Kota Kinabalu To Brunei: Travel Options Explored

There are several ways to get from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, including flying, driving, taking a bus, or a combination of boats and buses. The fastest way to travel between the two cities is by plane, which takes about 40 minutes, but it is also the most expensive option. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, you can take a bus, which costs around $36 and takes about 7 hours. Alternatively, you can take a combination of ferries and buses, which costs around $16 and takes about 6-8 hours. This option offers a rest stop on the Malaysian island of Labuan and cuts down on border crossings.

Travel by plane

Flying is the fastest way to get from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei. Royal Brunei Airlines operates direct flights between the two destinations, with travel time taking around 40 minutes. The price of a flight ticket varies depending on the date and season, starting at RM370. Flights are only available a few times a week, usually on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Both the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and the Brunei International Airport are located around 8 kilometres away from their respective city centres. Taxis are the most convenient way to get to and from the airports, although ride-hailing apps such as Grab in Kota Kinabalu and Dart in Brunei offer cheaper alternatives.

Travel by bus

There is only one bus company operating the route between Kota Kinabalu and Brunei: Sipitang Express. The bus leaves from the KK Sentral bus terminal in Kota Kinabalu at 7:30 am or 8 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, arriving in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, around 7.25 hours later. Tickets cost around RM150 and can be purchased online or at the bus terminal.

The bus makes four border crossings, giving passengers the opportunity to collect eight passport stamps. The first border crossing is between Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, followed by crossings into and out of Brunei, and finally another crossing back into Sarawak before arriving in Brunei. At each border, passengers must get off the bus and line up at the immigration office to get their passports stamped.

The bus makes a one-hour lunch stop in Lawas, Sarawak, and several other short stops to pick up and drop off passengers. The journey by bus from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei takes around 7 to 9 hours, depending on traffic and wait times at the borders.

Travel by car

The distance between Kota Kinabalu and Brunei is 258 kilometres, and the journey will take approximately 6 hours.

If you're driving, make sure your car is in good condition as there are many stretches of road where you may have to wait a while to get to the nearest mechanic. You will also be encountering a lot of border crossings, which can slow you down.

Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort (92km): The drive out of Kota Kinabalu is straightforward and well-signposted. Road conditions are good, and the road heading south from the city is a dual carriageway until you reach the Sabindo Intersection, where you have two route options. Going through Papar saves a few kilometres, but these roads are usually congested with slow-moving vehicles. Taking the old road along route 1 is usually faster, although the journey is longer. From the Benoni Roundabout, the road becomes a single carriageway two-lane road. The two routes meet about 8 km from Papar. The journey continues on route 1 and passes through quiet coastal towns like Kimanis and Bongawan before heading inland to Beaufort. Just before Beaufort, a new road has been built to bypass the town.

Beaufort to Lawas (110km): This is the longest leg of the journey and used to be the most difficult due to unpaved roads. However, a continuous ribbon of bitumen now links Beaufort to Lawas. From Beaufort, go onto the metal bridge across the Padas River and proceed to Sipitang. This stretch used to be unpaved, but the road surface is now okay. You will pass the turn-off to Weston, a small seaside village, and Sipitang, which has several shops and petrol stations. The road then swings inland towards the Sabah-Sarawak border at Sindumin. At the end of the road is the Sindumin Roundabout, where you should turn left. A smaller two-way roundabout, the Immigration Roundabout, follows, leading to the Merapok/Sindumin Combined Immigration Checkpoint. Here, you will go through immigration for both Sabah and Sarawak. The procedure may vary for residents. Following the checkpoint is a roundabout where the town of Merapok lies. Instead of going straight to the town square, turn left at the roundabout. A road flanked by oil palm plantations goes 35 km to Lawas. Just before reaching the town, you will cross a cable-stayed bridge over the Batang Lawas (Lawas River).

Lawas to Bangar (48km): This stretch used to involve a ferry and border crossing, but immigration checkpoints and a new bridge have eliminated them. From Lawas, take the road towards Trusan. You will pass through a small complex where the old checkpoint was located. Continue on to the Mengkalap Immigration and Customs Checkpoint, where you will get your passport stamped out of Malaysia. After that, carefully drive up a steep incline, which suddenly drops just before the Labu Temporary Checkpoint on the Brunei side of the border. From Labu, it's about 23 km to Bangar, the administrative centre of Temburong.

Bangar to Limbang (20km): This leg of the journey is relatively short and straightforward, with light traffic. It involves crossing two immigration checkpoints and a ferry ride at the border. From Bangar, head west on the main road. You will arrive at Puni, where you can see the old checkpoint on the left. Further down is the new Ujong Jalan Checkpoint, a drive-through facility where your passport will be stamped out of Brunei. After the checkpoint, you will reach the Pandaruan River, the border of Temburong and Limbang. The ferry ride is short, and the crossing fee is RM8 or B$4. After landing on the Malaysian side, look out for the Pandaruan Checkpoint on the left, as there is inadequate signage. This is a drive-through facility, although you may need to park and get out of your car to sort out permits. From Pandaruan, it is a simple drive to Limbang, just under 15 km away.

Limbang to Bandar Seri Begawan (60km): To head towards the Brunei border at Tedungan, head south out of Limbang past the museum. Take a right turn at the KM10 point and travel for another 13 kilometres before taking another right turn. Going straight will bring you to Nanga Medamit. The road crosses the Limbang River at Batu Danau village and continues up to the border checkpoint at Tedungan. Just before the checkpoint, there are shops and food outlets. Lines at the checkpoint can be long, especially during weekends. Once you sort out Malaysian immigration and cross the border, you will come to Brunei's Kuala Lurah checkpoint. Both checkpoints have drive-through lanes for passport stamping, but you may need to get out of your car to sort out car permits. From Kuala Lurah, drive for 3 km to a roundabout near a petrol station and follow the signs to your destination.

Other Transport Options

In addition to travelling by car, you can also get from Kota Kinabalu to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, by flying, taking boats, or catching the bus. Flying is the fastest option, while the bus is the cheapest.

Travel by ferry

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Head to the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu. If your hotel is in the city centre, it is within walking distance. You can also take a Grab or taxi for around RM 60. It is recommended to do this at least one day in advance to avoid long queues.
• Purchase a packaged ticket for the two ferries you will be taking for RM 60 for adults and RM 45 for children (11 years and below).
• Pay the terminal tax. There is a fee of RM 3.82 for adults and RM 1.90 for children for the first ferry, and RM 5 for adults and RM 3 for children for the second ferry.
• The total fare for the packaged ticket, including terminal fees, is RM 68.82 for adults and RM 49.90 for children.
• Take the first ferry from Kota Kinabalu (Jesselton Point) to Labuan. The ferry ride takes about 2 hours, and there are only two trips per day, so don't miss the last trip! The first trip is at 8 am, and the last trip is at 1:30 pm.
• Upon arrival in Labuan, you will need to take the second ferry to Serasa Ferry Terminal in Muara, Brunei. There are usually two trips per day, one around 1:30 pm and another at either 9:30 am or 3:30 pm, depending on the day.
• Go through the Malaysia Immigration process by queuing at the counter to get your passport stamped for exit from Malaysia.
• Ride the second ferry from Labuan to Serasa Ferry Terminal in Muara, Brunei. Show your ferry ticket, and ensure you don't miss the last trip of the day.
• Upon arrival at Serasa Ferry Terminal in Muara, go through the Brunei Immigration process. Queue at the counter to get your passport stamped for entry into Brunei.
• Exchange your money into Brunei dollars at one of the money exchange centres at the ferry terminal. It is recommended to exchange only a small amount to cover the fare to the city centre, as you can get a better exchange rate in the city. Remember to ask for a receipt, as some money changers may not give the exact change.
• From the Serasa Ferry Terminal in Muara, you have three options to get to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's city centre:
• Bus: Take bus number 38 or 39 to the city centre for B$2. The journey will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Taxi: Take a taxi directly to the city centre for around B$25.
• Taxi + Bus: If you don't want to wait for the bus, take a taxi to the small bus terminal in Muara for about B$5, then take a bus to the city centre for B$2. The total fare for this option is about B$7.
• Get off at the Brunei central bus station, and walk or take a taxi to your hotel. Most hotels in the city centre are within walking distance from the bus station.

Other Information:

• Ferry tickets can also be purchased at the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu for a package deal costing RM 56.
• The ferry from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan usually takes around 2.5 hours.
• The ferry from Labuan to Muara, Brunei, typically takes around 1-2 hours.
• The ferry ride can be quite chilly, so bring something warm to wear.
• There is limited food available on the ferry, so it is recommended to bring your own snacks.
• If you plan to purchase alcohol in Labuan, remember that you are only allowed to bring 2 bottles of hard liquor and 12 cans of beer into Brunei. Additionally, it is against the law to consume alcohol in public, but you can drink it inside your hotel room.
• If you decide to explore Labuan and exit the terminal, you will be charged a terminal fee of RM 5.
• The Brunei dollar is fixed at the same rate as the Singapore dollar, and both currencies can be used in Brunei.

Alternate Option:

If you don't mind an early start, you can take a bus from Kota Kinabalu to Menumbok, and then a ferry to Labuan. This option allows you to arrive in Brunei on the same day.

• Take a direct bus to Menumbok, which will drop you off near the ferry terminal.
• From Menumbok, take the speedboat to Labuan, which leaves every 1.5 hours and takes about 20 minutes. The fare is RM 16.
• Once in Labuan, you can take the ferry to Brunei, which usually departs at noon or 3 pm. The fare is around RM 60, and there is a departure tax of RM 10.
• Follow the remaining steps from the guide above to complete your journey to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's city centre.

Travel by taxi

Taxis are rare and expensive in Brunei, so if you're planning to take a taxi from Bandar Seri Begawan to the city centre, be prepared to pay a premium.

If you're travelling from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu by land, you can take a taxi from Bandar Seri Begawan to the bus station in Muara, which is about 5 minutes away, and then take the bus to the city centre. This will cost around B$5, and then B$1 for the bus.

If you're travelling from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei, you can take a taxi to Jesselton Point Ferry Pier to purchase your ferry ticket.

Taxis are also the best and easiest way to get to and from the airports in both Kota Kinabalu and Brunei. The cheapest way is to use the Grab app in Kota Kinabalu and the Dart app in Brunei, which operate like Uber.

Frequently asked questions