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Getting Around Langkawi - Transport

AlthoughLangkawiissmall(themainislandbeingonlyabout320sqkms),youwill need a road transport to explore the island or visit the attractions. The road network of Langkawiisconsideredquitegoodandreachouttoalmostallcornersoftheisland. There are two kinds of roads - the main roads that connect the main places of the island andthe sideroadsthattakeyoutothenooksandcrannies.Themain roadsarewide and very well maintained. However the side roads can be really narrow and get muddy when it rains.

Fromnorthtosouth,theroaddistancewouldbeabout30kmsandfromEasttowest littlemore.Sothemaximumdrivingdistancebetweentwopointsintheislandnever exceeds more than 40 minutes. In Malay Language, a road is called 'Jalan' and therefore allroadnamesintheisalndareprefixedbythisword.Sowhataretheoptionsof gettingaroundtheislandandwhich are the bestlocal transports?Let'slookintoeach one of the options available:

TaxisTaxisareavailableinabundanceandtheyarethemostpopularandconvenient transport intheisland. However theflipside is, theyare quiteexpensivecompared to theothermodes.A15minutesrideonataxicancostyouRM18.Butyougettaxis almosteverywhere-attheairport,ferryterminal,maintouristplaces,severaltaxi 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.

Car RentalsThis is another great option if you know driving and can manage Left Hand Drive. If you plan to tour around the island, a carrental 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.

BusesBus 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 theKuahTown.ThereisanotheronetoPantaiCenangandthat'saboutit.Sounless you know the bus timings and the stops, it can be a long wait. The buses are therefore usedbythelocalswhoknowthetimingsandtheroutes.Thefaresarereasonable though. A one way fare from Kuah Town to Pantai Cenang is RM1.7.

Motorbikes, Scooters & Bicycle RentalsYoucanrenttwowheelersintheisland.Scootersandmotorbikesusuallycomefor 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.

Ifyouarecomingbyferry,thereareplentyofkiosksoutsidethejettyoffering

Page 1 of 3 Getting Around Langkawi - Transport01/23/2015 http://www.langkawi-insight.com/langkawi_00000a.htm Motorbikes, Scooters and Mopeds. There are also many agencies in Pantai Cenang along theroadandotherpopulartouristplaces.TheT-ShopinPantaiTengahalsorents scooters& bikes.Ifyouplantostayforseveralweeksandlookingforcheap Motorbike/ScooterrentalsinLangkawi,thenyoucantryHoeSinMotorlocatedjust 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.

HoweverdocheckoutiftheMotorbike/Scooterhasproperpermit,otherwiseyouwill notbeabletoclaimanyinsuranceincaseofdamages.AlsoIwouldstrongly recommendthatyoutakeinsurancecoverage(usuallyRM8-10perday).Accidentsin two wheelers are quite common in the island.

Great roads & places to drive aroundIfyoujustplan toenjoythenature,see Langkawi's countryside and exploresomeof the hidden attractions that are otherwise difficult to locate, there are several out of the wayand greatroadsto drivearound inLangkawi. Check out LangkawiRoads & 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,particularlybuffaloesoftencrosstheroadsfromtheopenfarmlandsfrom either side of the roads. Avoiddrivingatnight.Youwon'teasilyfindbreakdownservicesduringthenight time. Check your the tyres before renting a car or motorbike. If the tyres are bald (i.e. have nothreadstogriptheroadproperly)thenaskforanothervehicle.Whenitrains (whichiscommoninLangkawi),yourcarormotorbikecanskidbadlyduringa 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 arrowonthedashboardthatwillalwaysremindyouthatyoushoulddrivehere keepingtotheleftsideoftheroad.Becarefulparticularlyduringaturnorwhile 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 LangkawiDifferent 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 PlansHow do you plan your days in Langkawi. You might be visiting on a short vacation but there areso many things to see and do. If you have just 2 or 3 days or even shorter, you shouldplanyour stayin the islandin away whichisdifferentfromalongerstay. Langkawi Itinerary discusses about all such options.

Related Articles1) Langkawi Island Information

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