Gone are the days of exploring uncharted territory in this area of the world. These roads are well-traveled by backpackers from all over the globe. The great thing about this is that once you do a little bit of initial research, the rest can be made up as you go. You are guaranteed to meet numerous travelers headed in the same direction as you, who already know the process. It is totally possible to figure it out as you go.
Perhaps you are like me though, and like to be that person who already knows the process, or at least has an idea of what to expect. If so, then this is for you.
Booking the Transfer
A fellow travel blogger I met at the Batu Caves introduced me to a website to book train, bus, and ferry tickets in Malaysia called easybook.com. I found this incredibly useful, as I like to see all of my options in one place, rather than scouring around different companies on the web, or simply walking into a booking office and having them merely ask what day, and tell me where to be at what time.
Choosing a Departure Location
There are two terminals in Kuala Lumpur with buses going to Butterworth (I’ll explain why Butterworth in the next section): Hentian Duta and TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan). I chose TBS due to its convenient location, a simple train ride away from my Airbnb in Pudu.
TBS also happens to be the name of the train station, and so is easy to find. The train station is connected to the bus terminal via sky bridges. The path is well marked with signs.
Choosing an Arrival Location
Word on the street was that there were two drop-off locations for the buses in Penang. (For the record, Penang is the name of the region, and includes both the island, and a section of the mainland.) One bus stop is on the mainland portion of Penang, in Butterworth. The second bus stop is on the actual island, but a fair distance away from George Town. Given that the bus station in Butterworth is located directly next to the ferry that goes to George Town, my research lead me to conclude that for a final destination of George Town, the Butterworth stop is the better option.
Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (Or the TBS Bus Station)
The TBS bus station is impressive to say the least. The place might as well be an airport in terms of size and organization. The first step is to claim your boarding pass. There are numerous desks set up, some to purchase tickets, and some to redeem boarding passes. I had already purchased the ticket online, and printed the confirmation number ahead of time. I simply presented this at one of the boarding pass desks, and they printed me a boarding pass which had my gate number printed on it.
The departure gates are down escalators, and clumped into groups of three or four gates per escalator. You must scan your boarding pass at the top of the appropriate escalator. This can only be done within the hour before boarding time.
Once down the exactor, find your gate and wait for your name to be announced. At each gate, there are more busses departing besides just the one you see parked outside. That’s right, there are multiple busses parked per gate, which is why names are called as each bus arrives. When your name is called, an attendant will lead you to your bus.
The Bus from TBS to Butterworth
The journey from TBS to Butterworth is 5 hours. This route is run by numerous companies, and has departures every 15 minutes. You are not crossing any borders, so no need to have your passport handy.
Getting from Butterworth Bus Terminal to Butterworth Ferry Pier
The Butterworth bus station is located directly adjacent to the ferry for George Town, and once again, signs clearly point out the entire path. The walk only takes about two minutes.
Taking the Ferry from Butterworth Ferry Pier to George Town
The ferry station only offers tickets to George Town, so stand in line for a ticket, and don’t worry, there is only one option available, so you can’t stand in the wrong line.
Tickets are less than 2 ringgit (US $0.50). The ferry departs every 20-30 minutes, and only takes 15-20 minutes depending on the water conditions. Operating hours are from 5:40am to 12:40am. (After 10:00pm, departures are only hourly.)
You will walk onto what is basically a big, floating barge. Cars are also allowed to drive on, so keep to the central, railed-off area, or the benches on the side. Unlike some fancier passenger ferries, you will keep your luggage with you at all times.
Getting to Your Final Destination
The ferry docks at Weld Quay, and most of George Town is easily walkable from the jetty. I decided to walk the 15 minutes from Weld Quay to my hostel on Love Lane. Keep in mind though, that carrying a backpack in the scorching heat can make even a simple 15 minute walk quite a sweaty ordeal. Hiring a Grab is an inexpensive alternative.
Wondering where to stay in George Town? Check back soon for my review of The 80’s Guesthouse! A wonderful hostel in a historic shophouse that is bursting with character.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you choose to book through easybook.com with a link on this page. They were a huge help to me during my travels through Malaysia, and so I reached out to join their affiliate program, only after personally verifying their services to be exceptional.
