Itinerary
- Day 1
Sandakan
You'll be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel in Sandakan. After you check in, the afternoon is yours to explore the town however you'd like. By evening, head down to the lobby to meet everyone else in your group, then you'll all head out for a welcome dinner together.
- Start point
- Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia (Airport)
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner)
Included Activities
- Welcome Dinner
Optional Activities
- Explore Sandakan
- Day 2
Sandakan
Your day starts at 8am when a pickup takes you to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. You'll watch the orangutan feeding at 10am and check out the nursery, then walk through the tropical forest. Next stop is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to see rescued sun bears in their natural setting. After lunch, you'll visit Sandakan War Memorial Park to learn about the area's World War II history. The rest of your evening is free back at the hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre visit and observation
- Tropical Lowland Dipterocarp Forest walk
- Orang Utan feeding at 10:00am at feeding platform
- Orang Utan Nursery visit
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre visit
- Sandakan War Memorial Park visit
Landmarks Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Sandakan War Memorial Park - Day 3
Sandakan to Kinabatangan Wetlands
Check out by 11am and head to Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty for your 12pm departure to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort. The 1.5-hour boat ride takes you through river vegetation where you'll spot birds and wildlife. After lunch and a briefing at the resort, you'll head out for an afternoon river expedition looking for animals. Later at dusk, there's time for photography, and if conditions are right, you can photograph fireflies. After dinner, take a night walk along the boardwalks to spot nocturnal creatures and insects.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat cruise to Kinabatangan Wetlands (1.5 hours)
- Afternoon river expedition wildlife search
- River landscape and firefly photography
- Night boardwalk stroll for nocturnal wildlife observation
- Skipper briefing on activities and clothing recommendations
Landmarks Kinabatangan River Kinabatangan Wetlands - Day 4
Kinabatangan Wetlands
Your early start is 6:30am for a morning cruise to see wildlife and birds, including a stop at the ox-bow lake Danau Pitas where you'll have a packed breakfast. Then you'll visit Kampung Abai fishing village to meet the indigenous Orang Sungai people and observe how they live. Back at the resort you'll have breakfast and leisure time. In the late afternoon, join another cruise looking for mangrove species and more wildlife. After dinner comes a night river safari to spot animals active after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Packed breakfast snack during morning cruise), Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Early morning cruise at 6:30am for wildlife and birdlife observation
- Ox-bow lake Danau Pitas visit
- Packed breakfast snack during morning cruise
- Local fishing village Kampung Abai visit with indigenous Orang Sungai tribe interaction
- Late afternoon river cruise for mangrove and wildlife observation
- Night river safari
Landmarks Danau Pitas Kampung Abai - Day 5
Kinabatangan Wetlands to Kota Kinabalu
Start with breakfast, then take some time on the nature boardwalk around the lodge before checking out at 10am. The 1.5-hour boat ride back to Sandakan passes fishing villages and gives you chances to photograph the seafront. From the jetty, a transfer takes you to Sandakan Airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. When you arrive, you'll be driven to your hotel to check in and relax. Dinner is at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Nature boardwalk exploration around lodge
- Return boat cruise to Sandakan (1.5 hours) with fishing village views
- Day 6
Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang
Meet at 8:30am in your hotel lobby for a coach trip to Kundasang through rural villages. You'll spend time in Kampung Kiau with the Dusun natives, learning about their lifestyle with a village walk and trek to a viewing point. Local lunch includes trying regional coffee. After that, you'll visit a pineapple farm run by women that produces juice, jam, and chutneys. Then it's back to Kota Kinabalu for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local lunch)
Included Activities
- Coach travel to Kundasang
- Kampung Kiau village visit with Dusun natives interaction
- Short village walk and trek to viewing point
- Local lunch experience
- Coffee experience
- Pineapple farm visit
Landmarks Kampung Kiau Kundasang - Day 7
Kota Kinabalu
After breakfast, meet in the hotel lobby and travel to Mari Mari Cultural Village to explore the lives of Sabah's five main ethnic groups through their houses, traditional clothes, and skills. You'll have fusion cuisine for lunch. From there, you'll visit Kota Kinabalu landmarks including Wisma Tun Mustapha, University of Sabah, the State and City Mosque, and Sabah Museum. Signal Hill offers panoramic views of the city and nearby islands, and there might be time to stop at a handicraft market too.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delectable fusion of cuisines at Mari Mari Cultural Village)
Included Activities
- Mari Mari Cultural Village tour with five ethnic groups showcase
- Wisma Tun Mustapha (Sabah Foundation Building) visit
- University of Sabah visit
- State and City Mosque visit
- Sabah Museum visit
- Signal Hill stop for city skyline views
Optional Activities
- Handicraft market stop (if time permits)
Landmarks Mari Mari Cultural Village Wisma Tun Mustapha University of Sabah State and City Mosque Sabah Museum Signal Hill - Day 8
Kota Kinabalu to Kuching
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Kota Kinabalu Airport for your flight to Kuching. Once you arrive, your local representative meets you to start a city tour. You'll see historical sites like the Square and Round Towers, the colonial Courthouse, General Post Office, Fort Margherita, and Astana. The Cat Monument, City Hall, and Tua Pek Kong temple are on the itinerary too. You'll drive through colorful Malay neighborhoods and India Street with its traditional shophouses. Then you'll head to your hotel to check in and have the rest of the day free.
Included Activities
- Kuching City Tour
- Square and Round Towers visit
- Colonial Courthouse visit
- General Post Office visit
- Fort Margherita visit
- Astana visit
- Cat Monument visit
- City Hall visit
- Tua Pek Kong temple visit
Landmarks Square Tower Round Tower Kuching Courthouse General Post Office Fort Margherita Astana Cat Monument Kuching City Hall Tua Pek Kong Temple - Day 9
Kuching
After breakfast, head to Sarawak Cultural Village at the foothills of Mount Santubong overlooking the South China Sea. This living museum has seven ethnic houses where you can learn about the lifestyles, arts, crafts, games, food, and music of Sarawak's seven cultures. There's a multi-culture dance performance at the village theatre, and residents actually live in the houses making traditional handicrafts and snacks onsite. You'll return to Kuching with the rest of the day to yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sarawak Cultural Village tour
- Seven ethnic houses exploration (Bidayuh Longhouse, Iban Longhouse, Hut Orang Ulu Longhouse, Melanau Tall House, Malay House, Chinese Farmhouse)
- Multi-culture dance performance
Landmarks Sarawak Cultural Village Mount Santubong - Day 10
Kuching
After breakfast, you have leisure time until your transfer to Kuching Airport for your departure flight.
- End point
- Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia (Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
