Port Klang Voyage Tips and guide

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Port Klang (Malay: Pelabuhan Kelang or Pelabuhan Klang) is the principal port in Selangor, a state of Malaysia. It also serves as the port for the Klang Valley, Malaysia's most developed region where the capital Kuala Lumpur is located.

The only reason a traveller will come to Port Klang is to take the ferry to Dumai or Tanjung Balai Asahan, both in Sumatra, Indonesia was history. Like most port cities, Port Klang has a seedy feel to it and much of its built environment consists of warehouses, offices, and port infrastructure.

Port Klang actually consists of three distinct ports. The port nearest to Port Klang town is known as the South Port. There is also a North Port and the newly developed Westport located on an island just off the coast of Port Klang.

Port Klang lies at the western end of the Federal Highway, the main expressway linking the major centres of the Klang Valley like Klang, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.

An elevated expressway linking the South Port (and hence Port Klang town) and North Port connects to the Shah Alam Expressway which then leads to the North South Expressway.

Port Klang is about 40km from Kuala Lumpur and 8km from Klang.

The Port Klang bus and taxi terminal is inconveniently located about 1km inland from the port area. One can walk the distance but the heat, noise and pollution may make it an unpleasant experience.

• Transnasional and Cityliner buses, which belong to the same company, are the main buses serving Port Klang. No. 710 links Port Klang with Klang and Kuala Lumpur (Pasarama Kota or Klang Bus Stand) every half hour while No. 126 shuttles between Port Klang and Klang.
• Other operators, such as Wawasan Sutera and Metrobus, also operate buses between Kuala Lumpur and Klang.

The railway station is located just outside the port area across the road from the ferry terminal. KTM Komuter, Klang Valley's commuter train network, links the station with Klang (20 minutes) and Kuala Lumpur (one hour 10 minutes) with trains once every 15 to 20 minutes.

The ferry terminal - with the grand official name Passenger Cruise Terminal - is located in the port area where the Federal Highway (which is a two-lane city road at this point) meets the sea.

There are no domestic ferry services (except for boats to nearby Pulau Ketam). Ferries leave for Dumai in Riau province and Tanjung Balai Asahan in North Sumatra province, both on Sumatra, Indonesia.

• To/from Dumai: There are several operators and agents selling tickets at the terminal
  • Indomal Express/Malaysia Express by Doyan Shipping (Tel: +60 3-3167 1058). Departure times written on signboard at ticket counter, usually about 9am. RM100 one-way. Journey takes just under 3 hours.
  • MV Pelita Jaya Express/Sabang Marindo II by NKH Ferry Services (Tel: +60 3-3166 0122). Daily departures at 10.30am. RM80/150 one-way/return.
• To/from Tanjung Balai Asahan:
  • Aero Speed (Tel: +60 3-3165 2545/3073). Daily departures except Sundays at 11am.
  • MV Aman Satu by Sweeting Trading Sdn Bhd (Tel: +60 3-3165 7501). Daily departures at 11am. RM100/190 one-way/return.
  • MV Boeing Sky King/Boeing Sky King II by Lautan Mewah Entreprise (Tel: +60 3-3166 0390). Daily departures at 11am. RM100/190 one-wat/return.

While Dumai allows for visa on arrival, Tanjung Balai Asahan does NOT issue visas on arrival and travellers need a visa in advance.

Malaysian citizens do not need a visa for a stay of up to 30 days in Indonesia and can enter at either port.

• Costa Cruises use the Star Cruise Terminal at Westport. Taxis are available outside the terminal rates are quoted in Ringetts for single and return journeys. Example prices: Terminal to Port Klang City RM60 returm. Terminal to KL including sightseeing RM240. Terminal to KL RM180. SCT to KL airport RM90 (as of 2009). A taxi is required to reach the Port Klang train station as well.

Walk to get from the ferry terminal to the railway station and bus and taxi terminal. Port Klang town just beyond the bus and taxi terminal and can also be reached on foot.

Chitirai Poornima Hindu Festival - in early May the area around the train station becomes a spectacle of Hindu devotion as pilgrims make their way under various painful burdens and chemical influences to the nearby Hindu temple.

Unless you are here on shipping business, there is not a lot to do in Port Klang except to catch the ferry or to move on to Kuala Lumpur or other destinations.

Like in many other port cities, Hokkien is widely spoken here.

Most locals head out to the Bagan Hailam area for good and relatively cheap (for the Klang Valley) seafood. Restaurants line the road and most are built on stilts over water. Other areas famous for seafood include Pandamaran and Teluk Gong, both south of Port Klang.

The town of Klang, 8 km away, is famous for the pork rib soup bak kut teh and worth a visit if in the vicinity.

• Crystal Crown Harbor View, ☏ +60 3-3165 4422. 217 Persiaran Raja Muda Musa. Popular business-class hotel (same management as the one in Petaling Jaya). 

Pulau Ketam (Crab Island) is a mangrove covered island off the coast of Port Klang. The entire village is built on stilts and makes for an interesting day trip. About 15 ferries per day (RM7 one way, 45 min, the last boat from the island leaves at 5.30PM on weekdays and at 6PM on weekends and holidays) run from the Pulau Ketam jetty beside (and not inside) the Passenger Cruise Terminal. The island is popular at weekends as people from as far as Kuala Lumpur make the trip for good seafood.