Itinerary
- Day 1
Kota Kinabalu
You'll arrive in Kota Kinabalu and head to your hotel with airport transfers available (about 20 minutes from BKI). At 6pm, meet your tour leader for a welcome briefing, or if you prefer to explore on your own, the city's fusion food scene is worth checking out. It's your choice how to spend the evening.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu), Hotel (Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Explore local restaurants and street food stalls serving Nasi Goreng, satay, curries, and kimchi
Landmarks Kota Kinabalu International Airport - Day 2
Kota Kinabalu to Ranau
Start early and drive through the Crocker Mountain Range toward Mount Kinabalu. You'll meet members of the local Dusun tribe in Tanak Nabalu and have a traditional lunch featuring Hinava, a raw fish dish. After that, walk through the Botanical Gardens to spot exotic orchids and pitcher plants, then head to Ranau for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional local meal including Hinava, a traditional raw fish dish from the Kadazan-Dusun tribes made with mackerel marinated in lime juice, mixed with red chilli, ginger, shallots, prawns, and wild Bambangan fruit seeds)
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Sabah Tea Resort), Lodge (Sabah Tea Resort (or similar))
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Crocker Mountain Range (approximately 2.5 hours)
- Visit to Tanak Nabalu village and meeting with local Dusun tribe members
- Traditional local lunch with members of the local Dusun tribe
- Walk through Botanical Gardens including slipper orchids, pitcher plants, and yellow rhododendrons (approximately 1 hour, 1 mile/1.6 kilometres)
Landmarks Mount Kinabalu Crocker Mountain Range Botanical Gardens - Day 3
Ranau to Sepilok
Have a leisurely breakfast, then settle in for your longest drive of the tour, about 4 to 5 hours with stops to stretch and grab lunch. You'll arrive at Sepilok by mid-afternoon and visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to learn about their work and watch the orangutans being fed and playing in the nursery area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Sepilok Jungle Resort), Lodge (Sepilok Jungle Resort (or similar))
Included Activities
- Drive to Sepilok with stops (approximately 4-5 hours total)
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre visit including video presentation about orangutan plight and rehabilitation efforts
- Guided walk along wooden boardwalks to orangutan feeding platform
- Visit to nursery area to observe younger orangutans
Landmarks Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre 
- Day 4
Sepilok
Start with another visit to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for more wildlife viewing. Later, head to the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn about the world's smallest bear species and conservation efforts. In the afternoon, go to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary where you'll see Borneo's unique primates plus silver leaf monkeys, squirrels, and oriental pied hornbills.
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Sepilok Jungle Resort), Lodge (Sepilok Jungle Resort (or similar))
Included Activities
- Second visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
- Visit to Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre (over 30 rescued sun bears)
- Visit to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary with feeding platform observation
Landmarks Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary 
- Day 5
Sepilok to Kinabatangan River
Visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre by a tranquil lake and explore the Plant Discovery Walk with medicinal herbs. Walk the 347-metre canopy walkway suspended 87 metres high for birdwatching and possible wild orangutan spotting. Then drive about 2.5 hours to Bilit Jetty and boat across the Kinabatangan River to your riverside lodge. You'll have lunch and an evening river cruise to spot proboscis monkeys, hornbills, gibbons, and pygmy elephants.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at lodge restaurant), Dinner (Dinner served at lodge after wildlife adventure on the river)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bilit Adventure Lodge), Hotel (Bilit Adventure Lodge (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit to Rainforest Discovery Centre
- Plant Discovery Walk highlighting traditional and medicinal uses of herbs and leaves
- Canopy walkway experience (347 metres long, 87 metres high)
- Scenic overland drive to Bilit Jetty (approximately 2.5 hours)
- Boat ride across Kinabatangan River to riverside lodge
- Welcome drink at lodge
- Lunch at lodge restaurant
- Light tea in mid-afternoon
- Late afternoon/early evening river cruise on Kinabatangan River for wildlife viewing
Optional Activities
- Night walk (available after dinner, speak to tour leader to arrange)
Landmarks Rainforest Discovery Centre Sepilok Forest Reserve Kinabatangan River - Day 6
Kinabatangan River
Wake to gibbon and hornbill calls, have a drink and snack, then head out on a sunrise river cruise to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake searching for wildlife. Return to the lodge for proper breakfast. Later, join a guided jungle walk along the riverine forest with your tour leader and lodge guide. End the day with a late afternoon wildlife river cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bilit Adventure Lodge), Hotel (Bilit Adventure Lodge (or similar))
Included Activities
- Sunrise river cruise to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake
- Guided nature jungle walk along riverine forest with tour leader and lodge guide
- Final late afternoon wildlife river cruise
Optional Activities
- Tree-based activity (option available, details to be confirmed)
Landmarks Kelenanap Oxbow Lake Kinabatangan River - Day 7
Kinabatangan River to Kota Kinabalu
Check out after breakfast and take a short boat ride to Bilit Jetty, then drive about 3 hours to Sandakan. Stop at Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple on a steep hilltop with views over Sandakan Bay. Visit Agnes Keith House, a restored British colonial home with period furnishings and galleries. Grab lunch at the English Tea House on the grounds (not included). After that, transfer to Sandakan Airport for a flight to Kota Kinabalu, arriving in early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu), Hotel (Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu (or similar))
Included Activities
- Boat ride across Kinabatangan River to Bilit Jetty
- Overland drive to Sandakan (approximately 3 hours)
- Visit to Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple
- Visit to Agnes Keith House heritage museum
Optional Activities
- Lunch at English Tea House (not included)
Landmarks Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple Agnes Keith House English Tea House 
- Day 8
Ara Dinawan Island
Head to Beringgis Jetty and board a shared boat for a 20-minute crossing to Ara Dinawan Island, an eco-island off the coast of Kinarut. You'll get a welcome drink and stay in fixed tented rooms by the beach. After an introduction to the marine ecosystem, go on a guided snorkelling excursion with a marine biologist to see vibrant coral and marine creatures. Spend the afternoon relaxing, kayaking, or on the white-sand beaches, and end with sunset dinner on the island.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Sunset dinner on the island)
- Accommodation
- Camping (Ara Dinawan Island Resort), Camping (Ara Dinawan Island Resort (or similar))
Included Activities
- Transfer from hotel to Beringgis Jetty
- Shared boat ride to Ara Dinawan Island (approximately 20-minute crossing)
- Welcome drink upon arrival
- Introduction to marine ecosystem and coral reef education (may be shared with other resort guests)
- Guided snorkelling excursion with marine biologist exploring coral species and marine life
- Lunch at lodge
- Sunset dinner on the island
Optional Activities
- Kayaking during afternoon leisure time
- Relaxation on private white-sand beaches during afternoon
Landmarks Ara Dinawan Island Beringgis Jetty - Day 9
Ara Dinawan Island to Kota Kinabalu
Your tour ends after breakfast at Ara Dinawan. The boat back to the mainland departs at 11:00 and no activities are scheduled. Airport transfers are available from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (about 30 minutes from Beringgis Jetty).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Additional nights on Ara Dinawan Island for extra beach relaxation
