Heading to Kuala Terengganu and wondering how to go to Kuala Terengganu from Kuala Lumpur?
I can help you work out the easiest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu!
Below, I describe exactly how to go to Kuala Terengganu from Kuala Lumpur whether you are looking for a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu, a KL to Kuala Terengganu bus, wondering whether to travel Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu by train or want to drive from KL to Kuala Terengganu.
I also describe the reverse journey from Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur and also how to get from Kuala Terengganu to Kuantan.
That might seem like a lot of information, but don’t worry, it’s easy. Getting to Kuala Terengganu and back from Kuala Terengganu to KL again is very straightforward. You just have to decide what method you want to take!
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Contents
Map: KL To Kuala Terengganu
The distance from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu is 433.5 kilometres which takes about 4.5 hours to drive. The map below shows the shortest route if travelling overland.
Kuala Lumpur To Kuala Terengganu Summary
The quickest and easiest option is to take a taxi.
Otherwise, I recommend taking a flight from KL to Kuala Terengganu. The next best option (and the best option for cost savings) is to take a Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu bus.
Here is a summary of your options. I don’t include the train as I don’t consider it a good alternative to travel from KL to Kuala Terengganu.
| Mode of transport | Duration | Best For? | Book |
| Flight | 5 hours | People who want an efficient way to get to Kuala Terengganu and don’t want to go by car/taxi | Check here |
| Bus | 7.25 hours | People who want the cheapest option | Check here |
| Car | 4.5 hours | People who have easy access to a car or who like to stop along the way | Check here |
| Taxi | 4.5 hours | Small groups who wants the easiest, fastest and most straightforward way to get to Kuala Terengganu | Book here |
Option 1: Kuala Lumpur To Kuala Terengganu Flight
Kuala Terengganu is located on the opposite coast from Kuala Lumpur which means a flight will be your best option for getting there quickly. There are plenty of flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu available, often at value fares.
You can embark on your KL to Terengganu flight from either of the two major airports in the area. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) has more flight options and lower prices, but it’s also a bit farther from the city center. Sultan Abdul Azziz Shah (SZB) is closer, but flights are limited and more costly.
Click here to see the prices for your dates.
Flights from either airport take around an hour. Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia offer flights to Kuala Terengganu departing from KUL. If you’ll be departing from SZB, Batik Air and Firefly fly this route. Prices start at RM 70 on AirAsia.
After your flight to Terengganu from KL, you’ll still need to cover an additional 11.8 kilometers to reach the town. A taxi ride to or from the airport in Kuala Terengganu will cost you about RM 25.
Option 2: Bus From KL To Kuala Terengganu
Flying is the quickest option, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best. Going from KL to Kuala Terengganu by bus can offer the chance to see parts of Malaysia that you’d miss if you flew.
Taking the KL to Terengganu bus is the best option if you want to avoid flying and travel overland, but in an easy, comfortable and direct way. Travelling on the bus to Kuala Terengganu is cheap and straight forward, and there are very regular departures to choose from when taking the bus from KL to Terengganu.
Multiple companies offer a bus from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu, most of which will cost you around RM 35 to 50. There are several companies offering bus KL to Kuala Terengganu services. If you’re wondering which the best bus from KL to Kuala Terengganu is, the answer depends on your schedule as there’s not much difference in service – so just choose the time that suits you best.
There are night buses that leave late in the evening if you prefer to take an overnight bus.
The bus KL to Terengganu journey takes about 6.25 hours, and buses leave at least every couple of hours throughout the day. The last night bus usually leaves around midnight.
You can purchase a bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu online, at a ticketing kiosk, or by visiting the ticket counter at the Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu bus terminal. Buying online can often save money and definitely makes life easier.
Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.
Option 3: KL to Terengganu By Train
Your next option for how to go to Terengganu from KL is (partly) by train.
Riding the train can be a fun travel experience. Readers often ask about the Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu train, but it’s important to note that there is no direct train or direct KTM Kuala Terengganu service, so this is not the most direct route from from KL to Terengganu.
Although there isn’t a direct train from KL to Kuala Terengganu, it is still possible to travel to Kuala Terengganu partially by train. Do know, though, that this is the most complicated and time-consuming option.
Taking the train to Terengganu is only recommended if you have an interest in the Malaysian train experience or really want to travel by train from KL to Terengganu. You basically go in the wrong direction to take the train and then have to bus anyway, or you can just take the train on your way to fly.
Below, I’ll list the two routes where you can do the first part of the distance from KL to Terengganu by train then you’ll need to change onto a flight or bus to Terengganu.
Train and Bus
For about RM 17, you can take one of the hourly trains going from Kuala Lumpur to Tanjung Malim via KTM ETS Malaysia Railway. The journey takes about an hour and a half. From there, you’ll have a 10-minute walk to reach Terminal Bus Tanjung Malim.
Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.
At the bus terminal, buy a ticket to Kuala Terengganu for about RM 55. The ride will take about 8 hours. Buses depart two to three times daily, so depending on when you arrive, you may want to grab some lunch or go for a walk around the small town to kill some time.
Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.
Train and Flight
The lack of a direct train from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu means you can fly for part of the way. This option offers the best of both worlds if you really want to take the train to Kuala Terengganu part of the way. You’ll get the enjoy some ground travel, but your journey to Terengganu won’t take all day.
Take the train from Kuala Lumpur to T1 at KUL. The ride takes about 30 minutes and costs approximately RM 50. Trains leave every half hour, so you should be able to head off whenever you’re ready.
Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.
Once you arrive at T1, you’ll have a 15-minute walk to get inside the airport. From there, you can book your flight with prices starting from RM 70 depending on your airline, preferences and flight class.
Click here to see the prices for your dates.
Option 4: KL To Kuala Terengganu By Car
If you own a vehicle or have rented one for the duration of your stay, travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu by car might be your best bet. With your own vehicle, you can travel at your own pace, stopping for food and sightseeing along the way.
When travelling from KL to Terengganu by car, the distance from KL to Kuala Terengganu is 435.5 kilometers. If you’re wondering how many hours drive from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu it is, the answer is usually around 4.5 hours if you drive straight through, or longer if you want to break up the drive and stop more often. This also assumes not getting stuck in traffic as you leave KL.
You may choose to break up the drive from KL to Terengganu into two days, stopping for the night at a small town somewhere in between.
Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu highway travel is simple. The KL to Terengganu drive begins by leaving the city and following the Gombok-Karak toll road, which is often very busy during the festival season. Continue following the road through Karak towards Kuantan and Jabor. From either of those cities, you’ll be able to choose from three different routes.
It will most likely be easiest to continue along the same road as it heads north toward Terengganu. You can also switch to the Jabor-Bandar Muktafi Billah Shah-Ajil route which can be a bit faster. The last option involves following LPT2 until you reach Route 2 and then following that to reach Kuala Terengganu Highway from Kuala Dungun.
When planning the drive to Kuala Terengganu from KL, the first option is recommended, especially if this is your first time driving this route. It allows you to stop at the small beach towns along the way. Experienced travellers may want to take Route 2 which is faster if you’re wondering how many hours from KL to Terengganu by car and want to take the fastest route possible.
Option 5: KL To Kuala Terengganu By Taxi
An even easier option is to take your own taxi from KL (or anywhere else) to Kuala Terengganu. This is usually the fastest option once you take into account the travelling times to airport and the waiting around when flying.
It also saves you the stress of driving or lugging round your luggage in the heat.
We can help you book a safe and reliable local operator for RM900. You can be picked up anywhere in KL and dropped off anywhere in Kuala Terengganu (including at the ferry terminal to Redang Island)
Click here for more information and prices.
Kuantan To Kuala Terengganu
Kuantan is about the halfway point in the journey. If you’re doing the trip in two legs, this will likely be your stopping point for the evening. The Kuantan to Kuala Terengganu distance is a little over 234 kilometers. The average trip takes about 3.5 hours by bus and will cost you about RM 20.
A bus from Kuantan to Kuala Terengganu leaves regularly throughout the day.
Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.
You can also cover the distance between the two cities in a taxi. This option is a bit more expensive, costing you up to RM 400. You’ll shave about an hour off your travel time which could be worth the additional cost for some travellers plus you won’t have to lug your luggage around in the heat.
Find our taxi booking service here.
Last but not least there are many flights from Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur.
Want the Easiest (and BEST) Way to travel between Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur?
We can book a taxi for you from anywhere in Kuala Lumpur directly to your hotel in Kuala Terengganu or to the ferry to Redang for a great price.
You can pick your own departure time, relax and know everything will go to plan.
Kuala Terengganu To Kuala Lumpur
To return to Kuala Lumpur, you simply need to reverse the steps you took to get to Kuala Terengganu. You can take a bus from Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur at any time throughout the day. Tickets are around the same price as the reverse journey. The last overnight Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur bus leaves around 11pm
Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.
You can book a flight from Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur at Suntan Mahmud Airport using the same airlines we mentioned earlier. The AirAsia Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur flight is usually the cheapest and best option.
Click here to see the prices for your dates.
To travel back by car, reverse the same route you used to come in. You also might want to consider taking one of the alternative routes to enjoy a change of scenery.
You can also book a taxi for the reverse journey. This is the easiest and quickest option.
Click here for more information.
Final Words
Getting between Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Terengganu is easy and affordable. You have choices as a traveller, so you need to think about what type of experience you desire before picking your best option.
Flights are quick and more expensive, trains and buses are laid back and cheap but take longer, and taking a taxi is the best choice of all for people who have the budget and want to get there as quick (and as painlessly) as possible.
No matter which option you choose to travel Kuala Terengganu, be sure to enjoy your time in beautiful Malaysia!
Click here to read our full guide to things to do in Kuala Terengganu. You can also find our full Kuala Terengganu travel guide here.
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!
