3D2N Selingan Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Cruise Safari with Sepilok Orangutan & Bornean Sun Bear

08:30 hrs / 09:00 hrs: Pick up from Sepilok Jungle Resort at 08:30 hrs or Sandakan city hotels at 09:00 hrs, then transfer to the jetty for your boat journey to Selingan Turtle Island.

Travel by boat across the Sulu Sea to Selingan Turtle Island, located about 40 kilometres off the coast of Sandakan. The journey takes approximately 1 hour, offering a scenic start to your island wildlife experience.

Check in to your island accommodation and enjoy lunch before spending the afternoon at leisure. You may relax on the beach, swim, sunbathe or enjoy snorkelling in the clear waters around the island. Snorkelling gear rental is not included and may be arranged separately, subject to availability.

Explore the island’s peaceful coastal setting and learn more about its role as a protected turtle conservation area. Selingan is known as a nesting site for endangered green and hawksbill turtles, making the overnight stay the key highlight of this island experience.

After dinner, attend a turtle conservation briefing or video presentation before waiting for further instructions from the park rangers. As turtle landings usually happen after dusk, guests may have the chance to witness turtle nesting, egg collection, turtle tagging and the release of baby turtles into the sea, depending on natural turtle activity and park procedures.

07:00 hrs: Depart Selingan Turtle Island and return by boat to the mainland.

Continue to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, one of Sabah’s most recognised wildlife conservation attractions. Walk along the boardwalk through the lowland rainforest to the outdoor nursery and feeding platform, where rehabilitated orangutans may be seen feeding, climbing or moving through the trees in a protected natural setting.

10:30 hrs: Visit the nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and protection of the world’s smallest bear species. From the viewing platforms, observe sun bears as they climb, forage and move through their forest enclosures while learning more about conservation efforts.

11:30 hrs: Enjoy lunch at Sepilok Jungle Resort before continuing your journey towards the Kinabatangan River.

12:30 hrs: Travel overland to Bilit, passing rural villages and changing landscapes on the way to one of Sabah’s richest wildlife habitats.

14:30 hrs: Arrive at Bilit Adventure Lodge and check in to your Superior Air-conditioned Room with attached bathroom. Take some time to settle in and enjoy the rainforest surroundings.

16:00 hrs: Embark on a guided Kinabatangan River wildlife cruise along Sabah’s longest river. As the boat moves quietly through the riverine rainforest, keep watch for proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills, kingfishers, crocodiles and, with some luck, orangutans or seasonal Bornean pygmy elephants along the riverbanks.

18:00 hrs: Return to the lodge and freshen up after your river safari.

19:00 hrs: Dinner is served at Bilit Adventure Lodge. Spend the evening at leisure, surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. Guests may also choose to join an optional guided night walk to discover Kinabatangan’s nocturnal wildlife.

06:00 hrs: Wake early for your second Kinabatangan River cruise, when the river is often calm and the rainforest begins to come alive. The morning cruise offers another opportunity to spot birds, primates, crocodiles and other wildlife along the riverbanks as the day begins. 

07:30 hrs: Return to Bilit Adventure Lodge for breakfast before checking out. 

08:30 hrs: Depart Bilit and travel back to Sandakan. 

12:00 hrs: Enjoy lunch before continuing with your Sandakan city tour. 

13:30 hrs: Begin your Sandakan city tour with a visit to Sandakan Memorial Park, a peaceful WWII memorial site dedicated to the prisoners of war who suffered during the Sandakan Death Marches. 

Continue to Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple, known for its hilltop views overlooking Sandakan Bay, followed by St. Michael’s and All Angels Church, one of the oldest stone churches in Sabah. Visit the Central Market for a glimpse of local produce, seafood and daily life in Sandakan, then stop by Agnes Keith House, a heritage museum linked to North Borneo’s colonial past. 

16:00 hrs: End the city tour at the English Tea House, where you can enjoy refreshments while taking in views of Sandakan. 

17:00 hrs: Transfer to Sandakan Airport or your hotel, marking the end of your 3D2N Borneo wildlife adventure.