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Can you drive to Langkawi? And if so, how do you do this? In this guide we will show you how to drive to Langkawi in 2026 to help you plan your trip. We love to save you time and money whilst you travel. So please read this guide carefully.
You may want to drive to Langkawi for the convenience of having your own car to use when you get there. Langkawi is a large island with loads of EPIC things to do. Trouble is, most of the attractions are located a long way apart. So having your own car in Langkawi may seem like a convenient and attractive option… but is it a good value for money option to drive to Langkawi?
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Can you drive your own car to Langkawi?
The short answer is yes. You can drive to Langkawi in your own car. 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 to drive to Langkawi 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.
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).
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Why drive to Langkawi?
There are lots of reasons you may want to drive to Langkawi. Langkawi is a beautiful island located off the Northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. There are no road bridges linking Langkawi to the mainland. So the only way to get to Langkawi is by boat or by flying. There are car ferries to Langkawi.
- If you drive to Langkawi it is convenient 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 to Langkawi it may be cheaper to drive to Langkawi (compared to renting a car on the island)
- 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 in Langkawi.
- If you are using a rental car to drive around Malaysia, you may want to keep using the same car to drive to Langkawi rather than leaving your rental car in Kuala Perlis and then paying for a second rental car in Langkawi.
Langkawi car ferry full details
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. A few moments to work out the prices could save you cash on your trip – meaning more money left over for FUN and FOOD in Langkawi.
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. In Langkawi you can rent a car relatively cheaply and easily at the ferry terminal.
The car ferry journey from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi takes around 1.5 hours.
How much does the Langkawi car ferry cost?
If you’re planning to drive to Langkawi be aware that the ferry tickets are actually quite expensive. 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)
Is it worth taking the car ferry to Langkawi?
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. Here is a rough guide:
- 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 a solo passenger 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 travelling 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 a family of 4 people 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 in Langkawi.
Top tip: If you are traveling with children 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.
We recommend booking a car ferry to Langkawi at least 1-2 weeks in advance if possible. You can book tickets on their website
In Kuala Perlis the car ferry terminal is located very close to the passenger ferry terminal. 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.
Can you park your car at Kuala Perlis?
Yes – 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.
How much does the passenger ferry to Langkawi cost?
OK, so here’s the scoop. If you’re taking the passenger ferry to Langkawi you can actually take the ferry from either Kuala Kedah (south) or Kuala Perlis (north). The passenger ferry journey from Kuala Perlis takes just over 1 hour. You can book tickets on the official website 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.
Adult tickets (12 years and over) RM18 (roughly £3 or $4)
Childrens tickets (3 – 11 years old) RM13 (roughly £2 or $3)
How do you rent a car in Langkawi?
If you want to RENT a car rather than drive to Langkawi – The BEST and cheapest 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. Car rentals should range in price from RM50 for a small, cheap and old car. RM60 – RM70 for newer and bigger cars. If they are trying to charge much more than this then they are probably just trying their luck and you can barter.
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. This little company is ran by two lovely brothers.
What is the cheapest and best way to get to Langkawi?
For a short trip the cheapest option may be to leave your car in Kuala Perlis, take the passenger ferry and then use a car rental in Langkawi. This is likely to cost around RM70 per day (RM60 car rental per day and RM10 per day parking in Kulala Perlis). The cheapest car rental in Langkawi costs around RM50 per day for a small older car.
For a longer trip your best option may be to drive to Langkawi using the car ferry – just remember to book as early as possible (especially if you plan to travel on or near a Malaysian public holiday).
Or if you are doing fewer trips in Langkawi consider leaving your car in Kuala Perlis and using Grab taxis to get around Langkawi. Short taxi journeys in Langkawi within a town are likely to cost RM5 – RM10. Longer journeys around the island are likely to cost RM40 – RM60. So if you are planning lots of trips around Langkawi, it is probably cheaper to rent a car.
Another faster and more convenient alternative may be to take a cheap domestic flight to Langkawi and then use a car rental or taxis to get around in Langkawi. CHEAP domestic flights to Langkawi from destinations such as Penang or Kuala Lumpur are likely to cost around RM100 per person. BUT be aware that they may only have a very small check in baggage allowance or you may need to pay more for baggage.
Taking the time to quickly check prices for your own requirements can actually save a reasonable amount of money.
Can you rent a motorbike in Langkawi?
OK – if you are super savvy you may be thinking of renting a motorbike in Langkawi to save cash. Surprisingly this is actually not much cheaper than a car rental. You can rent a motorbike in Langkawi BUT this is surprisingly expensive compared to car rental in Langkawi. We were quoted RM40 per day. You could probably barter this price down a little – but sadly many Malaysians stick to their prices.
Oh yeah – you can also drive to Langkawi with your own motorbike – you can book motorbike tickets on the car ferry too.
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What are the best places to stay in Langkawi?
Whether you drive to Langkawi or not – you’re still going to need to find a GREAT place to stay. Here are a few fantastic hotels in Langkawi…
1 Four Seasons Resort Langkawi
Looking to splash out? Don’t miss the stunning Four Seasons Resort Langkawi. Located on the BEAUTIFUL north east coast – not too far from the paradise Tanjung Rhu beach and the mysterious mangroves – this is the tropical holiday you have been dreaming of.
2 Datai Jungle Resort Langkawi
If you want a LUXURIOUS and TRANQUIL retreat into the beautiful wild jungle – don’t miss the Datai Resort with private pool villas! This really is paradise in the jungle.
3 Ritz Carlton Langkawi
Langkawi has it’s own amazing Ritz-Carlton resort located right by the BEAUTIFUL ocean. This serene resort offers private pool villas with an ocean view.
4 Ambong Pool Villas
For great views and nature, then don’t miss the impressive Ambong Pool Villas located on the south west tip of the island. You can get amazing spacious private villas with their own private swimming pools. This property offers the perfect balance of LUXURY, BEAUTY and VALUE for money.
5 Shell Out (BEST budget hotel Langkawi)
Shell Out – EXCELLENT location, Fantastic clean, simple and well designed rooms. Excellent value for money. Small outdoor swimming pool and self service washing machines on site. Right in the centre of Cenang Beach (the main tourist spot). 2 minute walk from the beach, shops, restaurants and tour operators. THE BEST budget option in Langkawi.
