The Ultimate KTM ETS Travel Guide (2025)

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To Klang Valley folk, any mention of our national rail operator KTM or Keretapi Tanah Melayu will most definitely elicit a groan or two.

Its KTM Komuter lines have made it the butt of jokes due to agonizing frequencies and frequent delays –made worse by ongoing upgrades.

But even the most venomous KTM critic can’t fault its one shining light – the Electric Track Service or ETS.

This popular intercity service stretches all the way from the Thai border at Padang Besar right down to Johor at Gemas.

As of 9 June 2025, more than 1.7 million passengers have taken a ride on the ETS in 2025 alone.

And with further extensions to Johor Bharu planned for August 2025, now’s the best time to explore West Malaysia’s hidden nooks and crannies before the Singaporean tourists come along!

But why choose the ETS?

Why You Should Travel by ETS

Unlike the much-maligned Komuter rail service, KTM’s ETS trains are remarkably on time. And with its fleet of 16 trains, there’s a good chance you’ll find a convenient time for your ETS trip.

Although it won’t beat the speed and luxury of a flight (debatable these days), it will definitely beat the circus of check-ins and baggage claims!

And by going car-free, you don’t have to worry about parking or the inevitable public holiday traffic jams!

But, most of all, it’s dirt-cheap! Outside of sketchy express buses, the ETS is one of the cheapest ways to traverse the West Coast.

As of June 2025, tickets from KL Sentral to Padang Besar at the Thai border cost just RM83 for the slower Gold service and RM128 for the Express service.

In fact, if you can stomach an 8-hour ride, you can even travel all the way from Padang Besar in Perlis to Gemas in Johor for just RM102!

So, without further ado, here are the most interesting stops and attractions along the 755km ETS line:

Table of Contents

• Padang Besar
• Alor Setar
• Gurun
• Sungai Petani
• Butterworth
• Taiping
• Kuala Kangsar
• Ipoh
• Batu Gajah
• Kampar
• Tanjung Malim
• Seremban
• How to Book ETS Tickets

Padang Besar

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM83 – RM129
Duration: ~5 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Starting north in the hinterland state of Perlis, you have Padang Besar or the “Big Field”.

Located just across the border in Thailand, the KTM station also happens to be right next to the border checkpoint.

Its strategic location means there’s plenty of Thai goods to be found next to northern Malaysian fare, particularly at places like Arked Niaga Padang Besar, Padang Waremart and the duty-free ZON mall.

If you’re planning a quick Thailand trip, be sure to fill out their mandatory Digital Arrival Cards before going to the checkpoint!

But quiet your Thailand dreams for a moment and look southwards, where you’ll see the huge swathes of agricultural fields that gave the town its name.

If you want to catch the state’s famous golden rice, try timing your visit around the two harvest seasons of December – March and June – August. Popular locations for rice-spotting include Kampung Utan Aji and Kampung Wai near the state capital Kangar.

Once you’ve had your fill, don’t forget to head west towards the Wang Kelian viewpoint, which affords unparalleled views over the Perlis plains.

But Padang Besar has more than just fields. Just by 10 mins by car from Wang Kelian viewpoint are the Kelam Caves, an extensive network of limestone caves that are easily accessible through a walkable platform.

Alor Setar

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM74 – 114
Duration: 4-5 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

As Kedah’s state capital, Alor Setar has long been known for its colourful history, plentiful heritage and rich Malay culture.

Being the hometown of two of our most prominent Prime Ministers doesn’t hurt either!

Just a 15-minute walk away from the Alor Setar KTM station is the town’s heritage area. From here, you can visit multiple heritage sites including the former homes of Prime Ministers Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Like the cultural powerhouse of Vienna, Alor Setar also boasts many museums exploring Kedahan history such as the Kedah Royal Museum, Kedah State Art Gallery and the out-of-the-way Kedah State Museum. If you can make it out of town, the mushroom-shaped Paddy Museum is also a great choice!

But no Alor Setar tour is complete without a visit to its crown jewel – the Zahir Mosque.

Built in 1912 on the grave of a Kedahan warrior – making it one of the oldest in Malaysia – the mosque features ornately decorated pillars and a stark white façade topped by a majestic black dome.

And of course, make sure to end the day with a visit to the imposing Alor Setar Tower, where you can watch the sunset dip over this storied town.

Gurun

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM66
Duration: 4.5 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Gurun is Malay for “desert”, but far from being a tourism wasteland, the town is a jumping off point to some of Kedah’s most popular natural attractions.

One of said attractions is the mighty Gunung Jerai, Kedah’s highest peak and a prominent feature of its coastline. It also makes up a huge part of the Gunung Jerai Geopark area, a massively significant geological and archaeological site that can give one of Japan’s national parks a run for their money.

Accessible by hiking or driving from the Kaki Gunung Jerai entrance, its main attractions consist of various rivers and waterfalls on the northern face such as the cozy Badak Falls and the spectacularly tall Puteri Mandi Falls.

At Jerai’s peak, particularly around the Gunung Jerai Botanical Park, you can also feast on views of vast rice fields racing along the Straits of Malacca.

But why admire the coast from afar when you can walk on it?

From the Gurun KTMB station, it’s only a 30-minute taxi ride to the coastal town of Yan, which boasts gorgeous beaches at Pantai Murni alongside various chalets, campsites and resorts galore! Make sure to follow some basic sun protection tips while you’re there!

Sungai Petani

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM66 – RM101
Duration: ~4 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Besides being the southern gateway to Gunung Jerai, the sizable town of Sungai Petani also has its own attractions and twists.

Once you’re done taking an afternoon to admire the station-adjacent Sungai Petani Clocktower and the hip market and murals of Siar Seni SP lane, head up north to the Semeling Jetty.

Here, the jetty’s laidback riverside vista blends in seamlessly with the nearby Semeling Bridge.

Accompanying this idyllic scene is the Kuala Muda Archaeotourism Gallery and its old-school brick kiln. Nearby, the Mangrove Forest Reserve Museum and its boardwalk lets you get up close and personal with the area’s important mangrove forests.

Lastly, a 40-minute drive west will take you to Pantai Merdeka, where tourist trap shops and restaurants coexist with an impressively tiny beach and romantic sunset views.

Butterworth

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM66 – RM97
Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Butterworth – the mainland half of Penang – is usually overshadowed by its island half. But there’s quite a few things to see and do around here – with less crowds too!

Thanks to its history of Chinese immigration, there’s quite a few temples to admire in Butterworth such as the Taoist Tow Boo Kong Temple and its impressive eaves and dragon motifs or the Nine Emperor Gods Temple with its twin pagodas. Both are rather far from the Butterworth KTM station, so a bus or taxi may be required.

If you need some fresh air after all that incense, you can admire the street art murals at Butterworth Art Walk that depict Penang history. A nice, slow walk at Pantai Bersih beach is also a good option.

However much you resist it though, few can ignore the siren song of Penang Island for long. Thankfully Butterworth’s ferry terminal is right next to the KTM terminal, giving you a leisurely ride over to Georgetown.

Rustic prewar districts, storied temples and mosques along with mouth-watering cuisine – it’s no wonder Georgetown was jointly recognized with Melaka as one of Malaysia’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

But if you can’t stand sweltering heat of the Georgetown, the nearby Penang Hill provides a cool highland refuge full of forts, villas and hiking trails, similar to how the grand quarries and cliffs of Mount Nokogiri provide a relief from the madness of Tokyo.

In fact, Penang Island has surprising number of natural retreats and camping sites, with one making it into our list of Malaysian Highland Glamping & Camping Spots.

Taiping

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM50 – RM75
Duration: ~3 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Called Rain Town thanks to its copious amount of rainfall, Taiping is one of many boomtowns that mushroomed up in Perak during its tin-mining heyday.

In fact, Malaysia’s very first train station was built in Taiping to ship tin to Kuala Sepetang or Port Weld as it was known.

These days, it’s more known for its sleepy small-town vibe, historical curiosities and natural sights.

For heritage fans, you can find most of Taiping’s relics near the Heritage Square, which comes alive at night with locals and stalls.

Nearby, you have the palatial Perak Museum’s vast collection, the quirky curiosities of the Taiping Municipal Gallery and refreshingly niche Telegraph Museum.

Surprisingly, Taiping also has a connection with one of China’s great revolutionaries – Sun Yat-sen! Next to the Aun Tong Coffee Mill, an old wooden villa marks the home where his comrade and lover Chen Cuifen stayed for decades.

And thanks to all that rain, the town also boasts the famous Taiping Lake Gardens, a series of picturesque lakes ringed by massive, gnarled raintree canopies, watched over by the mighty silhouette of Bukit Larut.

On the west side of the gardens stands the All Saints’ Church, one of Malaysia’s few remaining all-wooden churches. Made out of local meranti hardwood and blessed with a warm and cozy earthen palette, it’s no wonder we named it one of Malaysia’s Ten Most Beautiful Churches.

Kuala Kangsar

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM48 – RM 66
Duration: 3 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Keeping things in Perak, we have the royal town of Kuala Kangsar!

Once the capital of the Perak sultanate, Kuala Kangsar was eventually overshadowed by the tin mining prosperity of Ipoh.

Even so, Kuala Kangsar lacks no charm of its own thanks to its rich royal heritage.

From the Kuala Kangsar KTM Station, it’s a 15-minute walk to the Kuala Kangsar Recreation Park, which grants views of the Sungai Perak riverside and the modest skyline of Kuala Kangsar, which is still mostly dominated by low-lying buildings and greenery.

Follow the river to the east, and you’ll come across the town’s blue-blooded heart with the Istana Kenangan palace, aka the Kuala Kangsar Royal Museum. This mesmerizing golden palace is accented with black panels and roofs – all atop stilts and with no nails used!

Other royal landmarks around town include the Ubudiah Royal Mosque’s ivory-gold palette along with the current palace at Istana Iskandariah, sadly viewable only from the outside.

For the adventurous, a 13-minute drive north to Enggor will reveal the twin bridges of Sultan Iskandar Bridge and Victoria Bridge, both some of the fiercest battlefields in Malaya during World War II – a topic we explore in our list of Malaysian World War II sites and memorials.

Ipoh

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM33 – RM49
Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Ipoh – the state capital of Perak – hardly needs an introduction.

Built on the riches of tin mining, it is now a tourism magnet full of British-era heritage buildings and scenic spots built out of the nearby limestone hills.

Right out of the platform at KTMB Ipoh Station, you’re already right at the city’s historical heart.

After taking the time to admire the majestic ivory façade of the Ipoh Railway Station, make your way east towards a cluster of heritage buildings collectively known as the Ipoh Heritage Trail.

Amidst prewar shoplots, you can find the gleaming Mughal-inspired fronts of various banks, courts and churches built during Ipoh’s heyday, some rivalling the heritage buildings of Vienna.

Some landmarks to watch out for are the Ipoh Town Hall’s huge walls and the wall of arches at the OCBC Bank. Of course, you can’t leave without a visit to the shops, stores and eateries that line the famous Concubine Lane!

Generations of Chinese labourers and merchants who settled down in Ipoh also built many temples into the surrounding porous limestone hills.

Particularly picturesque temples to visit are the cavernous halls and panoramic views of the Perak Cave Temple as well as the expansive lakes, gardens and cave temples at the Sam Poh Tong Temple

Batu Gajah

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM31- RM46
Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

It may not be as famous as the capital Ipoh or rainy Taiping, but Batu Gajah is an underrated hamlet with plenty of attractions at walkable distance from the Batu Gajah KTM Station!

Starting with the closest attraction, you have the Rumah Lat Gallery, an art gallery dedicated to Malaysia’s beloved homegrown cartoonist Lat and his quirky observations on local daily life.

Besides displaying his distinctive comic-book inspired works and his numerous awards, it also has a traditional Malay rumah limas stilt house next door you can enter, giving you a window into Lat’s childhood.

Next, follow the road eastward and you’ll hit upon a landmark that looks like it took a wrong turn at the Scottish highlands of Balmoral.

Rising out of a green hill with a tacky sign announcing its name at the base, Kellie’s Castle is the baffling if somewhat tragic remnant of a colonial dream.

Commissioned by Scottish planter William Kellie-Smith, this ambitious castle was left incomplete after he died following a trip to Lisbon.

All that remains now is a relatively complete main building that provides views from the roof and the ruined husks of annex buildings, both giving rise to persistent rumours of hauntings.

Back to Batu Gajah, go all the way down south of the small town of Chenderong to find an attraction that truly screams Perak.

Floating in its own little rectangular pool, clad in rusting roofs and armed with metal attachments splayed out like some tentacles is the steel beast called Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5.

Built in the UK, it scooped up immeasurable tons of tin ore from the soil and waters of Perak for decades, but due to tin prices crashing in the 80s, it was eventually decommissioned and donated to the Perak state government, becoming the last of its kind in Malaysia.

Today, visitors equipped with hardhats can enter the dredge’s innards and learn more about how Malaysian tin was once mined and processed on an industrial scale.

Kampar

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM28 – RM40
Duration: 2 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Though pigeonholed as a college town dominated by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar has its fair share of small-town Perak charms.

After riding a taxi into town from the awkwardly placed Kampar KTM Station, you’ll come across the town’s Old Town quarter and its historical heart.

Full of old-timey shoplots and single-storey housing, it’s the perfect place to soak in the slow life and get some local Chinese specialties like claypot chicken rice and curry chicken bread.

If you’re up early, you can also enjoy some loushufen noodles or ikan parang fishballs at the Kampar Wet Market.

After stuffing yourself, try checking out some fitting (and not-so-fitting) mural art, particularly at the few blocks around the LFS Cinema.

And of course, Perak being Perak, you can never run out of tin mining attractions, such as the town’s Kinta Tin Mining Museum.

Through exhibits, dioramas and industrial artifacts, learn all about the Kinta Valley’s history of tin mining, from its origins with Chinese labourers to its later mechanization.

Kampar is also home to one of the largest number of tin mining lakes in Malaysia. Besides paying a visit to the shaded lakeside walkways of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, you can also take a scenic drive on the roads crisscrossing these lakes, with one particularly beautiful drive at Jalan Batu Sinar.

For WWII history buffs, Green Ridge has some remnants and signposts explaining its significance in the Battle of Kampar. Our guide to Malaysian WWII sites goes into greater detail about this sadly overlooked location.

Tanjung Malim

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM18 – RM23
Duration: 1.2 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

Just when you think you’re done with Perak, the border town of Tanjung Malim drags you back in with its rustic beauty.

To the southeast of Tanjung Malim KTMB Station, you can find an increasingly rare railway remnant with the Old Tanjung Malim Train Station, which has been converted into a restaurant. Wholly made from wood and a zinc roof, it offers diners trackside views as they sip on their morning teh tarik.

Once you’ve had your fill, try burning some of those calories with a hike at the Bukit Asa trailhead, which takes you on a one to two-hour return hike that ends with a commanding viewpoint over Tanjung Malim and the surrounding hills. If you time your hikes in the morning, you’ll also find a magical mist enveloping the valley!

Back down to earth, you’ll find in town the UPSI National Education Museum, formerly known as the Sultan Idris Teaching College.

Besides exploring its pivotal role in training Malay teachers and fostering Malay nationalism, the museum also explains how the newly independent Malaya’s education system was established.

Seremban

Ticket from KL Sentral (Jul 2025): RM19
Duration: 1.2 hours
KTM Station Location: Google Maps

On the last stop of our cross-country ETS journey (sorry Gemas), we come to Negeri Sembilan and its state capital Seremban.

First, go on a historical and cultural tour through this traditionally matrilineal state at the two main museums.

The Royal Gallery Tuanku Ja’afar is dedicated to the long 41-year reign of Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Ja’afar and features exhibits and paintings about his life and the state.

Meanwhile, the Seremban State Museum offers a more overarching view of Negeri Sembilan history through artifacts housed in a unique wooden building.

Continuing the architecture streak, you also have the Seremban State Mosque. Its wavy roof is clearly inspired by the dramatically flying eaves of the Minangkabau dwellings that are iconic to the state. For more on flying eaves and interesting buildings, read our guide to the Seven Classic Architectural Styles of China.

For a place of worship that blows away any expectations though, you can visit the Then Sze Koon Temple, or more famously, the Centipede Temple.

But why does this Taoist temple pay homage to this creepy-crawly?

Long story short, an ungrateful prodigal son was turned to rock atop Bukit Jong by the powers that be. Later, a centipede was repeatedly spotted around said rock, leading to a myth that this centipede was the son’s mother. A temple was then established atop Bukit Jong.

Once you’ve gawked at the massive centipede statue hugging the legendary rock, take the time to visit the various halls and even enjoy magnificent views over the Seremban city.

And don’t worry if you’re a bug-phobic worshipper, there’s also statues of traditional deities!

More Trains

Speaking of trains, did you know that the Kuala Lumpur – Bangkok train service is about to be revived?

For anime and manga fans, Tokyo’s convenient rail is also the perfect excuse to go shopping at Akihabara!

Slower train travel is also one of the ways to help out tourist destinations grappling the downsides of overtourism.

Want to take sharper or better photos out of a train window? Then take a look at our guide to travel photography basics along with some tips and tricks.

How to Book ETS Tickets

ETS Booking Website

1. Sign up for a KTM KITS account at the Sign Up page.
2. If you are a student, senior citizen or government employee, register your details at the concession page to enjoy discounted tickets.
3. Login and go to the ETS booking website.
4. Choose your origin, destination, pax number and departure/return dates
5. Select your preferred times
6. Pick your seats
7. Fill in your passenger particulars
8. Choose your preferred insurance plan, if any
9. Purchase your preferred meal, if any
10. Complete the payment process
11. Present your printed or softcopy ticket at your departure station.

For those who prefer apps, booking via the official KTMB Mobile app (Google Play | App Store) pretty much follows the same procedure. If you have a previous KTMB account, you can use that to login here.

There’s also the new official KITS Style superapp (Google Play | App Store), but the verification process can take a few days, not to mention the pretty sparse, bloated honestly redundant features. Better to just skip the hassle and just book via their website or KTMB Mobile app.

Links

ETS Booking
https://online.ktmb.com.my/Trip

KTM ETS Schedule
https://www.ktmb.com.my/TrainTime.html

Malaysia Traveller – Centipede Temple
https://www.malaysia-traveller.com/centipede-temple.html

Think China – Sun Yat-sen’s lover Cuifen and her Malaysia villa
https://www.thinkchina.sg/history/sun-yat-sens-lover-cuifen-and-her-malaysia-villa

Visit Malaysia – Exploring Alor Setar: A Journey Through Cultural Treasures and Historical Legacies
https://www.malaysia.travel/explore/exploring-alor-setar-a-journey-through-cultural-treasures-and-historical-legacies