Call us on 646-895-8368
Start Planning
Sandakan

Luxury Travel to Sandakan made for you

See wildlife in their natural habitat

The gateway to Kinabatangan River & Lankayan island

Sandakan is best known as being home to the Sepilok Nature Rehabilitation Centre, where they care for rescued or orphaned orangutans as well as sun bears, gibbons, Sumatran rhinos and elephants in need of treatment. This is a good place to see these creatures before embarking on a trip into the rainforest in hope of spotting them in the wild.

From this provincial city take a safari up the Kinabatangan River. This is Malaysia’s second longest river where, despite the palm logging in the area, this spectacular wilderness is home to wealth of wildlife including proboscis monkeys, macaques, pygmy elephants, lizards, crocodiles, and birdlife including kingfishers and hornbills.

From Sandakan you can also make the journey to Borneo‘s Lankayan Island; a paradise, palm fringed island in the Sulu Sea. Home to sea turtles often spotted in its waters, vibrant underwater creatures and coral formations can be spotted a few fin kicks from the beach.

  • A close-up of a rhinoceros hornbill perched on a tree branch at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sandakan, Borneo.
  • Bornean sun bear on tree, Sepilok, Borneo, Malaysia
  • Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) on the tree. Wild nature. Central Bornean orangutan ( Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii ) in natural habitat. Tropical Rainforest of Borneo

From our experts

Experiences picked by our Sandakan specialists

Meet orangutans

See orangutans and other wildlife at the Sepilok Nature Rehabilitation Centre.

Spot pygmy elephants

Take a boat safari up the Kinabatangan River to spot pygmy elephants, lizards, crocodiles and more.

Snorkel with turtles and whale sharks

Explore Lankayan Island’s white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Here marine life, such as turtles and whale sharks, thrive.

A word from one of our experts

Sandakan is one of the best places in Borneo to spot orangutans. Seeing our orange-haired relatives is a memory that will stay with you forever. You can also see other wildlife here, such as proboscis monkeys, macaques and sweet pygmy elephants.

Charlie Morris Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in Sandakan

There are many incredible places to stay in Sandakan. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Why book with Jacada?

  • Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

  • Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

  • Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Trip Inspiration

Get inspired with our Borneo example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

12 days From $10,784

Borneo Family Adventure

Explore Borneo’s rainforests and spot wildlife in their natural habitat, including the island’s renowned orangutans. Our experts have paired canopy walks with…

Explore trip

Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your Sandakan adventure, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Start Planning

Where to go in Borneo

Meet your Asia team

When to visit

The best time to visit beautiful Borneo is when the warm weather arrives in March through to October and the island is hot and dry. It’s perfect for climbing Mt Kinabalu, searching for whale sharks, turtles and seeing endangered orangutans in the wild.

Hiking and trekking

April - August

Wildlife spotting

May - August

Diving and snorkelling

April - September

When Is the Best Time to Visit Borneo?

Borneo travel guides

The Best Time to Visit Asia

Asia is an incredible continent with a diverse range of climates across its many regions. Here, you’ll find snowy scenes, rainy seasons, blooming wildflowers a…

Read more

Plan your trip to Sandakan

Whatever you want from your adventure in Sandakan, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Start Planning

Don't take our word for it

“We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada…”

We enjoyed our first trip with Jacada and it surely won't be our last! Every detail and moment of our trip was perfectly planned. We were met every step of the way with courteous and knowledgeable drivers and guides. We really appreciated the local guides and the commitment they had to make every day special. Thank you Jacada for the…

Amy Schulz Trustpilot ★★★★★

“heavenly honeymoon”

My wife and I used Jacada to plan our honeymoon to French Polynesia. Working with the Jacada team was fantastic and effortless. Every question was quickly answered. Every hiccup was quickly addressed. We felt like we were in the hands of experts who are equally passionate about travel, and who were committed to helping us have the trip of a…

MJ Trustpilot ★★★★★

“Jacada Travel has been outstanding”

We enjoy traveling and we have used Jacada Travel for some wonderful trips over several years. We have never been disappointed. In 2024 we took a Safari in Botswana Africa and walked with the gorillas in Rwanda planned by Jacada and the itinerary was amazing. In 2025 we had planned a trip to Antartica ( with another company ) but…

Lisa Schrage Trustpilot ★★★★★

“Communication and organization were…”

Communication and organization were excellent. The Jacada team was helpful and genuinely interested in our experience. The guides were personable, knowledgeable, and clearly enjoy their work. Vehicles were spotless, timely, and coordinators managed our every need brilliantly. I will recommend Jacada to friends and family. The only way to travel!

Andrew Woodcock Trustpilot ★★★★★

“Iceland 8 Days”

We had a wonderful trip planned through Jacada. We enjoyed the venues and the excursions. This is a beautiful place we'd recommend to anyone who wants to go on a new adventure.

The Reynolds Trustpilot ★★★★★

Your trip, your story

We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

Find Out More