Want to visit a tropical paradise and wondering how to go from KL to Genting Highlands? We can help!
While it’s not far from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands, this journey can seem complicated – at least until you take it step-by-step. It’s actually quite straightforward with many people taking this trip every day.
Below, I detail exactly how to get to Genting Highland from KL so you know exactly what you need to do, when, whether you are looking for a bus from KL to Genting Highlands, hopping on a cable car Kuala Lumpur Genting Highlands ride or driving to Genting Highlands from Kuala Lumpur. This way, you will be in paradise as quick as possible!
I also describe the reverse journey from Genting Highlands to Kuala Lumpur.
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Map: Travel To Genting Highlands From Kuala Lumpur
The distance from KL to Genting Highlands is about 54 kilometres and it takes about an hour to drive from KL Sentral to Genting Highlands. Of course, this is dependent on traffic.
Note: There are no trains or planes to Genting Highlands so you need to take a bus/cable car or car.
BEST OPTION: How To Go From KL To Genting Highlands
A taxi is the easiest option especially if you’ll have luggage. Otherwise, take a bus to Genting Highland from KL Sentral and then the Awana SkyWay cable car. It’s very easy and affordable.
Option 1: Bus From KL To Genting Highland
It’s super easy to take a KL to Genting Highlands bus. They leave regularly from several points in the city and take about an hour and a quarter depending on where you are leaving from and the amount of traffic.
The Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands bus fare is also very affordable at around RM10.
There are two companies that run the bus service from KL to Genting Highlands – Aerobus and Billion Stars Express. You can depart from Pekeliling Bus Terminal, Pudu Sentral, TBS and KL Sentral.
Getting a bus ticket to Genting Highland from KL Sentral is usually the best bet for tourists as KL Sentral is relatively central to tourist areas, and there are many forms of transport that run here from all over Kuala Lumpur. Pudu Sentral can also be quite convenient.
If you want to travel from KL to Genting Highland by bus, I recommend you look at Google Maps and enter your hotel and both Pudu Sentral and KL Sentral to see which is the most convenient for you.
If you buy this ticket (like I did), simply show the email booking on your phone to board.
I boarded the bus at KL Sentral, and I did find it tricky to find where it departs.
Go to the level where all the trains leave from and find the pink KLIA Transit train departure area (you won’t be able to miss it). Keep walking past here and DON’T GO UP THE ESCALATORS. It’s hard to see initially, but you’ll find escalators going down near the road with a sign for Genting Highlands buses like pictured below.
Find this sign, head down. You should see the airport buses in front of you. Turn around and walk the opposite way, and you’ll find the Genting buses.
I didn’t see any ticket sellers so I was glad I bought the ticket beforehand here.
Click here to buy your bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highland now.
The buses from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands drops you off at Genting Awana Bus Terminal. From here, you can take the cable car detailed below to visit Resorts World Sentosa, Genting SkyWorlds theme park and other big attractions.
After you get off the bus, simply follow the signs to Awana SkyWay. It’s on level 4 and there are elevators and escalators. On the way up, you’ll pass by many eating establishments and shops as well as the entry to Genting Highlands Premium Outlets.
Option 2: KL To Genting Highlands By Car
It’s straightforward to drive from KL to Genting Highland either in a hire car (rent one here) or in a taxi.
It takes about an hour to drive here from KL and you can get a coupon taxi at KL Sentral or use the Grab app to try to find a driver. At certain times of day (when it’s not busy), Grab can be surprisingly affordable and could be a great option for a group or family.
However, the easiest way is to book your transfer ahead of time, especially as you can choose the size of the taxi/van and they can pick you up right at your hotel lobby. This is especially handy if you’ll be travelling with your luggage.
Click here to see the latest prices and book your transfer.
There are multiple parking lots when you get there, but you are likely to have to pay for parking. It can be fun to park at Awana SkyCentral car park and then take the cable car to Resorts World Genting Highlands as well.
Option 3: Take A Genting Highlands Tour From KL
You can also take a day tour to Genting Highlands from KL to make things super easy.
In this day tour, you get round trip transfers between your hotel and the cable car station and round trip tickets on Awana SkyWay. Super easy!
Click here to see the latest prices and more information.
Part 2: Ride The Cable Car
Once you get to the Genting Awana Bus Terminal, whether by bus, taxi, car or tour, it’s time to take the Awana SkyWay cable car if you want to go to Resorts World Genting Highlands. Even if you don’t want to go there, it’s worth taking the ride. It’s fun!
It is possible to drive instead, but that’s just not as much fun. It takes you over the rainforest with great views and a stop at a cool temple complex.
The cable car takes about ten minutes. It runs continuously throughout the day starting at 7am and finishing late and you can’t miss it. There are plenty of signs in the terminal for the boarding area. It’s on the fourth floor and you can’t get lost.
There are different lines depending on whether you buy a priority ticket, a glass floor ticket or a regular one. Once you have a ticket (or if you already do), you simply scan your ticket and keep walking to the gondolas until there is one for you. A big time saver is to pre-buy your tickets here.
At peak times, lines can be hours long! At these times, definitely buy a priority ticket. At other times, it’s fine. I only waited a few minutes each way when I visited during the day on a Monday.
Up to ten people go in a regular gondola or six in a glass floor one. If it’s not busy, your group will probably get one to yourselves.
The cable car in Genting Highland Kuala Lumpur stops on the way up and down at Chin Swee Station. From here, you can explore Chin Swee Caves Temple and the surrounding area. It’s worth the stop.
However, you can also chose to stay in the cable car and keep going up or down.
The easiest way to get tickets for the Awana SkyWay is to buy them here.
This service via Klook gives you a QR code you can keep on your phone or print and then you can simply scan it at the standard turnstile at any of the 3 stations.
Click here to buy your SkyWay tickets now.
Once you reach the top, you simply stop and you get off.
On my most recent trip when I took the SkyWay and was shocked how much the weather can change during this journey. It went from clearish skies to very thick fog which did make views non-existent by the end. However, it was still worth taking this cable car.
Read our full guide to taking the Awana SkyWay here.
You can also watch our video guide to taking Awana SkyWay here:
Genting Highlands to KL
Once you have made it from Genting Highlands, you’re probably going to need to travel Genting Highland to KL. Thankfully, this is just as straightforward as the way there.
You simply do what you did above in reverse.
You can either drive or take a Genting Highlands Kuala Lumpur taxi or take the Awana SkyWay cable car back to the bus terminal and then take a bus from Genting Highland to KL Sentral. They run regularly as well and take a similar length of time.
Click here for Awana SkyWay tickets and here for bus tickets from Genting Highlands to KL.
I took a Grab taxi last time from Awana terminal to KL and was surprised that it only cost RM61 so this is an option for groups or families in non-peak times for sure.
It’s all very easy!
Final Words
I hope you found this guide on how to get to Genting Highlands from KL useful. It’s very easy to travel between KL and Genting Highlands and whether you do this as a day trip or for a longer stay, I hope you have an awesome time!
You can find our complete travel guide to Kuala Lumpur here, Genting Highlands here or all the best things to do in Genting Highlands here. I also recommend you read this guide to Genting SkyWorlds theme park and this guide to where to stay in Genting Highlands.
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!
