Lankayan Island - Myoutdoor.com

Lankayan
This slice of heaven is not from a television studio – it’s all nature’s work. Lankayan is such a picture-perfect tropical island paradise that it seems almost unreal. Read More>>

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Scuba diving and snorkelling
There are 14 dive sites around Lankayan, offering divers the chance to see anything from massive whale sharks to delicate macro life.
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Things to see and do

Lankayan’s visitors mostly spend their time enjoying each other’s company and the spectacular scenery; basking in the sunlight and taking pleasure in the tranquillity of a remote island paradise. Apart from relaxing and indulging in the delicious food on offer in the restaurant, there are a few other ways to keep yourself busy here:
The underwater wonderland beckons and between March and May, you may even have the chance of spotting whale sharks. Read more about diving and snorkelling in Lankayan.

If you prefer to stay dry, take a seat on the restaurant’s deck, where juvenile black-tip sharks are often spotted in the water below, watch a turtle laying her eggs on the beach, or head to the comfortable couches and satellite channels of the TV room for more conventional entertainment.

The Malaysian province of Sabah, of which Lankayan forms part, has a wide range of tourist attractions, the untouched rainforests and wildlife drawing visitors in particular. Those that want to make the most of a trip would be wise to combine their stay on Lankayan with a few days on the mainland of Malaysian Borneo. (see http://www.sabahtourism.com/ for more information). One of the favourite stops is the Orang-utan sanctuary in the town of Sandakan, which is also the departure point for Lankayan.

Turtle watching and conservation activities
Lankayan is one of the three coral atoll islands that form part of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) in the Sulu Sea. Because of the incredible biodiversity of the area, the 46 000 hectares of open sea, shallow coastal reefs and sea grass beds were declared a protected area in 2001.

Reef Guardian has been appointed to oversee the conservation of SIMCA. Their main aim is to protect the marine biodiversity by managing and controlling human activities in the area and promoting low-impact eco-tourism. They conserve this breathtakingly beautiful area by protecting, restoring and monitoring marine habitats; enforcing bans on harmful human activity such as illegal fishing and educating the public.

Visit the Reef Guardian office and information centre on the island to find out more. There is also a turtle hatchery and if you are lucky you may see a turtle laying her eggs or be present to help release the baby turtles into the sea.

Scuba diving and snorkelling
There are 14 dive sites around Lankayan, offering divers the chance to see anything from massive whale sharks to delicate macro life. While snorkelling trips can be arranged, and some snorkellers join in on dive excursions, there is plenty to see if you head just off the jetty with your mask and fins.

Whale sharks are literally the biggest attraction for divers at Lankayan. These gentle giants visit the surrounding waters between March and May every year. They are cold-blooded and breathe through gills, just like sharks do, and grow up to 12 metres in length, making them the biggest fish in the world. Despite their imposing size, they are shy, harmless creatures and subsist off a diet of plankton, krill and small fish.

These are not the only large pelagic animals to be found here. Big schools of jacks, scads and barracudas are common as are the noisy groups of bumphead parrotfish. You may even come across guitarfish and rays while juvenile black-tip sharks are a common sight around the jetty. Greenback and hawksbill turtles often come to nest on the island and can be found swimming around the nearby reefs.

These reefs are covered in lettuce and staghorn coral and are home to clownfish hiding in anemones, seahorses, shrimps and various other fish and crustacean species. The Lankayan wreck is a former fish poaching vessel and is now home to an array of colourful marine creatures.

In the miniature, the underwater world is even more colourful. Macro life lovers will be thrilled by the abundance of nudibranches, prawn gobies, ghost pipefish and flying gunards.

The combination of large pelagic, macro, coral reef and wreck diving, makes Lankayan a diving experience not to be missed.

Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary at Sandakan
The Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary is located in a spectacular rainforest reserve just outside of Sandakan and is a must-see for nature lovers. Apart from having the chance to see one of these endangered apes, the rainforest itself is a spectacular sight, with trees stretching up to meet the sky and narrow pathways and boardwalks cutting through lush undergrowth.

The centre is dedicated to rehabilitating orphaned, displaced or injured orang-utans and releasing them back into the wild. Orang-utans that have successfully undergone rehabilitation are released into the 4 294 hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest and there is a small but growing population of wild orang-utans.

The animals undergoing rehabilitation receive a diet supplement of fruit and milk at 10:00 and 15:00 daily and these feedings are open to visitors. The orang-utans are fed on a tree-top platform in the heart of the forest and the viewing platform is close enough so that you can see the almost human expressions on their faces and their incredible agility.

Apart from seeing the orang-utans there are also nature trails in the reserve, from as short as 250m to as long as 5km, giving you the opportunity to admire the forest and the mangrove swamps as well as the chance to spot the wild orang-utans and other wildlife. Guided night walks are also possible.

Visitors are advised to arrive 30 minutes before feeding times. The opening hours are 09:00 -12:00 (09:00 - 11:00 on Fridays) and 14:00 - 16:00 daily. Admission charges apply: RM 30 for non-Malaysian adults, RM 15 for children; RM 5 for Malaysian adults and RM 2 for Malaysians under 12.

It is possible to extend your holiday at Lankayan with one or two nights at the Sepilok Nature Resort, within walking distance of the sanctuary, as it is under the same management as Lankayan Island Dive Resort.