Travel from Koh Lanta to Penang

The easiest way to travel by public transport from Koh Lanta to Penang is to take a joint minivan and ferry service. The first part of the journey is by car ferry and minivan to Hat Yai, and from there passenger transfer to another minivan for the journey to George Town on Penang Island.

Bus Times from Koh Lanta to Penang

There is currently 1 service a day from Koh Lanta to Penang available to book online.

Buy Tickets from Koh Lanta to Penang

Use the Search Box below to buy your tickets from Koh Lanta to Penang.

Koh Lanta Bus Stop

• The Lanta Transport service from Koh Lanta to Penang departs from the roadside close to the Lanta Transport Office.

Penang Bus Stop

• The Lanta Transport service from Koh Lanta to Penang terminates at the bus station under the Komtar Tower in George Town, Penang.

About Travel to Penang

The direct service from Koh Lanta to Penang terminates in George Town on Penang Island. George Town is a major tourist destination, the older part of which has been designated as a UNESCO World Hertiage Site.

History of George Town

George Town became a traditing outpost of the British Empire in the late 18th Century, and the British influence on the city is still very evident in the architecture. In an age when goods where transported largely by ship, Penang Island had a very important strategic position on the edge of the narrow strait of sea between the Malay peninsula and Sumatra which nearly all ships travelling between China and Europe needed to pass through. This gave the British a degree of control over trade between the Far East and Europe, and a very good location for the buying and selling of goods.

The British, however, largely decided not to remain in George Town after Malaysia achieved independence from the British Empire in 1957. The decendants of the Chinese and Indian settlers who come to work in prosperous George Town in large numbers during the 19th Century, however, largely did. Descendants of the early Indian settlers still live in George Town, and the city has a designated Indian Quarter commonly referred to as ‘Little India’, although, Chinese immigrants came in far greater numbers and had more the prominent influence on the city.

Modern Day George Town

George Town combines a number of different elements which combine to make it one of the most popular tourist destinations in South East Asia. First and foremost the city has a wide range of well preserved historical sites. The buildings constructed by the British Empire are as well maintained as they are magnificent, particularly St. George’s Church and the civic buildings on the city’s coastal esplanade. The Chinese clan houses in the Old Town are similarly magnificent, as are the nearby Chinese temples, and the wooden jetties on the main seafront road which are still inhabited by close knit Chinese immigrant communities.

George Town also has great facilities for tourists. The better hotels in the Old Town area are very comfortable and relatively inexpensive. The city also has great bars and restaurants. Unlike some more conservative parts of Malaysia, the city has nightlife. More than the nightlife, however, what many visitors is appreciate is the great food. The city has many formal restuarants in all price ranges, and many smaller caterers operating out of food stall in much indoor and outdoor cooked food markets. Hygiene standards in George Town tend to be very good and the city is great place to come and try out a wide variety of dishes.