Sandakan
Discover Sandakan
Sandakan is a city of almost 440,000 people (2020) in Sabah, Borneo. It is the gateway to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. Sandakan was the capital of British North Borneo until 1946. The town prospered in the early days due to its port with visiting traders from around the world. Sandakan is an important town to Australian and British World War II history with the infamous Death Marches commencing here in 1945 and ending in Ranau. After the war, the capital was moved to Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu).
Taste of Sandakan...
About seven kilometres outside of town in a few shoplots, there are a number of entirely or partially Chinese vegetarian restaurants serving mock meat dishes. It's a good place to stop on your way back from the Memorial Park. Also, don't forget the steamboat at the Trig Hill; it's very tasty and the seafood is very big. The price is also very reasonable. Turtle eggs, while illegal, are obtainable at the local wet market at a very cheap rate. Do not get caught with turtle eggs in your luggage as police and customs officials will take a very serious view of this and will press criminal charges. Due to the ongoing kidnapping threats and actions posed by pirates from the southern Philippines, there is a large military/police presence in Eastern Sabah coastal waters and a night time curfew on all vessels. (October 2017)
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsDaily direct connections with Kuala Lumpur (by AirAsia) and to Kota Kinabalu (by Malaysia Airlines and its subsidiary MASWings). MASWings also has connecting flights with Kudat, Lahad Datu, and Tawau. From Kota Kinabalu: several bus companies depart between 7AM-2PM, and 8PM (~5 hr, RM 33). You can purchase the full-fare ticket from Kota Kinabalu and request to be picked up from Kinabalu park HQ. (Duration from Kinabalu park about 4.5 hours. Updated Aug 2022 with Tung Ma bus.) The bus will pass the junction to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and you can ask to be dropped off here. The centre is about 4 km down the road and costs RM 3-5 pp by taxi to get to (drivers will be waiting at the bus drop-off). To get to KK North Bus Terminal in Inanam get on a public bus (go to the bus station on Jalan Padang across from the State Library [RM 1.50, 20 min]) or by taxi (~RM 20). To Semporna: buses leave from the express bus terminal for Semporna at 7:30AM, 8AM, and 2PM....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The city center area, near the jetty, is walkable. Otherwise, the city broadly sprawls out to the west and north up to the airport, and is best to rent a car or use Grab taxis. Travel by taxi out to places such as Sepilok or the War Memorial is easy, however fare negotiation will be required as meters are not commonly available. Taxi to Sepilok wait and return RM 40. Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary RM 180. Airport from downtown RM 28. [Feb 2010] Taxi to Sepilok and Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary wait and return RM 160. [Aug 2022] There are buses and vans going everywhere in the areas around Sandakan, to the airport, Sepilok, Buli Sim Sim, etc. There is a water taxi from Buli Sim-Sim to Pulau Berhala. For individual explorations of the islands within Sandakan Bay, it is highly recommended to book local boats only via tour agencies or experienced guides. Sandakan is only a small town and it is easy to walk around. There is a walking trail which covers all the main sites.
Where to Stay
Turtle eggs, while illegal, are obtainable at the local wet market at a very cheap rate. Do not get caught with turtle eggs in your luggage as police and customs officials will take a very serious view of this and will press criminal charges. Due to the ongoing kidnapping threats and actions posed by pirates from the southern Philippines, there is a large military/police presence in Eastern Sabah coastal waters and a night time curfew on all vessels. (October 2017)
Money & Budget
Fancy "Salted Fish"? Prawn crackers & dried shrimps are tasty and available at the local market. Dried "Ikan Bilis" is also a locally produced product available at most shops and even at the Airport; available to bring back as gifts. About seven kilometres outside of town in a few shoplots, there are a number of entirely or partially Chinese vegetarian restaurants serving mock meat dishes. It's a good place to stop on your way back from the Memorial Park. Also, don't forget the steamboat at the Trig Hill; it's very tasty and the seafood is very big. The price is also very reasonable. Turtle eggs, while illegal, are obtainable at the local wet market at a very cheap rate.
Language & Talk
Sandakan has always been a predominantly Chinese town. Unlike most other parts of Sabah, the main Chinese dialect in use among Sandakan's Chinese is Cantonese. However, the most widely spoken Chinese dialect in Sabah, Hakka, is also widely spoken and understood, as is Mandarin. Among locals of different ethnicities, the lingua franca is Malay. Most residents are able to understand and speak at least basic English. Other races, such as the Bajau and Suluk, may be able to speak their own native languages but generally these native tongues are not in common use as a lingua franca within the community. Daily direct connections with Kuala Lumpur (by AirAsia) and to Kota Kinabalu (by Malaysia Airlines and its subsidiary MASWings).
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Turtle eggs, while illegal, are obtainable at the local wet market at a very cheap rate. Do not get caught with turtle eggs in your luggage as police and customs officials will take a very serious view of this and will press criminal charges. Due to the ongoing kidnapping threats and actions posed by pirates from the southern Philippines, there is a large military/police presence in Eastern Sabah coastal waters and a night time curfew on all vessels. (October 2017)
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Sandakan
cityscape facing ocean during golden hour
a monkey hanging from a rope in a forest
an orangutan hanging from a rope in a forest
Eastern grey gibbon🇲🇾 (Endangered species)
a close up of a monkey on a tree branch
Orangutan lips
Orangutan
The beautiful face of a young female Orangutan at Sepilok Orangutan Rehab center in Borneo
Proboscis Monkey, Sandakan, Borneo.
a close up of a lizard on a branch
cityscape facing ocean during golden hour
a monkey hanging from a rope in a forest
an orangutan hanging from a rope in a forest