Heading to Redang Island?
Fantastic! Redang Island is my favourite of all of Malaysia’s islands. It’s just so stunningly beautiful and a relatively easy place to visit.
However, when you start thinking about how to get to Redang Island (also called Pulau Redang), it can seem confusing. This is because there is only a couple of direct flight to Redang Island so you will probably travel here overland. This involves at least two forms of transport to Redang Island – first, you need to get to the ferry terminal in Kuala Terengganu or Merang and secondly, you need to get the ferry to Redang.
While this might seem a little complicated at first, in reality, it’s not that hard at all and it’s quite straightforward to travel to Redang Island.
If you’re unsure of how to go Redang Island – then this article is perfect for you. In this article, I detail exactly how to go to Pulau Redang from anywhere in Malaysia. If you are in Singapore, I have instructions just for you here. If you are in Kuala Lumpur, read the exact details here.
If you aren’t in Malaysia yet, book your flight to the country and then follow this guide.
This Pulau Redang how to get there guide covers all forms of transport including buses, the boat to Redang Island and your options for a flight to Pulau Redang. The guide also details exact journeys from some popular points in Malaysia.
If you are driving to Redang yourself or plan on hiring a long distance taxi, the instructions below are still valid – you can just skip the sections on the bus to Kuala Terengganu and flights and either drive or get a taxi direct to Shahbandar or Merang Jetty to get the ferry. Both places have safe, paid parking close to the ferry terminal.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to travel to Redang Island and be all set to go!
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Contents
How To Get To Redang Island
As mentioned above, no matter where you are coming from, there is going to be at least two parts to getting to Redang Island. This is because there is no Redang Island airport and so you’ll at the very least need to take a ferry from the mainland.
The Redang Island ferries depart from either Merang or Shahbandar Jetty in Kuala Terengganu on the east coast of Malaysia. This means your first step for getting to Pulau Redang to to make your way to one of these jetties.
I’ll start this guide by first talking about getting a flight, taxi or a bus to Kuala Terengganu and then how to get to either jetty before describing the ferries.
The following map shows where Merang, Shahbandar Jetty and Redang Island are to give you an idea of where you are going.
Here is a summary of your options:
| Transport | Method | Best For… |
| Fly | Fly via Kuala Lumpur or Kuala Terengganu (book here). If Kuala Terengganu, taxi/bus to Merang and take a ferry (book here) | Generally the easiest option if you are staying somewhere with an airport that is a long drive from Kuala Terengganu. Can cost more |
| Taxi | Taxi to Merang (book here) and take a ferry to Redang (book here) | Families and groups or when you are within a few hours of Merang |
| Bus | Bus to Kuala Terengganu or Merang (book here), get to Merang jetty and take a ferry (book here) | People who want the cheapest method |
Flights To Redang Island
There used to be a flight with Berjaya Air to Redang Island, but this no longer runs. The good news is that SKS Airways recently started flying here with a flight to Redang from Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur. This is your only direct flight option. This takes one hours and 40 minutes and runs twice a day outside the monsoon season.
Note that there aren’t many roads on Redang Island itself so you may need to get a water taxi to your resort.
Click here to see the latest prices.
When you can’t fly to Redang Island, your best option is to fly to the nearest airport to Redang Island which is Kuala Terengganu. If you can fly here, getting from Kuala Terengganu Airport to Redang Island is quite straightforward. Taking this option can save money.
There are direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu or you can get a connecting flight from many other places. AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines and FireFly all fly here and flights can be very cheap if you get a sale.
Click here to see schedules and latest prices.
Once you arrive at Kuala Terengganu Airport, the next step for how to go Redang by flight is to take a taxi or local bus to either Shahbandar Jetty or Merang Jetty. This is straightforward to do.
If arriving by air into Kuala Terengganu, I recommend going to Merang Jetty as this is the nearest jetty to Pulau Redang and more ferries depart from here compared to Shahbandar. It takes about 35 minutes to get to Merang Jetty by taxi, ccompared to 20 minutes for Shahbandar Jetty.
There is also a bus that departs about hourly from the airport to Merang Jetty. The bus is with Mara Liner.
There is more information about the ferries to Redang below.
Taxi To Kuala Terengganu/Merang
To make it super easy, you can get a private taxi from anywhere in peninsular Malaysia directly to the ferry terminal of your choice so you are all set to catch the ferry to Redang.
This is usually the easiest option and often the quickest as well.
We can book a long distance taxi for you with a reliable local operator.
Click here for more information and prices.
Buses To Kuala Terengganu
You can take a bus to Redang Island via Kuala Terengganu. There are regular buses to Kuala Terengganu from many places in Malaysia.
I recommend you click here and search for buses from your departure point to Kuala Terengganu. You may also be able to catch a bus directly to Merang to catch a Redang Island ferry from there.
From the Kuala Terengganu bus terminal, you can walk to Shahbandar Jetty, but it’s hot, and I recommend a taxi with luggage which you can get using the Grab app for a great price.
If you wish to catch a ferry from Merang Jetty to Redang Island, you can catch a local bus from the bus terminal or take a taxi.
Click here to find bus timetables now.
Ferry To Redang Island
Once you have made it to either Shahbandar Jetty or Merang Jetty, it’s time for the last part of how to get to Pulau Redang.
Getting a ferry at either jetty is straightforward and follows a similar process. Ferries from Merang depart more often and are faster, so are the better option for travel to Pulau Redang from that perspective. Although if you are arriving by bus in Kuala Terengganu then departing from Shahbandar Jetty can be easier.
The problem is that there is currently only one ferry a day from Shahbandar Jetty at 9am, so you either need to stay overnight in Kuala Terengganu or get an overnight bus to Kuala Terengganu to make this ferry. This makes Merang a better option in most circumstances.
From Shahbandar jetty to Redang Island, ferries take about 1.5 hours.
From Merang Jetty to Redang Island, ferries take about 45 minutes.
Prices are the same at both jetties, and you will need to pay a Marine Park Conservation fee. Current costs for foreigners are RM30 for adults and RM15 for children. Malaysians pay RM5 and RM2 for kids.
Click here for the latest schedules and prices from Merang to Redang Island.
You can find more details on exactly how to get from Kuala Terengganu to Redang Island here.
Want the Easiest (and BEST) Way to travel to Redang Island?
We can book a taxi for you from anywhere in peninsular Malaysia or Singapore directly to the ferry to Redang Island for a great price.
You can pick your own departure time, relax and know everything will go to plan.
How To Go To Redang Island From…
Below you can find exact instructions for how to get to Redang from Penang and Langkawi. If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur, read our instructions here.
Remember, we can book a private taxi for you from anywhere in peninsular Malaysia direct to one of the ferry terminals. This can often be the easiest choice.
Click here for more information.
Penang to Redang Island
The distance from Penang to Redang island is approximately 480km and there is no direct Penang to Redang flight.
In terms of how to go Pulau Redang from Penang, you’ll need to fly either from Penang to Redang via Kuala Lumpur or to Kuala Terengganu via Kuala Lumpur with times starting from five hours (see schedules here).
If you fly into Redang, you’ll just need to get to your resort. Depending on your resort and its road access (there aren’t many roads on Redang), depends on how easy this is. You may need to get a water taxi.
If you fly into Kuala Terengganu, you can then follow the instructions that have already been described above.
If you don’t wan’t to fly from Penang to Pulau Redang, then your other option for how to go Redang from Penang is to take a bus to Kuala Terengganu. You can either take a direct bus from either Prangin Mall or Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal in Penang to Kuala Terengganu.
The Penang to Redang bus via Kuala Terengganu, takes about 8.5 hours and costs around RM50-90. Buses tend to leave in the evening and travel overnight. Some of these buses can drop you directly in Merang.
Click here to see the latest prices.
You can also take a private taxi from Penang right to the ferry terminal for Redang. Get a quote here.
Once you are in Kuala Terengganu, you can follow the instructions here.
Langkawi to Redang Island
If you want to know how to reach Redang Island from Langkawi, I recommend you fly to Kuala Terengganu. This means taking two flights from Langkawi Airport via Kuala Lumpur. The journey times start at 4 hours and can be surprisingly affordable.
Click here for the latest timetables and prices.
Once you are at the airport, you can catch a taxi or bus to Merang Jetty and catch a ferry from there. More details above or here.
You can find exact instructions for getting from Singapore to Redang Island here or from Kuala Lumpur to Redang here.
I hope this article has helped you understand how to get to Redang Island. It is such a beautiful place and worth the effort! Click here for more guides to Redang Island.
Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!
