If you’re a backpacker, saving cost and finding the cheapest the way to travel are your highest priorities. Here’s one of the most asked questions by travellers planning to go to Semporna: what is the cheapest way to get there from Tawau airport?

Since the new airport is located 33km from Tawau’s town centre and 1/4th of the way to Semporna, there isn’t really a direct way to get to Semporna from the airport except by Taxi. A taxi may cost you around RM100-150.

If time is not an issue then you can consider the following; assuming that you arrived during the day. There will be very few buses leaving for Semporna after 4pm.

1. Take a taxi from Tawau Airport to Tawau’s bus terminal for RM35. The bus terminal is located at Sabindo Square, near the post office and the Al-Kauthar mosque.

2. Once you’ve reached the terminal you can choose to take a mini van or a bus. Bus leaves on a fixed schedule whereby mini vans will wait until they reach maximum capacity before they leave.

3. The fare is RM10-RM15 to Semporna from Tawau. The distance is about 90km and will take slightly more than an hour.

Another alternative is to walk from the airport right to the main road (about 3km) and hope that a mini van to Semporna would stop.

Contrary to what you’ve read on travel guides, there are actually many interesting things to do in Tawau. Feel free to contact us or visit our Facebook page to ask any question.