Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BY BUS
Interstate destinations are covered by
comfortable, air-conditioned express
buses , operated either by the
government's Transnasional ( W ktb.com
.my), or by state or private bus
companies; each company has an o ce
at the bus station and prices are very
competitive. In many larger cities,
long-distance bus terminals tend to be
inconveniently located outside city
centres, but are connected to a central
(local) bus station by a shuttle bus.
Buses for long-distance routes (over
3hr) typically leave in clusters in the early
morning and late evening, while shorter
routes are served throughout the day. In
most cases, you can just turn up, though
on popular routes like KL to Penang
(8hr), overnight buses from KK to
Semporna, or during public and school
holidays, reserve ahead. Local buses
usually operate from a separate station,
serve routes within the state and are
cheaper, but also slower, less comfortable
and without air conditioning; buy your
ticket on the bus.
Numerous buses run across Sabah, but
they're outnumbered by the slightly faster
minibuses that leave, when full, from the
same terminals. Buses in Sarawak ply the
trans-state coastal road between Kuching
and Kota Kinabalu via Brunei, linked to
the two states by convenient direct buses.
Many guesthouses in Peninsular
Malaysia offer convenient minibus
transfers to popular destinations, such as
Taman Negara, Cameron Highlands,
and the Perhentian Islands jetty; such
transfers also exist between Miri and
Brunei and Sandakan and Sukau.
down the east coast to Kota Bharu. If
you plan on taking any of these routes,
check o cial advice, such as that of the
Foreign & Commonwealth O ce
( W fco.gov.uk), and ask locals before
going. he safest routes are those from
Satun and Ko Lipe (see box, p.819).
From Satun, there is local transport to
Kuala Perlis and Pulau Langkawi or
Alor Setar, and the ferry from Koh Lipe
to Pulau Langkawi is a relatively
straightforward route.
6
VISAS
Citizens of the UK, the US, Australia,
New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and most
other European countries do not need a
visa for stays of up to three months in
Malaysia. To extend your visa , go to a
local immigration department o ce or
simply cross into Singapore (or hailand)
and back. Two-month extensions are
possible. Citizens of Israel are forbidden
to enter Malaysia.
Tourists travelling from the Peninsula to
Sarawak and Sabah must be cleared again
by immigration. Visitors to Sabah can
remain as long as their original three-
month stamp is valid. Visitors to Sarawak
- whether from Sabah or the Peninsula
- receive a new, one-month stamp; if you
wish to stay for longer, inform the
o cial; otherwise, immigration o ces in
Kuching and Kota Kinabalu can grant
one-month extensions.
GETTING AROUND
Public transport in Malaysia is very
reliable and relatively inexpensive. Buses
and long-distance taxis are most useful on
the Peninsula. Most towns in Sarawak
(and all towns in Sabah) are connected by
road, though to reach the interior you'll
have to travel by boat, and while the
more out-of-the-way destinations are
reachable by rough dirt roads, flying is a
far better option, as it's inexpensive.
Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Sabah and
Sarawak are connected by a network of
budget flights that, if booked well in
advance, can work out as cheap as
bussing it.
BY TRAIN
he Peninsula's train service, operated
by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM;
W ktmb.com.my), is limited and very slow
compared to buses; it also tends to arrive
at some destinations absurdly early in the
morning or late at night. However, it
does offer some spectacular scenic views
and is the best way to reach some of the
more interesting places in the interior.
here are only two main lines through
Peninsular Malaysia: one running up
 
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