So you’ve decided to go to Redang from Kuala Lumpur? How wonderful – Redang Island really is a stunning place.
From the moment you arrive on Redang Island, you’ll feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of KL. Here you’ll find picture-perfect beaches, as well as a wild jungle interior and an amazing underwater environment. In fact, Redang Island is one of my favourite places in the world.
However, thanks to being an island with no bridges and only limited flights from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island, getting there can seem complicated. Unless you take the new flight, the journey is basically in two parts – KL to the mainland closest to the island and then, of course, getting from the mainland to the island.
However, getting from KL to Redang Island (otherwise known as Pulau Redang) is not overly complicated if you know how. All you need to do is follow my step-by-step guide below.
In this guide, I break up exactly how to go to Redang Island from KL, so you know exactly what you need to do and when to do it. Whether you are looking to travel KL to Redang Island by bus or taking a Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island flight, it is all covered below.
So let’s start and find out exactly how to go to Pulau Redang from KL!
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Contents
How To Go From Kuala Lumpur To Redang Island
The easiest way to get to Redang Island from Kuala Lumpur is to fly. However, the overland options are valid and can save money. When it comes to travelling overland, the ferries to Redang Island leave from two different places – so you have two options when it comes to how to go Pulau Redang from KL. I cover both options of how to go Redang from KL below so you can choose the best route for you.
First, I describe how to travel from KL to Pulau Redang via the jetty in Kuala Terengganu and then secondly I cover how to take Kuala Lumpur Redang transport via the jetty in Merang. In terms of how to get to Redang Island from KL, there really isn’t a lot of difference between the two options and it takes about the same amount of time regardless of which route you decide to take.
Going via Shahbandar Jetty in Kuala Terengganu can be more convenient if you are taking the bus to travel here. However, currently this ferry only runs once a day, first thing in the morning.
More ferries run from Merang. This can make Merang an easier point to travel to, especially if you aren’t staying overnight in Kuala Terengganu as ferries run throughout the day from here.
Here is an overview of your options:
| Route | Bus/taxi/flight | Ferry | Best For… | |
| Option 1 | Travelling via Kuala Terengganu | Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu Bus – Book here. About 6.25 hours OR Book a long distance taxi here. About 5 hours. | Shahbandar Jetty to Redang – About 1.5 hours | People who stay overnight in Kuala Terengganu before travelling to Redang |
| Option 2 | Travelling via Merang | OR Book a long distance taxi here. About 5.5 hours. | Merang to Redang – Book here. About 45 minutes | People travelling overland who want a choice of ferry times |
| Option 3 | Flying from Kuala Lumpur | Check out flights here. | Not necessary | People who want the ease of flying to the island and have the budget |
If your resort has booked your ferry, make sure you know which jetty it departs from. They can depart from either of the terminals mentioned so far or they can also depart from Taman Tamadun Islam Jetty in Kuala Terengganu.
Map: Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Redang
Getting to Redang Island from Kuala Lumpur with the fastest overland route is shown below.
Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island distance is 448 kilometres to Kuala Terengganu.
Option 1: Travel via Kuala Terengganu
This is the first of three options describing how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island. Getting to Redang Island by going through Kuala Terengganu includes two parts which are described in detail below.
Part 1: Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Terengganu
In terms of how to get to Redang from KL via Kuala Terengganu, the first leg of your journey starts in the gleaming capital of Kuala Lumpur to the regal Kuala Terengganu. To make this trip you have several options – you can take the bus, flight (and taxi) or with a car/taxi. Each option comes with its own pros and cons.
The most affordable option is the bus which leaves from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) in Kuala Lumpur, costing approximately RM44.
Click here to see the latest timetables and prices.
The bus from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island is not direct. After 6 and a quarter hours on the road, the KL to Redang bus will arrive in Kuala Terengganu. Once disembarking, you’ll get to stretch your legs with an 8-minute walk to Shahbandar Jetty for the second part of your journey.
If your trip to Redang Island doesn’t allow for over 6 hours on the road then take a one hour flight to Kuala Terengganu Airport.
Click here to see the prices for your dates.
Although the direct flight from KL to Redang is a quicker journey, the cost is higher.
Note that if you decide to fly to Kuala Terengganu, you’ll still need to take a 20 minute taxi ride to Shahbandar Jetty which costs around RM25.
If you prefer to drive, you can also get from Kuala Lumpur to Redang by car (before jumping on the ferry of course!). The drive to Redang from KL takes about 5 hours but it allows more freedom as you can make stops along the way.
The alternative to driving yourself is to hire a private taxi for the KL to Redang drive – or more accurately the drive from KL to Shanbandar jetty. This is easy to do and you can book a private taxi for an affordable price here.
If you prefer to travel from KL to Redang by car – then you are best to drive from KL to Merang Jetty, rather than Shahbandar Jetty. The reason being is that, while the drive time is not much longer, the ferry trip to Redang Island is shorter.
Part 2: Shahbandar Jetty To Redang Island
The Kuala Lumpur to Redang bus will take you as far as the city centre, which is a short walk away from Shahbandar Jetty. So once you disembark from the bus, in terms of how to get to Pulau Redang from KL – you’ll need to first walk over to the jetty. It is a short walk but if you have much luggage, you can get a quick taxi ride. It’s hot walking about Kuala Terengganu.
Once you reach the jetty, you’ll need to take a public ferry from Shahbandar Jetty to Redang Island. The ferry journey takes 1.5 hours of travel and only operates from March to October. It currently only departs once a day at 9am so it can be hard to make this ferry unless you stay overnight in Kuala Terengganu or take an overnight bus which arrives early.
The ferries at Shahbandar also take longer to travel to Redang Island but cost the same as the ferries from Merang Jetty at about RM55 (and RM25 for kids).
When planning how to go to Redang from KL and making your budget, make sure that you also allow for the marine park fee. As Pulau Redang is a marine park, visitors are required to pay approximately RM30 for foreign adults and RM15 for children. Malaysians pay a much reduced price.
Option 2: Travel via Merang
Another way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island is to travel via the Merang Jetty. This option also includes a two-part journey.
Part 1: Kuala Lumpur to Merang
Getting from Kuala Lumpur to Merang is best done by taking an hour-long flight to Kuala Terengganu Sultan Mahmud Airport (TGG).
Click here to see the prices for your dates.
The flight leaves from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB) in Kuala Lumpur and will cost RM80+. Once in Kuala Terengganu, travellers need to make their way to the Merang jetty. The cheapest way is to take a bus ride. These bus tickets cost RM4 and leave on an hourly basis.
Although cheaper, the bus is not always the most convenient option when it comes to how to go Redang Island from KL. The reason being is that they run on an hourly basis. Taking a taxi is much easier, especially if using the Grab app, which works similarly to Uber, as you can order the taxi when you need it.
Despite the convenience, a taxi is more expensive in terms of how to travel to Redang Island. A trip will cost you about RM60 and can take up to 35-minutes to arrive at Merang Jetty.
Another way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Merang Jetty is to take the bus to Kuala Terengganu as described above. Then once you arrive at the Kuala Terengganu bus terminal, you can take a local bus to Merang or a taxi/Grab,
If you have a car, the KL to Pulau Redang by car journey takes around 5 hours, or hire a private taxi for additional comfort and flexibility.
You can order the taxi when you need it and you can get this right from your hotel or KL Airport to the ferry terminal.
Click here to check out the affordable prices and book your taxi.
Part 2: Merang Jetty To Redang Island
If you haven’t already pre-booked your ferry ticket from Merang Jetty to Redang Island online, then you can do so upon arrival at the jetty. The tickets cost RM55 for adults. The trip to Redang is about 45-minutes long, and ferries travel to Pulau Redang multiple times a day.
Click here for the latest timetables and prices.
Just a reminder that Redang Island is a marine park and so the marine park fee needs to be paid before boarding the ferry. It is the same as the cost from Shahbandar Jetty above.
Find more information about travelling between Merang and Redang Island in our full guide here.
Want the Easiest Way to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Redang?
We can book a taxi for you from anywhere in Kuala Lumpur direct 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.
Option 3: KL To Redang Flight
There is no longer a Berjaya Air KL to Redang flight. However, the good news is that SKS Airways now flies to Redang Island from KL.
These flights depart from Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur and take an hour and 40 minutes. They depart a couple of times a day outside the monsoon season.
Click here to see the prices for your dates.
This makes getting to Redang nice and easy and is the top choice if you have the budget. However, do consider than when you arrive, there aren’t many roads on Redang, so it may still be a (fun) adventure to get to your resort.
Redang To Kuala Lumpur
Once your time on the paradise island of Redang has come to an end, you’ll need to make your way back. If you are heading from Redang to Kuala Lumpur, you can repeat the same steps that you took to get there – but in the reverse order.
You can choose to fly directly back to Kuala Lumpur Subang Airport or take the ferry back to either Shahbandar Jetty or Merang Jetty. From here, you have the option of taking a bus or taxi to the airport or driving through to Kuala Lumpur (in a car, taxi or bus).
Decide which option works best for you regarding time, cost and convenience.
Final Words
Redang Island is not only one of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia, but it is also one of the easiest to visit. Make sure that you know where you need to be, at what time, and which mode of transport you’ll be taking.
To save time, the best option is to fly direct to Redang Island from Kuala Lumpur. However, if you are on a tighter budget, I suggest that you fly to Kuala Terengganu and travel to Redang via Merang or take a taxi from KL to the ferry terminal (you can book one here).
If your budget is slightly tighter, then the cheapest option is to take a bus from KL to Redang via Kuala Terengganu.
Keep in mind that there is no direct route from Kuala Lumpur to Pulau Redang by bus and if you travel overland, you’ll have to take a ferry to reach the island. You have the choice of Merang Jetty with more options, or the possibly more convenient Shahbandar Jetty which has only one option.
Whichever route you choose to take, you can be certain of one thing and that is that there is a little bit of paradise waiting for you on the other side.
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Click here to read our full guide to things to do in Redang or here for our guide to how to get to Redang from elsewhere in Malaysia. You can also find our full Redang Island 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!
