Sandakan Hotels from RM54

About Sandakan

Sandakan is a city in the Malaysian state of Sabah, on the northeast coast of Borneo. While not the most popular city in Sabah, Sandakan is surprisingly the second biggest city on Sabah. Home to over 480,000 people, Sandakan is known for its availability of wood. Its port at the Sulu sea is also integral to its economy, which deals with palm oil, tobacco, cocoa and coffee, among other exports.

Top Attractions at Sandakan

The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 initially to rehabilitate orphaned baby orangutans. Situated in Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, tourists and researchers come to watch the orangutans up close in their natural habitat. Catch the orang utans and long-tailed macaques being fed daily at 10.00am and 3.00pm.

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre now still focuses on orang utan rehabilitation, It also educates the public about conservation, research and assistance on other endangered species such as the rhinoceros.

There’s only one place to stay near Sepilok orangutan rehab centre, but it’s a great immersive experience and well worth it.

A morning market that opens from 3am, Sandakan Central Market has both a dry and wet section. You can find everything from vegetables, fruits and salted fish to souvenir stalls in the multi-level building. After exploring, get your breakfast fix at one of the hawker stalls, which serve local and affordable foods.

Find a hotel near Sandakan Central Market for the most convenience in getting around. It’s a good area to stay if your trip is more than 2 days.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is where you can find the endangered Proboscis Monkey all in one place, up close in action. The main reason for their decline is the loss of habitat due predominantly to the clearing of forests to grow palm oil.

Step into the natural habitat of Sabah’s longest rivers, the Kinabatangan River. Wildlife-lovers can expect to see the 10 primate species that are native to Borneo that have set up their home base here, such as orangutans and big-nosed proboscis monkeys.

You can purchase a tour that may include accommodation, meals, river cruises and trekking while you are here.

Named after the famous American writer, Agnes Newton Keith, this British colonial government quarters, called Newlands, used to be her home base. Made famous by her three autobiographical accounts of life in Sabah (North Borneo) pre, during and post World War II, Agnes Keith House had the best views of Sandakan Bay at the front and the Sulu Sea at the back on this house on the hill.

To completely understand the city and its history, a walking trail around the heritage sites of Sandakan is a must. This trail passes through the Sandakan Heritage Museum, Sam Sing Kung Temple (Three Saints Temple), St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church.

Turtle Islands Park is located within the Turtle Islands, which lie in the Sulu Sea some 3 kilometres north of Sandakan in Sabah, Malaysia. Wander around the island and see the many turtle tracks, but be careful as there are many large turtle holes to easily trip into. Several of the turtle eggs’ predators prowl the island and you’re likely to spot one of the large monitor lizards. To help boost the numbers of these endangered turtles, the eggs are collected by park rangers and moved to the safety of a turtle hatchery.

The accommodation on Turtle Islands is fairly basic and cheap