How to take the Kundasang to Sandakan Bus

There is a bus route between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan and it does stop at a few stops like Kinabalu Park and Kundasang for pick up or drop off. Several buses (from different companies like SIDA and Tung Ma) do this route.

I will explain the various routes typically done using the bus:
1. Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan Bus
2.Kundasang to Sandakan Bus
3.Sandakan to Kundasang Bus
4. Kundasang to Kota Kinabalu Bus

1. Kota Kinabalu City to Sandakan bus

You can take a bus (to be booked on easybook.com or at the inanam bus terminal) from inanam bus terminal. You would be dropped off at Sandakan bus terminal (Stesen Bas Sandakan on Google maps).

But I would recommend taking the flight over the bus as it is usually only slightly more expensive and the bus ride is a painfully 7 hours long journey through many windy mountain roads.

2. Kundasang to Sandakan Bus

Step 1: Take a bus from Kundasang to sandakan (it will take about 5-6 hours) for ~68 MYR. You can book this online on easybook.com by choosing Kota Kinabalu as the Origin and Sandakan as the Destination. Alternatively, you can buy this ticket directly at the Inanam bus terminal in person and tell them you want to be picked up at Kundasang (instead of KK). The bus will pick up at the bus stop in Kundasang which is a sheltered unnamed bus stop right next to the "Giant cabbage roundabout" (as is called on Google maps). If you took a bus from Inanam bus terminal in Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang, the drop off point is the same as this pick up point.

^This is the Kundasang bus stop near the giant cabbage roundabout

Step 2: If you booked this bus ticket online on easybook.com, you then have to call the bus company of the bus you have selected (usually SIDA or Tung Ma) and tell them to pick you up at Kundasang instead of Kota Kinabalu. I would suggest calling them nearer to the date of travel as in my experience, they just wrote this note on a white board at their Inanam terminal booth. Alternatively, you can inform them in advance at their booth in person at the Inanam bus terminal about this pick up if you happen to pass by or go to Imanam bus terminal. Please note that the bus will depart from Kota Kinabalu inanam bus terminal and will only reach Kundasang to pick you up about 2 hours later from the bus departure time at Kota Kinabalu. The bus conductor should call you when it is reaching Kundasang cabbage roundabout. In my experience, the bus conductor called me twice to inform me about their estimated time of arrival, which was a pleasant surprise. (Tip: it is useful to get a Malaysian phone number at the airport when you buy a sim card so they can call you.

Sandakan bus terminal is at 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia ("Stesen Bas Sandakan" on Google maps)

3. Sandakan to Kundasang Bus

It is similar to getting from Kundasang to Sandakan by bus explained above. Just buy the Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu bus ticket on easybook.com and call the bus company stated in your ticket (SIDA or Tung Ma) to drop you off at Kundasang (which is on the way to Kota kinabalu) after purchasing the ticket. Alternatively, you can just tell them this in person at Kundasang at Inanam Bus terminal. They will note it down (on a whiteboard at the station lol).

4. Kundasang to Kota Kinabalu Bus

It is similar to getting from Sandakan to Kundasang by bus explained above. Just buy the Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu bus ticket on easybook.com and call the bus company in the ticket (SIDA or Tung MA) to pick you up at Kundasang (which is on route to KK) after purchasing the ticket. Alternatively, you can just tell them to pick u up at Kundasang if you visit Inanam Bus terminal at KK.
You can also buy this ticket in person at the Inanam bus terminal instead of by online easybook.com.

Other Tips:

• You do not have to print out the e-ticket, just have the receipt on your phone(which is sent by email) as a screenshot including the QR code or ticket shown the easybook mobile app.
• There is also 1 short break stop during the ride from Kundasang to Sandakan where you can go to the toilet and grab a quick bite/lunch.
• There is local taxis, ridesharing apps like Grab and Maxim in Sandakan/Sepilok, so you can easily get around Sepilok/Sandakan city. In my experience, Maxim seemed slightly cheaper but I only got it to work with a malaysian phone number I bought from the airport.
• Sandakan is an absolute must-visit for Nature lovers. I would reccommend Rainforest Discovery center (See review in this post here), Sun Bear conservation center and Orang Utan conservation center (do check their opening and closing timings as they do close at certain times as well as the orang utan feeding times). River Kinabatangan is also really good.
• There might be a good user promo for easybook.com when you buy the ticket using the mobile app.

To see wildlife, you must go out to Sepilok or Riven Kingabangtan. Sandakan town has much litter.

water monitor amongst thrash in the sandakan town waterfront