Start your 5-day Borneo Wildlife Safari Expedition in Sandakan, by visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Witness orangutans and other wildlife before heading to Sukau Rainforest Lodge via a scenic boat ride. Enjoy river cruises along the Kinabatangan River, nature walks, and evening presentations by naturalist guides. Next, travel to Lahad Datu and stay at the Utan Rainforest Lodge nestled in the Virgin Jungle Reserve of Sungai Kapur. Explore Gomantong Caves, enjoy sunset cruises, and embark on night safaris. Discover the unique flora and fauna through guided hikes and river cruises, relax in comfortable lodges with modern amenities, and experience the magic of Borneo's rainforests. Conclude your journey with a transfer back to Lahad Datu for your departure.
Highlights
Visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and witness orangutan feeding
Discover Borneo's wildlife and birds on a late afternoon river cruise
Explore Gomantong Caves for wildlife encounters and bat exodus experience
Hike to photograph Borneo's endemic birds at Cuckoo Hide
Moderately active but not overly strenuous. This level includes activities like casual cycling, yoga, or excursions/activities that typically last 3-5 hours total each day.
The adventure starts with a pick-up from Sandakan Airport or your hotel in Sandakan, followed by a trip to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch a brief video detailing the rehabilitation efforts at the center. Head to the feeding platform to see orangutans and other monkeys during feeding time. Visit the enclosed nursery area to observe the playful young orangutans.
After lunch, travel by speedboat up the Kinabatangan River for a 2.5-hour journey to Sukau Rainforest Lodge.
Once you check-in, embark on a late afternoon cruise to spot Borneo's wildlife and birds. Enjoy a delicious dinner at Melapi restaurant upon your return, and end the day with a slide presentation and informative talk by a naturalist guide.
Start the day with an early morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake to spot more birds and wildlife. Afterward, return to the lodge for breakfast and then take a nature walk along the Hornbill and Attenborough Boardwalks with the lodge's naturalist.
The rest of the morning is free for leisure. Use this time to explore on your own or relax by the lodge’s dip pool after lunch.
Visit the newly refurbished Ape Gallery for an informative Ape Talk by the in-house naturalist.
In the afternoon, travel to Gomantong Caves and explore the complex cave system, which is the largest limestone outcrop in the Lower Kinabatangan and home to diverse wildlife. For a unique experience, climb the stairs to Simud Putih and witness the bat exodus from the platform.
Return to Sukau Rainforest Lodge for dinner at Melapi Restaurant, followed by a peaceful night’s rest.
Begin your day by checking out early and embarking on a 2.5-hour overland travel to Lahad Datu, where a stopover is scheduled for registration. From there, continue on a 2.5-hour overland drive to reach the new ecolodge, Utan Rainforest Lodge, featuring 14 air-conditioned rooms nestled within the Virgin Jungle Reserve (VJR) of Sungai Kapur.
Enjoy the amenities including ensuite bathrooms with heated showers, a covered restaurant, an open deck, a dip pool, and a bar and gift corner (to be completed by July 1st).
Upon arrival, receive a warm welcome with a facility briefing, followed by a delicious lunch and check-in.
Explore the flora and fauna of Sungai Kapur’s Virgin Jungle Reserve with an introductory walk near the lodge. As the day progresses, embark on a sunset river cruise for wildlife sightings and a captivating estuary sunset. If the weather permits, witness a light show of fireflies during the return journey to the lodge for dinner.
After dinner, embark on a night safari drive for an opportunity to encounter the nocturnal wildlife inhabiting the surrounding forest.
Start your day by waking up to the sounds of gibbons and hornbills echoing through the rainforest. After a quick breakfast, embark on a short morning hike. Engage fully with your surroundings and feel your heart race as you visit the Cuckoo Hide to capture photos of Borneo's endemic birds and other birdlife.
Return to the lodge to freshen up before enjoying a hearty breakfast at the restaurant.
After breakfast, weather and sea conditions permitting, set out on a river cruise adventure along the coastline, exploring the Segama River and its mangrove forest. Keep a lookout for wildlife such as flying foxes, eagles, and dolphins.
Head back to the lodge to relax and rejuvenate before lunch.
Explore the lodge further at the information gallery, browse for souvenirs (to be completed by July 1st), enjoy premium in-house beverages at the restaurant, and take a refreshing dip in the dip pool to cool off.
As the sun sets, treat yourself to a delicious dinner before embarking on a night walk around the lodge. Experience the tranquility of the night and watch for nocturnal creatures like civets, leopard cats, mouse deer, and moonrats that come alive after dark.
Return to the lodge for a peaceful night's sleep.
Day 5: Return Home
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Wake up to the vibrant sounds of the jungle and indulge in a satisfying breakfast. Take advantage of your free time to relax and unwind before enjoying a delicious lunch. Afterward, prepare for your departure to Lahad Datu in time for your late afternoon 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.
$1,3292-3 travelers
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
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
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
4 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 4 Dinners
4 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
English Speaking Guide
This tour package rates include pick-up and drop-off from Sandakan Airport and drop-off at Lahad Datu. Additional charge per person applies for pick-up and drop-off outside this area and pick up time may vary.
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
RM10 per room per night mandatory Tourism Tax in Malaysia collected by cash upon check-in.
This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Karen Snider
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
3 days ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
3 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
3 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.