Lahad Datu – Gateway to the Ultimate Jungle Adventures in Sabah
Lahad Datu is one of the main gateways to the jungles of Sabah. The other two starting points are Sandakan and Tawau. Of these three cities, Lahad Datu is the smallest, with around 200,000 inhabitants in the entire municipality. Still, there are daily flights to the city. There’s not much to do in the town itself. You’ll likely arrive after a short flight from Kota Kinabalu, and chances are you’ll travel on to your final destination the same day — whether that’s the incredible Danum Valley, the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, or even the Kinabatangan River. We were only in Lahad Datu briefly on our way to Danum Valley and just got a small impression of this sleepy town.
What is there to do?
Well, to put it simply — not much in the town itself.
That said, there’s Darvel Bay, a great diving spot close to town. It’s home to the fascinating Blue Ring Hole (Takat Tenggiri) and a Japanese shipwreck at Pulau Baik. Still, most travelers head straight to Semporna to dive at the more well-known sites like Mabul and Sipadan. But when you look at underwater photos from Darvel Bay, it seems only logical that this will become Malaysia’s next hot diving destination.
Just outside town, you’ll find the Menara Kayangan radio tower with a viewing platform that offers a breathtaking view of the region.
So many beautiful things in the area
There are so many incredible places in the area around Lahad Datu, which makes it an ideal base for your jungle adventures. For example, the stunning Tabin Wildlife Reserve is just an hour’s drive away.
Of course, Danum Valley is the ultimate jungle experience in Borneo. A visit to this unique place will stay with you forever (check out our full story about Danum Valley here!).
Another cool, up-and-coming destination is Sungai Kapur, where you can explore the jungle by boat. Also worth mentioning is the Wildlife Experience at Bukit Piton, which borders Danum Valley. Between Bukit Piton and Danum Valley flows the Bole River (Sungai Bole), where you can also take amazing river cruises. This destination has barely been discovered by tourists yet.
The Kinabatangan River is about a two-hour drive away and is one of the best spots for wildlife cruises. Since most animals stick close to the riverbanks, your chances of spotting them are very high.
Accommodations
There are many homestays in Lahad Datu, along with a few simple hotels.My Inn Hotel is a convenient place to stay if you’ve missed your flight. A popular choice is the Bike and Tours B&B, which also offers fun local experiences. That said, most travelers continue on to their jungle accommodations the same day, so there’s usually no need to stay in town.
Lahad Datu Airport
The airport is small and unremarkable — but it’s an important hub for tourists. The 55-minute direct flight from Kota Kinabalu is perfect if you’re planning to explore this part of Sabah. There’s also a car rental service at the airport in case you want to explore on your own.
Tips
- Book your departing flight early in the day. Weather tends to change later on, and you wouldn’t want to miss your flight due to a sudden storm.
- Bike and Tours offers some fun trips in the Lahad Datu area. A portion of the proceeds supports local causes. You can also stay overnight at their cozy B&B.
- Grab is a great and easy way to get around town.
- Want to dive at the awesome Darvel Bay sites? Contact Dominic from Darvel Bay Diving — his dive school is at Payang Pier (near Pantai Payang).
- Takat Tenggiri (Blue Ring Hole) is truly undiscovered. The atoll lies about 20 km from Lahad Datu, and it takes around 30 minutes by speedboat. A visit here is unique — you’ll probably be one of the first international tourists to experience it. What makes it even more special is that it’s actually two ring-shaped formations side by side. The deeper one goes down to around 15 meters.
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Sabah, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below!