Sea turtles have been around in the warmer oceans of the world for tens of millions of years but every one of the varied species is now endangered. South-east Asia is home to several of the few remaining beaches and national parks where you can watch these amazing creatures as they swim close to shore and head onto the beach. You'll need to pick the right time of year (usually between July and October) and the best part of the day (often at night) if you want to witness female turtles laying their eggs and young hatchlings making their hazardous journey out to sea.
Set off from our hotels in Sabah on a trip to the Turtle Islands Park in the Sulu Sea, which is also the watery home to green and hawskbill turtles, on a journey to lay their nests on the Philippine island of Palawan. The east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is another excellent spot to watch protected turtles come ashore. Staff at the Swiss-Garden Resort will make sure you don't miss the arrival of giant leatherback turtles on its nearby beaches. While you're waiting for the sea turtles to put in an appearance, all you can do is to laze around on the sand or snorkel among the coral reefs.
