Kuala Besut is a small town in Terengganu, on the east coast of Malaysia. It's mainly known for being the gateway to the Perhentian Islands, though it's actually fairly cute town in itself, with many murals, colorful hotels, and old-looking wooden buildings.
Kelantanese is the local dialect of the Besut District, but like everywhere else in Malaysia, you will be understood if you speak standard Malay.
Perhentian Islands. Kuala Besut is the place to go to get the boat to the Perhentians. RM70 return everywhere. (Update August 2016: Price for a return ticket could be bargained down to RM50 to RM55). Also RM30 Park Conservation Fee to be paid. Lots of boats with life jackets, and no overloading, as the KB Harbour Police do daily checkups.
The downtown of Kuala Besut is work taking at least a quick look at, with colorful murals and old-looking wooden buildings. There's also an interesting Islamic cemetery that you'll see if you walk from the bus station to the jetty.
- Pantai Timor. 10AM-10PM, Fri 9AM-12:30PM 2:30PM-10PM. A well sorted 2-floor supermarket near the Kuala Besut bus station and the market square. But they're not selling any alcoholic drinks.
Pantai Timor. 10AM-10PM, Fri 9AM-12:30PM 2:30PM-10PM. A well sorted 2-floor supermarket near the Kuala Besut bus station and the market square. But they're not selling any alcoholic drinks.
There are many good eating places, including at least one Chinese-run restaurant that stays open for lunch even during Ramadan.
On Tuesdays there are some stalls offerings cheap but delicious street food on the market square near the Kuala Besut bus station.
The bus terminal is less than 10 minutes' walk from the jetty and offers transport to many locations. Bus tickets can be purchased at the respective bus company ticket counters. There's a cheap supermarket around the corner as well as 2 tiny public(?) bathrooms /shower rooms (RM0.5 for toilet use, RM1 for shower use).
Taxis run everywhere, private mini vans run to Cameron Highlands and Taman Negara, and big buses to KL and Kota Bharu and other places but not Kuala Terengganu
There are express buses at 09:00 in the morning and 20:00-21:00 at night depending on destination and route.
Shared taxi depart at 9am, 1pm and 5pm. Travel time around 1h. Cityliner bus #639 to the city centre of Kota Bharu leaves at 07:30, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:30 and 18:30 (RM 6 per person). The bus is old, dirty, has no AC and gets really dusty because the driver has to leave the doors open for fresh air. Travel time is 1h45 give or take 15 minutes. The bus rarely enters the station and picks up people from the road across.
Shared taxi is available 3 times a day, 09:00, 13:00 and 17:00.
From Kuala Besut the timetable is erratic, though approximately 07:00, 08:30, 10.30, 13:00, 14:30 and 16:30. The bus stop in Kuala Besut is located in the village near the market square around 1 km from the jetty. The yellow bus (SP Bumi) can actually be picked up along the main road from the jetty. Turn left at the end of the jetty and walk to the end of the main road; the bus will stop on the corner just before the bridge. Service is limited on Friday with usually one in the morning and one at lunch time. The cost is RM10.80 and it takes 2h20 from/to Kuala Terengganu.
KB is a hard place to get out of if you are going to Kuala Terengganu. The major buses don’t leave from KB to KT. They leave from Jerteh another town. Only an irregular local bus does this journey.
Only the Bumi (pronounced Boo-me) yellow and green bus does this trip - 2 hours and RM10.5. It can be caught from the corner near the river bridge a few hundred metres from the pier. Ask the locals. Times for departure are a bit uncertain, and there are several scheduled departures during the day, including one around 10:30.
The new Kuala Besut bus station has buses to Butterworth and Georgetown in the morning (8 AM ?) and evening (8 PM). It's easier and cheaper to take the bus to Butterworth and then the ferry to Georgetown since the bus station on Penang (Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal) is a few km south of Georgetown (and you would have to take another local bus to get to there). RM50 for Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal, little less for Butterworth).