Malaysia - 21 Day Yacht Charter Itinerary

Read the full Malaysia Charter Guide and Asia Charter Guide.

A 21-day private yacht charter itinerary visiting the finest spots in Malaysia.

Sabah has long been an exiting holiday destination for lovers of nature, culture, diving and adventure. Known as the “Land Below the Wind”, this lush corner of Borneo lies outside of the typhoon belt free from major climatic disturbances, and is bounded by 3 seas: the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea, and the Celebes Sea. Here you will find tropical islands, including coral atolls and oceanic islands, pristine beaches, crystal clear waters, giant rivers, dense tropical jungle, high mountains, and an abundance of nature & wildlife. It is precisely the convergence of these factors that make Sabah one of the most bio-diverse lands in the world and a cruising destination with so much to offer.

Please note the itinerary below are our suggested itinerary, however the choice of where to cruise, and for how long, is always tailored to your specific requirements.

Day 1 Kota Kinabalu

Arrive Kota Kinabalu and after embarking Moecca we sail to the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine park for a welcome dinner on board with a cultural performance. Watch the sun set over the horizon we stay overnight and move before sunset to Pulau Tiga.

Day 2 Pulau Tiga

Pulau Tiga, known as the original ‘Survivor Island’ where the reality TV show was first filmed. Geothermal activity below the centre of the island has created warm bubbling mud baths which are not only relaxing to sit in but also therapeutic.

Day 3 Pulau Tiga & Mengalum

Here one can stretch the legs on nature trails which take you through the jungle and across the island, resident wildlife include macaques, giant monitor lizards, wild boar, and hornbill. In the afternoon depart for Mengalum Island where you can have a hand at fishing. A place known for fishing enthusiasts. The area is known for Dogtooth and Yellow fin Tuna.

Day 4&5 Mengalum& Layang Layang

Layang Layang is a man made atoll and the last known stop before you leave Malaysian waters. Home to schools of hammerhead sharks, the area is characterized with drop offs and pristine hard coral. If you’re lucky you may even see manta rays and whale sharks.

Day 6&8 Layang-Layang & Kota Kinablu

After days of diving and fishing, head back as the sunsets to Kota

Kinabalu, the gateway to Borneo! Arrive as the sun rises for a breakfast with the Mt. Kinabalu as your backdrop (see picture above with mountain in background). Kota Kinabalu is where you can disembark for golf, dine ashore, walk the town or for the more adventurous, take the challenge to climb the mountain.

Day 9 Mantanani & Tip of Borneo

On a clear day, the cruise towards Mantanani will reveal great views of Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia. Keen scuba divers would have an exciting opportunity to dive on a Japanese shipwreck lying in 35m of water, a legacy of the 2nd World War. There is also a chance to encounter the resident dugong or ‘sea cow’. The Tip of Borneo is the point were the South China Sea and Sulu Sea meet.

Day 10 Banggi & Malawali

Tip of Borneo, Banggi & Malawali, the northern-most part of Borneo island, with miles of empty white sand beaches and offshore islands to explore. Banggi is a relatively large island, reputed to be the size of Singapore. The islands of Banggi and Malawali are places where you can still find Borneo in its true form. Villages and traditional ways of life are the settings for this scene.

Day 11&12 Lankayan & Selingan

Sail through the Malawali channel and southeast into the Sulu Sulawesi Sea lies Pulau Lankayan. Empty white sand beaches and crystal clear waters accompany this small and stunning tropical island. Diving and snorkeling here is very good. During the spring season the giant but harmless whale shark are frequent visitors!

Day 13&14 Kinabatang & Selipok Orangutang Centre

From Selingan, Moecca makes her way into the Kinabatangan Wildlife Plain. Board a helicopter from Moecca and fly to Sepilok. The Centre was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned baby orangutan and a system of walkways and feeding platforms give researchers and tourists alike the opportunity to watch the orangutan up close in their natural habitat. The Kinabatangan River sustains one of the world's richest ecosystems and is one of only two known places in the world where 10 species of primates are found. In addition there are pythons, crocodiles, pigmy elephants, and the extremely rare Sumatran rhinoceros.

Day 15-18 Darvel Bay & Danum Valley

In Darvel Bay, you will find the idyllic and rarely visited islands of the Semporna Islands Park. This area offers excellent diving and snorkeling exploration. Transfer by Helicopter to the pristine forest within the Danum Valley reserve. Covering 43,800 hectares (438 km2), the Danum Valley Conservation Area is one of the largest, most important and best-protected expanses of pristine lowland forest remaining in South East Asia.

Day 19-21 Sipadan

First discovered by Jacques Cousteau, this island is a real jewel, with immaculate white sand beaches, clear turquoise blue seas and fringing reefs. It is also one of the worlds best dive destinations, home to huge schools of jacks, spiraling barracuda, and turtles in abundance which can be seen living in a varied underwater topography of drop offs, caverns and coral gardens.

Day 22 Sipadan Tawau

Disembarkation in Semporna and transfer to airport for flight back to Kota Kinabalu or directly to Kuala Lumpur.