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Major city · Malaysia

Lawas

Spend 1–2 days in Lawas as a stopover between Sabah and Sarawak; use a hotel for one night and explore nearby villages.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Lawas is a small frontier town on the Sabah‑Sarawak border, useful as a transit point or base for a day trip to Ba Kelalan. It has limited attractions, so one night is enough unless you plan a trek into the Kelabit Highlands.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
MYR
Best months
Mar–Oct (check)
avoid Nov–Feb (rainy season, check)
Airport
LWY
Nights
1

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Lawas: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
  • Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
  • Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
  • Malaysia ↗Most foreign visitors must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online shortly before arrival; use only the official immigration site.
  • Malaysia ↗Remove shoes before entering mosques, temples and homes; cover shoulders and knees, and use the robes on loan at major mosques.
  • Malaysia ↗Cards and e-wallets are common in cities; keep some ringgit in small notes for hawker stalls, taxis and tolls.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide8 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Lawas999 ▾
  • Police / ambulance999
  • Fire994
  • Mobile emergency112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Lawas, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Gateway to Ba KelalanLun Bawang cultureLocal Kolo mee noodles
Airports
LWY Lawas Airport (Served by MASWings; flights to Ba Kelalan (RM46), Kota Kinabalu (RM54), Limbang (RM34), Miri (RM60).)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  5. May

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

Best: Mar–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Feb (33°C (91°F)), coolest Jan (23°C (73°F) low), wettest Jan (10 rain days), driest May (6). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Lawas: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

10 rd

Feb

33°C (91°F)

23°C (73°F)

9 rd

Mar

33°C (91°F)

24°C (75°F)

8 rd

Apr

33°C (91°F)

24°C (75°F)

7 rd

May

33°C (91°F)

24°C (75°F)

6 rd

Jun

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

6 rd

Jul

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

6 rd

Aug

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

6 rd

Sep

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

7 rd

Oct

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

8 rd

Nov

32°C (90°F)

24°C (75°F)

9 rd

Dec

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

10 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Town is walkable; local minivans and buses connect to Trusan, Sundar, Merapok and Beaufort (Sabah).

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Ba Kelalan

caution

Door to door: ≈7 h

4WD hire or private seat; road 125 km (78 mi), rough, 6 h+

Only suitable with 4WD; price around RM40 one way.

Kuala Lawas (town centre)

go

Door to door: 5 min

Walk

Explore market, Hock Teck Shi Temple, local eateries.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Seri Malaysia Lawas Hotel

Rooms RM208–258; check‑in 3 PM, check‑out noon.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
RM30–50 excl. bed
Mid
RM80–120 excl. bed
High
RM150+ excl. bed

Watch out

Safety

Lawas is generally safe; main risks are road conditions on the Ba Kelalan track and border‑immigration checks, so keep documents handy.
  • Immigration at Merapok (Sabah border) and Trusan (Brunei‑Sarawak) requires passport checks.
  • Road to Ba Kelalan is rough, 4WD only, takes ≥6 h; check conditions in rainy season.

Emergency numbers

Police / ambulance
999
Fire
994
Mobile emergency
112
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Lawas. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–Oct (check) · avoid Nov–Feb (rainy season, check) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 2 day-trips, door to door
  6. 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Malaysia

Sources

Ask about Lawas

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