Popular Things to Do in Sandakan 2026

Q: What are the most popular things to do in Sandakan?

Outdoor & sports activities, Cruises and Tours are the top picks in Sandakan according to recent Klook booking data; Outdoor & sports activities have the largest share by bookings. These categories reflect the city’s appeal for nature, island or river excursions and guided sightseeing.

Q: How much do activities in Sandakan cost?

In recent Klook booking data, typical activity prices in Sandakan cluster around roughly USD 189 for Tours, USD 362 for Outdoor & sports activities, and about USD 614 for Cruises. These medians show a clear range from lower-priced guided tours up to higher-priced cruise experiences.

Q: Which activities are the cheapest, and which are the most expensive in Sandakan?

Tours are typically the cheapest category (around USD 189 median), while Cruises are typically the most expensive (around USD 614 median). The data also shows Cruises have the widest spread in prices, indicating more variety in cruise options and price points.

Q: How far ahead should I book activities in Sandakan?

For travellers from the Philippines, recent Klook booking data suggests typical bookings are made around 39 days in advance, with many travellers booking as early as about 67 days ahead and some last-minute bookings within 14 days. This range means you can often book a month or more ahead for the best selection, but last‑minute options still exist.

Q: When are activities busiest, and when is it quieter in Sandakan?

Klook booking volumes show clear category peaks but the dataset does not specify months for busiest or quietest times, so month-by-month seasonality isn’t provided. The booking counts do indicate Outdoor & sports activities and Cruises attract most bookings overall, so expect higher demand in those categories compared with Tours.

11 results found

Sort by

Recommended

Tours • From Sandakan

3D2N Discover Kinabatangan River with stay at Bilit Adventure Lodge in Sandakan

3.6 / 5

(8) • 400+ booked

From

CZK 8,400.09

Outdoor & sports activities • Sandakan

2D1N Selingan Turtle Island with Turtle Watching at Sandakan

4.6 / 5

(5) • 400+ booked

CZK 7,153.65

Tours • From Sandakan

Sandakan 2-Day Kinabatangan River Wildlife Discovery

5.0 / 5

(2)

CZK 4,480.85

Cruises • From Sandakan

4D3N Sepilok Wildlife Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise Experience in Sandakan

5.0 / 5

(12) • 400+ booked

From

CZK 11,787.25

Cruises • From Sandakan

Sandakan Gomantong Caves & Kinabatangan River Day Trip

CZK 3,058.59

Cruises • From Sandakan

Sukau Full-Day Wildlife & Nature Exploration

CZK 2,141.00

Tours • Sandakan

2D1N Stay at Sepilok Jungle Resort with Sepilok Wlidlife Tour in Sandakan

4.0 / 5

(3) • 100+ booked

From

CZK 3,387.15

Outdoor & sports activities • Sandakan

Sepilok Orangutan Centre Half Day Tour

5.0 / 5

(5) • 400+ booked

CZK 2,628.98

Tours • Sandakan

Sandakan Sepilok Orangutan & Sun Bear Half-Day Guided Tour

5.0 / 5

(2)

From

CZK 2,872.29

Cruises • From Sandakan

Half Day Sepilok Orang Utan & Sun Bear Tour in Sandakan Sabah

CZK 3,116.19

Cruises • Sandakan

Sandakan Gomantong Caves & Kinabatangan River Cruise with Wildlife

New Activity

CZK 7,262.05

林 **

2026-09-30 09:25:01

Fantastic 5.0

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! 😃

2D1N Selingan Turtle Island with Turtle Watching at Sandakan

Kato *****

2026-08-13 06:14:34

Fantastic 5.0

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!

Sandakan 2-Day Kinabatangan River Wildlife Discovery

Klook User

2026-08-17 11:07:46

Fantastic 5.0

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.

4D3N Sepilok Wildlife Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise Experience in Sandakan

Klook 用戶

2026-07-13 01:05:06

Great 4.0

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.

2D1N Stay at Sepilok Jungle Resort with Sepilok Wlidlife Tour in Sandakan

Utilisateur Klook

2026-09-03 21:06:37

Fantastic 5.0

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.

Sandakan Gomantong Caves & Kinabatangan River Day Trip

Thalia *******

2026-07-29 12:24:42

Fantastic 5.0

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 Sepilok Orangutan & Sun Bear Half-Day Guided Tour

Typical range Typical price

Outdoor & sports activities

₱21.2K ₱22.1K ₱21.5K

Cruises

₱35.4K ₱36.6K ₱36.5K

Tours

₱11.2K ₱11.4K ₱11.2K

₱0 ₱10K ₱20K ₱30K

Tours are typically around PHP 11,239 as the easiest way in, while Cruises show the widest choice: prices typically vary by about PHP 1,189 across options. Based on Klook booking data, August 2025 – July 2026.

14 daysLast-minute

39 daysTypical

67 daysEarly

Travellers typically book activities around 39 days ahead, which still leaves flexibility during August and other peak months named in the demand card. Based on Klook booking data, February 2026 – July 2026.

What to expect in Sandakan

This catalogue is led by Outdoor & sports activities, then Cruises and Tours, so Sandakan is best used for nature-led days and short sea trips as well as guided excursions. Travellers can mix active outdoor options with boat-based wildlife or island experiences, and a few compact tours fill gaps in the schedule. Demand peaks in August and September, while March is the quietest month, which affects how busy popular experiences feel at those times.

How to choose what to book

The main choice is whether you prioritise hands-on outdoor adventure or a relaxed cruise experience — deciding between active land days and boat time. Cruises offer the widest overall price range, with a typical price of PHP 36,511 and an upper-end around PHP 36,630, while Tours sit at the most affordable typical level of PHP 11,239.

If budget and filling gaps are your aim, Tours are the most affordable way in and keep things simple. Outdoor & sports activities sit in the middle by bookings and pricing, with a typical price of PHP 21,526, so they suit travellers looking for active choices without the cruise price bracket.

When travellers from the Philippines book

Most travellers book around 39 days ahead, while the earliest planners book about 67 days out, and last-minute bookers appear within 14 days. Plan on booking roughly one to two months ahead when you travel in the peak months of August and September, when that advance cushion matters most.

How prices compare across categories

The table below shows how Sandakan’s top categories compare on price so you can place a budget before choosing.

Category	Typical Price	Usual Range
Outdoor & sports activities	PHP 21,526	PHP 21,170 – PHP 22,061
Cruises	PHP 36,511	PHP 35,441 – PHP 36,630
Tours	PHP 11,239	PHP 11,179 – PHP 11,358

Typical price is the median paid on Klook; the usual range covers the middle half of bookings, so cheaper and pricier options exist outside it; prices are shown with their currency code. Based on Klook booking data, August 2025 – July 2026.

Things to do in Sandakan

3D2N Discover Kinabatangan River with stay at Bilit Adventure Lodge in Sandakan

2D1N Selingan Turtle Island with Turtle Watching at Sandakan

Sandakan 2-Day Kinabatangan River Wildlife Discovery

4D3N Sepilok Wildlife Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise Experience in Sandakan

Sandakan Gomantong Caves & Kinabatangan River Day Trip

Sukau Full-Day Wildlife & Nature Exploration

2D1N Stay at Sepilok Jungle Resort with Sepilok Wlidlife Tour in Sandakan

Sepilok Orangutan Centre Half Day Tour

Sandakan Sepilok Orangutan & Sun Bear Half-Day Guided Tour

Half Day Sepilok Orang Utan & Sun Bear Tour in Sandakan Sabah

Sandakan Gomantong Caves & Kinabatangan River Cruise with Wildlife

Reviews of Sandakan activities

2D1N Selingan Turtle Island with Turtle Watching at Sandakan

Sandakan 2-Day Kinabatangan River Wildlife Discovery

4D3N Sepilok Wildlife Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise Experience in Sandakan

2D1N Stay at Sepilok Jungle Resort with Sepilok Wlidlife Tour in Sandakan

Sandakan Gomantong Caves & Kinabatangan River Day Trip

Sandakan Sepilok Orangutan & Sun Bear Half-Day Guided Tour

Sandakan at a glance

How much do Sandakan activities cost?

How far ahead should you book?

What to know before visiting Sandakan

What to expect in Sandakan

How to choose what to book

When travellers from the Philippines book

How prices compare across categories

FAQs about Sandakan

What are the most popular things to do in Sandakan?

How much do activities in Sandakan cost?

Which activities are the cheapest, and which are the most expensive in Sandakan?

How far ahead should I book activities in Sandakan?

When are activities busiest, and when is it quieter in Sandakan?

Explore more on Klook

Everything you need for your Sandakan visit

Top destinations in Malaysia