How To Travel Between Peninsular Malaysia And East Malaysia?

Traveling between Peninsular (West) Malaysia and East Malaysia, which includes the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, is a simple and routine journey for both locals and tourists. The two regions are separated by approximately 640 kilometers of the South China Sea, so there is no direct land or sea connection available for passengers.

The most common, practical, and efficient method of travel is by air. Malaysia has a well-developed domestic flight network with numerous daily flights connecting the two regions. These flights are generally affordable and operated by several carriers, including the national airline, Malaysia Airlines. The primary travel hubs on the peninsula are Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB), which offer direct flights to major cities in East Malaysia like Kota Kinabalu (BKI) in Sabah and Kuching (KCH) in Sarawak. The flight duration is typically between two to three hours.

It is important to remember that the states of Sabah and Sarawak maintain a higher degree of autonomy, which includes their own immigration controls. Therefore, all travelers, including Malaysian citizens from the peninsula, must present their passport or national identity card upon arrival in East Malaysia. While West Malaysia is more urbanized and populated, East Malaysia is renowned for its vast rainforests, rich biodiversity, and diverse indigenous cultures, making the journey between them feel like traveling to an entirely different country.