Sepilok Sandakan - Sabah - 4D/3N - Rating: Easy to Moderate

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IMPORTANT: Limited slots available. We accept bookings on a first pay, first serve basis. We need 15 participants for this event, otherwise the event will not take place. In case we don't have 15 participants all paid sums will be refunded.

After Semporna enchanted us with its crystal-clear turquoise seas, vibrant coral reefs, and dramatic island landscapes, we head this time to Sabah to explore Sandakan Sepilok.

This event is an excellent, more budget-friendly, and highly accessible alternative to Danum Valley. While Danum Valley is world-famous for its massive, untouched primary rainforest and wildlife spotting, our itinerary captures a massive portion of that same Bornean jungle magic. In fact, by tackling the Kabili Trail inside the Sepilok Forest Reserve on Day 3, we are trekking through the exact same type of ancient lowland dipterocarp forest found in Danum Valley.

On the first day we visit the Sandakan Memorial Park and walk the Heritage Trail. In order to enjoy the sunset we will hike Bukit Buli Sim Sim. This day acts as a highly accessible introduction to the city's local culture and wartime history.

The next day we have the Bukit Leila loop on the agenda. This will be the moderate part of this event and will require some cardiovascular fitness.
In the afternoon we have a short and easy hike to the IOI Peak.

Day three is reserved for the Rainforest Discovery Centre. The steel canopy walkways and suspension bridges are easy to traverse. We'll continue with the Sepilok Giant Tree and the Kabili Falls Trail. It features some ups and downs, but don't fret, in the afternoon we follow flat, well-maintained wooden boardwalks leading to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and its primary feeding platforms.

Visiting this centre is a must, for animal lovers and casual travellers alike, because it offers a rare, ethical opportunity to witness critically endangered Bornean orangutans transition back into the wild within their natural habitat.

This is a multiple day event without the need to carry a heavy backpack. A day pack will do as luggage can remain in the ho(s)tel in Sandakan.

The hikes itself are rated as easy/moderate and certainly suited for 'less experienced' hikers provided you are physically fit.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you have a gps navigation app (like ~in alphabetical order~ AllTrails (paid version), Gaia, Hiiker, Komoot, Maps me, OSMAnd, Wikiloc,...) installed on your phone and make sure that it is working properly. If you don't have an app installed yet, we suggest to use OSMAnd or Hiiker to start with. Once you have downloaded the offline map of Malaysia, you can easily import and navigate any gpx file. More info can be found in the Knowledge Base sub Event Information (general) - How to prepare myself for navigation...?

Do not come to the venue if you have not pre-installed a gps navigation app at home, or have not downloaded the map of Malaysia at home, or have not opened the test gpx file at home. Especially iPhone users are urged to make sure that they can open the test gpx file at home and are able to navigate.

For more details and procedure, follow this link.

IMPORTANT: keep in mind that there is always a chance that we are not allowed to hike due to dangerous weather or other conditions (eg heavy rain, flood, earthquake, landslide, health measures...) - we cannot be held responsible for such cancellation.