How to travel from George Town to Tawau, Malaysia
The distance between George Town and Tawau is around 2,191km (1,362 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 5h 20m.
3 routes found
We've found 3 different ways to get from George Town to Tawau by plane, bus, ferry and train. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Tawau → George Town if you're planning a return trip.
Fly
Fly from Penang (PEN) to Tawau (TWU).
- Duration5h 20m
- Flight time4hrs
- Typical costMYR 600($135)
AirAsia
+ 2 othersPlane and Bus
Fly from Penang (PEN) to Lahad Datu (LDU) then take the bus to Tawau Terminal Bus Sri Indah.
- Duration7h 40m
- Flight time3h 45m
- Typical costMYR 915($205)
Multiple operators
Ferry, Train and Plane
Take a ferry to Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal then take the train to Anak Bukit then fly from Alor Setar (AOR) to Tawau (TWU).
- Duration6h 15m
- Flight time4hrs
- Typical costMYR 770($175)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between George Town and Tawau
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from George Town to Tawau by plane, bus, ferry and train. The cheapest option is to fly which costs around MYR 600 ($135) and will take around 5h 20m.
The distance between George Town and Tawau is around 2,191km (1,362 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,950km (1,211 miles)
It takes around 5h 20m to get from George Town and Tawau by plane.
The quickest way to get from George Town to Tawau is to fly which takes around 5h 20m and will set you back approx MYR 600 ($135).
The cheapest way to travel between George Town and Tawau is to fly which will typically cost around MYR 600 ($135) for a standard one-way ticket.
Flights and Airlines
Yes you can fly from George Town and Tawau. Flights depart from Penang (PEN) and arrive at Tawau (TWU) - via Kuala Lumpur (KUL). The flight takes around 4hrs.
There is no direct flight from George Town to Tawau. There is however a flight that goes via Kuala Lumpur (KUL). This services will take at least 5h 20m (not including layover time).
The flight from George Town to Tawau typically takes around 4hrs. Flights depart from Penang (PEN) and and arrive into Tawau (TWU).
The closest major airport to Tawau is Tawau Airport (TWU) (TWU) which is approximately 27km (17 miles) from Tawau. Lahad Datu Airport (LDU) (LDU) and Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) (BKI) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from George Town to Tawau is to fly which takes, on average, 5h 20m and will usually cost around MYR 600 ($135).
Compare travel optionsbetween George Town and Tawau
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fly | 5h 20m | MYR 600($135) | every 30 mins | 2,206km (1,371 miles) |
Plane and Bus | 7h 40m | MYR 915($205) | once daily | 2,191km (1,362 miles) |
Ferry, Train and Plane | 6h 15m | MYR 770($175) | every 2 hours | 2,390km (1,485 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between George Town and Tawau
Airlines
AirAsia
Malaysia Airlines
Firefly
Bus companies
TransTedar Express
Ferry operators
Rapid Ferry
Train operators
KTM Komuter
Airports near Tawau
The following major airports near Tawau offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Malaysia and internationally.
Tawau Airport (TWU)
- Distance
- 27km (17 miles) from Tawau
Lahad Datu Airport (LDU)
- Distance
- 101km (63 miles) from Tawau
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI)
- Distance
- 276km (172 miles) from Tawau