Lahad Datu: how to get there and around
Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.
Lahad Datu is a city of 105,622 people in Malaysia (Sabah), 7 m (23 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Lahad Datu Airport (LDU), 1 km (1 mi) from the centre.
Key facts
Open Lahad Datu in Google Maps
Daylight in Lahad Datu runs from about 11 h 52 min a day in late December to 12 h 27 min in late June (computed for 5.02° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.
Getting there
Lahad Datu is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Lahad Datu Airport (LDU), 1 km (1 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 4,498 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft. The alternatives are Tawau Airport (TWU, 82 km).
Flights to Lahad Datu: every airport, routes and times
Buses to Lahad Datu · Driving and car hire
Nearby cities, and how to get between them
- Kota Kinabalu, 271 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Sandakan, 94 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Tawau, 99 km — buses · car rental · tours
- Tarakan, 207 km (Indonesia)
- Jolo, 317 km (Philippines)
- Bandar Seri Begawan, 376 km (Brunei)
Common questions
Which airport serves Lahad Datu?
Lahad Datu Airport (LDU), 1 km (1 mi) from the centre, plus 1 other airport with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How big is Lahad Datu?
About 105,622 people live in Lahad Datu (GeoNames).
What time zone is Lahad Datu in?
Asia/Kuching, currently UTC+8.
What currency is used in Lahad Datu?
The Ringgit (MYR). Traffic drives on the left.
Which cities are near Lahad Datu?
Kota Kinabalu (271 km), Sandakan (94 km), Tawau (99 km), Tarakan (207 km), Jolo (317 km).
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 13 September 2026. Hotel 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.