Guide No. 01 · Getting there
Route · Pulau Perhentian
How to get to Pulau Perhentian
Take a shared speedboat from Kuala Besut jetty, 30 to 45 minutes. Kuala Besut is about an hour by road from Kota Bharu airport.
Operator notice
Since late October 2026: the authorities have closed the Kuala Besut tourist jetty for the monsoon, and on 4 November The Star reported about 90% of the islands’ places to stay shut. Check with your resort before you travel.
The journey
- Kuala LumpurFly KLIA or Subang to Kota Bharu, about 1 h. Or bus from TBS to Kuala Besut, 7.5–8 h, about RM68.
- Kota Bharu airportShared van RM30, or a taxi. About 1 h, 57 km.
- Kuala Besut jettyShared speedboat 30–45 min, RM40 one way. Pay the conservation charge and jetty fee here.
- Pulau PerhentianYour beach’s own jetty; boats stop at several beaches.
Ways across
| From | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuala Besut jettyShared speedboat, most stays | Speedboat | 30–45 min | RM40 |
| BuBu office, Kuala BesutBuBu Resort and BuBu Villa | Resort speedboat | 30 min | RM100 |
| Kuala Besut jettyMimpi Perhentian, RM140 return | Resort speedboat | 35–40 min | – |
| Alunan office, Kuala BesutAlunan Resort, included in the stay | Resort speedboat | 30–45 min | – |
Fares are one way for an adult in 2026. A dash means the operator does not publish a one-way fare; ask them. Some sellers list RM70 each way for the shared boat, so compare before you pay. Perhentian Marriott guests take the resort’s free boat from the Marriott jetty, about 500 m east of the public jetty.
Public boats
| Kuala Besut to Perhentian |
|
|---|---|
| Perhentian to Kuala Besut |
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Other operators run fewer boats back: 08:00, 12:00 and 16:00. Book your return slot when you book the outward trip. Sailings depend on sea and weather.
Step by step
Get to Kota Bharu or Kuala Terengganu
Kota Bharu (Sultan Ismail Petra Airport) is closest. AirAsia, Batik Air, Firefly and Malaysia Airlines fly there from KLIA, and Batik Air and Firefly from Subang, about an hour. Kuala Terengganu airport is the other option. Buses run from TBS in Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut; buy a ticket to Kuala Besut, not just Besut, which may end at Jerteh.
Get to Kuala Besut jetty
From Kota Bharu airport the jetty is 57 km, about an hour; a shared van costs RM30. From Kuala Terengganu airport it is 93 km, about 1.5 hours. The Kuala Besut bus terminal is 1.2 km from the jetty, a 10 minute walk. If you take a taxi, agree the fare first. Do not let a driver take you to Tok Bali in Kelantan unless your boat leaves from there.
Pay both fees and check in
At the jetty terminal, pay the marine park conservation charge and the state’s jetty fee, then go to your boat operator’s booth. Board about 15 minutes before departure.
Cross to the islands
Shared boats leave roughly hourly from 8 am to 5 pm in season and drop passengers at each beach’s jetty, so allow up to an hour. After 5 pm only private charters run, at RM300 to RM500. Do not ride water taxis after dark.
Questions
How long is the boat from Kuala Besut to Perhentian?
About 30 to 45 minutes by speedboat. Allow up to an hour if your boat stops at several beaches first.
How much is the boat to Perhentian?
RM40 one way or RM80 return for an adult on the shared speedboat in 2026, and about RM20 to RM25 for a child. Resort boats cost more: BuBu charges RM100 one way. The conservation charge and jetty fee are paid separately at the jetty.
Can I go to Perhentian without a package?
Yes. Book a room, buy a shared speedboat ticket online or at the jetty, and pay both fees at the Kuala Besut terminal.
Is there a boat to Perhentian in the monsoon?
Scheduled tourist boats stop from about late October to February. In 2026 the authorities closed the Kuala Besut tourist jetty around 21 October. Local boats still run when the sea allows and a few village homestays stay open, but almost every resort is shut. Resorts reopen between mid-January and March; check with yours.
Which jetty should I use?
Kuala Besut jetty (Jeti Kuala Besut) in Besut, Terengganu, unless you stay at the Perhentian Marriott, whose guests use the Marriott jetty about 500 m east. Tok Bali in Kelantan is a less-used alternative.