MY · Sabah · 4.26°N 117.89°E

tawau

Cocoa and seafood town in Sabah's south-east, gateway to the dive islands.

Best time
Any time of year. Expect warm days and short, heavy showers.
How long
1 day, or a night on the way to Semporna
Getting there
Direct flights from KL take about 2 hours 45 minutes. From Kota Kinabalu it's a 50-minute flight or a long day (about 8 hours) by road. Semporna is just over an hour's drive from the airport.
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MY · Sabahtawau4.26°N 117.89°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Cocoa and seafood town in Sabah's south-east, gateway to the dive islands.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTawauMY, Sabah
KLtawau
≈ 1,802 km from KL, as the crow flies
Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia

Photo: LDyou2 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Sabah's third-largest town, on the south-east coast near the Indonesian border. Most travellers pass through on the way to Semporna and the dive islands, but it's a working cocoa and seafood town with a rainforest park on its doorstep.

Makan

  1. SeafoodFish, prawns and crabs come straight off the boats here.Map ↗
  2. Indonesian foodWith a big Bugis and Indonesian community, Indonesian dishes are easy to find around town.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Tawau Hills ParkRainforest trails, waterfalls and some very tall trees, about half an hour from town.Map ↗
  2. Cocoa and local chocolateTawau grows much of Sabah's cocoa, and you'll find chocolate made from local beans around town.Map ↗
  3. The waterfront marketsBrowse fresh seafood and dried goods, and watch the fishing boats come and go.Map ↗
  4. SempornaThe jumping-off point for Mabul, Sipadan and the other islands, just over an hour away.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Heading to Semporna's islands? Fly into Tawau, not Kota Kinabalu. It saves most of a day.
  • Ferries run from Tawau to Nunukan and Tarakan in North Kalimantan, Indonesia. Bring your passport and check entry rules before you go.

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