Sepilok Orangutan & Labuk Bay Monkeys Day Trip Sandakan

Two sanctuaries, two species: orangutans at the platform, proboscis monkeys in the mangrove

This day trip from Sandakan visits the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide, transport by air-conditioned minivan, lunch and hotel pickup included. You watch orphaned and injured orangutans fed from a forest platform, sit through a 25-minute documentary, then drive 45 minutes through mangrove forest to observe proboscis monkeys, a species found only in Borneo. The tour runs about 10 hours and operates on a shared-group basis. You arrange your own domestic flights to and from Sandakan.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre1h · entry included
2. Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary1h · entry included

Visit Sepilok and Labuk Bay

• Drive from Sandakan Airport to Sepilok
• Watch orangutan feeding and video
• Drive from Sepilok to Labuk Bay
• Observe proboscis monkeys at sanctuary

The experience

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre sits a half-hour drive from Sandakan Airport. The centre rescues orphaned and injured orangutans and brings them here to be rehabilitated. You watch the feeding from a platform built into the forest: the animals come down to eat, and you stay at a safe distance to observe them. After the feeding, a 25-minute documentary plays, giving context to the work the centre does.

From Sepilok, the minivan heads 45 minutes south to Labuk Bay, where a 400-acre mangrove forest shelters the Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. These monkeys are among the world's most distinctive animals: they have large, bulbous noses and are found nowhere else but Borneo. You move to an observation area where you can watch them move through the trees and across the forest floor. The monkeys are elusive, but the vantage point is built to give you a close, unobstructed view.

Lunch is included and served during the day. An English-speaking guide travels with the group and explains what you're seeing at each stop. The minivan is air-conditioned, and hotel or port pickup and drop-off are part of the booking. You'll need a valid passport on the day of travel. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them when you book.

What’s included

• The tour includes lunch.
• an English-speaking guide.
• transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• hotel or port pickup and drop-off.
• and the fuel surcharge. Entry to both Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is covered.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 19 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 22 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by BORNEO TRAILS TOURS TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this if you're visiting both sanctuaries in one day and traveling with other guests. The shared minivan connects Labuk Bay and the orangutan center without you arranging separate transport between them.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly happens at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre?

Sepilok rescues orphaned and injured orangutans and rehabilitates them. You watch a scheduled feeding from a forest platform where the animals come down to eat, then watch a 25-minute documentary about the centre's work.

How close do you get to the proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay?

Labuk Bay's observation area is positioned to give you a reasonably close, unobstructed view of the monkeys as they move through the 400-acre mangrove forest. They are elusive animals, but the setup is designed to maximize sightings.

How long does the drive take between the two sanctuaries?

The drive from Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to Labuk Bay takes about 45 minutes by air-conditioned minivan.

Do I need to book my own flights to Sandakan?

Yes, the tour does not include return airfares between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. The operator recommends booking domestic flights online yourself so you can compare fares and secure the best price before it changes.

Is lunch included, and can I request vegetarian food?

Lunch is included in the tour price. Vegetarian options are available. Let the operator know when you book if you need one.

What do I need to bring or know before the day starts?

Bring a valid passport. You'll need it on the day of travel. Infants must sit on an adult's lap. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Hotel or port pickup is included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the first stop.