An hour north of Kuala Lumpur by air, Langkawi is an archipelago of roughly 100 islands scattered throughout the Andaman Sea, though the term usually refers to the main island, which has some 65,000 residents. Located just south of the Thai border, Langkawi features a landscape that is comparable to that of Phuket, thanks to sparkling white beaches, rainforests and azure waters. One important distinction, however, is that the mountainous spine of peninsular Malaysia shields the islands from the brunt of the winter monsoon season. Langkawi has a true dry season from December to February, while March to November is an extended season of intermittent tropical downpours.