Get started
Why list with usHow it worksEarnings calculatorManagement
Airbnb managementProperty managementVacation rental managementShort-term rental managementServiced apartment managementHoliday home managementAirbnb co-hostingChannels & tools
Revenue managementDynamic pricingChannel managementOTA managementBooking.com managementListing optimizationVacation rental marketingFull-day tour in Sandakan — visit Sepilok Orangutan Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Centre, and enjoy lunch amidst your wildlife exploration.
This full-day tour takes you to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the world's largest sanctuary for orphaned orangutans. You'll have the chance to observe these young orangutans during their feeding times, witnessing their playful behaviors in a natural setting.
Next, visit the Bornean Sun Bear Centre, home to the smallest bears in the world, which face threats from habitat loss and poaching. Lunch is included, allowing you to refuel for a day dedicated to wildlife conservation. This tour highlights important issues while providing memorable wildlife encounters.
Reviews
This tour was outstanding. Our local guide, Mr. Darwis, and driver Ah Fat were incredibly knowledgeable. Although we were advised not to expect to see many orangutans that day, we did. It was unusual to see few, but we also spotted a couple of sun bears and visited the Buddhist temple atop a hill, concluding at the fishing village. It turned out to be a wonderful day. Thanks to our fantastic guide for making it memorable! Terima Kasih.
This place is truly fantastic; it serves as a wonderful sanctuary for these joyful creatures. There is a nice mix of infants and young adults, easily observable at the feeding areas and in the trees. We had the chance to witness two feeding sessions, one in the morning and another later in the day. There were fewer orangutans in the afternoon, but I managed to capture a great video of a mother and her baby enjoying a coconut. Additionally, there are three areas across from where the sun bears are located. They were a bit harder to spot, but we eventually got to see them.
We spent two nights and three days exploring Sandakan, Sepilok, Lubuk Bay to see proboscis monkeys, visiting the orangutan rehabilitation center, the sun bear sanctuary, and taking a boat ride on the Kinabatangan River with a quick stop at the Agop Lintangan cave. Our private driver, Rahim, was friendly and patient, taking us to local restaurants for lunch and stopping at a night market so we could buy local food for dinner. The private arrangement allowed us to relax without the worry of transportation or feeling rushed, which was important since getting a Grab in Sepilok can be difficult. I highly recommend this nature tour, and if you need airport transfers, Rahim can be contacted at 017-8322285; we ended up using him for our entire trip.
This is an excellent location to observe orangutans and sun bears up close. The orangutans roam freely in the jungle and visit the reserve for food. The bears reside in the reserve, where the center does significant work to rescue them from humans and prepare them for reintroduction into the wild.
This hotel is truly lovely, resembling a botanical garden. It's just a 5-minute walk from the Orangutan center, which is very convenient. The restaurant offers a fantastic lake view and serves food with a unique twist, which is unusual. However, the service in the restaurant felt a bit off despite the friendly staff; something seemed lacking in the team dynamics. Note that the restaurant closes at 9 PM, with no further service available after that.
Minimize your luggage, as you can only bring a camera and will need to use a locker for anything else. The tour lasts six hours, including lunch, which is shorter than advertised.
Our guide was not only friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable. The trip was easygoing and relaxed, making it an enjoyable experience for us.
Reviews are paraphrased traveller feedback sourced from Viator. Original ratings and sentiment preserved.
Visiting Sandakan?
Hand-picked, verified serviced apartments — concierge always included.