10 Days in Borneo

Highlights

• Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre — RM 30/adult, RM 15/child. Two feeding sessions daily (10am + 3pm). Boardwalk through rainforest to the platform where rehabilitated orangutans come for supplementary feeding. The 10am session has more active orangutans
• Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre — RM 30/adult, RM 15/child. Next door to Sepilok. World's smallest bears in a rescue/rehabilitation setting. 1-hour visit
• Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walk — RM 15/adult, RM 7/child. 347m elevated walkway through primary rainforest. Birdwatching, butterflies, hornbills
• Sandakan Heritage Trail — free self-guided walk. Colonial-era buildings, Agnes Keith house (RM 15/adult), waterfront. Half-day cultural break between wildlife visits
• Night walk at Sepilok — RM 50-80/family through lodge. Guided torchlight walk for nocturnal wildlife — civets, slow lorises, flying squirrels

Local tips

• Stay near Sepilok, not in Sandakan town. The rehabilitation centres are 25km from the city and the lodges around Sepilok put you in the rainforest — morning bird calls instead of traffic.
• Visit orangutans at 10am AND 3pm — the morning session has more activity but the afternoon is less crowded and you often see different individuals. Two visits in one day is the play.
• Pack insect repellent and long sleeves for the night walk. Leeches are possible in wet season (Oct-Mar) — tuck pants into socks.

Highlights

• Morning river safari — included in lodge. Depart 6am by longboat through dawn mist. Proboscis monkeys, macaques, crocodiles, hornbills, pygmy elephants (seasonal). The most immersive wildlife experience in SE Asia
• Afternoon river cruise — included in lodge. Different section of the river, focus on birdlife and reptiles. Guides radio each other for wildlife sightings
• Night river cruise — included in lodge. Spotlight for crocodile eye-shine (red glow), sleeping birds, civets, and fishing cats. Kids find this electric
• Rainforest jungle walk — included in lodge. Guided trek through primary and secondary forest. Giant ferns, pitcher plants, orangutan nests in the canopy
• Oxbow lake visit — included in lodge. Kayak or longboat to a calm oxbow lake for swimming, fishing, and bird photography
• All meals included — lodge dining hall serves simple but hearty Malaysian food. No à la carte, no decisions

Local tips

• Two nights on the river is the sweet spot — 4-5 boat cruises gives you excellent chances of seeing all the key species. One night means only 2 cruises and you'll likely miss the pygmy elephants.
• Lodge rates include all meals, all river cruises, all guided walks, and transfers from Sandakan. The per-night rate looks high but it's genuinely all-inclusive.
• Bring binoculars and a camera with zoom — river wildlife is often 20-50m away. Lodges sometimes have binoculars to borrow but don't count on it.

Highlights

• Turtle Islands National Park overnight — RM 200-300/pp permit + boat transfer. Green sea turtles nest on Pulau Selingan nightly (Jun–Sep peak). Watch egg-laying and hatchling releases at dawn — one of SE Asia's most memorable wildlife experiences
• Sandakan Memorial Park — RM 5/adult, children free. The site of the WWII Sandakan Death Marches. Well-maintained with clear historical context, meaningful for older kids (10+)
• Sandakan Central Market — free. East Borneo's best wet market: fresh fish, tropical fruits, local snacks. Budget breakfast (roti canai + teh tarik) for RM 5/pp
• Agnes Keith House — RM 15/adult. Restored colonial home of American author Agnes Newton Keith, with views over Sandakan Bay. Museum of pre-war Borneo life
• Sim Sim Water Village — free. Sabah's oldest water village with 4,000 residents living on stilts over the sea. Short walking path loops through the village — calm, photogenic, and authentic

Local tips

• Sandakan is your decompression stop before flying home — three nights gives you time to unwind after the wildlife intensity without rushing the journey back.
• Turtle Islands (Pulau Selingan) require a permit and overnight stay — book 2-3 months ahead through Sabah Parks or a licensed operator. Peak season is June–September when nesting is most active.
• Fly home from Sandakan (SDK) to Kota Kinabalu, then connect to SYD/MEL on Malaysia Airlines or AirAsia. Check both KK and KL connection options — prices vary significantly.