Malaysia · SANDAKAN TOURS

15 Sandakan Tours Worth Booking

27 tours  ·  from $60

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 sandakan tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan - Day two: the best morning for river wildlife
3-Day Experiences, Kinabatangan River Safaris, Rainforest & Jungle Tours, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife

Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan

1.Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 100 reviews · from $270Our pick

From Sandakan or Sepilok, you’ll reach remote Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp for two nights of river cruises, forest walks, and wildlife watching. Guide Jai is often praised for spotting animals and explaining Borneo’s ecology. Expect basic rooms, local food, limited electricity, no phone signal, and a real chance of seeing orangutans near camp.

“Unfortunately I don’t think the experience is worth it the time and the money you spent for. They have a very little circle trail in the camp in where is unlikely you will find anything. The river is beautiful but there is no much on it to see. There were 2 (1h) activities per day, a cruise and a walk. With 6h free time between them. Notice you cannot do anything in the camp. There are just hammocks and nothing to do. There is no internet either. So that 6h free time would be very long and boring. I don’t think is worth it to spend more than 1 night…”

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Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour - Who should book this experience
Full-Day, Orangutan Tours, Orangutan Tours in Sandakan, Private, Rainforest & Jungle Tours, Sandakan Tours, Sightseeing & Highlights Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour

2.Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 54 reviews · from $125

Spend a private day near Sandakan visiting Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and Rainforest Discovery Centre. Hotel or airport pickup, transport, lunch, entry fees, and an English-speaking guide are included. Guides such as Adam and Azies have provided thoughtful wildlife commentary, though guide quality can vary.

“Great day. Our guide new to explain everything about the jungle and local wildlife and we were lucky to see many different animals on our trip. Lucky with the weather as well. Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better way to experience sandakan since we only stayed for one day”

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Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan - Looking for proboscis monkeys and river wildlife
Cruises & Boat Tours, Kinabatangan River Safaris, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews

Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan

3.Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 28 reviews · from $89

From Sandakan, you’ll travel by vehicle to the Kinabatangan River for an afternoon cruise in search of proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, elephants, macaques, birds, and other wildlife. Angus and Chris are among the guides used on this route. Pickup from Sandakan hotels or the airport, dinner, transfers, and a small shared group are included.

“The river cruise was amazing. However, the transport was an old taxi driving on rough roads, including at night, and the ‘guide’ didn’t really share much insight.”

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Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan - Sunset at Pamaguan Island depends on the sky
Cruises & Boat Tours, Firefly Tours, Mangrove Tours, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan

4.Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · from $64

From Sandakan, you’ll ride to a local bed and breakfast for tea, village games, a short walk, and a crab-trap activity before cruising by mangrove to Pamaguan Island. Expect sunset views when weather allows, monkeys, fireflies, and a buffet dinner. Hotel pickup, transport, and an English-speaking driver are included.

“Seeing Fireflies in the dark was amazing. The snack before was unnecessary as was the trip to the island. There was nothing on the island except aload of rubbish on the beach that doesn't get collected and the police. The ride along through mangroves was interesting, seeing the monkeys and of course the fireflies. Dinner afterward was good.”

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Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch - Sepilok: two hours with rescued orangutans
City Tours, Orangutan Tours, Orangutan Tours in Sandakan, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch

5.Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · from $151

Start with hotel or airport pickup, then visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. A local lunch, air-conditioned transport, Puu Jih Shih Temple, and Sandakan Central Market round out this small-group day. Guides may include Adil or Paul.

“Excellent overview of what Sandakan has to offer. Great guide and driver. Eight hours well spent with plenty of variety.”

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Sandakan: 3D2N The Wild Heart of Borneo River Secrets - The 2 to 3 hour road from Sandakan
3-Day Experiences, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews

Sandakan: 3D2N The Wild Heart of Borneo River Secrets

6.3D2N The Wild Heart of Borneo River Secrets

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 24 reviews · 3 days · from $316

Spend three days along Sabah’s Kinabatangan River with four wildlife cruises, a guided jungle walk, meals, and two nights in private twin accommodation. English and Malay speaking guides such as Harry and Ryan help spot orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills, crocodiles, and possibly pygmy elephants. Deluxe rooms are subject to availability.

“Absolutely brilliant, I can't praise this place high enough. The staff were really friendly, the guides knew there stuff and the best places. We had a deluxe room which was really nice and the food was tasty, much better than I expected tbh. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the Orangutans, it rained which hampered that, but we seem the elephants swimming, monkeys, crocs ect. Well worth the money and a trip to remember. Thank you very much.”

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2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise - A Rustic Overnight Near the River
2-Day Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Kinabatangan River Safaris, Private, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise

7.2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 23 reviews · from $290

Start with airport pickup, then visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre before continuing to the Kinabatangan River for a boat ride and overnight lodge stay. Your private driver-guide handles transport, meals, and sightseeing. The next day returns you to Sandakan for St. Michael’s Church, a Buddhist temple, Sim-Sim Water Village, and lunch at English Tea House.

“It was an amazing tour discovering the Sepilok reserve and the nature among the river kinabatangan. Our taxi driver was so nice and with particular attention to us. Maybe I had been preferred a guide tour who should explained more the magical attraction we visited. Good experience, very suggested!”

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Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan - Arriving at a real jungle camp
2-Day Experiences, Kinabatangan River Safaris, Rainforest & Jungle Tours, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife

Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan

8.Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · from $230Top rated

Leave Sandakan or Sepilok at noon for a two-day stay at Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp. You’ll take afternoon, night, and early-morning wildlife cruises, with dinner and breakfast included. Expect a small camp, basic facilities, limited electricity, local cooking, and close views of monkeys, crocodiles, birds, and other Borneo wildlife.

“This was truly a raw experience in the jungle and exactly why we chose this tour. The camp was only reachable by 2 boat rides and a jungle trek though a bit of mud (600m). No cars. No electricity except from 6 to 10 pm. No TV. No Aircon. But Read more”

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Day Trip Sepilok Orang Utan & Proboscis Monkey (Flight Excluded) - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
1-Day Tours, Orangutan Tours, Orangutan Tours in Sandakan, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews

Day Trip Sepilok Orang Utan & Proboscis Monkey (Flight Excluded)

9.Day Trip Sepilok Orang Utan & Proboscis Monkey (Flight Excluded)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · from $176

Start before dawn and spend about 10 hours meeting Borneo’s signature wildlife. Your guide takes you from Sandakan Airport to Sepilok, the Bornean Sunbear Conservation Center, and Labuk Bay. Lunch, transport, and hotel or port transfers are included. Return flights from Kota Kinabalu are not.

“The tour says up to $208 usd for two people, and throughout the booking process and checking out it is still $208 usd. However, once I paid - The price automatically changed to confirmation- paid $416 usd. The actual experience -I filled oRead more”

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Full Day Orang Utan Sepilok, Proboscis Monkey, Sunbear, RDC - Labuk Bay at 11:30 am: the proboscis monkey stop
Full-Day, Orangutan Tours, Orangutan Tours in Sandakan, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews

Full Day Orang Utan Sepilok, Proboscis Monkey, Sunbear, RDC

10.Full Day Orang Utan Sepilok, Proboscis Monkey, Sunbear, RDC

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $210

Join Sandakan Hotspot Tours & Travel for an eight-hour wildlife day from Sandakan, with orangutan feeding at Sepilok, proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay, sun bears, lunch in the rainforest, and forest trails at the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Guides such as Jackie, Faisal, and Hadi are praised for timing and animal spotting.

“There are so many orangutans! My cell phone camera’s zoom didn’t take great pictures, but the in-person views were great. Bring water because it is hot! No bags are allowed to be carried because the orangutans may try to steal your stuff!”

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Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip - A quiet wait beside the Kinabatangan
1-Day Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Kinabatangan River Safaris, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews

Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip

11.Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 13 reviews · from $90

Leave Sandakan after lunch for a shared ride to the Kinabatangan River. An English-speaking coordinator leads a two-hour evening cruise through the Sukau-Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, where you might see proboscis monkeys, orangutans, macaques, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, and birds. Dinner at a local lodge and return transport are included.

“We did the day trip and it was a truly bad day out. We were picked up at 11:45 and did not arrive until 3pm. When we arrived the staff did not give a lot of guidance and weren't communicative with the guests. We sat around until 4pm for the cruise, which was 2 hours long, aRead more”

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Sandakan: Sukau Rainforest Wildlife Journey & Dawn Cruises - From Sandakan or Sepilok to Sukau
Kinabatangan River Safaris, Rainforest & Jungle Tours, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Wildlife

Sandakan: Sukau Rainforest Wildlife Journey & Dawn Cruises

12.Sukau Rainforest Wildlife Journey & Dawn Cruises

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 11 reviews · 510 minutes - 3 days · from $107

Travel from Sandakan or Sepilok to Sukau for wildlife cruises on the Kinabatangan River. A small group of up to 12 searches for crocodiles, orangutans, monkeys, elephants, and hornbills with an English or Malay-speaking guide. Choose a day visit or stay overnight for dawn cruises, meals, and a jungle walk.

“The place was beautiful and the river cruises were a great experience. Food was amazing! Dorm rooms were nice. 6 hours of dead space in the day but it is a good place to be. You have to pay for wifi? And anything extra is paid for, night walk or cruise, elephant cruise, tree planting is all money on top of price which we didn’t expect or budget for”

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Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch - A useful first look at Sandakan
City Tours, Half-Day, Private, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch

13.Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $60Best value

Spend four hours seeing Sandakan with a private guide and air-conditioned transport. Visit the Australian War Memorial, Central Market, Sim-Sim Water Village, Puh Jih Shih Buddhist Temple, and Agnes Keith House, with a local lunch included. Guides such as Sita and Siti have led the tour, though guide quality can vary.

“Tourist guide/driver speaks good English and friendly. Told us a lot of the history about the places of interest. The car is very clean & comfortable.”

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Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour - The 8 a.m. Start and Hotel Pickup
Orangutan Tours, Orangutan Tours in Sandakan, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour

14.Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 10 reviews · from $112

Spend a full day near Sandakan visiting two important wildlife centers. You’ll watch a short orangutan documentary, walk to a feeding platform, and learn about rescued sun bears. Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, admission, and an English-speaking guide are included. Sightings are never guaranteed.

“Viator tours was one hour late, and didn’t answer our calls or texts. From pickup until we was back at the hotel took two and a half hours. We paid 347 dollars for 4 persons. From Sandakan you can take a taxi, pay for the entrance and then it Read more”

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Sandakan: 2 Days 1 Night Bilit, Kinabatangan River Wildlife - Your first afternoon at Bilit Adventure Lodge
2-Day Experiences, Kinabatangan River Safaris, Sandakan Tours, Tour Reviews, Wildlife

Sandakan: 2 Days 1 Night Bilit, Kinabatangan River Wildlife

15.2 Days 1 Night Bilit, Kinabatangan River Wildlife

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 8 reviews · 2 days · from $381

Travel from Sandakan to Bilit for sunset and sunrise cruises on the Kinabatangan River. An English or Malay-speaking guide helps you look for pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, and birds. You stay one night at Bilit Adventure Lodge, with meals, a night walk, and tree planting available. Guide Leo has earned praise for his helpful wildlife spotting.

“Thank you for your review! We’re glad you enjoyed seeing the elephants and hope the experience left you with wonderful memories. We look forward to welcoming you again soon.”

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