Selingan/Turtle Island and Kinabatangan Exploration
(4Days/3Nights)

Tour Code: SDK-20 Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights

Find out more about the magic of life as you watch turtles laying and incubating their eggs on the beach shore on this 4 days/3 nights’ wildlife exploration journey.

Highlights:

• Feast your eyes on the Beautiful Beach of Selingan Island and Witness the Wonders of Nature as you see how Turtles lay Their eggs and Continue the Cycle of life
• Go for a Wildlife Lookout Around the lush Primary Forest Along the Kinabatangan Riverbank
• Feed the Orangutans and see for Yourself the World’s Smallest and Cutest bear Species - the Sunbear
• Learn more About the Native Nocturnal Insects of Kinabatangan River by Going for a Night walk on the Surrounding of your Lodge

Tour Description:

If you have seen Finding Nemo, chances are, you will remember Crush - the sea turtle who saved Nemo’s father from the jellyfish and brought him along the East Australian Current (EAC). In the movie, Crush did touch on the fact that sea turtle lays its eggs on shore instead of having any nest or pouch to store its eggs like other fishes and seahorses. Well, you are definitely in luck because the famous Selingan (Turtle) is the very place to witness this very process. Sea turtles will usually come ashore at night to lay their eggs on the beach before going back to the ocean. As days passed, tiny little turtles will crawl out of the eggs and swim toward the glimmering light of the moon and ocean just like their parents. With such a different egg incubation method, you truly must see for yourself in order to believe. Even better, the trip will also be followed by a journey around the Kinabatangan River, Malaysia’s 2nd longest river, and its rich biodiversity. Feast your eyes and wonder at the many animals and plants growing beautifully on the forest floor of the riverbank.

Day 1

Once you are picked up by your guide from your hotel in Sandakan or Sandakan airport transfer to Sandakan jetty, you will make your way toward Selingan Island by boat. After you finish registering and signing yourself in, you will have your own free time to explore the island, swim or snorkel. Lunch will be served at 12:00 P.M. sharp and you will have the whole day to explore and take picturesque pictures of the beach and the sunset by the beach. Come night and after dinner, you will wait for the rangers to call and alert everyone of the turtles coming onshore to lay their eggs. Be mesmerised by this once in a lifetime experience before the rangers actually take the eggs and transfer them to the Sabah Park Turtle Hatchery. If all goes well, you will also have the chance to see the release of baby turtles into the ocean.

Day 2

With breakfast done, you will return to Sandakan and transfer to Sepilok just in time for the orangutan feeding session at Sepilok’s orangutan sanctuary. Here, you will get to the see both the adult orangutans at the main feeding platform and the juveniles in the nursery. Then, at around 11:00 A.M., you will move on to the sunbear conservation centre. After spending about 45 minutes with the world’s smallest bear, it is time for lunch before making your way to Kinabatangan at about 12:30 P.M. After a 2 hours’ ride you will reach Bilit jetty and Nature Lodge Kinabatangan soon after. The lodge is located at the Lower Kinabatangan River Sanctuary and you will get to refresh yourself with some complimentary welcome drinks served fresh by the staff as well. Of course, you will also be introduced and be properly oriented to the lodging before you depart for your first river cruise in search of wildlife and bird-life along the river banks. With dinner finished, you will get the chance to saunter along the lodge and learn more about the nocturnal insects from your guide.

Day 3

The day starts at early 6 A.M. today as you cruise through the Kinabatangan River searching for more wildlife and birds that reside in the dense forest along the bank. This includes learning more about the people who have managed to live alongside the river and its forest abundance. Then, with the cruise done, return back to your lodge for some lunch before going out again on a boat ride to explore more of the wildlife around the river bank. If you are lucky, you might even find some proboscis monkeys peeking through the dense canopy. They might look cute and intriguing but remember to keep your belongings safe and secure because they are also known to be mischevious. Afterwards, you will return again for dinner and explore further into the forest to find out even more about nocturnal insects. If you are lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of roosting birds, amphibians, insects or even Tarsier and Slow Loris.

Day 4

If you wish you have more time and more luck seeing and locating the rare wildlife around the river bank, worry not. Today, you will still get one last chance to find some pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys and hornbills hanging around the jungle. Join our 6 A.M. River Cruise one more time before returning for breakfast at the lodge. Then, check yourself out and head over to Gomantong caves for a briefing on how these caves have become a significant part of the community’s livelihood. Then, explore the interior of the cave for a full hour before your homecoming journey to Sandakan.

Cancellation Policy:

• Payments made for this tour are non-refundable upon cancellation

Pick-Up Time:

• 8:00 am - 8:30 am

What's Included:

• Return road transfer from Medan Selera/Bukit Garam/Sepilok or Sandakan
• Return boat transfer
• Full meal
• Accommodation: dorm or ensuite chalet
• Nature guide
• river cruises (1 morning & 1 afternoon)
• guided night activities
• Coffee, tea & water refills
• Entrance & conservation fees
• Limited free drinking water provided at Turtle Island Resort (1 small bottle per person at lunch and dinner)

What's Not Included:

• Tourism tax (private rooms only- RM10/room per night)
• Gumboot rental
• Tips (optional)
• Camera fee
• Tourism tax (RM10/room per night)
• High season surcharge for months June - September (RM10 per person)
• Soft/alcoholic beverages and tips (optional)
• Other Items Not Mentioned

Additional Information:

• Tour requires minimum 2 pax to be confirmed. Please check with Adventoro Concierge (Call / Whatsapp +6010 468 8011) to inquire about the availability of this tour
• Pickup is from Sandakan/Sepilok depending on where the guest is staying
• Single supplement for a single traveller is RM200
• For any camera with a zoom lens from 100 to 400mm, video camera or other video recording equipment for personal use is chargeable at RM10.00 per unit. For any camera (fixed-lens - 400mm and above ) or any film-making equipment are chargeable at RM1,000.00 per unit
• Tour itinerary and prices are subject to change without prior notice
• Transfer duration above are estimated and subject to traffic and weather condition, and not inclusive of any sightseeing tours
• Please adhere to strict pick-up time punctuality. Tour operators may forfeit tours for travellers if no-show during the stipulated time
• Registered name of the traveller must be corresponding with photograph documentation (Example: Passport). Tour operators reserve the right to reject if registered traveller fails to provide photographed documentation of their own

Pick-Up Location(s)

Refer to the map below to see a list of pick up location(s) that are available for you to choose from. You can select your desired pick up location when you book the tour.

List of Location(s):

Pick up is also available for other location(s) under the vicinity of Sandakan. For more information, please contact Adventoro's concierge service.