MY · Sarawak · 1.78°N 110.17°E

talang satang national park

A turtle-island day trip from Kuching: a hatchery, white sand and snorkelling off Satang Besar.

Best time
Day trips run from about May to September, when the sea is calmer. From October to around April, operators stop for the monsoon.
How long
1 day
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kuching (about 1 hour 45 minutes). Kuching tour operators run the day trip: hotel pickup, a drive to the jetty at Santubong and a speedboat out to Satang Besar. There's no public boat.
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MY · Sarawaktalang satang national park1.78°N 110.17°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A turtle-island day trip from Kuching: a hatchery, white sand and snorkelling off Satang Besar.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTalang Satang National ParkMY, Sarawak
KLtalang satang national park
≈ 954 km from KL, as the crow flies

Sarawak's turtle islands: four small islands off the Kuching and Sematan coast, protected for the green and hawksbill turtles that nest there. Only Satang Besar is open to visitors, on day trips with Sarawak Forestry wardens. You get a white-sand beach, the turtle hatchery and snorkelling in a marked zone.

Makan

  1. Packed lunchLunch on the island comes with the tour; there's nothing to buy.Map ↗
  2. Buntal seafoodBack on the mainland, the stilt restaurants at Kampung Buntal are a few minutes from the jetty.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The turtle hatcheryWardens show you the nests moved up from the beaches and explain how the eggs are protected until they hatch.Map ↗
  2. Satang Besar beachWhite sand on the island's south side, for a swim within the permitted area.Map ↗
  3. SnorkellingOnly in the marked zone. Visibility is often just 3–10 metres, so come for the turtles rather than crystal water.Map ↗
  4. Dolphins on the waySome trips slow down near the Santubong river mouth to look for Irrawaddy dolphins.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Stay with the wardens and in the marked areas. The rest of Satang Besar and the other three islands are off-limits.
  • The crossing is open sea, so take a motion-sickness pill if you need one.
  • Watch your feet in the shallows; the reef has stonefish, cone shells and sea snakes.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.