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Voykit pocket guide · Malaysia
Kuala Kedah
Half a day: take the ferry to Langkawi and eat seafood at the jetty. Not a base — sleep in Alor Setar, 12 km away.
Kuala Kedah is a fishing village and the main ferry port for Langkawi in northern Kedah. The only reason to stop is the fort and the seafood stalls near the jetty. Most travellers pass through in under 2 hours between bus and ferry.
- Country
- Malaysia
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season for Langkawi ferries)
- Avoid
- Oct–Nov (monsoon, rough seas, ferries cancelled)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MYR
- Money
- Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM); cards and e-wallets are widely used in Kuala Lumpur.
- Daily spend
- Budget RM40–70 (just transit) · Mid RM70–120 (transit plus seafood meal) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police and ambulance 999 · Fire 994 · From mobile 112
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin; hotels often have universal sockets.
- Tipping
- Hawker stalls: Nothing.; Restaurants: Nothing if 10% service charge is added; otherwise round up.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Guides: RM20–50 a day.
- Water
- Treated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap.
- Toilets
- Western and squat toilets side by side; water hose instead of paper; some public toilets cost RM0.20–1.
Get in
By air
- AOR · Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (Alor Setar)
- About 20 min by taxi to Kuala Kedah jetty; domestic flights from KL and Penang.
- LGK · Langkawi International Airport
- Ferry from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi, then taxi to the airport.
Typical fares
- Ferry Kuala Kedah → Langkawi
- RM45 one-way (foreign adult, 2025 estimate)
- Bus Kuala Kedah → Alor Setar
- RM1
- Taxi Kuala Kedah → Alor Setar
- RM15–20 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk between the jetty terminal and the fort (10 min). City bus RM1 to Alor Setar from the main road opposite the harbour. Taxi to Alor Setar about RM15–20 (check).
See and do
Known for
- Ferry port to Langkawi
- Kuala Kedah Fort
- Seafood at the jetty
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Langkawi | Ferry from Kuala Kedah Jetty, 1.5–2 h | About 2 h |
| Alor Setar | City bus RM1 or taxi RM15–20, 12 km (7.5 mi)City bus RM1 or taxi RM15–20, 7.5 mi (12 km) | About 30 min |
| Butterworth (Penang) | Taxi from jetty, about RM47 (check) | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Alor Setar city centre
- 12 km (7.5 mi) away; budget and mid-range hotels, bus and taxi connections to the jetty.7.5 mi (12 km) away; budget and mid-range hotels, bus and taxi connections to the jetty.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | Berapa?buh-rah-pah |
| Where is the jetty? | Di mana jeti?dee mah-nah jeh-tee |
| One ticket to Langkawi | Satu tiket ke Langkawisah-too tee-ket kuh Lang-kah-wee |
| Thank you | Terima kasihtuh-ree-mah kah-seh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake or hand on heart; wait for women to offer a hand; avoid: Firm grips, hugging
- Pointing: Use the thumb with fingers folded; avoid: Index finger pointing
- Homes: Shoes off; avoid: Walking in with shoes
- Mosques: Covered clothes, headscarf for women; avoid: Entering during prayers
- Public affection: Keep it low-key; avoid: Kissing in public
Scams and watch-outs
- Last ferry to Langkawi departs at 7:00 PM; check the schedule on arrival.
- No hotels in Kuala Kedah — book accommodation in Alor Setar.
- Monsoon season (Oct–Nov) cancels ferries; have a backup plan.
Safe during daylight. Keep an eye on bags at the jetty; no accommodation means you won't be out at night here.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kuala Kedah yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ferry port to Langkawi
- Kuala Kedah Fort
- Seafood at the jetty
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kuala Kedah, revision 5281071 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5281071
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kuala-kedah). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.