Sabah: From Sandakan to Semporna: transport?

[travel_bunny]

Hi all,

This is not specifically a question on diving but maybe something that divers who went to Borneo would know. I hope. Am positive.

I'm thinking of doing Uncle Tan's wildlife trip and then moving on to Semporna to do some dives. The thing is, how do I get there?

From my research, there is an early direct bus to Semporna but I will leave Uncle Tan's camp at 10AM --> too late to catch the bus. The website says it can drop me off at Lahad Datu. Does anyone have any idea, from Lahad Datu --> Semporna, how I get a bus ticket/ how much it cost/ how long is the journey?

I think I can also go to Sankadan town and take an Air Asia flight KK then to Tawau and then a bus to Semporna but its too leceh (troublesome) and needs tooo many connections. *exhausted*

Thanks for reading this post and your replies!!


cheers,
Vyn

 

[okidoki]

Hi Vyn,

I am traveling actualy the other way around diving in Sipadan and Mabul then with the bus from Semporna to Sanadkan (aprox 4-5 hours) and then dive in Lakayan off the coast of Sandakan.

Enjoy your trip

 

[travel_bunny]

okidoki,
thanks!
i actually wanted to do that too to escape diving in sipadan in the weekend, but it seems more convenient to do sandakan first for me. saves travelling time.
just wondering what the bus schedules from lahad batu to semporna are.
u enjoy ur trip too!

 

[malaysia-islands]

Not sure if there is a direct bus to Semporna. You can count on getting express buses from Lahad Datu to Tawau, both are regarded as major towns in eastern Sabah. Distance? Not too sure, but both are located on the opposite end of the massive Darvel Bay, I'd say the journey may take about 5 hours?

Anyway, back in 2003, I have done this: I took the Fokker flight from Tawau to Sandakan across Darvel Bay, took about 30 minutes. One-way fare, if memory serves me right, was less than RM100 back then. It is regarded as local flight service. I'm not too sure if the service still available now. (I looked up at MAS website, the route no longer exists I think).

The Fokker 50 service is now being operated by FAX. The schedule:

Sandakan (SDK) - Tawau (TWU)
D72132 11:25 12:05 Daily
D72136 17:30 18:10 Daily

Tawau (TWU) - Sandakan (SDK)
D72133 12:30 13:10 Daily
D72137 18:35 19:15 Daily

 

[okidoki]

Last time I checked the flight with AA was RM 9.99

 

[malaysia-islands]

Yes, sometimes below RM10 fares are available. Otherwise, the fixed fare for TWU-SDK is about RM30 + surcharges = RM80 one way. Not too shabby considering the amount of time one could save. In fact, you could make a day-trip to Sepilok (30 minutes from Sandakan Airport), catch the 2-3pm feeding time and then get back to Tawau on the 530pm flight

 

[travel_bunny]

thanks for the info! i'll look it up! =)

 

[Divehappy]

I did that same trip from Uncle Tan's to Sipadan back in 2004. Uncle Tan's is a fantastic trip - the guys who run it are great fun and very knowledgable about the river. You'll have a great time!

We got the bus from Sandakan to Tawau - it took around 6 hours. Semporna would probably be 5 hours as previous poster suggested.

Why don't you ask the Uncle Tan guys to help you figure out the bus timetable when you get there - they have a small office you meet in first before they drive you to the river, so it will be no problem for them to find out for you.

Have fun
Chris

 

[travel_bunny]

really? good to know! i've already contacted them, and it's exactly what u said - about 5 hrs, but they are dropping me off at lahad datu instead of all the way back to sandakan. excited, can't wait!