Explore Malaysian Borneo – Best Bus Routes to Take in Sabah and Sarawak

Laxmi TiwariJun 7, 2023

Have you decided to explore Malaysian Borneo this season for an indelible experience? You can explore Malaysian Borneo by taking scenic bus rides. You can explore the beauty of Borneo without digging a hole in your pockets. Bus rides in Borneo are affordable as compared to other transportation mediums. Also, you get to catch a glimpse of the scenic Borneo attractions in between bus trips. Let’s take you through the best bus routes to take in Sabah and Sarawak for exploring the beauty of Borneo.

What is Malaysian Borneo?

Borneo is a vast island in Southeast Asia politically shared by three countries. Besides being the largest island in the continent, Borneo is also the world’s third-largest island. Around 73% of Borneo falls within the boundaries of Indonesia. Malaysia owns around 26% of Borneo, and the remaining (1%) is owned by Brunei.

Sabah and Sarawak are the two states that make up the Borneo region in Malaysia. The region of Borneo in Malaysia is famous for its forests, festivals, cultural sites, and more. A Sabah Sarawak trip will help you escape the fast-paced working lives. Here are the best bus rides in Sabah and Sarawak to explore the Borneo region in Malaysia:

Kuching to Sri Aman

Kuching is the state capital, whereas Sri Aman is a popular tourist city in the state. The distance between Kuching and Sri Aman is around 186 kilometres, and it will take around 3.5 hours to cover this route. You can find a Kuching to Sri Aman bus ticket online on redBus for around MYR 25 to 30. Before getting on the bus, you can explore the tourist attractions in Kuching. Astana, Kuching Waterfront, Cat Museum, Bako National Park, and Kuching Mosque are tourist attractions within Sarawak’s capital.

After visiting Kuching in its entirety, you can get on a bus to Sri Aman. The bus will take your majestic villages and panoramic landscapes to Sri Aman. Batang Ai National Park, Lubok Antu Town, Mount Serembu, and Panchor Hot Spring are some attractions between the bus routes from Kuching to Sri Aman. Once you reach Sri Aman, you can visit local attractions like Fort Alice, Anah Rais Longhouse, Lemanak River, and Ulu Sungai Pandan Waterfall.

Kuching to Sibu

The road distance between Kuching and Sibu is around 398 kilometres, and it takes around seven hours to cover this route by bus. Online bus ticket booking on redBus from Kuching to Sibu will cost around MYR 60. During a bus trip from Kuching to Sibu, you might get a chance to the Batang Lupar River. There is a scenic bridge between the road route from Kuching to Sibu passing over the Batang Lupar River.

Once you reach Sibu, you can try visiting local attractions like Central Market, Heritage Centre, Bukit Lima Forest Park, Rajang Esplanade, and Sibu Old Mosque. To book your bus tickets in Malay, head on over to tiket bas.

Bintulu to Sibu

Bintulu is a beautiful coastal area in Sarawak known for its charismatic beaches. You can travel to Sibu from Bintulu for some panoramic scenes. The road distance between Sibu and Bintulu is approximately 215 kilometres. It will take around 3.5 hours to reach Sibu from Bintulu by bus. You can rely on redBus booking to reserve a Bintulu to Sibu bus seat.

Before you board a bus to Sibu, you can visit attractions in Bintulu, like Similajau National Park, Taman Tumbina, Tanjung Batu Beach, and Assyakirin Mosque. You will pass through panoramic bridges, rivers, and villages between the road route from Bintulu to Sibu.

Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

You must go on a bus ride from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan to explore the true beauty of Malaysian Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah state and is visited by many tourists throughout the year. It is best known for its attractions like Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, City Mosque, Sabah State Museum, and Mount Kinabalu. By taking a bus ride from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan, you can explore picturesque mountains, quaint villages, and panoramic countryside views.

Once you reach Sandakan, you can visit local attractions like Memorial Park, Kinabatangan River, Agnes Keith House, and Rainforest Discovery Centre. The road distance between both the cities in Sabah is around 330 kilometres, and it will take around 7-8 hours to cover it by bus.

Kota Kinabalu to Tawau

Located near the Southwestern coast of Sabah, Tawau is a majestic town known for its natural and cultural attractions. Tawau Hills Park, Teck Guan Cocoa Museum, Tanjung Market, and Sipadan Island are some of the best tourist attractions in Tawau. You will go through several fishing villages while travelling from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau. Several majestic beaches fall between the road route from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau.

The road distance between both cities in Sabah is around 450 kilometres. You can cover this distance in 8-9 hours by booking a bus ticket.

In a nutshell

During your trip to Southeast Asia, don’t forget to explore Malaysian Borneo. Many domestic and foreign tourists visit the Borneo region in Malaysia every year. You can depend on redBus to enjoy some scenic bus rides in the Borneo region. Book your Sabah Sarawak bus tickets on redBus now!