Ternate to Sandakan flights
Sandakan lies 1,172 km (728 mi) north-west of Ternate, -1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 2 h 15 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Ternate | Sandakan | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Malaysia |
| Population | 210,836 | 439,050 |
| Elevation | 23 m (75 ft) | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+9 (Asia/Jayapura) | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) |
| Nearest large airport | TTE, 4 km out | SDK, 9 km out |
| Postal codes | 85851 | 90000–90741 |
Clocks in Sandakan are 1 h behind Ternate right now, so a 2 h 15 min journey lands only 1 h 15 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Sandakan
Crossing from Indonesia into Malaysia: money changes from the Rupiah to the Ringgit (MYR); sockets are BS 1363; the dialling code becomes +60; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3086706.
Airports at each end
Leaving Ternate
Ternate is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Sultan Babullah Airport (TTE), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 5,875 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Arriving in Sandakan
Sandakan is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Sandakan Airport (SDK), 9 km (6 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,202 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Lahad Datu Airport (LDU, 93 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandakan Airport (regional) | SDK | 9 km (6 mi) | 8,202 ft | 46 ft |
| Lahad Datu Airport (regional) | LDU | 93 km (58 mi) | 4,498 ft | 45 ft |
Book a flight to Sandakan
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Staying in Sandakan
Our booking partner lists 176 places to stay in Sandakan. Of the 97 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (37). Across 38 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.1 out of 10. Guests have left 14,446 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Sandakan
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Sandakan from Ternate?
1,172 km (728 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Ternate.
How long does it take to get from Ternate to Sandakan by air?
About 2 h 15 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Ternate and Sandakan?
Sandakan is 1 h behind at the moment (Asia/Kuching against Asia/Jayapura).
Which airports are used for Ternate to Sandakan flights?
Typically Sultan Babullah Airport (TTE) to Sandakan Airport (SDK); Sandakan also has LDU.
What currency do I need in Sandakan?
The Ringgit (MYR).
Where can I stay in Sandakan?
Our booking partner lists 176 places to stay in Sandakan, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.