Crossing Kota Kinabalu - Labuan Island, Malaysia - Serasa, Brunei by Ferry
The Kota Kinabalu City is the capital of state of Sabah, Malaysia is our point of exit going to Brunei. It was our first time to travel outside of the country, to maximized it we decided to include Brunei in our 4D/3N itinerary.
During our trip we chose to cross the border by sea. We went to Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal as early as 7 AM to catch the first ferry bound to Labuan, Malaysia at 8 AM. Why Labuan, Malaysia? Because there's no ferry going straightly to Brunei. We have to get to Labuan first then from Labuan we need to transfer to another ferry that is bound to Serasa, Brunei.
To purchase a ticket you need to submit your passport in the counter because the counter officer will also stamped you passport even you are just going to Labuan. Ticket cost (economy class) going to Labuan was 78.9 RM for 2 persons including terminal fee.
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| If you haven't had your breakfast, there are several restaurants at Jesselton Point, you can have your breakfast while waiting for the boarding time |
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| queuing for immigration check |
Arrival in Labuan, Malaysia at 11 AM after 3 hours of travel time.
Our original plan was to spend a night in Labuan before going to Brunei that's why we didn't buy the package ticket which includes onward journey from Labuan to Serasa, Brunei. When we arrived in Labuan, we don't feel the good vibes that we felt while we were in Kota Kinabalu. Labuan is a sleepy town so we just had lunch, checked the several duty free shops and bought some chocolates.
Ferry ticket going to Serasa costs 35 RM per person. Alcohol is forbidden for Brunei citizens but tourists are allowed to bring 1 liter of alcohol. The were only few passengers on board when we left at 1:30 PM going to Brunei and we noticed that there were no other female passengers except me and my sister.
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| empty seats - ferry going to Serasa |
Arrival in Serasa, Brunei
We arrived in Serasa at around 3 PM.
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| Immigration Check |
We are bound to Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB), the capital of Brunei and it is 1 hour drive away from Serasa Ferry Terminal. We were lucky that there was already a purple bus bound to BSB outside the terminal waiting for passengers. Be sure to catch it if you are bound to BSB also because taxi fare is very expensive while bus fare is only B$ 2 only per person.
Crossing Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia - BSB, Brunei by Bus
We've met fellow Filipino travelers in the hotel we are staying in Brunei according to them they crossed the border by bus. Bus station going to Brunei is also near Jesselton Point, just ask the taxi driver to take you there. They also left KK City at around 8AM and arrived in BSB at 5PM. And here's the good part, they've got 8 stamps in their passport. Yup you read it right, 8 stamps because according to them there are parts of Malaysia and Brunei that has exit and entry of both countries that the bus will pass like, Malaysia - Brunei - Malaysia - Brunei. Their travel time is 8 hours and it was also convenient and easy so if you want 8 stamps in your passport on single journey, try it out. :)
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| a mosque in Serasa |
We've met fellow Filipino travelers in the hotel we are staying in Brunei according to them they crossed the border by bus. Bus station going to Brunei is also near Jesselton Point, just ask the taxi driver to take you there. They also left KK City at around 8AM and arrived in BSB at 5PM. And here's the good part, they've got 8 stamps in their passport. Yup you read it right, 8 stamps because according to them there are parts of Malaysia and Brunei that has exit and entry of both countries that the bus will pass like, Malaysia - Brunei - Malaysia - Brunei. Their travel time is 8 hours and it was also convenient and easy so if you want 8 stamps in your passport on single journey, try it out. :)
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