Simply Borneo- Wildlife and Rainforest Adventure

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.

Departing at 07:30, the drive heads into the Sabah interior, climbing steadily from the coastal plains through patchwork paddy fields and traditional kampung villages. The landscape gradually opens onto the highland plateau around Ranau.

The first stop is Sabah Tea Plantation, one of the last certified organic tea estates in Malaysia. A guided walk through the terraced farmland reveals the careful cultivation and hand-harvesting techniques that define quality tea production. The onsite restaurant, perched above the valley, commands sweeping views across the layered hillsides — an ideal spot to sample the estate’s own brews.

From here, the route continues to Poring Hot Springs, where natural Japanese-style thermal pools offer a refreshing soak set against the forested backdrop. A short walk leads to Kipungit Waterfall, where the cascade flows into a clear plunge pool below.

After lunch, the journey resumes to Kinabalu National Park. A guided walk with a local naturalist winds through the rich montane forest at the foot of Southeast Asia’s highest peak, revealing the diverse flora and endemic plant species that thrive at this elevation. Views of Mount Kinabalu’s summit punctuate the walk before the return to Kota Kinabalu in the late afternoon.

Note:

Sabah Tea Factory is closed on Sundays and public holidays. The Poring canopy walkway is temporarily closed for maintenance.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

Distances and journey time:

Kota Kinabalu – Ranau (127 km): Approximately 2 hrs 30 mins

Recommended flight: AK 6490 BKI – SDK at 12:25 (AirAsia)

Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for a short afternoon flight across to Sandakan on Sabah’s east coast.

On arrival, a driver is waiting for the transfer to a lodge in Sepilok — a forest-edged settlement positioned just steps away from the renowned Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The remainder of the day is at leisure to settle in and prepare for the wildlife-focused days ahead.

Overnight in Sepilok

Distances and journey time:

Kota Kinabalu – Sandakan (220 km): Approximately 45 mins (flight)

After breakfast, transfer to Bilit Jetty for a boat ride into the Kinabatangan floodplain, one of the most biodiverse river systems in Southeast Asia. The scenic journey winds through mangrove forests and past oxbow lakes, marking the transition from coastal lowlands to the riverine interior.

Following a warm welcome and lunch at the lodge, an afternoon river cruise departs at 16:00. The lower Kinabatangan is one of the few places on earth where proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and wild orangutans can be reliably spotted within a short stretch of riverbank. The late afternoon light casts golden tones across the water as wildlife emerges along the banks. Return to the lodge for dinner, with an optional night walk available to arrange locally.

Note:

Transfers and activities operate on a join-in basis, except for private overland transfers.

Overnight in Bilit

 Distances and journey time:

Sepilok – Bilit Jetty (103 km): Approximately 1 hr 45 mins

An early morning river cruise at 06:00 takes advantage of peak wildlife activity at dawn. Mist rises from the water as primates call from the canopy and birds begin their day. Back at the lodge for breakfast, a guided walk at 09:00 ventures into the riverine forest, where the naturalist points out the intricate relationships between plants, animals, and water that define this unique ecosystem.

After lunch and time to rest, a second afternoon cruise departs at 16:00, offering another opportunity to observe the river’s abundant birdlife and mammals against the backdrop of the floodplain landscape.

Overnight in Bilit

 Distances and journey time:

A – B (xx km): xx hrs

After breakfast, the boat returns to the jetty for an overland transfer to Tabin Wildlife Reserve, a 1,200 sq km protected forest deep in the Lahad Datu hinterland, rarely visited by most travellers. Accommodation is in a comfortable timber lodge, each room featuring a private balcony, air conditioning, ceiling fan, and hot water shower — a welcome luxury surrounded by dense rainforest.

The afternoon begins at the Trogon Hall gallery with an introduction to Tabin’s conservation efforts and the wildlife that inhabits the reserve. A guided trek then leads to the active Lipad mud volcano, a mineral-rich salt lick that draws wildlife from across the landscape. The elevated bare area offers a vantage point for spotting animal tracks and identifying the creatures that pass through. For the curious, the volcanic mud is said to impart a fine complexion. After dinner, a night safari ventures into the forest to search for nocturnal birds and mammals, with clear skies overhead offering glimpses of the constellations above.

Overnight in Tabin Wildlife Reserve

 Distances and journey time:

Bilit Jetty – Tabin Wildlife Reserve (168 km): Approximately 3 hrs 30 mins

 Join the early morning bird walk to discover some of Tabin’s rich collection of almost 300 bird species.

After breakfast, we will go on a short drive to a core area within Tabin Wildlife Reserve, stopping on the way at a bird watching tower for another chance to see some of the 300 species of birds. We will also visit the Orangutan Release Centre, where your guide will explain the process of how the Orangutans are released, before trekking through the lush green rainforest known for its rich diversity of plants and animal species, as well as take a trip to the Lipad Waterfall. Take a dip in the natural pool and enjoy a refreshing shower under the waterfall. Alternatively explore the surrounding vegetation or just relax.

In the afternoon, try out the Tabin Rainforest Foot Soak made with a natural blend of herbs, to relax tired muscles after long jungle treks. In the evening, a dusk drive to look out for more nocturnal wildlife and birds coming out to look for food during this time of day.

An early morning bird walk begins the day. Tabin’s roster of nearly 300 bird species makes the forest at dawn particularly rewarding. After breakfast, a drive into the core area leads to a birdwatching tower with expansive views across the canopy. En route, a stop at the Orangutan Release Centre provides insight into the rehabilitation work underway. A trek then continues through the lush rainforest to Lipad Waterfall, where a natural pool invites a refreshing swim beneath the cascading water.

The return to the lodge passes the Tabin Giant Tree — an ancient forest giant worthy of a photograph. In the afternoon, a herbal foot soak made with natural forest blends offers relief for tired muscles. An evening dusk drive through the reserve captures the activity of wildlife preparing for the night, followed by a night walk along nearby trails in search of sleeping birds, frogs, and nocturnal creatures.

Overnight in Tabin Wildlife Reserve

A full day immersed in the rainforest, with guided morning and afternoon jungle walks along established trails close to the resort. The naturalist guides point out the layered complexity of the forest, from the emergent canopy down through the understory to the forest floor, where leaf litter and fallen logs create their own miniature ecosystems.

After dinner, a final night safari ventures into the darkness in search of nocturnal birds and mammals, rounding out the wildlife experiences in Tabin.

Overnight in Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Two full days at leisure at the beachfront resort. The white sands of Karambunai’s 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.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

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