4D3N Selingan Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Cruise Safari with Sepilok Orangutan & Bornean Sun Bear

Pick up from your hotel in Sandakan or Sepilok Jungle Resort, then transfer to the jetty for your boat journey to Selingan Turtle Island.

Travel by boat across the Sulu Sea to Selingan Island, located about 40 kilometres off the coast of Sandakan. The journey takes approximately 1 hour, bringing you to one of Sabah’s most important turtle conservation islands.

Check in to your island accommodation and enjoy lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure on the island, where you may relax by the beach, swim, sunbathe or enjoy snorkelling in the clear waters. Snorkelling gear rental is not included and is subject to availability.

Take time to enjoy the island’s peaceful coastal setting and learn more about its role as a protected nesting site for endangered green and hawksbill turtles.

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.

After breakfast, 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.

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.

Enjoy lunch before continuing your journey towards the Kinabatangan River.

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 your first 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 calm and the rainforest begins to come alive. This is a rewarding time for birdwatching and wildlife spotting, with chances to see hornbills, kingfishers, proboscis monkeys, macaques, crocodiles and other wildlife starting their day along the riverbanks.

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

09:00 hrs: Head into the riverine rainforest on a guided jungle walk. Unlike the river cruises, this experience offers a ground-level view of the Kinabatangan ecosystem, where your guide can introduce native plants, insects, smaller wildlife and the delicate forest environment that supports the area’s biodiversity.

12:00 hrs: Enjoy lunch at the lodge and take some time to rest during the quieter afternoon hours.

16:00 hrs: Embark on your third guided Kinabatangan River wildlife cruise. With another afternoon on the river, you have more opportunities to observe wildlife activity in the forest canopy and along the riverbanks. Every cruise offers a different experience, depending on weather, river conditions and wildlife movement.

19:00 hrs: Return to the lodge for dinner and enjoy your final evening in the rainforest.

08:30 hrs: After breakfast, check out from Bilit Adventure Lodge and depart for Sandakan. 

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

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 4D3N Selingan Turtle Island, Kinabatangan River Cruise Safari, Sepilok Orangutan and Bornean Sun Bear adventure.