Kuala Lumpur to Perhentian Islands: Ultimate Transportation & Travel Guide

From Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Perhentian, you can use the following methods:
1. Plane + Taxi/Bus + Boat
Step 1: Fly to Kota Bharu or Kuala Terengganu
Taking a domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu is closer, with round-trip airfare costing about 200 RMB per person.
Recommended airlines are Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Malindo Air (not recommended due to arbitrary changes in flight schedules).

The cheap tickets do not include checked baggage, only 7 kg of carry-on luggage, but we were not weighed on entry and exit, it depends on luck.

Step 2: From the airport to the jetty
1. From Kota Bharu Airport to Kuala Besut Jetty: A taxi costs around 70-80 MYR, and the journey takes about 1 hour. We followed a guide from a friend on Xiaohongshu, and upon arrival at the airport, we booked a car and boat ticket at a yellow shop.

Step 3: From the jetty to Pulau Perhentian
Take a speedboat from Kuala Besut Jetty to Pulau Perhentian. Round-trip boat tickets cost approximately 70 MYR per person and can be purchased in advance. The speedboat journey takes about 20-30 minutes, operating from 8 AM to 5 PM, with departures roughly every hour. Return trips are at 8 AM, 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM.

**Notes**: Before boarding the speedboat, inform them of your hotel, as the boat will stop at a small dock near the corresponding hotel. For the return trip, inform the hotel one day in advance or contact the number on the boat ticket. The speedboat journey takes about 20-30 minutes, so pay attention to the connection time for your flights. Kota Bharu Airport is small, with few people and limited open counters, so if you need to check luggage, allow 1.5 to 2 hours.

2. Self-driving/Taxi + Boat
Step 1: From Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut
If you prefer driving, you can drive from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut Jetty, which takes about 6-7 hours. If you don’t want to drive, you can hire a car or take a long-distance bus.
Long-distance buses cost about 45-55 MYR, with night buses being common. Tickets can be bought on Easybook, and the journey usually takes 8 hours.
After arriving at Kuala Besut station, it’s a 15-minute walk to the jetty or you can take a taxi.

Place names in Chinese and English
1. 吉隆坡 – Kuala Lumpur
2. 停泊岛 – Pulau Perhentian
3. 哥打巴鲁 – Kota Bharu
4. 瓜拉勿浪码头 – Kuala Besut Jetty