NUIBE Most visitors heading to Semporna, Sipadan, Mabul or Kapalai fly into Tawau Airport. It is the closest airport to Semporna — about 75 km away, or roughly 1.5 hours by road. As a local team in Semporna, we meet first-time visitors every day, and the same few things catch them by surprise. Here they are.
1. It's a small airport — plan for that
If you are flying in from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or any other big city in the world, Tawau Airport will feel very small. Many visitors expect a large terminal like the one they left from. Instead, it is a compact, single-terminal airport with a small arrivals hall and only a few services.
- Bring some Malaysian ringgit (RM) cash with you. Services at the airport are limited, especially in the evening.
- Most hotels in Semporna take the room deposit in cash only. A few accept a credit card, but then the deposit is usually refunded only about 2 weeks after you check out — so cash for the deposit is the easier option.
- Save your hotel address and your transfer booking on your phone before you take off.
- On evening and last flights, most counters may already be closed when you walk out.
2. Flying in from Peninsular Malaysia? Get your passport stamped
Sabah has its own immigration control. Even if you have already entered Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru, you go through immigration again when you land in Tawau.
- Keep your actual passport with you (not a copy) — you will need it at the counter.
- Malaysian citizens: have your MyKad ready. When you enter Sabah (at Kota Kinabalu, Tawau or Sandakan), you are given a small entry slip that looks like a receipt. Do not lose it — without it you will not be able to leave Sabah.
- Not sure if you have the right stamp? Ask the officer before you leave the arrivals area. It is far easier to sort out there than later.
3. The drive to Semporna — take care on a late flight
The road from Tawau Airport to Semporna runs about 75 km through oil palm estates and small villages. In daylight it is an easy, scenic drive. At night it is a different story: long stretches have no street lights at all, and it is pitch dark.
If your flight lands in the evening, or you are on the last flight of the day:
- Book your transfer before you fly. Do not wait until you land to look for transport. By then there are few options left, and you would be arranging a long night drive with strangers.
- Shared bus — a good choice if you are travelling light or on a budget. You travel together with other passengers, with a driver who knows the road.
- Private sedan from a trusted, licensed operator — best if you want to go straight to your hotel, or you are travelling as a family or small group.
- Before you get in, check you have your driver's name and vehicle number, and share your trip details with a friend or your hotel.
Quick checklist before you land
- Some ringgit cash in your wallet (for the hotel deposit and small shops). Other payments commonly accepted: credit card, Alipay, WeChat Pay, DuitNow QR and Touch 'n Go eWallet
- Hotel address and transfer booking saved on your phone
- Passport stamped at Tawau immigration (foreign visitors)
- Transfer booked in advance — especially for evening and last flights