Travel advisories
Is Eastern Sabah Safe?
If you are reading your government's travel advice for Sabah, this guide sets out the independent maritime record and what visitors experience on the ground.
Maritime record
ReCAAP incident reports
The independent maritime record for eastern Sabah comes from the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre, an international organisation monitoring piracy across Asia. ReCAAP records show zero incidents of crew abduction for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Sea since January 2020. In January 2025 the threat level was lowered to Low, meaning incidents are not expected to occur. The Malaysian government restructured its defence of the region into a single operational command.
The coastal waters and islands from Kudat to Tawau form a security zone. A maritime curfew applies from 6pm to 6am across waters in the Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Beluran districts. Security includes patrol craft and continuous radar coverage, with independently operating sensors on Pulau Ligitan. Before booking your trip, consider your travel insurance , checking advisory-zone cover for island travel. For Danum Valley, insurance is advised and emergency evacuation cover sensible.
Foreign advice
National travel warnings
Several Western governments maintain travel advisories warning against visiting the offshore islands and coastal areas, while Asian nations have lowered their travel warnings or issue no restrictive advisories.
The UK and Australia
The UK advises against non-essential island travel; Australia warns of offshore and coastal risks.
Japan and South Korea
South Korea lowered its coastal advisory; Japan reduced its warning for the offshore Semporna islands.
The United States
Increased caution applies to islands and maritime areas off eastern Sabah from Kudat to Tawau.
Chinese travel advice
China issues no restrictive regional travel warning, offering water sports and weather safety reminders.
Other locations
Inland reserves and offshore reefs
Sipadan Island
An oceanic island rising from deep water in the Celebes Sea, Sipadan is Sabah's flagship dive site. It is protected by a strict permit system with no accommodation on the island itself and offers exceptional encounters with schooling barracuda, reef sharks and turtles.
Danum Valley
2.5 hours by road from Lahad Datu, Danum Valley is 438 square kilometres of lowland rainforest that was never logged with three very different places to stay inside it.
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
A 122,500-hectare lowland reserve bordered by oil palm, Tabin is Sabah’s premier destination for night drives. The sharp forest edge concentrates small cats and civets along the boundary roads.
Kinabatangan River
The Kinabatangan floodplain holds the highest concentration of wildlife in Borneo. This is where you go to track orangutans and proboscis monkeys from a boat.
Maritime record
Plan your eastern Sabah trip
Speak to the team about the current travel advice and arrange your transfers for diving at Sipadan or visiting the inland rainforests.