There are 4 ways to get from El Nido to Sandakan by plane, ferry, car ferry, 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 El Nido Airport to Sandakan Airport
best- Fly from El Nido Airport (ENI) to Sandakan Airport (SDK)plane ENI - SDK
10h 20mRM 632–1,640Ferry, car ferry
cheapest- Take the ferry from El Nido Ferry Terminal to Coron Portferry
- Take the ferry from Coron to Manila North Harbor Pier 4ferry
- Take the ferry from Manila to Zamboangaferry
- Take the carferry from Zamboanga to Sandakan Harbourcarferry
3d 10hRM 362–1,203Fly El Nido Airport to Lahad Datu Airport, bus
- Fly from El Nido Airport (ENI) to Lahad Datu Airport (LDU)plane ENI - LDU
- Take the bus from Lahad Datu to Sandakan Centralbus
23h 57mRM 692–1,744Minivan to Puerto Princesa, fly to Sandakan Airport
- Take the bus from El Nido to Puerto Princesa Airportbus
- Fly from Puerto Princesa (PPS) to Sandakan Airport (SDK)plane PPS - SDK
14h 55mRM 1,186–1,892
El Nido Airport (ENI) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from El Nido to Sandakan is to ferry and car ferry which costs RM 360 - RM 1200 and takes 3 days 10h.
The fastest way to get from El Nido to Sandakan is to fly which takes 10h 20m and costs RM 600 - RM 1700.
No, there is no direct ferry from El Nido to Sandakan. However, there are services departing from El Nido Ferry Terminal and arriving at Sandakan Harbour via Coron, Manila and Zamboanga. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 10h.
The distance between El Nido and Sandakan is 627 km.
The best way to get from El Nido to Sandakan without a car is to ferry and car ferry which takes 3 days 10h and costs RM 360 - RM 1200.
It takes approximately 10h 20m to get from El Nido to Sandakan, including transfers.
There are 196+ hotels available in Sandakan.
What companies run services between El Nido, Philippines and Sandakan, Malaysia?
Cebgo, AirAsia Philippines, and three other airlines fly from El Nido Airport (ENI) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) 3 times a day.
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from El Nido Airport to Sandakan Airport via Mactan–Cebu, Manila, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 12m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 600–1,600
Flights from El Nido Airport to Sandakan Airport via Clark International, Singapore Changi, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 650–2,000
Flights from El Nido Airport to Sandakan Airport via Bohol-Panglao International, Manila, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- RM 600–1,600
Flights from Puerto Princesa to Sandakan Airport via Manila, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 600–1,700
Flights from Puerto Princesa to Sandakan Airport via Manila, Bandar Seri Begawan, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 12m
- When
- Saturday, Sunday, and Thursday
- Estimated price
- RM 700–2,200
- Website
- maswings.com.my
Flights from El Nido Airport to Lahad Datu Airport via Mactan–Cebu, Manila, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 42m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 650–1,700
Flights from El Nido Airport to Lahad Datu Airport via Clark International, Singapore Changi, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 27h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 750–2,200
Flights from El Nido Airport to Lahad Datu Airport via Clark International, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 35h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 800–2,100
Flights from El Nido Airport to Lahad Datu Airport via Bohol-Panglao International, Manila, Kota Kinabalu
- Ave. Duration
- 23h 50m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- RM 650–1,800
- Phone
- +60 198072570
- Website
- redbus.my
Bus from Lahad Datu to Sandakan Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- RM 34
- Schedules at
- redbus.my
- Phone
- +63 917 686 1118
- [email protected]
- Website
- facebook.com
Bus from El Nido to Puerto Princesa Airport
- Phone
- +63 928 457 7623 / 939 912 6840 / 998 881 7226
- [email protected]
- Website
- Atienza Interisland Ferries
Ferry from El Nido Ferry Terminal to Coron Port
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- RM 130–170
- Schedules at
- Atienza Interisland Ferries
- Phone
- (043) 723-6980
- [email protected]
- Website
- montenegrolines.com.ph
Ferry from El Nido Ferry Terminal to Coron Port
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- RM 35–200
- Schedules at
- montenegrolines.com.ph
- Book at
- 12go.asia
- Phone
- (+632) 8528-7000
- [email protected]
- Website
- travel.2go.com.ph
Ferry from Coron to Manila North Harbor Pier 4
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- RM 65–165
- Schedules at
- travel.2go.com.ph
- Book at
- travel.2go.com.ph
- Super Value Class
- RM 65–85
- 4 Person Cabin
- RM 90–120
- Tourist Class
- RM 65–150
- State Room
- RM 260
- Mega Value Class
- RM 159
- Business Class
- RM 160
- Cabin for 4
- RM 165
Ferry from Manila to Zamboanga
- Ave. Duration
- 2d
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- RM 85–483
- Schedules at
- travel.2go.com.ph
- Super Value Class
- RM 75–130
- 4 Person Cabin
- RM 100–160
- Tourist Class
- RM 85–150
- State Room
- RM 368
- Mega Value Class
- RM 130
- Cabin for 4
- RM 240
- Stateroom for 2
- RM 483
- Phone
- (062) 992-6410
- [email protected]
- Website
- alesonshippinglines.com
Car ferry from Zamboanga to Sandakan Harbour
- Ave. Duration
- 16h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- RM 161–322
- Schedules at
- alesonshippinglines.com
- Adult
- RM 322
- Student
- RM 257
- Senior
- RM 257
- Minor
- RM 161
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