Talang Satang National Park Tours

Dedicated to conserving sea turtles, particularly green and hawksbill turtles, Talang Satang National Park occupies four white-sand islands and the surrounding marine territory. Pulau Satang Besar is the only island that’s open to regular day-trippers; the other three are for researchers, conservation organizations, and volunteers only.

The Basics
There is a small fee to enter Talang Satang National Park, which is typically absorbed into the tour cost, but the 4-day sea-turtle volunteer program, based on Pulau Talang-Talang Besar, costs a significant amount. As there are no public boats to the islands, almost everyone visits on an organized day trip from Kuching.

Talang Satang National Park tours typically include a visit to the turtle-conservation area and hatchery on Pulau Satang Besar, a beach session with snorkeling on the park’s pristine reef, a packed lunch, and perhaps a forest hike. It’s also possible to scuba dive here.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Talang Satang National Park is a must for animal-lovers of all persuasions.
• While the corals and turtles are spectacular, visibility in the water is often limited.
• Talang Satang National Park is not wheelchair-accessible.

How to Get There
Talang Satang National Park sits off the coast of Sarawak, northeast of Kuching. Boats to the park typically depart from the village of Telaga Air, around 18 miles (29 kilometers) northeast of Kuching; the boat ride takes about half an hour. Almost everyone who visits does so on an organized tour out of Kuching.

When to Get There
May to September is the peak turtle-nesting season in the islands, with the most turtles coming ashore during the nights of the new and full moons. If volunteering, plan your visit around the lunar calendar to maximize chances of seeing these majestic creatures laying their eggs. Hatchlings are released 40–60 days later.

Conserving Sea Turtles at Talang Satang National Park
Using powerful natural navigation, perhaps following the earth’s magnetic fields, sea turtles always return to lay their eggs on the same beach where they were born. At Talang Satang National Park, workers collect eggs after they are laid and transfer them to a hatchery to protect them from human and animal predators. Finally, hatchlings are released into the ocean.