There are 2 ways to get from Cairns to Sandakan by plane or bus
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 Cairns (CNS) to Sandakan Airport (SDK)plane CNS - SDK
21h 12mRM 1,516–6,855Fly to Kota Kinabalu Airport, bus
- Fly from Cairns (CNS) to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI)plane CNS - BKI
- Take the bus from Kota Kinabalu North Bus Terminal Inanam to Sandakanbus
29h 21mRM 1,578–6,904
Cairns (CNS) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Cairns to Sandakan is to fly which costs RM 1500 - RM 7000 and takes 21h 12m.
The fastest way to get from Cairns to Sandakan is to fly which takes 21h 12m and costs RM 1500 - RM 7000.
The distance between Cairns and Sandakan is 3978 km.
It takes approximately 21h 12m to get from Cairns to Sandakan, including transfers.
Sandakan is 2h behind Cairns. It is currently 8:37 AM in Cairns and 6:37 AM in Sandakan.
There are 213+ hotels available in Sandakan.
What companies run services between Cairns, QLD, Australia and Sandakan, Malaysia?
Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and three other airlines fly from Cairns (CNS) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) twice daily.
- Website
- singaporeair.com
Flights from Cairns to Sandakan Airport via Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 55m
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,500–7,500
Flights from Cairns to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Singapore Changi
- Ave. Duration
- 22h 25m
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,500–7,000
- Website
- malaysiaairlines.com
Flights from Cairns to Sandakan Airport via Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 45m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,500–7,500
Flights from Cairns to Sandakan Airport via Darwin, Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 26h 35m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- RM 2,200–8,000
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Cairns to Sandakan Airport via Singapore Changi, Kota Kinabalu Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 45m
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,400–7,000
Flights from Cairns to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Singapore Changi
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 55m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- RM 1,500–7,000
- 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
Want to know more about travelling around Malaysia
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
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