Sandakan Jungle MTB Challenge 2026

The Sandakan Jungle MTB Challenge explores the wild hinterland surrounding Sabah’s second-largest city, a region where orangutan rehabilitation centres, proboscis monkey habitats, and primary rainforest lie just minutes from the urban area. The trails around Sandakan offer a distinctly Bornean riding experience, with red earth tracks, river crossings, and the constant possibility of wildlife encounters.

The 65km route heads into the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve area, following a mix of plantation roads, logging tracks, and singletrack through lowland dipterocarp forest. The terrain is hilly and technical, with red laterite that becomes slippery after rain. Highlights include a traverse through a cocoa plantation, a river crossing that is rideable at low water, and a ridgeline section with views over the Sandakan Bay. The 35km route covers the most accessible sections, suitable for intermediate mountain bikers.

Sandakan is one of Borneo’s most rewarding destinations for nature lovers, and many riders combine the event with visits to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, and a boat trip on the Kinabatangan River. The city is accessible via daily flights from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. Accommodation ranges from budget hostels to comfortable riverside lodges in the Kinabatangan area.