All You Need To Know To Backpack From Kota Kinabalu To Sandakan

Malaysian Borneo, otherwise known as Sabah is seriously a place of dreams. The people are friendly and hospitable, the terrain is mountainous with vast jungle singing with wildlife, and the food, omg the food! Fast food, vegan food, seafood, whatever your fancy, you wont be spoiled for choice in Sabah. This article will cover all you need to know to plan a trip from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.

A SUPER BRIEF, RECENT HISTORY OF SABAH

As with many corners of the world at the time, Great Britain took sovereignty of North Borneo as a protectorate in 1888. Maintaining management and control of the province until the Japanese invasion in 1942. Through a joint effort between local resistence forces and the Allies, the province was liberated in 1946 and North Borneo was made a British Crown Colony. After being bombed by the Allies, Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) was rebuilt and chosen to take the position of Sandakan as the nation’s capital.

North Borneo joined Malaya, Sarawak, Singapore, and Sarawak to establish the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, with the province to be known as Sabah from that point on. Sabah has continued to grow over the years, to know resembling characteristics of modern cities in Kota Kinabalu and lesser so in Sandakan.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELLING TO SABAH

IS SABAH SAFE?

From my own experience travelling in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan for nine days, I would say yes. Yes, Kota Kinabalu is a safe city. Safe enough to walk around in. The same can be said for Sandakan. I walked around the city at night, and throughout communities on the outskirts of town during the day and felt safe all times.

The people were so friendly and curious, it was no uncommon for people to approach me just for a general chat. An Indonesian family docked in Sandakan even invited me onto their boat for afternoon tea.

If you are unsure or feel uneasy, trust your instincts.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN SABAH

Both Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan are small enough cities that you wont need public transport to walk from one side to the other.

If you do need to get somewhere that is beyond walking distance, I found Grab was usually your best option. It was always cheap, reliable and came with great customer service.

I did use local buses a couple times, but if I am being honest, I have no idea how the system actually worked. I think I just fluked it a couple times.

MONEY IN SABAH

Cash is still king in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. For the currency conversion rate, I recommend getting cash out while in Malaysia either at the airport or in the city. Select ‘no’ whenever an ATM or EFTPOS machine asks if you’d like you money converted to the local currency. By selecting ‘yes’ you are welcoming additional fees from that particular bank.

KOTA KINABALU

Kota Kinabalu is the largest city in Sabah and is known to be the gateway to Malaysian Borneo. Despite its gateway nature, the more affectionately known ‘KK’, has a lot to offer without having to venture too far.

I spent three nights here, sleeping in a capsule hotel and exploring the city. But the length of your stay should be determined by how many day trips you want to do. If you plan on just simply staying around the city of KK, I’d recommend only spending two days in Kota Kinabalu.

There are many day trips that launch from KK, but for myself I decided to stay close to base, and not stretch the budget too far. Especially considering I had already booked a Mt Kinabalu climbing package.

WHAT TO DO IN KOTA KINABALU

Climb Mount Kinabalu! While this is really expensive due to the fact you have to do it through a licensed tour company, it you like climbing mountains, the appeal of summiting South East Asia’s tallest peak should be quite appealing.

Explore the KK Waterfront! Spend your free time walking along the waterfront. You will find sunset spots, waterfront restaurants and bars, craft markets and food markets. I walked from the restaurant section all the way to the Masjid Bandaraya Mosque, it was a great way to explore the city if you have the time and energy.

Learn about the culture and history of Sabah at the Sabah State Museum! This small but well curated museum really caught me by surprise. This island has a really rich history and has experience lots in the way of political, geopolitical and religious influence. Getting to the museum early in your trip will help you understand the place better on your journey.

Shop and eat at many of Kota Kinabalu’s bustling markets! The Gaya Street Sunday Market, Night Food Market, Pilipino Market and Handicraft Market are all favourites amongst the locals, and you can enjoy them as well.

SANDAKAN

Sandakan is located in eastern Sabah and is a lot smaller than KK, less busy and with really friendly locals! Don’t be surprised if you get asked for a photo or invited to share food with a local. A family in the fishing village of Pukat saw me wandering through their fishing village and invited me for dinner. When it comes to how many days do you need to see Sandakan? It is very similar to KK. You can see most of Sandakan in a day, but think of Sandakan as a gateway to even more adventure!

WHAT TO DO IN SANDAKAN

Spend time with the Orang-Utans at Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre!

Observe the might Bornean Sun Bears at the Sun Bear Conservation Centre!

Learn about the tragic fate of the Australian soldiers held as POW’s by the Japanese during World War II at Sandakan Memorial Park. The Australians played a big part in liberating Borneo during the war, so that is something to feel proud about.

Wander through Pukat Fishing Village to witness a unique way of life. Locals here are really friendly, and are open to conversation should you have any questions.

Experience the Down Town Night Market on the waterfront.

BUDGET TRAVEL IN SABAH

Malaysian Sabah is a super budget friendly place to travel. I stayed in three different hostels, none of which cost more than $10aud per night. I found meals regularly at markets or even in the food sections of shopping malls for under $5aud consistently. Public transportation was pretty confusing, but using Grab to get around was effective and cheap!

Depending on your activities, aim for a budget of $40aud per day as a general rule!

HOW TO GET FROM KOTA KINABALU TO SANDAKAN

As a traveller, if you don’t rent a car, you really only have two options to get from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan (and visa-versa), and that is bus or flight.

Taking a bus will cost you $15aud and take 7.5 hours. You can book online via easybook.com which is super simple to navigate. If you choose the bus and you are heading from KK to Sandakan, book a window seat on the left side of the bus for the best views. Opposite on the way back.

If you are flying to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu you can get flights for as cheap as $30aud and the flight takes less than an hour.

For me, I took the bus to Sandakan and flew back to KK. Both were pleasant experiences.

Sabah in Malaysian Borneo is really booming as a place for Eco-Tourism – I only just scratched the surface! Have you been to Sabah? Please comment your favourite tips and suggestions!