There are 4 ways to get from Balikpapan to Sandakan by plane, car, bus, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Sandakan Airport
best- Fly from Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) to Sandakan Airport (SDK)plane BPN - SDK
9h 1mRM 693–1,953Fly to Juwata International Airport, ferry, bus
cheapest- Fly from Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) to Juwata International Airport (TRK)plane BPN - TRK
- Take the ferry from Tarakan to Tawau Ferry Terminalferry
- Take the bus from Stesen Bas Express Tawau to Stesen Bas Sandakanbus
13h 6mRM 415–654Drive 1,481.6 km
- Drive from Balikpapan to Sandakancar 1,481.6 km
23h 2mRM 575–831Fly to Kota Kinabalu Airport, bus
- Fly from Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI)plane BPN - BKI
- Take the bus from Kota Kinabalu North Bus Terminal Inanam to Sandakanbus
14h 51mRM 944–1,433
Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Balikpapan to Sandakan is to fly and ferry and bus which costs RM 410 - RM 700 and takes 13h 6m.
The fastest way to get from Balikpapan to Sandakan is to fly which takes 9h 1m and costs RM 650 - RM 2000.
The distance between Balikpapan and Sandakan is 830 km. The road distance is 1481.6 km.
It takes approximately 9h 1m to get from Balikpapan to Sandakan, including transfers.
Yes, the driving distance between Balikpapan to Sandakan is 1482 km. It takes approximately 23h 2m to drive from Balikpapan to Sandakan.
There are 215+ hotels available in Sandakan.
What companies run services between Balikpapan, Indonesia and Sandakan, Malaysia?
Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia fly from Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) once daily.
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 650–1,900
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Singapore Changi
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 500–1,700
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Supadio, Kuching
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 750–1,600
- Website
- superairjet.com
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Juwata International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 210–300
- Website
- malaysiaairlines.com
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 800–2,800
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Tuesday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 750–2,800
- Website
- flyroyalbrunei.com
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Bandar Seri Begawan
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- RM 450–1,500
- Website
- flyscoot.com
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Singapore Changi
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 55m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- RM 500–1,700
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Soekarno–Hatta
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- RM 600–1,900
- Website
- citilink.co.id
Flights from Sepinggan International Airport to Juwata International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 230–800
- Phone
- +60 198072570
- Website
- redbus.my
Bus from Kota Kinabalu North Bus Terminal Inanam to Sandakan
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 25m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- RM 40–65
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
- Book at
- facebook.com
Bus from Stesen Bas Express Tawau to Stesen Bas Sandakan
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 21m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- RM 45–60
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
Ferry from Tarakan to Tawau Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- RM 145
Ferry from Tarakan to Tawau Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- RM 270
- Schedules at
- redbus.my
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