From eTripTips Wiki
Limbang is a small town in northern-most part of Sarawak. It is the capital of the division of the same name.
While it has the pleasant atmosphere of an isolated Sarawak interior administrative centre, Limbang does not have that much to offer the traveller. However, you may find yourself here if travelling overland from Sabah to Sarawak or vice-versa. Limbang is also one start/end of the Headhunter's Trail to/from Mulu National Park.
Limbang is geographically peculiar as it is sandwiched between two parts of Brunei. This situation was created in 1890 when the White Rajahs of Sarawak forced the Sultan of Brunei to cede the Limbang district. Till today, the Sultanate continues a not-much-heard-of territorial claim over Limbang. Because of the undeveloped interior of the district, most transportation links between Limbang and the rest of Sarawak have to go through Brunei.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
The Limbang Airport (LMN) got a new airport in 2004 and has a new terminal. It lies about 5km from town on the road to Pandaruan and Temburong.
Fly Asian Xpress (FAX) (formerly Malaysia Airlines' Rural Air Service) links Limbang with the Sarawakian towns of Miri and Lawas, where there are onward flights to Kota Kinabalu, thus providing the opportunity to fly over expensive Brunei if travelling between Sabah and Sarawak. Malaysia Airlines no longer flies to Limbang.
- To/from Lawas: From Limbang, flights go to Lawas on Monday, Thursday and Friday. On the other direction, there are flights from Lawas for Limbang on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Most of these flights originate and are heading to other cities such as Miri and Kota Kinabalu.
- To/from Miri: There are three daily flights between Miri and Limbang utilsing Fokker aircraft (RM 88 before taxes and surcharges) which take 30mins. There are also Twin Otter flights several times a week which cost RM 45 before taxes and surcharges. The journey takes 40mins.
- To/from Kota Kinabalu: There is one flight directly from Kota Kinabalu on Fridays but there are no direct flights on the other direction (one of the odities of the rural air service scheduling). Those heading to Kota Kinabalu will have a stopover at Lawas.
[edit] By bus
- To/From Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: There are no direct buses. You will have to change buses at the Tedungan (Kuala Lurah on the Brunei side) border checkpoint. Going to Bandar Seri Begawan, catch Limbang Bus Company's "Batu Danau" bus from Limbang bus terminal which leave every one hour or so. It goes right up to the immigration checkpoint. Walk across the border and go through the immigration procedures of both countries. Wait for the purple bus to Bandar just after the Brunei immigration compound. See Bandar Seri Begawan section for more details of the Kuala Lurah-Bandar bus service.
- To/From Miri: There are no direct buses between Miri and Limbang. From Limbang, you will have to catch a bus to the Tedungan border checkpoint and then catch another bus to Bandar Seri Begawan before making your way to Miri. See above for details to get to Tedungan, and the Bandar Seri Begawan and Brunei pages for connections to Miri.
- To/From Nanga Medamit: Several buses a daily make their way to Nanga Medamit, the actual start or ending of the Headhunters' Trail to/from Gunung Mulu National Park.
- To/From Temburong, Brunei: Regular buses make their way from the bus terminal to Pandaruan where you can catch a ferry across the river to Puni in the Temburong district of Brunei. You will have to take taxis for your onward journey from Puni. The bus journey is about half an hour. Please not that there are no immigration facilities at Pandaruan. Stamp your passport out of Malaysia at Limbang wharf in town before you catch the bus to Pandaruan. If coming the other direction, get stamped in at Limbang wharf when you come into Limbang town.
[edit] By land
Limbang's network of roads link it to both the main part of Brunei (where its capital Bandar Seri Begawan is located) to the west and its Temburong district to the east. Travelling anywhere beyond Brunei, eg to Miri, Kuching or Kota Kinabalu, by land will require you go through Brunei.
- To/from Tedungan (for Bandar Seri Begawan): A relatively good road links Limbang with the Tedungan (known as Kuala Lurah on the Brunei side) border checkpoint, where good roads go all the way to Bandar Seri Begawan. See the "Get in" section of the Brunei page for directions to get to Kuala Lurah. Tedungan is about 40km from Limbang. Both Brunei and Malaysian immigration procedures can be done at the checkpoint. From Limbang, head south along the Limbang River. Take a right turn after the KM10 point and travel another 13km before taking another right turn (going straight will lead you to Nanga Medamit). The road road ends right at the border checkpoint. Queues can be quite long at the checkpoint, especially during weekends when Bruneians travel en mass to Limbang for some fun. Do the reverse if coming from Brunei.
- To/From Temburong: A road goes from Limbang to the Pandaruan River which forms the Brunei-Malaysia border. The distance is about 20km. Here, you have to take a ferry across to Puni on the Brunei side of the border. There is a vehicular ferry (RM 8 one way) and passenger boats. Please note: There is NO Malaysian customs and immigration office at the border. You have to get your passport stamped - either before you leave for the border or after your arrive - at the Limbang Immigration Office at the wharf in Limbang town. Brunei immigration is about 1km from the ferry at Puni and operates from a small house on the south side (right side if coming from the ferry) of the road. Failing to get the requisite stamps at for either country can cause hassles later.
- To/From Miri: You will have to travel through Brunei (and yes, you have to get your passports stamped at each of the checkpoints). Follow the directions to Tedungan above, then go to the "Get in" section of the Brunei page for directions for Bandar Seri Begawan to Kuala Lurah-Tedungan as well as from Bandar Seri Begawan to Miri.
- To/From Lawas and Kota Kinabalu: You will have to go through Brunei's Temburong district to get to Lawas. Follow the directions to/from Temburong above, then go to the "Get in" section of the Brunei page for onward directions.
- To/From Gunung Mulu National Park: This virtually requires you to do the Headhunters' Trail which starts of Nanga Medamit. See Gunung Mulu National Park page for details.
[edit] By boat
- To/From Bandar Seri Begawan: Speedboats which carry 12 people arrive/depart at the Limbang jetty in the centre of town. These boats leave when full, so it is better to use them in the morning when there is more traffic. The fare is RM15 one-way. Journey is about half hour to 45 minutes. Boats depart Limbang from the Customs jetty in town while in Bandar Seri Begawan, the boats use the city jetty at Jalan McArthur.
- To/From Labuan: Two ferries daily, departing Limbang at 0730 and 0800. From Labuan, ferries depart at 1230 and 1400. Tickets cost RM20 one-way. Journey time about two and a half hours. Ferries depart from the Customs jetty in town.
- To/From Lawas: The Express Utama (Tel: +60-85–211977 in Limbang) runs daily in both directions. Ferries depart Limbang at 0800 while from Lawas, departures are at 0900. Tickets cost RM20 one-way. Journey time is about two hours. Boats arrive/depart from the jetty at Taman Kenangan in Limbang town.
[edit] Get around
[edit] Get out
