Borneo Big Five Wildlife Expedition

The journey begins at Sandakan airport or your accommodation. Your next destination is the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, where you can learn about the center's rehabilitation efforts through a video. You will then visit the feeding platform to observe the orangutans being fed at 10 AM daily. In the secure nursery area, you can watch the playful young infants. You then visit the Sun Bear Conservation Center to learn about the world's smallest bears. After lunch, you board a speedboat for a 2.5-hour journey up the Kinabatangan River to the Sukau Rainforest Lodge. After check-in, you go on an evening cruise to search for Borneo's wildlife and birds. The night is spent at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Note: Remember to arrive in Sandakan no later than 0800 hours. Or, if that's not an option, it's advised to fly in and spend the night in Sandakan or Sepilok before the tour starts.

Rise early for a morning Kinabatangan River cruise upstream to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake to spot more birds and wildlife. After breakfast, join the lodge's naturalist on a nature walk along the Hornbill Boardwalk. The afternoon is free. Embark on another river trip to see additional animals. Spend the night at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Embark on an early-morning river cruise along the Menanggol River using a silent electric motor to search for animals, waking up to the sounds of the rainforest before returning for breakfast. Relax or participate in extra activities. After lunch, travel 27 kilometers overland to the Gomantong Cave, surrounded by a primary rainforest rich in fruiting wild figs, providing the perfect location to see orangutans in the wild. Spend time exploring the cave and its surroundings until dusk, when over two million bats migrate out for the night and swiftlets come to nest, with raptors (eagles) swooping in to catch prey. Return to the Sukau Rainforest Lodge for an overnight stay.

Depart early from Sukau Rainforest Lodge and travel overland to Lahad Datu. This drive takes approximately 2 hours. From the town, take a scenic drive up Mount Silam to Menara Kayangan. From this panoramic lookout, sweeping views of Darvel Bay and its scattering of emerald islands stretch out below. Continuing to Tumunong Hallu Jetty, step aboard a boat bound for the Blue Rings Reef, Malaysia's only known double marine blue hole. Here, you have the opportunity to snorkel over coral gardens alongside abundant marine life in a rare underwater environment. The coastal exploration goes further to Pulau Baik, where a sunken 1980s Japanese cargo vessel now serves as a thriving marine sanctuary for a second snorkeling session. A relaxed seaside lunch follows, providing time to swim or lounge on the beach with a tropical drink. As the late afternoon approaches, travel inland toward the pristine Danum Valley Conservation Area. Upon arrival, settle into the Borneo Rainforest Lodge to rest before the evening activities. As dusk falls, step into the heart of the jungle on a guided night walk or drive, offering a first glimpse of the nocturnal wildlife dwelling within this ancient forest

Start the morning by exploring the dense forest for native birds and mammals. As you hike deeper into the jungle, the trail leads up to a natural escarpment holding ancient burial coffins. From this historical site, continue trekking toward a nearby waterfall, taking time for a refreshing dip in the clear rock pools. Afterward, make your way back to Borneo Rainforest Lodge for lunch. The afternoon offers the chance to head back outside and investigate even more trails winding through the reserve before settling in for a peaceful evening.

Take an optional early morning walk through the forest. After breakfast, enjoy some free time before checking out from Borneo Rainforest Lodge. A return transfer brings you to Lahad Datu for a late-afternoon flight back to Kota Kinabalu.