Traveling from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur: what you need to know
Planning your vacation begins with working out where you'll fly out of in Colombo. Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) is the city's main base, so explore your options for reserving a flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur taking off from here.
Arrive in Kuala Lumpur at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB).
The average time for a direct Colombo to Kuala Lumpur flight is 3 hours 45 minutes.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. That way, you won't have to rush to board your Colombo to Kuala Lumpur flight.
Heading away during a peak time like public or school holidays? Expect longer queues at security and check-in. To play it safe, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur is $125. For a return flight on this route, the best price is $214. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares can change.
Book two months before you want to travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap Colombo to Kuala Lumpur flights.
May is the best month for landing an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur. If you'd like to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.
Locking in a cheap flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as the price has dropped.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' Colombo to Kuala Lumpur flights.
Flying from Colombo
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
If you're after a direct flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur, you can depart from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Get from CMB to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) in one seamless journey.
You'll have your pick of airlines that offer direct Colombo to Kuala Lumpur plane tickets out of CMB. Get on board with any of these:
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save on your Colombo to Kuala Lumpur flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Bandaranaike International Airport. Take a pause at one of these popular options:
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Chennai Airport (MAA)
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
Located around 27 kilometers from the center of Colombo, CMB can be reached in about 40 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
Want a convenient hotel close to Bandaranaike International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur, these accommodation options will have you moments from your check-in counter:
When it comes to Bandaranaike International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 75.71% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
Arriving in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to central Kuala Lumpur takes about 1 hour 5 minutes by car. The center is roughly 48 kilometers away.
It typically takes 1 hour to get there on public transport.
Consider booking a hotel close to KUL if you're coming in on a late flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur. Select one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Explore without limits with a Kuala Lumpur International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from ASIA CAR, Paradise or GoSoCar and venture far and wide through Kuala Lumpur and beyond.
Reserving your ride from Kuala Lumpur International Airport around four weeks in advance can help you secure the lowest rate.
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB)
As soon as your flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur has touched down, you can make your way to the city center in about 25 minutes by car. Central Kuala Lumpur is approximately 16 kilometers from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB).
The trip will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
There are some great places to lay your head close to SZB. Settle in and get cozy after your Colombo to Kuala Lumpur flight at one of these perfectly located options:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or long cab lines. Grab a Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport rental car and go in any direction that inspires you. Check out the rates and availability from Sixt, WAHDAH and Agtran.
Get the pick of the lot. Securing your ride from SZB one week in advance often means lower prices and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Best time to go to Kuala Lumpur
It's time to choose your trip dates for your flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur. August is the most popular month for a trip to Kuala Lumpur. If you like a quieter atmosphere, go in February.
Lock in a Colombo to Kuala Lumpur ticket departing in March if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Kuala Lumpur to range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 33ºC (91ºF).
January has average temperatures of between 21ºC (70ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Search for cheap flights from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur around that time if you like traveling in cooler conditions.
More about Kuala Lumpur
Once you've booked your flight from Colombo to Kuala Lumpur, find a hotel that offers the right mix of comfort and location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Kuala Lumpur:
All great adventures should include some sightseeing. Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower Mini Zoo and KLCC Park are must-do's during your Kuala Lumpur adventure.
Explore more of Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur has plenty to offer, but there are so many other corners of Malaysia just waiting to be discovered. Around 338 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, a visit to Kota Bharu will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with leading attractions like Pantai Cahaya Bulan, Siti Khadijah Market and Handicraft Village and Craft Museum, Kelantan.
Another favorite destination in Malaysia, Kampung Baru Subang is roughly 18 kilometers west of Kuala Lumpur. Make time for highlights including Simflightkl.