SANDAKAN: Italian adventurer Nicola Chiacchio arrived in Sandakan as part of his cycling expedition through South East Asia, with Tawau next on his itinerary before he continues his journey to other countries in the region.
Chiacchio travelled from Indonesia to Sarawak in September before arriving in Sabah earlier this month. He has since cycled through the state’s interior and reached Sandakan this week.
Known for exploring remote regions by bicycle, Chiacchio began his cycling adventures in 1991 and has since travelled across more than 60 countries, using his journeys to promote peace and goodwill.
His adventures were interrupted in February 2019 when he was kidnapped by militants in Mali while cycling towards Timbuktu. He was held captive for about 20 months before being released on Oct 8, 2020, alongside Italian missionary Father Pier Luigi Maccalli.
Despite the traumatic ordeal, Chiacchio resumed his cycling expeditions and continues to explore the world on two wheels.
In December 2025, he reportedly said he had covered about 95,000km across more than 60 countries.
During his journey through Sabah, however, Chiacchio encountered an unpleasant incident in Ranau when a group of youths allegedly threw stones at his camp while he was spending the night in an open area in Kampung Lohan.
The incident drew criticism from locals, who expressed concern that such behaviour could tarnish Sabah’s image among visitors. The youths were later reported to have apologised to Chiacchio following growing public condemnation of their actions.
From Sandakan, Chiacchio is expected to cycle to Tawau before continuing his expedition cycling around the world. – James Leong
Chiacchio began his cycling adventures in 1991 and has since travelled across more than 60 countries, using his journeys to promote peace and goodwill.
