Guide No. 13 · Getting there
Route · Pulau Langkawi
How to get to Pulau Langkawi
Take the ferry from Kuala Perlis, about 1 h 15, or Kuala Kedah, about 1 h 45, to Kuah jetty. Or fly to Langkawi from KLIA in about an hour. There is no ferry from Penang.
The journey
- Kuala LumpurBus from TBS to Kuala Perlis, 6–7 h, from about RM52. Or fly to Langkawi, about 1 h.
- Kuala PerlisWalk 5 min from the bus terminal to the ferry terminal. Ferry about 1 h 15, RM45 one way, RM21 with MyKad.
- Kuah jettyGrab or taxi to Pantai Cenang, 23 km, about 30 min.
- Pulau LangkawiEvery stay is reached by road.
Ways across
| From | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuala Perlis jettyLangkawi Ferry Line; shortest crossing | Ferry | 1 h 15 min–1 h 30 min | RM45 |
| Kuala Kedah jettyLangkawi Ferry Line; nearer Alor Setar and Penang | Ferry | 1 h 45 min–2 h | RM55 |
| Kuala PerlisWantas RORO or Langkawi Auto Express, to Tanjung Lembung | Car ferry | 2 h–2 h 15 min | – |
| KLIAAirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air | Flight | 1 h 5 min–1 h 10 min | – |
| SubangFirefly, Batik Air | Flight | 1 h 10 min–1 h 20 min | – |
| Penang airportAirAsia, Firefly; no ferry from Penang | Flight | 35–40 min | – |
Fares are one way for an adult without a MyKad, which is also what online and reseller tickets cost. MyKad holders pay RM21 from Kuala Perlis or RM26.50 from Kuala Kedah at the counter, and a small fuel surcharge may be added. Car ferries start at about RM146 for a small car, driver free. A dash means no published fare.
Step by step
Choose ferry or flight
Langkawi Ferry Line is the only passenger ferry to Kuah, from Kuala Perlis (about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30) and Kuala Kedah (1 h 45 to 2 h). It runs four sailings a day each way on each route, fewer than before the cuts of March 2026, and the times change daily. Flights reach Langkawi from KLIA, Subang, Penang, Johor Bahru and Singapore.
Get to the jetty
Buses run from TBS in Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Perlis in 6 to 7 hours and stop 5 minutes' walk from the ferry terminal. From Penang, buses to Kuala Perlis take about 2 h 50, or drive to Kuala Kedah in about 1 h 35. Driving from Kuala Lumpur takes about 6 hours to Kuala Perlis or 5 h 20 to Kuala Kedah, and both jetties have paid car parks nearby. The Kuala Kedah terminal is being rebuilt until the end of 2027; ferries still run from the old one.
Book the ferry
Buy at the jetty counter or online at Cuti Cuti Langkawi, the operator's online channel, at least a day ahead, especially for mornings, weekends and school holidays: sailings sell out. Online tickets charge everyone the non-MyKad fare plus RM2 per ticket each way. Tickets bought from the operator cannot be changed or refunded; Cuti Cuti Langkawi allows a date or time change up to 48 hours before for half the fare. Print the boarding pass, bring ID, and be inside the terminal an hour before sailing.
Kuah to your stay
All passenger ferries land at Kuah jetty in the Jetty Point complex. There is no public bus worth using: take Grab, a coupon taxi or a hire car. Pantai Cenang is about 30 minutes away, Tanjung Rhu about 30 and The Datai about an hour. From the airport, Pantai Cenang is about 11 minutes.
Going home
There is a Customs check before the Kuah ferry terminal, slow at weekends and on public holidays, so arrive early. Each visitor may take 1 litre of alcohol to the mainland after at least 48 hours on the island.
Questions
Is there a ferry from Penang to Langkawi?
No. It stopped in 2020 and has not restarted. Fly from Penang in 35 to 40 minutes, or take the bus to Kuala Perlis (about 2 h 50) or drive to Kuala Kedah, then the ferry.
How much is the ferry to Langkawi?
One way for an adult: RM45 from Kuala Perlis or RM55 from Kuala Kedah without a MyKad; RM21 or RM26.50 with a MyKad at the counter. Online and reseller tickets charge everyone the non-MyKad fare plus fees.
How many ferries a day go to Langkawi?
Four each way from each jetty, with the odd extra sailing. Times change daily, so check the Cuti Cuti Langkawi timetable and book ahead.
How long is the ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi?
About 1 h 15 to 1 h 30. From Kuala Kedah it is 1 h 45 to 2 h.
Can I take my car to Langkawi?
Yes. Wantas RORO and Langkawi Auto Express sail from Kuala Perlis, and a RORO runs from Kuala Kedah, all to Tanjung Lembung. Wantas and Langkawi Auto Express each sail once or twice a day from Kuala Perlis, and the Kuala Kedah RORO runs about four a day. The crossing takes about 2 hours, and you send the vehicle documents in advance. From about RM146 one way for a small car.