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 Tanjung coach station 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 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 and located within walking distance from the Tanjung coach station - from the coach station facing the main road, head right down the road along the coast for about 100 metres. Shahbandar jetty is located opposite the general post office.

Speedboat 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. Recently, some resorts have started using a common ferry operator out of Shahbandar jetty in KT. Boats travel only in the day and for safety reasons. By regulation, all boats come with lifejackets for passengers. 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.

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).

VIP 'Business Class' coaches are the most comfortable and typically have 24-26 seats in a 2-1 row seating arrangement. The seats are big with plenty of leg room and can be sufficiently reclined to allow proper rest.

Next best are the 32- or 36-seaters which have as much legroom as the 24-seaters but smaller seats to accommodate 4 seats abreast instead of 3. At the lowest end of the scale are the usual 44-seaters which can be quite cramped and uncomfortable for long journeys.

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 especially in VIP coaches where there are fewer people. Inflatable neck pillows & blinders can also help you sleep more comfortably.

Most coaches will arrive and depart from KT Tanjung coach station which is located centrally in town. There is a baggage counter at the coach station where you can leave your baggage for a small fee if you feel like wandering around town or to shop at the small shopping centre (Astaka) next to the coach station. Some coaches (e.g. Five-Stars 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, 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

Berjaya Air

Berjaya Air aircraft. Photo ©Tango.

The only way to fly directly to Redang island is by Berjaya Air which operates flights between Kuala Lumpur Subang Airport and Redang, and between Singapore Seletar airport and Redang. Flight time on the 48-seater DeHavilland Dash 7 4-engine turbo prop aircraft is about 1 hour 15 minutes between KL and Redang and about 1 hour 25 minutes between Singapore and Redang.

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) which is about 45 minutes away by road.

The island 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: Effective 1 Mar 2006, Berjaya Air will operate daily flights between KL and Redang, twice-daily on Fridays and Sundays and once-daily the rest of the week. They will fly 4 times weekly between Singapore and Redang on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Please check their website for the latest schedules.

Flying to KT

Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia operates daily flights between KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) and KT, and also between KLIA and Kota Bahru for those heading for Perhentian. Flight time is approximately 45 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. 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 then catch a connecting flight to KT. Flying from Senai to KL can save you quite a bit of money compared to flying from Singapore.

To get to Senai, you can drive there and park your car safely. If you're going by bus, hop onto Causeway Link yellow bus from Kranji MRT (S$1) 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 (RM8 one way) which departs every 30 minutes.

Malaysia Airlines passengers can also catch the SPS coach from Singapore (Copthorne Orchid Hotel in Dunearn Road) to Senai airport.

Malaysia Airlines Singapore-Senai Coach
Copthorne Orchid Singapore Hotel
214 Dunearn Road, Singapore 299526
Tel: +65 6250-3333

Operating hours: 0515 to 1815 daily
Fare: S$12 from Sgp, RM16 from Senai
Travelling time is about 2 hours.

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.

The cruise to Redang is part of several different Superstar Virgo itineraries summarized in the table below. 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!).