Labuan ↔ Muara: the Malaysia to Brunei (by sea) border crossing
About 60 minutes of formalities between Malaysia and Brunei (by sea), and this is one of the frontiers you can cross without abandoning your seat.
Malaysia ↔ Brunei (by sea) · about 60 minutes · 1 service · 1 written-up journey
How the crossing works
Labuan ↔ Muara
Malaysia ↔ Brunei (by sea)- Where
- Ferry terminal at each end
- On the train?
- n/a
- Luggage
- Yes
- Visa
- Brunei is visa-free for many nationalities on short visits. Confirm for your own passport.
- Cash on the far side
- Brunei dollars; Singapore dollars are accepted at par.
- Time cost
- About 60 minutes of formalities
The trap. Muara is a working port well outside Bandar Seri Begawan, and onward transport thins out in the evening. Both this leg and the Kota Kinabalu one are weather-dependent.
The position here moves. Confirm it against the operator and your own government's current advice before you book anything that depends on it.
What crosses here
| Service | Operator | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labuan → Bandar Seri Begawan (Muara) Labuan – Muara ferry | Local ferry | 1h 30m | $12 |
Typical scheduled running time for the crossing leg itself, which does not include the 60 minutes of formalities above. Allow for both when you are working out whether a connection holds. Fares are indicative.
Local ferry. Bought at the pier. Turn up, check the last departure when you arrive, and do not be the one still on the dock. Punctuality: weather.
Getting to each side
The frontier is rarely the problem. Reaching it on a day when something onward is still running usually is.
Labuan
Malaysia| Reached by | Operator | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu (Tanjung Aru) → Labuan Labuan express ferry | Local ferry | 3h | $15 |
Bandar Seri Begawan (Muara)
BruneiWorth knowing. Brunei has no railway. The ferry chain from Sabah is the only way in that is not a road or a plane.
| Reached by | Operator | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandar Seri Begawan (Muara) → Miri Cross-border coach via Sungai Tujoh | Long-distance coach | 4h | $15 |
Journeys through Labuan ↔ Muara
Written up in full, each with this crossing in its proper place in the itinerary rather than as a footnote.
- Kuching to Kota Kinabalu overland 4 legs · 3d · $122
Plan a journey through it Pick two places and the crossing appears in the itinerary, with the buffer it needs.