A complete guide to transportation in Sabah (how to arrive and leave Sabah, local transportation in Sabah

1. Arrival and departure from Sabah

Sabah’s transportation system is not very developed, but it is connected to many international cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Brunei There are direct flights between Rai, Manila and Cebu. There are frequent and convenient land transportation links between various towns. Trains are not the main transportation here, and transportation between islands is generally arranged by travel companies. Only a few islands in the Tengku Abdul Rahman Marine Park near Kota Kinabalu have speedboat services.

1. Aircraft

There are two main commonly used airports in Sabah, Kota Kinabalu International Airport (Terminal 1), Kota Kinabalu Low-Cost Airport (Terminal 2) and Tawau International Airport, Terminal The distance between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is about 5.2 kilometers, and there are shuttle buses. Departs every hour from 08:00 to 19:30. One-way fare is MYR 5 for adults and MYR 3 for children. In addition, there are flights from Kota Kinabalu to other cities in Sabah such as Tawau, Sandakan, Kudat, and Lahad Datu.

(1) Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA, also known as Terminal 1)

The largest international airport in Sabah, most international flights and Malaysia Airlines flights land here . The airport is approximately 7 kilometers from the city.

Transportation:

1) Airport taxi: It goes to any corner of the city and costs MYR 30 one way, which takes about 20 minutes. Tickets need to be purchased in advance at the airport lobby counter.

2) Airport bus: bound for Wawasan Plaza in the city every 1 hour from 08:00 to 19:00. One-way fare is MYR 5 for adults and MYR 3 for children.

(2) Kota Kinabalu Low-Cost Airlines Airport (LCCT, also known as Terminal 2)

Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and other low-cost airlines are Land here. Approximately 6 kilometers from the city center.

Transportation:

1) Airport taxi: It goes to any corner of the city. It costs MYR 30 one way and takes about 15 minutes. Tickets need to be purchased in advance at the airport lobby counter.

2) Airport bus: bound for Wawasan Center in the city every hour from 08:20 to 19:20. One-way fare is MYR 5 for adults and MYR 3 for children.

(3) Tawau International Airport (TIA)

The international airport located in Tawau City, Sabah, is very small. Tawau Airport has a 24-hour taxi service to take tourists to Semporna Town. The one-way fare is about 95 ringgit/car (4 people). You can also take a bus to Tawau City to reach the city. The bus operation hours are 8: 00-17:00.

2. Train

(1) Sabah State Railway

It has been re-used since February 2011 and began to operate in Tanjung A Brand-new air-conditioned trains are used on the line from Tanjung Aru to Tenom. Except for two trains on Sundays, there are four trains running between Tanjung Aru and Bao Phut every day. On the way, they will pass through Putatan, Kinarut, Ba Papar, Kawang, Kimanis, Bongawan, Membakut, Beaufort, Rayoh and Pangi municipalities. (You can change trains from Baofu to Danang). Ticket prices range from MYR 0.40 to MYR 7.50.

(2) North Borneo Railway

This is the only British steam train that is still in use in Borneo and has been in use since the 1800s , can be said to have a long history. The renovated train retains the style of the old British colonial era, with a nostalgic and romantic atmosphere.

Passengers enjoy the beautiful rural scenery and small towns on the steam train as if they have entered a time tunnel. The train has 5 carriages, each of which can carry 16 passengers. Packages are generally purchased through travel companies. Tickets cost approximately MYR 330 for adults and MYR 200 for children, including brunch and hotel pick-up.

TIPS: Steam trains only depart on Wednesdays and Saturdays every week.

3. Ferry

There are regular ferry and speedboat services between Sandakan and Zamboanga in the southern Philippines. There is one flight every day between Tawau and Kalimantan (Nunukan), Indonesia. To go to Brunei, you must first take a boat from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan and then change boats to Brunei.

Jeselton Point Jetty

Jeselton Point Jetty is located in the center of Kota Kinabalu. There are boats to and from Labuan Island (Labuan) and Tunku Abdullah. Sapi Island, Manukan Island, Gayana Island, Mamutik Island, Sulu Island (Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park) Sulug Island). The operating hours are 06:00~16:00. The final boat return time from the island to Kota Kinabalu is 16:00.

Ticket price:

The ticket price for 1 island is MYR 23 for adults and MYR 18 for children.

The ticket price for 2 islands is MYR 33 for adults and MYR 23 for children. MYR

The fare for 3 islands is MYR 43 for adults and MYR 30 for children

The fare for 4 islands is MYR 53 for adults and MYR 38 for children

You need to pay an additional 7.2 MYR for the dock fee when buying the ticket, and 10 MYR for the park maintenance fee after going to the island (if you go to more than 2 islands, you only need to pay once).

Warm reminder:

● If you plan to jump to 3 or more islands, it is best to set off before 09:00, otherwise you will not be able to fully appreciate the beautiful islands due to lack of time.

● Except for several islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, other famous islands in Sabah must be arranged by travel companies, dive shops, and island resorts to reach the islands. Tourists need to book a package with a travel company in advance, and then the travel company or resort will help you arrange transportation and accommodation throughout the journey.

4. Long-distance buses

There are 3 long-distance bus stations in Kota Kinabalu:

(1) North Bus Terminal Inanam

Buses to other cities in the north and east depart from here, including Mount Kinabalu, Sandakan, Semporna, Tawau, and Lahad Datu.

(2) City Park Bus Terminal

Bus bound for the south depart here, including Beaufort, Sipitang, Brunei and Sarawak cross.

(3) Padang Merdeka

There are buses bound for Beaufort, Ranau, Kudat, Kota Belud, CMBs in Keningau, Papar, Sipitang and Menumbok. Generally, 12-seater and 7-seater vans depart as soon as they are full.

5. Car rental

It is not expensive to rent a car in Sabah. The daily rental price for a 4-passenger car starts from MYR 140. Car rental services can be found in large shopping malls or airports in the city, and the price depends on the car type and company. The procedures for renting a car are very simple, just show your driver's license and passport. There will be an inspection sheet when you hand over the car. First check the condition of the car, then sign it and it's done. You can agree on a delivery location. Malaysia drives on the left, and the driver's seat is on the right side of the car.

Warm reminder:

When traveling by car, it is best to download the free mobile app Waze, which can most effectively help you avoid traffic jams and lead you to your destination.

PS: Transportation from Sabah to and from Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang

Since Sabah is located in East Malaysia, it is closely connected with Penang in West Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur in West Malaysia and the southern part of the Malay Peninsula. Malacca is separated by the sea and cannot be reached by water or land. It can only be reached by plane.

2. Local Transportation

Bus *** Cars

(1) Mini Bus

The body is small and has no air conditioning. It is very crowded during peak hours, has fixed routes and frequent trains, making it the best choice for visiting the community. Generally, there are more trains from morning to afternoon, and there are not many trains in the evening. Please bring your own change to pay on the bus. The fare is 0.50 MYR to 2 MYR.

(2) City Bus

The bus *** has 4 fixed routes 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, and the fare is MYR 0.50.

2. Taxi

Sabah taxis are red and white and do not have meters. It costs MYR 30 from Kota Kinabalu Airport to the city; MYR 15 one way to attractions and hotels in the city; MYR 20 from the city to the Floating Mosque and Tanjung Aru.

Additional fee of 50% will be charged from 12:00 am to 6:00 am. There are not many taxis on the street. They usually wait for customers in shopping malls, long-distance stations, and outside hotels. If you want to take a taxi to the airport, please ask the hotel to arrange it for you in advance to avoid delays. Negotiate the price before getting in the car. It costs MYR95 from Tawau Airport to Semporna. You can find someone to share a taxi with you. A taxi can carry 4 people. Sandakan Airport to the city costs MYR 30.