Travelling around Sabah by bus is not difficult. If you want to travel long distance by bus in Sabah, there are 3
bus terminals for you in the city of Kota Kinabalu. You can book the bus with
seat reservation in advance. 1) North Bus Terminal Inanam, 2) Padang Merdeka 3) City Park Bus Terminal The Padang Merdeka and the City Park Bus Terminal are close together. The North
Bus Terminal Inanam is about 10 km away from the city at the Inanam industrial area, one would need to take a bus or taxi to reach there.
There's a fourth bus terminal Wawasan terminal, but that's for the local buses.
The Northern Bus Terminal
The Northern Bus Terminal at Inanam (Kota Kinabalu) is the largest bus station. It has proper facilities like ticket counters, small sundry shops and washrooms.
There are also many eateries and a few budget hotels in the area of Inanam. The coaches here generally travel to
destinations at the east coast of Sabah, like Telupid, Sandakan, Lad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau. Coach leave the terminal throughout the whole day. There are also some coaches travelling at night,
where you can sleep and reach the destination the next day. These modern coaches are all equipped with comfortable seats and air conditions, some do have built in toilets.
Watch out for young boys or young men who try to intimidate you for sales of bus tickets at the entrance. Some time as many as ten of them can be seen rushing and crowding around foreigners, and these boys can be very persistent and a nuisance too. The best method to get rid of them, is to tell them you have already bought your tickets.
A Bus Ticket was never so easy to book on Sabah: .
As the name Padang Merdeka Terminal implies, the terminal is located near the old field (padang) below the Signal hill. The buses at this bus terminal commuted to places in the interior
and northern part of Sabah. The northern towns include places like Tamparuli, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Kudat, and Pitas. The
Mini Vans and TaxiUnser will travel to the interior of Sabah will, to towns like Kundasang, Ranau, Tambunan, Keningau, and Tenom.
There are also Mini Vans and TaxiUnser going to the small towns along the west coast of Sabah. The best time to catch a bus/ mini van or taxi to these destinations is in the early morning when many buses are scheduled to leave between 7am and 10am.
Kota Kinabalu Padang Merdeka Terminal
Destination
Departure
Time
Fare
Hours
Company
Ranau
RM16.00
2 hours
Mini Van/ TaxiUnser
Kudat
Operating hours
RM25.00
3 hours
Mini Van/ TaxiUnser
Kota Belud
06.00 - 18.00
RM08.00
1 hour
Mini Van
Kota Marudu
RM15.00
2 hours
Mini Van
Tambunan/ Keningau
RM10.00
2 hours
Mini Van/ TaxiUnser
Keningau
07.00 - 08.00 - 10.00 - 12.00 - 13.00 -
16.30
RM15.00
2 hours
Tung Ma Express
Tenom (Keningau)
08.00 - 12.00 - 14.30 - 16.00
RM20.00
3 hours
Tung Ma Express
Keningau
07.30 - 10.00 - 13.30 - 16.30
RM15.00
2 hours
Bumiputra Express
(You might get another 43-seater or
12-seater bus between 06.50 and 17.30)
07.00 - 10.00 - 13.00 - 16.00
Kimanis Bus Express
Menumbok
RM30.00
2 hours
TaxiUnser
Papar
Operating hours
RM10.00
1 hour
TaxiUnser
Beaufort
06.00 - 18.00
RM15.00
1.5 hours
TaxiUnser
Sipitang
RM25.00
2.5 hours
TaxiUnser
Mini van has 12 seats and TaxiUnser has 7seats. As soon as they get full passengers, they start.
The City Park Terminal
City Park Terminal is situated on Beach Street and it's located opposite the Court House, and this bus station is one of the oldest in town. It is also situated at the heart of the city. The buses and coaches here are mostly south bound to destinations like Beaufort, Kuala Penyu, Menumbok, and Sipitang. Bus schedules to these places are between 7am and 1pm. Menumbok is where one can catch a ferry to Labuan Island. There is no direct bus to Kuala Penyu, one would have to take the Menumbok bus.
The journey to Miri can take up to ten hours. Bus operations to these destinations are mostly scheduled as early as 7am. There is only one coach leaving daily at this time
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A Bus Ticket was never so easy to book on Sabah: .
Kota Kinabalu City Park Bus Terminal
Destination
Departure
Time
Fare
Hours
Company
Sipitang (Beaufort0
08.30 - 12.00 - 14.30 - 16.30
RM15.00
2.5 hours
Jesselton Express
Menumbok
07.30 - 09.00 - 13.00
RM14.00
2.5 hours
Jesselton Express
(to Labuan)
06.00 - 06.20 - 11.00 -
12.30 - 14.00
RM14.00
2.5 hours
Menumbok Express
06.45 - 11.00 - 12.30
RM14.00
2.5 hours
Borneo Express
Brunei
08.00
RM100.00
7 hours
Jesselton Express
Sipitang/ Lawas/ Limbang/ Bandar Seri
Begawan
Lawas: RM20.00
Miri (Sarawak)
07.45
RM90.00
10 hours
Borneo Express
(Lawas/ Limbang/ Kuala Lurah (Brunei)
Miri (Sarawak)
07.30
RM90.00
Bintang Jaya Express
(Lawas/ Limbang)
Limbang: RM50.00
In Miri Bus change to: Bintulu - Sibu - Sarikei - Pontianak
