. Their ‘Feng Wei’ Mutton, one of their signature dishes, was divine.
Our adventure continues with a flight on Firefly, Enrich’s partner airline, giving you more point-earning and redeeming opportunities.
Day 2, evening: Parkroyal Langkawi, dinner & a magical night at Dream Forest
Checking into the Parkroyal Langkawi was a welcome addition to the itinerary. I was able to take in the sea breeze and stretch my legs at this wonderful getaway amidst Langkawi’s hustle and bustle. It’s also conveniently located a short five-minute walk from Cenang Beach, which I’ll explore later. This property is available on the Enrich Hotels platform, too.
After we’d sufficiently taken naps and refreshed ourselves, it was time for another round of food! This time, seafood was on the menu at Kapal Layar Langkawi. The sailboat perched atop the restaurant greeted us at the entrance, and the view of the sea was a beautiful sight as we savoured our dinner.
A realm of enchanting tales awaited us at Dream Forest Langkawi. Through multi-sensory displays, immersive illuminations, sounds, and projections, we explored Langkawi’s myths and legends like Puteri Dayang Bunting, the Giants of Langkawi, and more.
The journey takes place in a Langkawi rainforest along a guided footpath. It’s a must-visit attraction for adults and children alike. For convenience, you can book your magical journey through Enrich Xperience!
Day 3, morning till noon: Mangrove tour, rest & relaxation
You don’t just get to buy attraction tickets through Enrich Xperience; you can book experiences, too. Just like we did with the Tanjung Rhu Mangrove Tour for our second day in Langkawi. Our friendly guide took us through the Mangrove Forest of Tanjung Rhu and showed us local sea eagles that are native to the island.
He also took us through the famed Crocodile Cave (there were no crocodiles, just a remarkable rock formation shaped like one) and Bat Cave (yes, there were bats), which were amazing natural sights to behold. We had lunch that was served as part of the tour before making our way back to the hotel for some rest and relaxation.
The rest of the day (till dinner) is yours for the taking. I decided to explore the stretch of beach along the hotel’s backyard and stumbled upon a little gem, Hidden Langkawi! This beachside cafe was a pleasant respite from the midday heat and would make for a great place to hang out for drinks and music in the evenings.
Day 3, evening: Sunset, dinner & shopping at Cenang Beach
You’ll get a magnificent view of the sunset at the beach here, and that’s what we all took in before our dinner at Cassia, Parkroyal Langkawi’s all-day dining restaurant. Dinner was a specially curated menu of local dishes, starting with Ulam, then Nasi Tomato, Ikan Asam Pedas, Udang Masak Lemak, and other delicious delights.
Since it was our last night in Langkawi, we had to explore the nearby Cenang Beach. We strolled through the busy streets and saw captivating fire shows on the beach. Of course, I couldn’t stop myself from indulging in a little duty-free shopping, which was made easy with my EnrichMoney card. I took home with me snacks and chocolates to share with my loved ones back in Kuala Lumpur.
Day 4: Breakfast, lunch & adieu
Parkroyal Langkawi’s buffet breakfast is known to have the best spread in Langkawi, so we definitely started our day right on our last day here. I took a leisurely morning having my breakfast at Cassia, at one of their seven sunken seats overlooking their infinity pool and the ocean. I took some time to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere the property offers before packing up for check-out.
Our last meal in Langkawi was at Cili Kampung, a well-established establishment that opened a branch in Kuala Lumpur. Its authentic Malay cuisine stole my heart, and I know I will return to dine here whenever I’m in Langkawi.
As we approached Langkawi International Airport, I reminisced on everything that we’d done during the past three days. From the breathtaking views to the tantalising food and the warm smiles, it was certainly a trip to remember.
Every part of our trip was made seamless and fun with Enrich’s offerings. From the flights to the hotels and also the shopping and experiences, it was all covered through Enrich’s loyalty programme. And we want you to have the same experience too! Stand a chance to win 5,000 Enrich Points for flights, shopping or both. by taking part in our giveaway. Details below:
*All images are by the author unless stated otherwise.
Enrich Malaysia Airlines Points GiveawayContest terms & conditions
- Only participants aged 18 and above are eligible to be in the running for the prize.
- Spam/giveaway accounts will be disqualified from the giveaway.
- The giveaway ends on 25 February 2024 at 23:59.
- Three (3) winners will be announced on 26 February 2024 in the comments section of the giveaway post (Reel) and on Instagram Stories.
- The winners will be selected by Zafigo and all decisions are final.
- Winners will need to DM their full name, phone number, and email to Zafigo.
- A digital winning letter provided to all three winners, whereby they will need to reply with their Enrich membership details. Points will be credited within 14 days.
- Prizes (Enrich Points) are not exchangeable for cash/credit/other items or vouchers, in part or in full.
- By participating in the giveaway and being selected as the winner, you consent that your name, content, and any photos or videos related to this giveaway be published on Zafigo’s social media channels and any other publications.
- Zafigo reserves the right to cancel and/or change the terms and conditions, prizes, and plans at their discretion without any prior notice.
- Zafigo is not responsible for any claims incurred by the winner due to the cancellation/changes of the giveaway.
