How to get from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur

Why visit Kuala Lumpur?

Kuala Lumpur (KL) is Malaysia’s capital, a vibrant mix of skyscrapers, Asian-European architecture, large shopping districts, and flavourful cuisine. The busy city can be quite overwhelming, but it’s all about finding your rhythm in Kuala Lumpur’s beautiful chaos.

The Petronas Towers — the tallest twin towers in the world — are the city’s most iconic attraction. But there’s so much more to see in Kuala Lumpur. The old KL Railway Station, KL Tower, Bukit Bintang, and Jalan Alor are all must-visits. And if you have more time, the colourful Batu Caves is just 30 minutes away from the city.

There are 4 ways to travel the 415 kilometres (258 miles) from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur. 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 100 MYR ($24.50).

Travelling by bus from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur is simpler than taking the train as you’ll only need one transfer. It may not be the most comfortable option but it should be more than good enough for the whole trip that lasts about 8 hours 15 minutes to 14 hours

The first thing you’ll have to do to catch the ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis is to get to Kuah Jetty.

This is the island’s main ferry terminal and is located some 40 minutes away from Pantai Cenang. A taxi ride costs 24 MYR ($5.70).

Next, find the ferries bound for Kuala Perlis. There are at least 5 departures from 09:30 until afternoon or early evening. Departure times vary, but you can get the latest schedules on the Langkawi Ferry Line website. You can book your ferry tickets through Cuti Cuti Langkawi. Tickets are priced at 35 MYR ($8.30).

Ferries dock at Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal, which is around 450 m from the bus terminal.

You can choose from several bus companies to take you from Kuala Perlis to Kuala Lumpur. The bus journey takes 7h - 12h 30m and fares start from 69 MYR ($16.40). Tickets are available for early online booking on BookAway.

Here are the recommended bus trips based on the schedule of ferries from Langkawi:

Kuala Perlis

Executive

Hentian Duta

09:45

11h 55m

21:40

09:45

6h 58m

16:43

City Express

From 72 MYR ($17.10)

Compare prices

• 24/7 customer support

72 MYR ($17.10)

09:45

11h 55m

21:40

Check on BookAway

• 24/7 customer support

72 MYR ($17.10)

09:45

6h 58m

16:43

Check on BookAway

Kuala Perlis

Executive

TBS Kuala Lumpur

09:45

12h 15m

22:00

09:45

7h 15m

17:00

City Express

72 MYR ($17.10)

Compare prices

• 24/7 customer support

72 MYR ($17.10)

09:45

12h 15m

22:00

Check on BookAway

• 24/7 customer support

72 MYR ($17.10)

09:45

7h 15m

17:00

Check on BookAway

Travelling by train from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur via Kuala Kedah is the train route we prefer if you’re on a tight budget. It tends to be 10 minutes slower than the other train route via Kuala Perlis but allows you to save at least 20 MYR ($4.80).

If you’re staying at Pantai Cenang, you’ll first have to get to Kuah Jetty, located 20 km east. A taxi is your only option, and fares start from 24 MYR ($5.70).

At Kuah Jetty, ferries bound for Kuala Kedah depart from 07:30 – 19:00. Schedules vary daily, so it’s best to check the latest departure times on the Langkawi Ferry Line website.  You can book your ferry tickets through Cuti Cuti Langkawi. Rates start at 45 MYR ($10.70) for a journey that lasts for 1h 45m.

From Kuala Kedah Ferry Terminal, you’ll need to take a bus or a taxi to get to the nearest train station in Alor Setar, about 12 km east.

The bus is much cheaper at only 2 MYR ($0.50) for the bus ride that is 20 - 30 minutes long. However, buses normally run just once every 2 hours.

If you don’t have the time or the patience to wait for the next bus, you can also take a taxi to Alor Setar Station. Rates start from 20 MYR ($4.80).

From Alor Setar, you can take the train to travel to Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

Schedules differ every day, but there are always at least three trains that operate on this route. You can check the latest departure times as well as book your ticket online on KTM website.

Rates start from 83 MYR ($19.70) for ETS Gold and 110 MYR ($26.50) for ETS Platinum. Note that the only difference between the two is travel time. Platinum trains only stop at major train stations, so they complete the journey faster.

Another way to take the train from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur is via Arau Station in Kuala Perlis, the nearest mainland town to Langkawi.

This route tends to be 30 minutes faster than the train via Kuala Kedah, but is slightly more expensive.

For this option too, you’ll first need to head to Langkawi’s main ferry terminal, Kuah Jetty. It’s located some 20 km east of Pantai Cenang, so a taxi ride takes about 40 minutes. Fares start from 24 MYR ($5.70).

From Kuah Jetty, ferries bound for Kuala Perlis depart several times a day from 09:30 until afternoon or early evening. Their departure times vary, but you can always check the latest schedules at Langkawi Ferry Line website. You can book your ferry tickets through Cuti Cuti Langkawi.

A ticket costs 35 MYR ($8.30), and the journey takes around 1h 15m. The ferries dock at Kuala Perlis Terminal.

The only reasonable option to reach Arau Station from Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal is by taxi. Travel time for the 20 km distance is around 30 minutes. Fares start from 24 MYR ($5.70).

We don’t think it’s worth considering taking the bus for this leg of the journey. There are no direct trips, so you’ll need to take two buses. Also, travel time is at least 1 hour 30 minutes.

For the last leg of this option, you’ll need to take a southbound train for 430 km to Kuala Lumpur Sentral.

Even if you add on the transfer time to and from the airports, you’ll still save a lot of time when flying from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur. This, along with the usual cheap airfares, is the reason why we prefer flying this route.

There are two airports in Kuala Lumpur:

• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
• Subang Airport (SZB).

Since fares from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur International 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.

From the main tourist hub of Pantai Cenang, you’ll have to travel 8 km north to get to the airport. The taxi is your only option. If you hail one from the street, rates start from 30 MYR ($7.10) for the taxi ride that is 15 minutes long. Make sure you agree on a price before getting on board.

Another option is to book one via Klook. Expect a spacious car and a reliable driver who will pick you up from your hotel at your desired time. With Klook, you can get a 4-seater car for 50 MYR ($11.90). Bigger cars are also available for larger groups.

You shouldn’t have a hard time getting a flight from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur. There are plenty available every day, and airfares start from as low as 79 MYR ($18.80) if you book early.

Air Asia offers the cheapest rates on this route.

From Kuala Lumpur Airport, you’ll then have to travel 45 km north to get to the city centre. You have three options here: a 30-minute train for 55 MYR ($13.10), 30-minute private transport for 49 MYR ($11.60), or a 1-hour for bus 10 MYR ($2.40). You can pre-book any of these options via BookAway.

If you get to the airport without a booked ride, you can get a metered taxi for about 80 MYR ($19) – 100 MYR ($24).

If you’re in a hurry, it’s better to take the train as the roads from the airport to the city can get congested. Visit our page on Kuala Lumpur Airport for more details.