The gateway to Kinabatangan River & Lankayan island
Sandakan is best known as being home to the Sepilok Nature Rehabilitation Centre, where they care for rescued or orphaned orangutans as well as sun bears, gibbons, Sumatran rhinos and elephants in need of treatment. This is a good place to see these creatures before embarking on a trip into the rainforest in hope of spotting them in the wild.
From this provincial city take a safari up the Kinabatangan River. This is Malaysia’s second longest river where, despite the palm logging in the area, this spectacular wilderness is home to wealth of wildlife including proboscis monkeys, macaques, pygmy elephants, lizards, crocodiles, and birdlife including kingfishers and hornbills.
From Sandakan you can also make the journey to Borneo‘s Lankayan Island; a paradise, palm fringed island in the Sulu Sea. Home to sea turtles often spotted in its waters, vibrant underwater creatures and coral formations can be spotted a few fin kicks from the beach.
Experiences picked by our destination specialists
A word from one of our experts
Sandakan is one of the best places in Borneo to spot orangutans. Seeing our orange-haired relatives is a memory that will stay with you forever. You can also see other wildlife here, such as proboscis monkeys, macaques and sweet pygmy elephants.
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Sandakan
There are many incredible places to stay in Sandakan. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip Inspiration
Get inspired with our Borneo example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure
14-Day Trip
Borneo Wildlife Explorer and Langkawi Beaches
14-Day Trip
Borneo Wildlife Explorer and Langkawi Beaches
12-Day Trip
Borneo Family Adventure
12-Day Trip
Borneo Family Adventure
11-Day Trip
The Rainforests, Wildlife and Islands of Borneo
11-Day Trip
The Rainforests, Wildlife and Islands of Borneo
Where to go in Borneo
Batang Ai National Park
Sitting close to the border of Indonesia, the national park of Batang Ai is tucked deep into the Borneo jungle. The area was flooded in the 1980s to create a reservoir, and you can still see treetops sticking out of the water.
Danum Valley
This primary lowland forest is a sparkling, undisturbed representative of Borneo‘s prolific and unique flora and fauna has been recognised worldwide for its outstanding biodiversity.
Kota Kinabalu
A clean and bustling city with a pretty waterfront from which to enjoy the sunset, Kota Kinabalu has much to offer visitors, although most use the city simply as an entry point to Borneo, spending their time exploring the surrounding countryside instead.
Kuching
Borneo’s prettiest and most historic city, Kuching is the ideal place to start an island adventure with plenty to explore within the city and in the surrounding countryside.
Meet your Asia team
When to visit
The best time to visit beautiful Borneo is when the warm weather arrives in March through to October and the island is hot and dry. It’s perfect for climbing Mt Kinabalu, searching for whale sharks, turtles and seeing endangered orangutans in the wild.
Hiking and trekking
April - August
Wildlife spotting
May - August
Diving and snorkelling
April - September
Borneo travel guides
Plan your trip to Sandakan
Whatever you want from your adventure in Sandakan, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Don't take our word for it
Your trip, your story
We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.
Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.
