Arriving at the Bakelalan Airport.

First, you should note that only MasWings, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, flies to Bakelalan, and no other airlines serve this route.

They use the DHC Twin Otter turboprop plane, which seats up to 16 passengers per flight and takes about an hour from Miri Airport. The Bakelalan airport is one of the smallest airports in Malaysia and is straightforward, unlike what you are commonly used to.

The arrival hall at the airport.

The Bakelalan airport code is BKM and is located just by the main village of Bakelalan, at an altitude of 884 meters (2,900 feet) above sea level.

Here is my personal and unique experience at the Bakelalan airport when I last visited several years ago. The airport sits at the edge of Bakelalan village, meaning you can just walk to your homestay from the airport when you land here.

Yes, the airport is so small; it is made of mainly wood and has only three sections. A combined arrival and departure room, a ticket counter, and a control tower on top.

Important Information About Flying to Bakelalan

Me sitting in the Twin Otter plane bound for Bakelalan.

First-timers will need to know that if you leave Miri for Bakelalan, diversions or other factors may require the flight to turn back. For example, just before your flight arrives and there is a storm or strong winds, it may return to Miri, and your flight will be retimed to the next available.

If you have a confirmed flight ticket and it storms terribly on that day, your flight may be rescheduled to the next available day. Yes, I am not kidding about this; it almost happened to me once.

The MasWings flight is about to land in Bakelalan.

I have heard of situations where passengers could already see Bakelalan from their plane window but had to return to Miri because of the strong winds, and the flight could not land.

Another case I heard is that on the flight out of Bakelalan, passengers could not fly that day because of a heavy storm, and flights from Miri or Lawas could not depart.

How Many Flights Are There to Bakelalan?

Aerial view of Bakelalan while flying in the Twin Otter plane.

There are only three flights to Bakelalan a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. This means you must plan your flight in and out according to the flight schedules. Another thing to note is that most flights will be fully booked due to locals travelling. This is also because each flight can accommodate up to 15 passengers.

If you are planning to visit here, I recommend booking at least a couple of months in advance, as last-minute bookings may not have any seats available. During school holidays or other significant holidays in Sarawak, flights are usually fully booked by locals travelling back home.

Only three airports service the Bakelalan route: Miri, Lawas and Bario. Miri is the international airport for Northern Sarawak, while the other two are smaller village airports.

The emergency response unit at Bakelalan Airport.

Bakelalan Flight Information

Three flights a week are crucial for your booking if you want to visit this unique highland village. The best option is a direct flight from Miri to Bakelalan.

Miri to Lawas, then to Bakelalan (Mon, Wed, Sat) – Depart: 10.35 AM, Arrive: 12.10 PM.

The above flight stops in Lawas for a very short transit before continuing to Bakelalan. There is no direct flight from Miri to Bakelalan.

Luggage has to be weighed before checking in, including the passenger.

What if I cannot book a Flight?

This is a common question asked by visitors who try and book at the last minute. In most cases, there may be only one or two seats available, or you have to keep trying until you get one.This applies to those travelling in pairs or groups of three or more, and as I mentioned earlier, it is best to book well ahead if you want to visit this beautiful place. Some visitors manage to fly in but cannot fly out; hence, they will have to take the local 4WD transport out of Bakelalan and back to Lawas or Limbang.

The price varies and is usually above RM100 per person, depending on whether there is a trip going on that day. Usually, it will be with other locals using this service too. If you plan to charter the entire 4WD, the price may be three to four times higher. This is only done if you really need to catch a connecting flight or have other urgent matters.

Other Ways To Travel To Bakelalan

If all fails, there is still the good old way of taking a 4WD from Miri or any other city around here. No buses or trains travel to Bakelalan, and you need to book a 4WD from those who regularly operate the service.

If you are driving across the border, you must have your passport to enter Brunei and exit. Most people fly to Lawas or Limbang and then start their journey to Bakelalan from there.

What to Do in Bakelalan?

If you are already planning to come here, you must have an itinerary, unless you are taking a tour package to Bakelalan. For those thinking of visiting this unique destination in Sarawak, you need to know what you can do there, as I have written about it.

No proper hotels or modern-day shops are available here, only homestays and family-run grocery shops, local cafes and restaurants. Things are laid back here, and activities include trekking, learning about the local culture and absorbing the laidback life here.

Bird watching in Bakelalan is one of the special activities, as a couple of Sarawak’s endemic birds are found there. This needs to be arranged specifically rather than as a commercial activity.I have also written a comprehensive article on what to do in Bakelalan, and if you are planning to visit, you should read it for a heads-up.

Airport Code: BKM

Aircraft: DCH-6 Twin Otter

Airlines: MasWings

Operator: Malaysia Airports

Note: In 2026, AirBorneo took over MasWings.

MasWings Flight Network around Sabah and Sarawak.

Conclusion

Bakelalan Airport is one of the most unique airports I have been to, and when you do get here, you will see why. Overall, if you are an aviation fan, this is a unique rural airport experience which you will remember for life. The way things are done here still dates back to the early days and is such a rush to witness and experience in person.