There are 4 ways to get from Philippines 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 to Sandakan Airport
best- Fly from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to Sandakan Airport (SDK)plane MNL - SDK
7h 50mRM 627–1,434Ferry, car ferry
cheapest- Take the ferry from Manila to Zamboangaferry
- Take the carferry from Zamboanga to Sandakan Harbourcarferry
2d 17hRM 276–857Fly to Kota Kinabalu Airport, bus
- Fly from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI)plane MNL - BKI
- Take the bus from Kota Kinabalu North Bus Terminal Inanam to Sandakanbus
13h 50mRM 408–1,114Fly to Lahad Datu Airport, bus
- Fly from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to Lahad Datu Airport (LDU)plane MNL - LDU
- Take the bus from Lahad Datu to Sandakan Centralbus
21h 56mRM 427–1,138
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Philippines to Sandakan is to ferry and car ferry which costs RM 270 - RM 900 and takes 2 days 17h.
The fastest way to get from Philippines to Sandakan is to fly which takes 7h 50m and costs RM 600 - RM 1500.
No, there is no direct ferry from Philippines to Sandakan. However, there are services departing from Manila and arriving at Sandakan Harbour via Zamboanga. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 17h.
The distance between Philippines and Sandakan is 1042 km.
The best way to get from Philippines to Sandakan without a car is to ferry and car ferry which takes 2 days 17h and costs RM 270 - RM 900.
It takes approximately 7h 50m to get from Philippines to Sandakan, including transfers.
There are 214+ hotels available in Sandakan.
What companies run services between Philippines and Sandakan, Malaysia?
AirAsia Philippines, AirAsia, and Malaysia Airlines fly from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) twice daily.
- Website
- maswings.com.my
Flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Lahad Datu Airport via Kota Kinabalu Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 16h
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 390–1,100
Flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Lahad Datu Airport via Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 650–1,700
Flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Lahad Datu Airport via Bandar Seri Begawan, Kota Kinabalu Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 15m
- When
- Saturday, Sunday, and Thursday
- Estimated price
- RM 500–1,600
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Kota Kinabalu Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 350–1,000
Flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Sandakan Airport via Kuala Lumpur
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- RM 700–2,600
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 300–700
- Website
- flyroyalbrunei.com
Flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport via Bandar Seri Begawan
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 15m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- RM 550–1,000
- 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
Bus from Lahad Datu to Sandakan Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- RM 34
- Schedules at
- redbus.my
- Phone
- (+632) 8528-7000
- [email protected]
- Website
- travel.2go.com.ph
Ferry from Manila to Zamboanga
- Ave. Duration
- 2d
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- RM 85–488
- 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 371
- Mega Value Class
- RM 132
- Cabin for 4
- RM 242
- Stateroom for 2
- RM 488
- 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 162–324
- Schedules at
- alesonshippinglines.com
- Adult
- RM 324
- Student
- RM 260
- Senior
- RM 260
- Minor
- RM 162
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