2D1N Turtle Island Experience – Selingan Island-Sandakan

Description

This 2-day, 1-night experience takes you into one of Sabah’s most protected marine conservation areas—Selingan Turtle Island, located off the coast of Sandakan. Accessible by a one-hour boat transfer from the mainland, the island is part of the Turtle Islands National Park and is internationally recognized as a critical nesting site for endangered sea turtles. The setting is remote and controlled, offering a rare opportunity to observe wildlife in a strictly managed conservation environment.

During the day, the island offers a calm and unstructured atmosphere. Guests can snorkel along the shallow reef areas where juvenile marine life is commonly seen, or simply unwind along the beach. The experience is intentionally low-impact, allowing the natural surroundings to remain the focus. An educational briefing conducted by park authorities provides context on turtle conservation efforts, nesting behavior, and hatchery management—essential to understanding the significance of what follows.

The highlight of the program takes place at night under ranger supervision. Visitors are guided in small groups to witness a mother turtle laying eggs, followed by the controlled transfer of eggs to a protected hatchery. The experience concludes with the release of hatchlings into the sea, a process carefully managed to maximize survival rates. The following day extends the conservation theme with visits to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Sun Bear Conservation Centre, offering additional insight into Borneo’s wildlife protection efforts before returning to Sandakan.