Day trip from Tawau to Sandakan
Sandakan lies 179 km (111 mi) north of Tawau, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 179 km (111 mi) apart, Sandakan is a realistic day trip from Tawau: about 2 h 55 min each way by road.
| Tawau | Sandakan | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malaysia | Malaysia |
| Population | 372,615 | 439,050 |
| Elevation | 12 m (39 ft) | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) |
| Postal codes | 91000–91035 | 90000–90741 |
Where to book tours and tickets in 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 Tawau?
179 km (111 mi) in a straight line, north of Tawau; by road roughly 219 km (136 mi).
How long does it take to get from Tawau to Sandakan by road?
About 2 h 55 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Tawau and Sandakan?
No, both are on Asia/Kuching at the moment.
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.