Getting to the Perhentians from KL, Penang and Singapore

The route from Kuala Lumpur, step by step

1. 01

   Get to TBS

   All buses from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut leave from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS).

2. 02

   Bus to Kuala Besut

   The ride averages 7 hours 45 minutes. Fares run from about RM40 to RM68.

3. 03

   Pay the fees at the jetty

   Pay the RM30 Marine Park conservation fee and the RM20 jetty fee before entering the pier.

4. 04

   Boat to the islands

   Shared boats leave hourly from 8 AM to 5 PM and take 30–45 minutes.

5. 05

   Water taxi to your beach

   Hops between beaches cost about RM12, and the price is negotiable.

By bus from TBS

All buses from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut leave from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS). Wikivoyage names Mutiara, Perdana, Sani and Mahligai as direct operators. BusOnlineTicket lists Sani Express, Perdana Express, MyXPress, Queen Express and E-Mutiara on the route.

Wikivoyage gives departures at 9AM and 9PM³, arriving in Kuala Besut around 5AM³. BusOnlineTicket’s guide text says the first bus leaves at 9:30am⁶ and the last at 9:30pm⁶, but its own table lists times from 01:00 to 23:30⁶ across operators. Check the exact time when you book.

Fares vary by source. Easybook lists the TBS to Kuala Besut bus from RM67.80¹. BusOnlineTicket’s text says RM40–48⁶, while its schedule table shows RM67.80 to RM68.20⁶. Budget for about RM40 to RM68¹.

By air to Kota Bharu or Kuala Terengganu

The nearest airports are Kota Bharu (Sultan Ismail Petra Airport) and Kuala Terengganu (Sultan Mahmud Airport). Both have near-hourly² flights to and from Kuala Lumpur. Firefly flies to Kota Bharu from Kuala Lumpur International and Subang.

The trip from Kota Bharu Airport to Kuala Besut Jetty takes 1 hour 15 minutes³. Malaysia’s official aeronautical publication lists bus or coach, limousine and taxi services at the airport. Perhentian Trans also runs a shuttle that picks passengers up at any time from Kota Bharu Airport. From Kota Bharu town, the City Liner bus #639³ runs to Kuala Besut roughly every hour³.

At Sultan Mahmud Airport, the official publication lists only taxis for ground transport, and there is an ATM. The ride to Kuala Besut takes about 2 hours³ according to Wikivoyage’s Kuala Besut page, though its main Perhentian page puts it closer to 1.5 hours².

What you pay

Two charges come on top of the boat. The Marine Park conservation fee is RM 30.00¹⁰ for adults without a MyKad and RM 5.00¹⁰ for MyKad holders. A RM20² service and jetty access fee is charged too. Both must be paid before you enter the pier² at Kuala Besut.

The return boat ticket costs RM80 per adult and RM50 per child¹¹ from February 2026¹¹, excluding the marine park fee. Go Perhentian sells it at the same RM80 adult and RM50 child¹².

Some resorts run their own boats. Bubu Resort charges MYR 100 one way or MYR 180 return¹³ per adult, and guests check in at its jetty office at least 20 minutes¹³ before departure. Perhentian Island Resort says its speedboat takes 30 to 45 minutes¹⁴.

Perhentian Trans sells tickets online and issues an e-ticket straight away. Wikivoyage says it doesn’t matter which agency you book with, because all agencies put you on the same boats. For more on the jetty itself, see the Kuala Besut boat operators and fares in detail. If you’d rather book room and boat together, compare the full board island package inclusions.

Boat transfer

Perhentian Island - Kuala Besut Jetty Ferry

4.6 out of 5 · 226 reviews

RM40 from Check dates

Booked on Klook

Package

3D2N Perhentian Island Resort Full Board Package

4.5 out of 5 · 11 reviews·3 days

RM560 from Check dates

Booked on Klook

Tips and common mistakes

• Ignoring the season. The islands have a heavy monsoon season from November to February⁵. Most resorts are usually closed from the end of October to the end of February²². The best months run from March or April to late October². Read the Perhentian monsoon and dry season guide before you book.
• Letting the taxi pick your agent. Taxi drivers may take you to a travel agent who pays them commission. Some are reportedly paid to take passengers to Tok Bali, a fishing port about 48 km²³ from Kota Bharu, instead of Kuala Besut.
• Not booking ahead. Wikivoyage advises buying boat tickets in advance, especially in high season. If you miss your boat, agencies are usually happy to put you on the next one.
• Leaving electronics loose. The boats have no safe space for electronics, so wrap anything that can’t get wet in plastic. Seats at the back, near the engines, are less bumpy but wetter and noisier.
• Arriving without cash. Few places on the islands accept credit cards. Money can be changed on Long Beach (Pasir Panjang) on Perhentian Kecil.
• Forgetting the weather on the day. Bubu Resort says boat transfers are subject to weather conditions¹³.

Once on the islands, a water taxi between beaches such as Long Beach and Coral Bay costs about RM12² for most hops, and the price is negotiable. Perhentian Kecil draws more travellers because its accommodation is cheaper, while Perhentian Besar is a little more expensive. Compare places to stay by beach so you know where to ask the boat to drop you.