MY · Sabah · 5.83°N 118.12°E

sandakan

Seafood town and base for orangutans, sun bears and river safaris.

Best time
The drier months run from about March to October. The north-east monsoon brings heavier rain from around November to February. Turtles nest all year, with a peak from about July to October.
How long
2–3 days, with the wildlife trips
Getting there
Direct flights from KL take just under 3 hours. From Kota Kinabalu it's a 45-minute flight or about 5–6 hours by road.
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MY · Sabahsandakan5.83°N 118.12°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Seafood town and base for orangutans, sun bears and river safaris.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSandakanMY, Sabah
KLsandakan
≈ 1,846 km from KL, as the crow flies
Sandakan, Sabah: Sandakan Sports Complex

Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Sabah's second city and the old capital of British North Borneo, on a wide bay on the east coast. The town has good seafood, WWII history and a short heritage trail, and it's the base for orangutans at Sepilok, turtles on the islands and river cruises on the Kinabatangan.

Makan

  1. SeafoodPick from the tanks at the seafood restaurants. Prawns, crabs and fish are what the town is known for.Map ↗
  2. Dim sum breakfastSandakan's Cantonese roots show in its busy morning dim sum halls.Map ↗
  3. UFO tartsSmall sponge-and-custard tarts topped with meringue, a Sandakan bakery favourite.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Sandakan Memorial ParkThe site of the WWII prisoner-of-war camp where the Sandakan Death Marches began, with a small museum telling the story.Map ↗
  2. Heritage trailWalk up the hill past St Michael's stone church, Agnes Keith House and the English Tea House, with views over the bay.Map ↗
  3. Puu Jih Shih TempleA large Buddhist temple on a hill looking out over Sandakan Bay.Map ↗
  4. Turtle Islands ParkStay overnight on Selingan Island to watch green turtles nest and hatchlings being released.Map ↗
  5. Sepilok and Labuk BayOrangutans, sun bears and proboscis monkeys, all within an hour of town.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Turtle Islands visitor numbers are capped each night, so book the overnight trip well ahead.
  • Sepilok, Labuk Bay and the Kinabatangan are all in this corner of Sabah, so plan them as one trip.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.