Itinerary
- Day 1
Kota Kinabalu
You'll arrive in Kota Kinabalu and head to the welcome meeting at 5pm, followed by included dinner with your group. If your flight gets in early, there's plenty to do before then. The Sabah State Museum gives solid background on the city's history, or you could check out Mari Mari Cultural Village to see local traditions firsthand. Swimming and snorkelling on the islands is another option if you want to jump right into water activities.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Welcome Meeting
- Included Dinner
Optional Activities
- Sabah State Museum visit
- Mari Mari Cultural Village visit
- Island swimming and snorkelling
Landmarks Sabah State Museum Mari Mari Cultural Village - Day 2
Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu National Park to Sabah Tea Plantation
You'll leave Kota Kinabalu and head inland toward Kinabalu National Park. Along the way, you'll stop at a Dusun village where a local guide walks you through daily life and culture, then you'll have home-cooked lunch with dishes like linopot. After that, you're off to a bee farm and local coffee factory to see how things are made. Later, you'll drive by private bus to Sabah Tea Plantation and stay overnight in a cottage right there among the tea gardens.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked lunch at local Dusun village home featuring local dishes)
Included Activities
- Dusun Village - Guided village walk
- Local home visit and cultural immersion
- Home-cooked lunch with local dishes
- Bee farm visit
- Coffee factory visit
- Everything Pineapple business visit
Landmarks Kinabalu National Park Sabah Tea Plantation - Day 3
Kinabatangan River
The private bus takes you to Kinabatangan River, where you'll check into your jungle lodge. This area is a protected forest reserve packed with wildlife. In the afternoon, you head out on a river cruise and start spotting crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and kingfishers. You'll return to the lodge for dinner after the cruise.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise
Landmarks Kinabatangan River - Day 4
Kinabatangan River
An early morning river cruise starts things off before breakfast, and you'll listen for Bornean gibbons and hornbills along the water. You'll see proboscis monkeys, Borneo gibbons, long-tailed macaques, and pig-tailed macaques while learning the differences between species. In the afternoon, you visit RESPECT (an Intrepid Foundation partner) to learn about elephant conservation and help plant grass for Borneo pygmy elephants. A final evening river cruise happens before you head back to the lodge for another night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Kinabatangan River - Dawn wildlife cruise
- Kinabatangan River - RESPECT (The Intrepid Foundation partner) visit & elephant grass planting
- Kinabatangan River - Night wildlife Spotting cruise
Landmarks Kinabatangan River RESPECT (RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust) - Day 5
Kinabatangan River to Sepilok
You travel to Sepilok and check into a rainforest resort for two nights. The rest of the day is yours to shape. A nature walk at the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre works if you want to stay active, or you could swim in the resort pool. If you're interested in history, Sandakan (the old capital of British North Borneo) is nearby where you can see the War Memorial and learn about the tragic Sandakan Death Marches.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Nature walk in Rainforest Discovery Centre
- Resort pool swimming
- Visit Sandakan and Sandakan War Memorial
Landmarks Rainforest Discovery Centre Sandakan War Memorial 
- Day 6
Sepilok
You'll head to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and watch young orangutans in the nursery as they practice climbing on jungle gym structures. After that, you visit the newly opened Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center to see rescued Sun Bears getting care and working toward rehabilitation. The afternoon is free, so you can relax poolside or head into town for shopping if that appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
- Sepilok - Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Optional Activities
- Swimming in resort pool
- Shopping in town
Landmarks Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center 
- Day 7
Sepilok to Dinawan Island
You'll fly from Sandakan Airport to Kota Kinabalu (a short flight), then take a private transfer south to the jetty. From there, a boat takes you out to Dinawan Island where you'll check into villa tents. You'll have time to wander the island, relax, or try some of the resort activities on offer.
Optional Activities
- Island exploration
- Resort activities
Landmarks Dinawan Island 
- Day 8
Dinawan Island
After breakfast, you'll sit in on a talk about the marine ecosystem and why coral reefs matter to sea life. Then you're out for a one-hour snorkelling trip with a marine biologist to the house reef. You'll get close looks at different coral types, marine habitats, and various species while seeing signs of damage and healing. The afternoon is free to enjoy the turquoise water or grab kayaks for more time on the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dinawan Island - Marine Ecosystem Program
- Dinawan Island - Snorkeling Trip
Optional Activities
- Kayaking (free)
Landmarks Dinawan Island - Day 9
Dinawan Island to Kota Kinabalu
You'll snorkel again in the morning with a local guide. After lunch, it's time to leave the island and head back to Kota Kinabalu by boat and transfer. You'll check into your hotel and have time to relax before the option of joining a final group dinner to mark the end of your Borneo adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Morning snorkelling trip
Optional Activities
- Final group dinner
Landmarks Dinawan Island - Day 10
Kota Kinabalu
Your trip finishes after breakfast. You're free to head out whenever works best for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
