Overview
Destination:
Malaysia,
Start:Sandakan, Malaysia
Finish:Kuching, Malaysia
Finish:Kuching, Malaysia
Duration:11 days
Type:Group tour (max 45)
Tripcode:
145733
Travel Period
May 2027 - October 2027
Explore Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, on a Borneo journey that brings you closer to rainforest wildlife, river life, island shores and local communities. See orangutans in two conservation settings, look for proboscis monkeys in Bako National Park and cruise the Kinabatangan River by day and after dark. You’ll taste coffee with the Dusun community, stay deep in protected wetlands and continue to Kuching for local food, riverfront views and a warm welcome into Bidayuh village life.
Sightseeing highlights
- Discover Sandakan, Sepilok, Kinabatangan, Kundasang and Kota Kinabalu
- Visit orangutan and sun bear sanctuaries, the Kinabatangan River, rainforest canopy walkways, Mount Kinabalu foothills and Ara Dinawan Island
- Explore Kuching and Bako National Park
- Visit Agnes Keith House and the Dusan community
Iconic Experience
- Sepilok: Meet the world’s smallest bear at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, guided by founder and CEO Dr Wong. Learn how his team rescues and cares for sun bears threatened by habitat loss and the illegal pet trade, and see how each bear is given space to climb, forage and behave more naturally.
- Sepilok: Explore the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve from suspension bridges and a 147-metre canopy walkway, with the rainforest rising around you. Look across the treetops, watch for rare birds and see the scale of Borneo’s lowland forest from above, where every sound, branch and movement draws you further into this protected habitat.
- Kinabatangan River: Glide along the Kinabatangan River with your guide helping you scan the banks, branches and shallows for Borneo’s Big Five: orangutan, proboscis monkey, pygmy elephant, rhinoceros hornbill and crocodile. From the water, you’ll see why this river is one of Sabah’s great wildlife corridors, linking rainforest, wetlands and mangrove habitats.
- Kinabatangan River: See the Kinabatangan after dark, when the river feels completely different. With your guide, scan the banks and branches for civets, flying foxes, palm civets and owls, using the boat’s quiet pace to pick up small movements, eye shine and the sounds that carry across the water after sunset.
- Sandakan: Step inside Agnes Keith House, the restored hilltop home of the American writer who wrote about life in North Borneo before and after the Second World War. Through its rooms, photographs and gardens, you’ll see Sandakan’s past through one family’s experience of this former British North Borneo capital.
- Sandakan: Sit down to lunch at the English Tea House, set beside Agnes Keith House on a hill above Sandakan. Expect colonial-style surroundings, garden views and a menu that nods to the city’s British North Borneo past, with familiar tea house favourites served in one of Sandakan’s best-known dining spots.
- At the Everything Pineapple Project, see how local pineapple is turned into handmade jams, chutneys and juices. Browse the products, taste the sweet and sharp flavours and learn how this small project uses a crop grown across Sabah in ways that support local makers.
- Kota Kinabalu: Get to know Kota Kinabalu through the places that shape Sabah’s capital. Visit the city mosque, pass the Atkinson Clock Tower and stop at a local market, seeing how coastal life, faith, trade and daily routines sit side by side in one of Borneo’s busiest cities.
- Ara Dinawan Island: Enjoy time away from the city on a small stretch of Sabah’s coast known for clear shallows and coral close to shore. Take the pace you want here, from quiet beach time to optional activities on the water, with space to enjoy the island without feeling rushed.
- Ara Dinawan Island: Enjoy a private beach barbecue lunch on Ara Dinawan Island, with grilled seafood, chicken, fresh salads, tropical fruit and cold drinks served close to the water. After time on the beach or in the sea, sit down with your fellow travellers and enjoy what’s been cooked over the grill.
- Kuching: Explore Kuching with your Travel Director, walking through a city shaped by river trade, Malay, Chinese and colonial influences. See the cat statue and cat fountain, visit a Chinese temple, follow the river promenade and view the mosque before sitting down to Sarawak laksa, a local favourite made with noodles, coconut, spices and fresh herbs.
- Bako National Park: Explore Sarawak’s oldest national park and one of the best places to see Borneo’s habitats packed into a small area. Your guide will help you understand how rainforest, mangroves, cliffs and beaches support different species, from long-nosed proboscis monkeys to plants that survive in poor coastal soil.
- Semenggoh: See rehabilitated orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Conservation Centre, where those once orphaned or rescued are released into the surrounding forest. You’ll watch for them moving through the trees and feeding nearby, while learning how the centre gives orangutans space to live more freely in their natural environment.
- Visit a Bidayuh longhouse and meet a community whose traditions are tied to shared living, food and family life. Sit down to a home-cooked lunch, see a community dance and explore the longhouse, learning how its spaces bring generations together under one roof.
Dive Into Culture
- Sandakan: Follow Sandakan’s streets with your Travel Director and taste the flavours locals know well. Try roti kosong, a plain flatbread often served with curry, kueh, colourful bite-sized cakes or sweets and teh tarik, Malaysia’s pulled milk tea known for its frothy top.
- Try playing Sarawakian instruments with members of the Bidayuh community guiding you. Hear how the rhythms support local dance and celebration, then have a go yourself as your hosts show you how the instruments are held, played and used in community life.
What's Included
- 7 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 8 Lunch (L)
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
Dates & Pricing
Select your preferred date or enquire
Your Itinerary
Welcome to Sandakan
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Orangutans and Sun Bears of Borneo
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Cruise into Kinabatangan
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Borneo’s Big Five by River
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Through Borneo Countryside to Kundasang
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Meet Coffee Growers and on to Kota Kinabalu
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Clear Waters of Ara Dinawan Island
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Fly to Kuching
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Discover Bako National Park
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Semenggoh Orangutans and Bidayuh Culture
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Farewell Kuching
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Travel Partner
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Tripcode: YBOKM27
Price from
$6,088*
per person*
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