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How do you get to Langkawi? Here is a guide on the best way to travel to Langkawi in 2026. Langkawi is a beautiful island located off the Northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. This tropical island is well known for its beautiful beaches, jungle covered Hills, and of course amazing food. There are so many EPIC things to do in Langkawi too.
We highly recommend a trip to Langkawi if you are visiting Malaysia. In this guide we will share the best way to travel to Langkawi.
In a short, there are three main ways to get to Langkawi:
- The cheapest way to get to Langkawi is to use public transport AND take the passenger ferry (from Kuala Kedah OR Kuala Peralis).
- A slower and more convenient wait to get to Langkawi is to drive and take the car ferry (Kuala Peralis ONLY).
- The quickest and arguably most convenient way to get to Langkawi is to take a cheap domestic domestic flight (From Penang, KL or other destinations)
AT PRESENT THERE ARE NO FERRIES RUNNING FROM PENANG TO LANGKAWI
Planning to drive? Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE on driving to Langkawi
Option 1: Use Public Transport and take the Passenger Ferry
If you do not have access to a car and Malaysia and you are traveling on a budget the best way to get to Langkawi is to use public transport and take the passenger ferry. Although this option is slower and less convenient it is surprisingly cheap to get to Langkawi. Long distance buses in Malaysia are surprisingly cheap – normally costing RM40 – RM80 to travel long distances across states.
You can’t take a passenger ferry to Langkawi from either Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis. Kuala Kedah is further south, therefore the ferry journey is longer and a little bit more expensive. However this might be more convenient depending on what type of public transport you are using.
THE BEST way to get to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis is to either take a long distance bus or trail. If your transport arrives at an AWKWARD time and you need to STAY A NIGHT in Kuala Perlis there is a hotel located opposite to the ferry terminal. Super convenient. It is called the T-Hotel.
RESERVE the T-Hotel or JUST check for THE LATEST PRICES and DEALS
If you’re using the passenger ferry to get to Langkawi you can take the ferry from either Kuala Kedah (south) or Kuala Perlis (north). Depending on what transport you take to the ferry ports you may need to use the Grab app to arrange a taxi transfer to the ferry terminal itself.
How do you book ferry tickets?
The passenger ferry journey from Kuala Perlis takes just over 1 hour. You can book tickets online and they will email an e ticket with a QR code to scan at the port. Then just walk on and enjoy the ride. To book passenger ferry tickets you will need to enter the date and time of your trip AND also passenger details including passport numbers.
When you book your ticket you will be assigned a seat on the ferry. THERE is space for baggage on the passenger ferry – (this is basically a big pile near the door!)
- Adult tickets (12 years and over) RM18 (roughly £3 or $4)
- Children’s tickets (3 – 11 years old) RM13 (roughly £2 or $3)
- Infants under 3 travel for FREE on the passenger ferry
What do you do when you arrive in Langkawi?
When you get to Langkawi you will need to decide on the best way to get around. There is no public transport system here – so really there are two main options:
- Use Taxis (the Grab app is the best way to get taxis in Langkawi). Most journeys in will cost between RM5 – RM70 for a private taxi.
- Rent a car at the ferry jetty. Car rental starts at around RM50 per day for a small, cheap and old car. If you pay RM60-70 per day you should be able to find something newer and with a little more space. There are plenty of car rental dealers at the ferry jetty. Car rental dealers generally accept cash deposits. We only needed to leave RM50 as a deposit. They will also want to see your passport and driver’s lisence.
TOP TIP: The best way to rent a car in Langkawi is to rent directly from a dealer at the ferry terminal. This may sound a little dodgy – especially if you like to have all your ducks in a row in advance. But if you rent online in advance – it will cost more than renting directly from a dealer in Langkawi at the ferry terminal. SO, here’s the best way to give you some peace of mind. Contact a dealer in advance on whatsapp or by phone – check if they have the car you need, for a price that you’re happy with, and over the dates that you need. When you arrive give them a call and they will come and meet you.
We recommend Zam Car Rental as a great LOCAL car rental company at the Langkawi ferry terminal +60 17531 2728
We also recommend the Ryzal Remeli Enterprise +60 17428 3036 for cheap car rentals in Langkawi.
Option 2: Drive to Kuala Perlis and take the car ferry
If you have access to a car in Malaysia – this option may be one of the most convenient ways to get to Langkawi. Just load up your car and off you go – no need to lug bags around. AND your transport is already sorted in Langkawi. The car ferry journey from Kuala Perlis takes around 90 minutes.
You can drive your own car to Langkawi. Although there are no road bridges linking the mainland to Langkawi there is a car ferry running between Kuala Perlis and Langkawi. However, the car ferry is relatively expensive and is often booked up in advance. If you are planning to use the car ferry we recommend booking your tickets at least 2 weeks in advance. We also strongly recommend that you book both your outbound and return trip together. In Kuala Perlis the car ferry terminal is located very close to the passenger ferry terminal.
AT PRESENT there are no car ferry connections from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi OR from Penang to Langkawi. The only car ferry to Langkawi is from Kuala Perlis (which is further north than Kedah).
Why drive to Langkawi?
Here are a few reasons you may want to get to Langkawi by driving…
- Langkawi does not have a public transport system for getting around. So having your own car or a rental car may be cheaper than using taxis.
- It is convenient and nice to pack up your own car and then take it to Langkawi. No need to lug bags around.
- If you are planning a longer trip it may be cheaper to drive to Langkawi (compared to renting a car on the island)
- If you are using a rental car to drive around Malaysia, you may want to keep using the same car in Langkawi rather than leaving your rental car in Kuala Perlis and then paying for a second rental car in Langkawi.
How much does the Langkawi car ferry cost?
If you want to drive to Langkawi we recommend you consider the length of your trip and the number of people and weigh this up against the cost of a car rental.
If you are only taking a short trip to Langkawi it may be cheaper to park at Kuala Perlis and take the passenger ferry to Langkawi. When you arrive you can rent a car relatively cheaply and easily at the ferry terminal.
We recommend booking a car ferry to Langkawi at least 1-2 weeks in advance if possible. You can book tickets on their website. Be prepared you need to enter car details when you book your car ferry ticket including the length of the car. Most cars are under 5m in length.
The price of the Langkawi car ferry ticket depends on the size of the car, the number of passengers and the availability of tickets. Here is an idea of the car ferry ticket prices:
- At the cheapest end: expect to pay around RM120 each way for one person in a small car. That’s RM240 for the return journey (roughly £50 or $70).
- Expect to pay around RM300 each way for a family of four people. That’s RM600 for the return journey (roughly £120 or $150)
It may be a good idea to drive to Langkawi depending on the length of your trip, the size of the car and the number of passengers. In general – if you are a bigger family in a bigger car – the ferry costs more – so you need to stay in Langkawi longer to make the ferry worthwhile.
- If you are a solo passenger in a small car AND if you plan to stay for more than around 3 or 4 days in Langkawi, it is probably cheaper to drive to Langkawi. If you are staying for less than 3 or 4 days it is probably cheap to park in Kuala Perlis, use the passenger ferry and rent a car in Langkawi.
- If you are a family of 4 people traveling in a larger car, it’s probably cheaper to drive to Langkawi if you plan to stay for more than around 7 or 8 days in Langkawi. If you are staying for less than 7 or 8 days it is probably cheaper to park in Kuala Perlis, use the passenger ferry and rent a car.
Top tip: If you are traveling with kids who need a car seat and you are planning to park in Kuala Perlis and use the passenger ferry, we recommend carrying your car seat with you. Car rental companies will often charge additional fees for including child seats with the rental deal.
ALTERNATIVELY: You can easily park your car in Kuala Perlis very near the Ferry Jetty. Long term car parks in Kuala Perlis are relatively cheap and convenient. There are plenty of options and several car parks are located very close to the ferry terminal and only cost RM10 per day for a family size car. You do not need to book a car park in advance.
Option 3: Take a cheap domestic flight to get to Langkawi
The fastest and most convenient way to get to Langkawi is to take a cheap domestic flight. Langkawi has a small airport and you can fly from Penang, Kuala Lumpur and other destinations. Flights often cost less than £50 per passenger BUT may not include much or any check in baggage. We recommend checking baggage allowances carefully. If you need extra baggage allowance – try to pay for this when you initially book your tickets. ALSO be aware of the dimensions of your baggage. Budget airlines in southeast Asia can be quite strict regarding your carry on baggage.
Although flights are impressively cheap – this is still a more expensive way to get to Langkawi (compared to diving or using public transport). Also, you will need to consider a car rental or taxi options when you get there.
TOP TIP Save serious money on THE BEST Langkawi attractions
The CHEAPEST way to enjoy lots of attractions in Langkawi on a budget is to get a flexible one month pass. This allows you to do loads of the best activities with serious discounts. It also saves you needing to mess around and book lots of separate tickets. Win win.
What are the best places to stay in Langkawi?
NOW you know the BEST ways to get to Langkawi… where do you want to stay???
If you’re looking for supreme beach luxury – check out the decadent Four Seasons Resort located on the BEAUTIFUL Tanjung Rhu Beach in the North East of the island.
Or what about a luxurious resort with PRIVATE SWIMMING pools hidden in the wild jungle – Don’t miss the UNIQUE Datai Resort.
If you just want an absolute classic hotel experience at the Higher end – there is even has a Ritz Carlton Hotel.
If you’re looking for GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY at the lower price end – don’t miss Shell Out Resort. Clean and lovely rooms, excellent facilities and an ideal location right in the centre of Cenang Bay.
