Location: Sandakan
Top Things to do in Sandakan
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10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Sandakan That You Shouldn't Miss
Tropical Sandakan is a paradise for animal lovers. Watch turtles lay eggs at Turtle Islands Park, keep a giggly distance at a crocodile farm or share an impish smile with some of the residents at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The houses on stilts in the fishing village of Buli Sim Sim are perfect for sightseeing and photographing.
Restaurants in Sandakan
1. Borneo Sandakan Tours - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 26 reviews
("How are you?" in Malay) If you are thinking about visiting the amazing Borneo (Sabah), or looking for a travel planner in Borneo (Sabah), you are in the right place! We are a professional travel agency in one of the world's most fascinating destinations - Borneo (Sabah &). We are based locally in a nature city called Sandakan (located on the north-eastern coast of Borneo). With our professional multilingual and certified nature guides, we promise you an inspiring and truly unforgettable experience in this beautiful wonder of natures. We are certified to take YOU to the bush to observe the wildlife you'll never get to experience in busy cities like LA, London, Sydney or Tokyo! (and of course with safety measures and precautions). Based on more than ten years of experience in this industry and the many grateful opportunities we get to interact with visitors and tourists from all over the world, we have established exciting Borneo (Sabah) tour packages to share with you! Please visit our Tours page for more insights on the packages we provide. We are also delighted to offer customized tour packages specifically to suit your requirements. Please contact us for more information. Our Borneo Sandakan Tour support operators are accessible 24/7 via direct mobile; a great comfort if an unexpected event leaves you in urgent need of travel assistance.
2. Sandakan Memorial Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 775 reviews
Reviewed By OrderintheHouse
In September and October 2017 my wife and I visited delightful Malaysian Borneo visiting attractions in both Sarawak and Sabah. Included in the Sabah section was a visit to Sandakan Memorial Park. A visit to the Sandakan Memorial Park is a reflective and very solemn experience for any visitor to Sandakan. It dedicates the memory of 1793 Australian and 641 British members of the armed forces whilst prisoners of war (POWs) in Borneo during World War II. It highlights the terrible atrocities inflicted upon those POWs who lost their lives on the infamous Death Marches from Sandakan to Ranau, around 220 kilometres inland and close to Kinabalu Park. Only 6 prisoners, all Australians, survived. To my mind it is an essential visit for any Australian traveller to Malaysian Borneo to gain an insight into this important aspect of Australian war history. The Park is adjacent to the site of the original Sandakan POW camp. There are several memorial and interpretive stations around the park for visitors to explore at their own pace via an impressive walking track. The landscaping of the Park including the lake, gardens and trees is very beautifully maintained. The Commemorative Pavilion is also an important aspect of the Park displaying photographic exhibits that tell countless stories of the atrocities inflicted upon these brave POWs by their Japanese captors. A feature in this Pavilion is the decorative gates depicting flowers representing people of the three nations who suffered at Sandakan during the Second World War. Above all, the Park is a chilling reminder to all that in learning to forgive the wrongs of the past we must maintain Memorials such as Sandakan Memorial Park to make sure we never allow these wrongs to be repeated. It’s this reminder that makes this Park so essential to include in any Borneo visit. Equally impressive are the memorial stain glass windows installed since 2005 in St Michael’s Church, Sandakan in memory of the POWs imprisoned in Borneo. I would recommend a visit here also. You need to make arrangements with the Church Office to gain access inside the Church, for a small fee. Another must for travellers interested in this chapter of World War II history is the Sabah Tea Plantation at Ranau. The Plantation is on the very site where the Death Marches ended and viewing further impressive POW memorials is an added bonus to simply buying Sabah tea or enjoying lunch in the Plantation Restaurant. We were deeply moved by all three experiences. .
3. Sandakan Rainforest Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
4. Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,168 reviews
Reviewed By Daneli09
Arrived early, had a good meal in the onsite restaurant before going to the feeding platform. Saw dozens of proboscis monkeys and several troops of macaques within arms length on the boardwalk leading to the feeding platform. Travelling between the feeding platforms, we saw hornbills, silver eared monkeys, wild boar and a huge monitor lizard. Great day out.
5. Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 996 reviews
RDC is first and foremost an environmental education centre managed by the Sabah Forestry Department. It has been operating since 1997 but mainly for school visits and organising events for school students and also teacher training courses on environmental education.It was later developed for visitors mainly to sustain the environmental education programme for the future. We formally opened to visitors in August 2007 and is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. However, visitors are allowed to stay until 7 pm for viewing of the flying squirrels at the 347-m long Canopy Walkway, the only such structure in Southeast Asia.The newly revamped Birders Rest is now with a 90 m-long walkway, an open hall, a small centre and toilets. As of Nov 16th 2013, we have a new operator for the Keruing Cafe whom we hope will provide better services for our visitors.
Reviewed By ROSSHX - Melton Constable, United Kingdom
We sent 3 wonderful days in the Sandakan RFC using the trails, the canopy walk, the towers, early morning walks, night walks as well as lots of time walking forest trails, saw lots of Bornean wildlife, Orangutan, tarser, monkey, otter, snake, hornbills, snakes, flying squirrels and so much more, sorry to leave and defo hope to go back.
6. Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,628 reviews
Reviewed By Cosmopolitan587907
We decided to go to the Bornean Sun Bear Center instead of seeing the Orangutans next door. This place does invaluable work for Sun Bears and we saw 3 bears out from the viewing platform and they were adorable. One of the helpers, Becca was very friendly and spoke to us for 20-30 minutes, answering our questions and talking to us about the bears. We even saw an orangutan pop in from next door briefly in the trees! Could not recommend this place enough!
7. Agnes Newton Keith Home
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 359 reviews
Reviewed By klaass1952 - Renkum, The Netherlands
This home gives an excellent impression of the life of Agnes Newton Keith and her husband and son. Well displayed historical information of their life in Sabah, the tastefully decorated and furnished rooms and the architecture of the house itself give a wonderful impression of the life of a colonial professional and his novelwriting wife at that time.
8. Gomantong Cave Sandakan
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 562 reviews
Reviewed By PhongN221 - Gungahlin, Australia
Having read David Attenborough's autobiography and his description of the Gomantong cave, I wanted to go here. It certainly is amazing to see all the animals that make up the eco-system of the cave.
9. Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 186 reviews
Reviewed By PlatOng - Kajang, Malaysia
I once visited Puu Jih Shih 10 years back with some of my friends too, the main attraction about this place is the view watching down from the observation deck. It has a beautiful view of the whole sandakan town. And not to forget once you made a turn to the entrance of Puu Jih Shih, you will be welcomed by alot of Buddha's statue. This temple have a history of 30 years, the inside of the temple is really beautiful especially the lotus like flower on the ceiling. You can spend a good 20 minutes here. After a wonderful temple visit, your next destination should head towards town area where you can visit St Michael's Church. See my post for St Michael's Church too!
10. Kg Pukat Fisherman Village
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 88 reviews
Reviewed By raven781 - Tokyo, Japan
I was told that here, we can get fresh seafood noodle and other stuff so I decided to be here as early as 7am. Simply tuck into a small jetty house and offered Mee Kicap without soup. It was a breath taking moment when the noodle came with plenty of seafood such as scallop, fish slice squid, prawn and fish cake thus barely cost RM6.50. Must try this in early morning folks
