Plan to visit Kinabalu Park(is it where the Mt Kinabalu is?), Borneo Rainforest or Taman Negara Rainforest (good walk for kids ages 6 and 11). Which one is the best day tour? What is the differences? Can I really visit Sankalan Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre for a day as it needs to fly there ( stay at Sutera Hotel)? Does anyone knows how much does it cost for parasailing? Any age limits? Sorry more question- What is the best time to travel to Turtle Islands Park to see turtles laying eggs?
Thank you very much for the help.
Wendy

Have you looked at a guidebook yet? Let me suggest you do some reading about the area.

What place is "best" depends on what you are looking for. I have to admit we were quite disappointed in Kinabalu Park (yes, where Mt. Kinabalu is), but I know that was because we had just spent several days in the primary rainforest in the Danum Valley (Borneo Rainforest Lodge). The forests in Kinabalu are far from the pristine forests in the Danum Valley.

Someone here posted that it was possible to do a day trip to Sandakan, though personally, I wouldn't recommend it. If you want to see the orangutans, allocate enought time to go and stay for a couple of days.

I did visit Sandakan on a day trip out of KK and felt that it was enough time.

I was a bit dissappointed that I could not get as close to the Orangutangs as I expected, plus it was extremely hot. First time I've ever felt I was having a heat stroke.

The tour included lunch and a visit to a stilted (a bit coommercialized) "water gypsy" village , and a city tour during which there was a visit to the house of an author whose name I forget (wrote about living there during WWII).

It cost about $100 per person 5 years ago, with pick-up and return to our hotel in KK.

Yes, the Sepilok Sanctuary at Sandakan is doable as a day trip from KK. You need to take the early flight from KK in order to arrive around feeding time. Apart from the Orangutans, this is a fabulous reserve. It would be worthy of a visit even without the 'Men of the Forest'.

We loved the Kinabalu Park and did the Silau Silau Trail. More species of Orchid than I can remember. And sitting in the forest having lunch, with clouds passing by that we could touch was such a magical experience. Then there is the Rafflessia!!!!

The famous house in Sandakan is that of Agnes Newton Keith.......an American hero and is well worth a visit.

The Chinese Bhudhist Temple is also very special.

More info from our visit on our site at

http://www.leightravelclub.com/

Thanks for mentioning Agnes Keith Leigh. Just couldn't think of her name.

Wish I'd known of her books before our visit (bought at the hotel bookshop), but it was interesting having seen the house and places she describes.