Wild Tour
5D/4N
Overview
Sandakan serves as a gateway to some of the most remarkable wildlife experiences in Southeast Asia. The Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is a thriving habitat for numerous exotic and endangered species, including proboscis monkeys, Sumatran rhinos, and Asian elephants. The Kinabatangan River is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth and boasts the highest concentration of wildlife in the region.
Cruising along the Kinabatangan River offers a journey of discovery through the stunning mangrove forests, revealing the richness and majesty of this unique environment.
Further inland, the Danum Valley Conservation Area stands as one of the last remaining strongholds of pristine tropical rainforest. With its untouched flora and fauna, it is truly a naturalist’s paradise.
Tour at a Glance
Day 1: Sandakan – Abai
Pick-up from Sandakan/Sepilok or airport. Visit Sepilok Orangutan Centre and Sun Bear Centre. Boat cruise to Abai Jungle Lodge. Afternoon wildlife cruise and night firefly cruise. Night nature walk.
Day 2: Abai – Sukau
Morning cruise to Pitas Oxbow Lake. Visit Abai Village and join local activities. Cruise to Sukau. Afternoon wildlife cruise on Menanggul River.
Day 3: Sukau – Danum Valley
Transfer to Lahad Datu and continue to Danum Valley. Nature trek and canopy walk. Night drive for nocturnal wildlife.
Day 4: Danum Valley
Morning trek to Coffin Cliff and viewpoint. Afternoon jungle trek or tubing. Night walk for nocturnal wildlife.
Day 5: Danum Valley – Lahad Datu
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to Lahad Datu Airport.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Sandakan – Abai
08:00 – 08:10 hrs: Pick-up from hotel in Sandakan (09:00 hrs if pick-up is from Sepilok) or meet upon arrival at Sandakan Airport (preferably on AK6492 or MH2042). Proceed with a 30-minute drive to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
Upon arrival, visit the feeding platform in the free-roaming area.
10:00 hrs: Witness the feeding of the Orangutans. Observe these fascinating primates, our closest relatives, as they undergo rehabilitation to return to the wild in their natural habitat. Enjoy a guided walk through the tropical lowland Dipterocarp forest of Borneo.
Next, visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, dedicated to improving the living conditions of rescued sun bears and enabling them to exhibit natural behaviours within a 2.5-hectare enclosed forest.
11:15 hrs: Depart Sepilok and transfer to the jetty in Sandakan for a scheduled boat departure at 12:00 noon. Enjoy a one-hour boat cruise up the Lower Kinabatangan River Sanctuary. Upon arrival, lunch will be served at the Abai Jungle Restaurant.
This scenic river journey begins in the Sulu Sea off Sandakan town and continues through lush mangrove forests.
Check-in at Abai Jungle Lodge.
Late Afternoon: Embark on a river cruise in search of wildlife as the sun sets. Enjoy coffee on the boat. As night falls, continue your cruise to witness fireflies lighting up the trees like Christmas lights. Return to the lodge for dinner.
After Dinner: Join a guided night walk along the lodge’s nature boardwalk to spot nocturnal wildlife such as birds, snakes, and insects, accompanied by a nature guide.
Pick-up Time:
08:00 hrs (Sandakan town)
09:00 hrs (Sepilok)
Approximate duration of the visits:
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: 1 hour
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre: 45 minutes
- Sepilok Orangutan to Sandakan Jetty: 27km / 35 minutes
- Sandakan Jetty to Abai Jungle Lodge: 1 hour
- Late afternoon cruise: 1 ½ - 2 hours, sometimes will continue for another 30 mins straight for fireflies. If no fireflies then will go back to lodge and go again later.
- Night cruise fireflies watching: 30 minutes/1 hour
- Guided night walk at nature boardwalk: 45 minutes/1 hour
Approximate distances:
- Sandakan Airport/City to Sepilok Orang Utan: 17 km / 30 minutes
- On boat cruise up to the Lower Kinabatangan River Sanctuary: 1 hour
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Abai Jungle Lodge
Day 2: Abai – Sukau
6:30 hours: Wake up by the calls of nature. Early morning take a river trip to Pitas Oxbow Lake to observe wildlife and experience the unique of Pitas Oxbow Lake.
After breakfast (10:00 hours), briefing about the tree planting project, which was specially designed to help the locals. You are invited to join The Most Beautiful House Competition, enjoy a simple lunch arranged by the villagers at Abai Village.
After lunch, cruise up river to Sukau village in search of primates especially the wild orangutan, birds, pygmy elephant and other wildlife. Arrive Sukau, check in at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge. Late afternoon, take another river cruise to Menanggul River, a small tributary of the Kinabatangan. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.
Approximate duration of visits and distances:
- Morning cruise to Pitas Oxbow Lake: 1.5 hours / 2 hours
- Briefing on tree planting/ The Most Beautiful House Competition/Village walk & lunch at Abai Village: 2 ½ hours
- Cruise from Abai Jungle Lodge to Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge: 1 hours 15 minutes
- Late afternoon cruise to Menanggul River: 1.5 hours/2 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge
Day 3: Sukau–Lahad Datu
06.30 hours: After breakfast, transfer to Lahad Datu town and proceed to Borneo Nature Tours office for registration and briefing.
09.30 hours: Depart for 2.5 hours overland journey on gravel road to Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge. This is the largest protected area of lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Sabah, covering 43800 hectares
12.00 hours: Arrive at Borneo Rainforest Lodge and be welcomed by an exotic “Welcome Drink” while the Front Office personnel brief you on the facilities available at the lodge. Check in and lunch at the lodge.
14.30 hours: Slide presentation at Conference Room
15.00 hours: Afternoon Trek: Introduction to the forest through “Nature Trails” and tree top “Canopy Walkway” 300m in length and 26m at the highest point, for a close-up observation of the rainforest (approximately 2 hours)
19.00 hours: Dinner at the lodge
20.30 hours: Night Drive in an open-top vehicle in search of nocturnal animal. Overnight at Borneo Rainforest Lodge (approximately 1 hour)
Approximate distances:
- From Lahad Datu town to Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge: 2.5 hours
- Sukau to Borneo Nature Tours Office LDU: 127 km / 3 hours
- Borneo Nature Tours Office LDU to Borneo Rainforest Lodge: 84 km / 2.5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Day 4: Lahad Datu
07:00 hrs: Breakfast at the lodge.
09:00 hrs: Morning Jungle Trek – Begin with a trek to the Kadazandusun burial site known as the “Coffin Cliff,” followed by a visit to the “View -Point” for a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding rainforest. (Duration: approximately 2 hours)
12:30 hrs: Lunch at the lodge.
15:00 hrs: Afternoon Jungle Trek or enjoy a relaxing session of tubing down the Danum River, depending on weather and water conditions. (Duration: approximately 1.5 hours)
19:00 hrs: Dinner at the lodge.
20:30 hrs: Night Walk – Explore the rainforest in search of nocturnal wildlife. (Duration: approximately 1 hour)
Overnight at Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Day 5: Lahad Datu
07:00 hrs: Breakfast at the lodge. Guests are free at leisure.
12:00 hrs: Lunch at the lodge.
13:30 hrs: Check out and depart for Lahad Datu Airport. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours by road.
Suggested Flights to Book:
Kota Kinabalu – Sandakan (BKI/SDK): MH2042 – ETD 07:00 / ETA 07:40
Lahad Datu – Kota Kinabalu (LDU/BKI): MH3023 – ETD 17:30 / ETA 18:25
Airfare:
BKI/SDK & LDU/BKI: *RM680.00 nett per person/ticket (*TBC)
Flights can be booked directly with your international flight ticket.
If air tickets are booked through us, a Domestic Airfare (DA) handling fee of RM32.00 nett per ticket will be applied.
Note: Airfares and flight schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
Approximate Distance:
From Borneo Rainforest Lodge to Lahad Datu Airport: 84 km / 2.5 hours
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
PRICE: The price is subject to your travel dates and the number of people traveling. The itinerary can be customized according to your preferences. Contact us for detailed quotation!
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