The Malaysian Customs Department (“RMCD”) imposes Tourism Tax to International guest (MYR 10 nett per room per night). You may pay the tax at reception. Update: Malaysia government waive the tourism tax from 1 July 2020 until 30 Jun 2021.
The Turtle Island Park (gazetted 1977) lies 40 km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea and consists of Selingan, Bakungan Kecil and Gulisan islands. The park is a safe haven for the endangered green and hawksbill turtles and gives you the rare opportunity to watch turtle landings. Selingan, the largest of the islands, houses the park’s headquarters, a turtle hatchery, tourist accommodation and basic facilities. The other two islands are more for conservation activities.
As turtle landings usually occur after dusk, an overnight stay would be the best plan to see the turtles as they come ashore to lay their eggs, but shining a light on them or using camera flashes should be avoided as either can be stressful on the creatures.
Turtles lay their eggs throughout the year, but the best time to head there is between July and October (peak-season) when the sea is calmer. Observe the collection of eggs, tagging of mother turtles and releasing of baby turtles into the sea.
Equipment for rent on island:
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The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned baby orang utan. Set in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Centre under the administration of the Wildlife Department of Sabah attracts tourists and researchers alike, giving them the opportunity to watch the orang utan up close in their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day at 10:00am and 3:00pm by rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area.
While orang utan rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok, it also focuses on public education on conservation, research and assistance on other endangered species such as the rhinoceros.
Visitors are restricted to walkways. Some orang utan have become familiar with people but touching them is strongly discouraged, and while the apes are naturally shy and gentle, the more mischievous ones may try to grab your camera or hat, in which case you should call for a ranger as trying to wrestle the 200 pound apes may not be a good idea.
The mission of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah, Malaysia, is to promote sun bear conservation in Borneo through animal welfare, conservation, rehabilitation, education and research - giving captured sun bears a better home and restoring their right to live in the wild, by:
* The itinerary is for reference only, it subjects to any necessary changes in accordance to local requirements.
Pick up from hotel and transfer to Jetty for Selingan Turtle Island. This journey by motorized boat will take about 1 hour. Go to reception counter at the Visitor’s Centre and check in to Chalet.
Lunch will be served at the cafeteria.
After lunch, free at leisure! You may grab your mask, fins and snorkel and head to the beach where you can find lots of juvenile marine life or you can choose to relax or sun bathing by the beach.
Before dinner, treat yourself to a slide show featuring information of the Turtle Park and turtles.
After dinner, stand-by at the cafeteria. Wait for park ranger’s signal before proceed in a small group to the egg-laying site to witness the mother turtle laying eggs, transferring of eggs to the hatchery and releasing of hatchlings to the sea.
Stay overnight at Island Chalet (Twin Room Basis).
Wake up early in the morning for breakfast in the cafeteria.
Surrender your key to the Reception Counter and depart the island.
Estimated arrival time at the jetty.
Drive approximately 40 min to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center. Upon arrive at the center, trek 10 min through the rainforest on wooden boardwalk to the Feeding Platform.
Witness the morning feeding of Orang Utans. Return to reception center, to watch the nature video programme at the Nature Education Center, and view the display at the Exhibition Hall.
Advance to Borneon Sun Bear Conservation Centre.
Depart from Sepilok and transfer back to respective hotels.
The pickup time is for reference only, actual time may be vary depends on number of visitors, distance, season, weather and road conditions, should be within 15 minutes. Transport fee quoted is per person.
Zone | Hotel | Pickup Time | Fee (INR) |
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A | Sandakan city (Four Points, Sandakan Hotel, Nak, ...) | 9 am | Free |
B | Sabah Hotel | 8:45 am | Free |
C | Mile 4 area (Bandar Indah area, Prima Square area, ...) | 8:45 am | Free |
D | Airport | 8:30 am | Free |
E | Sepilok area (Sepilok Jungle Resort, RDC, ...) | 8 am | Free |
No advance payment is required, simply pay cash in Ringgit-Malaysia to tour guide. However, you still need pay in full for any cancellation made 1 day prior to tour date.
Accep Visa and MasterCard credit card, Malaysian bank transfer, Paypal, FPX, Alipay. 2.3% surcharge apply. Please be noted that 2.3% transaction fee is non-refundable in case there is cancellation 3 days after the payment made.
Please request bank staff to calculate equivalent amount in USD before Telegraphic Transfer (T/T) to Malaysia. It takes 3 days to reach us. No 2.3% surcharge but you have to bear both side banks charges. The balances will be paid to either side as the case may be.
Min. Participant(s): 2 Persons To Go (child does not counted)
Tour location / Depart from: Sandakan . To reach Sandakan city, you have to take a domestic flight or bus express from Kota Kinabalu.
Recommend to book: 6 month(s) in advance
To book at least: 7 day(s) in advance
Cancellation & Refund Policy: 31 days or more, no cancellation charge, but need to pay for 5% refund fee; 16~30 days, charge 50% of tour total amount; Less than 15 days or No-Show, no refund. No refund for those tours which involve accommodation.
Specialities: You may decide the joining date, no compulsory tips (If you are happy and satisfied with the journey and the tour guide service, it's always a nice way to express your appreciation with tipping, OR words of thanks is good enough).