Cheap Flights to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from $612

COVID Restrictions

View COVID Travel Restrictions for Kota Kinabalu

Can I fly to Kota Kinabalu right now?

There are currently restrictions on flights to Kota Kinabalu along with the rest of Malaysia. Before you book or search for flights, consider the following restrictions: Entry restrictions

Malaysia has restricted entry to all traveler, except for citizens, permanent residents with a MyPR card, travelers and students with an approval from the Malaysian immigration, travelers with Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) permit, diplomats, embassy employees, and spouses or children of Malaysian nationals, who must have a sticker label visa in the passport specifically indicating this status. Holders of the following passes may apply for entry permission: “Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) and their dependents, Employment Pass (Category EP I, II and III), Professional Visit Pass (PVP), Dependent Pass to expatriate for all categories, Long Term Social Visit Pass (LT-SVP) to expatriate for all categories, and Foreign Maid to expatriate for all categories. The entire country remains under a “Recovery Movement Control Order” (RMCO) through March 31. Additionally, certain states and districts with higher prevalence of COVID-19 are subject to Movement Control Orders (MCOs), Conditional Movement Control Orders (CMCOs), or Enhanced Movement Control Orders (EMCOs). Sabah is subject to an MCO through February 4. For additional information on traveling to Sabah, please consult with Sabah's state authorities. All districts in Sarawak are subject to a CMCO through February 14 except for Sibu, which is subject to an MCO through February 14. For additional information on traveling to Sarawak, please consult with Sarawak's state authorities.

Entry requirements

Travelers must have a formal written approval from the Malaysian Government before attempting to enter Malaysia. Malaysian immigration operates a consolidated portal called My Travel Pass for most categories of pass holders to request permission to enter. Travelers with a Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) permit must have a return approval and may also be requested from immigration via My Travel Pass. International students must have a written approval from immigration applied at Education Malaysia website Airline crew must have their names listed on the General Declaration.

Quarantine requirements

All arriving travelers will be tested on arrival, and are subject to a mandatory quarantine requirement in a government facility. All costs for the quarantine are borne by the traveler. Travelers will be required to download the MySejahtera application and will be issued a wristband for identification and monitoring by the authorities during their quarantine period. Travelers presenting the results of a negative RT-PCR test undertaken within 72 hours of their departure to Malaysia must quarantine for 7 days upon arrival. The Malaysian authorities may require a COVID-19 test upon arrival, and will require an additional COVID-19 test on the 5th day of quarantine. Travelers not presenting the results of a negative RT-PCR test will be tested upon arrival and must quarantine for 10 days with an additional COVID-19 test on the 8th day of quarantine.

Transiting rules

Travelers may not transfer from international flights to domestic flights, except for Malaysian nationals who are traveling to Sabah or Sarawak. Foreigners may not enter Sabah without prior approval, which must be requested in advance from the Sabah State Secretary (Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sabah) at crisis@sabah.gov.my.

If you are looking to book a trip to Kota Kinabalu and are outside of the restricted areas, please take the proper precautions and stay informed about traveling during COVID-19.

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Cheapest Prices for Kota Kinabalu flights by month

January

$882

February

$799

March

$722

April

$891

May

$980

June

$1,231

July

$1,095

August

$829

September

$898

October

$1,009

November

$760

December

$1,017

Currently, March is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Flying to Kota Kinabalu in June will prove the most costly. There are multiple factors that influence the price of a flight so comparing airlines, departure airports and times can help keep costs down.

When is the best time to fly to Kota Kinabalu?

LAS - BKI Price	$722 - $1,922
BKI Temperature	87.8 - 91.4 °F
BKI Rainfall	3.11 - 16.18 inches

Whilst there are several times of the year to choose from, March is seen as the time to fly to Kota Kinabalu, however, it is possible to get good deals throughout the year. If weather is an important factor for you when considering when to fly to Kota Kinabalu, the warmest period tends to be April, with the wettest being October.

The capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu enjoys a prime location on the shore of the South China Sea and is an inspired choice for exciting vacations and breaks. KK, as it’s also known, is surrounded by tropical rainforest and enjoys some of the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets in the world. The city is on the beautiful island of Borneo, and Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is a major attraction, while the Koto Kinabalu National Park is also within easy reach. Fish to your heart’s content in one of the world’s top fishing spots, or explore the history and culture of the region. With spectacular beaches, Mount Kinabalu, historic sites and national parks within easy reach, you can easily tailor your vacation to your personal preferences.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is about 20 to 30 minutes from the city by boat, and divers from all over the world come to explore popular dive sites like the Gaya wreck. The islands and beaches throughout the national park are breathtaking, and offer a wide range of snorkelling and diving opportunities.

Learn more about the history of the city by visiting some of the local museums such as the Sabah State Museum, or take in local art at the Sabah Art Gallery or Borneo Art Gallery. Local sights such as the Atkinson Clock Tower which was built in 1902 when the city was still part of the British Commonwealth, or take a walk up to the Signal Hill Observatory for superb views.

Be sure to see the fabulous city mosque and the Sabah state mosque, as well as the amazing Che Sui Khor Pagoda. Each is an impressive structure and a stark contrast to the modern buildings in the downtown area.

No visit to the city would be complete without trying some of the many local foods and there are dozens of food stalls or kedai kopi (coffee shops) offering everything from Malay and Chinese to Javanese food.

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Best Time to Fly to Kota Kinabalu

Lying between the coast and Mount Kinabalu means that rain showers are an almost daily occurrence in the city. However, they are normally short and refreshing. Temperatures are an average of 82.4 degrees (Fahrenheit) all year round, and the hottest months are April and May. January is the coolest month and also one of the best times to plan a visit to catch the Chinese New Year celebrations. Thanks to stable weather conditions, any time of year is perfect for a vacation in the city, though it is drier in February and March.

Because weather is reasonably stable and the difference between wet and dry season is not marked, flights to the city don’t fluctuate in price much over the course of the year. School vacations and the Chinese New Year combined with the dry season make the months of January to April slightly more expensive, while the ‘wet season’ from September to the beginning of January tends to be slightly cheaper.

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Getting around Kota Kinabalu

There are minibus and van services which locals use to get around the town, and these are a budget-friendly option for travelers. Taxis are plentiful, but unlike the airport service, you will need to haggle to agree the fare you want to pay. The city is small and getting around on foot is relatively simple if you’re aware of traffic.

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