Getting Around, Kuantan Travel, Transport and Car Rental
(Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia)
The road network from Kuala Lumpur to and around Kuantan includes several expressways, which run along the coast to other towns in the region, making exploring with a hired car fairly easy. Long-distance bus transport travels between Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan, and these buses are comfortable, reasonably priced and fast.
Travel by air is limited, with only two destinations, KL and Singapore, for international connections. Within the city itself, the bus network is poor and extends to just outside the city limits. Although taxis are easily available, it is often more convenient to self-drive.
Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport (KUA) / Arriving by Air
Address: Jalan Gambang / Jalan Lapangan Terbang, Kuantan, 25250, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 09 531 2123
Kuantan is served by Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport, located 15 km / 9 miles from the city, on a modern bypass road. Malaysia Airlines and Firefly are the two carriers, operating flights to
Singapore and
Kuala Lumpur. Charter flights also arrive from Taiwan on an irregular basis. The terminal has several small shops and a taxi stand outside the Arrivals Hall. The check-in counter area has no aircon and passengers are required to walk to the aircraft.
Car Rental
Due to Kuantan's lack of an efficient public transport network, hiring a car is the best way to get around the city and explore the province, with the added advantage of guaranteed air conditioning. Car hire can be arranged in advance online with a local firm (such as Hawk Rent a Car or Mayflower) and includes collection from the airport and delivery to the firm's location in town, and there are several car hire companies operating on the airport complex. The city is accessible from Kuala Lumpur via the East Coast Expressway, which continues along the coast linking other major towns. Both Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu are reached via coastal trunk roads.
Buses and Coaches
Express buses from Kuala Lumpur arrive at Kuantan's Terminal Makmar, next to the stadium, with a journey time of around three to four hours. Local bus services run from the Jalan Besar, but are very slow, uncomfortable, often late and confusing to use. Long-distance bus transport also provides an affordable way to travel between Butterworth (nine hours), Jerantut (three hours and 30 minutes), Kota Bharu (six hours), Kuala Lipis (six hours), Kuala Terengganu (four hours), Melaka (six hours), Mersing (three hours), Seremban (five hours) and Temerloh (two hours), a well as Singapore (six hours).
Taxis
Taxis are easily available for hire on the streets and are reasonably cheap, even for long-distance travel, which they are happy to undertake. Meters are not always used, and the fare should be agreed before boarding, especially for longer journeys. A particularly popular taxi rank is located directly outside of the bus station on the Jalan Stadium, where taxis regularly connect destinations such as Cherating, Jerantut, Johor Bahru, Kuala Terengganu, Mersing and Pekan. Of note, driving standards here may not be quite what visitors are used to.
Boats and Ferries
Coastal ferries run from Kuantan Port to several other seaboard cities, such as Selangor's Port Klang, Sabah and Sarawak, as well as to and between nearby islands. Several cruise liners also stop at the city's port.
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