3D2N Tanini Kinabatangan Eco-Lodge & Selingan Turtle Island Experience

TOUR INFORMATION

TOUR CODE: ABSK-TK04
DESCRIPTION: 3D2N TANINI KINABATANGAN ECO-LODGE & SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND EXPERIENCE
REGION: Sandakan
DURATION: 3 Days 2 Night
MINIMUM: 2 Pax
AVAILABILITY: Daily
PICK UP POINT: Your Hotel in Sandakan / Sandakan Airport
PICK UP TIME: 08:30 Hrs
DROP OFF POINT: Your Hotel in Sandakan / Sandakan Airport
DROP OFF TIME: 11:00 Hrs
* All timings are estimated and for reference purposes only. Actual timing will be provided prior to your departure.

Tour highlights

  • Stay at Selingan Turtle Island and Tanini Kinabatangan Lodge, two unique eco-destinations offering close-to-nature wildlife experiences 
  • Discover Selingan Turtle Island’s significance as home to the world’s oldest turtle hatchery, a pioneering site for sea turtle conservation 
  • Witness endangered green turtles nesting at Selingan Turtle Island, with a chance to see hatchlings released into the sea 
  • Embark on sunrise and sunset cruises along the Kinabatangan River for the chance to spot proboscis monkeys, hornbills, crocodiles, and even pygmy elephants 
  • Join a guided night walk at Tanini to discover sleeping birds and nocturnal creatures of the rainforest 
  • Visit the world-renowned Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and watch rescued orangutans emerge from the forest during their feeding session  

Sample itinerary

Day 1 - Sandakan / Selingan Turtle Island Adventure

08:30–09:00 Hrs: Pick-up from your hotel in Sepilok or Sandakan and transfer to the jetty.  

10:00 Hrs: Cruise across the Sulu Sea on a scenic 45-minute boat ride to Selingan Turtle Island, where turquoise waters and sandy shores set the scene for an unforgettable experience.  

11:00 Hrs: Arrive at the island, register at the Parks HQ, and check in to your chalet. 

12:00 Hrs: Enjoy a simple lunch at the island cafeteria. 

Afternoon: Relax into island life. Swim in the crystal-clear waters, snorkel among colourful corals and reef fish, or simply stretch out on the beach beneath the tropical sun. 

Evening: After dinner, join park rangers for the extraordinary sight of a mother turtle laying her eggs under the moonlight. Watch as the eggs are carefully relocated to the hatchery, and with luck, witness the release of tiny hatchlings as they make their first dash to the sea. 

Overnight at Selingan Island Chalet

Meals : Lunch / Dinner Accommodation : Selingan Turtle Island Chalet

Day 2 - Selingan Turtle Island / Sepilok Orangutan Center / Kinabatangan River Lodge Experience

Good morning! Enjoy your breakfast before checking out of your accommodation. 

07:00 Hrs: Hop on the boat for the journey back to Sandakan. 

10:00 Hrs: Visit the world-renowned Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Here, rescued orangutans swing through the forest canopy and emerge for their morning feeding session, a heartwarming encounter that showcases Sabah’s most iconic primates. 

12:30 Hrs: Lunch at Mango Garden Restaurant, surrounded by lush greenery. 

14:00 Hrs: Journey 02-hours through countryside landscapes, passing small towns, plantations, and villages before crossing the Kinabatangan River by a short boat ride to Tanini Kinabatangan Lodge. 

Upon arrival: Be welcomed with a refreshing drink and a lodge orientation, then settle into your Bangkatan Chalet surrounded by rainforest sounds. 

16:00 Hrs: Embark on your first sunset river cruise, gliding along mangrove-fringed banks as proboscis monkeys gather in the trees, hornbills fly overhead, and crocodiles bask on the mudflats. 

19:00 Hrs: Dinner at the lodge, followed by a guided night walk to uncover the hidden world of nocturnal Borneo. Spot sleeping birds, owls, frogs, and other fascinating creatures. 

Overnight at Tanini Kinabatangan Lodge.

Meals : Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner Accommodation : Tanini Kinabatangan Lodge

Day 3 - Sunrise Cruise / Return to Sandakan

06:00 Hrs: Take your final morning river cruise, a last chance to capture the magic of the Kinabatangan. Watch the rainforest slowly awaken as hornbills, macaques, and other wildlife begin their day. 

07:00 Hrs: Return to the lodge for breakfast. 

08:30 Hrs: Check out and transfer back to Sandakan town or airport. Recommended flight departure: after 14:00 Hrs. 

Meals : Breakfast

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Meals 02 Breakfasts, 02 Lunches, 02 Dinners 
Inclusion Return Land & Boat Transfers, Park Entrance Fees, 02 River Cruises (01 Morning & 01 Sunset), 01 Guided Night Walk, Accommodation, English-Speaking Guide, Eco Water Bottle (600ml), Free Flow Coffee/Tea/Water, KiTA Conservation Levy 
Accommodation

01 Night at Selingan Turtle Island Chalet 
01 Night at Tanini Kinabatangan Lodge
Exclusion Tourism Tax, Camera Fee, Optional Tours, Personal Expenses, Peak Season Surcharge (if any), Alcoholic Drinks, Travel Insurance, Any Activities/Items Not Stated   

THINGS YOU SHOULD BRING

  • Personal gear 
  • Insect repellent 
  • Raincoat 
  • Water bottle 
  • Hat / cap / sun hat 
  • Sunscreen / sun block 
  • Binoculars 
  • Torchlight 
  • Camera 
  • Good walking shoes or boots 
  • Comfortable cotton clothing (long-sleeved shirt, long or short pants, preferably not bright colours) 
  • Leech socks 
  • Personal medication  

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • This package is based on join-in basis of shared guide and transport vehicle. A Private Guide or Tour is available upon request at a reasonable fee.  Please inform us when making the bookings.  
  • Activities are subject to weather conditions and may be re-organised to best meet operational situations. 
  • Amazing Borneo Tours does not guarantee wildlife sightings. 
  • Departure time is approximate and varies from different hotels due to traffic conditions, please reconfirm with our staff. Should the transport be delayed, please call the relevant telephone number as stated on the voucher before making alternative arrangements. 
  • Amazing Borneo Tours reserves the right to alter routes, timetables, itineraries and accommodation reserved should conditions beyond our control render it necessary. 
  • Effective as of 1st September 2017, the Tourism and Culture Ministry of Malaysia has implemented a Malaysian Tourism Tax (TTx). Foreign tourists will be required to pay a flat rate of MYR 10 per room per night regardless of accommodation star level. The TTx is to be paid upon check-in. Malaysians or permanent residents residing in Malaysia are exempted from TTx and is required to present a valid identification upon check-in for the exemption.  
  • Tipping is like giving a hug. Although it’s never expected, it’s always very much appreciated.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

  • All tours are subject to weather conditions. 
  • From 1st January 2020, Tanini Kinabatangan provides complimentary eco water bottles with refill stations to reduce plastic waste. 
  • This tour is conducted on a join-in basis; private arrangements can be made upon request with additional fees. 
  • Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. 
  • Please ensure you are holding an air ticket to Sandakan. 
    • Recommended flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan: Malaysia Airlines MH2042 (ETD 07:05 Hrs / ETA 07:45 Hrs) 
    • Recommended flights from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu: Air Asia AK6499 (ETD 18:20 Hrs / ETA 19:10 Hrs) 
    • The above flight timings are suggestions and subject to changes. Please always check with the airline schedules for the correct flight timings that are most suited to your needs.