The 11 best (mostly wild) things to do in Sandakan, Sabah

Last updated on May 31st, 2026 at 10:23 am

If you are a wildlife and nature lover these are my top 8 things to do in Sandakan, Sabah – and some of them are absolutely unmissable. I spent an unforgettable few days there with my daughter while we were in Sabah and definitely recommend it – as well as Sabah in general. Sabah is what I would call a wee beauty for the wildlife lover! Think of jungle-covered mountains, tropical islands, wildlife spotting, and some of Southeast Asia’s most spectacular scenery all come together in one place. Sandakan is a great stepping off point for plenty of adventures, but in its own right it has quite a lot to do in and around the town.

This post will tell you all you need to know to plan your time in Sandakan and beyond.

First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. Yes, they are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels, and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content. Cheers!

Plan for your trip

Flights – use Air Asia or skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains

Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. My top picks in Sandakan for you are:

• Full Day Orang Utan Sepilok, Proboscis Monkey, Sunbear
• Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch
• Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch
• Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan
• Safari Tour 3Days 2Nights in the Deramakot Forest

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!!

The best things to do on your trip to Sandakan…..

Note that some of these activities do involve visiting smaller reserves or rehabilitation centers – but they are all of good quality and genuine in protecting the wildlife. I’m sure you will have a great time here – enjoy!

1. Spend time with the Sun Bears at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre……

I normally avoid anything that resembles a zoo, or animals in captivity, but I’m so glad I made an exception for this amazing, and genuine, rescue and rehabilitation center for Sun Bears – the smallest bears in the world. It is top of my list of things to do in Sandakan.

The Sun Bear Conservation Center is brilliant! The staff are so passionate about the bears and rehabilitating them back to the wild wherever possible. They will chat to you for ages as they are so passionate. The center is cleverly laid out, with high treetop-like walks to enable you to look down at the bears in some places. You can see bears at all stages of rehabilitation, including the ones that are in the final stages of being released back in the wild – the staff are really good at spotting those for you.

I came away pretty much raving about the place and had totally fallen in love with the bears! Sadly most people seem to go to the orangutan center (see 2) and not to the sun bears. I really really recommend you don’t miss it!

The center is open from 9.00am to 3.30pm. See 2 below for how to get here.

You can also take various half day or day tours that combine a few things, like these:

• Full Day Orang Utan Sepilok, Proboscis Monkey, Sunbear
• Sepilok sunbears, orangutans and a city nature tour
• Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch
• Sepilok Orangutan , SunBear, Proboscis Monkey from Sandakan City

You can even volunteer here. It does cost, but the money goes towards the bears. Its about $1300 for two weeks, and about $2000 for 28 days. It’s probably lucky that was not on offer when I was there!

2. ..and the orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

The goal of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is to rehabilitate and provide a safe haven for orphaned and injured orangutans. It aims to return the orangutans back into the wild. The orangutans are living in a full forest environment – in the Kabili Sepilok Forest, but have support in terms of their rehabilitation.

This is probably the most popular thing do do in Sandakan, but it never seems crowded at all. There are two feeding times that some of the orangutans will come to – 10am and 3pm. Its up to the orangutan if they want to eat. As they are being rehabilitated, many that live in the forest here don’t bother to come.

The center is closed during the middle of the day so you can come for a morning or afternoon session – or both with a break between at the Sun Bear Center!

Getting to the centers

To get to both the sun bear and orangutan centers, again, you can take any of the tours from Sandakan in no.1 above.

Or you can jump on a public bus from Sandakan (45-60 mins). Alternatively you can take a taxi, which are easily found in town and usually available outside the orangutan center. We took a bus there and taxi back.

3. See the flying foxes at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC)

Another great wildlife option at Sepilok is the Rainforest Discovery Centre. It has trails and a skywalk suspension bridge and towers for viewing the wildlife – and is great for birds, monkeys, and other animals – especially at night.

Some of the tours above in no.1 combine visits to the sun bears and orangutans with the RDC. You can also walk from the orangutans and sun bears to the RDC – in about 30 minutes – or take a taxi or Grab.

You can book the night walk via their website. You then get to see the flying foxes and other night animals like the slow loris, tarsier, flying lemurs, green vipers, and lots of spiders and insects. Do book ahead as it is popular – and bring cash.

The center is open from 8am-5pm, and 6-8pm for people that have booked night walks. Arrange a driver to bring you and take you back to Sandakan.

Watch out for the monkeys!

4. Take a trip to the Kambatangan River or other rainforest to see the big five!

Well, if you are lucky you will see the big five. You are likely to see orangutans and proboscis monkeys, but may not see the other three of the five – the crocodile, rhinoceros hornbill, and pygmy monkey. Cruising the river, spotting wildlife, is amazing! The only negative is that the palm oil plantations are all over the place – but hopefully with eco-tourism on the rise this will reduce!

However, you will see plenty of wildlife as you cruise down the river with expert guides and wildlife spotters! Take any of these tours for a great day or two spotting the wildlife:

• Gomantong Cave Echoes & Kinabatangan River Safari – day trip
• Kinambatangan Wildlife Cruise with lunch – day trip
• 2Days 1Night Package Borneo Nature Lodge – 2 days
• Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan – 2 days (see the 3 day trip below for more info)

• 3 Days 2 Nights Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp With Gomantong cave – which ensures you see the wonderful Gomantong cave and its resident bats as well all sorts of wildlife on the river – just check the reviews. (Note – this is basic camping and not for those that need hairdryers or hot baths and the like!)!

There is another nearby alternative to these Kambatangan River tours which you should definitely consider – the Deramakot Forest!

This Safari Tour 3Days 2Nights in the Deramakot Forest, gives you the possibility of seeing Cloud Leopards as well.

Don’t forget your camera!

5. Enjoy the big-nosed monkeys at Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

If you don’t have time to go to Kambatangan River, you can see another of the Big Five – the proboscis monkey at this reserve which has a lovely back story.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is within one of those dreaded palm oil farms outside of Sandakan. In the mid-1990s this 400 acre site was going to be cleared for the development of palm oil when the owner discovered that proboscis monkeys were living there. Amazingly, he decided to stop the clearing and keep this little space as a sanctuary for the monkeys. There are about 150 proboscis monkeys living here, as well as Silvered leaf monkeys, otters, slow lorises, hornbills and other birds. Isn’t that great?

Opening hours are from 8.30-5.30 and feeding times are at 9.30 and 11.30am, and, 2.30 and 4.30pm.

Either take a tour:

• Full Day Orang Utan Sepilok, Proboscis Monkey, Sunbear
• Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch
• Sepilok Orangutan , SunBear, Proboscis Monkey from Sandakan City

or arrange for a private guide to take you there. (Ask to stop at the Sandakan Memorial park (see no. 10) on the way home.)

6. Watch fireflies dance their magic

This is lovely for those of us that do not have fireflies in our own country! They are so gorgeous to see – I could sit for hours and just be mesmerised and I will never forget the first time I saw them! Take a tour through the mangroves and watch them on this Mangrove, Fireflies, Dinners, Tastings & Cruise!

7. Snorkel in the Turtle Islands National Park or Lankayan Island

Another special thing to do in Sandakan, is take a boat trip and stay overnight at the Turtle Islands Park – 40 km north of Sandakan. There are three small islands, Selingan, Gulisan and Bakungan Kechil. Selingan is the island you can visit and stay on. There are both Green and Hawksbill turtles here.

There are only 50 visitor permits a day to stay on Palau Selingan (Turtle Island).  The only tour available is an overnight stay which departs at 8.00am and returns the following morning. You cannot visit on a day trip. 

Crystal Quest sells tickets to the islands, but tour operators buy many of these and provide a guided tour! Try and get a ticket from Crystal Quest – it is not guaranteed you will get one. They have an office on the jetty next to the Sabah Parks office in Sandakan.

Alternatively take one of these tours:

• From Sandakan: 2D1N Turtle Island & Sepilok Wildlife Experience (includes a visit to the sun bear and the orangutan centers)
• From Sandakan 2D1N Turtle Island Tour
• Sandakan: 2D1N Turtle Island Sanctuary with Transfer & Meals

The guided tour includes your accommodation in chalets – with aircon! You also get to do things like see the egg laying process, collect eggs, tag the mother turtles, as well as the plant turtle eggs in the hatchery, or help release the hatchlings! During the day you can swim and snorkel and explore the little island – you don’t get to swim with turtles unless one happens to come by while you are swimming. Note that this area does tend to have a some plastic in the sea – sad but true. Also note that the accommodation and food are fairly basic. July to October is definitely the best time to do this. Watch the sea conditions at other times before you book.

An alternative to this is to go to Lankayan Island and stay in the Lankayan Island Dive Resort – its further offshore and great for diving.

8. Visit the Kampung Pukat floating village

Nearby to Sandakan are small authentic floating villages. You can take a Grab and visit on your own – walking through the boardwalks of the village, or visit on a tour with a guide ensuring you are not intruding too much on the locals – although they do not mind tourists visiting.

If you go early you can see the fishermen bringing in their catch. You can also get very good and cheap local seafood dishes here! The closest floating village is Kampung Pukat village. Others are Kampung Buli Sim Sim and a bit further away Kampung Bahagia. Note – Do expect to see trash in the water – it is part of today’s reality.

You will visit a floating village on these Sandakan city tours:

• Sandakan: Private City Tour, Rainforest, Jungle Walk, Birds
• From Sandakan: 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour
• Sandakan: 6 Must-see Local Spots Private Tour with Lunch
• Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch

Update – in early 2026 there was a devastating fire at Kampung Bahagia destroying over half the homes. With respect to the locals – this is probably not the right place to visit for some time.

9. Explore the Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple

Sandakan has a surprise for you – this temple. It is so colorful and the Buddha statues that line the entranceway are a fantastic sight. You might find you are the only person exploring when you are there. It is calm and peaceful with the bonus of lovely views. Do take the time to visit. You will see this temple on city tours as well.

• Sandakan: Private City Tour, Rainforest, Jungle Walk, Birds
• From Sandakan: 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour
• Sandakan: 6 Must-see Local Spots Private Tour with Lunch
• Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch

10. Feel the horror at the WWII at Sandakan Memorial park

Sandakan Memorial Park is a significant WWII memorial in honor of the Australian and British prisoners who lost their lives during World War II. It is worth stopping here for a short time to understand a little of what went on.

The memorial is on the site of one of the notorious Japanese POW camps. Of over 2,500 POWs held here only SIX survived. That is horrific enough, but this place is significant as well because it is where the POWs started the infamous “death march” to Kota Kinabalu.

At the park are photos of the prisoners as well as machinery and wartime relics placed in their original positions from during WWII. You can also see this on the city tours (in no. 9 above).

11. Finish off at the Agnes Keith house followed by High Tea and lovely views at the English Tea House

This was definitely one of the best things to do in Sandakan – as a finale to your trip! The Agnes Keith house is a historic house museum and garden dedicated to the author Agnes Keith who lived here. It is interesting to see the house and get some insight into life in Sandakan in the middle 1900s – Agnes and her husband were interned by the Japanese in 1942 during WWII but returned to Sandakan afterward.

Right next door, the English Tea House and Restaurant is very popular with locals and tourists. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon here before flying out from Sandakan – a great way to finish off our time here. Think of scones and fresh cream, delicious cakes and pastries and a great choice of Asian and traditional English specialties – all while enjoying the views from the garden. Yum!

Frequently asked questions about travel to Sandakan

Q: Is Sandakan worth visiting?
A: Yes, its a great stepping off point for wildlife adventures in Sabah! If you are not a wildlife or nature lover – maybe not!

Q: How many days do you need in Sandakan?
A: Two – three in Sandakan is good, then allow extra time to head off to some wilder jungle adventures.

Q: What are the best things to do in Sandakan?
A: See above, but in brief: the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Kinabatangan River wildlife cruises, Rainforest Discovery Centre, the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, Agnes Keith House, the Sandakan Memorial Park, and Turtle Island (Selingan Island)

Q: How do I get to Sandakan?
A: Book a flight with AirAsia or skyscanner. You can also get a flight or a bus from Kota Kinabalu.

Q: When is the best time to visit Sandakan?
A: You can visit year round but March to October is generally thought best as it is the drier season, and from November to February wildlife trips can get disrupted. March to May is the very best time for wildlife – the weather is dry, and it is the peak for orangutan and wildlife activity around the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre and the Kinabatangan River. June to October is best for clear waters for swimming, and snorkeling.

Q: Is Sandakan expensive?
A: Not as cheap as Indonesia or Vietnam, but cheaper than Singapore! I’d call it medium!

Q: Can you see orangutans in Sandakan?
A: Yes – at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (see above).

Q: Is Sandakan safe for tourists?
A: Yes – its one of the safer parts of Asia.

Q: Is the Kinabatangan River worth visiting?
A: Most would say yes! You are likely to see Proboscis monkeys, Orangutans, Crocodiles, Hornbills, and Pygmy elephants. Plus you get lovely sunsets and sunrises!

Q: Do you need a car in Sandakan?
A: No – there are buses, taxis and plenty of tours.

Q: What should you pack for Sandakan?
A: Bring lightweight clothing, rain jacket, insect repellent, good walking shoes, binoculars, dry bag, sunscreen, reusable water bottle, and a camera with zoom lens. Binoculars or a zoom lens are a must for the wildlife!

Q: Is Sandakan better than Kota Kinabalu?
A: No – they are very different. Choose Sandakan for wildlife and rainforest. Choose KK for islands and beaches, and of course to get to Mount Kinabalu.

Travel Tips for Sandakan

• Fly to Sandakan if you can – it saves a lot of time and a long bus journey! Its also quite scenic!
• Don’t rush Sandakan into one day – give it some time to enjoy the place.
• Grab is a good rideshare service in Sandakan with added safety and removes the hassle of haggling over price.
• Book Kinabatangan River lodges early – or book a tour so it is all taken care of! Bring a dry bag or waterproof protection for electronics.
• Bring binoculars and expect wildlife sightings to require patience! Early morning wildlife activities are definitely worth it. Bring a camera with zoom capability if wildlife photography matters to you. Bring better insect repellent than you think you need – bring heavy duty!
• Bring some cash – for smaller shops and restaurants etc. ATMs are available in Sandakan, but get cash out before heading into rainforest areas.
• Don’t skip the Rainforest Discovery Center night walk if you want to see more than the bigger animals – little nocturnal loris and flying squirrels etc! The Rainforest Discovery Center only takes cash.
• Mobile coverage is less reliable outside town – download all you need before you leave Sandakan – offline maps, hotel booking details, directions if driving.
• Listen to your wildlife guides – they are good at spotting wildlife you would never notice without them and, of course, they know how to keep you safe around wildlife areas.

How to get to Sandakan

To get to Sabah, you are typically going to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Air Asia offers good prices. There are public buses and flights between these two cities. So either fly direct into Sandakan, or come on over from Kota Kinabalu by bus or plane!

Where to stay in Sandakan (and Sepilok)

You can stay in Sepilok as well as Sandakan – you are right on the edge of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and it is a good option if you are only interested in the orangutans and sun bears – but personally, I’m glad I stayed in Sandakan and saw something of the city attractions and other wildlife (fireflies and Proboscis monkeys) as well. We also chose to stay in Sandakan, to make it easier to get to the Kinabatangan River, and because our flight had a later afternoon arrival time.

Book your hotel with booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. Note that Sndakan is more about wildlife than resort style hotels! There are lots of options but these are great starting points at different budget levels as they all have higher review ratings:

Higher End – Sepilok Nature Lodge, or Sabah Hotel

Mid Range – Ormond Sandakan or Locahouz Homestay Sandakan

Budget – Ninety1 Sandakan or Qeeb Homestay

Backpackers – Tanini Sepilok or Sandakan Backpackers Hostel

A 4-bed home at a great price! – Sweethome Homestay Sandakan

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