3-Day Sabah Tour Packages
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Insider tips: Recommended 3-day Sabah tour itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaSabah travel expert at TourRadar
- Day 1
Lahad Datu to Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Your journey starts at Lahad Datu airport, followed by a 1.5-hour drive on gravel roads to Tabin Wildlife Reserve. If you get motion sickness, bring medicine for the bumpy ride. You'll stay in elevated timber bungalows. If you have mobility concerns, ask for a room near the main building since rain can make paths slippery. In the afternoon you'll trek to the Lipad mud volcano, a mineral lick that draws wildlife. The volcanic mud gets messy, so wear quick-dry clothes and pack spare socks. For the night walk, bring good flashlights (red lights work best for spotting nocturnal animals) and shoes with solid grip.
- Day 2
Full Day Wildlife Exploration
The best bird watching starts before sunrise. Tabin is home to about 300 species, so grab your binoculars early to spot hornbills and pittas at their most active. After breakfast, you'll head up to the Birdwatching Tower. Take your time in the humidity and bring lots of water. The Lipad Waterfall trek is moderate but can get tricky when wet. Pack swimwear if you want to take a dip, but check with your guide about water levels as they change with the seasons. You'll appreciate the afternoon foot soak. Many visitors recommend bringing tiger balm to make it even better.
- Day 3
Final Morning and Return
Spend your last morning near the lodge where macaques and hornbills often show up. Your transfer to Lahad Datu leaves at noon, so pack early and keep your camera ready. Some of the best wildlife moments happen unexpectedly.
- Day 1
Lahad Datu to Danum Valley
Your journey starts at Lahad Datu Airport with a 2.5-hour drive on gravel roads to the conservation area. Consider bringing motion sickness medication for the bumpy ride. The rough road access helps keep visitor numbers low and preserves the rainforest's untouched state. Get settled at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge before joining an orientation about the area's wildlife. You'll learn about the resident orangutans, clouded leopards and more than 300 bird species. Take on the 300-meter canopy walkway in the afternoon. It sits 26 meters high, so wear shoes with good grip since humidity makes the surface slippery. End your day with a night drive in an open-top vehicle to look for nocturnal animals like slow lorises and flying squirrels.
- Day 2
Deep Forest Exploration
Start your day with the sounds of Bornean gibbons calling through the valley. Head out early for the best chances of spotting orangutans. Your morning trek takes you to the ancient Kadazan-Dusun burial sites at the Coffin Cliffs and up to the View Point for sweeping views of the forest canopy. Take at least 2 liters of water since the humidity is strong even in early morning. Your afternoon options include another guided trek or river tubing on the Danum River if water levels allow. Join the night walk after dinner to find unusual insects and amphibians. Remember to wear long sleeves and pants since mosquitos are active at night.
- Day 3
Final Morning and Departure
Start your last day with an optional pre-breakfast walk to catch the morning mist over the valley. It's perfect for photos. Have a final lunch at the lodge before heading back to Lahad Datu around 12:30 PM. Schedule late afternoon flights to allow enough time for the road transfer.
- Day 1
Sandakan to Selingan Turtle Island
Plan to land in Sandakan before 9 AM to catch your boat connection. The boat to Selingan Island leaves at 10 AM sharp from the main jetty and takes about an hour. You'll have the afternoon free for snorkeling but bring your own gear since rentals can be limited. The highlight comes after dinner when you'll get to watch green turtles laying eggs on the beach. Stay with your guide after 6 PM since walking around alone isn't allowed to protect the nesting turtles. You won't be able to take photos at night so just enjoy watching these amazing creatures.
- Day 2
Sepilok and Kinabatangan River
Head back to the mainland and get to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre by 9:30 AM for feeding time. This is your best chance to spot orangutans though they might not show up during fruiting season. Make sure to visit the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre next door to see these small bears. After lunch take the 2.5-hour drive to your riverside lodge on the Kinabatangan. River cruises usually start around 4 PM. Wear dark clothes so you don't scare away wildlife and pack binoculars to spot proboscis monkeys up in the trees.
- Day 3
Morning Wildlife Cruise and Departure
Get up around 6 AM for a 90-minute morning cruise. This early start gives you the best chance to see hornbills and proboscis monkeys having their breakfast in the trees. After check-out visit the canopy walkway at the Rainforest Discovery Centre. The elevated path offers great views but can get slippery when wet so wear shoes with good grip. Plan for a 3:30 PM transfer to Sandakan airport and book flights after 6 PM to avoid rushing.
