Lahad Datu, a city, surrounded by stretches of cocoa and palm oil plantations, is the capital of the Lahad Datu District in the Tawau Division of Sabah, Malaysia. The small city is often used for passing by before heading to the Tabin Wildlife Park and Danum Valley. However, travellers tend to forget to spend time in the quaint town and experience the charms it offers. Located between Semporna and Sungai Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu is the best place to experience both the wondrous seas of East Malaysia and the orang get a glimpse of the wild orangutans.

Airports in Lahad Datu

Lahad Datu Airport (LDU)

The Lahad Datu Airport, located a mere 1 kilometre from downtown Lahad Datu town serves the town of Lahad Datu and its neighbouring districts including Kinabatangan, Kunak and Felda Sahabat. The Lahad Datu Airport is a small airport that still uses manpower to push and pull luggage trolleys to the aircraft and back to the airport. Even though the airport currently does not have as many facilities as other airports have, the airport is set to be upgraded soon and to bring in more tourists to the area.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Lahad Datu?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Lahad Datu.All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of

When is the Best Time to Fly to Lahad Datu?

Lahad Datu is accessible all year round as the weather in Lahad Datu does not vary much throughout the year. Lahad Datu experiences tropical climate just like Singapore and with tropical weather, be prepared for occasional rainfall now and then. The average temperature is 26.9 degrees Celsius, only 0.01 degrees Celsius higher than the average climate in Singapore of 26.8 degrees Celsius. If you are looking for months which bring in lesser rain, the months of May, June and July and the hotter and slightly hotter months, but do be prepared as rain may come pouring down any time of the day. December and January are the wetter months and are the months to avoid if you want to spend more time outdoors.

One of the biggest festivals in Lahad Datu is the 'Festival Sayangi Lahad Datu', a three-day event that showcases all the different traditions and ethnicities in Lahad Datu. You will be entertained with traditional dances from all seven districts in Lahad Datu, shows from local artists and local performers. There will also be traditional games, cooking shows and even karaoke competitions for visitors to take part.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do Lahad Datu?

The small stopover town of Lahad Datu has more than meets the eye:

Danum Valley Conservation Area – In line with Malaysia’s effort to preserve the nature and beauty of the country, Danum Valley has been turned into a nature reserve where visitors can come and experience the wonders of Mother Nature. The Danum Valley Conservation Centre is the richest conservation centre in the world with over 200 species of trees. Here you will also be able to see the traditional Kadazan Dusun tribe burial site which is hard to find in other places.

Madai Baturong Forest Reserve – The Madai Baturong Forest Reserve is actually a bird cave where you will be able to see first hand how birds nests are plucked from the caves. Inside the cave, there are several historical sites. Once done exploring the cave, you can take a dip in the pool that lays at the bottom of a waterfall which is located inside the reserve.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve – This is the place for you to try your luck at spotting the endangered Sumatran Rhino and the Pigmy Elephant. The Tabin Wildlife Reserve is home to endangered flora and fauna and this is where you get the chance at spotting something that might no longer be in this world in a few years.