Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu (KUL - BKI)

The capital of Sabah is Kota Kinabalu (also referred to as 'KK' and formerly known as Jesselton). It is one of the biggest cities of Malaysia, with a population of almost 600.000. The city offers magnificent views on Crocker Range, where the highest mountain is Mount Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu has quickly become a modern city. The city offers some great Hawker centers, where you can get delicious meals. Make sure you have a good meal along the splendid hawkers at Tanjung Aru; right next to the beach. Near to Kota Kinabalu you will find some very luxurious resorts; among others the very exclusive Tanjung Aru resort and Rasa Ria resort; both part of the well-known Shangri-La group (Rasa Ria has a small nature reserve with young orangutans).

You could also visit Tun Mustapha Tower. This very tall and cylindrical shaped building is unlikely to miss. It is mainly a government building, but on the 18th floor, there is a revolving restaurant where you can have a drink or a meal and enjoy the great views over the city and the sea below. If you wish to snorkel while you are in Kota Kinabalu, your best option is to go to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. This marine park consists of five small islands off the coast of the city. This park is perfect for a daytrip, though can you also stay here overnight. There is also a small wildlife park located near the small town of Lok Kawi; a short distance south of Kota Kinabalu. It features orangutans, proboscis monkeys, gibbons, a rhinoceros, some tigers, local deer, various birds in a large aviary, elephants, and other animals. Lok Kawi offers a an alternative to visiting the national parks around Sabah for those on a tight schedule, as well as giving you the chance to see the animals much more up close than you would in the jungle (though nothing beats an encounter with the often rare animals in the wild). Do know that this is not an actual wildlife park, but more a tourist attraction; a fun attraction nonetheless. Another popular attraction in the vicinity of Kota Kinabalu is a visit to Kinabalu National Park. Here you can climb the 4095-meter Mount Kinabalu; one of the tallest mountains in Southeast Asia. Around the mountain there are numerous interesting sights. Nearby you can visit the Poring Hot Springs. Kinabalu National Park lies at 70 kilometers distance from the city of Kota Kinabalu. A trip by car will take you approximately 1,5 to 2 hours.

As Kota Kinabalu is the sixth biggest city in Malaysia you will find numerous big shopping malls within the city to keep all citizens happy. Latest malls are Suria Shopping Mall and MegaLONG, both officially opened to public in 2010. The biggest and most popular shopping mall in Kota Kinabalu is 1Borneo Hypermall. Within this huge complex you have a massive foodcourt, many shops and restaurants, supermarkets and department stores, a cinema, a bowling alley, an arcade hall, Seaworld, an indoor Chinatown and even 4 hotels; Novotel, Mercure Hotel, Tune Hotels and the Courtyard Hotel. Other malls in Kota Kinabalu are Kompleks Karamunsing, Centre Point, Wisma Merdeka, Warisan Square, Plaza Wawasan, Kompleks Asia City, City Mall and KK Plaza.

Every Sunday morning, between 8am and 1pm you can visit the Kota Kinabalu's Sunday Market (Tamu) on Jalan Gaya in the city center.

The best time to visit Kota Kinabalu would be from December to April when it's the peak season. The weather is at its best during this time to visit the beaches and go mount climbing at the Mount Kinabalu. Other activities that are more prominent are the white water river rafting and deep sea fishing. The winter months are also a great time to explore the nature parks present near Kot Kinabalu. People who want to beat the flock of tourists in winter may plan a visit during the autumn months which lasts from September to November. The accommodations are quite cheap as it's an off-season for tourism. Spring from April to early May are another great time to visit Kota Kinabalu. Although these months are prone to rains hampering the trip at times, this is an off/shoulder season, an excellent time for budget travellers and people who don't mind little showers. Outdoor activities aren't completely shut off as you can still go boating and mountain biking on dry days. 

1. How much is the ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu?

Airfare for Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu one-way is ranked between USD 78 to USD 172. The following table is airfares reference.

* Above are fares for one-way route per adult without taxes.

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2. What are the distance and duration?

The distance between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu is about 3252 kilometers which takes 2 hours 40 minutes to fly.

3. What are airports and airlines?

To fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, your flight departs at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and lands at Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Kota Kinabalu International Airport serves the city of Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. Located just 8 kilometres to the southwest of the city centre, the Kota Kinabalu Airport is the only major airport in Sabah. Housing two terminals, which are home to all state-of-the-art facilities and modern conveniences, the airport also includes a host of dining and shopping options. This airport also makes for the main getaway to the state of Sabah and the Borneo Islands, and is flocked by tourists from all parts of the country all year round.

Visitors will find plenty of duty-free shopping options as well as dining facilities at the Kota Kinabalu Airport, which helps them to travel comfortably and in peace. From fashion accessories to chocolates and confectionery, and from apparels to jewellery, there is a host of shops at the airport. Famous brands that you will find at the airport include 7-eleven, Adibayu Fashion & Accessories, BAR.FLY, Eraman Emporium, Unique Borneo Handicraft, and The Body Shop. An excellent selection of dining restaurants as well as fast food outlets is also available at the airport, which means that you need not worry about food before heading onto a long flight. Popular food chains like McDonald's, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, KFC and Wendy's can be found at the airport.

From Kota Kinabalu Airport passengers can use the following transports: bus (get to city centre in 45 minutes),taxi or car rental.

4. Some information about schedule.

In present time, the frequency of flights operated is as follows:

5. How to book a cheap ticket to Kota Kinabalu online?

You just need choose your expected itinerary in our website - vietnamairways.org and define the number of passengers, our system will automatically show fares for your flights.

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