Shahbandar jetty: the other way to Redang

Shahbandar, also called TTI Jetty, is in Kuala Terengganu and is listed as a second jetty for Redang. A scheduled ferry from there takes about 1.5 to 2 hours ^[1], so it suits people already in the city more than people chasing the shortest crossing.

Merang is the shortest crossing to Redang, so start with our Merang arrival guide and the Pulau Redang guide. Then use this page to decide whether Shahbandar is worth asking about.

How does Shahbandar compare with Merang?

The table uses only what research supports. Where we have no confirmed answer, it says to ask.

	Merang	Shahbandar
Place	Merang, Setiu	Kuala Terengganu city
Crossing	About 45 minutes by speedboat [2]	About 1.5 to 2 hours by scheduled ferry [1]
Schedule	Set by resort or agent, ask	One guide reports three daily departures, low confidence [3]
Fare	Ask, usually inside the package	Ask, usually inside the package

The Shahbandar time and schedule come from a resort FAQ and a single travel guide. Confirm both with the operator before you plan around them.

Who might Shahbandar suit?

It may suit you if you will already be in Kuala Terengganu, for example after a flight to the city or a night before the trip. Starting from the city saves the drive to Merang.

A travel group that includes older parents or young children may feel differently. A longer crossing means more time on the water, so ask about seating, shade and sea conditions. Merang is shorter if a short boat matters most.

What can you not assume?

Do not assume your resort sells a Shahbandar departure. Most packages are built around one boat from one jetty, and the return trip may use another. Read the quotation to see which jetty is named, and which transfer is included.

Do not assume the times above apply on your date. Scheduled ferries can change with the season and the sea. Ask for the departure in writing.

How would a Shahbandar day work out in hours?

Say you sleep in the city and the ferry leaves mid-morning. A crossing of up to two hours means you reach the island around lunch, which can still leave an afternoon on the beach. Leave from Merang instead and the same morning start gets you there in under an hour, plus the drive.

So the question is not which jetty is better. It is which one wastes the fewest hours for your starting point.

Count the drive to each jetty, add the crossing, and compare the totals. The jetty connection planner does this with your own times.

What should you ask first?

• Does my package offer Shahbandar, and is the return from the same jetty?
• What time does the ferry leave on my date, and when must I check in?
• Where do I park, and how far is the jetty from the city centre?
• Is the ferry ticket in the package, or a separate line?
• What happens if the ferry does not sail?

If you plan a city day around the trip, read Redang plus a Kuala Terengganu city day. For the road and air options to the city, see reaching Kuala Terengganu.