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Voykit pocket guide · 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.
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.
- Country
- Malaysia
- Best months
- Mar–Sep (drier)
- Avoid
- Nov–Jan (wettest); avoid the Ramadan period for some food stalls
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MYR
- Money
- Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM); cards and e-wallets are widely used in Kuala Lumpur.
- Daily spend
- Budget RM90–150 excl. bed · Mid RM180–320 excl. bed · High RM400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police and ambulance 999 · Fire 994 · From mobiles 112
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin; hotels often have universal sockets.
- Tipping
- Hawker stalls: Nothing.; Restaurants: Nothing if 10% service charge is added; otherwise round up.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Guides: RM20–50 a day.
- Water
- Treated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap.
- Toilets
- Western and squat toilets side by side; water hose instead of paper; some public toilets cost RM0.20–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or teh tarik at a kopitiam | RM3–6 |
| Noodle or rice dish at a hawker centre | RM8–15 |
| Seafood dinner, per person | RM30–70 |
| Beer at a bar / can at a shop | RM15–25 / RM6–10 |
| Grab, 5 km in townGrab, 3.1 mi in town | RM8–15 |
| Taxi, airport to centre | RM28–40 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | RM30–60 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- 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).8.1 mi from the centre; Grab or taxi about 20–25 min. Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia) and Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia Airlines, MASwings).
Typical fares
- Grab, centre to Sepilok
- about RM45 one way
- Taxi, airport to centre
- about RM28–40
- Bus, Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
- about RM33, 5 h
Get 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 and do
Known for
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Kinabatangan River cruises
- Sandakan Memorial Park and the Death March history
- Fresh seafood and the waterfront
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre | Grab or taxi from the centre, about 25 km / 30–40 minGrab or taxi from the centre, about 16 mi / 30–40 min | About 1 h each way |
| Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre | Same site as Sepilok, a short walk between entrances | About 1 h each way |
| Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary | Grab or taxi, about 40 km / 1 h; the last stretch is roughGrab or taxi, about 25 mi / 1 h; the last stretch is rough | 1–1.25 h each way |
| Kinabatangan River (Sukau) | Tour transfer or hired car, about 2 h to the lodges | About 2 h each way |
| Gomantong Caves | Hired car or tour, about 100 km / 1.5–2 hHired car or tour, about 62 mi / 1.5–2 h | About 2 h each way |
| Sandakan Memorial Park | Grab or taxi, about 12 km / 15–20 minGrab or taxi, about 7.5 mi / 15–20 min | About 30 min each way |
Sleep
- 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.Sleep next to the orangutan centre if you want the 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM feedings without a transfer.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Terima kasihterima kasih |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?berapa harganya |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana tandas?di mana tandas |
| I would like this | Saya mahu inisaya mahu ini |
| Can you use the meter? | Boleh guna meter?boleh guna meter |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake or hand on heart; wait for women to offer a hand; avoid: Firm grips, hugging
- Pointing: Use the thumb with fingers folded; avoid: Index finger pointing
- Homes: Shoes off; avoid: Walking in with shoes
- Mosques: Covered clothes, headscarf for women; avoid: Entering during prayers
- Public affection: Keep it low-key; avoid: Kissing in public
Scams and watch-outs
- 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.
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.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sandakan yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Kinabatangan River cruises
- Sandakan Memorial Park and the Death March history
- Fresh seafood and the waterfront
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Sabah Tourism Board: www.sabahtourism.com/
- Malaysia Airports — Sandakan (SDK): www.malaysiaairports.com.my/
- Wikivoyage: Sandakan, revision 5243675 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5243675
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sandakan
Tolong pergi ke alamat ini
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Sandakan; most are in Kuala Lumpur, with consulates in Kota Kinabalu. Check your own country's list.
Carry small notes for markets and taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sandakan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.