Ultimate Borneo Wildlife Experience

The trip starts when you arrive at Kota Kinabalu Airport.  Our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check in.  Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.

Depart early in the morning for a scenic journey into Borneo’s rugged island interior. Travel along winding roads, passing paddy fields and local villages en-route to the Poring Hot Springs.

Take a walk around this beautiful compound which takes its name from the giant bamboo that surrounds it. See Japanese-style outdoor hot tubs which are filled from natural hot springs believed to possess therapeutic effects.

Continue to nearby Kipungit Waterfall to admire this spectacular natural wonder. Alternatively, opt for a trek to the canopy walk, a suspension bridge that soars 40-metres above the forest floor. For thrill seekers, this swaying, man-made bridge is an ideal place to enjoy views of the rainforest, tree canopies and distant rolling hills.

At midday break for lunch then resume the drive back to Kota Kinabalu, stopping at Mount Kinabalu National Park. Take a guided walk and learn from a local naturalist about the vast array of flora found in this lush park. Admire views of Mt Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest peak, in the distance before returning to Kota Kinabalu.

At 08:00, depart the accommodation in Ranau for the transfer to Telupid. This overland journey typically takes between four and five hours, concluding in Telupid town where time is allocated for lunch at a local establishment (own expense).

The expedition continues at 14:00, departing Telupid by 4WD for the final two-hour leg into the forest. Navigating a mix of paved and gravel surfaces, the route passes through vast oil palm estates before reaching the gates of the Deramakot Forest Reserve. This remote biodiversity hotspot serves as a pristine sanctuary for Sabah’s most remarkable flora and fauna.

After checking in and receiving an introductory briefing on the lodge and its facilities, set out for the first wildlife drive through the reserve.

Deramakot is renowned for its exceptional density of endemic and rare species, housing thousands of flowering plants and over 3,000 tree varieties. This vast ecosystem supports roughly 420 bird species and 221 terrestrial mammals, including iconic residents like the Bornean orangutan, pygmy elephant, and the elusive clouded leopard. Beyond wildlife encounters, the experience provides insight into the sophisticated management of a world-class sustainable commercial forest reserve.

Overnight in Deramakot

Distances and journey time:

Ranau – Deramakot (175 km): Approx. 5 hours 30 mins

The day begins at 05:00 with a pre-dawn 4WD safari, navigating the reserve’s trail network in search of active wildlife. Listen for the morning chorus of Bornean gibbons as the forest awakens before returning to the lodge for breakfast and a subsequent guided jungle walk.

A relaxing lunch is served back at the lodge, then enjoy a leisurely afternoon before the activities to follow.

Free time between activities can be spent exploring the surrounding jungle trails. These paths offer excellent opportunities for spotting orangutans, gibbons, and a diverse range of birdlife within the immediate grounds.

In the late afternoon, depart for another dusk wildlife drive, keeping a close watch for various species before returning for dinner.

Following dinner, embark on a night safari by 4WD to seek out nocturnal residents. Deramakot is renowned for its diverse fauna, including the elusive clouded leopard. After roughly two hours of spotlighting through the forest, return to the lodge for the night.

Overnight in Deramakot

Following breakfast, depart Deramakot at approximately 09:00 for the overland journey to Sandakan, arriving at the lodge set within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve as the light begins to soften through the rainforest canopy.

Overnight in Sepilok

Distances and journey time:

Deramakot – Sepilok (167 km): Approx. 4 hours 45 mins

A guide and driver will collect at 08:45 (City Hotel: 08:15 pick up) for the short transfer to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. A short introductory film sets the scene for the conservation work underway before a ten-minute walk along raised wooden boardwalks leads to the feeding platform at 10:00, where rehabilitated orangutans descend from the canopy with ease. The nursery area, where young orangutans develop climbing and socialising skills on specially constructed structures, provides a quieter and equally compelling view of the programme.

From Sepilok, a visit to the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre introduces the world’s smallest bear species, with 36 rescued individuals currently housed across large sections of natural forest enclosed for rehabilitation. The opportunity to adopt a bear to support the programme is available at guests’ own expense.

At 11:00, a private air-conditioned minivan transfers to Sandakan Jetty for a two-hour boat journey up the Kinabatangan River — one of the most biodiverse waterways in Borneo. Local villages and stretches of lush riverine forest line the banks, with wildlife sightings possible en route.

Lunch and check-in at the lodge are followed by an afternoon briefing from the local guide. At 16:30, a riverboat cruise sets out along the Lower Kinabatangan in search of proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, hornbills, gibbons, and a wide variety of bird species. Return to the lodge for dinner, with a night boardwalk stroll available afterwards for those keen to look for nocturnal insects and animals.

Overnight in Kinabatangan

Distances and journey time:

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve –  Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (16 km): 18 mins

Borneon Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre – Sandakan Jetty (28 km): 42 mins

Sandakan Jetty to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort by boat (Join in Basis): 2hrs

Cruise times: PM – 16:00

Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours

A 06:30 morning cruise heads to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake — a crescent-shaped lake formed where a river meander cut itself off from the main channel over time. The stillness and relative seclusion of the lake support a distinct ecosystem of its own, with bird species and plant life that differ markedly from those of the main river.

The afternoon returns to the river at 16:30 for a second cruise along the mangrove-lined banks, with the late afternoon light well-suited to wildlife photography. Proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, hornbills, and a variety of water birds are typically active at this hour. On clear evenings, firefly colonies illuminate certain stretches of the riverbank. Return to the lodge for dinner.

After dinner, a night river safari at 20:30 ventures out in search of target nocturnal species before returning to the lodge. 

Overnight in Kinabatangan

 Distances and journey time:

Cruise times: AM – 06:30, PM – 16:00, EVE – 20:00 (Join-in Basis)

Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours

Enjoy an early breakfast before an early boat transfer out. At 07:00, a boat transfer departs the lodge for Sukau Lepit Jetty, where the journey continues by road toward Lahad Datu.

The expedition proceeds with a private transfer into the pristine virgin rainforest of Danum Valley—one of the world’s most sophisticated and complex ecosystems. The initial 30 km traverse paved surfaces, while the final 60 km leg follows a gravel route, providing a rugged yet fascinating introduction to the deep interior.

Upon arrival at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge around 12:00, check in and prepare for an orientation to the day’s nature programme. This introduction includes guided explorations of the trail network and the Canopy Walkway—spanning 360m at a height of 27m—suspended within a 130-million-year-old forest canopy that is literally humming with life.

Following dinner, board an electric buggy for a night safari through the reserve. Guided by a local naturalist with a spotlight, seek out nocturnal residents ranging from sambar deer and civets to elusive leopards and a diverse array of evening insects and frogs.

Afterwards, return to the lodge for the night.

Overnight in Danum Valley

Distances and journey time:

Sandakan Jetty to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort by boat (Join-in Basis): 2 hours

Sandakan Jetty – Danum Valley ( km):

Set out on a morning expedition toward Fairy Pools and Merchant Pools. These cascading waters provide an ideal setting for a cooling swim and quiet reflection before heading back to the lodge for a well-earned lunch.

The afternoon remains at leisure, offering an opportunity to unwind amidst the lush forest backdrop or further explore the intricate network of nature trails surrounding the resort.

Overnight in Danum Valley

Set out on a morning expedition toward Fairy Pools and Merchant Pools. These cascading waters provide an ideal setting for a cooling swim and quiet reflection before heading back to the lodge for a well-earned lunch.

The afternoon remains at leisure, offering an opportunity to unwind amidst the lush forest backdrop or further explore the intricate network of nature trails surrounding the resort.

Overnight in Danum Valley

Recommended flight: MY 3015 LDU – BKI at 14:00 (Air Borneo)

A final morning walk along the nature boardwalk offers a concluding glimpse of the habitat before preparing for checkout and the journey ahead.

Following breakfast at the lodge, depart at 09:00 for the transfer back toward Lahad Datu. The expedition continues to the airport for the domestic flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu, a driver is on hand for the transfer to the jetty, where a short boat crossing leads to an island beach resort—an easy, unhurried change of pace after the previous days spent in the Borneo interior.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

 Distances and journey time:

Transfer Borneo Rainforest Lodge to Lahad Datu by 4WD (100KM): 3hrs (bumpy unsealed road)

Three full days at leisure at the beachfront resort. The white sands of the beach slope gently into clear waters, while the resort pool and coastal scenery provide ample opportunity for rest and reflection after the previous days of activity. Additional water and beach activities are available to book locally at a supplement.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

After breakfast, transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.