How to get from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi
Why visit Langkawi?
Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands off the northwest coast of Malaysia. Its biggest island — also called Langkawi — is dotted with white-sand beaches and jungle-clad hills. Far from a quiet retreat (it is bustling with duty-free outlets), Langkawi does still offer some natural wonders and vibrant diving spots.
The so-called “Jewel of Kedah” is an ideal place to go island-hopping, submerge yourself in waterfalls and get lost in rice fields. All of which can be seen from the Langkawi Sky Bridge. A little tip, though: go early in the morning or you’ll be sharing this view with lots of other tourists exploring Langkawi!
What are the 4 ways to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi?
There are 4 ways to travel the 415 kilometre (258 miles) distance from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. You can choose between the bus via Kuala Perlis, train via Kuala Kedah, flight and train via Kuala Perlis. The journey takes 1 hour 50 minutes to 14 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus via Kuala Perlis with tickets starting at 78 MYR ($19.90).
Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi by Bus via Kuala Perlis
It is possible to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Perlis by bus. This option is more convenient than the train options, as the bus station is just walking distance from the ferry terminal.
There are also more bus departures to Kuala Perlis, but this route has the longest travel time at 8 hours 40 minutes to 14 hours.
Step 1: Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Perlis by Bus
Buses to Kuala Perlis are available at Hentian Duta Bus Station, Klang Sentral and TBS Kuala Lumpur.
Several bus companies offer both day and night trips from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Perlis. We recommend taking an overnight bus so that you can save time and a night’s accommodation. This way, you can also take a morning ferry ride to Langkawi.
Bus fares start from 47 MYR ($12) and travel time is 7h 25m - 12h 30m.
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Buses park at Kuala Perlis Bus Terminal. From here, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the port.
It’s best to book your ticket online beforehand for a higher chance of securing a seat on your preferred date and time.
Step 2: Kuala Perlis to Langkawi by Ferry
From Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal, a ferry ride to Langkawi takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. Ferries usually operate from 06:30 to 18:30.
Departure times vary, but you can easily check the latest schedules at the Langkawi Ferry Line website. You can also book your tickets in advance through on Cuti Cuti Langkawi.
A ferry ticket costs 35 MYR ($8.90).
Ferry arrival port in Langkawi
The ferries dock at the island’s main ferry terminal, Kuah Jetty, which is still 20 km away from Pantai Cenang. You’ll have to take a taxi to get to your hotel. Fares start from 24 MYR ($6.10) for the 40-minute taxi ride.
If you’re travelling solo, you can get cheaper rates by taking one of the shared taxis that you can find just outside the port.
Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi by Train via Kuala Kedah
One way to travel by train from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi is via Alor Setar in Kuala Kedah. From here, you’ll still need to take a bus and a ferry to Langkawi.
If you’re thinking of taking the train and are on a budget, we recommend this route. This option is cheaper than travelling via Kuala Perlis and also the next option to the flight with the shortest travel time at around 6 hours 45 minutes to 7 hours 10 minutes.
Step 1: Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar by Train
There are several trains that operate from Kuala Lumpur Sentral to Alor Setar daily.
Ticket prices start from 83 MYR ($21). Gold and Platinum trains are basically the same trains. The difference is that ETS Platinum stops only in major stations.
All trains have the same travel time of about 4h 40m - 4h 55m. Below are our recommended train schedules:
Note that the fares still vary depending on how early you book. We suggest booking your tickets in advance on the KTM website to score cheap tickets.
Step 2: Alor Setar to Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal by Bus
From Alor Setar Station, you’ll have to walk 10-15 minutes to the nearest bus stop, where you can take the local bus to Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal.
The bus ride takes around 20 - 30 minutes for 2 MYR ($0.50), but note that buses come only every 2 hours.
Alternatively, you can take a 20-minute taxi to the ferry terminal with rates from 20 MYR ($5.10).
Step 3: Kuala Kedah to Langkawi by Ferry
There are several ferries operating the Kuala Kedah Jetty to Langkawi route daily.
Departure times vary, but there are trips as early as 07:00 on some days. There are about 5 ferry departures until the afternoon or early evening.
Ticket prices cost 45 MYR ($11.50) for non-Malaysian residents. Travel time is about 1h 45m.
You can view the full schedule on Langkawi Ferry Line website. Tickets can sell out fast, so it’s best to book them online through Cuti Cuti Langkawi.
Ferry port in Langkawi
Ferries dock at Kuah Jetty, the island’s main ferry terminal that is located around 20 km east of Pantai Cenang. To get to your hotel, you can take a 40-minute taxi with rates from 24 MYR ($6.10).
Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi by Train via Kuala Perlis
You can also take a train from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi via Arau Station in Kuala Perlis. This town is next to Kuala Kedah in the north and is around 480 km away from Kuala Lumpur.
Compared to the train route via Kuala Kedah, this option is a bit more expensive, as the land travel is longer. But since Kuala Perlis is closer to Langkawi, the ferry ride is shorter for this route.
Step 1: Kuala Lumpur to Arau by Train
From KL Sentral, you can also take a train to Arau Train Station. Gold and Platinum trains are also available for this route.
Ticket prices start from 89 MYR ($22.50) for the Gold train and 125 MYR ($31.50) for the Platinum train. Travel time takes around 5h - 5h 20m.
Below are the train schedules that will get you to Langkawi within the same day.
It’s best to always check the latest schedules on the KTMB website. To secure a seat, you can also book your tickets beforehand through the website.
Step 2: Arau Station to Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal by Taxi
The most convenient way to travel the 20 km distance from Arau Station to Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal is by taxi. The journey takes around 30 minutes with rates starting from 24 MYR ($6.10).
It is also possible to take the bus, but there are no direct buses to the ferry terminal. You need to first take a bus to the capital city of Kangar and then transfer to another bus to the ferry terminal. With that, travel time can easily take around 1 hour.
Step 3: Kuala Perlis to Langkawi by Ferry
Kuala Perlis is closer to the island of Langkawi than Kuala Kedah, so the ferry ride would take only 1h 15m. The ferry ticket is also cheaper at 35 MYR ($8.90) for non-Malaysian residents.
For this route, departure times also vary from day to day. Usually, there are at least 5 ferry departures daily from 06:30 to 18:30. You can check the latest schedules at the Langkawi Ferry Line website.
The ferry also docks at Kuah Jetty, which is still 40 minutes away from the main tourist area of Pantai Cenang. You can complete your journey by taking a taxi with fares from 24 MYR ($6.10).
Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi by Flight
A flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi takes only a little over an hour. However, travel time to and from the two airports brings the total travel time closer to 1 hour 50 minutes.
There are 2 airports in Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and Subang Airport (SZB). Since fares from Kuala Lumpur Airport are often at least 50% cheaper, we’ll focus on that route.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: Kuala Lumpur City Centre to Kuala Lumpur Airport
Kuala Lumpur Airport is located some 45 km south of the city centre. To get to the airport, you can take a 30-minute train, or a 1-hour bus or taxi.
You can book your train tickets via BookAway for 55 MYR ($14). Bus tickets are available on 12Go.Asia for around 14 MYR ($3.60), while a metred taxi costs between 80 MYR ($20.50) – 100 MYR ($25.50).
Due to heavy traffic in the city, we highly recommend taking the train, especially if you’re heading to the airport during peak hours. For more info, check out our page on Kuala Lumpur Airport.
Step 2: Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi by Flight
AirAsia, a low-cost Malaysian airline, offers multiple daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi.
If you book early, you can get a ticket for as low as 75 MYR ($19.10) for the 1-hour flight.
There are also a few flights with Malaysia Airlines, BatikAir Malaysia, Firefly, Scoot, and Singapore Airlines, but their airfares are normally more expensive than Air Asia’s.
Step 3: Langkawi Airport to City Centre by Taxi
Langkawi Airport is around 8 km away from the main tourist hub of Pantai Cenang.
Taxis are a common mode of transportation on the island and are available 24 hours every day outside the airport. You will be charged a fixed price based on your destination.
To get to Pantai Cenang, you can take a 15-minute taxi with fares from 20 MYR ($5.10).
If you’re staying in the district capital of Kuah, you can also take a taxi that will take around 25 minutes. Fares start from 25 MYR ($6.40).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions about Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi
What is the distance from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi?
The distance from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi is 415 kilometre (258 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi?
The fastest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi is by flight and takes 1 hour 50 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi?
The cheapest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi is by bus via Kuala Perlis with ticket costs starting from 78 MYR ($19.90).
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Kate is a travel content creator, writer and founder of Stay Wild Travel, a tour company running group trips for women beyond your typical destinations. Her full-time travels have taken her to almost 60 countries, and she doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon.
