Transport

Departure points

Towns of departure for the various islands.

Kuala Terengganu (KT) is the gateway to Redang, Lang Tengah and other islands in the marine park and is easily accessible by road and air. There are daily coach services between KT and other major towns like Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Singapore. Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia operate daily flights between KT and Kuala Lumpur. There are no train services to KT but for those who insist, we have provided some information below on the nearest place to get off.

Many resorts and local tour operators provide land or jetty transfers between the KT coach station and airport to Merang jetty or Shahbandar jetty. These transfers are either included in the resort package price or provided at an extra charge.

Depending on where you are going, there are different points of departure for different islands. The table below shows the towns and the approximate journey time by speedboat to the island:

Souvenir shops at Merang.

Merang jetty
Not to be confused with Marang, which is the name of another town south of KT, Merang jetty is located about 45 minutes away from KT and is the main departure point for visitors heading to Redang and Lang Tengah.

Shahbandar jetty
Shahbandar jetty is in downtown KT, located opposite the Tourist Information Centre and General Post Office. Nearby are Bukit Puteri (Puteri Hill) and Istana Maziah (Maziah Palace). There are very limited carpark lots at the jetty. Downtown KT is quite small and from Shahbandar jetty, one can easily walk to the local wet market, Chinatown or other places of interest. Just pick up a map at the Tourist Information Centre and explore the town on foot.

Shahbandar jetty at KT and Tourist Information Centre opposite it.

Ferry schedules

Passenger speedboat used by Berjaya (top) and the Kampung jetty at Redang (below).

Most resorts run at least 2 daily trips to and from Redang island. With the heavy logistics effort required to ferry guests between Redang and the mainland, some resorts like Berjaya, Coral and others use a common ferry operating out of Shahbandar jetty in KT. Other resorts like Pelangi, Laguna and Reef operate their boats out of Merang jetty. Boats travel only in the day for safety reasons and must provide lifejackets for passengers. Regardless of which jetty you use, make sure you check-in at the jetty at least 30 minutes before departure. Departure times are subject to sea and weather conditions. Rough seas, low tides and stormy weather may affect the schedule and even the number of trips. Sometimes, heavy siltation and sedimentation can make Merang jetty too shallow for use by the larger diesel-powered boats and the resorts that usually use Merang jetty may switch to using Shahbandar jetty in KT (which is what Laguna is doing currently in 2009 season until further notice).

If you are travelling by coach, allow a minimum of 2 hours land & sea transfer time between Redang and KT coach station. If you are travelling by air from KT airport, you should allow a minimum of 3 hours (2 hours transfer between Redang and KT airport, and 1 hour flight check-in).

The table below shows the usual departure times for some of the resorts but you should always check with the resorts for their latest schedules and also to confirm which jetty they are using as there may be changes.

By coach

Travelling by coach is a great stress-free way to enjoy the scenic Malaysian countryside. Coaches typically make one or more rest stops along the journey for food, refreshments and toilet stops (don't rely on toilets on coaches as these are usually locked).

Many coach companies today operate luxury single or double-decker coaches. Some come with stewards or hostesses that serve food and drinks. Many have personal audio-video entertainment systems while some have seats with massage functions. The highest-end and most comfortable are those with electrically-operated snoozer capsule seats. These allow seats to be reclined close to horizontal without eating into the rear passenger's seating space.

Some of the luxury coaches have as few as 16-18 seats while the norm today are VIP coaches with 21-27 seats (for single-decker) in a 1-2 seating configuration which provides adequate legroom, comfort and space for sleeping on long journeys. The 2-2 configuration is becoming rarer, found mainly in the lower-end budget coaches, while 44-seaters have almost disappeared on long haul routes.

Travel in the day if you wish to take in the sights of the countryside. Travel at night if you prefer to save time and are able to sleep on the coach, but bring warm clothing as it can get cold. Inflatable neck pillows & blinders can also help you sleep more comfortably.

Coaches will arrive and depart from MPKT (Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Terengganu) bus station which is located centrally in town in Jalan Syed Hussin, about 10-15 min walk from Shahbandar jetty. To get to Shahbandar from the bus station, walk past the MacDonalds and turn left at Jalan Tok Lam. Then head all the way down, passing the Yen Tin (YT) Midtown hotel until you get to the Waterfront Park, then turn left at Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin. Go past Mazian Palace until you hit the Post Office. Shahbandar jetty is directly opposite the Post Office. Some coaches (e.g. Five-Stars, Konsortium and Enjoy Holiday) also provide drop-off and pick-up at KT Shahbandar jetty and Merang jetty making it more convenient for passengers. Check with your coach operator for more details.

By coach from Singapore

Transnasional

Transnasional Kallang Bahru contact no: +65-62947034. Call for latest fares and schedules.

The journey from Singapore to KT takes about 9-10 hours by coach depending on Causeway or Second Link traffic conditions. Transnasional is probably the most affordable coach operator providing direct inbound and outbound services between Singapore and KT or Kota Bahru. You can purchase Transnasional return coach tickets from their ticket office and departure point at Kallang Bahru coach station. They use 36-seater coaches with 12 rows of 2-1 seating arrangement which is somewhere between an economy and VIP coach in terms of legroom and comfort.

• Singapore to KT:
  9am, 8pm & 9pm (S$36 adult, $18 child)
• KT to Singapore:
  9am, 8:30pm & 8:30pm (S$15.10 adult)

There are 2 night coaches departing KT for Singapore at 8:30pm referred to as 'Trip 1' and 'Trip 2' (printed on your ticket). Please board the right coach!

As Transnasional uses the Causeway, visitors returning to Singapore can choose to get off at Woodlands Immigration Checkpoint (tell the driver that you won't be re-boarding after immigration) or at Kallang Bahru.

Other coach operators

There are other coach & travel companies operating out of Golden Mile Complex at Beach Road (e.g. Five Stars, Enjoy Holiday Tours, Konsortium and Gunung Raya etc.) that provide Redang holiday packages and coach services to KT or Merang.

Five Stars/Konsortium and Enjoy Holiday operate their own coaches directly between Singapore and Merang jetty/Shahbandar jetty. They are pricier than Transnasional (tickets range from S$70-90 return depending on travel season). Five Stars/Konsortium use 18-seater Executive coaches with electrically-operated snoozer seats offering generous amounts of legroom and a personal entertainment system with movies, games and music.

They travel via the Second Link which is faster. This means a later departure time, usually 10:30pm from Golden Mile Complex, arriving Shahbandar jetty in KT around 6:30am and Merang jetty around 7:30am. The pickup from Merang jetty is at 10am (11am from Shahbandar jetty in KT) and will arrive in Singapore around 9pm depending on traffic conditions.

Enjoy Holiday Tour Pte. Ltd. does not have a website but may be contacted at: enjoyhq@singnet.com.sg or at +65-65331112 or +65-62963112.

KT tickets sold out?

If you cannot get seats from Singapore to KT, try the following alternatives:

1. Catch Transnasional coach to Kota Bahru instead.
   Ask the driver to drop you off at KT which is along the way. (Those heading for Perhentian can also ask to be dropped off at Jertih, 15 km from Kuala Besut, and then catch a taxi to Kuala Besut).
2. Catch a coach from Johor Bahru Larkin bus station.
   There are more choices of express coaches such as Transnasional, Kooperasi/Damai, Mutiara, Adik Beradik and Cepat Express. It'll save you money too since it costs around RM29 one-way. You can get to Larkin station by catching SBS170, the Singapore-Johor Express from Ban San Terminal (junction of Queen Street & Arab Street) or the bright yellow Causeway Link bus from Kranji MRT.
3. Charter your own coach.
   If you have a sufficiently large group you can try chartering your own coach from the coach companies at Golden Mile.

Immigration

When travelling between Singapore & Malaysia by coach, you'll have to get down twice - firstly at the immigration of the country you are departing where you can leave your bags on the coach (just bring passports & valuables), and secondly at the immigration of the country you are entering where you'll have to bring all your luggage with you. Thus, it's a good idea to travel light. Note your coach number and markings, as you'll need to find and board the right coach after checking out of immigration.

By car

Carparks in Merang.

The road system in Malaysia is excellent and driving to the East Coast can be an enjoyable and scenic experience. Just grab a map (or click here for a roadmap) and follow the directions below.

KL to KT (approx. 455 km):
With Phase 1 of the new ECE (East Coast Expressway) opened in August 2004, drivers from KL can breeze to Kuantan in half the time. When Phase 2 is completed all the way from Kuantan to KT, KL to KT will be just over 4 hours away! Head east (Timor) on Karak highway 2, continue with ECE to Kuantan exit, then proceed northeast to KT on highway 3 using the coastal road via Kemaman, Paka and Dungun.

Penang to KT (approx. 460 km):
Head east towards Kota Bharu on East-West highway 4 via Grik and Jertih then proceed south on highway 3 to Merang or KT.

Singapore/Johor Bahru to KT (approx. 562 km):
Head north on the North-South highway and exit at Yong Peng. Follow highway 1 to Labis and Segamat, highway 12 to Kuantan, then use either highway 14 to KT or coastal highway 3 via Kemaman, Paka and Dungun. The coastal road is more scenic, but may be more congested during daytime peak hours. If you're not in a hurry, you can also use the coastal road all the way. Head towards Mersing & get onto highway 3 all the way to KT.

From KT to Merang:
Follow the road signs to Kota Bahru - Batu Rakit - Kustem Universiti - Sutera Beach - Merang Jetty.
There is also a roadmap with directions available from Laguna resort's website.

Got that? If you didn't, take the bus! Not a bad idea since you'll arrive less tired. If you drive, there are car parks in KT (limited lots available at Shahbandar jetty), Merang and Kuala Besut where you can park your car safely for a fee - these usually have basic security like car park wardens to look after your vehicle. At Merang, open-air car park lots cost about RM5 per day, while shaded lots cost about RM10 per day. Check with the resort or travel operator for more information about the location of these car parks.

By air

Direct to Redang by Berjaya Air

Berjaya Air's new ATR 72-500 aircraft (© Yannick Delamarre).

The only way to fly directly to Redang island is by Berjaya Air which operates flights between Kuala Lumpur Subang Airport and Redang (1h 15min flight time, around RM566 return), and between Singapore Seletar airport and Redang (1h 25min flight time, around S$380 return). Berjaya Air currently uses the 48-seater DeHavilland Dash 7 4-engine turbo prop aircraft but this will change in mid-April 2009 when it switches to the larger 72-seater ATR 72-500 plane.

Note that Subang Airport (also known as Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang) is used for some domestic flights and is not to be confused with KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) or KLIA LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) which is about 45 minutes away by road.

The airstrip is located at the southern tip of Pulau Redang near Berjaya Spa resort. Remember to make arrangements with your resort for transfers to and from the airport. Guests staying at Berjaya Beach Resort in the northern part of Redang will be transferred by van while those staying at other resorts will be sent to the nearby Kampung Redang jetty to catch a boat to their resort.

NOTE: Berjaya Air flights in and out of Redang have been suspended until 16-April due to upgrading works on the airstrip to take larger aircraft.

Flying to KT

Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Air Asia operate daily flights between KL and KT. Flight time is approximately 45 minutes (60 minutes for Firefly). Malaysia Airlines departs from KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), Air Asia currently uses KLIA's LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) while Firefly uses KL's Subang Airport. Visitors flying into KLIA who are catching a connecting flight from KLIA LCCT (or vice versa) should give themselves sufficient time for transfers between the two terminals (10 minute ride in cabs and 20 minute ride on feeder buses which depart once every 20 minutes).

KT airport is located about 30 min away from the town centre and about 30 min away from Merang jetty. You can arrange with the resort or travel agent to provide transfers between the airport and the jetty for an extra fee. Alternatively, buy a cab coupon at the Taxi Counter located in the Arrival hall (RM50 to Merang, RM25 to Shahbandar jetty). To avoid missing your flights, you should allow about 3 hours transfer time between Redang and KT airport (inclusive of check-in time).

Flying from Singapore to KT

There are currently no direct flights from Singapore or Senai airport in Johor Bahru to KT. Travellers will need to fly to KLIA or KLIA LCCT and catch a connecting flight to KT. With the liberalization of the lucrative KL-Singapore route in 2008, budget carriers like AirAsia, Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia have made it very affordable to fly between KL and Singapore from as low as S$29 one way (all-inclusive), forcing Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines to offer attractive rates on their flights plying this route. With many choices of flight schedules between KL and Singapore, the bottleneck is the few flights in and out of KT from KL, so plan your flights and connections carefully.

This may change in the near future as Firefly, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, has been granted approval to fly between Singapore and Kuala Terengganu using its ATR 72 twin turboprop aircraft, the same aircraft that Berjaya Air will use in the Singapore to Redang route.

With the low airfares between Singapore and KL, there really is no reason for Singapore residents to fly from Senai. While it may be slightly cheaper (AirAsia flies from Senai to KL for as low as RM32 (about S$14) all-inclusive), the time, effort and cost of getting to Senai may not be worth your while. However, if you must, then hop onto Causeway Link yellow bus from Kranji MRT or SBS 170 from Queen St or Woodlands to Senai Airport City Lounge at Kotaraya Bus Terminal, then catch the shuttle bus to Senai airport which departs every 30 minutes.

By cruise ship

Superstar Virgo.

For those who prefer to get to Redang in the leisurely comfort of a cruise ship, check out Star Cruises' Superstar Virgo, which made its maiden visit to Redang on 6 April 2006. During the 8 and a half hour stopover, guests can opt for shore excursions which include diving, snorkelling, fishing or a free and easy time. For latest information, refer to the Star Cruises website.

By train

KTMB contact numbers
▪ KL call centre: +603-22671200
▪ Johor Bahru: +607-2234727
▪ Singapore: +65-62225165

There are no train services to KT but for visitors going to Kuala Besut (for Perhentian) or to Merang (for Redang), the closest station is at Tanah Merah. Catch a cab from the station to Kuala Besut jetty about 45 minutes away, or to Merang jetty about 90 minutes away.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB or Malayan Railways) runs train services with comfortable sleeping berths which beats sleeping on a coach anytime! There are 2 classes of berths: 2Plus (coach has 8 private cabins, 2 berths per cabin with washbasin) and 2nd class (coach as 40 berths, 20 upper & 20 lower with common washrooms).

KL Sentral station to Tanah Merah
Ekspres Wau (departs 7:55pm, arrives 7:23am).
2nd class berth:
RM44.50 lower berth (RM28.50 child)
RM47.00 upper berth (RM31.00 child)
Contact # (Call Centre): +603 22671200.

Singapore to Tanah Merah:
Ekspres Timuran (departs 8pm, arrives 8:48am).
2nd class berth:
RM46.50 upper berth (RM29.50 child)
RM49.00 lower berth (RM32.00 child)
Contact #: +65 62225165 or +65 62213390.

There are no direct train services between Penang (Butterworth) and Tanah Merah - you'll have to catch the train to KL Sentral station and then catch the express to Tanah Merah (a really long journey!).