Driving from Phnom Penh to Sandakan
Sandakan lies 1,584 km (984 mi) south-east of Phnom Penh, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 24 h 9 min without stops, over roughly 1,932 km (1,201 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Phnom Penh | Sandakan | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Cambodia | Malaysia |
| Population | 1.6 million | 439,050 |
| Elevation | 20 m (66 ft) | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+7 (Asia/Phnom_Penh) | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) |
Clocks in Sandakan are 1 h ahead of Phnom Penh right now, so a 24 h 9 min journey lands 25 h 9 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Sandakan
Crossing from Cambodia into Malaysia: money changes from the Riels to the Ringgit (MYR); traffic switches to the left; sockets are BS 1363; the dialling code becomes +60; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3086706.
Where to book car hire from Phnom Penh to Sandakan
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
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 Phnom Penh?
1,584 km (984 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Phnom Penh; by road roughly 1,932 km (1,201 mi).
How long does it take to get from Phnom Penh to Sandakan by car?
About 24 h 9 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Phnom Penh and Sandakan?
Sandakan is 1 h ahead at the moment (Asia/Kuching against Asia/Phnom_Penh).
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.