Catching the Satun Ferry to Langkawi may sound like a no-brainer, and for the most part it is, however, there are a few things first timers might want to take note of. As of this initial writing, in December 2022, there is just one ferry a day from Satun to Langkawi and it’s at 11:30am (Thailand Time). The ferry arrives in Langkawi about 75-minutes later (give or take); 12:45pm Thai time (which is 1:45pm Malaysia time). *Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thailand* At any rate, in October 2022, the Satun ferry (from Tammalang Pier) resumed operations after a 2-year ‘pandemic’ break. *March 2024 updated… Satun Ferry to Langkawi is still scheduled for just once a day and the times may vary a bit due to tides. Additional ferry times may be added during holidays. Also be sure to get your Malaysia Digital Arrival Card HERE
In November 2022, after a week-long conference and media trip, I found myself in Hat Yai, Thailand and ready to return to Langkawi. For years I have been a big fan of the scenic Malaysia route between Langkawi and Hat Yai, due to the generous ferry schedule Kuala Perlis always had; 10 daily ferries vs just 3 daily ferries previously for Satun. Taking the ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi (or visa versa) was less ‘time sensitive’ and thus less stressful in my book.
But that’s changed. Post-pandemic Kuala Perlis (and Kuala Kedah) ferry schedules are no longer 10 daily set in stone scheduled ferries. In fact, the Kuala Perlis ferry is now a nightmare of often sold-out tickets and spontaneous last minute additional ferries scheduled that make it very challenging to plan a last-minute trip around. And good luck getting a ticket if you dare to travel on a holiday or weekend.
So, there I am in Hat Yai, pondering my usual route and decided that no, I would return to Langkawi via the Satun Ferry at Tammalang Pier and avoid that potential nightmare. I wasn’t 100% sure the Satun Ferry was running so I asked a local Hat Yai tour guide. And guess what? He didn’t know. Truly, it never looks good when your local tour guide doesn’t know about basic transportation options.
He then called a tour guide in Malaysia (a friend) and that person also didn’t know. And, of course, neither tour guide had the Tammalang Pier on speed dial so a few shoulder shrugs later I felt panic creep into my adventurous self and a wave of exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. I was flat out not in the mood to deal with transportation issues or clueless tour guides.
Thankfully, the manager of the hotel where I was staying made a phone call and got the updated 2022 ferry information. She gave me a website link and told me that I needed to book the ferry in advance. I asked the manager if ferry tickets could be booked/ purchased through the hotel, but unfortunately they didn’t offer that service option (only taxi pre-bookings).
So, I looked at the website and it was archaic and spooky looking. No way I wanted to use a credit card on it, because it just didn’t look cyber ‘safe’. Then I found another website: www.thailandferrybooking.com, but I was unable to book it through my laptop. I then asked the front desk manager if she could try booking it from her hotel computer. It worked. However, the website stalled a few times and I started to feel uncomfortable about the cyber security of things. Thankfully the site accepted American Express, just in case there were any issues later.
Here’s what I learned about taking the Satun ferry to Langkawi:
1. Booking Tickets for the Satun Ferry to Langkawi
On the advice of my resourceful hotel manager, I was told I should book my Satun to Langkawi ferry ticket in advance, because seats are ‘limited’. She was under the impression that the ferry was a speed boat such as the ones that leave from Pak Bara. I know that not to be the case (but it post pandemic times, I wasn’t 100% sure). *Updated March 2023: Ferry times may now encounter ‘tide’ issues, can now check Andaman Ferry Service. com for possible tide related time changes and updates to the ‘present’ month (no ferry available often means website schedule isn’t updated yet)
After the weird website booking experience, the hotel manager then called the ferry booking company and confirmed that my booking did go through. ** Notably when I later checked my American Express billing statement, the exact amount for the ferry came in as a spa visit in Bangkok. So, you do with that information as you will. Seems super shady to me and I’m not sure I would use them for future bookings of any kind.
However! The good news is, that there is no need to book in advance for the Satun Ferry to Langkawi. You can easily buy them at the Tammalang Pier (NOT to be confused with Pak Bara Pier). The Satun Ferry to Langkawi is a full-size ferry and not a ‘speed boat’. It also has plenty of seats. In my case, I was able to just show a photo of my booking confirmation at the Tammalang Pier (and my passport) and was given a paper ticket.
2. Getting to Satun
Since I was coming from Hat Yai (two-hours away), I needed to be at the Tammalang Pier by 10:30am (at least 1 hour before departure). This allows time for proper check in (or to purchase a ticket). A taxi is way more expensive than a minivan (from bus station #1 or the clock tower), but from my personal experience of traveling this route for 10 years, minivans can be quick and efficient OR they can make many stops along the way and absolutely kill your scheduled plans. My advice, take a taxi. That goes for coming from Pak Bara Pier as well. You are looking at about 1500baht (RM190/ 43usd); a small price to pay for peace of mind.
*If you need a taxi to get to or from Satun, I can personally recommend my friend An who is available for transportation or private tour guide hire. We first met in 2015. He speaks English, Bahasa Melayu and Thai, and is an excellent resource. If he is unavailable, he can assist with arraigning another driver for you. His WhatsApp number is: +66 82 176 6382
If you decide to take a minivan:
Do note, that you don’t just want to get to Satun, you want to get to Tammalang Pier (which is outside of ‘Satun City’ drop off points. This is where confusion can come in and precious time can be eaten up. If you get dropped off in Satun, you could be being dropped off at several different locations within Satun City. From that drop off you will then need to get a ride to the Tammalang Pier; with popular transportation modes being motorbike or community Songthaew (trucks).
I’m personally not a big fan of motorbike travel with a suitcase (or in possible rain). If you are a thrill seeker, then go for it. If you also enjoy the anxiety that comes with community transportation and wondering if you’ll make it to your destination in time, then you will love both of these options. Good times!
If you are already in Satun:
If you are already in Satun the morning of your planned ferry departure, then you’ll have no issues. Just ask your hotel/ guest house to help you arrange transportation to the Tammalang Pier, they will happily assist. For more info about Satun: Satun, Thailand: More Than Just a Border Town
3. Satun Ferry to Langkawi (the final leg)
I showed my passport and a photo of my booking confirmation at the Tammalang Pier and was given a paper ticket and then instructed to wait. I had arrived around 10:00am, so I had 90 minutes to kill.
Tammalang Pier is an open-air jetty space with seats inside and outside. A couple of snack vendors are usually parked outside, but there is also an onsite restaurant and sundry shop inside along with an assortment of tour operators. There is no ATM machine at the Tammalang Pier, but there is a money exchange counter. Toilets are also available.
About 30-minutes or so before departure, immigrations begin checking ferry passengers out of Thailand, after which passengers can then proceed to board the ferry. Once you are checked out of Thailand there is no going back into the ferry building or out on the street; just straight to the docks and the ferry boat.
The ferry staff I encountered were super friendly, and although tickets had numbered seats, we were instructed to sit anywhere we wanted to. I picked a cozy little corner with a window to eliminate any potential seat kickers sitting behind me, and to have an unobstructed sea view. Unfortunately, the window was a bit dirty and scratched up, but at least I had achieved my goal and was on my way home. We departed on the dot at 11:30am (Thai time).
The Satun ferry to Langkawi is an older ferry boat, but the temperature was comfortable, they have movies, and of course toilets. If you’re going to need snacks or water, be sure to bring them with you because I didn’t see any snack vendors onboard.
On arrival to Langkawi 75-minutes later (1:45pm Malaysia time), passengers are ushered straight to the immigration counter for check in to Malaysia. Post check in, new arrivals may also be required to screen their luggage (I was). After that, the journey is complete.
For newbies, I highly recommend ignoring the taxi touts and head straight to the front entrance of the Kuah Jetty building and hire your licensed taxi there. You can also call a GRAB taxi (downloadable app from Google Play). There is an ATM machine near the front entrance as well. *For the record, the regular taxi rates and the GRAB taxi rates (from the ferry building) are very similar, so it’s often just not worth the hassle of using GRAB.
Satun Ferry to Langkawi Recap
1. Be at Tammalang Pier at least 1 hour in advance (10:30am at least).
2. Purchase ferry ticket or show purchased ticket proof and passport at the ticket counter.
3. Check out of Thailand via Tammalang Pier immigration counter.
4. Depart Tammalang Pier (11:30am Thai time).
5. Arrive in Langkawi ‘approximately’ 75-minutes later (1:45pm Malaysia time).
6. Check into Malaysia at the Kuah Jetty immigration.
7. Bypass taxi touts at the arrival gate and find licensed taxis at the entrance of the Kuah Jetty.
8. If you need an ATM machine, there is one located near the front entry of Kuah Jetty. Use it.
My two cents:
*ALWAYS keep in mind the time change.
*The more transportation steps you add, the higher the risk of ‘something’ happening that can throw your time schedule off. You may save a few Ringgits here and there, but having to spend an extra night somewhere because you missed the ferry (bus, train, flight, etc.…), is something to consider in the grand scheme of things.
*I also recommend dressing modestly as a show of respect to immigration officials as well as other passengers. It also downplays your ‘hey look at me I’m a tourist!’ appearance. Looking like a tourist is not always in your best interest.
*Don’t play with immigration officers; they are completely in charge of who gets in and who does not.
*Have proper currency before you get into a Langkawi taxi; detours to ATM machines can be inconvenient for taxis at certain times of the day.
Amy says
Vanessa, I’m trying to do this exact trip and this was super helpful! Thank you :)
Vanessa Workman says
You’re welcome! I thought it might come in handy for someone, especially with post pandemic transportation schedules still being ironed out. Satun was supposed to go back to 3 ferries a day in 2023, but still waiting on that. :D
John says
Hey, Vanessa. I’m making this trip in about 2 weeks. I’ve tried calling the ferry office in Satun but it’s a bogus number on their website. Do we know if there is more than 1 ferry yet? Otherwise I need to head down the day before. Great info. Thank you.
Vanessa Workman says
Hey John, it is still one ferry a day as far as I know within the last 2 weeks. You can whatsapp message An (mentioned in blog post) and he can double check in real time. But you do need to be at that ferry minimal 1 hour before departure (Thai time). If you haven’t spent any previous time in Satun, it’s much more interesting than it may seem and worth coming early for anyway. *Alternatively, of course is crossing the land border into Perlis or Kedah, Malaysia. There are also ferries from Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah, Alor Setar that go to Langkawi. There is also a car ferry in Kuala Perlis that will also allow pedestrian passengers if the regular ferries are sold out. Satun is the easiest route though in my opinion. *Do note also that Ramadan begins March 22/23 and that can also affect the ferry schedules in Malaysia. Hope this helps.. :)
John says
You are the bee’s knees. Not much info about this.
Vanessa Workman says
Thanks John, when these little travel bumps happen to me I figure someone else is going to have them as well, so I might as well share my experience. :D
Hauk Breedveld says
Interesting info. I was trying to find-out about the number of ferries going from Tammalang to Langkawi and finally got this info by calling the Langkawi ticket office. BUT, we will be in Koh Lipe in July and the speedboat from Koh Lipe to Pak Bara will at the earliest arrive at 11AM (Thai time), so this will be too late to catch the 11:30hrs ferry from Tammalang to Langkawi. I guess only other option is to travel from Pak Bara to Kuala Perlis and catch the ferry there. Is it easy to travel to Kuala Perlis as I do not see any roads along the sea? Any travel suggestions?
Vanessa Workman says
Hey Hauk, no seaside road from Thailand to Malaysia… the least confusing is to get a mini van to Padang Besar and to Kuala Perlis from there. Or just plan on spending a night in Satun. If you do spend the night in Satun try to pick a hotel before you get there and ask the driver if he can drop you off at the hotel. Otherwise you might get dropped at the bus station. Alternatively you can call my friend An (number in blog post)… just text him is fine. He is a taxi driver and can probably get you to Perlis quicker than a mini van. Won’t be as cheap as a mini van but he speaks English, Malay and Thai so you won’t have any communication problems.
Hauk says
Thx for your feedback, much appreciated
Vanessa Workman says
You’re welcome! Safe travels. :)
Martin says
Thank you so much for your useful information, I found it very helpful. We did this trip from Hat Yai to Kuah two days ago. I even called the driver (aan) and booked him. I haggled him to the fare ypou paid without too much diffficulty. His car has seen better days but he is a charming and helpful man. At Tammalang he put our big bags near rhe shop and encouraged us to relax in the coffee shop. We glanced at the queue periodically and it was not until 1115 that we got up and joined it, by which time most pax had gone through. As you say, the assigned seat numbers are ignored. The boat was bsy bit still plenty of seats in the rear section. On arrival at Kuah you just have to get off and stay near the boat until your bag appears. Even though many people had gone ahead of us, the lines at immigration were short. I was greeted profusely by many differemnt officials. The regular Thai pax were just processed efficiently and allowed on their way. You need 0.5 MYR for the toilet at the very clean and specious ferry terminal. We got a taxi outside at the official desk but a Grab would have been 30% cheaper.
Vanessa Workman says
Glad to hear everything went well. Kuah taxi fares vs GRAB can vary.. depending on the time of day or which way the wind is blowing. I personally find it good Karma to go with a local taxi who is in que for passengers. The ‘older’ the better, because they are definitely locals and can often give interesting bits of information, etc.. Especially if you don’t already have a Malaysia SIM card to use a GRAB app. :D
Justine says
Thank you so much for you information! We are planning to take the ferry from Tammalang pier to Langkawi tomorrow but have not yet bought tickets. Do you still think it is necessary to book them online or do you recommend buying them tomorrow at the pier?
Vanessa Workman says
Hey Justine if you are in Satun NOW, just go early enough to get ticket and do the immigration thang. Ask your guest house/hotel to confirm the departure time so you don’t miss it… or the time is changed last minute. If guest house /hotel scratches head then ask them to call An (number in blog post). I do not recommend buying tickets online in advance (cuz no need). They will have plenty of space and some of the online booking for tickets are a bit sketchy (in my opinion :D )
Gina says
Hi Vanessa,
Amazing post, thank you!
I have a question though, this is my first time travelling outside Europe and I am trying to figure out how to get from Kuah Jetty to Koh Lipe. The trip between Kuah Jetty to Tammalang, Satun seems like it can only take place at 8.30am ? So you recommend I buy tickets from the pier beforehand as I understand there is no online booking?
Also, I noticed that the last boat from Pakbara to Koh lipe is at 13:30, do you think, it is feasible?
Many thanks,
Gina
Vanessa Workman says
Hey Gina, the Kuah Ferry time ‘could’ change by an hour or so and the time is usually 9:30am (Malaysia time)… Malaysia is 1 hour ahead of Thailand. You leave Kuah at 9:30am and arrive in Thailand at 9:30am. I ‘think’ you can buy a Pak Bara – Koh Lipe ticket at the Tammalang Pier.. but at the very least you can confirm Pak Bara departuure times. From personal experience I nearly tore my hair out last time I tried to take a mini van from Tammalang to Pak Bara AND make the ferry, cuz the mini van stopped at a few places, drove super slow and dropped me just outside of Pak Bara so I was forced to take a motorbike taxi the rest of the journey (I missed the boat and was then forced to spend the night in Paka Bara) **I think the boat from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe is 1230 (Thai time). (between Malaysia and Thai websites the times can get very confusing unless they are specifying Thai or Malaysia times. I would highly recommend just jumping in a taxi at Tammalang Pier and head straight to Pak Bara pier just for piece of mind. My friend An (number listed in blog post) can get you there in time. It will cost more than a mini van, but it’s worth it. *Alternately you could just spend the night in Satun and get an early mini van start the next day. Tammalang -Langkawi tickets are no problem as there is plenty of room no need to buy in advance. Pak Bara to Koh Lipe could be problematic if you are traveling on a weekend or school holiday. If traveling now, this is ‘rainy season’ so you should be ok. I do highly recommend waterproofing everything for journey from Paka Bara to Koh Lipe, because there is a very good chance you will get wet during the ride. Get a rain poncho too. I got drenched before going in July and spent my holiday wearing a housekeeping uniform while my clothes tried to dry. :P True story :D
Gina says
Hi Vanessa!
You’re a star! Thank you so much for your help! Yes, indeed not a great season to be going there but getting waterproof covers for everything!
One more question, we are due to leave Koh Lipe on the 17th and fly out from Kuala Lumpur at 19:00 on the 18th.
I understand that from Koh Lipe we have an option of going towards Langkawi on the 17th and flying from Langkawi on midday of the 18th OR go from Koh Lipe to Pak Bara on the 17th and onwards to Hat Yai, stay overnight in Hat Yai and fly from there on the 18th. What is your experience of the two airports? Would you recommend the one route over the other?
Honestly cant thank you enough :D
Vanessa Workman says
Hmmm… the easiest would be a mini van (or private taxi) from Pak Bara straight to Hat Yai airport and fly direct to KL (IF flights meet your time line & budget). (you cannot get a ferry from Koh Lipe direct to Langkawi this time of the year, it’s seasonal Oct thru May only)
Another adventurous option would be to get to Arau, Perlis train station and catch the southbound train which lands in KL Sentral. Taxi (my friend An) can help with that. OR head to Padang Besar, Malaysia train station (via taxi or mini van). *Platinum train*. The train from Padang Besar to KL Sentral takes about 5.5 hours and it’s very picturesque. Racing to catch the one ferry back to Langkawi and then hotel and taxis, etc… and possibility of flight delays… too exhausting & risky (in my opinion). *https://www.theislanddrum.com/hat-yai-to-padang-besar-by-train/
https://www.ktmb.com.my/traintime.html
Lots of hotels and food in KL Sentral and the train can get you back to the airport the next day for about RM55
**Do book your Malaysia KL bound train online in advance** and don’t forget the time differences
Keep me posted on what you decide and how it goes. :)
Jacques Breton says
As of January 2024, can anyone confirm if there is more than one ferry per day from Tammalang Pier to Langkawi? I am planning to do this trip around the end of this month. Thanks
Vanessa Workman says
From Satun side the easiest would be to Whatsapp An (his number is listed in the post). He is there every day and can give you an update on any recent changes or last minute changes due to tides. As far as I know… so far … on Langkawi side… it appears that yes it is still one ferry a day. https://andamanferry.com.my/
Jacques Breton says
Ok, thank you.
Vanessa Workman says
You’re very welcome. :)
Jacques Breton says
Update: An says there’s currently only one daily ferry departure (11:30 Thai time) from Tammalang Pier to Langkawi. 🙏
Vanessa Workman says
Thanks, so now we know nothing has changed. Always good to double check in case tides or special holiday traffic alter the schedule. An is an awesome resource too, btw, so be sure to keep his contact number. :)
Jacques Breton says
Yes, I’ve saved his number. As of the first of the year, Malaysia is now requiring digital arrival cards for entry. 🙏
Vanessa Workman says
Yes, that is also true. But one can do the digital visa on the day of arrival or 3 days in advance. It is immediately recorded.
Michael Munck Pedersen says
Thank you for valuable information,…I’m in need for a boarder bounce,…from Tam Malang pier to Langkawi,..arrive in my own vehicle,…is it possible to get a return the same day from Langkawi,…so it’s an in and out trip, boarder bounce. The date is 11/2-2024
Regards Mick
Vanessa Workman says
Yes and no. Satun Ferry is just once a day. Your bounce back ferry would be Langkawi to Kuala Perlis and either hire a taxi to drive you from there back to Satun… or catch a taxi (or GRAB) to Padang Besar, Malaysia and then to immigration in Padang Besar, Thailand ‘border control’. There is a mini van lady across the street from the Padang Besar, Thailand immigration/ border control. Might actually be easier just to spend 1 night in (Kuah) Langkawi and leave the next day at 9:30am (Malaysia time).
James says
Thank you so much for your post, it was a solid lifeboat in the sea of uncertainty about using Tamalang Pier to Langkawi mid February 2024.
I am now making the reverse journey and just thought I’d post my appreciate and an update from the Malaysian side – the boat now leaves at 10:30 Malaysian time from Langkawi, and costs RM55 per person.
Vanessa Workman says
Hey James, thanks for that. Yes I just visited Satun last month also. My departure time was 9:30am on Feb 26, but I did notice that a couple of times during Chinese New Year they had scheduled additional ferry times.. maybe it’s just safe to say ‘maybe 9:30 or maybe 10:30’… during Ramadan all the ferries also have different schedules; usually less scheduled for mainland. I overlooked the new price though, thanks. :)
Jonathan Fasman says
Thanks, just pulled into Hat Yai last night and on my way to Langkawi so great to find your website. I’m driving (Chiang Mai – Singapore – Chiang Mai) so plan to park my car in Satun and ride my bicycle to ferry/on island. Any suggestions of safe resort to park for a few days and also did you see any bicycles on the ferry? I expect neither should be a problem bur any tips appreciated. Cheers!
Vanessa Workman says
Hey Jonathan, the Satun Boutique Resort folks are especially nice and their place is off the main highway a bit near the museum area. They have plenty of room for sure. They might charge you a few bucks, but it would be worth it. (*Ps, just an FYI, there is another resort with a nearly identical logo and has no affiliation). Be sure to double check the ferry time too, because it is presently Ramadan and that sometimes affects transportation times. https://www.theislanddrum.com/unique-things-to-do-in-satun-thailand/
Jazz says
Do u know anyone do a tour with minivan?planning to go there with family next month from langkawi to satun..then go to hatyai for 3 days
Vanessa Workman says
Hey Jazz, not really. You can call An, his number is on this post. He maybe can refer you to someone. Otherwise, try Thanaphat Tour +66 83 156 5489 (ask for Grand). It would be a good idea to know ahead of time some of the things you might want to see, so basically YOU creating an itinerary. Lots to see and do in Satun as well as Hat Yai.