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Major city · Malaysia

Sandakan

Base in Sandakan 2–3 nights for Sepilok, the sun bears and the Kinabatangan; skip it if you only want beaches — that is Semporna.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MYR
Best months
Mar–Sep (drier)
avoid Nov–Jan (wettest); avoid the Ramadan period for some food stalls
Airport
SDK
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Sandakan is Sabah's second city and the wildlife gateway of Borneo: the Sepilok orangutan centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre sit 25 km west, the Kinabatangan River is 2 hours south, and the town itself holds WWII memorials and a walkable waterfront. It is a base for day trips, not a resort.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or teh tarik at a kopitiamRM3–6
  • Sit-down mealSeafood dinner, per personRM30–70
  • Street or quick mealNoodle or rice dish at a hawker centreRM8–15
  • BeerBeer at a bar / can at a shopRM15–25RM6–10
  • Taxi, about 5 kmGrab, 5 km in townRM8–15
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekRM30–60
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personRM30
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, budget or mid hotel, a night, per roomRM160
  • High-end bedDouble room, budget or mid hotel, a night, per roomRM320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget RM110 · Mid RM240 · High RM450

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

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.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation CentreBornean Sun Bear Conservation CentreKinabatangan River cruisesSandakan Memorial Park and the Death March historyFresh seafood and the waterfront
Airports
SDK Sandakan Airport (13 km from the centre; Grab or taxi about 20–25 min. Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia) and Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia Airlines, MASwings).)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Sandakan: 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

30°C

24°C

18 rd

Feb

30°C

24°C

14 rd

Mar

31°C

24°C

12 rd

Apr

32°C

25°C

11 rd

May

32°C

25°C

12 rd

Jun

32°C

25°C

12 rd

Jul

32°C

24°C

13 rd

Aug

32°C

24°C

14 rd

Sep

31°C

24°C

15 rd

Oct

31°C

24°C

17 rd

Nov

31°C

24°C

19 rd

Dec

30°C

24°C

20 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

The centre is walkable; everything else needs a car or Grab. Taxis rarely use meters, so agree the fare first. Grab is the simplest option for Sepilok, the airport and the memorial park. Buses and vans run to the airport, Sepilok and Buli Sim Sim, but are slow and stop early.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Grab or taxi from the centre, about 25 km / 30–40 min

Feeding times are the reason to go; arrive 30 min early. Combine with the sun bear centre next door.

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Same site as Sepilok, a short walk between entrances

Entrance fee about RM50; pair it with the orangutan centre in one morning.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

go

Door to door: 1–1.25 h each way

Grab or taxi, about 40 km / 1 h; the last stretch is rough

Feeding around 14:30 brings the monkeys close; entrance about RM60.

Kinabatangan River (Sukau)

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h each way

Tour transfer or hired car, about 2 h to the lodges

Too far for a day return; sleep 1–2 nights for dawn and dusk cruises.

Gomantong Caves

caution

Door to door: About 2 h each way

Hired car or tour, about 100 km / 1.5–2 h

Little public transport; entrance about RM30 plus a photo pass. Wear closed shoes.

Sandakan Memorial Park

go

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Grab or taxi, about 12 km / 15–20 min

Free entry; a small museum on the site of the WWII POW camp.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Town centre / waterfront

Walkable to the market, jetty and Harbour Square; best for a short stay with no car.

Mile 4 / Bandar Kim Fung

Local restaurants and cheaper rooms; 10–15 min by Grab to the centre.

Sepilok junction

Sleep next to the orangutan centre if you want the 10:00 and 15:00 feedings without a transfer.

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
RM90–150 excl. bed
Mid
RM180–320 excl. bed
High
RM400+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, budget or mid hotel1 × 2 nights × RM160RM320
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × RM240RM960
Grab, Sandakan centre to Sepilok, one way1 × RM45RM45
Sepilok orangutan centre entrance2 × RM30RM60
Sun bear centre entrance2 × RM50RM100
eSIM, about a week of data2 × RM40RM80
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeRM157
Trip total≈ RM431 per person per day, bed includedRM1,722≈ US$450

2026 estimate in ringgit; flights and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or teh tarik at a kopitiamRM3–6
Noodle or rice dish at a hawker centreRM8–15
Seafood dinner, per personRM30–70
Beer at a bar / can at a shopRM15–25 / RM6–10
Grab, 5 km in townRM8–15
Taxi, airport to centreRM28–40
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekRM30–60

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Sandakan is generally safe for tourists by day; the real issues are taxi fares without meters, the eastern Sabah boat curfew and afternoon storms. Check current travel advice before any island trip.
  • Agree taxi fares before you get in; meters are uncommon.
  • There is a night-time curfew on vessels in eastern Sabah coastal waters and a visible security presence — check current advice before any island or boat trip.
  • Do not buy or carry turtle eggs; it is illegal and prosecuted.
  • Afternoon storms are common; plan outdoor sights for the morning.
  • The Kinabatangan and Gomantong Caves are far; a tour or a hired car is the realistic option.

Emergency numbers

Police and ambulance
999
Fire
994
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

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SandakanSandakan

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Tolong pergi ke alamat iniTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police and ambulance999
  • Fire994
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No embassies in Sandakan; most are in Kuala Lumpur, with consulates in Kota Kinabalu. Check your own country's list.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Grab, centre to Sepilok: about RM45 one way
  • Taxi, airport to centre: about RM28–40
  • Bus, Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan: about RM33, 5 h

Say or show

  • Terima kasih — Thank you (terima kasih)
  • Berapa harganya? — How much is it? (berapa harganya)
  • Di mana tandas? — Where is the toilet? (di mana tandas)
  • Saya mahu ini — I would like this (saya mahu ini)
  • Boleh guna meter? — Can you use the meter? (boleh guna meter)

Carry small notes for markets and taxis.

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 Sandakan. 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–Sep (drier) · avoid Nov–Jan (wettest); avoid the Ramadan period for some food stalls · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 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