Sandakan Travel Forum

Hi,my friends and i about 6 persons will visit Sandakan for 6D/5N this coming Sept. We would like to include the following in our trip,
# Orang Utan Sanctuary
# 3D/2N Island trip where package for snorkeling provided (can make it at turtle island? Or the famous Sipadan Island?)
# eat the cheap but fresh seafood at Tawau...

Is 6D/5N enough for all these? Any others suggested must-go place? Please help to arrange....

Thanks a lot in advance...

Hey there
Well, your itenary sounds good. I think though that you might run out of time.
I was in Sepilok (Orang Utan Rehab. Center)in February. It was great to be there.
If you want to go to Sipandan Island, check out if you need to make any reservations to go to that Island. When I was there to dive, they told me that it was booked out for the next 5 days. Only a certain amount of people is allowed per day to Sipandan Island. But I don't know about snorkeling.
You can't stay at Sipandan Island (no accommodation), but you can stay at Mabul Island. Don't stay in Semporna, it's really not interesting.

I was in Tawau because I had a flight back to Kuala Lumpur. Fish there is excellent, but there's no other reason to go to Tawau. I did not like the city very much.

alternativ program:
Mount Kinabalu, if you are into trekking. I climbed the mountain and it was one of the greates experieces.

Kinabatangan River, to see the Orang Utans in the Wilderness. Fantastic trip.
I stayed in a jungle Resort. It was great. Don't remember the name now, but if you want I check for you. Just let me know.

Have fun

if you want to go to Seligan (tutrle island) you've to book in advance or (better) book with a local Tour Operator (ie wildlife) as it would be very difficoult to go there in other ways.
To go to Sipadan you should have (buy) permission, you better book yours with one diving there in Semporna/Mabul. Many diving in Semporna, and in Mabul, have also accomodation. You need the permission also if you go there for snorkeling. Anyway the best place to stay in Semporna is the Seafest hotel.
It's a good idea to take a trip at Kinabatangan River (I agree it's better to see there the Orang Utan in Sepilok), there also nose monkeys to be seen.
In my opinion 6D/5N is not enough to see all what it shouild be seen in Sabah... maybe cutting something, if you went to Sipadan, you don't need to go to Seligan (turtle island) to see turtles, plenty of them in Sipadan unless you want to see went they deposit eggs... which is impossible to see in Sipadan as is forbitten to stay there during the night.
Sabah is fantastic..

Thanks all for your precious suggestions. Actually i just came back from Mt KK on March and found that trip to Sabah is really interesting, is a gate away from hassle and bustle from the city life...so desperately think of another trip to another town in Sabah...will plan it out when confirm the air ticket later..Thanks...