Rainforests Of Borneo

Upon arrival to Sandakan, your guide will meet you at the arrivals hall from where you will transfer to Sepilok Nature Resort and check into the hotel. At 18:00, we will in the lobby for a drink and a trip briefing. After the briefing go straight to dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, we will head out for trekking at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, after which we will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon we will continue to the Orangutan Sanctuary next door. At dusk we will return to the canopy walk at the Rainforest Discovery Center to look for flying red giant squirrels as they emerge from their nests.

We will go back to the Rainforest Discovery Centre to watch sunrise on the canopy walk and search for more wildlife. Return to the lodge for breakfast. Pack up and check out by 11am and depart for Sandakan.

The drive takes 45 minutes and we will stop for lunch, and then you will depart on a 2 hour journey to the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, a boutique lodge situated on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Upon arrival, check into your chalet.

Head out by boat at 4:00 PM for your dusk river cruise to search for the wildlife along the river.

The region is teeming with fauna - orangutans, pygmy elephants, hornbills, macaques, leaf monkeys, otters, etc. etc. You will spend two hours out on the river, before returning back to the lodge for dinner.

After dinner, you have the option to head out for a short night walk to search for some of the nocturnal residents of the forest. Some of the things to be seen are: civet cats, owls, frogs, snakes, flat-headed cats, and more!

05:20 wake up for light breakfast, before departing at 06:15 on a dawn river cruise to search for more wildlife. We will spend 2 hours on the river, before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Afterwards we will head out for a walk on the boardwalk in search of birds, mammals, and pitcher plants. We will then return to the lodge for lunch and some time to rest and work on post processing techniques. At 16:00, head out for another river cruise followed by dinner at lodge. After dinner, we can decide to do another night cruise or night walk.

Take another dawn river cruise to search for more wildlife. Return to the lodge for breakfast and check out. We will head up the river for 1.5 hours to arrive at our next lodge in Sukau.

Check into Sukau Rainforest Lodge and have lunch. In the afternoon, head out for another river safari. The forest is different as you move up the river, and you will see different species of hornbills in this area. Return to the lodge for dinner and then head out on a night walk to focus on macro photography.

Early wake up for another dawn river trip. Return to the lodge for breakfast and downtime.

After lunch, we will take a short boat ride to the village, and then take a 30 minute drive to Gomantong Caves. We will visit the caves which is great for photography and their is an abundance of orangutans and red leaf langurs around the cave. At dusk, a million bats come out from the cave and spiral into the sky. Return in the evening to the lodge for dinner.

Wake up early for breakfast, before departing from the lodge at 7:00 AM to head for Danum Valley.

Drive to Lahad Datu (2 hours), take a short break, and then continue 2-2.5 hours in Danum Valley (15 minutes sealed road, 2 hours dirt road). Danum Valley consists of over 438 sq kilometers of class 1 virgin primary rainforest, with a huge diversity of flora and fauna.

The conservation area is the best place in Borneo to see orangutans in the wild. Arrive at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge for lunch, and then proceed to check in. The lodge is Borneo’s premier 5-star jungle lodges, and is the only resort in the entire conservation area. Head out for a wildlife walk in the afternoon to search for orangutans, gibbons, hornbills, and more! In the evening, head out on a wildlife drive.

Spend 3 full days in Danum Valley with your guide searching for wildlife. Days will be spent with morning and afternoon treks. After dinner activities will alternate between night walks and night drives.

Spend your last day exploring Danum Valley with trekking with your guide, up on the canopy walk, or relaxing in the serene setting.

Depart from the lodge at 1:30 PM, for the 2 hour drive back to Lahad Datu. Depart on your afternoon flight back to Kota Kinabalu (50 minutes) and check into the Hyatt Centric KK.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home