4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan river safari
Spend the night on magical Selingan island and witness baby turtles hatching and being released on the beach before making your way to the wildlife sanctuaries of Sepilok. Visit both the orang-utan and sun bear sanctuary before continuing on to the Kinabatangan river for 2 nights at Hornbill Lodge. From there you will cruise the Kinabatangan river in search of pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and more before returning to Sandakan.
Our regular departure days for this tour are on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays however additional or alternative departures may be added in peak season.
Our regular departure days for this tour are on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays however additional or alternative departures may be added in peak season.
Itinerary
DAY 1: sandakan > turtle island
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Pick up from hotel within Sandakan (09.15 - 09.30am) and transfer to Sandakan jetty, the journey time to Selingan island is around 45 minutes by boat*. Pick up can also be arranged from accommodations in Sepilok or from Sandakan airport around 8.30am but as flight schedules change frequently, we recommend flying in 1 day before your trip starts to avoid missing the boat. Check- on arrival on the island and settle in to your home for the night. Lunch will be served at 12.30 and you will then have the whole afternoon free to explore the island, swim and snorkel as you like. At 7pm, return to the dining hall to watch a video about turtle conservation and have dinner. After dinner, we wait for rangers to call and alert everyone to turtles coming onto the beach to lay their eggs, after which the rangers will transfer the eggs to the Sabah parks turtle hatchery. All going well you will also have the opportunity to observe the release of baby turtles to the open ocean. (Meals- L/D).
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* If you are travelling with large suitcases, we advise packing a small overnight bag for Turtle Island and leaving your main luggage in storage on the mainland due to limited space on the boat.
day 2: turtle island > sepilok > kinabatangan
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After breakfast you will get the boat back to Sandakan and then transfer to Sepilok. Head first to the orang-utan sanctuary to watch the younger, playful orang-utans in the nursery before catching the 10am feeding. Around 11am your guide will take you to the sunbear sanctuary to watch the sunbears (the world’s smallest species of bear!) from raised walkways. From there you will travel 2 hours overland to Hornbill Lodge and have lunch on arrival. Check-into your room and take a moment to relax before heading out on your first river cruise at 4pm. Over the next 2 hours, your guide will be on the lookout for proboscis monkeys, long-tail & pig-tail macaques, silver leaf monkeys, orang-utans, crocodiles, birds and more! After your river cruise, return to the lodge for dinner before joining your guide on an included night walk . Meals - D
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day 3: kinabatangan river
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As day dawns, join your second river cruise and watch as the river comes to life. Keep an eye out for bird life including Borneo’s endemic hornbills and have another chance to spot multiple species of primates. Return to the lodge for breakfast then join your guide for a jungle walk looking for signs of orang-utans such as nests in the trees or even orang-utans themselves if you are lucky! Enjoy lunch overlooking the river and a chance to rest before joining your afternoon river cruise in search of more wildlife and a chance to spot pygmy elephants! After dinner, join your guide for a night walk or add-on an optional night cruise in search of nocturnal wildlife along the river bank. Meals - B, L, D
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day 4: kinabatangan > sandakan
Wake up early and join your guide for a final dawn river cruise then return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, transfer to Sandakan airport for flights departing from 1pm or drop off at hotels in Sandakan and Sepilok between 10.30 - 11.30am.
Meals - B, L
Meals - B, L
Onward transfers to Lahad Datu (for Danum Valley & Tabin Wildlife Reserve) or Semporna (for Mabul / Sipadan) can be arranged on request, please inform us at the time of booking.
Optional add-onIf you have extra time on your last day, join us for a day of adventure including a visit to the Gomantong caves, lunch in Sepilok and a visit to Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre before being dropped off at hotels in Sepilok & Sandakan or Sandakan airport.
This optional add-on is suitable for guests staying overnight in Sepilok / Sandakan after their tour or departing from Sandakan airport no earlier than 5.30pm. |
Click here to learn more about the Gomantong caves
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Pricing
4D3N Turtle Island & Kinabatangan river safariRM2850 per person based on twin-share private room at Selingan & Hornbill Lodge.
Pricing valid until 31st Dec 2025 If you are a solo traveller and/or would like to stay in the dormitory at Hornbill Lodge, please contact us for pricing Notes
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Travelling with children:
The maximum room occupancy at Turtle Island is strictly 2 adults & 1 child aged 10 years or below, families with older children or more than 1 child will be required to take 2 rooms. Children aged between 2 to 10 years old receive a 50% discount if sharing with 2 adults or 25% if sharing with 1 adult, infants below 2 are free of charge based on using existing beds.
Inclusions & exclusions
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Included
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Excluded
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Optional extras
- Night cruise RM100 per person (min 2 pax)
- Extended river cruise (up to 2 hours extra) RM180 per person based on min 4 adults.
- Gomantong caves, lunch & Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre visit after check-out RM300 per person (min 2 pax)
- Children aged 4 to 12 years old are entitled to a 25% discount on the above rates
Additional info
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Who is this tour suitable for? Guests of all ages are welcome to stay at Hornbill Lodge and our rooms can accommodate up to 2 adults & 2 children. River cruises and visiting Sepilok sanctuaries is not physically demanding but night and jungle walks require the ability to walk for an hour or longer over uneven ground.
Staying connected: Phone reception is limited at the lodge, we have Starlink wifi available in our main restaurant area but it can be slow at times. You will be able to check messages but should not rely on it for work or video calls. Electricity: Hornbill Lodge has 24 hour electricity as well as a back-up generator, power outages may still occur but should be short-lived. Weather related cancellations
On rare occasions, boats either cannot reach or leave Turtle island due to rough sea conditions. In the event that this happens, we will not be able to offer you a refund as all accommodation bookings made with Turtle island are on a fully non-refundable basis. We will however assist you to reschedule your trip or provide an alternative tour as best we can. |
Recommended packing list
Snorkelling gear & beach mats can be rented after arrival at Turtle island. |
Book now! |
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