The cheapest way from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands is the express bus from KL Sentral: RM10 one way to the Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Terminal, or RM20 with an Awana SkyWay cable car ride to the summit, according to Resorts World Genting. By car or private transfer it is about an hour up the Karak Expressway. There is no train.
This guide compares the bus, the two cable cars, Grab, self-driving, private transfers and guided day trips. Fares and timetables were checked with the operators on 30 October 2026, along with the new Genting road charge and the cable car maintenance closures that catch day-trippers out.
Quick answer: best way to get to Genting
For a budget day trip, take the express bus from KL Sentral, buy the RM20 bus and cable car ticket, and book your return seat. For families, seniors, groups or overnight stays with luggage, a private transfer to your hotel or to the cable car station is easier. Leave by about 8am to get a full day.
Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands: options compared
| Option | Time | Indicative cost | Where you arrive | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express bus plus Awana SkyWay | About 1 hr by road, then 10 min by cable car | RM20 adult, RM17 child | The summit, at SkyAvenue | Budget day trips |
| Express bus only | About 1 hr | RM10 adult | Premium Outlets Terminal, mid-hill | Outlet shoppers |
| Private transfer | About 1 hr door to door | Quoted per vehicle | Your hotel, the cable car or the summit | Families, groups, seniors, luggage |
| Grab or taxi | About 1 hr | Varies with demand | Where you choose | Short-notice trips for two to four |
| Self-drive | About 45 min to 1 hr | Fuel, tolls, RM5 road charge, parking | Outlets car park or summit | Confident drivers |
| Guided day trip | Full day | Per person, by group size | Hotel pickup and return | First-time visitors |
The key detail most visitors miss: the bus does not reach the summit. It stops at mid-hill, and you finish the climb by cable car.
How far is Genting Highlands from Kuala Lumpur?
Tourism Malaysia puts the drive at about 45 minutes via the Karak Expressway towards Kuantan, leaving at the Genting Sempah exit (Exit 803A). From hotels in the city centre, allow about an hour, and more on Friday evenings, weekends and public holidays.
The climb is real. Sky Sentral, the lower cable car station, sits at 1,105 metres and the summit station at SkyAvenue at 1,725 metres. Expect cooler air, mist and sudden rain, so pack a light layer even on a hot day in Kuala Lumpur.
Express bus from KL Sentral
Resorts World Genting lists express buses from the bus terminal on the Lower Ground floor of KL Sentral to the Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Terminal, the former Awana bus terminal. Departures run from 7:30am to 9:30pm, and the last listed bus back to KL Sentral leaves at 10:30pm.
| Ticket | Adult | Child | Senior or guest with disabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| KL Sentral, bus and cable car | RM20 | RM17 | RM12 |
| KL Sentral, bus only | RM10 | RM7 | RM7 |
| Terminal Bersepadu Gombak, bus only | RM12 | RM9 | RM9 |
| KLIA Terminal 1 or 2, bus only | RM35 | RM25 | RM25 |
Buses also leave from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), Pudu Sentral and Pekeliling, with fewer departures. The full timetable and the online booking link are on the Resorts World Genting express bus page; schedules change without notice.
Book your return seat when you buy the outbound ticket. Afternoon and evening buses back to the city can fill up at weekends and on holidays, and an unplanned wait at mid-hill eats into a day trip.
Awana SkyWay and Genting SkyWay cable cars
Two cable cars climb to the resort. Most visitors use the Awana SkyWay; the older Genting SkyWay is the fallback when Awana closes for maintenance.
01Awana SkyWay
The Awana SkyWay runs 2.8 km from Sky Sentral, beside the Premium Outlets, to Genting Highlands Station at SkyAvenue in about 10 minutes, daily from 7am to 11pm. You can stop at Chin Swee Station for the Chin Swee Caves Temple at no extra cost: keep your ticket or QR code to continue.
| Gondola | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (shared, 8 to 10 people) | RM11 | RM19 |
| Standard with express boarding | RM17 | RM32 |
| Glass floor (6 people) | RM32 | RM54 |
| Glass floor, bought online a day ahead | RM29 | RM48 |
| Senior, standard | RM6 | RM10 |
Children under 90 cm ride free, and under-16s must travel with a ticketed companion. Each passenger may take one cabin-size bag; larger cases carry a surcharge of RM22 one way, or you can leave them at the 24-hour baggage storage on Level 2 of Sky Sentral (RM22, RM44 or RM65 by size). Full details are on the official Resorts World Genting cable car page.
02Genting SkyWay and maintenance closures
The Genting SkyWay runs 3.4 km from Gohtong Sentral to Resorts World Station in about 15 minutes, listed from 9am to 7pm, with standard fares of RM11 one way and RM19 return. When the Awana SkyWay closes for scheduled maintenance, standard Awana prices apply on the Genting SkyWay, and Resorts World Genting has previously run a free shuttle bus between the two lower stations.
Important: Check Resorts World Genting's daily notices the day before you travel. Maintenance closures change the route, and the Genting SkyWay's shorter hours mean an earlier last ride down.
Private transfer, Grab or taxi
A private transfer is the simplest way to go from a Kuala Lumpur hotel, or straight from the airport, to Genting Highlands. The driver can drop you at Sky Sentral for the cable car, or take you and your bags up the road to your summit hotel. Embassy Alliance quotes the Kuala Lumpur to Genting route on request through our private transfer service in Kuala Lumpur, with vehicles from sedans and seven-seat vans to 45-seat coaches.
Grab and taxis work well for the trip up. The return is less certain: at busy times you may wait for a car at the top, so pre-book if you have dinner plans or a flight. Whichever you choose, confirm the drop-off point, the pickup time for the way back and whether the quote includes the road charge.
Driving yourself
Take the Karak Expressway east and exit at Genting Sempah, then follow the signs up the mountain road. Since 28 May 2026, vehicles entering Jalan Genting Highlands pay a road charge at the Genting Sempah and Gohtong Jaya entry points: RM5 for cars, vans and buses and RM3.30 for taxis, per entry, as reported by Free Malaysia Today on the Genting road charge. During the trial, drivers tapped a Touch 'n Go, debit or credit card at the gantry; carry one.
You can park at the Premium Outlets and ride the Awana SkyWay up, or drive to the summit car parks. The road is steep and winding, and mist can cut visibility quickly, so allow extra time after dark or in rain.
Guided Genting day trip from Kuala Lumpur
If you would rather not juggle buses, cable car tickets and return times, our Genting Entertainment City excursion covers the whole day. Embassy Alliance lists an English-speaking guide, transport, mineral water and entrance tickets along the route, with stops including the outlet stores, the cable car, a cave temple and the Lim Goh Tong Memorial.
Prices are per person and fall as the group grows. Embassy Alliance states that the first child aged 2 to 12 travels free with parents and that a 20% peak surcharge applies from 25 December to 10 January. Genting also pairs well with a Batu Caves tour, north of the city, so ask us to combine them, or browse all our day trips from Kuala Lumpur to build the right mix.
Day trip or overnight stay?
| A day trip works when | Stay overnight when |
|---|---|
| You want the cable car, the views and one main activity | A full theme park day is the main goal |
| You are travelling light and sleeping in Kuala Lumpur | You have luggage or are moving on elsewhere |
| You can leave the city by about 8am | You want evening shows, dining or the casino |
| Your group is happy with a long day | You are travelling with young children or older relatives |
An overnight stay also takes the pressure off if the weather turns, the cable car pauses or traffic builds on the way back.
A realistic Genting day trip plan
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 7:30am to 8:00am | Leave Kuala Lumpur by car, or take an early bus from KL Sentral |
| 9:00am | Arrive at Sky Sentral and ride the Awana SkyWay |
| 9:15am | Optional stop at Chin Swee Caves Temple on the same ticket |
| 10:30am to 4:30pm | One main activity at the summit, with lunch at SkyAvenue |
| 4:30pm to 5:30pm | Cable car down; optional time at the Premium Outlets |
| 6:30pm to 8:00pm | Return to Kuala Lumpur |
Pick one main activity rather than trying to fit in a theme park, the temple, the outlets and a show.
What to do once you arrive
- Genting SkyWorlds: the outdoor theme park opens 10am to 6pm and closes on Tuesdays, except on public and school holidays. Check the Genting SkyWorlds park hours before you travel.
- Skytropolis and SkyAvenue: the indoor theme park and the summit shopping and dining complex are the wet-weather options.
- Chin Swee Caves Temple: a hillside temple with a nine-storey pagoda, on the Awana SkyWay route.
- Genting Highlands Premium Outlets: more than 150 outlet stores, open 10am to 10pm daily according to Tourism Malaysia.
You can buy Genting SkyWorlds theme park tickets in advance, or read more things to do in Genting Highlands before you choose. For ideas further afield, see our best things to do in Malaysia.
Families, seniors and groups
Families
A private car avoids queues with tired children and lets you leave when they are done. Standard gondolas take strollers, and under-90 cm riders are free. Check ride height limits before buying theme park tickets.
Seniors and limited mobility
The bus and cable car route involves terminals, queues and walking. A car straight to the summit is easier; if the cable car matters, have the driver meet you at Sky Sentral afterwards. Standard gondolas are wheelchair accessible.
Corporate and incentive groups
Groups need one coach, a fixed return time and pre-booked entry. Our MICE team in Kuala Lumpur arranges coaches, tickets, guides and group meals for incentive days in the highlands.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming the bus reaches the summit. It stops at mid-hill; buy the cable car ticket with it.
- Booking only one way. Return buses and cars can be scarce at weekends.
- Ignoring maintenance notices. Closures move you to the other cable car with shorter hours.
- Going on a Tuesday for SkyWorlds. The outdoor park is closed most Tuesdays.
- Bringing big suitcases on a day trip. Leave them at your Kuala Lumpur hotel.
- Starting late. Arriving at midday leaves little time once queues and meals are counted.
Related Malaysia Travel Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There is no railway to Genting Highlands. You travel by road, on the express bus, by car or with a private transfer, to the mid-hill area, then finish by the Awana SkyWay cable car or continue by road to the summit. The bus and cable car combination from KL Sentral costs RM20 for adults.
Yes. Resorts World Genting lists buses from KLIA Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to the Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Terminal for RM35 per adult, but only a few departures run each day, mostly from midday onwards. A private transfer from the airport is more flexible and takes you directly to your hotel at the summit.
The Resorts World Genting timetable checked in October 2026 lists the last bus from the Premium Outlets Terminal to KL Sentral at 10:30pm. Evening seats can sell out at weekends and on public holidays, so buy your return ticket when you book the outbound journey, and check the timetable again shortly before you travel.
Since 28 May 2026, cars and vans pay a RM5 road charge each time they enter Jalan Genting Highlands, collected at Genting Sempah or Gohtong Jaya. Add Karak Expressway tolls, fuel and parking at the summit or the Premium Outlets. Parking at the outlets and riding the cable car up is a popular way to skip the final climb.
Children under 90 cm ride the Awana SkyWay free. Resorts World Genting does not list a separate child fare above that height, so older children pay the standard RM11 one way or RM19 return. Anyone aged 16 or under must ride with a supervising companion who holds a valid ticket.
No. Genting SkyWorlds opens from 10am to 6pm but closes on Tuesdays, except on Malaysian national public holidays and school holidays. Outdoor rides can also pause in bad weather. If your only free day is a Tuesday, plan around Skytropolis, the indoor theme park (check its operating calendar), or the cable car and Chin Swee instead.
Plan your trip from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands
Getting from Kuala Lumpur to Genting Highlands is easy on a budget: the express bus and cable car ticket costs RM20. For a smoother day with children, luggage or a group, a private transfer or guided excursion removes the queues and the return-trip worry.
Staying in the city before or after? Browse our Kuala Lumpur hotels, then tell us your dates and we will plan the transport.
