Explore the jungles of Borneo from the incredible Sukau Rainforest Lodge, one of National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the World. Cruise the Kinabatangan River, considered the best place to view wildlife in all of Southeast Asia. Spend each day with your expert naturalist guide in search of pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and rhinoceros hornbills. If you're lucky, you may even spot an orangutan in the tree above the lodge!
Highlights
Stay at Sukau Rainforest Lodge, a National Geographic Unique Lodge
Witness Bornean pygmy elephants and orangutans in the wild!
Explore the most wildlife-rich region of Borneo
Cruise the Kinabatangan River with your expert naturalist guide
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Upon arrival at Sandakan Airport meet your friendly guide and captain. Get acquainted before making your way to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where you can learn about the plight of the orangutan and local conservation efforts. A short ten-minute stroll through the rainforest on wooden boardwalks takes you to the viewing platform where you can witness recovering orangutans devour local fruits and interact with one another. If the great apes are feeling particularly friendly, you may even get the chance to see them up close, so be sure to hang onto your belongings!
After lunch, head to the Sandakan jetty and embark on a 2½ hour speedboat journey up the Kinabatangan River to the multi award-winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge, one of National Geographic's Unique Lodges of the World. Keep an eye out for wildlife during the journey! Cool down with a refreshing drink and cold towel upon arrival. After checking in, take a few moments to savor afternoon tea and then head out into the wild on your first river safari.
Every boat is equipped with eco-friendly outboard engines (used along the main river where the current is strong) and an electric motor (used during wildlife viewing in the small tributaries) in search of wildlife and birds. Your position on the river is perfect for photographing mammals, birds, and amphibians along the river bank.
Return to the lodge for a candlelight buffet dinner overlooking the mighty river. Be sure to try on the Malaysian sarong found in your room so you can dine in style! Dinner is followed by a slide show and interpretation by your in-house naturalist guide. Stay overnight at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.
Rise this morning to the sound of a traditional Bornean gong and prepare to catch the rainforest as it wakes up. After a light breakfast, embark on a morning river cruise in search of mammals and birds that are most active in the early morning hours. Keep your eye out for the shy Bornean pygmy elephant on your way to the Kelenanap Oxbow Lake. Return to the lodge and enjoy a full breakfast on the deck, taking time to immerse yourself in your wild surroundings.
After breakfast, continue on an educational walking tour along the lodge's Hornbill Boardwalk with your naturalist guide. If you're itching for more activity, the lodge has many optional activities such as a pampering foot spa treatment, Batik Painting for the family, or a refreshing plunge in the Dip Pool. Following afternoon tea, head out onto the river once again in search of rhinoceros hornbills, blue-eared kingfishers, and pig-tailed macaques. Breathe in the rainforest as you return at sunset from your river cruise. Enjoy a candlelight dinner and overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.
Greet the rainforest early for another morning cruise along the Menanggol River. Your guide uses a silent electric motor to aid in your search for wildlife, however with the waking cacophony of the rainforest, your cruise is hardly silent! Return to the lodge for a full breakfast, then take time to relax or enjoy one of the optional activities.
After lunch, make a 17-mile overland journey to the Gomantong Caves. The caves are surrounded by primary rainforest rich in fruiting fig trees, which make them an ideal place to spot orangutans in the wild. Spend your time exploring the caves and surroundings until sunset, when you are overwhelmed by the exodus of over two million bats heading out for the night! Also witness swiftlets entering the caves to nest and raptors (eagles) swooping in and preying on the bats - a Bornean wildlife experience like no other! Return to Sukau Rainforest Lodge for your overnight stay.
After breakfast, return to Sandakan by boat. With luck catch another glimpse of the Bornean pygmy elephant on your way downriver! Upon arrival back in Sandakan, visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre which has an impressive collection of native Bornean plants and is home to countless birds. Climb up to the canopy walkway and watchtower before exploring the botanical gardens, home to various species of flora including orchids and the famed Bornean Nepenthes pitcher plants.
For those interested, proceed to the Sandakan Memorial Park, built to remember lost POWs during World War II. Return to the Sandakan airport for your evening flight.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$8692-3 travelers
Select a Date
Superior
Homey with a unique Bornean touch, our Superior Room is ideal for any travelling group. Complete with essential amenities, guests can still enjoy the wonders of nature and wildlife whilst being in the middle of Borneo’s rainforest.
En-suite bathroom with solar-heated hot shower
Twin beds or Queen sized bed
Study desk
Air conditioning and ceiling fan
Towels and room amenities
Hair dryer
Tea coffee making facilities
Select a Date
Villa
Get a taste of luxury in the midst of the Bornean Rainforest when they stay at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Our 20 new units of villas exudes exotic Borneo vibes and lush comfort to further heighten guests’ experience whilst being in the great wilderness- Perfect for those who want to experience the finer side of Sukau.
En-suite bathroom with solar-heated hot shower
Twin beds or Queen sized bed
Study desk
Air conditioning and ceiling fan
Towels and room amenities
Safety box
Hair dryer
Private Balcony
Tea coffee making facilities and a mini bar
2 units of our Borneo Villa are wheel chair friendly
Initial deposit is 50%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Lisa Bridge
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.