How to Go

Getting to Langkawi is easy through modern means of transportation by land, air or sea. Most international tourists can fly directly to Langkawi as it has an international airport while local visitors usually travel by bus or car on land, then take a ferry to Pulau Langkawi. Easy directions are provided in this section for visitors coming from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, so you'll know how to go in the fastest way possible.

Those coming by bus or car need to head to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis in Kedah State. These two destinations are the main jetty points for Langkawi, with Kuala Kedah being the nearer port while Kuala Perlis is located 50 km further north. For visitors coming from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, it is easy to travel along the North-South Highway and turn off at either exit. The total journey length from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Kedah is about 500 km, which is roughly a 6-8 hour journey, depending on how fast you go.

Visitors driving from Singapore should add another 350 km or 3-4 hours of travel. For those who wish to take a cheaper travel option by bus, the Puduraya Terminal in Kuala Lumpur offers coach rides to Kuala Kedah. The bus ride, while providing the cheapest mode of transport, may also be erratic especially if you use a budget coach. The executive or luxury coaches have more consistent timing and arguably safer vehicles. The train is an alternative option; visitors can take the KTMB train service from Kuala Lumpur to Alor Setar or Arau, and then ride a bus or taxi to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis.

The Langkawi International Airport in Padang Matsirat on the island is well served by regional and international airline services. Local flight carriers such as Malaysian Airlines (MAS), budget airlines Air Asia and Firefly provide daily direct flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or Subang Jaya Airport to Langkawi with very affordable rates. Some flights are even available from Penang Island or other places in Malaysia. International Airlines that fly to Langkawi include Singapore's Tiger Airways and Silk Air from Thailand. A flight from KLIA to Langkawi takes only about an hour to reach.

Visitors coming by land from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore will still need to travel by sea for the last part of the journey. From the jetties in Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis, ferry rides are available on a daily basis from mornings till evenings. A ferry ride from Kuala Kedah will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach Kuah Jetty in Langkawi, while from Kuala Perlis, it is slightly nearer at 1 hour and 15 minutes. From Penang Island, there is a ferry service that takes about 3 hours. Finally, visitors coming from Thailand can use another ferry service that takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Satun Island.