On the southern-most tip of Langkawi, somewhat to the middle of the island, lies Pantai Tengah, which means 'Middle Beach' in Malay. The 1km long beach links with Pantai Chenang somewhere just after the Lighthouse Restaurant, making it the longest stretch of beach in Langkawi. The scenic coastline has mostly been taken up by resorts and chalets. Sea activities such as boating is popular as the area is near to some of the most beautiful islands, namely Pulau Singa Besar, Pulau Beras Basah, Pulau Rebak Kecil and others.

Great fishing can be had near Pulau Rebak Kecil, which lies right opposite Pantai Tengah Beach. Fishing enthusiasts claim that the rocky outcrop next to the island is a haven for garoupa. It takes only a 10-minutes boat ride to find yourself on the deserted beach of Pantai Tepor.

The sea at Pantai Tengah can be rough at times due to its location within a bay. However, during the evenings it is great to have dinner at one of the many resorts that dot the coast and listening to the muted sound of waves crashing on to the beach in the background.

Although contiguous with Pantai Chenang, Pantai Tengah is almost self-sufficient when it comes to amenities for vacationers. There is a good selection of restaurants from the Pantai Chenang junction right up to the hill that separates the place from Tanjung Malai. Just take a stroll up the road and you will find places serving delicious roti nan, chicken or fish tandoori, roti chanai, briyani, chicken rice and a whole lot of other dishes.

There is a spot opposite the road from the Lanai and the Holiday Villa which gets good patronage from resort guests who wish for variety when dining. Some great seafood restaurants are located around this area. The Unkaizen Japanese Restaurant is located on the hill before the Tanjung Malai approach.

Between the Pantai Chenang/Pantai Tengah junction and the cluster of eating outlets, are a number of shops and restaurants on both sides of the road with 'sun' as the prefix to their names. These would, invariably, include Sunseafood, Sunvillage, Sun Cafe, Sunflower Handicraft, Sun Spirit Cafe and the Matahari (Malay for Sun!) Malay Restaurant. These are probably owned by one very enterprising guy with a penchant for the sun. The quaint Sunset Beach Resort, a boutique hotel located in Pantai Cenang is also part of the chain.

Turning left from Jalan Pantai Tengah, you will come to a dead end with the sea stopping you right in your tracks. The Charlie Beach Motel will be on your left and on the right is the Lighthouse Restaurant owned by Chef Shukri, who used to manage the former Langkawi Village Resort (now known as the Frangipani). This very sandy beach area is among the more popular spots to watch the sun set.

Besides great dining variety, you can treat yourself to a good body or foot massage at several outlets in the area. These outlets offer cheaper alternatives to the spa treatment at the resorts.The Gecko convenience store located at the Pantai Chenang junction before the Aseania Resort stocks a wide range of stuff for your sundry needs.

For a quiet and simple Malay breakfast comparable to the well-known spartan nasi lemak bungkus stall opposite the Underwater World at Pantai Chenang, head for the warung next to the Gecko. Besides a variety of nasi lemak bungkus, you will find a selection of Malay kuih that goes well with local style breakfast.

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