Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah. Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 island in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border. By far the largest of the islands is the eponymous Pulau Langkawi with a population of some 45,000, the only other inhabited island being nearby Pulau Tuba. Langkawi lies north of the Strait of Malacca in the southern Andaman Sea near the border between Malaysia and Thailand.
Langkawi used to be the starting point of the annual international cycling race Tour de Langkawi cycling event, however after 2000, Langkawi was omitted from the race itinerary. Langkawi also hosts the biennial Langkawi International Maritime and Air Show (LIMA). Langkawi has played host to the Malaysian Ironman triathlon since 2000.