Drive from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi, Car Ferry

Drive from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi

Monica Tindall

Still cautious about getting on a plane but desperate to get in a beach vacay we explore options for getting to Langkawi. Besides flights, there are several points from the mainland (and Penang) from where you can take a ferry. Both passenger ferries and auto ferries depart from Kuala Perlis (which is the longest car ride from KL but the shortest time spent on the boat).

Drive from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi

We’re rather fond of the idea of taking the car across to maintain social distancing and to stay in our little isolation bubble. Unfortunately, many also have the same idea, and there are no tickets left. The process is similar either way. So, whether you choose to drive and park or book ahead to get a car ticket, here are some tips for the drive from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi.

The trip from KL to Kuala Perlis takes about six hours. Given the fact that you need to be at the ferry between 60 and 90 minutes before departure, you might consider driving partway, stopping a night en route and completing the journey the following day.

Stops on the Way

We made an overnight trip of it with lunch in Ipoh (just over two hours north of Kuala Lumpur), and a night in The Jerai Hill Resort.

The old town of Ipoh is a great detour for lunch and coffee and a spot of sightseeing. The centre surrounding Plan b has a great feel to it with loads of street art and artisan vendors dotted around the block.

Another two and a half hours north is Gunung Jerai. Kedah’s tallest peak with views of both the sea and the paddy fields. The drive up the windy road is not for the faint-hearted or those prone to car sickness. Still, if you can close your eyes and empty your stomach before the ascent, the panoramas and cooler temperatures are worth the trip. It’s about 10 kilometres of narrow, single lanes. Beware of hikers and cyclists. They also enjoy the route for exercise, and with no sidewalks, share the road with vehicles.

We spent a night at The Jerai Hill Resort, the only hotel on top of the hill. Crisp air, orchid gardens, and views over rice fields, the shoreline and islands make a nice break in travel. Rooms have ceiling fans and balconies to make the most of the cooler climate. No air-conditioning needed here. It gets hectic on the weekends, and a chat with the GM informed us that the best time to come is on a weekday to truly appreciate the peaceful hill station.

We were thankful for the break in the trip and made the rest of the journey to Kuala Perlis the following day. If you left early enough from KL, you could use this as a sightseeing break and continue on another two hours north to Kuala Perlis. There’s a coffee shop and terrace inside The Jerai Hill Resort. Visitors are welcome. You don’t need to be a guest at the hotel to have a drink in the café and a walk around. Hotels in Kuala Perlis are limited, and the highest-rated we found had the shower over the toilet. Not my ideal choice of stay for a holiday.

The trip from Jerai Hill Resort to Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal takes around two hours. On the way, you pass through the state of Kedah. The road is lined with palm tree-dotted rice paddy fields and small hilly outcrops. You’ll also find plenty of old-style Malay houses on stilts. It is quite pretty in parts.

Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal

At Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal, there is plenty of parking. Open-air spaces are charged at RM10 per day and undercover is RM15. You get a ticket from the operator, and they will usually transport you to the jetty after leaving your car. The only catch is that car parks are often crowded, especially on the weekends, and as such you will need to leave your key. Upon return, you show your ticket to the matching counter at the ferry terminal, and they’ll get you back to the parking station.

Alternatively, if you’ve booked in advance, you can drive straight into the auto ferry terminal. The website clearly outlays the paperwork you must send ahead of time. Check here for updates to regulations and to book a ticket.

Kuala Perlis to Langkawi Ferry Tickets

Tickets are available online here for the passenger ferry and here for the auto trip. When we travelled the price per adult was RM18 each way for the passenger ferry, and RM150 for a small car. The charge increases for larger vehicles and more passengers. As mentioned, if you want to take your car across, do book well in advance. You must print your ticket before arriving or risk crowds and pay a small fee to have it printed on-site.

Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal

Temperatures are taken before entering the passenger terminal, and you scan your ticket to enter the gates. Once inside, the building is air-conditioned with seating. There are toilets inside but no food or beverage. Simple stores selling processed food and drinks are found just before you enter the gates.

Seats are assigned on your ticket, so there’s no need to rush with the crowd to board the boat. In fact, unless you only have a bag that you can keep in your lap, I’d recommend being one of the last in line. Coming in on the tail end with luggage means you’ll be able to leave it closer to the edge in the storage compartment and, hence, get off the ferry more quickly.

Overall, our ferry ride was quite smooth despite departing 20 minutes late. The journey takes roughly an hour and 10 minutes. Most seats were sold out on our Friday trip. Maybe half of the passengers wore a mask. Honestly, I am a nervous person and felt uncomfortable. I would not take this route again while social distancing is still recommended. If I could secure a ticket to take my car across, I might consider giving it another shot.

Other Ferries to Langkawi

There are two other ferry services to Langkawi from Malaysia. The Penang ferry takes around two hours to cross. From all accounts, it can be a bit of a bumpy ride. In Kedah, you can also board the ferry, taking approximately one hour and 45 minutes. The ferry departing from Kuala Perlis, however, is the shortest trip of all lasting one hour and ten minutes (depending on sea conditions). It is also the only ferry with the option to take your car onboard.

Drive from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi Review

If you have the time, the drive from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi offers a change in scenery with a few sites to see on the way. I would not take the passenger ferry again with the current recommendations for social distancing. Still, I would reconsider if we could secure a place for our car on the auto ferry. This is mostly because I’m still a bit nervous about being in crowds post-pandemic, and the car ferry offers better isolation. Time-wise, of course, catching the plane is much faster and being a passenger sets you up for a more relaxing flight, but you have a similar lack of social isolation issues as you do on a passenger ferry.

Have you ever made the drive from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi? Share your tips with us below.