Sabah’s largest waterway is one of only two regions in the world which are inhabited by ten species of primate, and is Borneo’s most popular destination for tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of a wild orangutan.
Most visitors will opt to cruise down the river, combined with the odd trek and overnight stay in a jungle-fringed campground. The river itself is home to freshwater sharks and crocodiles, but If you’re very lucky, you might spot a Bornean elephant on the banks.
The area is also home to the Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project. Although not a tourist-oriented enterprise like Sepilok, the centre may help you source guides should you wish to search for wild orangutans.
Sabah
A guide to spotting orangutans in Sabah
Borneo is the only island in the world that is home to three nations: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesian Kalimantan. Sabah is one of the two Malaysian Borneo states in the northern part of the island. It was part of the British protectorate of North Borneo until 1963...read more
Starting in Kota Kinabalu, travel deep into one of the most remote parts of Sabah state by 4-wheel drive and boat. You’ll travel through the homeland of the Murat people towards Batu Punggul, an 800 ft forest-clad limestone pinnacle and explore caves via underground streams, sleeping under the stars in a comfortable hammock camp.
Spend the night in a longhouse in Batu Punggal and enjoy an evening of Murut hospitality before a morning of light trekking and swimming in local waterfalls.
Travel onto Kabili-Sepilok Forest, renowned for its orchids, ancient trees, its orangutans. Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary before travelling along the Lower Kinabatangan River passing mangroves, wetlands and lush rainforests, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting.
Travel onward to Danum Valley Conservation Area where you’ll enjoy trekking, night drives and night walks and one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in Borneo. Keep watch for wild orangutan, slow loris, gibbons, red leaf langurs, western tarsiers, flying squirrels and maybe even the elusive clouded leopard.
After an early morning transfer and quick flight back to Kota Kinabalu, you’ll head towards the sleepy beaches of Kudat. Relax and rejuvenate on the sleepy beaches of Kudat for a few days before your flight back to the UK.
Beach and Wildlife
Explore Borneo's national parks and beaches
14 daysFrom £3,000
Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Bako National Park, Kinabatangan Wildlife Reserve, Mulu National Park, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Caving, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks
Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Bako National Park, Kinabatangan Wildlife Reserve, Mulu National Park, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
Activity
Luxury, Beach, Family, Adventure, Caving, Hiking & Trekking, Active, Walking, Camping, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks
Tour Type
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Physical Level
Mild
Starting in Kuching, take a guided stroll or cycle to discover the city and its surrounds, learning about Kuching’s history and experience the delicious and varied local food along the way.
Travel by boat to Bako National Park, a pristine rainforest with wildlife, diverse plant life, waterfalls, beaches, rock formations and hiking trails. Visit the Kuching Wetlands, home to a variety of birds, fish and crocodile.
A short morning flight takes you directly from Kuching to Mulu, where you visit the treetop tower for views across the national park, take a stroll along the boardwalk to see waterfalls or follow a short heritage trail.
Explore the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites at Lang Cave before proceeding to Deer Cave and see the colony of free-tailed bats that inhabit the cave. Take a night trek through the jungle to the park headquarters; keep a lookout for nocturnal animals and the flash of fireflies.
Wake up to the sounds of the jungle before taking a short longboat ride to experience Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave. These form part of the Sarawak Chamber - the most extensive connected cave system in the world.
Fly to Kota Kinabalu and choose from a range of activities such as a day trip to Mount Kinabalu National Park or a cycle tour weaving through the countryside around the Kiulu River via a network of rope bridges and easy road trails.
Onto Sandakan where you'll explore the Kinabatangan River with your expert nature guide. The surrounding rainforest is alive with monkey and bird species that the guide will point out during your stay. Whether it's during nocturnal treks, from the comfort of your hotel deck or while cruising to Pitas Oxbow Lake. You're likely to see proboscis monkeys, orangutans and pygmy elephants during your stay here.
Head onto Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park where you'll check-in at Gaya Island Resort where you'll spend the rest of your holiday at leisure, enjoying the beautiful beaches and reflecting on your adventure.
Luxury, Adventure & Boutique Beach
Explore Borneo's beaches and cities
15 daysFrom £3,000
Borneo, Malaysia
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Luxury, Beach, Adventure, Caving, Water Sports, Kayaking, Canoeing, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries
Luxury, Beach, Adventure, Caving, Water Sports, Kayaking, Canoeing, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries
Tour Type
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Physical Level
Easy
Starting your trip in Kuala Lumpur, you can explore China Town, the Jamek Mosque and Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu Temple before heading on to Borneo.
Drift down the Kinabatangan River searching for some of Asia’s best wildlife: wild orangutan, red and silver leaf monkeys and pygmy elephants and get a bird’s eye view of Danum Valley, spotting birds and gibbons.
Explore the countryside around Kota Kinabalu by bike and wonder at the rolling hills, lush forests and small villages before unwinding at Japamala and spending time snorkelling, in the spa or simply reading a book under the shade of the palm trees.
Borneo Highlights and Langkawi beach
15 days exploring Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia
15 daysFrom £3,000
Borneo, Malaysia
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Beach, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries
Beach, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries
Tour Type
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Physical Level
Mild
starting with a two-night stay at Sepilok Nature Resort, the Kabili-Sepilok Forest as well as Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre. From Sepilok you’ll depart on a two-hour journey to the Kinabatangan River, passing local villages and wildlife like elephants, hornbills, gibbons and many species of bird.
A short flight will take you to Mulu National Park to experience to cave chambers in Mulu; they are the largest in the world. Take a guided walk to Lang Cave to see stalactites and stalagmites before continuing to Deer Cave, famous for its bat colony who depart the cave on mass as dusk. Take a longboat ride along the Melinau River to Wind Cave, and a trip to Asia’s longest cave, Clearwater Cave.
Onto Kuching where your guide will take you on a city stroll to learn about local history and to try some of the delicious regional food. Highlights of the day include viewing the Mughal-style pink State mosque and taking a sunset cruise along the Sarawak River.
Explore either Bako National Park or the Kuching Wetlands. Bako is a pristine rainforest just an hour away from the city with wildlife, diverse plant life, waterfalls, beaches and hiking trails where the Kuching Wetlands offers the chance to look for Irrawaddy dolphins in their natural habitat.
Finally, fly to to Langkawi and relax on pristine beaches against a verdant rainforest backdrop before heading home.
Malaysia's Wildlife and Nature Encompassed
Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Gaya Island
20 daysFrom £3,000
Borneo, Malaysia
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Beach, Adventure, Caving, Hiking & Trekking, Water Sports, Kayaking, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities
Beach, Adventure, Caving, Hiking & Trekking, Water Sports, Kayaking, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities
Tour Type
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Physical Level
Mild
Malaysia is a land of extreme beauty and dramatic contrasts, full of natural wonders and wildlife. This itinerary is a medley of Malaysia’s most striking natural surroundings, both inland and on the water taking you to some extraordinary places that not all tourists get to see.
Start in Kuala Lumpur where you can visit highlights like the Batu Caves and the Petronas Towers before heading deep into the jungle to greet its colourful inhabitants and nocturnal creatures in Taman Negara. Head to the east coast where you can visit a turtle sanctuary and enjoy white sand beaches at Tanjong Jara.
Fly onto Kota Kinabalu, Borneo and enjoy getting up close and personal with Borneo’s orangutans, pygmy elephants and primates before finishing your trip snorkelling, swimming and spa-ing to your heart’s content on Gaya Island.
The Contrasts of Malaysia
Experience wildlife and cities in Malaysia
19 daysFrom £3,000
Borneo, Malaysia
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Beach, Adventure, Water Sports, Kayaking, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, Culinary, Food
Beach, Adventure, Water Sports, Kayaking, Active, Walking, Snorkelling, Swimming, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks, Culture, Cities, Museums & Galleries, Culinary, Food
Tour Type
Custom itinerary,
Private guided tour
Physical Level
Mild
starting in Melacca, enjoy cycling through scenic countryside, past rubber plantations and explore Malacca, marvelling at the Dutch, Indian, British and Portuguese legacies that permeate the architecture and street life of the vibrant historic centre.
Transfer to Kuala Lumpur for a two-night stay where you’ll take in the sweeping contemporary buildings, colonial charm and age-old mosques and religious centres before a short flight to Penang. The Evening Street Food tour is a real highlight as well as the half-day “Dim Sum and Street Art” adventure in Georgetown.
Fly to Kuching where you will visit Bako National Park and Mulu National Park. Highlights of Mulu include a Tree Top Walk, beautiful Nature Heritage Trails, Pukau Waterfall, and of course, the caves.
Over three days you’ll explore Kabili-Sepilok Forest, renowned for its orchids, ancient trees, and it's orangutan community before heading to the Kinabatangan River where you’ll pass mangroves, wetlands and lush rainforests with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting.
Head back to Kota Kinabalu and spend your final days spotting sea turtles and spectacular coral on snorkelling expeditions on Gaya Island
Kinabatangan Wildlife Reserve Travel Companies
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South Asia, Southeast Asia
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