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What is the best way to get from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan in 2026? In this article we will review, recommend and compare different ways to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
Sandakan is a great destination in Sabah. It is famous for amazing seafood, wildlife (especially orangutans and proboscis monkeys). It is also a great stop on the way to Sandakan – an amazing place for beautiful islands and crystal clear water. Near Sandakan you can visit Mabul island and Sipidan island, which has some of the BEST diving in the world.
The journey from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is around 350km by road. This journey is likely to take around 7 – 10 hours depending on stopping time and road conditions.
There’s always more. Don’t miss our ultimate 10 day itinerary for Sabah
SUMMARY – The best ways to get from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
| Advantages and disadvantage | Journey time (including stops and transfers) | Price | |
| Long distance bus | Cheapest option but slow and less comfortable. Can’t stop where you want. | 8 – 10 hours | RM40 – RM50 |
| Car rental | More expensive but more convenient. Bring lots of bags. Stop at attractions along the way. Use the car to explore Sandakan. Find car rentals on Skyscanner | 7 – 8 hours | RM120 – RM200 (plus additional days rental) |
| Fly and take a short bus journey | Fast and convenient, but much more expensive. Baggage may be limited. Look for flights on Skyscanner | 45 minutes (plus transfer time to and from airport and waiting times) | RM300 – RM350 (plus transfers and extra baggage charges) |
Ways to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan Map
Option 1: Long distance bus
This is the cheapest, slowest and least convenient way to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. This is a great option if you are traveling on a budget and have time to spare. Long distance bus Journeys in Malaysia are surprisingly cheap. A long distance bus journey from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is likely to cost around RM40 – RM50 (amazing for the distance!)
Long-distance buses is Sabah are reasonably comfortable with reclining seats. They sometimes have toilets on board as well (probably only worth braving these in an emergency!) Long distance buses can also take a reasonable amount of baggage too. It is worth being aware that much of the journey from KK to Sandakan is along winding mountain roads. If you are prone to travel sickness this is a pretty challenging journey.
Buses depart from Terminal Inanam in Kota Kinabalu. Don’t get this wrong as there is another bus station in Kota Kinabalu. Buses stop at the Sandakan Bus station. In general buses depart around 7am in the morning or around 7pm in the evening (and travel overnight). There are not many buses so plan your timings carefully.
Long distance buses generally stop every few hours for toilet breaks and food. If you are hoping to see some attractions along the way we recommend taking a car rental.
Option 2 Rent a car in Kota Kinabalu and drive to Sandakan
One of THE BEST ways to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is to take a car rental. A car rental in Kota Kinabalu is likely to cost between RM100 – RM300. The drive from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is likely to take around 7 – 8 hours by car (not including stopping time).
TOP TIP: If you’re travelling with a family or group – remember you can share the car rental costs across your group. With a bus each adult will need a ticket. If you want kids to have their own seats reserved they will also need a ticket too.
Some car rental companies may let you pick up your car in Kota Kinabalu and drop it off in Sandakan. However, be aware that if you want a different drop off location this may be a little bit more expensive. Not all companies will offer this service. Alternatively, you could use a car rental to do a round trip around Sabah and drop it off in Kota Kinabalu.
Avoid THESE common mistakes renting a car. Check out our guide to renting a car in Kota Kinabalu
If you get a car rental in Kota Kinabalu remember to make sure that your terms of use allow you to go as far as Sandakan. If you go further than your terms of use allow and an incident occurs you may be liable.
What things can you see on the journey between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan?
If you choose to travel to Sandakan by car there are several attractions you can visit along the way. Stop at the impressive mount Kinabalu. A little further and you can visit Kundasang. This is a beautiful village with a market and the Desa dairy farm. You can visit also visit the Poring Rafflesia Gardens, Poring Hot springs and Canopy walkway. Consider stopping at a homestay near Kinabalu. We absolutely loved staying at Pogimpaan Homestay – great views and a very reasonable price too!
Option 3 Take a cheap internal flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
The quickest and most convenient way to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is to take a cheap internal flight with a Budget Airline. This is a great option if you are low on time and have some flexibility in your budget. Remember by bus and car you essentially lose a whole day to travel.
This option is more expensive. This is likely to cost between RM300 and RM350 per person to fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. You may also need to pay extra for your check-in luggage too. And you also need to consider the cost of transfer to and from the airport (likely to cost around RM25 at each end depending where you stay).
A great way to find flights is to use Skyscanner. This allows you to compare a range of airlines and find the best deals. Their platform is very user friendly and intuitive.
What are the BEST things to do in Sandakan?
Sandakan has plenty of great things to do. We strongly recommend that you take a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Sanctuary. There is also a Malaysian Sun Bear Conservation Centre here too. Don’t miss the Labuk Bay proboscis monkey sanctuary. Sandakan is quite a large and spread out town so having your own car rental to explore could be very helpful here. Alternatively you can use the Grab taxi app to get around in Sandakan. Everything you need to know about using Grab in Malaysia.
ALSO, don’t miss our guide on the best things to do in Sandakan
What are the best places to stay in Sandakan?
If you’re looking for hotels in Sandakan here are a few recommendations to save you time hunting around (you’re welcome!)
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.
You can find great price for Sandakan Backpackers on Agoda. Keep an eye on Booking.com for great deals at Sandakan backpackers as well.
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.
We found some great prices for the Nature Lodge on Agoda and also some great deals for the Nature Lodge on Booking.com too. Check it out! Great location for the price!
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.
It really is unique to find this much luxury immersed in this much natural beauty. Check the Forest Edge out on Agoda for more details. You can also see more pictures of the Forest Edge on Booking.com.
The Sabah Hotel
Check out the stylish Sabah Hotel. This is a mid range hotel with spacious comfortable rooms including bathtub rooms. They also include an excellent breakfast and often have great free cancellation policies on Agoda and Booking.com. They also have an outdoor pool and very good facilities and amenities. This is a great option if you want something fairly luxurious for a good price. Not too expensive for the quality.
For great prices and perks reserve the Sabah Hotel on Agoda. You can also get great prices for the Sabah Hotel on Booking.com.
Looking for more inspiration?
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