Sabah Tours & Trips
4.6 stars on(8,880 reviews)- Choose from 41 Sabah tours
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The best Sabah tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaSabah travel expert at TourRadar
- Sandakan Orangutan Experience 4D/3N
- Highlights of Sabah & Mt Kinabalu
- Real Borneo (12 destinations)
- Kuala Lumpur & Borneo Explorer - 11 days
- Classic Borneo (from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu)
- Journeys: Best of Borneo National Geographic Journeys
- ESCORTED BORNEO ADVENTURE - PREMIUM TOUR
- BORNEO MALAYSIA DISCOVERY TOUR
- Borneo Adventure
- Customized 10 Days Malaysia Borneo Wildlife Adventure, Daily Start
Sandakan Orangutan Experience 4D/3N
8 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Insightful, knowledgeable and attentive, Elod made the experience all the more better. We had an excellent time and made memories that lasted a lifetime.”
Mandy, traveled in June
Observe Sabah's wildlife at Sepilok Orangutan Centre and sun bear sanctuary. Watch endemic species from Bilit Adventure Lodge along Kinabatangan River. Hike through Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and visit Sandakan's cultural sites including Buddhist temples.
Duration 4 days Destinations Sandakan Age Range Ages 10+ Operator Bamba Travel From
- NZ$1,213
Highlights of Sabah & Mt Kinabalu
16 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We had an amazing time on our adventure in Borneo. We had a great group of people with us.”
Lynn, traveled in March
Sabah's natural treasures range from Sepilok Orangutan Centre to Mt Kinabalu's 4,095m peak. Wildlife viewing on Kinabatangan River, conservation work at Turtle Island, and cultural immersion at Tambatuon village create lasting memories. Jungle lodges, guided safaris, and morning summit climb included.
Duration 11 days Destinations Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sandakan, Pulau Libaran, Mount Kinabalu National Park Age Range Ages 12+ Operator G Adventures From $3,919
20% Off- NZ$3,135You save $784
Duration 10 days Destinations Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, Sepilok, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Kota Belud Age Range Ages 18-35 Operator Intrepid Travel From $1,745
20% Off- NZ$1,396You save $349
Duration 11 days Destinations Kuala Lumpur, Sandakan, Sepilok, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Kota Kinabalu Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator On The Go Tours From $3,995
10% Off- NZ$3,596You save $400
Journey through Sabah's highlights with orangutan encounters at Sepilok and wildlife cruises on Kinabatangan River. Mix jungle lodges with 5 nights in hotels and 2 nights at beach resorts, while exploring from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu. Visit the Everything Pineapple community project in Kampung Kiau and snorkel Manukan Island's coral reefs.
Duration 10 days Destinations Sandakan, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Kundasang, Kota Kinabalu, Manukan Island Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Travel From $4,245
15% Off- NZ$3,608You save $637
Journeys: Best of Borneo National Geographic Journeys
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great tour, well organized.”
Ross, traveled in May
Wildlife viewing awaits at Sepilok Orangutan Centre and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Boat tours on Kinabatangan River reveal pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys. Nighttime safaris at Tabin Wildlife Reserve complement stays in rainforest lodges throughout this wildlife-rich region.
Duration 12 days Destinations Kuching, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sukau, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Age Range Ages 12+ Operator National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures From $6,839
25% Off- NZ$5,129You save $1,710
Duration 10 days Destinations Sandakan, Sukau, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching Age Range Ages 35+ Operator Tweet World Travel From
25% Off- NZ$5,013
Duration 10 days Destinations Sandakan, Sepilok, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sukau, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching Age Range Ages 35+ Operator Tweet World Travel From
25% Off- NZ$4,892
Explore Sabah's wildlife treasures at Sepilok sanctuary and along Kinabatangan River. Watch turtles nest on Selingan Island and spot pygmy elephants during river safaris. Includes comfortable accommodation and expert wildlife guides throughout the journey.
Duration 9 days Destinations Kuching, Bako National Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Pulau Selangan, Sepilok, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Age Range Ages 18-45 Operator Contiki From $4,477
10% Off- NZ$4,029+$447 upfront costsYou save $448
Kota Kinabalu's State Mosque opens this tour of Sandakan's wildlife sanctuaries. Visits include Sepilok's orangutan center, Kinabatangan River's wetlands, and Danum Valley's rainforest. Luxury awaits at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort near Dalit Beach.
Duration 10 days Destinations Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sepilok, Sukau, Lahad Datu, Danum Valley Conservation Area Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Agate Travel From
10% Off- NZ$11,731
What people love about Sabah Tours
- Sandakan Orangutan Experience 4D/3N
The next best offering would be a jungle trek with a small group to see Orangurans in the wild - I would pay a premium for this as would all my extreme traveling friends.
- Real Borneo
This trip was so much fun! It was really well coordinated with the right amount of free time. The first hotel in kota kinabalu is extremely nice but there are heaps of other cheaper hotels quite close if you're staying an extra day. If you want to see the city, stay an extra day or two as you don't get much time included in the tour. 1-2 days in KK would be enough as it's pretty small. Sepilok is really cool and there are heaps of things to do, however a lot of them are guided tours and they cost quite a bit. If you're trying to save, you could just opt to stay at the hotel as it has a pool and a restaurant. Wifi is only in the restaurant area and rooms have fans, no air con. Next is the eco camp which is really cool as it's right in the middle of the jungle. There are SO many mosquitos so don't think you can get away without repellant. Bring snacks as there's no where to get food outside of meal times. You'll probably also want lots of loose, long clothes to avoid sunburn. The tree planting you do here was pretty average but I guess cool to see. At lunch we got to do a cooking class which was pretty cool. The Batu Tulug caves were nice and worth a visit. The homestay depends a lot on your family but it's great to see how locals live. There's no wifi here or on the river at the eco camp, so if you need to check more than once every couple of days, get a local sim (they're pretty cheap anyway). Next you stay in the Kinabalu national park, which was bloody great for us because we got upgraded to this really fancy room. Once again there's no wifi and you have to buy something at a really expensive restaurant to use it. Food is all buffet here which is really fun. The hike was awesome and you can read reviews on it elsewhere, but some things specific to geckos might put some people off this tour. Firstly, we had some people on our group who had chronic medical conditions such as asthma. They were only told the day before the climb that they wouldn't be covered by insurance and if they wanted to climb it would be at their own risk. If you have something like this, it would be worth getting more comprehensive insurance and clarifying what this means for you with geckos before you go, as only learning about this the day before doesn't allow much time for decision making. Secondly, our group leader decided that we wouldn't go all the way to the summit as the weather was really bad. This was fine as we still got to base camp and got to do another smaller walk, and it's totally understandable of our group leader to put our safety first. However, a lot of other people went to the summit regardless (ie people not on our tour) and so if you're really really keen to get to the top, there's a risk you won't be able to with this tour. The poring hot springs were awesome as there are heaps of things to do there, but mostly the beds are comfortable which you'll need after the hike! The small waterfall (you'll find out when you get there) is awesome and definitely worth the 15 minute walk. The hot springs themselves are sort of gross, especially at the end of the day, as they get sort of dirty and you can see hair in them! So it's worth getting a private spa. There's also no wifi here but local cafes (ie across the road from the resort) have it. It's best to eat there too as the restaurant at the resort is really expensive. On the last day we didn't get back to KK until about 5pm and our guide organised a snorkelling trip for those of us who were still there for the next day which was really really good. Our tour guide, Felix, was absolutely awesome and was so passionate about Sabah and wildlife. This tour is a really comprehensive tour of Sabah and you get to see so much. It may seem expensive per day but we had a lot of transfers (including a flight) and got to climb Mt Kinabalu, and some of the hotels were a lot nicer than expected. One thing to keep in mind is that Malaysia is a Muslim country and for us they were celebrating ramadan at the time. This meant that a few restaurants were closed but we always found somewhere to go. We also got to experience the ramadan bazaars which were really cool! However it would have been marginally easier to go at a different time of year. This is also a great introduction into hiking and wildlife types of holidays if you haven't done that before. Sabah is a great place to travel and this tour makes it really easy and shows you the best bits.
- Journeys: Best of Borneo National Geographic Journeys
Great tour, well organized.
What our customers ask about Sabah Tours & Trips
When is the best time to visit Sabah for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities?
The dry season from March to October offers prime conditions for wildlife viewing in Sabah especially along the Kinabatangan River where visitors regularly spot orangutans proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants. The weather during March-May and September-October creates good conditions for jungle treks and beach activities with temperatures hovering around 30°C and minimal rainfall. Visitors to Sukau Rainforest Lodge often report successful wildlife sightings as one guest noted "We were really looking forward to this trip and it didn't disappoint. The orangutans were amazing as well as everything else we saw."
What type of accommodation can I expect on a general tour in Sabah?
Sabah's accommodations span from urban hotels to remote jungle lodges. Most itineraries include stays at properties like the 4-star Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort in Kota Kinabalu and nature-focused options such as Sukau Rainforest Lodge on the Kinabatangan River. According to guest feedback "The Bilit Adventure Lodge was much better with staff who were friendly and helpful." While city properties offer full amenities jungle accommodations provide simpler but clean and comfortable facilities focused on the natural surroundings.
How long should I plan to stay in Sabah for a comprehensive experience?
An 8-10 day stay allows visitors to experience Sabah's key destinations without rushing. This timeline typically includes 2-3 days in Kota Kinabalu 2 days at Sepilok's wildlife sanctuaries 2-3 days along the Kinabatangan River and time for island visits to Manukan or Dinawan. Previous travelers confirm this timing with one noting "The absolute perfect length to see the best of Borneo." This schedule balances wildlife viewing cultural experiences and relaxation time.
What's the best way to experience local culture in Sabah?
Local culture in Sabah comes alive through village visits and community interactions. Visitors can explore traditional Dusun villages near Mount Kinabalu the Mari Mari Cultural Village outside Kota Kinabalu and rural life in Kampung Bilit. Many tours feature cooking classes cultural shows and visits to local markets including Nabalu Market. As one traveler shared: "The locations visited local knowledge shared local people introduced to and experiences I had were all memorable."
How do the river cruises in Kinabatangan work?
Kinabatangan River cruises operate from riverside lodges like the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. Each cruise runs for 2-3 hours with dawn and dusk trips scheduled around peak wildlife activity. The boats provide comfortable seating life jackets and small group sizes ensuring clear wildlife viewing. One traveler noted "the boat rides with local guides make for a thrilling adventure." Expert guides help spot wildlife including pygmy elephants orangutans and various monkey species.
How are the dining experiences on Sabah tours?
Food options in Sabah range from local Malaysian dishes to international cuisine. Kota Kinabalu presents numerous seafood restaurants while remote lodges like Sukau Rainforest Lodge serve set meals with regional specialties. Most tours include daily breakfast with additional meals provided at river lodges where dining alternatives are limited. Guest feedback suggests variety can be limited with one noting: "The meals are great but also very repetitive. I found myself getting pretty tired of the food by the end."