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Volunteer in Malaysia
Certified B Corporation
★ Rated 4.7/5 (1,461 reviews) 25,000+ volunteers since 2007
Volunteer in Malaysia with Volunteering Solutions in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo — the rainforest of the Kinabatangan River at Sukau, home to orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and hornbills, and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre at Sepilok. Programs are short, fixed-date expeditions: a 7-day Borneo Wildlife Safari, a 12-day safari and volunteering experience, a 7-day Family Volunteer Adventure for parents with children from eight, and a two-week Sun Bear Conservation project working alongside the center’s keepers.
All programs are open from age 18 (children from 8 on the family program), run on scheduled departure dates through the year, and include every transfer, night and project activity from the moment you land at Sandakan. This is conservation volunteering for people who want to be in the field rather than in a city — river cruises to record wildlife, habitat restoration, tree planting and hands-on support for one of the world’s rarest bears. Prices start at $1,224, deposit included.
Volunteer opportunities in Malaysia
4 programs you can join right now — every card below and every link here goes to the program’s own page with live dates and prices.
- Borneo Wildlife Safari – 1 Week — Join the 7-day Borneo Wildlife Safari along the Lower Kinabatangan River, home to gibbons, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and pygmy elephants.
- Borneo Wildlife Safari & Volunteering Experience — A perfect program for wildlife and nature enthusiasts.
- Family Volunteer Adventure in Malaysia — What can be better than experiencing a volunteer vacation with your family while spending a week amidst the wilderness of the Sabah region in Malaysia?
- Sun Bear Conservation Volunteering Project, Malaysia — Volunteering Solutions offers a 2-week short-term program at the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia, where participants will help improve the living conditions of sun bears.
Volunteering in Malaysia at a glance
Projects you can join
Borneo Wildlife Safari – 1 Week
Join the 7-day Borneo Wildlife Safari along the Lower Kinabatangan River, home to gibbons, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and…
Sun Bear Conservation Volunteering Project, Malaysia
Volunteering Solutions offers a 2-week short-term program at the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Malaysia, where participants…
Borneo Wildlife Safari & Volunteering Experience
A perfect program for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. It'll be an opportunity for you to get closer to…
Family Volunteer Adventure in Malaysia
What can be better than experiencing a volunteer vacation with your family while spending a week amidst the…
What it costs to volunteer in Malaysia
All-in prices: accommodation, the meals listed for the program, airport pickup where listed, orientation, placement and in-country support are included.
| Program | Duration | From |
|---|---|---|
| Family Volunteer Adventure in Malaysia | 7 Days | $1,224 7 days |
| Borneo Wildlife Safari – 1 Week | 7 Days | $1,295 7 days |
| Sun Bear Conservation Volunteering Project, Malaysia | 2 Weeks | $1,594 2 weeks |
| Borneo Wildlife Safari & Volunteering Experience | 12 Days | $1,844 12 days |
Includes the $249 booking deposit (counts toward your total, valid for a year, refunded if we cannot place you). Each program page has the full week-by-week price table.
What your fee covers
- Shared accommodation for every night of the itinerary — a dorm on the first night, a village-style B&B at Sukau and a twin hotel room in Sandakan on the safari programs; your own longhouse room at the sun bear center
- Meals as marked in the itinerary on the safari programs; a meal allowance on the sun bear program
- Pickup at Sandakan Airport and all transfers in the itinerary, including the river journey to Sukau and the day at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
- An English-speaking project coordinator, orientation, a health and safety talk and a conservation contribution to the project
- All facilities, tools, equipment and materials for the conservation work, plus work T-shirts
- Pre-departure information and support
Not included
- International flights and the domestic flight to Sandakan, visa fees where they apply, and vaccinations
- Medical and travel insurance (compulsory)
- Single-room supplements, and meals and accommodation on off days or when traveling independently
- Personal expenses
All Malaysia programs are fixed-length packages on scheduled dates rather than week-by-week placements: the 7-day Borneo Wildlife Safari, the 12-day safari and volunteering experience, the 7-day Family Volunteer Adventure and the 2-week Sun Bear Conservation project. Prices include every transfer, night and activity in the itinerary, so there are few extras on the ground; see each program page for its date list and full inclusions.
Where you stay and what you eat in Malaysia
Borneo Wildlife Safari programs and the Family Volunteer Adventure: the itinerary moves with the work. Your first night is in dorm-style accommodation shared with volunteers on the same project, with warm-water showers and toilets. At Sukau, the program location on the Kinabatangan River, you stay in a village-style bed and breakfast — two or three to a room with en-suite shower and toilet — to get a real feel for local living. Back in Sandakan for the final leg, you share a twin hotel room with en-suite facilities. Single rooms are subject to availability, so tell us in advance. Meals are provided as marked in the itinerary (breakfast, lunch and dinner on most project days, with a welcome dinner on day one).
Sun Bear Conservation project: each volunteer has their own room in the volunteer longhouse (bunk bed and fan) with shared bathroom and kitchen; an upgrade to a private en-suite hut with a double bed and air-conditioning next to the longhouse can be booked for an additional fee, subject to availability. A daily meal allowance is provided so you can eat at the center's canteen and local cafes.
Expect humidity, early starts and the sounds of the forest at night — and bring binoculars: the cafe by the river at Sukau is one of the best wildlife-watching spots in Borneo.
Arriving in Malaysia and who looks after you
Fly to Sandakan (SDK)
Sandakan is a domestic airport, so book international flights to Kuala Lumpur (KLIA/KLIA2) or Kota Kinabalu and connect. Send us your exact flight details; arrive before 4pm on the start date and book a departure flight after 11am on the last day. A representative of the local team meets you at the airport and transfers you to the first night's accommodation.
Day one: welcome dinner and briefing
You meet your fellow volunteers and the English-speaking project coordinator, who briefs the group on the days ahead.
Day two onward: to the project
Safari volunteers travel to Sukau for a short orientation and a health and safety talk before starting river-based wildlife observation, habitat restoration and jungle treks under the coordinator's guidance; sun bear volunteers transfer to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre for an orientation session and safety tour, then work at the center from 8am to 5pm with a lunch break, with two days off to explore.
The last days
Safari programs end with a day at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre before the transfer back to Sandakan Airport. Coordinators are available 24/7 throughout.
Staying safe in Malaysia and who can join
Sabah is safe, well-organized and used to international visitors, and every day of these programs is spent with the project coordinator and the group — the real considerations are the rainforest environment rather than crime. Follow the health and safety talk: stay with your guide on treks and river cruises, keep to the paths, never approach or feed wildlife, use insect repellent and cover up at dawn and dusk, and drink only bottled or treated water. Leeches, heat and humidity are part of the experience; snakes and crocodiles are present and respected, not encountered, when you follow instructions.
Health: keep routine vaccinations current; hepatitis A, typhoid and rabies vaccination are commonly recommended for rural Borneo, and malaria prophylaxis may be advised for the Kinabatangan area — check NHS Fit for Travel or the CDC and see a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you go. Sun bear volunteers must bring a doctor's letter, dated within six months of the project, confirming they are free of tuberculosis and hepatitis A and B and vaccinated against tetanus, to protect the bears. Visa: many nationalities, including UK, EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, can enter Malaysia visa-free for short tourist stays and complete the online Malaysia Digital Arrival Card before travel; others apply through a Malaysian diplomatic mission. Passports need six months' validity and two blank pages.
Who can join: minimum age 18 on the safari and sun bear programs; the Family Volunteer Adventure needs at least two participants with children from age 8 accompanied by their parents. No experience is required, but you should be fit, healthy and happy working outdoors in heat and humidity.
Requirements checklist
- Minimum age: 18+ — younger children can join the family-friendly programs with a parent; minimum ages vary by project. Family volunteering
- Travel insurance: comprehensive cover for your whole stay is compulsory; you can bring your own or take the policy we arrange. Insurance details
- Safeguarding: every volunteer follows our code of conduct for children and vulnerable adults, explained again at orientation. Read the policy
📘 Planning in more depth? Read our Malaysia costs, visa and safety guide.
How we volunteer responsibly in Malaysia
Our Malaysia partners are established conservation organizations in Sabah: the community and research teams working along the Kinabatangan River at Sukau on wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration, and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre at Sepilok, which rescues and rehabilitates the world's smallest and least-known bear. A conservation contribution to the project is built into every program fee, and all tools, equipment and materials are provided.
Work is directed entirely by the project staff and follows our animal welfare policy: wildlife is observed from boats and trails, never fed, touched or baited for photographs; sun bears are cared for by the center's keepers, with volunteers helping with enrichment, food preparation, enclosure maintenance and visitor education rather than direct contact; and habitat work — tree planting, nursery care, invasive-species clearing, data recording — is the unglamorous core of what protects these animals long term. The health certificate required on the sun bear program exists to protect the bears from human disease.
Come to work in the forest, not to pose with it. The orangutans at Sepilok and the elephants on the river are wild or being returned to the wild, and the best thing a volunteer can do is help keep it that way.
Life outside the project in Malaysia
Best time: the drier months from March to October are best for wildlife watching and fieldwork — animals gather along the Kinabatangan, and river cruises are at their most rewarding — while November to February is the wetter monsoon season. Programs run on fixed dates; check each program page for the departure list.
Getting around: everything inside the itinerary is arranged, with river boats at Sukau and road transfers between Sandakan and the projects. Off days and add-on time: Sepilok's orangutan and sun bear centers and the Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walk are built into the safari programs; with extra days you can add a Kinabatangan night cruise, the Gomantong Caves, a Kota Kinabalu stopover for Mount Kinabalu or the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, or diving at Sipadan from Semporna.
Etiquette: Sabah is multicultural and relaxed — dress modestly in villages and mosques, use your right hand, ask before photographing people, and learn "terima kasih" (thank you). Our Things to Do in Malaysia guide has more.
Life in Malaysia
What our volunteers say
Explore other destinations
Your questions, answered
How much does it cost to volunteer in Malaysia?
Programs are fixed-length packages starting from $1,224, deposit included, for the 7-day Borneo Wildlife Safari; the 12-day safari and volunteering experience, the family adventure and the two-week sun bear project are priced per program. Fees cover every night, transfer and project activity in the itinerary, the meals listed, an English-speaking coordinator and a conservation contribution. Flights (including the domestic leg to Sandakan), insurance, single-room supplements and personal spending are extra — see each program page for its full breakdown.
Do I need a visa for Malaysia?
UK, EU, US, Canadian, Australian and many other passport holders can enter Malaysia visa-free for short tourist stays and must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online before arrival; other nationalities apply through a Malaysian diplomatic mission. Your passport needs six months' validity and two blank pages. Check current rules with the Malaysian Immigration Department before you travel.
Is volunteering in Borneo safe?
Yes. Sabah is a safe, well-organized part of Malaysia, and you spend every project day with the coordinator and your group. The considerations are environmental — heat, humidity, leeches, river and jungle safety — and the health and safety talk on day two covers them all. Coordinators are available 24/7, and you never approach wildlife or leave the trails.
What is the minimum age to volunteer in Malaysia?
18 on the Borneo Wildlife Safari programs and the Sun Bear Conservation project. The Family Volunteer Adventure welcomes children from age 8 accompanied by their parents, with a minimum of two participants per family booking. There is no upper age limit for fit, healthy volunteers.
How long are the Malaysia programs, and when do they run?
They are fixed-length: 7 days (Borneo Wildlife Safari and Family Volunteer Adventure), 12 days (Borneo Wildlife Safari & Volunteering Experience) and 14 days (Sun Bear Conservation). Each runs on scheduled departure dates through the year — the next available start is 5 Oct 2026 — and cannot be extended week by week, though you can add independent travel before or after.
Where will I stay in Borneo?
On the safari programs: a shared dorm on the first night, a village-style B&B at Sukau on the Kinabatangan River (two or three to a room, en-suite), and a twin hotel room in Sandakan at the end. On the sun bear project: your own room in the volunteer longhouse with shared bathroom and kitchen, or an optional private en-suite hut for an additional fee.
Are meals included in Malaysia?
On the safari and family programs, meals are included as marked in the itinerary — breakfast, lunch and dinner on project days at Sukau, plus a welcome dinner on day one and breakfast on the final morning. Sun bear volunteers receive a daily meal allowance to eat at the center and nearby cafes. Meals on off days or during independent travel are your own.
Will I be picked up at the airport in Malaysia?
Yes — at Sandakan Airport (SDK), a domestic airport you reach via Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu. A representative of the local team meets you and every transfer in the itinerary is included, back to the airport on your final day. Arrive before 4pm on the start date and book a departure after 11am, and send us your exact flight details.
Which vaccinations do I need for Malaysia?
Routine vaccinations should be current; hepatitis A, typhoid and rabies vaccination are commonly recommended for rural Borneo and malaria prophylaxis may be advised for the Kinabatangan region. Sun bear volunteers must also bring a doctor's letter dated within six months of the project confirming they are free of tuberculosis and hepatitis A and B and vaccinated against tetanus. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure and check NHS Fit for Travel or the CDC.
When is the best time to volunteer in Borneo?
March to October, the drier season, is best for wildlife watching — animals concentrate along the Kinabatangan and river cruises are at their richest. November to February is the wet monsoon season. All programs run on fixed dates, so choose the departure that suits you from each program page.
Will I see orangutans in Borneo?
Very likely. The safari programs include a day at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre, and river cruises on the Kinabatangan regularly encounter wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and sometimes pygmy elephants. Sightings in the wild are never guaranteed — that is what makes them worth the trip — and all wildlife is observed from a distance.
What should I pack for volunteering in Borneo?
Lightweight long-sleeved shirts and trousers for the forest, a rain jacket, closed walking shoes or boots plus sandals, leech socks (available locally), a hat, high-factor sunscreen, strong insect repellent, a headlamp, a dry bag for boat trips, binoculars, a refillable bottle, a basic first-aid kit and any regular medication. Work T-shirts are provided; sun bear volunteers must bring their medical letter.
Ready to volunteer in Malaysia?
4 programs · from $1,224 · next start 5 Oct 2026
Free advice, no obligation. Change program, dates or destination free of charge up to 45 days before you start.