Getting Around Langkawi - Transport

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Getting Around Langkawi - Transport

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Although Langkawi is small (the main island being only about 320 sq kms), you will
need a road transport to explore the island or visit the attractions. The road network of
Langkawi is considered quite good and reach out to almost all corners of the island.
There are two kinds of roads - the main roads that connect the main places of the island
and the side roads that take you to the nooks and crannies. The main roads are wide
and very well maintained. However the side roads can be really narrow and get muddy
when it rains.

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From north to south, the road distance would be about 30kms and from East to west
little more. So the maximum driving distance between two points in the island never
exceeds more than 40 minutes. In Malay Language, a road is called 'Jalan' and therefore
all road names in the isalnd are prefixed by this word. So what are the options of
getting around the island and which are the best local transports? Let's look into each
one of the options available:
Taxis
Taxis are available in abundance and they are the most popular and convenient
transport in the island. However the flip side is, they are quite expensive compared to
the other modes. A 15 minutes ride on a taxi can cost you RM18. But you get taxis
almost everywhere - at the airport, ferry terminal, main tourist places, several taxi
stands, and you can also stop a vacant taxi on the road and get in. Check out Langkawi
Taxis to know about the service, fares, rules and reserving a taxi for tours.

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Car Rentals
This is another great option if you know driving and can manage Left Hand Drive. If you
plan to tour around the island, a car rental can be much more economical than a taxi.
Driving in Langkawi is also easy and the roads are scarcely populated. There are plenty
of car rentals available in the island. Check out Langkawi Car Rentals to know the do's
& don'ts, the best rental companies, rental rates etc.

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Buses
Bus service is very limited in the island and is therefore really not a recommended mode
of transport for the tourists. There is a bus service from the Kuah Jetty to the center of
the Kuah Town. There is another one to Pantai Cenang and that's about it. So unless
you know the bus timings and the stops, it can be a long wait. The buses are therefore
used by the locals who know the timings and the routes. The fares are reasonable
though. A one way fare from Kuah Town to Pantai Cenang is RM1.7.
Motorbikes, Scooters & Bicycle Rentals
You can rent two wheelers in the island. Scooters and motorbikes usually come for
RM25-40 a day depending on number of days you are renting whereas a bicycle rental
would be about RM15 a day. You are required to wear a helmet by law and it is provided
by the rental agency. You will also need a valid two wheeler license for renting scooters,
motorbikes and even mopeds. Your own country's license should be fine. There is hardly
any checking for the licenses by the police unless you meet with an accident. There is a
small security deposit taken by most rental agencies.
If you are coming by ferry, there are plenty of kiosks outside the jetty offering

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Motorbikes, Scooters and Mopeds. There are also many agencies in Pantai Cenang along
the road and other popular tourist places. The T-Shop in Pantai Tengah also rents
scooters & bikes. If you plan to stay for several weeks and looking for cheap
Motorbike/Scooter rentals in Langkawi, then you can try Hoe Sin Motor located just
outside Kuah Town (Phone: 04 966 8358). Their rate is RM220 a month or RM140 for 2
weeks. You can also bargain with other agencies if you plan to rent for long.
However do check out if the Motorbike/Scooter has proper permit, otherwise you will
not be able to claim any insurance in case of damages. Also I would strongly
recommend that you take insurance coverage (usually RM 8-10 per day). Accidents in
two wheelers are quite common in the island.
Great roads & places to drive around
If you just plan to enjoy the nature, see Langkawi's country side and explore some of
the hidden attractions that are otherwise difficult to locate, there are several out of the
way and great roads to drive around in Langkawi. Check out Langkawi Roads & Places
to Drive Around to know about them.

Langkawi Driving & Road Safety Tips

Try to avoid the side roads in Langkawi while driving a car. They are sometimes really
narrow and can get quite muddy as well slippery after it rains.

Animals, particularly buffaloes often cross the roads from the open farm lands from
either side of the roads.

Avoid driving at night. You won't easily find breakdown services during the night
time.

Check your the tyres before renting a car or motorbike. If the tyres are bald (i.e. have
no threads to grip the road properly) then ask for another vehicle. When it rains
(which is common in Langkawi), your car or motorbike can skid badly during a
sharp turn throwing it out of control.

If you are coming from a country that drives on the right, then stick a big left pointing
arrow on the dash board that will always remind you that you should drive here
keeping to the left side of the road. Be careful particularly during a turn or while
getting into a circle to stay on the left side.

If you are riding a bike, stay to the far left of the road so that the traffic from behind
can pass by unhindered.
Explore the different areas of Langkawi
Different parts of the island offer different and unique treasures. So before you set out
to explore the island, get a good hold on the main areas or places of Langkawi and find
out what are the attractions, activities, shopping opportunities, restaurants & nightlife in
such areas. Here is a guide to help you with that: Langkawi Area Guide
Langkawi Itinerary & Day-wise Plans
How do you plan your days in Langkawi. You might be visiting on a short vacation but
there are so many things to see and do. If you have just 2 or 3 days or even shorter,
you should plan your stay in the island in a way which is different from a longer stay.
Langkawi Itinerary discusses about all such options.
Related Articles
1) Langkawi Island Information

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By Raj Bhattacharya
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