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Here are the best Sandakan Attractions to visit in 2026. We have included all the details you need to plan an independent budget trip. Locations, prices, travel info, top tips and more.
Sandakan is a beautiful town located on the east coast of Sabah. If you are visiting Sabah we recommend planning at least 2 or 3 days in Sandakan to see some of the attractions here. Sandakan has a reputation for wildlife, seafood, natural beauty and heritage.
ALSO you may be interested in our guide: Traveling from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
Summary of THE BEST Sandakan attractions
- See Orangutans up close
- Visit the Sandakan Seafront
- See the super cute sunbears
- Visit the proboscis monkeys
- Check out Saint Michael’s church
- Try some amazing Sabah seafood
- Take a trip to turtle island
Map of the best Sandakan attractions
1 Visit the orangutan sanctuary
The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is one of the main Sandakan attractions. This is one of the BEST ways to see orangutans up close. Sepilok is a relatively large reserve. The small section that is open to visitors has a wooden walkway and feeding platform. There are around 60-80 orangutans living in the 43 square kilometer reserve. What’s more, there is a nursery where you can see orphaned orangutans. There are two feeding times per day at 10am and 3pm. Several orangutans reliably gather at the feeding platforms at feeding times. Try to arrive a little early if possible. The Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is open daily from 8.45am – 4pm (closed for lunch from 12pm – 2pm).
How do you get to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary?
The Sepilok orangutan sanctuary is located approximately 25km west of Sandakan. The journey is likely to take around 40 minutes by road. If you have your own vehicle there is FREE parking available at the sanctuary. If you take a taxi expect to pay around RM50 one way (this is roughly £10 or $13). Consider arranging a price for the return journey and remember to agree on a waiting time. Also, you can use the Grab taxi app in Malaysia.
If all of this is too much why not book a Sepilok tour with Klook? Tours take around 3 hours and include a hotel transfer. Booking a tour with Klook is likely to be a similar price to doing it independently – and much more simple.
How much does it cost to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary?
It costs Children RM15 (2 – 17 year olds), Adults RM30 and RM10 camera fee (phone cameras FREE of charge). You can buy your entry tickets from the ticket office when you arrive. If you are planning to visit on a weekend or public holiday we recommend arriving early to avoid waiting.
Is Sepilok an ethical orangutan sanctuary?
Some people argue that humans should avoid any tourist animal encounters. If you are opposed to any planned animal encounters then give Sepilok a miss. Even a good Sanctuary like Sepilok can remove a primates natural fear of humans. However, it is worth noting that many of the orangutans at Sepilok have been rescued from captivity – and therefore cannot be released fully into the wild.
Overall Sepilok is has very good ethical standards and offers an authentic encounter with orangutans. Visitors remain at a distance that is both conducive to viewing, safety and respect for the orangutans. The interests and wellbeing of orangutans are prioritised at Sepilok.
The Sepilok Sanctuary achieves it conservation goals by protecting the natural habitat of orangutans and keeping them safe from poachers and human threats. While their habitat is protected, most of the orangutans at Sepilok are free and not in captivity. There are no fences or boundaries to their reserve.
2 Visit the Sandakan seafront
If you have a little time in Sandakan, get yourself down to the central seafront area. As a town Sandakan is actually quite spread out. There are several districts with central precincts. The main area of town has a section of seafront, a shopping mall and some shops and restaurants. This is a nice place to visit if you have a little time in Sandakan. This is not one of the most prestigious Sandakan attractions but it is definitely a nice place.
3 Visit the Sun bears
If you are visiting the Orangutans at Sepilok why not drop by and say hi to the fascinating Malaysian Sun Bears? The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) is located right next to the Orangutan Sanctuary at Sepilok. The BSBCC is “Home to the World’s Smallest Bear”. This is a unique opportunity to see Malaysian Sun Bears in their natural forest habitat. The Sun Bears at this center have been rescued from captivity and now live in a safe, protected forest environment. The Sun Bear Conservation Centre is open daily from 9am – 3.30pm. It costs RM50 to visit for an adult (18 years and older) and RM25 to visit for a child (2 – 17 years old). Infants are free of charge.
4 See Proboscis monkeys
Proboscis monkeys may well be the most unique and strange monkeys in the world. They are best known for their large protruding noses. Less well known are the strange noises that they make. This strange call can only be witnessed if you are lucky enough to see these beautiful animals up close. It sounds a little like “hey!” These monkeys are genuinely fascinating to watch. Whether it is the babies playing or the group dynamics between the adults, proboscis monkeys are seriously interesting.
You can see proboscis monkeys at the Labuk Bay sanctuary in Sandakan. If you plan to visit the Labuk Bay proboscis monkey sanctuary we recommend planning your visit carefully. To ensure that you actually see the monkeys you will need to visit during one of the feeding times. They have different feeding times at each of the platforms. The area is actually quite large and therefore you will need to make sure you have transport to get all of the way to the feeding platform (not just the entrance).
The feeding times at Labuk Bay are 9.30am and 2.30 pm at Platform A and 11.30 am and 4.30 pm at Platform B. If you arrive a little early you will probably see the proboscis monkeys gathering before feeding time.
- RM60 for adult non-malaysians
- RM30 for non Malaysian children (12 years and below)
- RM15 for Malaysian adults
- RM5 for Malaysian children
- Under 3 years old FREE
If you want to see proboscis monkeys in the wild, one of the best ways to do this is to take a river cruise along the Kinabatangan River.
Is Labuk Bay an ethical Sanctuary?
Labuk Bay is less ethical than Sepilok. On one hand, Labuk bay does protect the natural Mangrove habitat of Proboscis monkeys and they feed them each day. On the other hand, Labuk Bay is not a rescue sanctuary. Rather Labuk Bay is a small section of intact habitat remaining in a palm oil plantation. This is quite sad when you reflect on it. However, this is not a good reason to miss Labuk Bay. By visiting this sanctuary you are supporting the preservation of this Mangrove forest and the protection of the proboscis monkey community.
At Labuk bay the monkeys are free and appear to be healthy. There are a large number of monkeys here showing very normal “happy monkey” behaviours. The Proboscis monkeys are fed daily, but it was sad to see them being fed white bread. In the long run this is surely not good for their system.
5 Visit a historical Anglican Church
Saint Michaels and All Angel’s church was built in 1925 by William Henry Elton who was a vicar and missionary. It lays claim to being the oldest stone Church in Sabah. This church is quite remarkable. St Michael’s Church has the architecture and style of a traditional Anglican church. Both the interior and exterior of this church has the character, style and appearance of a traditional Anglican Church in England. Saint Michaels has large beautiful bricks, colorful stain glass windows and traditional pews. If you are interested in history and culture then this is a great thing to see in Sandakan. It is free to visit St Michael’s Church and it is also located close to the center of Sandakan.
6 Try some amazing Sabah seafood
And last but not least, make sure you try some of the amazing Sandakan seafood. Seafood really does deserve its place amongst the best Sandakan attractions. Sandakan has a reputation for fantastic seafood. As a coastal town located in East Malaysia it lives up to its reputation. In Sandakan you can find a wide array of fascinating, exotic and delicious seafood. Whether you are just looking for lobster, red snapper, crab or something more unique like mantis shrimp, Sandakan has it all.
However, be aware that seafood is not particularly cheap in Sandakan. You can find some street food around, there is not a strong street food culture (compared to other places around Malaysia). If you’re really interested in Malaysian street food consider visiting Penang for example. There are several seafood restaurants around town. The most popular and well known seafood restaurant in Sandakan is Sim Sim 88. This beautiful restaurant is located by the coast.
The restaurant is styled like a boat and is actually on stilts over the water. They serve a variety of delicious fresh seafood dishes. We highly recommend the buttered shrimp and the crab is incredible too. Be aware that a meal at Sim Sim 88 is likely to cost over RM100 for two people, depending on what you order. It can be a little bit more tricky because the exact price depends on the weight of the seafood.
7 Visit Turtle island (Pulau Selingan)
Did you know you can also see turtles near Sandakan? Why not book a tour to Turtle Island (Pulau Selingan) to see these beautiful creatures? This beautiful trip is the perfect way to learn about turtle conservation and see real turtles in the wild. ALSO, enjoy snorkelling amongst beautiful reef.
THE BEST places to stay in Sandakan
Where is the best place to stay to see these wonderful Sandakan attractions?
Okay, we have to be honest that accommodation in Malaysia is not as good as other countries in southeast asia. In Malaysia, accommodation is a little bit more expensive and your money doesn’t go as far (compared to countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam). However, there are still some good places to stay. Here are our recommendations for the best places to stay in Sandakan.
Sandakan Backpackers Hostel
If you’re traveling on a budget check out the Sandakan Backpackers Hostel. This hostel is well located in the center of Sandakan. At the lower end of the budget range this hostel is pretty simple and basic.
CHECK OUT Sandakan Backpackers on Agoda You can also find Sandakan Backpackers on booking.com
Nature Lodge Sepilok
The Nature Lodge Sepilok offers affordable accommodation very close to Sepilok. They have dorms, double rooms and twin rooms for competitive prices.
HAVE A LOOK at the Nature lodge on Agoda ALSO don’t miss Nature Lodge on booking.com
Sepilok Forest Edge Resort
If you have a bigger budget and want to stay near the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center check out the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort. This is the best way to combine wild nature with superlative luxury. The Sepilok Forest Edge Resort is expensive. You are paying for spacious comfortable premium location here.
RESERVE the forest edge on Agoda AND Forest Edge is also on booking.com
The Sabah Hotel
And finally don’t miss the classy Sabah Hotel in Sandakan. This is a mid range hotel with spacious comfortable rooms. They do offer bathtub rooms here – unique for the area. The Sabah Hotel also have an outdoor swimming pool and great facilities and amenities. This is a great option if you want something fairly luxurious for a good price. Excellent choice for families – and not too expensive for the quality.
For great prices reserve the Sabah Hotel on Agoda and you can also check prices for the Sabah Hotel on Booking.com
Where next?
THERE really is so much to do in Sabah – Don’t miss our step by step itinerary for Sabah
If you love these Sandakan attractions you will love the rest of Sabah. There are so many amazing things to see and do in Sabah. If you are visiting Sandakan you can either travel towards Semporna. The bus journey is likely to take around 7 or 8 hours. Semporna is well known for beautiful diving, snorkeling and crystal clear waters. If you have time consider a stay on Mabul island. Alternatively you can travel towards Kinabalu. If you visit Kundasang there is a lot to do in the area. You can see Rafflesia flowers, visit hot springs, visit a canopy walkway and visit a dairy farm in the hills.
