MESCOT Getting there... Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo Batu Puteh village is situated in the centre of the Kinabatangan Floodplain on  the banks of the Kinabatangan River. The office of KOPEL Ltd, which arranges  all MESCOT’s community based conservation and ecotourism activities, is  located under the Kinabatangan River Bridge where the road from  Sandakan to Lahad Datu/Tawau crosses the Kinabatangan River.   The four villages of Batu Puteh community are hence easily accessed because  they are located on the Sandakan-Lahad Datu Road 105km south of  Sandakan. The Sandakan-Lahad Datu Road starts 52km west of Sandakan,  turning south from the road from Kota Kinabalu (the State’s capital) to  Sandakan at the road junction that is locally called the “Mile 32 Checkpoint”.   Public/express buses from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu, Semporna and Tawau  pass through the Batu Puteh village and will stop at the north side of the  Kinabatangan River Bridge to let-down passengers. Similarly public/express  buses from Sandakan to the south will also pass through and travellers can  disembark at the Kinabatangan Bridge bus stop.   The bus from Kota Kinabalu takes approximately 5.5hrs. The bus from  Sandakan takes approximately 2hrs (or from Sandakan airport 1hr 40mins).   Most school groups, volunteers and other visitors, will either fly to Sandakan or  Lahad Datu and arrange special charter transfers to the Batu Puteh Village, or  simply take one of the many public buses from Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu that  pass through the Batu Puteh Village. Many groups fly one way and take the bus  the return to Kota Kinabalu or visa versa.   * For more information or assistance in arranging transport or transfers to and  from Batu Puteh Village, please contact KOPEL Office   © created for KOPEL by CREST Sustainable Tourism Planning