5D4N Selingan Turtle Island & Kinabatangan River Cruise Safari with Sepilok Orangutan & Bornean Sun Bear Print

08:00 hrs / 09:00 hrs: Pick up from Sandakan city hotels at 08:00 hrs or Sepilok Jungle Resort at 09:00 hrs, then begin your wildlife journey in Sepilok, one of Sabah’s most recognised conservation areas.

Visit the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, where rehabilitated orangutans are given the opportunity to develop essential survival skills in a protected rainforest setting. Walk along the boardwalk to the outdoor nursery and feeding platform, where orangutans may be seen feeding, climbing or moving through the trees.

Continue to the nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, dedicated to the rescue and conservation of the world’s smallest bear species. From the viewing platforms, observe sun bears as they climb, forage and explore their forest enclosures while learning more about the conservation work being done to protect them.

Enjoy lunch before continuing to the Rainforest Discovery Centre, located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.

Explore the Rainforest Discovery Centre and experience its famous canopy walk, offering a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding rainforest. This is a great opportunity to appreciate Sepilok’s forest ecosystem from a different perspective, with chances to observe birds, trees and other rainforest life from above.

Enjoy dinner and overnight at Sepilok Jungle Resort, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of nature.

After breakfast, transfer to the jetty for your boat journey to Selingan Turtle Island, located about 40 kilometres off the coast of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. The boat ride 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, where 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 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.

Return to the mainland by boat and continue with a Sandakan city tour, offering a glimpse into the town’s history, culture and coastal scenery.

Visit 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.

You will also visit the Central Market, where fresh seafood, produce and local activity offer a glimpse of everyday life in Sandakan, before stopping at Agnes Keith House, a heritage museum linked to North Borneo’s colonial past. The tour ends with refreshments at the English Tea House, set in a scenic hilltop location.

After lunch, travel overland to Bilit, located along the Kinabatangan River. The journey takes you through rural landscapes before arriving at one of Sabah’s richest wildlife habitats.

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, crocodilesand, with some luck, orangutans or seasonal Bornean pygmy elephants along the riverbanks.

Return to the lodge for dinner and 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. 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.

Return to Bilit Adventure Lodge for breakfast.

Head into the riverine rainforest on a guided jungle walk. Unlike the river cruises, this experience gives you 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.

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.

Return to the lodge for dinner and enjoy your final evening in the rainforest.

After breakfast, check out from Bilit Adventure Lodge and bid farewell to the Kinabatangan River.

Travel back to Sandakan, where you will be transferred to Sandakan Airport or your hotel for your onward journey.