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Turtle island borneo – the ultimate guide to visiting palau selingan.

turtle island borneo

If you’re planning a trip to Borneo, visiting Turtle Island (Pulau Selingan) off the Eastern coast of Borneo will be one of the highlights of your trip. Part of Sabah National Park, Turtle Island is one of three islands dedicated to green and hawksbill turtle conservation, and the only island which permits visitors to view turtles nesting and hatchlings being released.

It’s the perfect environment for kids to witness one of nature’s greatest phenomenons, and it’s one of the few places in the world where turtles arrive 365 days of the year to nest!

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Turtle Island Borneo

During my extensive research planning our trip to Borneo, it was clear from the hundreds of frustrated comments online that visitors were finding it hard to book the overnight turtle island tour from overseas.

This blog post will give you a bit more clarity on on how to book and we’ll also discuss below the security situation on the north eastern Islands of Borneo below and whether it’s safe to visit.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about Turtle Island in Borneo and how to book your Turtle Island tour. As this is a long article, I’ve included a contents section below so you can jump to the information you’re looking for. As ever, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below if you’ve visited Turtle Island in Borneo or if you can recommend to readers other reputable turtle conservation programmes around the world to visit.

Where is Turtle Island Borneo? Turtle Island National Park Marine Turtles Turtle Island Conservation What to expect visiting Palau Selingan (Turtle Island) Accommodation on Turtle Island Turtles in Borneo Booking Turtle Island How much is the Turtle Island overnight tour? Is it better to book direct with Crystal Quest or through another operator? The best time to visit Turtle Island Is Turtle Island safe? Does any of the Turtle Island tour fee go into turtle conservation? Is the Crystal Quest tour reputable? Volunteering in sea turtle conservation in Borneo

Selingan island resort

Witnessing mother turtles nesting and tiny hatchlings being released has got to be one of nature’s wonders. Be sure to include this in your Borneo visit.

Where is Turtle Island in Borneo?

Three tiny islands in the Sulu Sea off the east coast of Borneo make up Turtle Island National Park. The Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak are situated in North Borneo (off the north east coast of Sabah), 40km north from Sabah’s second city, Sandakan, where you’ll find Turtle Island or in Malaysian, Palau Selingan.

Most visitors arriving in Sandakan head to the world famous orang-utan rehabilitation centre in Sepilok (only half an hour out of Sandakan) and onwards to the Kinabatangan River which boasts incredible wildlife spotting opportunities, such as wild orang-utans, pygmy elephants (we saw 69!) and crocodiles. It’s an extraordinary place in the world in terms of diversity and one of the only two places on our planet where 10 primates live together. You can read more about the Kinabatangan in our post on the replanting the rainforest family volunteering project  which we took part in while we were there. Don’t forget to include an extra day and night to your Sandakan itinerary for an overnight visit to Turtle Island to witness green and hawksbill turtles nesting and have the chance to release baby hatchlings back into the ocean. It really was an unforgettable part of our Borneo trip.

where is turtle island?

Turtle Island is 40km north of Sabah’s second city, Sandakan.

Turtle Island National Park

The islands of Selingan, Bakungan Kecil and Gulisan plus the surrounding turquoise waters and reef, make up 1,740 hectares of the protected area, dedicated to turtle conservation since 1977. All three islands have turtle hatcheries but Selingan (Turtle Island) is the only island to permit visitors to view the turtles laying and hatchlings being released.

Visitors can only visit as part of a 1 night / 2 day tour (returning back early morning at 7.00am on the second day) with local company, Crystal Quest. Visitor numbers are limited to 50 per night so pre-booking is essential. Booking can be quite tricky but below we tell you the best way to do it and tips for your stay there. 

Every evening throughout the year it is possible to see female turtles,  hauling themselves up onto the warm equatorial sand to nest.

A team of five full time rangers are on patrol every evening and work tirelessly as each female nests, to carefully remove her eggs and re-locate them to a new nest dug in the safer confines of the island’s hatchery.

turtle island Malaysia

Hatchlings are normally released at night to minimise predator losses. However, you might get lucky as we did and see a wild nest hatch. Occasionally the rangers miss a nest that will then hatch naturally. These guys are off the scale on cute factor!! 🙂

Geographically these islands belong to a chain of a further 6 islands belonging to the Philippines. Such close proximity means there is a constant vigilant military presence on the island.

Following some attacks in 2015, some governments, including the UK, continue to officially advise tourists against visiting this area. We discuss the security situation further below in a dedicated section. As far as we were concerned, we researched the facts and decided to go anyway. If you do visit, please be aware that your travel insurance will be invalid whilst you are in the area. 

turtle island safety

The UK government continues to officially advise UK tourists against travel in this area. This invalidates your travel insurance during your time in this area. However with a heavy military presence on the island we felt completely safe.

Marine Turtles

Marine turtles have lived on earth for about 185 million years. Fossil records show that more than 30 species of marine turtle have been known to have gone extinct naturally.

Today only 7 species of sea turtle still exist made up of two families – dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae. Only the Leatherback is Dermochelyidae whilst the remaining six – Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Flatback and Olive Ridley and Kemps Ridley are Cheloniidae.

Today only seven species of sea turtles remain, among them Greens and Hawksbills, that share a fondness for the Sulu Sea. In particular the reefs around the three tiny islands that are now part of Sabah’s Turtle Island National Park. Since 1977 the area has been a marine park of 1740 hectares extending over the islands, reefs and sea. Palau Selingnan was the first to have a turtle hatchery and the turtle conservation programme there is the oldest in the world. Research and data collection are high priorities and their records have the most detailed statistics and research of any other centre.

turtle island borneo

We watched this Green Turtle laboriously dig her nest, lay 136 eggs and then we left her in peace to flip sand bit by bit to cover her nest and return to the ocean. An awesome moment of nature that we will never forget!

Turtle Island Conservation

Hatcheries on all three of the islands in the National Park protect nests from predators such as birds, lizards, rats and ants. Nesting can become problematic, with as many as thirty turtles arriving each night to nest, the threat of freshly laid nests being dug up are high. Plus some nests are drowned through natural soil erosion, as in Palau Gulisan.

Hatcheries managed carefully by the on-site rangers offer a solution to these problems and are now standard practice on all three islands. 

During the nesting process, visitors are taken all together to visit just one or two turtles. In this way disturbance to the nesting turtles is minimised. I was totally impressed by this. Whilst it’s true that some visitors may be disgruntled at being banded together in such a large group, it’s refreshing to see priority is given to the turtle over tourists. Previously I’ve been privileged to witness turtles nesting in both Australia and Costa Rica and on both occasions smaller groups were taken out to view multiple nests, meaning disturbances to far more turtles than is necessary.

Sabah’s Turtle Islands Park provides a refuge for these ancient creatures. The park is fully committed to preserving the sea turtles habitat and ensuring its survival. 

Regular patrols ensure the waters of the marine parks, eggs and nesting grounds are protected. Laws are strictly enforced to conserve and protect this natural environment. A bi-lateral programme between Malaysia and The Philippines has led to the creation of TIPA, or Turtle Islands Protected Area. Both countries now jointly manage and protect the turtle islands as a shared natural environment and sanctuary for Green and Hawksbill turtles. 

borneo turtle island hatchery

The hatcheries on Turtle Island provide protection from predators & increase the chances of survival of the hatchlings

What to expect visiting Selingan Island (Turtle Island)

Only 50 visitor permits are allocated each day to stay on Palau Selingan (Turtle Island).  The only tour available is an overnight stay which departs at 8.00am and returns the following morning. It is not possible to visit just for a day trip. 

All tickets from Sabah Parks are sold through Crystal Quest, a company with an office on the jetty next to the Sabah Parks office. Crystal Quest then sells tickets onto tour operators (which sell on the tours at a much inflated price but do include a guide). Booking through Crystal Quest is much more affordable, about 100 euros cheaper but can be trickier to organise as Crystal Quest can be hard to get hold of.

borneo turtle island tour

It takes only 1 hour to reach Turtle Island from Sandakan. The boats leave at 9.30am from the jetty next to the Sea Quest office.

Before you know it you’re crossing the Sulu Sea at great speed and arriving on a tiny sand fringed paradise island. The island is so small it doesn’t take very long to walk around. One side of the island has a sandy beach whilst the other side is rocky reef, so it’s actually not so easy to walk around even at low tide.

turtle island borneo tour

Big smiles upon arriving on Turtle Island ready for an adventure with some of the most ancient creatures in our world!

Selingan Turtle Island Chalet Accommodation

The rooms on Selingan island are simple and basic, but most importantly clean and with air con!

Accommodation is in four large chalet buildings located some 500 metres from the main building (which houses the information centre, shop and eating area) along a path under huge overhanging trees.

borneo turtle island tour

We had no complaints at all about the accommodation. Yes it’s tired, but the air con worked, the rooms were spotless and the beds perfectly comfy. After all we were there for the turtles and not a 5 star luxury experience. Whilst booking the tour, the staff show you photos of the chalets so they met our expectations.

Chalet A (below) has recently been refurbished so it’s worth asking if it’s possible to stay in Chalet A at the time of booking.

Chalet B, where we stayed, (above) has admittedly seen better days, but Fatima, the new manager of Crystal Quest admits this, saying it would be the next accommodation block to be refurbished in the low season. As we visited last August, it may have already been re-vamped by now.  Chalet C is rather worn and needs a facelift, so this will be next up.

Fatima, the Crystal Quest Manager, seems very on it and keen to improve the facilities for visitors. But hey we were there for the incredible turtle experience and not bling digs so it wasn’t a problem for us at all. 

borneo turtle island tour

The hatcheries are in the middle of the resort in-between the restaurant/education centre and our accommodation. We had a good look at the mysterious green wire netted nests eager for any signs of life every time we passed. I loved the fact that the hatcheries are in plain sight and not hidden away, prohibited from visitors. 

An interesting fact is that temperature of the sand the eggs are incubated in plays a vital role in determining the sex of the turtle.  Higher temperatures result in more females. Conversely males dominate in lower temperatures. Some hatcheries are shaded to ensure certain nests are cooler than others. A difference of only 4.5 degrees farenheit can mean a nest is wholly female or male. This curious fact underlines the importance of hatchery management.

turtle island quest

The hatchery on Turtle Island is the oldest in the world! Here turtle eggs are protected for the 50-60 days they take to hatch. Visitors and rangers then release them back into the ocean where they begin their mysterious life until returning back to the beach where they hatched many years later.

Upon arrival on the island and after settling into your accommodation, the day is yours to relax, swim and snorkel. The beach is lifeguarded with a designated area for snorkelling. The water is crystal clear and the snorkelling excellent! The array of tropical fish swimming around us was truly remarkable. Make sure you bring your snorkel and mask.

We even shared the beach with a hungry monitor lizard stalking the sand for eggs. The rangers retrieve eggs from almost all nests buried on the island and re-house their eggs in the hatchery to prevent predators, such as this guy, guzzling up the eggs before they’ve even hatched. The rangers do leave some nests wild to ensure that other species, dependant on turtle eggs as part of their diet, can still survive.

turtle island beach

As the afternoon progressed the sky became moody with dark clouds threatening rain. This didn’t put off my 10 year old busy snorkelling!

After snorkelling, even with the threat of rain, we set off to walk around the island. As I said, it’s not an easy task due to the furthest side of the island being reefy and covered in sharp rocks. I wanted to circumnavigate the island because of some comments on trip advisor that I wanted to satisfy myself on. Some visitors on trip advisor had been outraged claiming there were huge amounts of rubbish on the shores of the far side of the island. I wanted to see for myself if this was the case and if this was so, to hear what Fatima, the manager, had to say about this. 

We  did see rubbish strewn on the rocks on the far side of the island, amid scuttling crabs. It was disheartening to see, knowing that rubbish can be so harmful to marine animals, especially turtles, and this is even included in the park’s video to visitors.  

When I called Fatima out on this, however, she admitted that rubbish arrives constantly on the tide and their 5 full time rangers work tirelessly to clean it up. The focus, she says, has to be on the nesting beaches, and these were perfectly litter free. It’s disappointing I admit. My heart sank. How can a National Park allow this? We’d visited Kinabalu National Park and hadn’t seen one shred of litter the entire time we were there.

I suggested a voluntary 30-60 minute beach clean for visitors to participate in. I’d definitely be in – wouldn’t you? Something this simple would work. Many hands make light work.  Hopefully this is a scheme that might get off the off the ground, and I’m in touch with Sea Quest to try to make this happen. I really got the feeling that the turtles are definitely the priority here and rubbish is an obstacle that they are trying to overcome, but as always funding is limited.

Voluntary Beach Clean for Sea Quest Tour Visitors?

Would you take part in a 30-60 minute voluntary beach clean on Turtle Island during the 7-8 hrs of free time on the island before sunset? It would be great to show Sea Quest how willing visitors would be to help battle the litter problem on Palau Selingan, knowing that rubbish is so harmful to turtles – the very creatures you’ll be visiting? Vote with your feet (or rather fingers initially) and let us know your support in the comments.

things to do in sandakan

Our final walk along the beach before the sunset curfew. Visitors are prohibited from visiting the beach from sunset to dawn so as not to disturb nesting turtles

We were rewarded on our tour of the island by seeing some rangers about to release some hatchlings. We were totally by ourselves, just the two of us, and the rangers let my 10 year old release the baby turtles. Can you imagine? A girl’s dream just came true!

I was disappointed when one of the rangers said we could pick one up if we liked. We politely declined. Minnie was desperate to pick one up (of course) but we are heavy on conservation in our family and she understands its a big no no. I would ask all other visitors to Turtle Island to decline touching or handling the hatchlings, however hard it is to say no (yes they are ridiculously cute, but c’mon people!). 

Later on during the official release of the hatchlings after dusk, the rangers stipulate that no one should touch the turtles and were strict to enforce this, so I think our offer came from a random ranger keen to please. Just say no.

Malaysia turtle island

We were lucky to be able to release baby turtles into the ocean, just the two of us. Can you imagine the smiles on our faces?

Having survived millions of years, the sea turtle must now face it’s biggest challenge. Its habitats have never been more threatened. Its surroundings never more hostile.

Many perish from simply swallowing discarded items. Plastic bags, often mistaken for jellyfish, are lethal. When swallowed they block up the intestines, killing the turtle.

To the turtle being caught in a fishing net means certain death. Although adapted to a life underwater turtles must still surface to breath or they will drown. As they can’t free themselves when entangled, fishing nets, especially abandoned or ghost nets, prove deadly.

Boat and propellors are dangerous to turtles. A chance encounter can bring sudden and violent death.

borneo turtle island tour

We were allowed to hang out on the beaches until sunset. Then the park rules and regulations are strictly enforced and visitors are not allowed on the beach from sunset to sunrise so as not to disturb the turtles. 

After sunset, a buffet dinner is served and visitors sit together expectantly before the night begins. A video is shown above the restaurant in the education centre which tells us all about the lives of Green and Hawksbill Turtles from breeding, hatching and what little is known of their life at sea.

It’s certain that these ancient creatures are extraordinary and by now we’re all pumped to see a mother turtle nesting. Not long to go now.

I was guilty of eavesdropping a little to groups around us to glean more information about turtles or the island. If you book with an external company you will get a guide that will accompany you onto the island. Booking with Sea Quest means you are pretty much solo on the trip. You will have a lady meet and greet you and tell you the do’s and don’ts of the island, but not much to offer on facts and info on the turtles. However, the information centre is excellent and provides a lot of background and interesting facts, and I’m not sure the guide warrants the huge price increase charged, particularly as this would escalate if you’re travelling with kids. We were more than happy to book direct with Sea Quest and would do so again.

As with all our other turtle nesting experiences, you have no idea how long you might have to wait until a ranger calls you to the beach. Finally we got the call and excitedly in hushed school children whispers, we switched on our head torches to red and followed the ranger to the beach.

islands near sandakan

We were a group of 38 people around one turtle. Everyone got to see perfectly fine and the ranger talked to us in hushed tones whilst he took various measurements and checked tags

We all gathered around as the ranger talked in hushed tones to us.

Being reptiles, turtles cannot regulate their body temperature. Coming on shore during the day exposes them to extreme heat. Their huge, dark coloured shells collect solar energy, which can prove fatal. Nesting is therefore a phenomenon that occurs mainly at night.

Nesting turtles are sensitive to light. A bright light on or near their nesting beach is a major deterrent and they may avoid coming onshore entirely or they return to sea without laying their eggs.

The rules were to use only our red lights on our head torches and no flash photography. Some inconsiderate tourists still attempted to use them but were cut down quickly by the rangers.

green turtle borneo

Green and hawksbill turtles come ashore throughout the year in varying numbers. July to October sees the highest number of nestings.

Dragging herself beyond the high water mark, the female digs a deep chamber shaped like a flask. During egg laying she seems to be a trance, oblivious to movement or sound. The chamber slowly fills with soft, glistening eggs each with its own minute pulsing embryo. Sea Turtles have enormous salt water glands behind their eyes. These allow them to expel salt taken in at sea. The salty mucus gives the impression of tears during egg laying.

We watched awestruck as the ranger measured the female turtle. She was already tagged, meaning that she’d been to this beach before and the park would have information on her from her tracking device. If the turtle is untagged, meaning it’s a first time visitor to the island, the ranger would tag the turtle. We watched as she laboriously dug her nest and proceeded to plop out 136 glistening white eggs, the size of ping pong balls. 

Nesting may last several months and usually results in several clutches of eggs, then she too will head for home. She will rest for two or three years before repeating the cycle.

what to do in sandakan

This clutch of 136 eggs was then dug up by the ranger after the mother turtle returned to the ocean. We were allowed to observe the ranger re-house these eggs in a similar man-made nest in the safety of the hatchery

The ranger carefully collects all of the eggs and visitors are lead away from the beach immediately so as not to disturb other nesting turtles, which are sensitive to movement. Carefully we negotiated our way back to the hatchery and to our surprise, passed a number of nesting turtles on our return. 

We then were allowed to observe the ranger transplant the freshly laid eggs into a man-made nest dug 60-75cm deep which is similar in size and shape to the natural nest.  These nests are protected from natural predators.

Egg clutches vary wildly in size. Some clutches may contain as many as 190 eggs others as few as 40. As soon as they are laid eggs must be retrieved and transported promptly to the hatchery to ensure a better chance of survival. The eggs are placed in a pit 30 inches deep. A plastic wire mesh cylinder keeps out unwanted predators. An information plate contains a serial number, the date of collection, and number of eggs transplanted.

To make way for new nests, old ones must be removed, irregularities noted and records updated. Beaches and nesting areas should be safe and clean to ensure easy passage.

borneo turtle island tour

Many questions about sea turtle’s life history remain unanswered. For records to be maintained on a continuous basis, any new nesting turtle must be tagged. Being regular visitors, older turtles already bear identification marks. Their movements are still monitored which give a clearer picture of their movement, growth, and population.

Even though the parks records are amongst those the most comprehensive, data in still incomplete given the turtles long life span of over 100 years.

what to do in sandakan

A basket of newly emerged hatchlings are shown to us before we follow the ranger down to the beach for the release

The final stage of the evening is the release of hatchlings – baby turtles! We had already been overjoyed to witness our own private release a few hours earlier but that didn’t mean we were any less excited about the release still to come.

Baby turtles take between 50-60 days from being laid to hatch.  Baby turtles hatch usually after sundown, on sensing the coolness of night. At the hatcheries they are released immediately.

We were able to witness the baby turtles being released from their basket and watching as instinct kicked in and they were drawn to the pounding ocean. It was uplifting watching these tiny creatures bob up and down in the waves before disappearing into the depths.

turtle island book

Releasing the hatchlings was an unforgettable moment for us. Watching them making their way to the ocean embarking on their life adventure was incredible.

Being the most vulnerable when young, only a few will survive.

Survival strategy calls for numerous offspring to emerge at the same time as swarming predators who are unable to consume them all. In nature the survival of the population species takes precedence over individuals. The few hatchlings that survive the initial frenzy probably seek refuge in rafts of tangled seaweed floating in sea currents.

turtle island conservation

The ranger supervises as the tiny turtles scramble into the ocean. We watch, our hearts full, wishing each tiny hatchling the best of luck on their hazardous epic journey.

Virtually nothing is known about the hatchling in the subsequent days in its life. These are the lost years, the stage between the time a tiny hatchling enters the water and when it reappears as a large juvenile in a feeding habitat. When juveniles reach a certain size they leave life in the open sea. They then settle down in shallow waters, hundreds or sometimes even thousands of miles from their nesting ground.

Turtles in Borneo

There are two main turtles in Borneo, the Green Turtle and the Hawksbill.

The Green Turtle

The largest of the hard-shelled sea turtle, the green turtle can reach a carapace (shell) length of justs over one metre and weights up to 136-158kg. The green turtle is mainly herbivorous, feeding on sea grasses and various algae. Nesting occurs throughout the year with peak season from June to Oct. The green turtle reaches sexual maturity as early as 20 years and up to 35 years old. The average clutch size is around 110-130 eggs.

GREEN TURTLES ARE MASTER NAVIGATORS – HOW?

They can sense earth’s magnetism directly from magnetic crystals lodged in their heads. This allows them to navigate accordingly to co-ordinates similar to latitudes and longitudes. As the sea floor cools from lava it forms magnetic patterns on the bedrock. Such deviations from the earth’s magnetic field are as distinctive as finger prints.  Using them the turtle can locate a single position on the sea floor even when the sea bottom is invisible. 

The Hawksbill turtle

The hawksbill turtle is one of the smallest turtles in the world with a carapace (shell) length between 50-65cm and weighs up to 50kg. Hawksbill turtles have a dark olive in colour and feeds mainly on crabs, shrimps and other crustaceans. They reach maturity between 10-15 years old and their average clutch size is around 90-100 eggs.

turtle island borneo

Turtle Island is only one of three islands in the National Park that permits visitors. It’s a tiny island with idyllic sandy beaches on one side and reef on the other

Booking Turtle Island Borneo

It’s wasn’t easy at all to pre-book the Turtle Island tour. In fact it was impossible.

Through all my research before our trip I could see a lot of tourists asking the same questions on how they could book the tour!  All the trip advisor reviews and comments I could see all over the internet was confusion about how to book the tour, and indeed when I tried to find out how to book, emailing an address that I’d seen in a forum, I received no reply.  I was therefore unable to book ahead of my arrival in Borneo which is frustrating when you’re trying to plan your itinerary. 

When I finally got to Borneo, I sat down with the lovely Fatima, that has taken over running Crystal Quest, to try to get a clearer understanding of how overseas visitors can book tickets to Turtle Island before arriving in Borneo.

Fatima admits it’s been chaotic in the past with bookings. Only 50 visitors are able to visit the island on any one day so if those 50 tickets are sold easily via local tour operators, then booking emails from overseas have been previously not been given priority. 

At the time of speaking with Fatima, Crystal Quest were in the middle of building a new website (which is now live!) where visitors can book online. We didn’t have the chance to try it as obviously it wasn’t live before our visit , but if you are trying to book the Turtle Island tour in Borneo then this is your first port of call https://turtleisland.com.my

Hopefully booking won’t now be such an issue. If you book through the new website, let us know in the comments how you got on.

Crystal Quest is the company that manages the visitor’s tour on Turtle Island. Their office is on the jetty, a 10 minute walk (or a 2 minute taxi ride) from Sandakan city centre. 

NEW!! BOOK ONLINE – https://turtleisland.com.my

CRYSTAL QUEST SDN. BHD. (404164-K) Sabah Parks Jetty, Jalan Buli Sim Sim P. O. Box 848, 90709 Sandakan T: (6089) 212 711, 221 657 [email protected]

You can also book the Turtle Island tour through other local tour operators, however the price is almost double. It is much cheaper to book direct with Crystal Quest.

BOOK ONLINE 

You should now be able to book directly online on https://turtleisland.com.my

BOOK BY EMAIL

I sent two emails to this email address [email protected] before flying to Borneo. I didn’t get a response from either, but other visitors have so it’s always worth a go. Email and ask for which dates you require (give a range of dates if you can). Currently their booking system is to confirm the dates via email and then you will turn up on the day and pay cash at the jetty office. They are working on getting credit card facilities.

BOOK BY PHONE

It was only calling the local number once arriving in Borneo (definitely go with an unlocked phone and buy a local SIM card on arrival at the airport) that I managed to contact Fatima and ultimately book the turtle island tickets.

BOOK DIRECT AT THE CRYSTAL QUEST OFFICE

Failing booking on the website or contacting Crystal Quest by email, the best thing to do is to rock up at the jetty. If you’re visiting Sandakan chances are that you’re heading to the Kintabatangan River for one of their epic riverside wildlife tours and to Sepilok to visit the world famous orang-utan rehabilitation centre. If this is the case, on arrival into Sandakan, pass by the jetty and pre-book your tour for a few days later. The jetty is on the way into the city from the airport so you can easily ask your taxi driver to stop on the way to make the booking. Chances are you won’t be able to rock up on the morning and bag a ticket for that day. There are only 50 permits to the island every day and normally these will have all been pre-booked. 

How much is the Turtle Island overnight tour?

The price for the turtle island tour through Crystal Quest (until Dec 2018) for two people sharing a double room, including all meals, boat transfers and the newly introduced mandatory tourist tax (10RM per room per night) was 930RM (roughly £177 or $223).

Other t our operators included normally charge that same price per person, however you do get a private guide for the group included in the cost.

Therefore it’s much cheaper, roughly half the price, to book through Crystal Quest. 

There are four triple rooms available in a new Chalet D block (the best rooms!) for families with one child. The extra bed costs 250RM which includes meals. Unfortunately if you’re a family of four, you’ll pay 930RM x 2,  for two twin rooms. 

Is it better to book direct with Crystal Quest or via another operator?

It’s much cheaper to book direct with Crystal Quest over another operator. Crystal Quest is the company that manages the tour for Sabah Parks so they are able to offer the cheapest rates. If you book with another operator the price is almost double, however you do get a private guide included with your tour group. Crystal Quest do not offer a private guide. A lady will meet you on your arrival and discuss the practicalities of the tour ie: meal times, beach curfew etc but will not provide any detailed information on the turtles. There is, however, an education centre on the island with turtle exhibits and lots of information on turtles, the centre and the important conservation work that is carried out.

If you are travelling solo and want to the best out of the trip, consider booking through a different operator and paying more. If you are a family travelling, I wouldn’t bother, the extra cost would be ridiculously more but not very little gain.

The best time to go turtle island borneo.

The great thing about Turtle Island is that there really is no best time to go, as turtles arrive on the island every day, and visitors are able to visit 365 days of the year.

The peak visitor’s season is between June – September, therefore pre-booking up to 3 months ahead is advised to avoid disappointment. However, it is often possible to book last minute from cancellations.

Is turtle island safe.

The UK government is still advising against all but essential travel to all islands off the eastern coast of Sabah, quoting the below.

“In May 2017, the Philippines authorities reported that they had received unsubstantiated but credible information that the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf may be about to conduct kidnaps in the Sulu Sea, including around the islands of the Sulu archipelago (Philippines) and the seas/islands off the east coast of Sabah (Malaysia).  There is a threat to foreigners of kidnapping and criminality on the eastern coast of Sabah and in particular the islands close to the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines. There has been an increase in kidnapping by groups operating in the southern Philippines, some of whom have the ability to conduct kidnaps on the coast of Sabah.” Of course, this frightened the life out of me and I (of course) questioned what on earth I was thinking of taking my 10 year old daughter into such a risky area. However, I decided to ask people on the ground about the current situation with the last attack being several years ago. I was told by a number of people that because the security has been ramped up so much that pirates no longer dare to come into the waters. There have been no attacks since 2017.

I was still nervous about going. However the tour was sold out every day packed with Europeans on holiday. I decided the risk was absolutely minimal and so we went. Good parent? Bad parent? Your decision.

The UK government warnings extend to the world famous dive site Sipidan Island also off the East coast of Sabah. We met many tourists who had been diving there who mentioned security was very high, but no-one felt scared or threatened. 

Does any of the tour fee go into turtle conservation?

No, none of the tour fee paid to either Crystal Quest or another tour operator goes into turtle conservation, although they do pay for the electricity on the island and the buildings maintenance all of which benefits the rangers & the conservation programme. The only part of the money you pay that will go directly to turtle conservation is the national park entrance fee of 60RM per adult/ 30RM per child payable by cash on arrival at the island. This goes directly to the national park to pay the rangers etc. It is understood the the WWF also contribute to supporting the Sabah National Parks. Sabah Park also has the largest marine park in S E Asia in Kudat.

Is the Turtle Island tour in Borneo reputable?

In our opinion yes. I read several negative reviews on trip advisor before departing Borneo so was interested to see what the operation on the ground might realistically be like. The negative points raised on trip advisor are generally people using flash photography or using white torches in front of the turtles instead of red which confuses and disorientates them, too large groups around one turtle and litter on the beach. All of these are important points which I was interested to see myself.

There were only 38 of us on the island during our particular date and so we were told that the ranger would only disturb one of 30 turtles that night for us to watch. If the maximum of 50 guests are on the island they will split the group into two and only disturb two turtles. I too wondered if we were actually going to be able to see anything at all with 38 people crowding around a nesting green turtle. However the ranger and guide present were excellent. They rotated us until everyone had seen the turtle nesting close up and then we all formed a circle around. Sure it would have been nice to have had a smaller group but ultimately the rangers are limiting the disturbance to only one turtle rather than having a nice group of 5 but disturbing 10 turtles. This impressed me.

borneo turtle island tour

The rangers insisted on absolutely no flash photography throughout the programme of watching the mother turtles lay their eggs, watching the rangers scoop up the eggs and re-bury them in the hatchery nest, carefully marking out the nest details on a white wooden stake, and then the subsequent of newly emerged hatchlings from eggs laid 30-40 days prior. Of course there’s always going too be irresponsible tourists that try to take a flash but they were quickly shot down by the ranger and peer pressure from the group. The ranger does use a white light once the turtle begins to lay her eggs. It’s said that she goes into a trance and is not particularly aware at this stage as to what is going on around her. The only point where I saw distress from the turtle was when the ranger had to tag her as one of her two tags had come off. She was visibly hurt for a couple of seconds like any baby or toddler having a vaccine.  The two beaches (which make us almost 2/3 of the island were very clean of litter. However, due to reports on trip advisor and my own personal intrigue I chose to make the short walk around the island and yes, on the far shore where the coral is exposed at low tide there was a lot of rubbish. As this is a national park, I too was pretty outraged. Surely they can keep their own island clean of litter for the sake of the turtles. Visiting Kinabalu National Park was pristine, so why was the same procedure not followed here? I followed this up with 1, a guide on the island and 2/ with Fatima back on the mainland. The guide indicated to me that the rangers are so busy with the work they are doing that they do ty to collect the rubbish but it’s down to man power. They prioritise (obviously) the beaches where the turtles arrive. The far side of the island is where the wind blows and litter collects daily. Fatima took my concerns seriously and agreed about the huge problem they had with litter in the oceans here. I suggested that westerners would be more than happy to spend 30 minutes on beach clean during the day when there’s not much to do waiting for both the night and the turtles to arrive. Asians she indicated would be hard to persuade and I suggested that it could be optional. If you think this would be a good idea and that if you were to visit Turtle Island you’d be happy to spend 30 minutes on a beach clean then please do let me know. It would be good to hear the support here so that we could create a new programme with this in mind.

Volunteering in sea turtle conservation in Borneo

If you are interested in volunteering on a sea turtle conservation project in Borneo, Globalteer offers you the chance on Palau Pom Pom, working with the Borneo Sea Turtle Conservation project. Off the coast of Semporna, the nearest town to the fabled world class dive island Sipidan, this volunteering project receives no state funding and is not connected at all to the Sabah Parks Turtle Island conservation scheme. We have no knowledge of how reputable this turtle conservation project is or whether it is suitable for families. If you have been on this project, please hit us up in the comments and let us know!

Read more of our posts on Borneo

2-3 week Sabah itinerary

Family volunteering re-planting the rainforest in Sakau, Kinabatangan River

A complete guide to Turtle Island Borneo

Tips for travelling to Borneo

Staying at Bigfin Divers – a remote beach/dive resort 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu

Tips on climbing Mount Kinabalu

Borneo Packing List

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Hello, my name is Zhang Haibin and come from China. And I will go to Sandagan this October and I’d like to take a trip in Selingan island. However I found that you could offer the service of booking the tour package in Selingan island. Could you show me the 2d1n package price of the date from oct. 4th to oct. 7th? By the way, we have 4 persons that include 2 adults and 2 children(9 years old and 3 years old) .

Hi Zhang. I don’t organise tours to visit Turtle Island directly. You can do this on the Crystal Quest website https://turtleisland.com.my Enjoy!

Hi Mags, great article. I’ve just returned from turtle island, and would totally have done a 30-60 minute beach clean up in the afternoon (we actually went for an early morning walk before we left on the second day, and picked up a load of plastic anyway). I’m sure most tourist would be keen on this as well.

Hi Kerry. Thanks for the feedback. That’s great to know you’d have done a beach clean. I think a lot of tourists would be keen to help and would embrace an initiative like this on the island.

Hi Mags, Thanks for the article. It was exactly what I was looking for – I have been trying to book a trip to the turtle island through different channels for some weeks but have not yet been successful. I will let you know if I manage via the Crystal web site. (It is unfortunate their web adress do not show through google search.) Very good idea to collect litter! After all, we are most of us part of over consuming plastic etc on earth so we should all participate in the cleaning I believe.

During the last two days I received offers from Crystal Quest (through the booking page on website https://turtleisland.com.my/ ) as well as from Borneo Eco tours. We are two adults and one child and got the following prices offered: (1N2D) Crystal Quest 1400 MYR Bornea Eco Tours 4000 MYR Hence we owe you a great thanks for saving almost TWO THIRDS of the price! Thank you Mags and hope lots of other people will find the Crystal Quest website!

That’s brilliant! Yes booking with Crystal Quest is a BIG saving – it has previously been quite difficult to book with them but hopefully now the website will make it much easier. Thank you for your feedback and have an AMAZING time there 🙂

Hi Camilla, so glad you managed to book with them! If you remember please mention my name and the beach clean to Fatima at the Crystal Quest office on the jetty where you will depart. The more direct conversations she has with tourists willing to back this initiative, the more likely they will be to get it started. Have fun – it’s an amazing, humbling experience to witness these great animals!

Thank you for the great writeup! We are visiting in November, and would be happy to help with the beach cleanup.

Hi Esther – thank you so much for your feedback on the beach clean. The more visitors I can get to give an opinion on this, gives us more weight to try and make this happen. If you get the chance, please mention this and my name to Fatima at the Crystal Quest office on the jetty where you will depart. Thanks again and have a brilliant time! 🙂

Hi Mags, Really useful article and like others spent last few days trying to book a 2D1N tour for Aug 2020. Tried Borneo Dreams, but they have messed us about and just pushed more days and bigger tours that we dont want. I have emailed and used website to make enquiries but no reply as yet from Crystal Quest. We are 4 adults from UK wanting any 2 days between 15-19 Aug. Want the Turtle Island tour, and also want to do the Orangutan, Sun Bears, and Monkey tour for Day 2. So far nothing positive as yet, waiting on responses so we can book rest of our flights/hotels, etc while in Borneo, for remainder of the period. Any tips appreciated!

Hi Ahmed, that’s disappointing you haven’t heard from Crystal Quest. I was under the understanding that the new website would make booking from overseas now much easier. I will try and contact them for you. I often have luck messaging them on Instagram so give that a go. I’ll make some enquiries for you.

Hi Mags, I am puzzled no one has returned response to me. Thanks so much for trying to contact them and helping us out. Aside from this, do you we can cover turtle island, and so the orangutan, sun bears and monkey park in one day on day 2?

Hi Ahmed. The problem is that there is only a limited number of places (50) per evening so if all the tickets get sold or most of them get taken by 3rd party operators then the staff has little inclination to reply to enquiries. I know …. customer service could do with improving. That said, there were tickets for the dates I was after when I arrived in person so it’s confusing and to be honest I don’t fully understand.

With regards to doing the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Sun Bear and monkey park (do you mean the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary?) yes this is completely doable to do in one day if you are booking a tour or if you just take your own taxi.

Companies such as Borneo Dream ( https://www.borneodream.com/diveshop/labuk-bay-proboscis-monkey-sanctuary-and-sepilok-sanctuary-day-tour-sabah-malaysia.html ) do the tour however it’s just as easy and cheaper to catch a taxi and do it yourself, especially if you order a GRAB taxi (like uber which saves you lots of money in Borneo! read my Borneo tips post!). It takes around 30-40 minutes to drive from Sandakan to Sepilok where the Orangutan and Sun Bear sanctuaries are (they are slap bang next to each other) and Sepilok is half way to Labak Bay so it makes sense to do them all in one day.

If you choose to go independently and not on a tour, you can get to the Orangutan feeding platform first whilst everyone else is watching the film inside and get on the first row to watch the orang-utans when they arrive. Feeding time is 10.00am so get to the viewing platform for 09.30. If not you will be behind a huge crowd 8 person deep! My advice is to watch the film AFTER seeing the orang-utans – they run it regularly so just enquire on arrival what times they will be showing it.

The Sun Bear sanctuary is right next door and is wonderful. Definitely worth the visit.

There is a cafe onsite so you can eat lunch there whilst you order another grab taxi to pick you up to go to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary which is on a further 20 kms (30 mins). I didn’t visit this centre but heard from others that it was good.

Have a great time!

Hi Mags, Got an update… we have managed to get the 2D1N with a company called Marimari.com Orient Travel & Tours, not sure if you have heard of them. Prices seem very reasonable as well £230 per person all inclusive of transfers, stay, meals, mainland parks, etc. They seem to be focused and get back via email straight away as well. All others don’t respond so well and seem a lot more expensive as well. I think we have some progress so all being well we’ll book and get it confirmed soon

Hi Ahmed, I’m glad you had a response. I haven’t heard of Marimari.com but that’s not to say they are not a good company. I’d be very interested to hear your feedback from using them. I have tried to get hold of Crystal Quest both via social media and email (try [email protected] ) but have yet had no response. It is disappointing that even with the new website, visitors are struggling to book direct.

Hi Mags, Just an update. http://www.marimari.com/ (Orient Travels & Tours), office based in Kuala Lumpur, have kindly obliged and were really good communicating with us; chap called Terence Cheong was key contact and sorted everything for us. We are all confirmed, paid up and vouchers all sorted. They will pick us up from Sandakan airport and return us back there on Day 2, after our tours have concluded. Overall, I would say marimari and Terence were really quick, gave attention to our requirements and came up with some very reasonable pricing. We are now exploring their tours for KL and Langkawi. Mano of the others, are a waste of time and still not got back to us at all. Best wishes, Ahmed

Thanks for the update Ahmed. Have a great time over there!

HI Mags, a great post – so much detail! We loved our visit to Turtle Island. I didn’t realise there were any security risks until I read it. At least, we didn’t have to make any difficult decisions! Jan

Isn’t it amazing! Sometimes ignorance is bliss!

Your article had been so informative.thankyou. myself, partner and our 3 and 5 year old daughters are going tomorrow. We will be sure to mention your name to Fatima in the office and instigate a beach clean at some point in the afternoon. Many thanks

Hi Kelly. I’m so glad our post helped you plan your trip! You’ll be back now …. I hope you had a fab time!

Hi guys, We just came back from the island and I have to say never had a place made me so happy and so sad at the same time. The experience was amazing! But at 10:30 PM we saw another nest coming out in the hatchery and then 5 more! Very nice to see and the rangers told us to go to sleep so they could release them. Obviously we understood but the next morning the same nest was still there, exhausted hatchlings scrambling in the sun. Again we told the rangers but at 7 AM the baby turtles were still there along with the 5 other nests. I don’t know a lot about them, but this felt so wrong! I do hope they take more care for their turtles in the future, because if this is their way of working with them they should leave nature to her thing. This proves they don’t check the hatchery every 2h and 90% succes seems very overrated if you have seen the exhausted hatchlings and the time they had to stay in there.

Hey Sarah. Thanks for getting in touch. This is so sad to hear and I imagine very distressing. Thanks for feeding back to us. I am happy to pass this information on and ask questions for sure.

Hi Mags thank you for your informative article on Turtle Island. My husband and I are all booked to go next Saturday 10/9/22 to stay on the island. I emailed as you suggested and had a very quick response with all the details for the trip. They are also using WhatsApp which makes it even quicker. Cost was RM 1000 for everything except the conservation fee which is still RM 60 per person and RM 10 for the camera. Really looking forward to this experience next week it was planned for 2020 so long time coming. We will definitely mention about the clean up of the beach and more than happy to take time to do some collecting of rubbish whilst there. Conservation is everyone’s responsibility.

Thanks for getting in touch Janine. Great news to hear they are now on WhatsApp. Let me know how the beach clean went. Best. Mags

Hi Janine and Mags, I hope you had an amazing trip Janine! Super excited for you. Could you please share which email address and WhatsApp number you used to contact them? I’ve sent multiple email these last few months but had no response. The website form won’t submit and also hasn’t worked for months. I’m trying to book for a date next year. I have a company happy to book for me but its RM 1000 PER PERSON! I would love to book direct if possible! I really appreciate your blog Mags. Thank you for all the time and effort your put into it. Thank you both for your assistance.

Hi Janine, I managed to book the trip to Selingan through Crystal Quest, but I only have their confirmation on What’s App. They wrote that I don’t have to pay anything in advance. Now I’m a bit worried if this is 100% booked. I don’t want to come to Sandakan to find out that such confirmation is not enough or that my place has been taken by someone who paid in advance. Is booking via Whats App reliable? All the best, Sonja

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borneo turtle island tour

Sandakan Turtle Island Tour – 3 Days

Package information.

Tour Code: OV-NS3 Minimum Travellers: 1 Pax (Single Traveller + 50% Surcharge) Tour duration: 3 Days Activity Level:  Light Peak Season Rate  Additional RM 250 per person (1st March – 30th April & 15th July – 15th October)

Adventure with us on an extraordinary journey that combines turtle watching on Selingan Turtle Island with a captivating river safari along the Kinabatangan River in Borneo. Experience the thrill of witnessing turtle landings and hatching releases, while also encountering the diverse wildlife of the region, including primates and the majestic Borneo Pygmy elephants. This unique adventure allows you to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature, contributing to conservation efforts and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Tour Highlight

NOTE: Photographing of the turtle only with unaided flash camera. Snorkeling gears are available for hire (please refer to the island)

Accommodation Turtle Island Chalet Meals Lunch & Dinner Day 2 Turtle island – Sepilok orangutan – Kinabatangan Breakfast. Depart towards Sandakan Jetty, and then transferred to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilition Centre. Proceed to the orangutan feeding platform to view the orangutan feeding, following this take a visit to the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation center to get close to the world smallest bear in its natural environment.

Overland to the Kinabatangan river and check in to your accommodation. By 3.30 pm have some light refreshment before hop on the boat for afternoon cruise along the Kinabatangan river banks. Return back to your lodge, after dinner go on a nature walk

Accommodation River Lodge Meals Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Day 3 Kinabatangan River – Gomantong – Sandakan Start your day with breakfast, then head to Gomantong Cave, the largest limestone cave in Sabah, home to millions of swiftlets. Transfer to Sandakan city.

Meals Breakfast

Add On Day Tour

  • What’s Included
  • What’s Excluded
  • Things to Bring
  • Additional Info
  • Transportation (Seat-In-Coach)
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals as stated
  • Accommodation
  • English Speaking Guide
  • Domestic airfares (BKI-SDK-BKI)
  • personal travel insurance
  • camera & video fees
  • additional food & beverages
  • personal expenses
  • other items not mentioned
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Personal toiletries
  • Sun block cream
  • Extra clothes/wear
  • Extra snacks
  • Insect repellent
  • Personal Medication
  • Light backpack
  • All rates are in MYR (Malaysian Ringgit).
  • Price includes tax and duties. No hidden charges.
  • Price effective through 31 December 2024.
  • Advance reservation is required.
  • Refer to your confirmed booking itinerary for timings and further details. Other terms and conditions may apply.
  • This package is based on join-in basis. Please inquire for a private tour at a reasonable price.

Important Note

Make sure you are holding air ticket to Sandakan.

Flight suggestions

Day 1 : BKI/SDK by MH2042 0700-0740hrs or AK6492 0705-0750hrs Day 3 : SDK/BKI by MH2047 1400-1450hrs or AK6495 1430-1505hrs

borneo turtle island tour

Previous Tour

Booking for sandakan turtle island tour – 3 days.

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  • Jalan Imbaan, Kampung Baru Putatan, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah MALAYSIA
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Outback Venture is a specialized Borneo Tour company based in the heart of Malaysian Borneo’s most accessible and diverse tourism region Sabah , Kota Kinabalu. Fully licensed with extensive first-hand experience from a team of local insiders, we craft bespoke adventures that will help you make the absolute most out of your precious time…. and live out your wildest dreams.

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2D1N Selingan Turtle Island

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  • Tour Code : BC-SO-SI
  • Availability : Everyday
  • Duration : 2D1N
  • Departure Time : 10 am
  • Pick Up : Sandakan City / Airport
  • Drop Off : Sandakan City / Airport
  • Minimum Age : No Limit
  • Minimum Pax : 1 Person

borneo turtle island tour

WHY CHOOSE US?

1. PRIVATE GUIDE

Our tour guide just for you! (No sharing of guide with other groups)

2. PRIVATE TRANSPORT

No sharing of land transportation (Our vehicle just for you and your family )

3. WE PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Contribute to the local community! (We hire local experts and promote local products)

All start time are estimated and for reference purposes only. Actual timing will be provided prior to your departure.

2D1N SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND

Validity: 1 Jan 2023 – 30 Jun 2024 (MYR/Pax For All Market)

OPTIONAL ADD ON TOUR :

CHILD RATE:

1) Infant below 3 years old: RM 100 discount from Child Rate.

2) Child rate: Applied to child aged 3 – 10 years old.

3) Above 10 years old considered as adult, and adult rate will be applied.

SINGLE TRAVELER AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:

1) Single Traveller Rate applied to solo traveller who travel alone.

2) Add on RM180 per pax on top of package rate stated at above.

1) Federal Tourism and Culture Ministry of Malaysia has imposed a Malaysian Tourism Tax (TTX) effective from September 2017. Foreign tourists are required to pay a flat rate of MYR 10 per room per night regardless of hotel star level. The tax will be collected from every check in guest directly at the resort which is not included in the package.

2) All rate are quoted in Ringgit Malaysia & Nett (No hidden cost unless otherwise stated).

3) All passports and visas must be valid at least 06 months  from the date of entry into the country destination.

PACKAGE DETAILS

Return Land Transfer

  • Sandakan Airport/Hotel > Sandakan Jetty > Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre > Sandakan Airport/Hotel (Private Transfer)

Return Boat Transfer

  • Sandakan Jetty > Selingan Island > Sandakan Jetty (Seat-In)
  • Chalet at Selingan Turtle Island (Twin Sharing)

One (1) Lunch, One (1) Dinner, One (1) Breakfast Conservation Fees Entrance Fees Activities as Stated in Itinerary English Speaking Guide

Air Fare Travel Insurance Camera Fees (If any) Malaysian Tourism Tax (TTX) Others not stated

Insect Repellant Sun Block Lotion Camera Hat/Cap Personal Toiletries Headlamp / Torch Light Sandal Extra cloth/swimming suit for snorkeling Hat & Raincoat

Special things to note when you enter to Selingan Turtle Island:

Turn off flashlight on your camera because turtles are sensitive to light. Stay quite and move slowly while watching turtle nesting. Keep your distance from the turtle and stand behind the nesting turtles. Do not stand in the way of hatchlings going into the sea. Do not touch the turtles. Video cameras are not allowed. Visitors are forbidden from going around the island on their own from 1800hrs – 0600hrs.

All guest will be required to read and sign the company Standard Liability Form and other related forms before tour commence.

The safe keeping of your personal belongings are at your own responsibility.

Not recommended to bring valuable items with you.

There is no porter at the island, you have to carry your own luggage from the boat to your chalet.

Sightings of wildlife animals are not guaranteed.

  • Package prices are inclusive of land and boat transfer on the check-in and check-out day only. Additional fee will be charged for unscheduled transfers which is not include in the package.

After commencement of tour service there will be no refund in part or full, will be made for unused service/activity.

Borneo Calling will not be held liable for any delay, additional expenses of inconvenience which may be caused by directly or indirectly by events outside of the company control, such as late arrival of domestic or international flights, civil disturbances, fire, floods, unusually sever weather, act of God, act of Government, or the failure of any machinery or equipment.

In the unlikely event that the dive trip is cancelled due to bad weather, rough and dangerous sea conditions, a natural disaster, an act of God, war, political unrest, a danger to passengers, or the boat, then the operator has the right to cancel or delay the departure. The operator withholds the rights to change the planned itinerary, leave for jetty early or change the schedule.

Borneo Calling cannot be held responsible, or in any liable, for any injury, property losses, personal losses, accidents, death or damage to personal equipment for any reason whatsoever, whether through activity booked through us or caused to you by third parties, during your stay, or during participation in any activity.

We strongly recommend that all guests take up adequate travel insurance that covers accident, loss caused by cancellations, loss of baggage, personal property, medical expenses, medical evacuation and weather disruption that caused any activity cancellations.

SANDAKAN > SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND

Start your 2D1N Selingan Turtle Island Trip. Our guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby or Sandakan Airport at 9:00 am.

At 10:00 am, your 2D1N Selingan Turtle Island Trip begin. It will take approximately one hour boat ride from the jetty to turtle Island, which lies 40km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea off Sabah’s east coast. Selingan Turtle Island is the main nesting area for Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. Upon arrival, check in to your basic accommodation and have lunch. Lunch will be served at the cafeteria from 12.30pm to 2pm.

After you’re done with lunch, you can do any activities you want throughout the whole evening. Go roam on the beach, sunbathing, swim, or have some fun snorkeling (at own cost). Also, you might just be able to get a great sunset view if you’re lucky! The Parks Exhibition Hall is open for visit at 6.30pm. Watch an interesting video presentation before heading for dinner. Dinner will be served at the cafeteria at 7.30pm. The turtle program will start anytime after the dinner. After dinner, be prepare, park ranger will alert you if there are turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

As soon as the announcement from the Park’s Ranger regarding the sighting of mother turtle coming ashore to lay eggs is made, all visitor will then follow Park’s Ranger to the nesting side slowly. Here, you’ll be able to witness mother turtle laying her eggs. All eggs will be collected by Park’s Ranger and plant at the hatchery. The last program of the night is to watch the baby turtles being released to the sea for the first time if there is any baby turtle hatching on the night. You can take part in this amazing process too! Overnight at Selingan Turtle Island Chalet.

SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND > SANDAKAN

Breakfast and check out. At 0700 hrs, take an hour boat ride return to Sandakan.

After that, you will be transferred to airport or your respective hotel.

TOUR DETAILS

Boat Scheduled

Boat transfer  TO and FROM  Selingan Turtle Island is on daily basis (ONCE only)

  • Schedule transfer only applicable on tour arrival and departure date.

Meal Timing

Note:  Dinner will be served at the cafeteria. The turtle program will start anytime after the dinner.

Check In & Check Out

ABOUT SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND

SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND

The Turtle Island Park lies 40km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea, comprises of 3 islands – Selingan, Gulisan and Bakungan Kecil.  Selingan Turtle Island  houses the park’s headquarters, turtle hatchery, basic accommodation and visitor centre. This is a nesting place and foraging ground for sea turtles; most commonly Green and Hawksbill Turtle. Therefore, you might have chance to join a guided observation of sea turtle nesting process and/or new hatchlings of baby turtles released to the sea. As turtle landings usually occur at night, above the high tide mark or with a preference of mid-tide. Thus, an overnight stay would be the best plan in order to witness the amazing moment when turtle come ashore to lay their eggs.

  • The best time to visit Selingan Turtle Island is from March to July, as the sea is calmer.
  • The best time to experience green turtles laying eggs is between July and October; while Hawksbill Turtle is between February to April.

borneo turtle island tour

LENGTH AND THE NESTING PROCESS

The length of the time required to complete the nesting process differs among species. A Hawksbill Turtle may take 1 to 2 hours to complete nesting. For Green Turtle, it may take 2 to 3 hours. It is a slow process as the female turtles crawls to a dry part of the beach, fling away loose sand with her flippers, lay and bury their eggs for incubation before making their way back into the sea. Each time they can lay about 80 to 120 eggs, depending on the species. Freshly laid eggs will then relocated by park rangers to the hatchery site, and placed them into a man-made incubation chamber – which is around 60-75 cm deep inside the sand, to protect them from natural predators. Each nest has an information board stated the date of collection and number of eggs transplanted.

BABY TURTLE RELEASING

Incubation takes about 60 days, but since the temperature of the sand governs the speed at which the embryos develop, the hatching period can cover a broad range. Essentially, the hotter the sand surrounding the nest, the faster the embryos will develop. Cooler sand has a tendency to produce more males, with warmer sand producing a higher ratio of females. Hatchlings usually emerge from their nest after dusk when temperatures are cooler. Baby turtles will erupt from the nest cavity as a group, and transferred by park ranger to the shore. If you’re lucky, you can witness and participate in baby turtles releasing activity!

It is estimated that only 1 out of 1000 baby turtles will survive to adulthood. Hence, baby turtles have to be released soonest possible once they emerged to increase their chances of survival. The longer they are kept, the weaker they are, and thus more vulnerable to predators.

ACCOMMODATION

Selingan Island Chalet

borneo turtle island tour

The set up of  Selingan Turtle Island Chalet   is pretty basic. A total number of 25 air conditioned room with ceiling fan and attached bathroom are available here. Facilities in Selingan Turtle Island Resort includes restaurant, exhibition hall and a small shop selling drinks and other simple commodities.

There are 4 chalets on the island, namely  Chalet A, Chalet B, Chalet C, and Chalet D . All chalets located at the north side of the island, around 10 to 15 minutes walk from the main building.

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Borneo Eco Tours Sdn. Bhd.

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Turtle and Orangutan

2d1n tour featuring the treasured trios of sandakan..

from MYR 1,897 / person

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  • Duration: 2D 1N
  • Booking Pax: Min. 2
  • Physical Level: Soft

Introduction

2D1N tour featuring the treasured trios of Sandakan. Stay overnight at Selingan Island to watch live sea turtle hatchlings, followed by a visit to see the orangutan at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre the next day.

Key Highlights of this Tour

Observe Green Turtles

Sandakan - Selingan Island

Turtle and Orangutan - Day 2

Selingan Island - Sandakan

Return to Sandakan by speed boat after early breakfast and transfer 40 minutes overland to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. There, you'll be treated to an enlightening video show about the conservation efforts done at the centre. Enjoy a 10 minute walk on raised boardwalk in the midst of the rainforest and witness the feeding of orangutans at the feeding platform before observing them over at the outdoor nursery.

After lunch, we'll proceed to the airport for the 1430hrs flight to Kota Kinabalu.

For those taking the evening flight, you'll have a chance to visit Rainforest Discovery Centre. Take a bird view of the centre from the canopy walk and hanging bridge, explore the botanical garden, home to various species of flora before taking the flight.

Price Remarks

  • Availability
  • Full adult rate
  • 25% discount
  • Transfer Inclusion

Explore Borneo Your Way!

Our Borneo Specialist can tailor this itinerary for you.

Tour Includes

  • Tours and transfers
  • Accommodation and meals as specified
  • English speaking guide.
  • Pick-up and drop-off from Sandakan Airport or hotels in Sandakan Town.

Tour Excludes

  • Domestic airfare (Kota Kinabalu(BKI) - Sandakan(SDK) - Kota Kinabalu(BKI))
  • Camera fee and items not mentioned.

Things to Bring

  • Sun block lotion
  • Personal toiletries
  • Insect repellent
  • Drinking water bottle
  • Walking shoes
  • Torchlight.

Additional Notes

  • Travel light to Selingan
  • Selingan photography
  • For any camera (phone, digital or still camera) for personal use are chargeable at RM10.00 PER UNIT for conservation permit purposes. Please note that FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO TAKING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED
  • Snorkeling at Selingan
  • Camera Fee at SOURC
  • Overland transfer
  • Bring Your Own Bottle
  • Double or Twin Bed

Kinabalu Park Overnight

Kinabalu Park Overnight

Spend 2 days exploring all the richness that Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs have to offer!

Discover our recommended tours in beautiful Borneo. Immerse yourself in nature, wildlife, and cultural wonders for an enchanting Bornean adventure that creates lifelong magical memories.

Borneo Big 5

Borneo Big 5

Enjoy our Best-Selling 6 days 5 nights Borneo Big 5 wildlife tour package, combining our TOP selling ...

Dive Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

Dive Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

To our fellow scuba junkies, this is not the trip that you want to miss out.

OUR STORIES

Customer’s Review

Diana C

Absolutely 5 star service. I did one day trip to the sanctuarys in Sepilok, that Clare manage to organize for me at the last minute. The guide Farhan was fantastic, very knowledgeable and attentive. I had a great day that I will highly recommend.

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Trip Advisor

Colin Tweddle

Excellent tour - the joy of seeing Orangutans I had a great day seeing Orangutans and the Rainforest Discovery Centre, and learned a lot about Sabah. Rahman was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. Borneo Eco Tours was excellent with their communications to organize my tour.

Ivan L

Our family (with two boys) went on the 3D2N tour with Borneo Eco Tours and had the most enjoyable time. Our guide, Jonathan, was friendly and extremely knowledgeable and pointed out all the animals and plants to us up and down the Kinabatanganat River and its tributaries. We spotted the Big 5 minus the elephant and countless other interesting species. The Sukau Lodge itself was nice and the food was plentiful and delicious. We also visited the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Sun Bear Sanctuary and the Rainforest Discovery Centre. We highly recommend this tour.

Kate B

We had a fantastic experience with Vincent on our 4 day tour! The highlights were Turtle Island and experiencing egg laying and baby turtles being released, and all the amazing wildlife (particularly the Mumma and baby Orang Utan) we saw during the tour. Vincent was very knowledgeable (not in a boring way) and shared lots of fun facts about the flora and fauna of Borneo. Our 22 and 19 year old children enjoyed it just as much as we did. Highly recommend as a wonderful experience and family holiday.

stephen q

Very professional tour with excellent guide. Highly recommend to anyone looking to explore the city and popular sites.

Traveller1001Uk

Traveller1001Uk

Had an amazing experience with Borneo Eco Tours. Extremely good contact when booking. Very nice accommodation. Very well organised from beginning to end. The guides were all extremely knowledgeable and all the tours were fantastic. They specifically catered for my vegetarian wife with individually cooked meals each day. We saw all the Borneo ‘big 5’ in the first 24hrs - even elephants! The boats were noticeably quieter and cleaner than other resorts and had electric motors which helped us to see much more. Could not fault anything- completely amazing!

Erich G

Our trip was excellent. Jonathan is a perfect guide. He speaks english very well and knows a lot about the animals or plants we saw. His friendliness and competence made the trip a great experience and a great pleasure for us. Thank you very much!

Nicholas A

Amazing Safari. Seamless from start to finish. Great english speaking guides, perfect balance of lodges, lodges themselves were great. Everything was efficient and organized. No complaints. Would do again!

Cheryl

We booked 3 tours with Borneo Eco Tours before we left home and all 3 were flawless. BET is an established, well organised business and Audrey in the office had exceptional organisational skills and always responded promptly to my many emails. Sukau Rainforest Lodge. We booked the 2N3D Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari by boat to SRL. It is without doubt the best tour we have ever been on. The bus and boat drivers were professtional and all the staff at the lodge were friendly and approachable and went over and beyond to make our stay enjoyable. Jay, our guide, was knowledgeable, kind and thoughtful and his wildlife spotting was unbelievable. We saw 4 of the Borneo Big 5, only missing the Pygmy Elephant. We attended a presentation by Lee, the naturalist. He was informative and entertaining and I could have listened to him all day. Quad Biking in Kiulu. This was a fantastic day trip with Jo, our guide. He was friendly, informative and caring. We experienced the beautiful scenery of the Kiulu countryside and went off road into local villages. Along the way, you get to experience local life and the profits from the tour are given back to the local community. The quad biking is exciting and they cater for all abilities. Fun Boat Snorkelling Day Trip. Everyone on the boat was professional and caring, especially Bibi. Our guide, Ujang - apologies if I've got his name wrong - was excellent and took us to two sites where we snorkelled off the boat. We felt completely safe, the water was clear and the marine life that we saw was amazing: black tip reef shark, turtle, 3 sting rays, octopus, lionfish and many species of beautiful fish. BET's commitment to the environment, conservation, the lives of the local communities and their customer care is exceptional. They are a 5 star operation and we would unreservedly recommend them! THANK YOU ALL!

Seaside30626361827

Seaside30626361827

Borneo Eco Tours were amazing! Everything went smoothly without a hitch and everyone was polite and helpful. Sukau Rainforest Lodge was lovely with plenty of atmosphere set in the forest. The river cruises were interesting and informative.

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Borneo Holidays | Scuba diving, Snorkelling and Land Tours

Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River | 4 Day | Sabah, Borneo

From: $ 522

This great value four-day package pulls no punches when maximising your wildlife encounters. This 4-Day Trip is a great choice and includes an overnight stay on Turtle Island, two nights at a Lodge along the Kinabatangan River, 4 x river cruises, 3 x treks, a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Cool! Turtle Island gets fully booked, so book this trip well in advance.

Please note that the price shown above is for one adult based upon  two adults  booking together and staying in the same chalet/room (there is a maximum of two adults per room at Turtle Island Resort). The prices are for bookings in 2023.

  • Malaysian ringgit (RM) - MYR
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  • Euro (€) - EUR
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Child (Less than 11 years old):

1/2 Day Sandakan City Tour

Visit some of the famous sites in Sandakan including the water village, St. Michael's church, World War 2 Memorial and Puh Jih Tshih temple. This add on activity happens during the afternoon of the last day of the trip.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Visit a feeding session at Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary for the chance to watch these very special monkey's close up. The visit to the Sanctuary happens during the afternoon on the last day of the trip.

Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Add on a visit to the Borean Sun Bear Conservation Centre as part of your trip. You will visit the Sun Bear Centre after the visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

  • Description
  • Reviews (21)

Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River – Join a Four Day Wildlife Adventure in Sabah, Borneo

The 4-Day Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Cruise Trip is one of our most popular trips. It’s easy to see why when, in one trip, you get to join the following amazing wildlife viewing activities:- Turtle Island, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, join four river cruises along the famous Kinabatangan River, visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre and go trekking in the rainforest (twice at night and once during the day). All this at a great value 4-day trip price! For those wanting to include more wildlife viewing activities, you can also choose to add on visits to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary and the Sun Bear Conservation Centre (at a small extra charge).

Wildlife Dreams Coming True In Borneo – Turtles Nesting, See Orangutans And See Wildlife At The Kinabatangan River

During the 4-Day Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Cruise Trip, you spend one night staying at the Resort on Selingan Island, otherwise known as Turtle Island. You will then spend two nights in an Agamid Detached Chalet at Kinabatangan Nature Lodge located along the banks of the Kinabatangan River near Kampung Bilit.

After four days of viewing wildlife at Turtle Island and the Kinabatangan River, why not add a snorkelling or scuba diving adventure from Kota Kinabalu with Borneo Dream in search of marine life? Our Guided Snorkeling Trip or PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience are both perfect choices for exploring the tropical waters and coral reefs near Kota Kinabalu.

Majestic Bornean Elephants | Kinabatangan River | Borneo Dream

Trip Itinerary – 4-Day Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Trip, Sabah, Malaysia

Day 1 (Meals: L & D) – Travel to Turtle Island

Today follows the same outline itinerary as Day 1 of the 3-Day Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Cruise Trip – find a more detailed daily itinerary on this 3D2N Trip page . If you are flying into Sandakan Airport this morning to join the 3-Day Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Cruise Trip, please check the recommended flight arrival times on the 3D2N Trip Page.

Afternoon: Upon arrival at Turtle Island, you will have the afternoon free to explore the island, chill out on the beach or go snorkelling in the sea (snorkel gear is available to rent at Turtle Island).

Early evening: You will have dinner at the cafeteria. After dinner, Rangers will call you to observe turtles laying eggs. Watch the Ranger transfer the eggs to the hatchery and enjoy the opportunity to observe the release of baby turtles to the open sea. You will also be called by the Ranger when there is an opportunity to watch a Turtle nesting (laying eggs).

Overnight on Turtle Island in a twin shared room (with ensuite shower room and aircon). Click here to see photos of Turtle Island Resort and the accommodation.

Day 2 (Meals: B, L & D)

Today follows the same outline itinerary as Day 2 of the 3-Day Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Cruise Trip – find a more detailed daily itinerary on this 3-Day Trip page .

Today, you will visit a morning feeding session at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, join a late afternoon river cruise along the Kinabatangan River in search of wildlife and join a guided night trek in the secondary rainforest located behind Kinabatangan Nature Lodge.

Overnight at the Kinabatangan Nature Lodge along the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Stay in an Agamid Chalet (with twin or double bed, aircon and ensuite Shower Room). Click here to see photos of the accommodation at the Kinabatangan Nature Lodge.

Explore and Relax – 4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Trip, Sabah, Malaysia

Day 3 (Meals: B, L & D)

06:00hrs: Join an early morning river cruise along the mighty Kinabatangan River and see the wildlife as they awake from a night’s sleep. Various species of wildlife may be seen, such as Proboscis Monkeys, Leaf Monkeys, Macaques, Gibbons and even Orangutans.

07:30 hrs: Return to the Lodge for breakfast at 0800 hrs.

09:00hrs: After breakfast, you will start your trek through the nearby secondary lowland rainforest to the nearby Bilit Ox-Bow Lake. You will be led on the trek by your Nature Guide, who will explain more about the plant life and insect life found in the rainforest.

11:30hrs: Return to the Lodge for lunch at 1200 hrs.

13:00hrs: You can rest and chill out at the Lodge before your late afternoon river cruise.

16:00hrs: Join another late afternoon river cruise along the Kinabatangan River for more wildlife sightseeing.

18:00hrs: Return to the Lodge. Dinner will be served at the Lodge.

~20:00hrs: Join a guided night trek following a different trekking route behind the Kinabatangan Nature Lodge.

Overnight at Kinabatangan Nature Lodge.

Day 4 (Meals: B)

06:00hrs: Join an early morning river cruise to see more birds and wildlife.

07:00hrs: Return to the Kinabatangan riverside lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, you will proceed to check out of your Chalet.

08:30hrs: Start your transfer by minibus/coach back to the Sepilok area.

~10:30 to 11:00hrs: Arrive at the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Embark on a journey along the Rainforest Skywalk, Sabah’s longest canopy walk, and soak in panoramic views across the rainforest canopy. Hopefully, you’ll see some of the exotic birds found here and possibly a sighting of an Orangutan. You’ll join a guided walk along one of the marked trails to visit “Old Sepilok,” the tallest tree at the centre. It’s like meeting a giant from the rainforest’s ancient past. If time permits, you will also visit the botanical garden and see some of the endemic flowers of Borneo.

12.30 – 13.00hrs: Continue your journey back to Sandakan and transfer to either your hotel or Sandakan Airport (recommended flight AK6497 ETD 2.50 pm or later). We hope you’ve enjoyed your Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip.

Trip Pre-requisites – 4-Day Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Trip, Sabah, Malaysia

This 4-day trip is open to all.

Trip Inclusions

  • Return road transfer as mentioned and return boat transfer to Turtle Island.
  • Meals: 3 Breakfast, 3 Lunch & 3 Dinner.
  • Visits (and entrance fees): Turtle Island, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre.
  • At the Kinabatangan River: 4 x river cruises (2 mornings & 2 late afternoons), 2 x guided night nature walks, 1 x trek to an Oxbow Lake. The Kinabatangan River cruises included with this trip will travel as far upstream as ~7km to Pontian Point and downstream a maximum of ~ 10 km to Tenegang Besar Point.
  • One night accommodation at Turtle Island in twin sharing room with attached bathroom.
  • Two nights’ accommodation in an Agamid detached chalet (twin/double/triple beds, ensuite shower room and toilet, aircon) within the Agamid Wing of Nature Lodge Kinabatangan.
  • Guiding throughout your trip by a knowledgeable, passionate, English-speaking, licensed Nature Guide.
  • Access to free-flow coffee/tea and fresh water at the restaurant at the Kinabatangan Nature Lodge.
  • Limited free drinking water is provided at Turtle Island Resort (1 small bottle per person at lunch and dinner).
  • 0% Sales and service Tax on the tour price as applicable from 6th May 2019.

Trip Exclusions

Camera/video conservation fee at Turtle Island (RM10 per item), Sepilok Sanctuary (RM10 per item), and the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RM10 per item). Extra bottled water at Turtle Island, soft drinks or alcoholic drinks. We recommend you take a large bottle of drinking water per person as Turtle Island Resort provides limited free drinking water. There is a single supplement on top of the trip price if you book this trip on your own (for single sharing a room/Chalet).

The new Tourism Tax – the Tourism Tax is currently set at a flat rate of RM 10 per room per night and will be charged to Non-Malaysian or Foreign tourists from 1st September 2017.

Recommended Packing List For The Trip

To get the most from this trip, please bring with you a raincoat, cap/hat, insect repellent, sun cream, swimwear for Turtle Island, towel, comfortable walking shoes, comfortable cotton T-shirt, long sleeve top, long trousers (long trousers are required for the Oxbow Lake trek), long shorts, binocular, torch, camera and personal medications (if needed). Please take your passport with you on this trip – your passports will be checked at Turtle Island and the Kinabatangan Lodge.

Notes – 4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Trip, Sabah, Malaysia

Turtle Island Park is located some 40km from Sandakan City. The boat ride from the jetty to the island takes 45 mins – 1 hour. If you suffer from seasickness, it is recommended you take seasickness tablets. For boat transfers to/from Turtle Island Resort, the Sandakan Marine Department will make a safety decision if boat transfers are allowed based on the weather/tide updates. In the case of choppy sea, state parents may find the boat crossing to Turtle Island not suitable for infants. Persons with back problems or who are pregnant may find the boat transfer to Turtle Island unsuitable when there are rough seas.

Sabah Parks (who manage Turtle Island conservation activities) endorse the following conservation and safety practices at Turtle Island. This is to minimise any negative impact on the Turtles who come to lay eggs on the island.:-

  • Sabah Parks allows only the use of cameras with unaided flash to take photographs of the turtle (Video/digital video cameras are not allowed).
  • Visitors are not allowed to go around the island on their own from 6:00 pm – 6:00 am.
  • Visitors to Turtle Island are allowed only one (1) turtle sighting per night.

Triple sharing is only allowed for children below the age of 12 years old with parents. If weather or other factors (e.g. landslide) make an activity unsafe, the Lodge will adapt the trip itinerary for safety reasons. There will be no refund if a trip itinerary needs to be adapted on the day due to safety reasons.

The Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River trip price is valid for trips taken up to 31st March 2024.

21 reviews for Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River | 4 Day | Sabah, Borneo

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Gaynor Toft – 06/04/2023

We had a fab time in the Turtle Island, Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley tours. All guides were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Accommodation and food were great. We managed to see a whole variety of wildlife so well worth combining the trips. Our highlights were seeing over 20 elephants watering and feeding along the River as well as wild orangutans. Turtle Island also was a great experience and the work they do there to safeguard the future of our the turtle population. Overall a fantastic experience and everything ran smoothly. Thank you 🦧🐘🐊🐒🐢

Yvonne Millington – 05/07/2019

We had an amazing time. Our guide in Kinabatangan- Omar – was brilliant at spotting wildlife so thank you so much! We loved the trip and already returning to do another trip one day. Thanks for organising everything so well.

Sarah Wood, UK – 23/02/2019

Your guides on both trips were absolutely amazing, everything ran on time, the food was amazing. We all really really enjoyed the trip. The tour guide we had on the turtle island trip, she was brilliant, so much so that other people on the trip thought we’d paid for our own guide. She was full of knowledge and her English was perfect. We had Mohammed as our guide in the jungle, he was very very good. Again, full of knowledge and he looked after us very well. I can’t forget to mention all of the other staff, the chefs, waiting staff etc, everyone was very polite and professional. I have many friends that live in Asia and they have seen my photos and are all asking about my itinerary. I will be sure to recommend your company to them and in fact to anyone else that asks.

Andrew Booker, UK – 07/11/2018

Our trip was amazing thanks in no small part to your team, everyone we had contact with was professional, friendly and a credit to your organisation, special mention to Sam for Selingan and especially Mohammed at Kinabantangan who’s ability to spot wildlife is uncanny, we saw wild Orang Utan and pygmy elephant as well as a supporting cast of other primates reptiles and birds. Mohammed also went the extra mile to arrange extra activities on our last day plus we got to meet his beautiful family. The timings, transport and accommodation were all excellent. Thanks for a great trip, we would certainly recommend Borneo Dream to anyone visiting Borneo.

Ann Mulloy – 20/09/2018

We had a truly amazing time in Borneo and thoroughly enjoyed our Turtle island and Kinabatangan River trip. The whole trip was fantastic and we were looked after tremendously from start to finish.

Watching a nesting turtle was a breath-taking experience. The accommodation on the island although a little basic was indeed more than adequate and the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable, they really seemed to take pride in their work.

Ichy, our guide who met us at Sandakan airport and travelled to turtle island with us was again fantastic, courteous and informative at all times.

The Kinabatangan River trip was another fantastic adventure and again we were looked after from start to finish. Our guide at the lodge, Mohammed deserves a special mention as he really did seem to go that extra mile in ensuring that we saw as much wild life as possible whilst out on our boat each day. He was so informative and genuinely seemed to enjoy his job and spotting the wildlife as much as we did. We saw orangutans, crocodiles, proboscis monkeys and many species of birds.

Karen McCarthy – 09/08/2018

Our experience in Borneo was amazing. The guides were great and really knowledgable. Particular mention to Ichi who was fantastic and really good with our children. And Ramzan (in photo) seemed the best guide on the water always first to spot the wildlife. We were fortunate to see Orangutans and an elephant swim across the river. The welcome was lovely from the ladies at the lodge and the buffet food was excellent and plentiful. I would definitely recommend your tour company to our friends in the UK. Leia was very helpful via email before we travelled and always returned our questions promptly. Overall 5 star experience thank you

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Lollybelle85 London, United Kingdom (TripAdvisor) – 11/06/2018

Great service – Borneo Dream, in my experience, is a fantastic tour company to use.

From the moment I sent my first email enquiringly about the 4D3N turtle and river tour, they were unbelievably helpful and patient as I dithered about what I wanted to do.

Winnie (the person on the other end of the email) was fabulous. A real asset to your company. Whatever I asked Winnie came back to me quickly and with all the information I needed.

All tour guides/drivers we encountered during our stay were amazing. Clearly love their job and are passionate about what they do.

Turtle Island was a wonderful experience and again everyone who works there was great!

Kinabatangan Nature Lodge is brilliant – totally recommend it – and stay for 2 nights you’ll get so much more out of it.

Our guide at Kinabatangan was called Mohammad and he is brilliant! Great English, sense of humour and very knowledgeable.

I highly recommend this tour company if visiting Borneo.

Thanks for organising such a great trip

robert t Oudenbosch, The Netherlands (TripAdvisor) – 11/06/2018

The best you can get! – We have done several excursions with Borneo Dream and Travel Tours. And everything was perfectly arranged, from the beginning till the end!

They have a great team, which respond to your questions very quickly. They also think with you, to offer the best experience in Borneo.

We have done Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River | 4 Day | Sabah, Borneo. This excursion i can recommend to everybody. It is such a amazing experience to witness the turtles on the Island. From laying their eggs on the beaches till releasing the new bornes into the Sea ! I guess a once-in-a-lifetime-experience.

And after this, you will have a great wildlife experience at the Kinabatangan River. I can keep talking for hours abt. the tour, but just book it and you will have no regrets for sure. Take the extra packages, but esp. LABUK BAY PROBOSCIS MONKEY SANCTUARY. This was such a wonderfull experience as well.

At Kota Kinabalu we took the snorkling excursion at TARP incl. the zipline 🙂 We saw a lot of fish and nice corals, even some sharks ;). Again great to do.

Also we did the Hot springs tour, which we liked, but overall it was such a long day with traveling. Keep in mind you will be traveling a lot of hours on the road. It is a personal choice if this interesting or not for yourself (you spend easily 4-5 hrs in a buss)

We had a great time and if we will travel again to the beautiful Borneo, we will ask them for sure for advice and good excursions !!

Chrystal O (TripAdvisor) – 11/06/2018

Amazing trip – The trip was fantastic. One of the best I have been on. Booking through Borneo Dream was easy and the whole process was smooth. It was good to book through Borneo Dream as we did not have any problems along the way with the company who actually took us on tour.

We did the 4D3N tour with Nasarlis Lavartus tours having booked through Borneo Dream. The tour itself was quite simply incredible and all the guides and drivers were superb. They were knowledgeable, kind and made sure we were satisfied at all times. I connected particularly well with Edmundo Jr, who is one of the most passionate people I have ever met and is more than willing to talk your ear off about all things Borneo. Khairul was our guide for our river cruises and he too was great, he had a really good eye for the wildlife which enabled us to spot a wild Orangutan, crocodile, hornbill, macaques, proboscis monkeys and several more, the list goes on. He was entertaining (even at 6am) and made sure that we were satisfied.

Kinabatangan Nature Lodge – All of the staff at Kinabatangan Nature Lodge was so friendly and welcoming; we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. The setting was perfect along the banks of the river and staying in the jungle hearing monkeys and other animals around you was an experience in itself. On the river cruise we saw an Orangutan, crocodile, hornbill, macaques, proboscis monkeys and several more, the list goes on.

Thank you so much. I will recommend the company to my friends and family.

Tommy Smith – 10/06/2018

It was possibly the best trip I have been on in my travels and I have down quite a few. Everything ran so smooth and your help with flight advice and timings was a big help. The turtle island was something very special and there were only 8 tourists on the island which was perfect. The river cruise and lodge I think we got very lucky as we seen everything, we seen a herd of around 40 Pygmy elephants which was extremely lucky. The guides were friendly and so good at there jobs, our guide at the lodge was called apok and he was awesome. All in all a perfect few days.

Niamh – 19/06/2017

We enjoyed the most amazing experience to Turtle Island and to the Kinabatangan River with Borneo Dream and their tour partner Nasalis Larvatus.

Turtle Island is a gem which really needs to be seen to be believed. We saw a turtle lay eggs and also released the baby turtles which had hatched that day to the sea which was a beautiful experience.

We visited the Orangutan and Sun Bear sanctuary on our way to the Kinabatangan River.

During our stay on the River we saw a vast array of wildlife in their natural habitat including many species of monkeys and horn-bills, crocodiles and lots and lots of other creatures. We did not encounter any pigmy elephants which was unfortunate.

The accommodation on Turtle Island was basic but you’re there for the turtles. Don’t be expecting must from it.

The accommodation in the detached chalets in the Kinabatangan Nature Lodge was good, a clean room with en-suite and air conditioning.

The food in both was good and there was lots to go around and enough for seconds!!!

Our tour guides were very knowledgeable and we would recommend this tour.

Yanika and Craig – 25/04/2017

We were really impressed by Borneo Dreams. We booked a 4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Trip with them. We also asked to add in some extra things, like Gomantong caves, and different departure times and drop off points and they were very accommodating. They replied to emails promptly. The lodge at the river was nice and the guide very knowledgable- we were incredibly lucky to see elephants on all 3 river trips, as well as a saltwater croc, lots of hornbills, proboscis monkeys and a wild Orang-utan. Turtle island was an incredible experience- such a beautiful place and the work they do, conserving the turtles is inspiring. I would highly recommend this company- we had a guide with us the whole time and everything felt safe and organised

Karin (Switzerland) – 24/04/2017

We enjoyed every moment of our 4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Trip. The organisation was excellent and the service of Borneo Dream very efficient and helpful.

Both of the guides, Arthur (Seligan) and Mohamad (Kinbatangan) did a great job and we felt in good hands.

Thank you for this great adventure!

Cassie – 26/09/2016

We had an absolutely fantastic experience with Borneo Dream and Nasalis Larvatus. Borneo Dream were faultless in their customer experience in the run up to our booking the trip. They were always incredibly quick, efficient and patient in answering all of our questions – and we certainly had a fair few before actually clicking that ‘book’ button.

The star of the whole trip was our guide James. He was so knowledgeable, friendly, reliable, approachable and generally really good fun & relaxing to be around. It wouldn’t have been the same without him! I can only hope others will be lucky enough to also have him as their guide, I can’t imagine anyone better?!

During our 4D/3N trip we saw so much wildlife we were really quite spoilt. Turtle Island was a particular highlight, where we were lucky enough to spot 3 natural hatchings on the beach during the day time (This is not a common occurrence!), as well as the turtle laying eggs at night. The Kinabatangan River trip was also magical, the lodges were fabulous and eco-friendly and was a real treat to hear the sounds of the jungle at night. During the river trips an Orangutan in the wild, along with the humorous proboscus monkeys, the crazy macacques, cute silver langures, and so many beautiful birds I wouldn’t even know how to begin naming them (kingfishers & hornbills I do remember!).

I recognise there are other groups offering a similar package but Borneo Dreams really stood out in their highly organised, professional yet incredibly friendly service. And overall it was a trip we will treasure forever 🙂

Ptitsyna Liudmila – 22/09/2016

Everything was organized on the best level. Food, premises, excursions, guide, price-quality rate – everything was fine. It was so wonderful to observe the wild animals – proboscis’s monkey, orangutans, birds, turtles and ets. Thank you very much for this opportunity.

Sophie – 08/07/2016

My husband and I loved this part of our honeymoon. We saw more wildlife than we dared to dream of; it was a real privilege to see turtles, orangutans and Pygmy elephants in particular! We had a wonderful guide who was entertaining and knowledgeable and the whole experience was wonderful. Would highly recommend.

Nikki Cheetham – 14/04/2016

My husband and I had a really brilliant trip organised by Borneo Dream to Turtle Island and the Lower Kinabatangan River. Our guide, Rudy, was professional and fantastically enthusiastic, going the extra mile to ensure we were seeing all the wildlife and helping us to understand what we were seeing. He is a great asset to the company. The entire trip was very well organised.

Ania Jakubowska – 13/04/2016

I would like to thank Borneo Dream Travel & Tours and Nasalis Narvatus for perfect organization and effort put to make my tour so interesting and comfortable. I want separately thank to tour guides, Terance on the Turtle Island, and specially Dino at the Kinabatangan river for commitment and great atmosphere. I learnt a lot about Borneo’s wild nature and will take home wonderful memories.

Lady Of Misrule, UK (TripAdvisor) – 04/04/2016

Open Water Certification & 4D 3N Jungle Adventure We took our Open Water Certification with Borneo Dream after doing some research of dive schools in the local area. We settled on them as they had good reviews and good prices. We were not disappointed! Our instructors were really knowledgeable with decades of diving experience between them and doing the course was so much fun! Our confined water dives we did just off Sapi Island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, which I was really pleased with, we had tropical fish swimming all around us as we learned the basics, & it felt like a more comfortable transition from learning to actual diving than maybe doing the confined dives in the pool would have been. The dives themselves were really fun, we did 2 on the House Reef and the other 2 in the Coral Garden, different sections each time. Saw a bunch of pufferfish, lionfish, barracuda, stingrays, mantis shrimp, a moray eel and loads of other fish.

We also chose to book with Borneo Dream for a 4D3N tour, which took in a Turtle Sanctuary, where we got to see a Turtle give birth and then some baby turtles released into the wild, which was magical. We initially thought this might be a if you’re lucky kind of situation but it happens every night. And it’s great. Second day we visited the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and the Sun Bear Sanctuary in the morning, both of which were awesome, and then went to the Kinabatangan Lodge in the jungle, where we stayed a further 2 nights. During this time we took two sunrise river cruises, two sunset river cruises, 2 night hikes through the jungle and one trek to an Oxbow Lake. This entire experience has been incredible. In the wild we saw Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, Silver Langurs, Saltwater Crocodiles, all kinds of birds and spiders and scorpions and generally just had an amazing time. Falling asleep in our bamboo hut listening to the sounds of the rainforest was truly magical. On the last day we visited the Gomantong Caves and we saw a mother and baby Orangutan and some red leaf monkeys as an added bonus to the cave itself, which was immense and really cool.

Big shout out to our Jungle Guide James, who was with us for the whole four days and was an all around great guy. He was really knowledgeable and really friendly and approachable – an amaing guide, we couldn’t have hoped for better.

Really enjoyed both of our experiences – thanks Borneo Dream! 🙂

Visited February 2016

Rosalind & Roanna – 30/03/2016

Very well organised. Happy with the lodge service. Guide Dino is a good organiser. Overall we have enjoyed this trip.

Erica Hu – 23/01/2015

Borneo Dream provide a professional guide , we get lots of useful information from him. It’s really helpful for foreign tourist, so we get a perfect trip from Borneo Dream.

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Kinabatangan River

As far as we know looking at local papers and government announcements There has never been any history of a security or criminal acts in the Kinabatangan area. This also includes Danum Valley, Tabin, Selingan island and Lankayan Island. However, there was a very small isolated incident on the outskirts of Sandakan.

The route to the Danum Valley Feild Centre Office in Lahad Datu is 124 kilometres and takes approximately 1 hour 54 minutes. Here is the normal route:

Take Jalan Sukau to AH150 for 32 min (36.8 km)

Follow AH150 to Lorong Fajar 1 in Lahad Datu for 1 hr 19 min (87.0 km)

Take Lorong Fajar 2 and Lorong Fajar 6 to Lorong Fajar 9 for 2 min (190 m)

The journey from Sandakan Airport (SDK) to Kinabatangan River (Bilit) is 156 kilometres and takes 1 hour 57 minutes approximately. The route it takes is:

Follow Jalan Airport and Jalan Lintas Labuk to Jalan Ranau – Sandakan/Jalan Sapi Nangoh/Route 22 for 8 min (5.1 km)

Follow Jalan Ranau – Sandakan/Jalan Sapi Nangoh/Route 22 and Jln Sandakan-Lahad Datu/AH150 to Kinabatangan for 1 hr 13 min (73.9 km)

Take Jalan Sukau to Jalan Kampung Bilit for 32 min (36.8 km)

Seeing an orangutan in its natural habitat is one of the top reasons for coming to Borneo. In Borneo, there are around 11,000 orangutans in Sabah and 1,600 in Sarawak. In Sabah, the top three places to see orangutans in the wild, along with other wildlife encounters on offer, are the Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. 

Kinabatangan River, Sabah

the Kinabatangan River is one of the best wildlife-watching destinations in Southeast Asia. If you spend a few days here joining river cruises you will have a very good chance of seeing an orangutan in the wild. Wildlife watching on the Kinabatangan is done from boats making this location suitable for a range of ages and fitness levels. The Kinabatangan River is the easiest and most ‘comfortable’ option in Borneo for seeing Orangutans in the wild.

Danum Valley, Sabah

Danum Valley  is the best place to see wild orangutans in pristine, undisturbed forest. Sightings are not ‘guaranteed’ but there is a pretty good chance of seeing an orangutan if you spend a few days at Danum. You will join guided treks into the forest in search of wildlife (including orangutans). The trekking is relatively easy so you don’t need to be super fit. 

Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah

Tabin Wildlife Reserve  is a large protected forest area covering 122,500 hectares. At Tabin, there are reasonable chances of seeing an orangutan by joining guided treks into the forest but they are not as high as Danum or the Kinabatangan. 

Alongside these ‘seeing orang-utans in the wild’ options, you also have the chance to see orangutans at the world-famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. At Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre illegally captured, orphaned and injured orangutans are taught to survive in the wild again. The Centre has two feeding sessions a day which is open to the public during which you can go to a raised platform to watch the orangutans come in from the surrounding forest to be fed.

Which one of these options is best for you for seeing orangutans in Borneo depends upon your budget, how to fit you are, how much time you have and the way you want to go in search of orangutan (by foot, boat or 4WD safari). Choose one, or more, of the above options to have the best chance of seeing an orangutan in Borneo.

The pygmy elephant (or Bornean pygmy elephant) are the smallest elephants in Asia and are endemic to Borneo. With only about 1,500 Bornean pygmy elephants left on Borneo, they are classified as critically endangered. For those visiting Borneo to see wildlife, the Bornean Pygmy elephant is likely to be in your top 5 of things to see. Encountering a herd of these elephants is unforgettable, and often once in a lifetime, experience. Whilst Borneo is big (it’s the third-largest island in the world) the pygmy elephant can only be found in a limited area in the forests of northeastern Borneo (with most found in Sabah, Borneo). The pygmy elephants migrate throughout the year, following a traditional corridor, and the top three places to see pygmy elephants in Sabah, Borneo are as follows:-

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is a narrow corridor of Protected lowland rainforest along the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Herds of the Bornean Pygmy elephant migrate through this sanctuary and when they are passing through they can be seen for a few days along the banks of the river as they forage for food. If you are lucky to be visiting the Kinabatangan River whilst they are in the area you will have the privilege of being able to watch the elephants during morning and afternoon river cruises. As with all wildlife encounters, sightings cannot be guaranteed but the more days you spend at a Lodge on the Kinabatangan River (and therefore more river cruises you join) the increased chance of seeing the rarer wildlife finds like the pygmy elephant. 

Danum Valley

Danum Valley , or Danum Valley Conservation Area, is one of the largest protected areas of primary rainforest in Sabah and offers a ‘safe-haven’ for the pygmy elephant and other wildlife found here. Elephants can often be seen along the access roads into Danum Valley, as well as roaming through the forest. There are two locations tourists can stay at in Danum Valley to see wildlife – Borneo Rainforest Lodge and Danum Valley Field Centre. At both locations, you are able to join guided treks into the forest, and guided night drives, in search of wildlife including the Bornean pygmy elephant.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Tabin Reserve is considered to be the largest wildlife reserve in Malaysia and covers an area of lowland forest of approximately 300,000 acres. It is home to the Bornean pygmy elephant as well as many other endangered wildlife species. Similar to Danum Valley, the access roads and guided treks into the forest provide the best opportunities to see pygmy elephants. There is one location tourists can stay at in Tabin Reserve –  Tabin Wildlife Resort .

At 560 kilometres long, the Kinabatangan River is Sabah’s longest river with the lower reaches of the River being home to a rich concentration, and diversity, of wildlife. This makes the Kinabatangan River one of the most popular places for tourists to visit during their holiday to Borneo. The simplest way to get to the Kinabatangan River is too join an organised tour. As the Kinabatangan River is located towards the east coast of Sabah the starting point for most tours to the River is from Sandakan (Sandakan Airport or from a hotel in Sandakan). 

How do you get to Sandakan?

Sandakan is a middle-sized city located on the east coast of Sabah and well connected to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. The main ways to travel to Sandakan from within Sabah are by plane, by public bus or by private transport.

Internal flights operate daily from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and Tawau to Sandakan Airport. Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines operate daily flights from these airports to Sandakan. You can also fly direct from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Sandakan Airport on a daily basis. Flying to Sandakan is an easy, quick option and if flights are booked well in advance you can typically pick up low price tickets with the airlines.

By public bus

A slightly cheaper option than flying is to catch a public bus to Sandakan Bus Station. You can catch a public bus from bus stations in Kota Kinabalu, Semporna or Tawau to Sandakan. The most popular bus route is from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. In Kota Kinabalu, you will need to go to the northern bus terminal (located in Inanam). There are several buses here going to Sandakan on a daily basis. We’d suggest you try and catch the first buses to depart in the morning as it’s a long journey to Sandakan bus station (a ~ 6 – 7 hour journey). 

By private transport 

This includes hiring a car to drive to Sandakan, using a local taxi or via an organised private coach transfer. 

How do I get to the Kinabatangan River Independently?

For independent travellers wanting to arrange their own way to the Kinabatangan River, there aren’t any direct public transport services to the two main villages on the river which provide access to Lodges on the Kinabatangan River – Bilit & Sukau. You would need to use local bus service and ask to be dropped off at Sukau Junction, followed by catching a transfer with a local van from Sukau Junction to either Bilit or Sukau (a ~ 45km journey). For this option, you still need to have booked a stay at a Lodge near the Kinabatangan River and arranged a transfer with the Lodge from your drop off point. This option may be a cheaper alternative to an organised tour but is a lot more hard work and involves more time for the amount you may save.   

Turtle Island

This question is often asked due to your country FCO advising against “all but essential travel to all islands off the eastern coast of Sabah”. To be able to answer this question we need to understand how FCO advice works, know more about the current safety situation in Sabah and what security measures are in place to keep Turtle Island safe.

FCO advise is typically based on their assessment at the time of a security incident and not necessarily based on the current situation on the ground. As such travel advisories tend to err on the side of over-caution and their advice can take months if not years to be downgraded regardless of actual conditions on the ground.

In Sabah there have been a small number of abduction cases / attempts at kidnapping between 2000 – 2016 with the Abu Sayyaf group being the main perpetrators for most cases. To address this security threat the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) was established a few years ago. ESSCom strives to reinforce security measures in the east coast of Sabah utilising military patrols, police and Maritime units. An enforced night time curfew on boats also helps by restricting undetected incursions. It is fair to say that since these measures have been taken, no security incidents have taken place so far.

Turtle Island is safe to travel to with the military, Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA), and ESSCOM both stationed at Turtle Island helping make sure tourists are safe when visiting the islands. The Resort is typically fully booked most days throughout the year with no known security issues ever happening at Turtle Island – so many visitors to Sabah have decided the risk level of visiting Turtle Island is acceptable to them. Where it is impossible to give a 100% assurance of security, we believe that Sabah is ‘very safe’ and we feel comfortable in sending our guests to visit Turtle Island.

Ultimately it is a personal risk decision if you choose to go to Turtle Island. You need to decide if based on the known facts on the ground at the time if they represent a risk level to you that you’re happy to take.

Female turtles return to shore only to lay their eggs, on the same beach where they hatched many years before. Depending on the species, the location, and the temperature, the turtle nesting season varies. 

Luckily Turtle Island in Borneo is one of the few places in the world where turtles arrive 365 days of the year to nest. Both green and hawksbill turtles nest at Turtle Island in high numbers which means the chances of seeing a mother laying her eggs are high all year round. The female turtles come ashore every evening to lay eggs, and can number up to 50 at a time during peak season (between July and October). The beaches are vacated each evening so as not to disturb the turtles and to encourage the turtles to return and nest multiple times.

If you wanted to know a bit more about how often a female turtle will nest at Turtle Island most species nest several times during a nesting season every 2-4 years over the course of their lifetime. On average, sea turtles lay 110 eggs per nest, with 2 to 8 nests per season. The largest clutches are of the hawksbills, which can lay more than 200 eggs per nest. 

This makes Turtle Island a great place to visit if watching a turtle nest (an amazing experience) is on your ‘must-see’ list when coming on holiday to Borneo.

The most famous place in Borneo for getting the chance to see Turtles is Turtle Island located off the east coast of Sabah. The beaches of Turtle Island are visited every night of the year by two endangered turtle species, the green turtle and the hawksbill.

Turtle Island (Pulau Selingan) is one of three islands in Turtle Island Marine Park dedicated to green and hawksbill turtle conservation, and the only island which permits visitors to view turtles nesting and hatchlings being released. The turtle hatchery and the turtle conservation programme on Turtle Island (managed by Sabah Parks) is the oldest in the world. To visit Turtle Island you need to book an overnight stay, typically as part of a  2D1N tour . 

Nearby islands on the east coast of Sabah, such as  Lankayan Island  and Libaran Island, also offer a similar experience but on a smaller scale.

If you are a scuba diver you also have the opportunity to see Turtles during dives at  Sipadan  and on islands located close to Sipadan, like Pulau Mataking. With Sipadan being a turtle nesting site you’re pretty much guaranteed to see Turtles (and several of them) on every dive. Turtles are also found along the coral reefs fringing the islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park located in front of Kota Kinabalu offering both  snorkelers  and divers the chance to see them (if you’re lucky).

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TraveLynn Family

Selingan Island, Sabah: visiting the turtles in Borneo

Posted on Last updated: 18 December 2023

Selingan Island, Sabah: visiting the turtles in Borneo

On an island just off the coast of Sandakan , something magical happens each evening. For the lucky few present, one of nature’s great events unfolds under the soft glow of the moon. On Turtle Island, Borneo (more accurately known as Selingan Island), mother turtles emerge from the waters and lay their eggs on the beach.

Quite rightly, this incredible experience is sensitively managed by the authorities, and visitor numbers are restricted to ensure the turtles are left as undisturbed as possible. This means pre-planning is essential, trips need to be booked in advance, especially in the peak tourist season.

In this post, you’ll find all the information you need on how to get to Selingan Island resort, what to expect when you’re there, and what to bring to ensure you get the best out of one of nature’s most precious events.

A visit to Selingan Turtle Island is an absolute must if you’re visiting Borneo with kids .

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Borneo with kids travel guide

Your comprehensive guide to travelling Borneo with kids. Focusing on Sabah, we share advice on safety and getting around, top tips for your visit, and detail a 12 day itinerary.

How to get to Selingan Island

You may hear people talking about Turtle Islands, Turtle Islands National Park, and Selingan Island interchangeably. There are a number of small islands in the Sulu Sea which are known as Turtle Islands. Within this sits Turtle Islands National Park, of which Selingan Island is the only one which you are allowed to visit.

As visitor numbers are strictly controlled, the only way in or out is on a Selingan Island tour, which needs to be pre-arranged. The waters around here are strongly policed and there is no option of simply hiring your own boat at the dock; you won’t get very far but you will get into trouble.

Crystal Quest Quay for Turtle Isalnd

How to book your Borneo turtle island tour

The vast majority of people visiting Turtle Island will to stay overnight, for the simple reason that the main event happens after dark and there is no way back to the mainland until the next morning.

The only Selingan Island resort is operated by a company called Crystal Quest . They are the only chalet operator on the island, so your options are limited to them anyway. If you’re unable to get a response through their website to book, the easiest way is through Klook , which is one of the top booking-sites for activities in Asia.

The good news is that they’re a very professional, well-organised company (although it perhaps gets a little too-well organised once you get to the island, but more on that later).

One very welcome recent addition to travelling in Southeast Asia is the ubiquity of WhatsApp as a method of communicating and booking trips. We initially contacted Crystal Quest via WhatsApp and they were quick to respond with information, prices, and availability (for some reason they never responded to our emails and we found other travellers we met on Selingan Island found the same).

Once we were booked in, we just had to pay the balance at the jetty on the morning of the trip via credit card, which was quick and straightforward.

The tour we chose cost MYR500 per adult and MYR300 per child, for one night (please note that prices are subject to change). There was also an additional conservation fee payable on the island which was MYR60/30 for adult/child. Included in the price is:

  • Return boat transfer to Selingan Island
  • Twin room for one night
  • All meals (lunch, dinner and breakfast)
  • Additional cost for snorkel set (quite expensive at MYR35 each)

What to expect on the tour

Crystal Quest ask you to meet at the main jetty in Sandakan ( click here for Google Map point) at 9:30am, in time for payment and registration (bring passports) before the planned 10am departure. This was all handled very smoothly and we began boarding the boats pretty much on time.

The speedboat ride is a fantastic start to the trip; it seats about 8 passengers and jets off into the wide expanse of ocean, leaving the Sandakan skyline behind you. Depending on the time of year, there will be upwards of five or six other speedboats in your group, but it’s nicely spaced out and doesn’t feel like you’re racing off in a group.

The journey takes about 35 minutes, after passing some floating villages, you’re out in the open water until Turtle Islands National Park, and Selingan Island in particular, swim into view.

Arriving to Selingan Island

Crystal Quest have your arrival procedure down to perfection, almost too much perhaps. Once you step off the boat and grab your bags, you’ll be ushered up the beach to the reception area where someone will check you in, give you a very rapid outline of the itinerary and hand over your keys.

Arriving to Selingan Island

One slight criticism (and this isn’t uncommon in Borneo) but guests who’d employed guides were given priority and got their keys first etc. The guides and staff all know each other so, if you travelled guide-less like us, you might be last to get your key. There are worse places to have to wait though and the welcome juice drink helps!

Your Selingan Island accommodation

The chalets are cleverly situated away from the beach and reception area, in clusters of four which share a common seating area and long balcony. We weren’t sure what to expect as we were on a remote, tropical island but they are surprisingly well-appointed with most of the mod-cons you’d find in a city including air-con, en-suite bathroom, toiletries, and comfy beds.

The rooms were very clean and a welcome retreat from the heat with the air-conditioning. Although if truth be told, you won’t be spending a great deal of time in your room.

Selingan Island Resort accommodation

Snorkelling and beach time

Once you’ve checked into your room, you’ll have a hour or two before lunch is served in the main dining room. The main activity in the afternoon is relaxing on the beach and snorkelling. If you’re quick, you can fit in a quick beach session before lunch, otherwise relax in your room until you’ve eaten and then prepare for a sensational snorkelling session.

Snorkelling Selingan Island

Try to head over to the right-hand side of the beach, a current will bring you over that way regardless. As with all snorkelling, it can be hit-and-miss but there are some staggeringly beautiful mini-reefs about 30 metres out from shore which kept us entertained and transfixed for a few hours.

The beach is glorious as well, although it can feel slightly crowded in parts. We found that it got noticeably quieter as the day wore on, we were almost the last to leave as sunset approached.

Sunset on Selingan Island

A small track from the snorkelling beach leads you past the reception area and onto what we called ‘Sunset Beach’. We were lucky to catch it on a clear(ish) evening but in any weather, it’s the best spot to watch the day end, made even more special by knowing what you are about to witness in a few hours.

Selingan Island sunset

It’s quite a wide stretch of beach so we easily found a patch of sand to call our own and watch the sun slowly disappear under the horizon. Do make sure you leave in plenty of time though as the turtles could begin their approach at any moment and the last thing you’d want to do is disturb them.

Seeing the turtles

Any nature-viewing experience is a question of patience, whether that’s on an African safari or trying to spot elusive Orangutans on a Kinabatangan River tour . And it really was the case on Selingan Island, not helped by the mother of all thunderstorms which delayed the arrival of the mother turtles until close to midnight.

Crystal Tours make no secret of the fact that you need to wait until the turtles are ready; but of course, there is no other option. We’d hoped to see them from around 8pm onwards but, as the rain hammered down onto the tin roof, murmurs swept around the dining room suggesting tonight might not be the night. It was a disappointment, but we filled the time with board games and speaking to the other guests.

borneo turtle island tour

As midnight approached and people began to drift away, a sudden movement near the door heralded the arrival of the tour guides. A mother turtle had appeared on the beach and we were quickly split into groups. We all donned our jackets, found umbrellas, and headed off towards the beach. Every effort is taken to avoid disturbing the mothers so we kept lights off and tip-toed behind our guide, before we all stopped and waited.

A mother was on the sand several metres in front of us, the guide careful to give her as much space as possible. This was a tricky time of the tour to be with young kids as everyone was desperate for a view and some ignored the request to alternate so everyone could get their chance at the front. This is a common issue with nature viewings, the juxtaposition of natural events and group tours not always mixing well.

Selingan Island turtle

The numbers were managed well but it did feel like a minor scrum to get a view, but eventually the boys got a turn at the front on their hands and knees, getting a perfect view. I think this situation was exacerbated by the long delay we’d had in seeing the turtles; people were more desperate, and the guides were perhaps conscious it was our last chance of the evening.

In spite of that, it was an incredible experience. Every effort was made to give the mother turtles as much space as they needed, the lighting was a lot more subtle than it might appear in our photos.

After seeing the mothers, we were led over to the nesting area and shown how the freshly laid eggs were transferred to predator-proof nests, buried at a safe depth, and labelled, giving them the greatest chance of survival.

Selingan Island turtle

It was fascinating to see the early lifecycle of the turtles, from laying eggs, nesting, and then finally where the babies have broken free from their shells and are ready to be released into the ocean on the first stage of their independent lives. We gathered as a group on the beach, coincidentally on the exact spot we’d witnessed sunset, and watched as the baby turtles scurried into the water.

Leaving Selingan Island

After the excitement of the previous evening (it was close to 1am before we got back to the room), the 6am alarm call to get packed, check-out and have breakfast wasn’t especially welcome. We somehow made it to breakfast before dumping our bags in the speedboat for the return journey to Sandakan .

The process was nice and straightforward, check-out was just a case of handing over the keys, and the boats were patiently waiting for us at the beach.

As mentioned above, Crystal Tours have the whole operation planned to perfection, and we were soon back on the water, sad to be leaving Selingan Island resort for the final time.

boat on Selingan Island

Eating on Selingan Island

Your tour includes lunch and dinner on day one, with breakfast provided on day two before you depart.

The food is served as a buffet and is fine without being too memorable. It’s the same style as we’ve found in so many other places and it must be hard to serve exciting food to this many people on a remote island. If you’ve been on a tour like this before you’ll know what to expect from the buffet: steamed rice, meat stew, steamed vegetables, grilled fish, and a desert.

Meal times on Selingan Island

The food was hearty and quite tasty without there being too much variety and not much choice for vegetarians or vegans. Anyone with dietary requirements was asked to raise their hand on day one but it wasn’t particularly well organised, and the alternatives offered were quite basic.

Free tea, coffee, and water was available, plus a small shop selling (expensive) cans of soft drinks and beers if you needed.

Is the Turtle Island Borneo tour worth it?

Whilst not the cheapest tour we’ve ever done, it was a resounding success for our family with the true highlight being the midnight turtle experience, although the snorkelling came a close second.

The bottom line is, there is no other way of visiting and experiencing Turtle Islands without taking the tour so you don’t really have any other options. We felt it was good value for money, remember that things like the speedboat ride would have been expensive if you’d booked separately in Sandakan as an activity.

You’ll never forget those precious moments viewing the turtles and that on its own makes the trip worthwhile.

Best time to visit Selingan Island

The best time to visit the turtles on Selingan Island is when the sea conditions are calmer, which is typically July to October (also coinciding with the peak season in the rest of Borneo). Although as we found, this is no guarantee of good weather!

Selingan Island sunset

Is Selingan Island safe to visit?

We had a completely safe visit, as do many thousands of other visitors throughout the year.

However, there is a very strong caveat you need to consider, and you should always do your own research before travelling; there are many better resources than this page to get the most up-to-date information.

Turtle Islands National Park sits in the Sulu Sea, which is an area where terrorist groups have been known to operate. There is a large (but quite subtle) police and military presence, including on Selingan Island itself. A great deal of time and effort is spent by the Malaysian government in keeping the area safe but you should do your own research and weigh up any risks.

For reference, the islands off the coast of Sandakan are currently designated by the UK FCDO as ‘Advise against all but essential travel’ which may affect your travel insurance whilst in the area.

It goes without saying that safety is the number one priority, but we never once felt at risk or threatened during our stay.

How to keep supporting the turtles

If you want to help the turtles even further after your visit, consider the option of sponsoring a turtle nest. For MYR100 you’ll get your name above the nest, a certificate and t-shirt. It’s a fun way to help out and you’ll be emailed updates when your nest hatches.

Selingan Island turtle hatchery

Final thoughts on visiting Selingan Island

It’s an incredibly vivid and jam-packed 20 hours, a trip that is sure to stay in your memory for a long time. If observing turtles is on your bucket-list, this is a great place to do it, and the only option in this part of Borneo.

The tour is well organised and good value, although it can get busy at times and you’ll probably never feel like you’re on your own truly unique natural experience. All of that is forgotten though when the mothers appear and the magical moment happens.

Don’t forget the beach and snorkelling is part of the trip as well, an afternoon relaxing on a tropical island is amazing in itself and not something to be missed.

Keep your fingers crossed for good weather and stay patient; it’s all worth the wait.

speedboat leaving Selingan Island

You may also like to read: Exploring the Kinabatangan River with kids Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Borneo: tips for your visit How to get from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

Dive Into Malaysia

Dive Into Malaysia

Selingan Turtle Island: Everything You Need To Know [2024]

If you love turtles and would love to see them in Sabah, this is the place to head.

Selingan Turtle Island in the Turtle Islands National Park is home to a turtle conservation project. Each day, 40 lucky visitors can spend the night and watch the turtles lay eggs as well as the release of newly hatched baby turtles.

As a huge turtle fan (they are my favourite animal), I was not missing a visit to Selingan Turtle Island on my most recent trip to Sabah. It took a bit of organisation as you can only visit on an overnight package tour, but it is not hard to organise once you know what to do.

If you are at all considering visiting Selingan Turtle Island, keep reading! I’m going to tell you everything there is to know about visiting here from where it is, to how to book a tour here to exactly what the tour entails.

Some turtle tracks on the beach at Selingan Turtle Island

I also describe exactly what it is like when you visit this Borneo Turtle Island from the accommodation to the meals to the turtle experiences and what it’s like on the island.

Even better, I share my video walk-through of the whole experience of visiting here from driving to the jetty to getting back to Sandakan.

This way, you can decide if visiting Selingan Turtle Island is right for you.

Let’s start!

Click here to see prices to visit on Selingan Turtle Island now.

Travelling to Borneo?  Click here to download your FREE Detailed Borneo Itinerary .  We’ll help you plan your trip quickly and easily.

Have any questions?  Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now!  It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired.

What Is Selingan Turtle Island?

Selingan Turtle Island Turtle hatchery

Selingan Turtle Island, also known as Pulau Selingan, is a small island located off the east coast of Sabah. It is part of the Turtle Islands National Park. This is a protected area that includes three islands: Selingan, Bakungan Kecil and Gulisaan.

The island is named after the green turtles that come to its beaches to lay their eggs. Selingan Turtle Island is a major nesting site for green turtles in Southeast Asia, and it is estimated that over 4,000 green turtles come to the island every year to lay their eggs. Some hawksbill turtles do too.

The island is also a popular tourist destination, and visitors can stay overnight in a basic Selingan Turtle Island chalet. The main attraction is the opportunity to witness the nesting and hatching of the green turtles which takes place on the island’s beaches.

The island is also home to a turtle hatchery and a conservation centre which is dedicated to protecting the turtles and their habitat. Visitors can come and learn about the conservation efforts taken to protect these endangered creatures.

Where Is Turtle Island Selingan?

Selingan Turtle Island paths

Selingan Turtle Island is about 40 kilometres north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. This makes it reasonably accessible as Sandakan is a major transport hub with an airport. Once you have made it to Sandakan, it’s easy to get here on a tour (more about this below). It’s about a one hour boat ride to the island.

Something to be aware of is that many governments have travel warnings about this coastal part of Sabah. This island is very close to the Philippines and extremists in the southern part of that country have kidnapped foreign tourists and local fisherman.

However, this has been rare and hasn’t happened recently. My guide told me that the only incident that has happened here was in 1997 involving a park ranger. Since then, there has been 20 police stationed at the island full-time to ensure the safety of everyone, including the turtles.

There’s also a curfew with no boats after 6pm, and you can’t walk round the island by yourself at night.

While I considered it safe to visit, this is a decision to make for yourself. You can see Australian government warnings here . The US warnings are here and only at level 2 – exercise increased caution.

Selingan Turtle Island map

How To Visit Selingan Turtle Island

Selingan Turtle Island boat

Part of the attraction of Selingan Turtle Island is that only 40 visitors are allowed to visit a day maximum.

You can only visit on an organised tour which is an overnight package. There is no way to have a Selingan Turtle Island day trip. Since the turtle action happens at night, there would be no point visiting for just a day anyway.

On the upside, this does make it very easy as everything is organised for you. You can be picked up at your hotel in the Sandakan or Sepilok area (or the airport) and everything will be arranged for your visit. You then return back to the Sandakan area early the next morning.

Various local travel agencies can book this package for you. The only one I found online that didn’t involve an international wire transfer was this option on klook.

Given the 40 person limit, you should book ahead as far as you can to be on the safe side that you’ll spot. My tour in early April was fully booked, and that’s not even a peak time.

Click here to book now.

Selingan Turtle Island Tour Package

Selingan Turtle island snorkelling

There is a set, one night package to visit Selingan Turtle Island. There are no choices to make or ways to vary it.

This is the basic itinerary:

  • Pick up at your hotel for transfer to the jetty
  • 10am ferry ride to Turtle Island which takes about an hour
  • Check into basic accommodation
  • 12:30 – 2pm Have lunch
  • Free time where you can explore, swim, snorkelling (extra cost)
  • 7pm Video presentation about the turtles
  • 7:30pm Dinner
  • The turtle program starts sometime after dinner. The ranger alerts guests when a turtle comes ashore to lay their eggs
  • After this happens, guests can watch the mother turtle lay her eggs
  • Watch the eggs being re-homed in the hatchery
  • Watch baby turtles being released into the sea (if there are any new hatchlings)
  • 6:30am Breakfast and check out
  • 7am One hour boat ride back to Sandakan

Everything above is included except where stated otherwise. You’ll also have an English speaking guide – but the guide experience will vary based on where you booked it. I had my own private guide, for example.

Some people rarely got to talk to any type of guide. It was a bit strange how this worked and why there wasn’t just guides for the group instead of individual travel agencies having their own guides.

Click here to see the latest prices for this tour package.

Selingan Turtle Island Review

Now that we’ve covered what Selingan Turtle Island is and what a tour here includes, let’s walk through what this experience was actually like. Everything below is based on my experience of visiting here. I visited alone.

Getting To The Island

Selingan Turtle Island jetty in sandakan

The boats depart from a jetty in Sandakan around 10am. I was picked up from my hotel in Sepilok at 9am and was one of the last people at the jetty at 9:30am. I met my guide at the jetty.

I found out once I was at the jetty that suitcases aren’t advisable. There isn’t really room for them on the boat, and it would be annoying at the island. Thankfully, it was no bother at all to store it at the office at the jetty.

My guide gave me a brochure with a map of the island and lots of information while we were waiting. I was surprised that I had my own personal guide, and I realised at this point, there were a few different guides. It seems it depends which travel agency you book through. It seemed a bit wasteful to me, but it was nice having my own guide.

Since the island was fully booked on my night, there were four boats to take us to the island. They distributed us evenly, and we were soon on our way.

The boats were fast and comfortable enough for the only 45-minutes it took us to get to the island. My guide said it’s usually closer to an hour though.

Selingan Turtle Island entry

On arrival at the island, we hopped out of the boat and walked to the main building where we would eat and hang out in the evening. There were welcome drinks of what tasted like orange cordial. There was also a small shop here with a couple of drinks for sale, but not much.

I was relieved to find they had a few bottles of bottled water so I could get one. I have found since arriving in Sepilok the afternoon before that everyone assumes you have a water bottle and they offer free water to fill it.

This is absolutely fantastic from an environmental and cost perspective, but a little difficult when you don’t have a bottle.

Selingan Turtle Island Turtle hatchery

As my guide had already gone through a lot of information with me, I soon had my key and he was walking me to my room giving more information on the way. Most people hung out round here for awhile getting information though.

We walked past the hatcheries and areas where the eggs were waiting. Some of the eggs were under shade cloths trying to prevent them from getting too hot and becoming girls because they have had too many female turtles lately. Apparently, the heat of the sand that the eggs are buried in determines the sex.

Selingan Turtle Island Accommodation

Selingan Turtle Island chalet c

It didn’t take long and I was soon in my room. There are four Selingan Turtle Island park chalets. Each of them contains multiple rooms. I was in block C, and there were seven rooms. All rooms have twin single beds. There are no other options.

I didn’t expect much because everything describes the rooms as basic. I actually think this is a bit harsh.

Selingan Turtle Island accommodation

They are simple, for sure. There isn’t tea and coffee making facilities or hot water. But you do have your own bathroom, a fan and air-conditioning so I was happy! My room was also spotlessly clean.

The room was small though, and I was very happy I didn’t have my suitcase. There wasn’t really space for luggage. Since I was by myself, I was able to put my things on the second bed.

Selingan Turtle Island accommodation

Other than the beds, fan and air-conditioning, the bedroom only contained a small mirror and wall shelf as well as a couple of hooks. There are power points, and there’s no issue with charging devices.

The bathroom was also simple with a shower on the wall (so everything gets wet when it’s on), toilet and basin.

Selingan Turtle Island Bathroom in my room

I was in my room about 11am and then I was basically free for the day until everyone comes together in the evening at 7pm.

Selingan Turtle Island Dining hall

Lunch is at 12:30pm and is buffet style, but don’t expect a huge range. The food was all tasty though!

There was corn and chicken soup, Chinese style, chicken, an absolutely delicious prawn dish, rice, a couple of vegetable options and some green beans and tomatoes. There was also watermelon.

On check-in, I had been told which table was mine. It felt a little depressing as the tables are set up for your booking group and mine was just me, but it was right next to some other Australians, so I didn’t feel like a total loser for long 🙂

You line up to get your food and serve yourself. There is water to help yourself to as well.

Exploring Selingan Island

This island is small so you can see it easily with all the free time during the day.

After I dropped my things in my room, I walked round most of the island and explored. It’s very pretty and it feels amazing to be somewhere that feels so remote. You can walk everywhere including by the police barracks.

Selingan Turtle Island The opposite side of the island to the swimming area

The best part was when I got to the swimming beach. There were still lots of turtle tracks from the night before as well as burrows. The female turtles will make multiple holes and not put eggs into all of them to confuse predators. They were fun to see, and it made me excited for the evening when we would get to see everything in action.

The most popular activity is swimming and snorkelling at the beach.

It’s possible to hire snorkel, mask and fins as well as towels, life jackets and beach mats. Only cash is accepted. To give you an idea of prices, a snorkel, mask, fins set is RM35. A towel is RM15.

Selingan Turtle Island Prices to hire snorkelling and beach gear

The water was like a warm bath, so lovely!

There is no internet on the island, and I had no phone reception. 

If you’re not a huge beach person, like me, make sure you bring something to watch on your device and/or a good book.

Parks Exhibition Hall

This was closed indefinitely when I visited as there are structural problems with the building.

Selingan Turtle Island dinner

Dinner was at 7:30pm. It was much like lunch with two meat dishes, rice, two vegetable dishes, some salad and soup.

Selingan Turtle Island dinner

It was very good as well.

Turtle Activities

Selingan Turtle Island film

The turtle related activities started at 7pm when we assembled back in the dining hall to watch a video on green and hawksbill turtles, their lives, the island we were on and the area and what they are doing to help them.

It was a great video. I felt like I learned a lot and it was only about 15 minutes.  We then had dinner and waited until the main events.

There are two main events in the evening. The first is watching a female turtle lay her eggs. The next is to release baby hatchlings. This is what you come to the island to do.

As we were a full group, they usually split the group into two. The first group goes out when the first turtle is spotted. The second group waits for the next one. You can’t pick what group you are in.

On this night, they didn’t as they were worried how late it may be until a second turtle arrives. I really didn’t find it an issue having this many people as everyone was respectful. The guides were great at making sure people kept rotating to get a turn (if they wanted) of being in the front and getting any photos they wanted.

As the female nesting relies on nature, there’s no exact timing.

My guide told me that it varies a lot when these things happen. In August, many turtles can come in to lay eggs from 6pm. Conversely, it can be as late as midnight.

If there isn’t a female laying eggs by 9pm, they release the hatchlings first so you can watch that while you are waiting.

While waiting, everyone has to stay in the main dining hall. It can be a long evening! There are games. I took my laptop and a book with me to stay entertained, but I didn’t need them as there were plenty of friendly people to talk to.

Thankfully, we were called to a female laying eggs just before 9pm. My guide was absolutely fantastic at making sure I had great positions and missed nothing and got us both to jog to where the turtle was so we were there in the front. If you lag behind too much and the turtle doesn’t lay many eggs, you can miss out on a chunk of the experience.

I didn’t need to worry though as this turtle laid 104 eggs! There’s only one light by the turtle nest to help the ranger remove the eggs from the nest as she lays them.

Selingan Turtle Island Female turtle laying a whopping 104 eggs!

It was absolutely amazing to sit right behind her as she popped the eggs out. She was such a magnificent creature. I enjoyed it fully.

Most people did not actually seem to want to watch up close so I had multiple turns being in the front and watching the eggs.

You can’t film but you can take photos without flash. It is dark so forgive my bad photos. Hopefully, it gives you some idea.

When she was finished laying, she pushed her back flippers together and started filling in the (now empty) nest. There were more lights as the ranger measured her and added a tag as she hadn’t visited these beaches before. We were able to take photos.

Selingan Turtle Island Measuring the turtle after she's finished laying eggs

I love turtles, but I wasn’t sure how interesting it would be watching one lay eggs. I found it absolutely fascinating though and amazing to get to experience.

Selingan Turtle Island Getting ready to bury the eggs that were just laid

We then walked to the hatchery and watched them bury the eggs and label them in a safe space away from predators. We learned more as they did this.

Selingan Turtle Island Burying the eggs in the hatchery

The final part of the evening was taking the just hatched hatchlings to the water to let them go. There was just one torch light over the sea to encourage them in the right direction.

Selingan Turtle Island Just hatched turtles ready to be released

They were so so so so so cute! And soon, they were on their way into the ocean.

Selingan Turtle Island Just hatched turtles being released into the sea

All this took about an hour, and we were soon on our way back to our rooms. There were police with us the whole time, and it felt very safe.

It was all absolutely amazing. Worth everything I spent in both time and money (and much more than that). I love turtles even more now. I highly recommend it!

It was also great having my guide. He talked me through everything, told me what was going on and ensured I always got a great position.

Selingan Turtle Island Breakfast

I had a great night’s sleep. This was good because while you have a lazy day on your arrival day, you get going early the next day.

Breakfast is served at 6:30am ready for the boat back at 7am.

Breakfast was simple, but good. There was some noodles, scrambled eggs, baked beans and fruit. You can see everything that was on offer in the video.

Heading Back To Sandakan

Selingan Turtle Island Boat back to Sandakan :(

Sadly, by 7am, we were in the boat heading back to Sandakan. It was smooth and easy and we were back at the jetty at 8am.

Sound good? Click here to see the latest prices and book now.

Selingan Turtle Island Video Walkthrough

Below is a video I made from my experiences on this island. It’ll show you everything you can expect!

You’re not allowed to film the turtles laying eggs, but you’ll see my photos of this.

When To Visit Selingan Turtle Island Borneo

The top Selingan Island turtle season is between July and October.

You can visit Selingan Turtle Island at any time of year. However, when it comes to the best chance of witnessing the nesting and hatching of green turtles, the best time to visit is between July and October. This is the peak nesting season.

During this time, you are more likely to see turtles coming to shore to lay their eggs and hatchlings making their way to the sea. The sea conditions are generally calmer at this time of year.

However, if you prefer to avoid the crowds and want to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere, you may want to consider visiting Selingan Turtle Island during the non-peak season between November and February. During this time, the seas are rougher, and there are fewer visitors on the island.

I visited in early April when I wrote this review.

Booking Your Trip To Selingan Turtle Island

As mentioned above, it is important to book your Selingan Turtle Island park trip early since only 40 people can visit a day.

You can book your trip quickly and easily by clicking here.

You won’t want to miss a visit here!

Final Words

Visiting Selingan Turtle Island is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed it all. While I had only been focusing on the turtle aspect in the lead up to going, the island itself is awesome and worth the price alone. It was lovely to hang out here for half a day.

However, that doesn’t even come close to how amazing the turtles are and the events in the evening. It was amazing watching the female turtle lay eggs, seeing the process of giving them a new home and then watching the hatchlings make their way to sea.

I really can’t recommend this experience enough especially as it’s cheap for everything you get.

Click here to book your own Turtle Island adventure now.

Looking for other things to do in Sabah? Find our full guide here . You can also find our full guide to things to do in the Sandakan area here as well as places to stay here.

Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions?  Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now!  It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!

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By Sharon Gourlay

Sharon is a certified Malaysia travel expert and can't get enough of travelling and talking about Malaysia since she first visited 21 years ago. She travels around Malaysia multiple times a year both alone and with her kids. She used to call Penang home and especially loves this food paradise. Sharon also has a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, a Certificate III in International Travel Sales and has been certified by Tourism Malaysia as a Malaysia Travel Expert. Through this site, she'll help you have the perfect trip to this amazing destination.

MySabah.com

Travel guides to Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

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Turtle Islands Park, the Best Turtle Sanctuary of Borneo

MySabah.com

About 110 million years ago, when dinosaurs were ruling the Earth, a marine creature has existed in the ocean. They survived the predation of Megalodon (a 20-metre-long, the biggest extinct shark) and live until today. It’s the sea turtle, some species can live more than 100 years old.

Three stages of turtle life

However, without any protection, human can wipe out this ancient animal in 20 years. Luckily, sea turtles are fully protected in Sabah, as well as their main nesting grounds in Sulu Sea, the Turtle Islands Park, which is about 40 kilometers to the north of Sandakan of Sabah (Malaysia).

Two sea turtle species of Sabah, Green Turtle (Species: Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill Turtle (Species: Eretmochelys imbricata)

Turtle Islands Park comprises the islands of Selingan (8.1ha), Gulisaan (1.6ha) and Bakkungaan Kecil (8.5ha), covering a protected area of some 1,740 hectares, of which 18.2 hectares are on land while 1,721.8 hectares at sea.

Beach of Selingan Island protected by reef balls (to stop beach erosion)

Only Selingan Island, which provides accommodation and basic facilities, is open to tourists , who will witness three stages of a turtle life by looking at the hatchery for the eggs, releasing of hatchlings and nesting of mother turtles in close distance.

Why Protect Sea Turtles?

Turtles don’t beat up villains like what Ninja Turtles do, but they are unsung heroes of maintaining a healthy coral reef ecosystem and food chain balance in the ocean. For example, a Leatherback Sea Turtle can consume 200 kg of jellyfish a day. Green turtles graze on seagrass to stop the overgrown sea meadows that obstruct the sunlight to seabed.

Sea turtles in the aquarium and in the wild

Sea Turtles are also the important assets of tourism in Sabah. Diving with gentle sea turtles is one of the most exciting experience, and scuba divers can see more than 10 turtles whenever they dive at Sipadan Island , the top dive sites of Malaysia.

Sabah tour packages

Unfortunately, all seven species of sea turtles are on the endangered list (IUCN Red List). Four of the seven extant species of marine turtles occur in Malaysia (leatherback, green turtle, hawksbill and olive ridley). Selingan Island is a safe haven for the endangered green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) and hawksbill turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ).

A Painful Lesson

In the 1950s, about 10,000 leatherback turtle nesting were recorded annually in Terengganu state. Nevertheless, in 1980s, I had been hearing bad things such as people turned the turtles over, sat on them to take pictures and even took their eggs. The mother turtles couldn’t lay their eggs in peace, the consequence is no more landing of leatherbacks there after 2006.

Nesting trends of sea turtles in East and West Malaysia

Terengganu government tried to curb the collection of turtle eggs in 2005 but it’s too late too little. Though leatherback is sighted occasionally after 2015, there is no hope to recover the past glory as one of the world’s largest nesting grounds of leatherback turtles. WWF Malaysia states that the leatherback turtle population in Malaysia has plummeted by more than 99 percent since the 1960s.

Sea turtle in the sea

Therefore, it’s significant that Sabah gazetted Turtle Island Parks as a turtle sanctuary on 1 Oct 1977, which stops the declining trend of green and hawksbill turtles population in Sabah.

Visit Selingan Island

Selingan, the turtle island of Sabah, is the place where turtles and tourists meet. To visit Selingan Island, visitors need to contact Crystal Quest ( Website : turtleisland.com.my , Facebook : Turtleislandresortsandakan , Phone (Whatsapp) : +60 11-51665923 ) to book a 2-day-1-night tour, which is a full board package that covers land / sea transportation, permit, accommodation and meals.

Sabah Parks jetty in Sandakan City

Turtle Islands Park is managed by Sabah Parks , but they are focus on conservation and offload the tour booking and activities to Crystal Quest. The island sets a limit of maximum 50 tourists per day , so the tour to Selingan is always full. You better book this popular trip a few months in advance.

The main office and dining hall on Selingan Island

The Itinerary in Brief: 9:15am Register at Sabah Parks jetty 10:00am Depart to Selingan by boat 11:15am Arrive Selingan, check-in and have lunch 6:30pm Visit Exhibition Hall 7:30pm Dinner. After that wait for turtle landing and releasing of hatchlings Day 2 7:00am Check-out, breakfast and leave Selingan

Chalets for tourists to Selingan Turtle Islands Park

The peak nesting months for Green turtle are from April to August, and for the Hawksbill turtle is between January to June. Overall, for Selingan the peak time is during April – August. Turtle landing on Selingan is almost guaranteed every day, so you don’t really need to pick a best time to visit.

Note: It’s a family and muslim friendly tour. English is spoken for non-Malaysian tourists.

The Turtle Hatchery

The first thing that you would notice on Selingan Island is the turtle hatchery zones with thousand of turtle nests fenced by green mesh net, which keeps away the predators such as monitor lizards, rodents and crabs. A well-protected nest has a hatch rate of above 80%.

Turtle hatchery on Selingan Island

The first turtle hatchery was built on Pulau Selingaan in 1966, followed by Pulau Bakkungan Kecil and Pulau Gulisaan in 1968. But the hatchery on the smallest island, Gulisaan, closed in 2015 due to beach erosion.

The total number of turtle eggs collected in the Turtle Islands Park from 1979 to 2016 is 22,449,572 eggs , namely 10,428,711 (46%) on Selingan Island, 6,381,682 (28%) on Bakkungan Kecil Island, and 5,629,179 (25%) on Gulisaan Island.

Visitors looking at their adopted turtle nests

The sex of baby turtles depends on the nest temperature. Warmer nests can lead to hatching of more female babies, while cooler nests lead to more males, so you would see some hatcheries are placed under the cooler shade. Without such measure, overwhelming majority of the hatchlings would be female due to global warming.

Turtle nest adopted by visitor

Turtle Nest Adoption Program

You can adopt a turtle nest at RM100 (about USD27). Each sponsor will receive the following as an appreciation:

  • Have your name displayed on the nest’s label
  • A certificate of adoption
  • A Turtle Nest Adoption T-Shirt

You will be informed via e-mail when the eggs in your adopted nest hatch.

Other Turtle Hatcheries in Sabah

The combined island size of Turtle Islands Park is only 18.2 hectares, which is smaller than Manukan Island (20.6 hectares). We can save more turtles if we build more hatcheries because Sabah has 394 islands and nearly 1,000 miles of coastline.

Turtle hatcheries of Lankayan (left) and Sipadan Island (right)

In fact, some Sabah islands such as Libaran , Lankayan , Mabul, Mataking , Sipadan and Dinawan have small turtle hatcheries built under the support of resorts, government and local communities. For example, Libaran Island has released more than 42,000 baby turtles since 2010.

Accommodation on Selingan

A few chalets are available for tourists. Most of the rooms are twin standard bed room, which is clean and comfortable, so is the attached bathroom cum toilet. Electricity is available 24 by 7 to power the air conditioning and ceiling fan. Towel and shower gel are provided.

Twin bedroom and attached bathroom of Selingan Turtle Island Chalet

Beach of Selingan

The beautiful white sandy beach of Selingan is a bonus of the tour. The beach is kept in clean and pristine state, the way mother turtles love it. What turtles need is just a simple and natural beach for nesting. Sadly, nowadays most beaches are either having too many rubbish or people.

Left: site map of Selingan Island, Right: No nudity warning sign at the beach

After lunch you will have plenty of free and easy time until dinner time. It takes less than an hour to walk one around of the island. North side of the island is rocky shore, so I only explored the sandy beach. I saw hundred of holes dug by the turtles for laying eggs, and the tyre-like tracks they left on the beach.

Monitor lizard and Philippine megapode

Do apply mosquito repellent before you walk in the wood. The three most common animals on Selingan are the roaming monitor lizards (harmless unless provoked), Philippines megapodes (or Tabon scrubfowl) busy scratching soil for food, and hermit crabs (most active at night).

The sandy beach and rocky beach on Selingan Island

The favourite afternoon activity of tourists is snorkeling (gears available for rent on Selingan). Only the beach on the east side of Selingan is open for tourists to swim and snorkel because of the calm and shallow sea. There are life guards on duty at the beach from 8:30am to 5:30pm. You can sunbathe in sexy bikini, but no topless and nude please.

Left: snorkeling on Selingan Island. Right: sea cucumbers

From the beach, you can see Lihiman and Great Bakkungaan Islands of the Philippines only 6 Kilometres away. They are the “Philippines side” of the turtle island park. Turtle island parks from Malaysia and Philippines establishes the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA), the world’s first transborder programme between two countries to conserve sea turtles and their habitats in the Sulu Sea since May 1996.

View of the islands of Philippines (Lihiman and Great Bakungan Island) from Selingan Island

The sea water is crystal clear and inviting to beachgoers who want to swim between Malaysia and Philippines water. The sea floor is rocky so a pair of water shoes would help. I saw hundred of sea cucumbers near the shore. The corals and macro lives in deeper water are spectacular. During low tide, avoid snorkel too close to the sharp corals or you would risk getting cut.

The Exhibition Hall of Selingan Turtle Islands Park

Exhibition Hall

No walking on the beach is allowed after 6pm, as the turtles would land anytime. You may visit the small exhibition hall, which is open from 6:30pm to 9pm. Some photographs, specimens and skeleton of marine animals such as turtle, dolphin and giant seashells are displayed.

Items displayed in the exhibition hall of Selingan Island

The labels and information are written in Malaysian and English , for you to learn about the sea turtles and the conservation projects of Turtle Islands Park. This short visit is a good time filler before dinner. Halal / Muslim-friendly food is served. If you are a vegetarian, you can inform the operator of your food preference in advance.

Turtle Nesting

After dinner at 7:30pm, everyone was asked to sit and wait in the dining hall for the highlight activity. Based on the landing records from 1981 to 2016 of the Park, a total of 85,870 unique turtles have been marked involving 81,149 (94.5%) green turtles and 4,721 (5.5%) hawksbill turtles. The Olive Ridley turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ) rarely comes here (only 6 landing).

Tourists wait for a tour to see landing turtle

The number of turtle landings at the Turtle Island Park has increased to between 6,000 to 15,000 annually since 1991. The highest number of turtle landing was 15,219 nests in 2011. It’s safe to say that Turtle Islands Park is one of the most important nesting sites for green turtles in the world.

Turtle laying eggs into a dug hole on the beach

The wait took less than an hour. Around 8pm, the ranger brought us to the beach where mother turtle nested. It’s only a 10-minute walk, but we were so enthusiastic and brisk walking behind the dim flash light of the rangers. We were requested to keep quiet and turn off our torch, or the excessive noise and light would stress the sensitive mother turtle and turn it away.

Nesting pits dug by the sea turtles for laying their eggs on the beach

By the time we got there, a green turtle had already dug a 16-inch-deep hole in the sand near vegetation line (above high water mark) and started laying eggs. We gathered around the turtle and looking at clutch of ivory-color and perfectly round eggs being laid into the pit.

Tourists gather next to the nesting site of a mother turtle

Everyone was given turn to shoot photos (extra torch, flash light and video taking are prohibited) so we didn’t need to elbow others to move to the front for the best angle. But we still need to keep a distance from the turtle.

The nesting usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. The clutch size varies between 40 – 200 eggs but batches of 50 – 80 are the most common. After the mother turtle was done with nesting, the ranger collected her fresh eggs into a bucket.

Transferring the fresh turtle eggs to the turtle hatchery

We followed the ranger to the turtle hatchery, where he buried the new turtle eggs for incubation. The nest is labelled with date, clutch size and serial number. These are what rangers do until dawn when they find new nests during night patrol.

Releasing Baby Turtles

The next program is the releasing of baby turtles to the wild. Turtle eggs take about two months to hatch. Once they emerge from the sand, the ranger will put them in a basket ready for releasing at night later.

Newly hatched baby turtles got photographed by excited tourists before their release

Everyone walked to the beach. The baby turtles were so cute and we were in a photo frenzy. Before the release, we were instructed to stand still because the small turtles would run all over the beach and around our feet.

Scuba diver taking a photo of sea turtle

The ranger pointed the torch to the sea, to guide the hatchlings to enter the water. Baby turtles normally use the brightest horizon as clues to find the ocean. Artificial lights would distract them from finding their way, so coastal reclamation is a threat to their habitat.

You might ask, isn’t it easier to pour them all into the water? Sea turtles can sense the Earth’s magnetic field and use it as an internal compass. Release them on the beach would help them to register the magnetic signature of their birthplace, so they will come back to lay eggs in future.

Releasing of baby turtles on the beach

During their lifetime, sea turtles will travel thousands of miles across the oceans. It’s remarkable that adult turtles can use the Earth’s magnetic field as a global GPS to navigate back home for laying eggs.

Daily scoreboard of records on turtle landing and number of eggs collected

About 22 million hatchlings from over 315,000 turtle nests have been released into the sea from 1979 up to 2023 (1st quarter) in Turtle Islands Park (94% are green turtles, 6% are Hawksbills). The number is impressive but only one in 1,000 hatchlings would survive to adulthood. Every egg counts.

Starry sky of Selingan Island

The releasing is the last activity of our tour. Most of the light was off and we were not permitted to wander near the beach until 6am next day, to avoid disturbing the landing of turtles. Without light pollution, the starry sky on Selingan was stunning. Many hermit crabs crawled out in the night. It’s funny but worrying to see that many hermit crabs used plastic waste as their shelter instead of normal seashells.

Hermit crabs using plastic waste as their shelters

People told me that Selingan Island is haunted. The rangers also shared some paranormal activities that they experienced during night patrol. Sometimes they heard people whispering but there was nobody around. One of the most terrifying story is – they saw huge shadow of turtle stood up in the sea. I’m not sure if these are fake stories to discourage tourists from going to the beach at night. I’ll leave it to you to find out. I had a good sleep there anyway.

Sunrise at Selingan of Turtle Islands Park, Sandakan

Before we left Selingan next morning, we caught the nice sunrise view over the Philippines islands. Overall, this is a leisure and educational tour that I would highly recommend to someone who love turtles and tropical islands.

What to Bring

The following are some necessary or useful items for the trip:

  • Sunblock lotion / spray
  • Sunglasses & hat
  • Swimwear or beachwear (e.g. swimsuit, bikini, rough guard)
  • Passport / MyKad
  • Water in refillable bottle
  • Insect repellent
  • Light clothing (e.g. T-Shirt, short)
  • Slipper / Sandal
  • Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, soap, shampoo, toilet paper)
  • Camera & spare batteries / memory cards
  • Mobile / Cell phone and charger
  • Portable power bank and charging cable
  • Torch / Flashlight
  • Optional : dry bag (water-proof), goggles, waterproof casing for phone / camera, snorkelling gears (mask, snorkel, fins, life vest), water shoes, personal medicines

Note: you can rent the snorkelling gears on Selingan.

Having turtle hatcheries and conservation acts are not enough to stop sea turtles from extinction, unless the threats below are mitigated effectively.

  • Not all Malaysian states ban the consumption of turtle eggs
  • Poaching of turtle and its eggs
  • Between 2,000-3,000 turtles are trapped as bycatch of commercial fishing in Malaysia every year
  • At least half of all sea turtles have already consumed plastic, which is hazardous to their health
  • Coastal development destroys the nesting beach of turtles

Threats to marine turtles include poaching of turtle eggs and thousands of turtles trapped and drowned in the net of fishing trawlers every year

  • “Sabah on the world turtle map” by Daily Express (October 29, 2017)
  • (PDF) “Marine turtles in Malaysia: On the verge of extinction?” by Eng-Heng Chan
  • “Solutions for fishermen, marine life” by Daily Express (June 21, 2021)
  • “Turtles use the Earth’s magnetic field as a global GPS” by National Geographic

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2 thoughts on “ turtle islands park, the best turtle sanctuary of borneo ”.

…good write up my friend….sabahans should stop altogether the previous habit of eating turtle eggs….we should make them feel ashamed …😁

Thank you friend. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

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  • Amazing Borneo Tours Itinerary

5D4N Turtle Island & Sandakan Adventure

WA1509 - 5D4N Turtle Island & Sandakan Adventure

Borneo’s popular adventure travel destinations

  • Introduction

Arrive at the former capital of British North Borneo. Directly head to Selingan Island to witness turtle hatchery. Rise & shine to for the Orangutan Sanctuary & hop on a boat for rivercruising at Kinabatangan River. Experience going in a cave where birdnest are collected. Sight-seeing at Sandakan City by the end of your trip.

  • 5-Day Itinerary
  • Starts in Sandakan Town & ends in Sandakan Town.
  • Standard Service Level
  • Affordable Tourist-Class accommodation & comfortable transport.
  • Grade : Leisure - Suitable for any fitness level.
  • Tour Type : From 2 Pax or more.
  • Average Group : Maximum of 20 Pax per group.

What's Included

All transport between activities to activities & destinations, Professional Guide throughout the tour, meals according to tour booked & comfortable accomodation, Sepilok visit, morning & evening rivercruise with optional jungle trekking activity, cave visit & sight-seeing.

Tour Highlights

  • Selingan Turtle Island
  • Gomantong Cave
  • Kinabatangan River Cruise
  • Oxbow Lake or Jungle Trekking
  • Sepilok Orangutan Centre
  • Sandakan City Tour (optional add-on)
  • Bilit Rainforest Lodge
  • 4-star Hotel Stay

Sandakan + Selingan Turtle Island Chalet

Meet and pick up at your hotel lobby or Sandakan airport. You will be transferred to the Sabah Park Jetty in Sandakan where you will take a 1-hour boat ride to Selingan Turtle Island. Located only 40 kilometres from North Sandakan, you will have the opportunity to see the main nesting areas of the Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles.

Sandakan Airport - Selingan Island Jetty Van 30 mins 14.1km

Selingan Island Jetty - Selingan Island Boat 1 hour 15 mins

Upon arrival, lunch will be served for you to feast! After lunch, you’ll be given some free leisure time to relax, go for a swim or even snorkel before dinner time. After a jam-packed evening, dinner is served!

After dinner, a Park Ranger will inform you on the right time to encounter turtle laying their eggs along the beach. Get the chance to witness the collecting of eggs from the nestling site and into a safe hatchery and watch baby turtles scrambling out into the open sea upon their release on shore. An adorable sight not to be missed!

It’s time to hit the hay and rest up with an overnight stay at your Selingan Turtle Island Chalet.

Sepilok Orangutan Centre + Bilit Rainforest Lodge + Kinabatangan River Cruise

Rise and shine! It’s time to fuel up and recharge with a hearty breakfast. After breakfast, check out, embark on a journey to the famous Sepilok Orangutan Centre situated in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Upon arrival, your guide will provide a short briefing session before entering the Centre.

Selingan Island - Selingan Jetty Boat 1 hour 15 mins

Selingan Jetty - Sepilok Orangutan Centre Van 50 mins 26.9km

You will then be brought to watch a short video documentary providing you with information on the rehabilitation of an orphaned Orangutan. Enjoy and explore as you get to encounter Bornean-endemic Orangutans up close as they frolic in their natural habitat. You will proceed to a boardwalk through the lowland rainforest where you can witness the Orangutan feeding from a feeding platform. After enjoying some time with the Orangutans, you will embark on a 2-hour journey through rustic countryside villages to the Bilit Jetty.

Sepilok Orangutan Centre - Bilit Rainforest Lodge Van 2 hours 105km

Upon arrival at the jetty, you will take a boat ride to Bilit Rainforest Lodge located along the lower end of the Kinabatangan River at the Bilit Village. You will be greeted with a welcome drink upon arrival at the Bilit Rainforest Lodge as you check-in. Lunch is served for you to refuel and recharge!

In the evening, you will be whised away on a Kinabatangan River cruise to discover wildlife situated along the river. A few favourites include the Proboscis Monkey, rare bird species of Borneo, and maybe even Pygmy Elephants! After your river cruise, dinner is served in the dining hall. Next after dinner, you can go for an Complimentary night safari cruise where you can spot nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds.

Overnight at Bilit Rainforest Lodge.

Morning Cruise to Oxbow Lake or Jungle Trek

You’ll have the option of either going for an early morning river cruise along the Kinabatangan River in search of more Bornean-endemic wildlife (or) to go for a jungle trek to the Oxbow Lake to discover several bird species.

After a morning of encountering wildlife, it’s time to refuel and recharge with a hearty breakfast. Free and easy leisure time to yourself until it’s time for lunch in the afternoon. It’s time to head out on another river cruise along the Kinabatangan River in search of a variety of Euarchontoglires and other wildlife. You may be lucky enough to encounter a herd of Pygmy Elephants!

After your river cruise, dinner is served in the dining hall. After a full day out, it’s time to have some leisure time to yourself before spending the night at Bilit Rainforest Lodge.

Gomantong Cave + Sandakan City Hotel

A hearty breakfast will be served to kick start the day! It’s time for some cave exploring. You will be taken on a 30-minute drive to the famous Gomantong Caves! Explore the Gomantong Caves – home to millions of bats and swiftlets. If you’re lucky, you may get to witness the birds’ nest harvesting in action!

Bilit Rainforest Lodge - Gomantong Caves Van 40 mins 23.3km

After your Gomantong Caves tour, you will be brought out for some well-deserved lunch in Local Restaurant. After lunch, you’ll be transferred to Sheraton by Four Points (or similar) in Sandakan where you will have leisure time to yourself and spend the night, or join in any add-on tours.

Gomantong Caves - Sandakan Hotel Van 2 hours 15 mins 112km

OPTIONAL-ADD ON: SANDAKAN CITY TOUR or RAINFOREST DISCOVERY CENTER or SANDAKAN WAR MEMORIAL OR AGNES KEITH HOUSE (Additional charge of MYR 70/- per pax per tour)

Continue the tour to the additional add on tours of your choice. Tour ends between 1400hrs (if you choose any 1 optional-add on tour) or 1600hrs (if you choose any 2 optional-add on tours)

Sandakan Airport or Hotel

Breakfast will be served in the hotel. After breakfast, it’s time to check out and bid your 5-day trip goodbye as your as transferred to Sandakan airport or Hotel.

Dossier Disclaimer

Amazing Borneo Tours has taken great care in compiling this Tour Itineraries document and all information is provided in good faith. The information provided is subject to change and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured at time of print is considered as correct at that time. Our main focus is to provide you with an unforgettable experience yet changes may occur due to unforeseen circumstances like climate changes, political turbulence or improvement due to client input or research by ourselves.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Tour Itineraries to be reviewed before departure in case of any changes that may affect your plans.

Itinerary Disclaimer

It is our intention to adhere to the route as published on our website and in or Tour Itineraries. There is though a certain amount of flexibility build into our itinerary and on occasion it might be necessary or desirable to make alteration. Our published itinerary is brief, as we don't always know where our journey will take us. Our travel style and the regions we visit can be unpredictable, which might force us to make changes to the route. The Tour Itinerary is a general guide for the tour and regions and any mentioning of specific destinations, wildlife or activities cannot be guaranteed to be visited or encountered. Travel times are approximate and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

  • Important Notes

Group Leader Description

Throughout your tour with Amazing Borneo tours you are accompanied by professional guide who are a registered & a licensed tour guide in Malaysia. To make your travel more at eased, they are equiped with first aid emergency responce, assist you on your accomodation, transportation, meals & tour arrangements. They are a ready walking encylopedia for you to storm your interest on Sabah's culture, tradition, history, political, sosio-aspect, religion, race, celebration, flora & fauna & etc.

Group Size Notes

Meals included.

4 Breakfast, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinner

It is important to eat regular meals to ensure your body gets the energy it needs to go for day to day activities. During the 10 days trip, be prepared experience variety of local cuisine from desserts, to the wild vege of borneo, to the traditional local meal and if it's your lucky day, u might even get to try some of the exotic cuisine such as "Bbq Wildboar" or the famous pickles ""hinava", "tuhau" or "bambangan" that may be available during your tour.

Comfortable van & coach. Boat for islands & river cruise. Walk or hike.

Domestic Flights

All local flights will be arranged by Amazing Borneo Tours provided that we have all the necessary information of your passport to process for your flight tickets. Internal flight tickets will be given to you prior to the flight departure.

Solo Travellers

We take pleasure in attending to solo travellers who wish to join with other travellers and share the transportation & accomodation at fair price. Single travellers will be paired with another solo traveller with the same sex throughout the tour. Some may arrange for their own privacy for accomodation which can also be arranged at a single trip price.

Accommodation

Hotels/Guesthouses & jungle lodge.

My Own Room Exceptions

If you have booked for "My Own Room" option throughout your tour, you will received your own single accomodation for all night stops.

About Accommodation

The accomodation used on this tour will vary greatly from place to place. Unlike what you used to back home, some may just be a very simple guesthouse/hotels. Some nights will be spent in twin or triple-share hotels, other nights in cool and quirky hostels in multi-share dorms. The accomodation used will be clean, comfortable and in a good location. There are times way there may only be shared toilet facilities and showers. Staff can occasionally demonstrate less than perfect customer service. As accomodation is in short supply, especially during peak seasons.

Joining Instructions

If you have arranged in advanced for your arrival transfer in Kota Kinabalu International Airport, you will be welcome by our local tourist guide waiting for you at the gate with a paging board. There will be three different arrival gates you may encounter, either International, Domestic (within Malaysia), Domestic (within Sabah Only). Please wait at your arrival gate for our tourist guide to meet & greet you. In case if you are not able to locate our representative, you may directly call our Local Support Line +6012-827 2009.

Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities will be commencing for that day other then your welcoming meeting. So you may arrive at any time of the day.

Arrival Complications

We don't wish for your to have any problems, or complications for your booked tour but if by any reasons that you are unable to commence your tour as scheduled, do contact your Local Tourist Guide the soonest possible so that they may assist you with the issue. If by any chance that you are not able to reach the Local Tourist Guide, you may also direct with our Support HotLine +6012-827 2009 or your Tour Consultant for assistance.

Emergency Contact

If there is unexpected situation or problems occur that you are in need to contact us, do directly contact our Support Team Hotline. Should they be any complications to reach the hotline number given, you may also contact directly with your Tour Consultant.

AIRPORT TRANSFER If you have purchased domestic flight through Amazing Borneo Tours, the transfer is included in the cost of your tour.

Should there be any changes of your flight schedule within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, you are advised to update with your tour consultant. We will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer as best as we could. Our Tourist Guide will be meeting you at the arrival hall. Any delays more than 30minutes after you have exited the arrival hall, please contact with our Support Team Hotline.

Support Team Hotline +6012-827 2009

1. SAFETY & SECURITY

Malaysia is genereally very safe, even more so in a group. Reasonable precaution is advised; do not bring valuable jewellery or watches (even fakes can catch the eye of a thief), do not walk by yourself at night, heed your tour guuide's advice and always keep an eye and a hand on your camera and bags in public places. Amazing Borneo Tours cannot accept responsibility for any valuables left in safe deposits in hotels or in our vehicles.

2. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Malaysia's Public Holidays is subject to it's own calender year. These dates may be modified as official changes are announced by the Malaysian Government, so please check back regularly for updates.

3. ACCOMODATION

It is important to note that that accomodation in Borneo tend to be quite different to other areas of the world you may travelled in. It will vary from place to place. There will be some nights where you will have to spent in twin or triple-share hotels, other nights in cool and quirky guesthouse or of a lower standard than normal.

Ramadan, a month-long festival, falls in the ninth month of the month of the islamic calendar and last 29-30 days. Muslims fast every day for its duration and most restaurants will be closed until the fast breaks at dusk. Nothing (including water and cigarettes) is supposed to pass through the lips from dawn to sunset. Non-muslims are exempt from this, but should still refrain from eating or drinking in public as this is considered very impolite. Working hours are decreased as well in corporate world. Exact date of Ramadan depend on local astronomical observations and may vary somewhat from country to country. Ramadan concludes with the Festival of Eid- al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

  • What to Bring

Pack only what is necessary for the tour as you will be on the move for each daily tour. We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-size suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essentials for your convenience during the trekking other than for carrying daily items. It will be at your own responsible to carry your own luggage. You are to be prepared to carry your own luggage up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels when elevators, bellboy or porters are not available.

  • Headlamp (Compulsory)
  • Medicinal Items (Diarrhoea remedy, pain killers, travel sickness tablets & etc.)
  • Personal Toiletries
  • Daypack (Used for daily tour excursions)
  • Small Travel Towel
  • Comfortable Walking Shoes / Sandals
  • Universal Adapter
  • Insect Repellent
  • Extra change of clothes
  • Camera (Extra Memory Card)
  • Cash, Credit or Debit Card
  • Flight Info (Required) (Printout of e-tickets may be required)
  • Insurance Info (Required) (With photocopies)
  • Passport (Required) (With photocopies)
  • Additional Info

Optional Activities

Night Cruise or Jungle Trekking

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your Tourist Guide where the closest laundromat is. There are some guesthouse do not have laundry facilities. You may do or have to do your own laundry from time to time.

Visas and Entry Requirements

According to Malaysia's Immigrations Department, a visitor should fulfill the following requirements to enter Malaysia:

  • Valid Passport or Travel Document (At least 6 months validity)
  • Valid Return Travel Ticket and Suffiecient Funds
  • Not Classified as a Prohibited Person
  • Completion of the Arrival/Departure card

VALID VISA Foreign nationals who require a Visa to enter Malaysia must apply and obtain a Visa in advance at Malaysian Representative Office before entering the country.

A visa is and endorsement in a passport or other recognized travel document of foreigner indicating that the holder has applied for permission to enter Malaysia and that permission has been granted.

Foreign national who require a Visa to enter Malaysia must apply and obtain a VIsa in advance at any Malaysian Representative Office abroad before entering the country.

Visa which has been granted is not absolute guarantee that the holder will be allowed to enter Malaysia. The final decision lies with the Immigration Officer at the entry point.

Spending Money

Malaysia uses the Ringgit Malaysia. There are no 1 and 2 cent coins in Malaysia, so expect your prices is rounded up or down a tiny bit. You will find cash machines in most of the city & town areas, but it is advised to keep some cash with you in case of emergency, optional activities, tipping or unexpected situations. Some remote areas may not have such facilities to obtain or change money.

Emergency Fund

It can be difficult to obtain cash or find money changer at remote areas, so please ensure you obtain enough cash to cover some meal that are not included in the tour as well as for any optional excursions before you travel. Local operators do not accept any notes that are marked or torned and you may have difficulty exchanging these notes elsewhere in Malaysia. So, please check your cash carefully at the point of purchase. While bank cards provide a very good way to access funds overall, it is not recommended to rely on them as your sole source of funds as cash machines do not always work and may not be available in remote locations. We recommend to prepare atleast RM100 daily cash for emergency purpose.

In Malaysia, tips are not expected, not even in restaurants as service is always included. If you feel you have received excellent service or someone really has gone out of their way to help you, feel free to tip - the recipient is normally pleased. But if your tip is declined, don't push it.

No pre-existing medical conditions or disability exist which may prevent active participation in the tour. Persons suffering from medical conditions or disabilities will contact us before making a booking to discuss requirements.

The person making the booking confirms that he/she has full authority to enter into a contract on the basis of these conditions on behalf of all persons named on the booking and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions. The person confirms that he/she is at least 18 years old and has full authority to enter into a contract.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory if you travel with us. We strongly advise comprehensive insurance that will cover personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and lost of luggage and personal effects. Depending on the reason for the cancellation, you may be able to reclaim the cancellation charges (less any applicable excess) under the terms of your insurance policy. Cancellation charges in excess of the amount already paid to us by the time of cancellation, applies only to the booking at that time and cannot be transferred or added on to as a part paryment for another booking. We reseve the right to waive cancellation fees in case of family emergencies. We should be notified immediately if this is the case by telephone as well as in writing.

A Couple of Rules

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking Marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towrads everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. the exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our Tourist Guide has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.

Local Dress

Malaysia is hot and humid, so you need to dress comfortably. It's a modern nation with a mix of ethnic groups and religions. Majority Muslim, with Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Christian and Sikh -- all of whom have their own acceptable dress standards for men and women.

There is no specific dress code for visitors in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

You'll see Malaysian women wearing a scarf or veil over their hair, some wearing loose clothing that covers them entirely, as well as women in skirts, fitted tops and heels.

Wearing T-shirts or short-sleeve shirts with long pants, calf-length dresses that also cover your shoulders or skirts that drop below the knee will help you minimise sunburn, keep cool and feel culturally comfortable. If visiting mosques and temples (Hindu & Sikh), you may be required to wear a scarf over your hair and wear a long skirt instead of pants. Places of worship popular with tourists, such as Kota Kinabalu State Mosque & City Mosque may have "robes" for tourist to rent or lend.

Remember, too, many places of worship require visitors to remove their footwear, so wear shoes that slip on and off easily.

Journey Map - 5D4N Turtle Island & Sandakan Adventure

Stay at Sepilok Nature Resort, Gomantong cave visit, sessions of rivercruise along Oxbow Lake, Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, optional jungle trekking activity, witness turtle hatchery & onboard on sunset cruise at North Borneo Cruises.

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TURTLE ISLAND PARK (PULAU SELINGAN)

borneo turtle island tour

  • Sabah Quick Guide
  • Kota Kinabalu
  • Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
  • Kinabalu National Park
  • Poring Hot Springs
  • Tenom and Padas Gorge
  • Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre
  • Gomantong Cave
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  • Tabin Wildlife Reserve
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Borneo Adventure

Selingan Turtle Island & Sepilok 3D2N

Book this tour, day 1 arrive sandakan – my nature resort, sepilok (l/d).

Pick up from Sandakan airport / hotel and transfer to MY Nature Resort at Sepilok. This resort is set in 25 acres of rainforest bordering the Sepilok forest reserve, a protected area rich in wildlife. Check in to your chalet and have lunch at the resort’s restaurant. Then free at leisure to relax in the resort’s rainforest setting or have a swim in the pool.

Red giant flying squirrels are resident within the grounds of MY Nature Resort. They come out almost every night but sightings are not guaranteed. Head to the platform near the restaurant before 1800 hours. Resort staff will point out which trees the squirrels sleep in and let you know when they start to come out of their hiding places. If you are lucky watch the giant squirrels emerge from their nests and glide across the sky. Dinner and overnight at MY Nature Resort.

Note: If you flight arrives before 0900 hours you have the option of visiting Sepilok Orangutan and Sun Bear Centres on the morning of Day 1.  If your flight arrives after 0900 hours you visit the orangutan and sun bear centres on Day 3.

Day 2 Sepilok – Selingan Island  (B/L/D)

Breakfast in the resort. 0900 hours transfer to the jetty for a one-hour trip by speedboat to Selingan Turtle Island. Check in at one of the chalets on the island and have lunch at the restaurant. The afternoon is free for relaxing, bird watching or for snorkeling. In the evening, a park ranger will escort you to watch one of the green turtles that have come ashore to lay their eggs. Overnight at the park chalets.

Day 3 Selingan Island – Sepilok – Labuk Bay (B/L)

Early breakfast at 0630 hours. At 0700 hours depart Selingan by boat for Sandakan. Arrive at Sandakan jetty and drive for approximately 30 minutes to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild. You will be able to observe them at their feeding stations in the rainforest and at the nursery (if open). Watch the feeding session at 1000 hours. Then proceed to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). This centre rescues captured sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare rehabilitation and education. Over 30 sun bears live at the centre in the bear house and outdoor enclosures. 11.30 hours depart the BSBCC and have lunch.

After lunch proceed to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. This privately run sanctuary is located within an oil palm estate and offers a unique chance to see proboscis monkeys. These monkeys are wild but habituated and often get very close to visitors. The proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay live in a fragmented habitat surrounded by an oil palm plantation. As there is insufficient food the monkeys receive a supplementary diet. The afternoon feeding time commences at 1430 hours when groups of proboscis monkeys from the nearby forest and mangroves and head to the wooden platform for a free meal. Labuk Bay offers a unique opportunity to get close to these normally shy creatures.  Silver leaf monkeys and hornbills are also sometimes seen at Labuk Bay. Around 1530 hours depart Labuk Bay and transfer to your hotel or Sandakan airport for flight out.

Note: The nursery at Sepilok is sometimes closed to visitors. This occurs if any of the young orangutan are sick. As such there is no guarantee that the nursery will be open.

English speaking guide, tours & transfers, entrance fees, meals as indicated, 1 night at MY Nature Resort and 1 night at Selingan Island.

Airfare: KK - Sandakan – KK, alcoholic beverages, juices, camera & video fees

Recommended Flights

Kota Kinabalu (BKI) – Sandakan (SDK) on Malaysia Airlines MH2042 (Dep 0715, Arr 0755). If flight arrives later than 0900 hours you will visit the orangutan and sun bear centres on Day 3 instead of Day 1. Your departure flight out of Sandakan should be after 1800 hours.

These tours operate on the principle that you may be in a small group of other people.

Green turtle

Interested in this tour? For more information on this tour and our other tours contact us

Also look at these tours inSabah:

Slow Loris, Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Tabin Rainforest Lodge 3D2N

Stay at Tabin Rainforest Lodge, experience the rainforest and search for wildlife on this 3 days / 2 nights tour

Imbak Canyon Conservation Area

Imbak Canyon Discovery 4D3N

4 day, 3 night tour of Imbak Canyon Conservation Area

Danum Valley Field Centre

Danum Valley Field Centre 3D2N

3 day / 2 night tour of Danum Valley with accommodation at the Danum Valley Field Centre

Camping at Kinabalu National Park

Kinabalu Park Camping 3D2N

Explore Kinabalu National Park on this 3 days / 2 nights camping trip

Enquire about Selingan Turtle Island & Sepilok 3D2N

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Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 08:00 -17:00 | Saturday: 08:00 -12:30 | Sunday: Close

SDK 4: 1N Selingan Turtle Island (L/D/B)

  • Information

The Selingan Turtle Island is an amazing experience.

Selingan is one of the three islands of the Turtle Island Park, which lies 40 km north of Sandakan. Selingan is the second largest among the clusters of islands and is the main nesting area for green and hawksbill turtles. These areas are protected for conservation and preservation of turtles and other marine animal.

As turtles usually come ashore after dusk, we highly recommend at least, an overnight stay. Selingan Island contains the park’s headquarters, a visitor’s information centre, accommodation with basic facilities and a turtle hatchery. For protection of the environment and wildlife purposes, only a maximum of 60 visitors can stay overnight at any one time at Selingan Island. Be sure to make your reservation early!

Watch this amazing  video  which we think is perfect for educational purposes. Behold the turtle!

Note:  Video cameras are not permitted at the Selingan Turtle Island.

Package Includes:

  • 1 night stay in a chalet room in Selingan Island
  • Entrance fee where applicable
  • Transportation – land & boat transfers
  • Meals as stated in itinerary

Package Excludes:

  • All airfares & airport taxes
  • Camera & video fees where applicable
  • Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips, portage & items not stated

Destination

Departure time, return time, not included, day 1: selingan island.

  • 09:00hrs Meet & greet from Sandakan airport or hotel lobby within town area. Head off to jetty for 1 hour boat journey to Selingan Island.
  • Arrival to jetty later than 10:00hrs will not be entertained unless guest is willing to pay full chartered boat price. (subject to boat availability).
  • Upon arrival on the island, check-in at the chalet and lunch at Selingan Cafeteria (lunch provided as part of tour package). The afternoon is spent free at your own leisure. You can swim or snorkel around the island or simply relax on its white sandy beach.
  • After dinner (provided as part of tour package), Park Rangers will guide you out to observe the process of turtle laying eggs, transfer of eggs to the hatchery and release of turtle hatchlings back to the sea.
  • Return to your chalets for a good night sleep.

Day 2: Back to Sandakan

  • Breakfast (provided as part of tour package)
  • 07:00 Departure from Selingan Island back to Sandakan Airport or hotel (town area only)
  • This tour package is for a minimum of 2 adults
  • Private Tour: Additional 30% from the above rates
  • Single Traveler: Additional 50% from the above rates
  • Child (10 years old and below) 30% off

Travel Tips

  • Monsoon Season (Thunder Storm/Strong Winds/Rough Sea Condition/heavily rain & etc. ): Nov - Mar
  • Nesting /laying egg season : Turtles come to shore throughout the year to lay their eggs. However, the peak season/hatchlings season is between July – October. The turtles can come as early as 7pm or as late at 3am and have also been seen nesting in the early hours of the morning between 5 - 6am.
  • When to go : July – October when the seas are calmer and the tourist peak season starts on April - August so please book it in advance (3 - 6 months before). The best time to visit however during the driest month and the calmest seas between the months of March  September.

Recommended things to bring

  • 2 Days Clothing with a small bag or backpack
  • Lightweight clothing or cotton shirts / long sleeves
  • Walking shoes
  • Rain coat / Poncho
  • Insect repellent
  • Camera (camera fee excluded)
  • Personal toiletries

Other Information

Selingan Turtle Island

Tours and Travel

borneo turtle island tour

4D3N Sandakan Wildlife Safari

From MYR3,848.00

A 4D3N tour itinerary perfect for wildlife lovers. Featuring overnight stays at Selingan Turtle Island (1 night) and Sukau Rainforest Lodge (2 nights). Next up, a must visit to see the orangutans at Sepilok. If time permits, perhaps also the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

  • 01 Night at Selingan Island
  • Observe the endangered Orangutans at Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre
  • 02 Nights at Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Superior Room. Travel to SRL by speedboat
  • 02 afternoon river cruises and 01 early morning river cruise in search of Borneo’s wildlife and birdlife
  • Nature walk along Hornbill Boardwalk and Attenborough Boardwalk to learn about the flora in the area and maybe even sight some wildlife and bird life.
  • At Sukau Rainforest Lodge, enjoy a night safari river cruise through Kinabatangan River to spot nocturnal wildlife (Optional Tour)
  • After breakfast in Sukau Rainforest Lodge, explore the elephant migration path on a 2-hour Rasig Wildlife Trek (Optional Tour)
  • Explore the delights of Borneo’s tropical rainforests at Rainforest Discovery Centre
  • Learn about the Prisoners of War during World War II at Sandakan Memorial Park

Arrive at Sandakan Airport by morning flight, then transfer to the jetty for a 40 minutes speedboat by our modern twin engine all weathered speedboat to Selingan Island. After lunch, we take an orientation tour of the facilities including turtle hatchery, and other wildlife with our guide. The rest of the afternoon, swim and snorkel in crystal clear water. After dinner, watch a video presentation on turtle conservation on the island.

Depending on the tide level, Green turtles will start coming up after dark to find the best spot to begin the long laborious process of digging a hole in the sand with their hind flippers. To minimize disturbance of the turtle, Park Rangers on the island will alert us before the turtles start laying. They will then measure and tag the turtle if it has not been tagged, collected the eggs and you will witness the transplanting of eggs to the hatchery and everyone has opportunity to release baby turtles to the sea. Overnight in Twin-Share room

Note : Make sure your flight arrival in Sandakan arrives before 0900hrs. Or if this is not possible, recommended to fly in and stay one night in Sandakan or Sepilok before the tour commence.

Meals : Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Selingan Island

Return to Sandakan and head to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. There, you’ll get to learn about the rehabilitation effort done at the centre through a short video screening. Then make your way to the feeding platform to witness the feeding of orangutans scheduled daily at 10AM. You can also spend time observing the cheeky little younglings in an enclosed nursery area.

After lunch, embark on a 2-and-a-half-hour journey to the award winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge, nestled on the banks of Sabah’s longest river, Kinabatangan. Right after checking-in, we’ll go on board for a late afternoon cruise in search of Borneo’s wildlife and birds. Return to the lodge to savour a scrumptious dinner at Melapi restaurant, followed by a slide presentation and interpretation by a naturalist guide. Overnight at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Rise and shine for the morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap oxbow lake to view more birds and wildlife. After breakfast, join in the nature walk along the lodge’s Hornbill Boardwalk with the in-house naturalist. After lunch, it will be free at leisure. In the afternoon, proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife. Overnight at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Have breakfast before returning to Sandakan by boat. After lunch, proceed to airport for the 1430hrs flight to Kota Kinabalu. If you’re taking the evening flight, you’ll have a chance to visit Rainforest Discovery Centre. Take a bird view of the centre from the canopy walk and hanging bridge, explore the botanical garden, home to various species of flora. Proceed to Sandakan Memorial Park for a short visit before taking the flight.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Validity Rates are valid for travel by 31 March 2025. Availability This tour runs everyday. Prior booking required. High Season Surcharge : MYR 300.00 at Sukau Rainforest Lodge (July – August) Children Discount This is a kid friendly tour, discount is applicable to children based on their birth year and following room sharing policy in certain property. Contact our consultant to know more. Transfer Inclusion This tour package rates include pick-up and drop-off from Airport or hotels in Sandakan Town . Additional charge per person applies for pick-up and drop-off outside this area and pick up time may vary.

  • Please make sure that you travel light to Selingan Island.
  • Note on Camera Use at Selingan Island: For any camera (phone, digital or still camera) for personal use are chargeable at RM10.00 PER UNIT for conservation permit purposes. Please note that  FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO TAKING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED .
  • Note: (November-February) Please be advised that our trip to Selingan Island involves boat journey via the Sulu Sea. In the event of inclement weather condition during or before the boat journey, the company will have the absolute discretion to cancel or postpone the trip if it is deemed that the journey will jeopardize the safety of our passengers. In the event of cancellation, a replacement tour will be offered. The company will not be liable for any compensation.
  • Snorkeling gear is available for hire at a surcharge.
  • Note on Camera Use at Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre:For any camera with zoom lens from 100 to 400mm, video camera or other video recording equipment for personal use are chargeable at RM10.00 per unit. For any camera (fixed-lens – 400mm and above ) or any film-making equipment are chargeable at RM1,000.00 per unit. Mode of payment is cash only.
  • Customers are encouraged to purchase their own travel insurance before travelling to Borneo. We recommend you to select a travel insurance policy that covers not only your medical expenses (including emergency repatriation) but also personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage. Doing so can prevent major disruptions and additional costs.
  • Double or twin bed cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability upon check in.

Related Trips

borneo turtle island tour

7D6N Sabah Nature Safari

Myr 5,098.00.

borneo turtle island tour

2D1N Turtle and Orang Utan Tour

Myr 1,897.00, about borneo eco tours.

10 Day Borneo Discovery With Turtle Island Small Group Tour

pp Twin Share

From pp Twin Share

Fully Escorted

Moderate Pace

Small Group

  • This tour is fully escorted by an expert English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour.

This tour is conducted at a medium-fast pace. Some long travel days may be required to complete this itinerary and you will typically spend two nights at each destination, with some one night stays required. This trip includes a mix of sightseeing and free time to explore at your own pace. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage.

These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for exact group size. Enjoy features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights, and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.

Take advantage of our 7 day cooling-off period. 

IATA accredited travel agent

✓ Add return international flights from $1199 ✓ Small group tour, up to 16 guests only ✓ Incredible sightseeing on this adventure through the tropics, including Dinawan Island, visiting endangered orangutans and sun bears in Sepilok, viewing unique birds and wildlife on a safari cruise along the Kinabatangan River, staying at a turtle hatchery island - Selingan Turtle Island and more ✓ Fully escorted by a professional, English-speaking tour guide ✓ 6 nights at 4-star accommodation ✓ 2 nights immersed in nature at a rainforest lodge ✓ 1 night in a chalet on Selingan Turtle Island ✓ Breakfast daily, 8 lunches including a cooking class, 3 dinners and a high-tea experience ✓ Domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan ✓ Group departure transfer to Sandakan Airport (SDK) ✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout ✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary

borneo turtle island tour

Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.

Day 1 Kota Kinabalu

Welcome to Malaysia.

On arrival into Kota Kinabalu, make your own way to the accommodation - arrival transfers can be pre-booked. 

This evening you will have your tour briefing, orientation walk of the surrounding areas and dinner (not included).

Day 2 Kota Kinabalu Dinawan Island Kota Kinabalu

Just a 30-minute boat trip from Kota Kinabalu, is a tiny gem of an island with secluded beaches and clear waters to snorkel or explore on a kayak. Ara Dinawan Island is an exquisite addition to Sabah's natural marvels, boasting untouched and pristine beauty that is exclusive to its location. It is now considered one of the most stunning islands in Sabah, unspoiled and untainted by human interference. 

Your boat will take you directly to the coral reefs where your experienced snorkelling guide will point out the best sport to see what’s lurking underwater. Alternatively, you can choose to take a kayak for a paddle through the crystal clear waters. This is the perfect island getaway for a day or a weekend for those looking for some peace and tranquillity to totally unwind and rejuvenate the senses. 

Return to Kota Kinabalu by boat and spend the evening at your leisure.

Day 3 Kota Kinabalu Kinabalu National Park Kota Kinabalu

After breakfast, you will drive to the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. En route, you will stop at local vendor’s shops for refreshment breaks and to also sample the local produce. 

Your first stop will be Poring Hot Springs, a popular destination for locals on the weekend and public holidays. There is a canopy walk, butterfly garden and orchid garden which you will have time to explore. The canopy walk is a steep 15 min walk to the start of the canopy, but views are magnificent.

Continue onto Kinabalu National Park where you will meet an experienced guide who will take us along trails in Malaysia’s first world heritage site. There are a few different options depending on your fitness level and interest. The mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological sites in the world, with over 800 species of orchid, 600 species of ferns, 326 species of birds, and is the richest place in the world for the Nepenthes insectivorous pitcher plants (five of the thirteen are found nowhere else on earth).

Return to Kota Kinabalu and have the evening at your leisure.

Day 4 Kota Kinabalu

Today you will head into the countryside, approximately 1 hour from Kota Kinabalu, to explore the local customs.

Embark on a captivating excursion to explore the local community and their rich cultural heritage, fully immersing yourself in their customs and way of life. Experience a profound sense of tranquillity as you embrace the serene allure of Kiulu, with its breathtaking vistas of vibrant paddy fields, picturesque farms, rejuvenating woodlands, and undulating verdant peaks. This enlightening day trip will undoubtedly enthral you, leaving an indelible impression that will beckon you to return for further exploration. 

You will stop by a local market to buy basic ingredients before we proceed to the location of your cooking class, guided by a local chef who will teach you how to prepare traditional Sabahan dishes. Here is where you will have lunch, enjoying your culinary masterpieces, along with other traditional Sabahan delicacies. 

After lunch, feel free to dip into the cooling river water before we return to Kota Kinabalu.

Day 5 Kota Kinabalu Sandakan Selingan Turtle Island

This morning, you will be transferred to Kota Kinabalu Airport in time for your included flight to Sandakan.

On arrival into Sandakan, you will be transferred by road to the local jetty, in time for your boat transfer to Selingan Island, famous for its turtle hatchery. The boat transfer will take approximately 1 hour as you pass small fishing villages and bamboo fishing traps.

On Selingan Turtle Island, green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs every night of the year. In the afternoon, there's time for swimming, snorkelling or some quality time lazing about on the beach of this tropical island. Snorkelling gear is available for hire.

In the evening, be touched by the sight of giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs under the moonlight and watch the researchers as they release protected hatchlings and guide them in their frantic dash to the ocean. Beware that this is a very delicate environment, and you must follow instructions from your leader and the local rangers to ensure minimal impact on the turtles. 

You will spend tonight on the island.

Day 6 Selingan Turtle Island Sandakan

After breakfast, take the return 1 hour boat trip to the mainland where you will commence your touring of Sandakan and its surrounding places of interest.

Visit Sandakan Memorial Park, which is adjacent to the site of the original Sandakan Prisoner of War (POW) Camp. The park commemorates the sacrifice and suffering endured by both Australian and British soldiers who were held by the Japanese as Prisoners of War between 1942 and 1945. 

Next, you will visit the Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple, located on a steep hilltop where you can have a magnificent view overlooking Sandakan Bay and the Town Centre. From here, continue to one of the oldest churches in Sabah, St. Michael's Church where you can see a century old building where Christianity is preached.  

You will also visit the Agnes Keith Museum to learn about life in the colonial days of Agnes & Harry Keith. Harry was the first conservator of the Forestry Department in Sabah and Agnes was the author of the three famous books called Land Below the Wind, Three Came Home and White Man Returns. 

Stop at the nearby English tea house where you may have another spectacular view of Sandakan Nature City and have lunch before checking in at your hotel. 

Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Day 7 Sandakan

Today you will visit one of the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary.

Nestled in a mangrove forest and enveloped by cultivated lands, the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary offers a distinctive experience to observe these primates up close. Visitors can capture unforgettable moments with their cameras from an observation area, while also keeping a watchful eye for other wildlife species such as silver-leaf monkeys, macaques, hornbills, and kingfishers that often frequent the sanctuary. 

This afternoon is spent at your leisure.

Day 8 Sandakan Kinabatangan

Today you will visit one of the most popular locations in Malaysia - The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre was set up to help re-introduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. There's also a short film about the orangutan rehabilitation process to watch in the reserve's Interpretation Centre. 

From one animal to another, The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center is within walking distance. We will visit this wonderful new centre that is taking care of rescued Sun Bears that have spent many years mistreated and locked away in cages.  

Leaving civilization behind, we head into the dense jungle along the banks of the 560km long Kinabatangan River. The river flows through a floodplain that is teeming with wildlife that includes large mammals, primates, birds, reptiles, and insects. Upon arrival at the rainforest lodge, check into your accommodation before having lunch. 

This afternoon, you will embark on your first river safari to view wildlife and birds in its virgin rainforest habitat. 

Arrive back at the lodge with time to freshen up before dinner.

Day 9 Kinabatangan

Spend today fully immersed within Borean nature as you have early morning and evening river safaris. 

The Kinabatangan River wildlife includes rarities such as the Bornean gibbon, Borneo pygmy elephant, orangutan and proboscis monkey with myriad species of birds that will keep you glued to your binoculars.

Tonight, you will have the chance to go on a nature walk around the lodge to spot nocturnal creatures.

Day 10 Kinabatangan Sandakan

Today, we say farewell to Borneo as you are transferred to Sandakan Airport (SDK), arriving at approximately 11am, in time for your departure flight.

What's Included

  • Small group tour, up to 16 guests only
  • Return boat transfers to Dinawan Island
  • High-tea experience on Dinawan Island
  • Entry fees into; Kinabalu National Park, Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
  • Selingan Turtle Island permit fee
  • Return boat transfers to Selingan Turtle Island
  • 6 nights at 4* accommodation
  • 2 nights in a rainforest lodge
  • 1 night in a chalet
  • Breakfast daily, 8 lunches and 3 dinners
  • Cooking class in Kota Kinabalu
  • Domestic economy class flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
  • Group departure transfer to Sandakan Airport (SDK)
  • Fully escorted by a professional English-speaking tour guide
  • Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout
  • In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary

Sightseeing Highlights

  • Kota Kinabalu - snorkel through the pristine waters of Dinawan Island
  • Kota Kinabalu - explore the treetop canopy walk within Kinabalu National Park
  • Kota Kinabalu - try your hand at Malaysian cuisine during a local cooking class
  • Selingan Turtle Island - observe turtles hatching at night on the famous Turtle Island
  • Sandakan - tour the famous, historical sites of Sandakan Memorial Park a former POW Camp
  • Sandakan - take in all of Sandakan Bay at the vista where the Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple sits
  • Sandakan - visit one of the oldest places Christianity has been preached in Malaysia - St. Michael’s Church
  • Sandakan - learn about the colonial times at Agnes Keith Museum
  • Sandakan - visit the Labuk Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary to see these endemic primates
  • Sepilok - visit Borneo’s most famous inhabitants, the orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre 
  • Sepilok - visit the world’s smallest bears at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
  • Kinabatangan - cruise through the peaceful waterways of the Kinabatangan River
  • Kinabatangan - stay amongst the dense rainforest of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kinabatangan - go on morning and afternoon river safaris trying to spy gibbons, elephants, orangutans and many different bird species

Inspiring Features

  • A highlight of your time in Borneo is witnessing nature is all its beauty at Selingan Turtle Island. Observe turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs and hatchings make their first 'step's into the wild.
  • Malaysian cuisine is a treat! Try your hand at a Kiulu cooking class, using produce you have sourced from local suppliers. Of course you will be eating your concoctions as part of lunch.
  • Fully immerse yourself into the flora and fauna along the Kinabatangan River at Bilit Rainforest Lodge. The lodge is renowned for its local birdlife and Bornean animals (pygmy elephant, Sumatran rhinos, sun bears and proboscis monkeys) traversing through the lodge's grounds.

Selingan Turtle Island

The island is a natural habitat for green and hawksbill turtles. Both species are currently endangered, however the island serves as a safe haven for laying their eggs. Whilst here, you will need to adhere to the strict rules and regulations dictated by the staff.

  • Use of personal cameras whilst on the island incurs a RM10 per unit fee (camera fee contributes to conversation costs)
  • Flash photography is prohibited
  • Video taking is prohibited

It is necessary to travel light to the island for various reasons including capacity of the boat and the island having no permanent jetty. We strongly recommend taking an overnight bag with only necessities - your remaining luggage will be securely stored and returned to you upon arriving back into Sandakan.

Due to limited capacity of accommodation, solo travellers will be roomed with other solo travellers of the same gender whilst staying at the chalet.

Payment Terms

Flight information.

This package includes international airfares or has the option of adding international airfares to your booking when selecting your departure city.

If international airfares are included this will be stated in the ‘Inclusions’ section

Alternatively, if international airfares can be added to your booking you will be able to select your departure city after clicking ‘Book Now’ and a cost will be stated next to your selected departure city. This cost will then be added to your booking and flights will be added to your booking. Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:

  • Flight Offer valid from select departure cities within the purchase path only
  • Flights will be booked with the best available airline/s with luggage included. Low-cost carriers may be booked in conjunction with a full-service airline. Depending on the carrier, entertainment and meals may not be included but payable at an extra cost on-board. We cannot specify or guarantee the airline booked. If you would like a specific airline, please request this at the time of purchase. To make a flight request, please click ‘Book Now’ and select Would you like us to contact you around our flight service?  By selecting this option you will be sent a request form after completing your purchases to make your request
  • Flights may not be direct and may include multiple connections
  • Due to disrupted airline schedules globally with the pandemic, stopovers/transit times may be longer than usual (up to 12 hours in duration in some circumstances)
  • Once ticketed, flights are non-refundable; any changes will be subject to the airline rules, airline change fees and an Inspiring Vacations change fee of $250 per person
  • Full names as per passport (including all middle names) are required at the time of submitting your traveller booking form. Any error in the names submitted will be subject to an Inspiring Vacations name change fee of $150 plus any applicable fees charged by the airline, or the ticket may be non-refundable with the purchase of a new ticket required
  • If the required booking class is unavailable at time of booking, surcharges may apply. Total cost is final only at time of ticketing. Once issued, air tickets are subject to amendment and cancellation fees or may be non-refundable
  • Any airline schedule changes or cancellations are outside of our control. It is important that you, as the customer, stay up-to-date with the latest airline schedule information prior to your departure. If a schedule change results in extended transits or an earlier/later departure from your destination, any additional accommodation or alternative arrangements will be at the traveler's expense
  • After booking, the price payable may be subject to change as a result of factors beyond the control of Inspiring Vacations. Inspiring Vacations reserves the right to increase the price payable and this will be reflected on the customer's invoice. Increases may be in relation to, but not limited to, currency fluctuations, airline taxes, airfare increases and fuel surcharges
  • Internal airfares (where applicable and included in the itinerary) will be using a local carrier and may include low-cost carriers without meals or entertainment. Checked baggage will still be included for each passenger. Any additional baggage required is payable at time of check-in
  • If you are travelling with another party on a separate booking, we cannot guarantee that the same flights will be booked for all parties, as this strictly depends on availability
  • You will be responsible for handling your luggage at all times as the services of porters are not included. If travelling over the recommended amount, you will be liable for any excess baggage fees enforced by the airline, payable directly
  • In the event of that you no-show on your scheduled flight, please be aware the airline will require you to pay a no show fee, Airline reissue fee plus any additional airfare and taxes. Inspiring Vacations will also charge a $250 admin fee to assist re accommodating you on the next available flight. Please note that depending on the airline's policy, purchasing a new ticket may be required

Included baggage differs based on your country of origin. Included baggage will be as per the following:

Baggage allowances provided by the airline might differ to the values stated above. However limitations are required due to transport storage restrictions on your selected tour or package.

Flight requests, amendments or preferences

We understand customers may wish to request changes to their included airfares. If you wish to fly with a certain airline, land at a certain time or change your flight in other ways we will gladly provide you with a personalised quote tailored to your specific requirements. To make a flight request, please click ‘Book Now’ and select Would you like us to contact you around our flight service?  By selecting this option you will be sent a request form after completing your purchase to make your request.

We would be more than happy to provide you with a quote for the following requests:

  • Airline Preferences - You may wish to fly with a particular airline
  • Cabin Preferences - These include upgrading to premium economy or business class
  • Extensions (start and end cities must remain the same) - You may request to extend your stay pre or post tour.
  • Meal Requests - You may request a specific meal for dietary requirements.
  • Seat Requests - If you would like to request particular seating. However please note, not all airlines allow the selection of pre-purchased seat arrangements.

We are currently unable to provide a quote for the following requests:

  • Stopovers - Is where you might want to stop in transit for a certain amount of days prior to your tour or after your tour.
  • One way flights
  • Different start or end city to the tour - you may not amend the arrival or departure city of your itinerary. 
  • Around the world tickets  - Is when a ticket includes multiple stops in different continents.
  • Return home to a different city from the one you departed.
  • Frequent Flyer point redemption - Is when an airline allows you to redeem points to pay for your flights or upgrade your ticket.  

If we can’t fulfill your request and you still wish to proceed with the booking, please select Land Only (excluding UK customers). This will allow you to travel on the land portion of the package without the included airfares. You will then be able to arrange your own flights separately.

For more frequently asked questions please view our FAQs   section. 

Online check-in 

Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.

Important Information

Fitness Requirements While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.

As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.

This particular tour is categorised as a ”3”

3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.

Tipping A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.

Accommodation The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.

Single Supplement Single supplement is $613.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price. Whilst staying on Selingan Turtle Island, solo travellers will be roomed with other solo travellers of the same gender.

Triple Share Not available.

Travel Insurance Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE .

Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.

Visa & Passport information It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.

Visas may be required.

Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

What is MDAC? Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is a form that must be completed by travellers who want to visit Malaysia prior to their arrival.

Commencing on Jan 1, 2024, the MDAC will be mandatory for pre-submission. Travellers are required to complete the MDAC form at least three days before their arrival and must present the filled-out form along with their passport upon entry into the country.

MDAC exemption Submission of the MDAC is not mandatory for all travellers entering Malaysia. The following categories are exempt from the MDAC requirement:

  • Those transiting/transferring through Singapore without seeking immigration clearance
  • Malaysia Permanent Resident
  • Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) Holder
  • Malaysian Long-Term Pass holders
  • Nationals of Singapore
  • Diplomats and official passport holders
  • Brunei Common Certificate of Identification holders
  • Brunei Malaysia Frequent Traveller Program participants
  • Indonesian Cross Border Pass holders
  • Thailand Border Pass holders

How to apply for the MDAC? To obtain your MDAC, follow the steps provided below:

  • Visit the MDAC website, and select the register button
  • Fill in your personal information, including your valid email address
  • Enter your travel information, which includes the dates of your arrival and departure, the mode of travel, and the last port of embarkation
  • Click on the submit button

After you submit your application, you can check your email box to receive your PIN. You can use the PIN to access your MDAC file through the Check Registration section on the MDAC website. You will be required to enter your PIN, passport number, and nationality.

Search “MDAC” or visit: 

https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main

MDAC E-gate Malaysia has implemented a modernised entry system called E-gate. This automated system offers a convenient way to enter the country with reduced manual intervention.

The E-gate system is currently available at two key locations: Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals One and Two, as well as the Johor Bahru Checkpoint.

Only the following categories of travellers are eligible for using the E-gate:

  • Foreign business and social travellers from 10 countries, including Australia, Brunei, Germany, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the US, and the United Kingdom
  • Submitted Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) 3 days before arrival
  • Enrolled a biometric (fingerprint) at the counter
  • e-Passport holder

Group Size Minimum: 2 Maximum: 16

Children Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.

Tour Style - Fully Escorted To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels: 

Pre and Post-Tour Accommodation & Extra Services

You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:

Pre Tour Accommodation - Kota Kinabalu

  • $123.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
  • $123.00 per room, per night for solo travellers

Post Tour Accommodation - Sandakan

  • $127.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
  • $127.00 per room, per night for solo travellers

Arrival and departure airport transfers

  • Pre Tour Transfer - Kota Kinabalu Airport to Hotel - $23 per car, maximum of 2 travellers
  • Post Tour Transfer - Sandakan Airport to Sandakan City - $30 per car, maximum of 2 travellers
  • Return Post Tour Transfer - Sandakan City to Sandakan Airport - $30 per car, maximum of 2 travellers

The return post-tour transfers will be from Sepilok City Centre or Sandakan City Centre to Sandakan Airport (SDK)

Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.

  • International airfares
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Travel insurance
  • Optional activities
  • Personal expenses
  • Anything not mentioned in the itinerary

Departure Dates

Select your departure month

Choose your departure month

  • 0 && datePax[result.departure_date] Selling Fast = 5" class="corner-tip corner-blue px-2" :style="{color: result.tag_icon.color, borderColor: result.tag_icon.color}"> DEPART RETURN PRICE FROM $ Twin share PP Unavailable Sold Out Book Now

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COMMENTS

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