Overview Compare Ferry Flight Bus
A little intro to the beautiful island called Langkawi
Langkawi, located off the northwest coast of Malaysia, is an archipelago of 99 islands.
Surrounded by turquoise waters, its biggest island (also called Langkawi) is made of white-sand beaches that border the lush jungles in the middle. Dotted inbetween are busy towns filled with locals, tourists, and of course, the duty-free outlets Langkawi is well-known for.
Far from a quiet retreat, Langkawi does still offer some natural wonders and vibrant diving spots.
Langkawi is an ideal place to go island-hopping, submerge yourself in waterfalls and get lost in the 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!
How to get from Penang to Langkawi
When it comes to travelling 110 km from Penang to Langkawi, you have 3 options. You can take a ferry for just under 3 hours, a flight for around 1 hour, or a bus for 4 hours (including transfers). Fares range between 89 MYR ($19.00) and 160 MYR ($34.00).
3 ways to get from Penang to Langkawi
The ferry is a convenient and the most environmentally friendly option. Combined taxi and ferry rates from Penang to Langkawi start from 147 MYR ($31.00) and the journey takes less than 3 hours.
The flight is the fastest option, but also the most harmful to the environment. We don’t really recommend taking short-haul flights like this, but if you’re really short of time, a flight takes only 40 minutes. The combined taxi and airfare from Penang to Langkawi will cost around 160 MYR ($34.00).
The bus is the cheapest option, but we also don’t recommend it unless you’re prone to seasickness. This option involves way too many transfers (including 2 short ferry rides). It’s more than $10 cheaper than the other 2 options, but we just don’t think it’s worth the hassle.
Penang to Langkawi by Ferry
Ferries operating from Penang to Langkawi depart from Swettenham Piere Cruise Terminal, 4 km away from George Town. You can reach this via a 5-minute taxi ride, which costs around 13 MYR ($2.70).
There are at least 2 ferry trips available daily and they depart at 08:30 and 14:00. The ferry ride takes around 2 hours 45 minutes and a ticket costs 94 MYR ($20.00).
With only 2 trips a day operating from Penang to Langkawi, we highly recommend that you book beforehand to guarantee a ticket. The morning trip can be booked online on BookAway via the link below.
Check Ferry Tickets with BookAway
Once you reach Langkawi, the ferries dock at Kuah Jetty, which is located some 20 km east of the main tourist hub of Pantai Cenang. From here, taxis are the only available mode of transportation you can get from the dock. Fares start from 40 MYR ($8.50) and the ride takes around 40 minutes.
Pro-tip: You can find a lot of shared taxis at Kuah Jetty or you can make a few friends on the ferry and share a taxi together!
Penang to Langkawi by Flight
Penang Airport is located 18 km south of George Town. The fastest way to reach it is by a 30-minute taxi with rates from 30 MYR ($6.00). The bus takes about an hour to reach the airport because it makes a lot of stops. Still, the bus ride is a lot cheaper, costing only 3 MYR ($0.60).
Air Asia normally offers the cheapest flights from Penang to Langkawi, with airfares starting from 100 MYR ($21.00) and the flight taking around 40 minutes. Other carriers operating this route are Firefly and Malaysia Airlines.
From Langkawi Airport, you can take a taxi to reach the main tourist hub of Pantai Cenang. This is located 8 km south and you can expect to pay around 30 MYR ($6.00) for the 15-minute journey.
If you prefer to have your ride ready and waiting for when you arrive at the airport, you can also pre-book one through Klook. They offer 3-seater sedans and 10-seater vans with rates starting from 41 MYR ($8.50). The link below takes you straight to what you need, all you have to do is book!
Penang to Langkawi by Bus
Travelling by bus still involves ferry rides, but these rides are not as long as the direct ferry trip from Penang to Langkawi. This is an alternate option if you’re prone to seasickness and do not want to take a flight.
To take the bus, you first need to travel by ferry to Butterworth, a mainland town just 3 km opposite Penang Island.
Step 1: Penang to Butterworth by Ferry
Ferries bound for Butterworth depart from Weld Quay. This is 2 km away from George Town and can be reached by either taxi or bus (Line 101). Fares cost 13 MYR ($2.70) and 5 MYR ($0.90), respectively.
Once you arrive there, you’ll then have to transfer to a ferry bound for Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal in Butterworth. A ticket costs 3 MYR ($0.60) and this ferry ride takes 10-20 minutes. Ferries depart twice every hour from 05:20 to 00:40.
Step 2: Butterworth to Kuala Perlis by Bus
The buses in Butterworth are parked at Penang Sentral, which is connected to the port by a walkway. You can reach it on foot in around 10 minutes.
The bus from Butterworth can only take you up to Kuala Perlis, the closest mainland town to Langkawi.
Bus fares start from 15 MYR ($3.20). You can buy your ticket at the terminal or online via BusOnlineTicket. Below are their schedules:
Bus schedules from Butterworth to Kuala Perlis
The ferry terminal is located only 200 metres from Kuala Perlis Bus Terminal. There should be signs for you to follow, but if you do get lost, there’s always a friendly local happy to help!
Step 3: Kuala Perlis to Langkawi (Kuah Jetty) by Ferry
From Kuala Perlis, a ferry will take you 35 km west to Langkawi Island.
Ferry schedules vary daily. Normally though, there are several departures from 08:30 to 18:00. You can check the latest schedules at the Langkawi Ferry Line website.
A ferry ticket costs 18 MYR ($3.80) and the journey takes around 1 hour 15 minutes.
The ferry docks at Kuah Jetty located 20 km east of the main tourist area of Pantai Cenang. From here, your only choice is to take a taxi. Fares start from 40 MYR ($8.50) for the 40-minute private taxi ride. Alternatively, you can get a shared taxi at a cheaper price.
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 writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.
