Located 30 kilometers (19 miles) off Malaysia’s northwest coast, Langkawi Island is a truly spectacular destination known for its cable car and Sky Bridge, beautiful beaches, and Geoforest Park. With so much to see and do, a trip from Penang to Langkawi is not to be missed if you want to see a slice of the wonders Malaysia has to offer.
What are the options to get from Penang to Langkawi?
Since Penang and Langkawi are islands, your trip will need to include a boat ride or flight. The good thing is that there are several options to suit travelers of any budget and schedule. You can choose a combination of means of transport from Penang to Langkawi, such as bus and ferry, train and ferry, or you can choose to fly. Read on to learn more about the different options.
From Penang to Langkawi by plane
Firefly plane at Langkawi International Airport. © Sorbis / Shutterstock.com
The advantage of traveling by air is that it is a fast medium, and since there are only 119 kilometers (74 miles) between the islands of Penang and Langkawi, the flight time is very short. It takes about 35 minutes, so if you decide to fly from Penang to Langkawi, you won’t get too high. In fact, it will look like you just took off from the Penang runway and started descending in a few minutes.
Because the flights are so fast, it’s a great way to get from one island to another if you want to see as much of Malaysia as possible and are short on time. You might think that the price of tickets to Langkawi is exorbitant, but the two airlines that serve this route, AirAsia and Firefly, offer seats at very affordable prices. If you book your tickets a little in advance, you can find a deal that isn’t much more expensive than the ferry. Because the flights are so fast, it’s a good option even for travelers who don’t like flying because they won’t have time to think about it.
AirAsia operates flights to Langkawi from Penang three times a day with good departure times. Penang International Airport is one of Malaysia’s busiest, and although Langkawi International Airport is smaller, it is perfectly suited to the modern traveler.
Fast ferry from Penang to Langkawi
Langkawi Ferry Services operates fast air-conditioned boats from Langkawi to Penang. © Tooykrub / Shutterstock.com
If you don’t like flying, your trip to Langkawi will have to include a boat. One of the most popular options for getting from Penang to Langkawi is the direct high-speed ferry. Langkawi Ferry Services operates two ferries daily, departing in the morning and early afternoon. The estimated journey time is 2 hours and 45 minutes, although it is often longer if the water is choppy and the boat needs to travel at a slower speed. With this in mind, if you suffer from seasickness, it is better to go by plane, as the boats often make quite difficult trips, even though the waters are relatively calm.
By bus and ferry from Penang to Langkawi
It is possible to take a ferry or bus over the Penang Bridge to Butterworth. © Igor Grochev / Shutterstock.com
If you like the idea of traveling to Langkawi by ferry but prefer a shorter sailing time, there are several options for combining buses and ferries. You can take a longer bus journey with the advantage that the ferry journey will take less time. Although you’ll need to make a few changes, the bus and ferry ride from Penang to Langkawi is slightly cheaper than a fast ferry ticket, so if you’re traveling on a budget, this might be a good option to consider.
There are several options. In Penang, you can take a ferry to the mainland, specifically to Butterworth. The bus station is literally next to the ferry terminal so just a few steps to catch the bus to Alor Setar. From Alor Setar you will need to take another bus which will travel 15 kilometers (9 miles) to the ferry terminal in Kuala Kedah.
Ferries from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi run almost every hour from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Compared to traveling from Penang to Langkawi, the ferry journey is shorter and takes 1 hour 45 minutes.
Another option is a bus from Penang to Butterworth and then a bus north to Kuala Perlis. The advantage of this bus and ferry combination is that you always head towards Langkawi, which is north of Penang. Kuala Perlis is close to the island of Langkawi, so the ferry ride takes only 1 hour and 15 minutes. In terms of price, the ferry section is also cheaper than the other options and, like the Alor Setar ferry, also departs almost every hour from 7am to 7pm. All in all, the combination of buses and ferries costs around half the price of a direct Penang to Langkawi ferry, so it’s perfect if you’re on a tight budget.
Train and ferry from Penang to Langkawi
ETS high-speed train operated by KTM in Penang. © Uskarp / Shutterstock.com
Another transport option is the train followed by the ferry. If you like traveling by train more than by bus, this might be a good way to go, plus you’ll be able to choose from several trains depending on your budget and timetable. First you need to get to Butterworth on the mainland to catch a train to Alor Setar or Arau then go to the ferry port. Komuter trains are the cheapest, although they are also slow. Therefore, they are a good option if you are not in a hurry, while ETS high-speed trains will get you to the ferry in less time but are more expensive.
Here are the travel options from Penang to Langkawi. Many travelers opt for the faster option, flights, and given that they are only slightly more expensive than a high-speed ferry, flying to Langkawi may be the best bet.