Best Things To Do In Sandakan

About Sandakan

Sandakan is located in Sabah, East Malaysia. It is the second large town after Kota Kinabalu. Sandakan is the main port to export oil, tobacco, coffee, sago, and timber. There are also have other economic activities such as fishing, shipbuilding, eco-tourism, and manufacturing.

What Can You Do In Sandakan 

Feel bored when you travel to Sandakan? Did you know that there are a lot of places that you can visit in Sandakan! 

Sandakan is a place where you can close to nature. By visiting a place that is full of natural, you are able to explore more life that is rare in the world. Check out the blog to see which places can explore more life and more close to nature.

Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC)

RDC is an educational centre that able to know more about the uniqueness and importance of Borneo’s rainforests. The distance between Sandakan Town and RDC is about 23 kilometers, and it is not very far from Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre.

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There is a 363 meters long of Canopy Walkway for you to explore more life on the tree tops. 

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Other than this, Exhibition Halls is the main highlight of RDC. You may also have a Boat Ride at the small lakes.

Exhibition Halls

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Boat Ride

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Operating Hours: 8am - 5pm

Address: Jalan Fabia, Sepilok, 90715 Sandakan, Sabah

Besides natural places, Sandakan has several historical places that are very memorable and meaningful.

Sandakan Memorial Park

Sandakan Memorial Park is a historical place located about 1.5 kilometers away from the current Sandakan Airport. This park is to devote all prisoners in the camp who died during the Sandakan Death Marches, and to those who died during a march to Ranau. It also represents the native population suffering and sacrifice.

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Operating Hours: 8am - 6pm *Open daily include Public Holiday*

Address: Mile 8, Jalan Labuk, Taman Rimba, 90702 Sandakan, Sabah

Agnes Keith House

Agnes Keith House is a colonial-style of the building that retained till today. Previously the name of Agnes Keith House was called Agnes Newton Keith. The Sabah Museum Department and The Federal Department of Museum and Antiquities began to collaborate in 2001 for reinstating the house after there is no one occupied the house. On 26 April 2004, it was officially opened to public as a museum. 

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This house showcases life at the administration of British North Borneo. There is a gallery on the 1st-floor talk about the story of Agnes, her books, and her family.

The interior of Agnes Keith House

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Operating Hours: 9am - 5pm *Open daily include Public Holiday*

Address: 296, Jalan Utara, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah

English Tea House and Restaurant

After visiting Agnes Keith House, you may go to English Tea House and Restaurant to have a meal or enjoy tea time. This is because this restaurant is nearby Agnes Keith House.

It is a colonial-style of the restaurant, the concept was inspired by Agnes Keith House. Other than offering traditional English cuisine, they do offer Asian dishes to fit our tastes. In addition, they do provide choices for vegetarians and do not sell pork, so it is suitable for everyone to have a meal here.

English Cuisine, ‘Fish & Chips’ and ‘Shepherds Pie’

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Asian Favourite, 'Malay Tasting Platter'

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British Pudding

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Fresh Salad

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Operating Hours: 10am - 9pm 

Address: 2002, Jalan Istana, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah

To get for more details about them, you can click here to visit their website.

St. Michael's and All Angels Church

St. Michael's and All Angels Church is the oldest stone church in Sabah with colonial style. 

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This building was designed by Mr. B.W. Mountfort. Initially, the building was constructed with berlian (ironwood) timber, followed by brick, at the end built with stone. The windows and the door were decorated with white stones.

The interior of St. Michael's and All Angels Church

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Operating Hours: 8am - 4:30pm *Closed on Tuesday*

Address: 51, Jalan Puncak, Pusat Bandar Sandakan, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah

As I mentioned above, Sandakan is a place full of natural, you are able to be close to wild animals. If you are an animal lover, the places that I recommended below will be suitable for you! 

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC)

BSBCC was founded in 2008. Currently, it was the only sun bear conservation centre in the world. The reasons that this centre existed is to provide care and rehabilitation to rescued sun bears, as well as increase the awareness of sun bear around the world.

Sun Bear

Sun bear is the smallest, most arboreal and least studied bear. It is the second rarest bear species, after the giant panda. 

BSBCC offers a precious opportunity for the visitors to visit the sun bears since 2014. You are able to see the rescued ex-pet sun bears on their road to rehabilitation.

Visit Sun Bear

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Besides that, they do provide people to do research on Sun Bear, as well as education and ecotourism.

Research

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Education

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Ecotourism

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Operating Hours: 9am - 3:30pm *Open daily include Public Holiday*

Ticket Price: 

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1964. There are 43sq kilometers of protected land at the edge of Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve. The purpose of creating this centre is to provide a habitat for those orangutans who became orphans due to the illegal logging and deforestation, and also rescue the orangutans who had been illegally caught and kept as a pet. 

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Other than visiting the orangutans, there is a feeding platform for you to be close to orangutans. Besides that, there is an outdoor nursery for you to watch the whole process of the rehabilitation of young orangutans on their final stage through protected specialist facilities.

Feeding Time: 10am & 3pm

Outdoor Nursery Time: 9am - 12pm (Friday till 11am); 2pm - 4pm

Feeding Platform

Outdoor Nursery

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Operating Hours: 9am - 11am; 2pm - 3pm (Thursday till 4pm) *Open daily include Public Holiday*

Ticket Price: RM30; Additional fee: RM10 for camera fee

Address: Sabah Wildlife Department, W.D.T. 200, Sandakan, Jalan Sepilok, Sepilok, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah

For more information, you may visit their website to get more details.