Find cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu

Flights to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, from London, take between 18 to 21 hours if stopping for an hour or two along the way. Add a second stopover to your flight and it can take anywhere between 19 and 20 hours to get there. Flying out to Kota Kinabalu from Manchester usually means stopping twice, with a total flight time of between 20 and 25 hours. Opt for an overnight stay and it can take up to 37 hours. Flights from Glasgow to Kota Kinabalu stop twice and take around 21 hours (or up to 31 hours with a longer stopover). Stop three times and your journey time can vary anywhere between 30 and 40 hours.

Direct flights from the UK to Kota Kinabalu airport, Malaysia, are few and far between, with most requiring one or two stops along the way. Flights out of London, Manchester, and Glasgow usually stop off in Kuala Lumpur before heading to Kota Kinabalu. If your flight is stopping twice, then you might switch planes in Abu Dhabi, Doha, or Dubai before grabbing a connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur to your end point: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Some Kota Kinabalu flight deals stop three times (when flying out from Glasgow, for example), in which case your stopovers are likely to be in Amsterdam, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.

UK citizens don’t need a visa to visit Malaysia unless staying for longer than three months. For longer stays, you must obtain a visa from the Malaysian High Commission in London before you travel. Either way, you’ll need a British passport that’s valid for at least six months from your date of entry. Note that if you’re planning to travel from Kota Kinabalu and Borneo Island to Peninsular Malaysia you’ll need to take your passport with you.

Kota Kinabalu is situated west of the northern tip of Borneo island. It’s a bustling, modern city with towering hotels and a few colonial buildings left over from English rule. It’s also a place of striking natural beauty, sandwiched between the South China Sea and two national parks. The city centre is compact and easily walkable. Start the day strolling along KK Waterfront where modern shopping centres rub shoulders with colourful flea markets. Stop to admire Kinabalu City Mosque, a harmonious-looking building that appears to float on top of a shimmering lagoon. A 20-minute walk east of here are the Atkinson Clock Tower and Signal Hill Observatory Tower. Both offer a sweeping panorama of the city from above. Round the day off by sampling fresh seafood at Todak Waterfront Hawker Centre then join the locals to watch the sun set on Tanjuk Aru Beach. Craving an adventure in the great outdoors? Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park or head to Kinabalu National Park where experienced climbers can take on Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia’s tallest peak.

Finding the right flight to Kota Kinabalu is quick and easy when you have a range of options in front of you, from reputable agents and recognisable airlines. These options can then be filtered down to find the best fit. That is what momondo does. We make finding flights to Kota Kinabalu quick and easy, saving you time and money.

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