Travelling Sabah by bus offers a rich tapestry of experiences, unveiling the diverse landscapes and cultural wonders of this enchanting region. With numerous bus express companies operating, visitors have the convenience of exploring Sabah’s vibrant cities and towns, serene coastal areas and lush rainforests. The main bus terminal in Kota Kinabalu serves as a hub, connecting travellers to destinations like Sandakan, Tawau and beyond. The scenic routes showcase the beauty of Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia, as well as pristine beaches and wildlife-rich reserves.
Whether navigating the bustling markets of Kota Kinabalu or embarking on an adventure to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the bus network in Sabah provides an acccessible and immersive journey for those seeking to embrace the natural and cultural wonders of this Malaysian gem.
Below we provide a tables to showcase the route, travel time and bus operators. Towards the end of this page, we will provide contact details for the all the bus operator listed here. You may want to check their social media for promotion and updates on bus schedule. Ticket buses can be purchased online with EasyBook.com.
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Accommodations
Accommodations ranging from 5 star hotel to homestay, there are plenty of options for traveller going around Sabah. At smaller town, there will be motel and homestay with affordable prices.
E-Hailing
Plenty of e-hailing operators to choose from. In city areas, you can find almost all e-hailing drivers around, especially Grab. Please plan your time of travel, as some town are heavily congested during school holidays or festive, like Kota Kinabalu for example.
Some driver may take you from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang. Compare to travelling by bus, it would be more comfortable and flexible, but more expensive. A taxi would cost you about RM200.00.
Departure from Kota Kinabalu (Inanam Terminal) and Destination
| Destination | Bus Operator |
|---|---|
| Kundasang & Ranau (2 hours+) | Sida Express, Tung Ma Sandakan |
| Sandakan (7 hours+) | Sida Express, Tung Ma Sandakan |
| Tawau (11 hours) | Optis Jaya Express, Sairah Express, TransTedar Express, TungMa Express |
| Semporna (11 hours+) | Sentosa Express, Amin Jaya Express, Dyana Express, Sabariah Express, Sri Mutiara Express |
| Beluran (5 hours+) | Sida Express, TungMa Express (Sandakan) |
| Jalan Checkpoint (6 hours+) | Sida Express, TungMa Express (Sandakan) |
| Kunak (9 hours+) | Optis Jaya Express, TransTedar Express, TungMa Express, Sairah Express, Sabariah Express, Sri Mutiara Express, Sentosa Express, Amin Jaya Express, Dyana Express |
| Lahad Datu (8 hours+) | Optis Jaya Express, TransTedar Express, TungMa Express, Sairah Express, Sabariah Express, Sri Mutiara Express, Sentosa Express, Amin Jaya Express, Dyana Express |
| Telupid (6 hours) | Sida Express, TungMa Express |
Departure from Kota Kinabalu (KK Sentral) Bus Terminal and Destination
| Destination | Bus Operator |
|---|---|
| Menumbok (3 hours) | Sipitang Express, Menumbok Express |
| Beaufort (2 hours+) | Sipitang Express |
| Sipitang (4 hours) | Sipitang Express |
| Lawas, Sarawak (4 hours+) | Sipitang Express |
| Limbang, Sarawak (12 hours+) | Sipitang Express |
| Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei (7 hours+) | Sipitang Express |
Bus Express operators for Travelling Sabah by bus
*We recommend travellers to use these telephone numbers for enquiry only. For purchasing of tickets, please do so at counter ticket at Bus Terminal or use EasyBook for online purchasing.
| Company | Telephone | Social Media |
|---|---|---|
| Sipitang Express | KK : 016-8360009 Sipitang : 010-8213722 Lawas : 010-2860722 | Sipitang Express Sdn Bhd |
| Menumbok Express | Kota Kinabalu : 016-8347913 Menumbok : 016-8357913 | Menumbok Ekspress |
| SIDA Express | Sandakan : 016-5228996 Kota Kinabalu : 088-364676 Tawau : 019-8072570 Semporna : 012-8272399 Kudat : 019-7016088 | SIDA Express |
| TungMa Express | Terminal Bandar Sri Indah : 010-2117667 Kota Kinabalu : 013-8832277 / 088-380190 Lahad Datu : 017-8662628 / 017-6680068 | – |
| Optis Jaya Express | Terminal Bandar Sri Indah : 089-766779 / 014 357 6215 Kota Kinabalu : 088-433 779 / 011-5166 0557 | Optis Jaya Ekspress |
| TransTedar Express | Kota Kinabalu : 013-8603030 Lahad Datu : 017-7587474 Tawau : 017-8130005 Tawau BSI : 019-8006200 | TransTedar Express Sdn Bhd |
| Sairah Express | 089-774 328 | – |
| Sri Mutiara Express | Kota Kinabalu : 014-2808137 / 014-2808115 Semporna : 016-6891507 / 014-2808131 Sandakan : 014-2808037 Lahad Datu : 014-2808093 Kunak : 014-2808037 Tawau : 014-9983973 | – |
| Sentosa Express | Kota Kinabalu : 011-16016116 Lahad Datu : 011-16259966 Semporna : 01116016226 | Sentosa Express |
| Amin Jaya Express | Kota Kinabalu : 019-8832028 Lahad Datu : 012-4542028 Kunak : 012-4462028 Semporna : 012-5802028 | – |
| Dyana Express | Semporna : 089-784494 / 014-6756276 Kunak : 012-8383661 Lahad Datu : 014-2821381 Kota Kinabalu : 088-389997 / 016-8316565 | Dyana Line / Travel & Tours |
| Sabariah Express | Kota Kinabalu : 088-386349 Semporna : 089-782763 Kunak :010-2215569 Lahad Datu : 011-31280308 | Sabariah Express |