Travelling from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu is more fun on the Sipitang Express Bus. It’s not often that I’d recommend a long bus ride — I’m in my 30s now and happier to spend a little more money to be comfortable. But taking the bus was not only affordable, it meant we got 7 new passport stamps! Here’s everything you need to know.
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Why take the Sipitang Express Bus from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu
A flight from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu costs about 350 MYR at best. By comparison, the Sipitang Express Bus costs just 150 MYR and comes with a commemorative seven passport stamps.
Yes, it’s a long 8-hour journey compared to the short 45-minute flight. But when you factor in the cost, getting to the airport, waiting around, having to make sure your luggage fits within the weight limits, and only getting two measly little stamps? The bus from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu starts to look a lot more appealing.
The Brunei to Kota Kinabalu bus route
The trip from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu takes about 9 hours, including all the border stops and an hour lunch break in Lawas. You arrive in Kota Kinabalu around 5:30 PM.
So you go Brunei > Malaysia (Sarawak) > Brunei > Malaysia (Sarawak) > Malaysia (Sabah)
Stamps you get:
- Leaving Brunei
- Entering Malaysia (Sarawak)
- Leaving Malaysia (Sarawak)
- Entering Brunei
- Leaving Brunei
- Entering Malaysia (Sarawak)
- Entering Sabah
Yes, there’s even an official stamp for a provincial crossing.
Some stamps not visible because they needed another page lol
Here’s where all the border crossings are
Even though there’s a bridge that connects both parts of Brunei and doesn’t cross into Malaysia, the bus doesn’t go that way. I don’t know why — maybe you can’t take big buses over the bridge? But this route is more fun anyway. More admin, but more fun.
All the passport stuff happens before noon, plus one final stop when you cross into Sabah at 2 PM. Then you can tuck your passport away, relax, and enjoy the jungle views or take a nap. You’ll arrive at your final stop, KK Sentral, around 5:30 PM.
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Where to catch the Sipitang Express Bus from Brunei to Kota
The bus will pick you up at the Gadong Night Market. But keep in mind it’ll be early in the morning so everything will be closed.
If you want to guarantee coffee, breakfast, or snacks before you get on the bus, I suggest grabbing something from the grocery store the day before. However, Zeus Coffee is about a five-minute walk (at the mall) and opens at 7 AM, and McDonalds is open from 6 AM. But you won’t find any casual kopi places at the market — it’s a night market, after all.
The ticket says to be there an hour early, but I promise that’s not necessary. 7:30 AM is just fine. We got there “on time” at 7 and the driver didn’t even roll up until about 7:30 himself. But the bus left right on time at 8 AM.
You also don’t need to go to a desk to get tickets. That’s mentioned on the booking confirmation, but was not a thing. (There is no desk.) Just have your ticket ready on your phone so they can the QR code.
Sipitang Bus pick up spot outside the Gadong Night Market
What it’s like on board the Sipitang Express Bus
It’s a 30-ish seater bus with one side of pairs and the other a row of singles. The seats were really comfy with extra leg/foot support, and they recline without squishing the people behind you. Our bus was maybe half full, which made it feel even more spacious and comfortable.
The bus is air conditioned and it was actually a pretty good temperature, but bring a sweater anyway. I find air con all over Southeast Asia is way too extreme!
Your big luggage goes in the under carriage of the bus, and there are overhead bins for your backpack and other smaller stuff. They’re big, closeable bins, too — not those shallow ones with flimsy cable ties.
You’ll pick your seats in advance, and I don’t think there’s any real advantage to sitting anywhere in particular.
What to expect at the Brunei/Malaysia border crossings
All the border crossings were very chill. They also weren’t busy, so the whole process at every checkpoint took about 20 minutes max. The bus guy walked us to every counter so we knew exactly where to go. It honestly couldn’t have been easier.
Things you need for the bus from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu
- Your passport: Seems obvious, but make sure you keep it on you rather than in your big luggage under the bus!
- Digital arrival cards: You need to do one for each country. (Find it through INRS for Brunei and MDAC for Malaysia.)
- Sweater: The bus is air-conditioned and it can be cold.
- Charging cables: The bus has a USB and USB-C port between seats.
- eSIM: It was honestly soooo easy because my Holafly Plans subscription works globally. It always took my phone a second to kind of learn where it was, but it switched me between Malaysia and Brunei automagically.
- Entertainment: It’s a long ride! So bring a book, your Switch, line up some podcasts, or just something to keep you busy.
- MYR and BND: Carrying a little of both currencies is ideal. You’ll stop for lunch in Malaysia, and might want to grab coffee in the morning before leaving Brunei.
FAQs about the Sipitang Bus from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kota Kinabalu
Ok, I don’t know if I can actually call these “frequently” asked questions. But they’re questions I had before catching the Brunei to Kota Kinabalu bus.
How do I book the Sipitang Bus?
There’s no official Sipitang website. But you can use Bus Online Ticket and select your trip from Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) and Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia). This is what we did, and to my knowledge, it’s the only real option. It has one departure every day of the week in both directions.
Is the Sipitang Bus cheaper than flying?
A flight from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu costs about 350 MYR with Malaysia Airlines or Royal Brunei Airlines.
But the Sipitang Bus costs a flat 150 MYR. If you’re travelling on a budget, that 200 MYR savings is more than worth it.
Does the bus count as proof of onward travel when entering Brunei?
Yes! I wasn’t sure if the bus ticket would count as proof of onward travel, so I contacted Brunei Immigration to ask.
They replied less than 24 hours later with a couple follow up questions (mainly my nationality). The officer I spoke to said it should be fine but would ultimately be up to the discretion of the immigration officer at the airport. I can confirm it all went smoothly and we got into Brunei with no issues or questions about the bus as an onward ticket.
Is there a bus from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei?
Yes, you can totally do this same journey in the opposite direction. The Sipitang Express Bus runs from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei at 7:30 AM. It costs the same (150 MYR) and there’s one bus every day of the week.
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
More about Naomi →
Naomi Lai
Naomi is a Canadian travel editor and writer with 13 years of international travel across Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and beyond. She covers everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel — always from personal experience.
More about Naomi →