- JAN - DEC33°24°
Tropical
Top things to do in Sandakan
3D2N Discover Kinabatangan River with stay at Bilit Adventure Lodge in Sandakan
English guided
Free cancellation
(8) • 400+ booked
From
kr 2,573
2D1N Selingan Turtle Island with Turtle Watching at Sandakan
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Morning departure
(5) • 400+ booked
kr 2,191
Sandakan 2-Day Kinabatangan River Wildlife Discovery
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(2)
kr 1,373
4D3N Sepilok Wildlife Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise Experience in Sandakan
English guided
Free cancellation
(12) • 400+ booked
From
kr 3,610
Sandakan Gomantong Caves & Kinabatangan River Day Trip
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
kr 937
Sukau Full-Day Wildlife & Nature Exploration
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
kr 656
2D1N Stay at Sepilok Jungle Resort with Sepilok Wlidlife Tour in Sandakan
English guided
Free cancellation
(3) • 100+ booked
From
kr 1,037
Sepilok Orangutan Centre Half Day Tour
English guided
Up to 3 hrs
Free cancellation
(5) • 400+ booked
kr 805.50
Sandakan Sepilok Orangutan & Sun Bear Half-Day Guided Tour
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(2)
From
kr 880
Half Day Sepilok Orang Utan & Sun Bear Tour in Sandakan Sabah
Private tour
English guided
Free cancellation
kr 954
Sandakan Gomantong Caves & Kinabatangan River Cruise with Wildlife
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
New Activity
kr 2,224
Hotels in Sandakan
From
kr 487.79
From
kr 163.76
From
kr 221.68
From
kr 273.47
kr 280.38
From
kr 139.56
From
kr 347.37
kr 351.04
From
kr 116.21
From
kr 205.32
From
kr 423.88
kr 457.24
Asia Hotel by AeCOTEL
Instant confirmation
From
kr 168.34
Hotel O Malaysia Hotel
Instant confirmation
From
kr 96.78
From
kr 453.01
kr 456.18
Reviews of Sandakan activities
Klook User
2026-11-05 15:45:23
Great places to stay with family. Grocery stores nearby and also have restaurants. Good atmosphere for travel.
Klook User
2026-09-13 05:44:07
love this hotel.. center within old sandakan town.. room very clean and well mantain even the hotel is quite old.. definately will come again
林 **
2026-09-30 09:25:01
The room was small, and the water heater in the bathroom was missing, which forced us to take cold showers. The worst part was that mothballs and air fresheners were placed in the bathroom, and their strong scent triggered my nasal allergies all night, keeping me awake! Imagine if someone had a G6PD deficiency; how could they possibly stay in this place? 🙁 Aside from this issue, the overall facilities were okay. Most importantly, the meals were much more abundant and delicious than I expected, and the staff was very friendly with an excellent service attitude, which is truly commendable! 😃
Kato *****
2026-08-13 06:14:34
I was a little worried about the accommodation being either a resort or a homestay, but I was relieved to find it was a resort with air conditioning, hot water, and a refrigerator. The evening cruise was fantastic; we saw orangutans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, and Borneo elephants. During the night walk, we saw sleeping birds and slow lorises. On the morning cruise, we spotted a large crocodile. I know seeing animals depends on luck, but I was very satisfied with all the different creatures we encountered!
Klook User
2026-08-17 11:07:46
We had the most amazing and fun time on this tour. We loved our time on Kinabatang River where we saw macaque and proboscis monkeys, a Pygmy elephant, crocodiles and birdlife. Our guides Robert and Jeanette were very friendly and knowledgeable. The Bilit Lodge is simple but very clean and satisfactory. The food was also very enjoyable and tasty. Our only downside was that we booked late and couldn't secure accommodation in Sepilok so missed the opportunity to spend some additional time there. The tour company arranged alternative accommodation back in Sandakan but this meant we spent more time travelling on the first two days. Overall I thought this was very well organised and we loved the opportunity to get close up with the variety of animals. The people we met on the tour were all very lovely and safety protocols are followed on the river rides.
Klook 用戶
2026-07-13 01:05:06
Unfortunately, the forest resort was fully booked, so we switched to the Sandakan Hotel, which meant we couldn't experience the jungle atmosphere. The first day of the itinerary started with airport pickup at 7:30 AM, picking up other group members along the way. In the morning, we watched the orangutan feeding show and sun bear feeding within the park, which involved a lot of walking. We had lunch at the Banana Cafe, where we could upgrade our drinks for an additional charge. In the afternoon, we visited the Rainforest Discovery Centre, learning about local bird species, frogs, plants, and their history. The center had many specimens of beetles, butterflies, snakes, and more; it was a small exhibition hall but packed with rich resources. Afterward, we went on a rainforest hike, actually walking through the jungle to look for small creatures. During the hike, the guide asked us which route we preferred and helped us take photos. This part lasted about an hour, and we listened to the guide's explanations along the way. They were enthusiastic in answering any questions we had. We arrived at our accommodation around 3 PM to rest. In the evening, we had dinner at the hotel, and breakfast was provided the next morning. Although there weren't many choices, it saved us the trouble of deciding what to eat. The next day was just the airport drop-off. It's a shame we couldn't spend more time exploring the forest resort, but overall, it was still a good experience.
Utilisateur Klook
2026-09-03 21:06:37
The day was well-managed by Johnny, our guide, who accompanied us throughout. The transfers from our hotel to the various locations were well-executed. We would have appreciated receiving confirmation details from the company prior to the excursion. Otherwise, everything else went smoothly.
Thalia *******
2026-07-29 12:24:42
It was absolutely fantastic! A must-do in my opinion! We had two exceptional guides! We saw everything possible (orangutans, sun bears) and had a super beautiful hike!
Sandakan at a glance
Quick facts about Sandakan
Local weather
℉℃ General info
Time zone
GMT +08:00
No time difference
Currency
Malaysian Ringgit
1DKK = 0.60MYR
Official languages
Malay
Recommended trip duration
3 days
Flight time
3.5 hours
When departing from Manila
What to know before visiting Sandakan
What Sandakan is best known for
Sandakan draws travellers who want Outdoor & sports activities, followed by Cruises and Tours, with activity spread through the year according to booking patterns. Klook booking data show Outdoor & sports activities lead in volume, with cruises and guided tours also popular; the city’s calendar has noticeable ups and downs in demand. If you’re choosing between action-focused days on the water or guided land excursions, the key decision is whether you prioritise lower prices or the full peak-season atmosphere — choose lower-cost months for savings or peak months for the liveliest experience. All figures above are from Klook booking data.
When to visit Sandakan
Demand peaks in May and quietens around July, while prices rise toward May and fall to their low in July. Klook booking data show May as the priciest month (typically around PHP 25,689) and July as the cheapest (typically around PHP 3,330). Prices and demand move together in May (higher demand and higher prices) but diverge around July, when demand is quieter and prices are lowest. For lower prices and smaller crowds, plan for July; for peak-season atmosphere and more activity, May is the time to go.
| Month | Demand Level | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| January | About average | PHP 9,574 |
| February | About average | PHP 9,574 |
| March | About average | PHP 22,359 |
| April | About average | PHP 21,705 |
| May | Peak demand | PHP 25,689 |
| June | About average | PHP 21,170 |
| July | Quieter than usual | PHP 3,330 |
| November | About average | PHP 3,984 |
Demand is bookings in that month compared with a typical month, from historical Klook booking data, grouped into the demand levels above; typical price is the median paid on Klook in that month; prices are shown with their currency code. Based on Klook booking data, July 2025 – June 2026.
Tips for travellers from the Philippines
Most travellers book well ahead here: on average people lock experiences in about 39 days ahead, and the earliest planners book roughly 67 days out, according to Klook booking data. That makes Sandakan a planning destination — secure your must-do outdoor activities and cruises sooner rather than later, especially for May when both demand and prices rise. If your dates are flexible, aim for July for lower typical prices. Use Klook to compare options and reserve favourites early to avoid missing peak-month availability.
FAQs about Sandakan
When is the best time to visit Sandakan?
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How much do activities in Sandakan typically cost?
How much do activities in Sandakan typically cost?
What is Sandakan best known for on Klook?
What is Sandakan best known for on Klook?