Wildlife Adventures Through The Jungle

Welcome to Borneo! After a long journey, you’ve finally touched down at Sandakan Airport (SDK) where you will be transferred from the airport to the hotel where your adventure will begin. Then you’ll meet your group for the first time at the welcome dinner to kick off the trip!

• Transfer · Sandakan Airport (SDK) → Sandakan

  TrovaTrip will provide 3 arrival transfers from Sandakan Airport (SDK) to the hotel between 8 am and 4pm. Exact transfer times within this window will be determined closer to your arrival based on provided traveler flight information. Travelers arriving outside of the requested flight guidelines will need to make their own arrangements to meet the group at the hotel.

  private · 20 min

Following breakfast, take a private transfer to the Rainforest Discovery Center nestled within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Here, amidst the lush biodiversity of the Bornean rainforest, you will embark on a guided jungle walk along elevated walkways, witnessing diverse flora and fauna. Afterward, you’ll have lunch at a local Sepilok restaurant nearby before taking a 2-hour transfer to Kinabatangan River. Upon arrival, a sunset wildlife cruise awaits, offering glimpses of the region's renowned inhabitants like pygmy elephants, orangutans, and proboscis monkeys. The day concludes with a dinner buffet at the lodge. Note that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. It is recommended to bring binoculars and to wear close toed shoes, light long pants and long sleeve shirts, a windbreaker, a hat, and sunglasses. TrovaTrip works in tandem with the local operator to vet and ensure all animals are treated humanely and respectfully.

• Rainforest Discovery Center

  Take a 30 minute private transfer to the Rainforest Discovery Center for a guided jungle walk. Situated within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, you’ll get a chance to explore the rich biodiversity of the Bornean rainforest. The center features an extensive network of elevated walkways, allowing you to observe the diverse flora and fauna from a unique vantage point. Keep your eyes peeled, The Rainforest Discovery Center also serves as an educational hub, offering various programs and exhibits aimed at promoting conservation and sustainable practices. Expect to walk about 1-2 miles today on mostly flat terrain and some hanging bridges.

  09:00· 120 min· Sepilok
• Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise I

  Board the river cruise right in front of the lodge. Spanning 350 miles from inner Borneo to the Sulu Sea, the Kinabatangan River is the most biodiverse area in Southeast Asia. While wildlife spottings are not guaranteed, keep your eye out for pygmy elephants, orangutans, hornbills, proboscis monkeys, and estuarine crocodiles that roam around the area. Afterwards, head back to the lodge for dinner.

  16:00· 120 min· Kinabatangan
• Transfer · Sandakan → Bilit

  Take a private transfer from lunch in Sepilok to the Kinabatangan River. Bathroom breaks will be made as needed.

  private · 120 min

The morning begins with a sunrise wildlife cruise, offering serene moments amidst the misty rainforest and tranquil waters of Kinabatangan River's Oxbow Lake. Following a light breakfast, you’ll embark on a 2-hour cruise, indulging in wildlife sightings and birdwatching amidst lush Bornean surroundings. You’ll then head back for a full breakfast before going on a morning jungle walk where potential animal footprints may be spotted amid the flat jungle terrain. Then have lunch at the lodge before the adventure continues with the golden hour Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise, providing opportunity for active wildlife sightings. With hopes of encountering the famed Malaysian 'Big 5,' including pygmy elephants and orangutans. The day concludes with dinner back at the lodge. Note that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. It is recommended to bring binoculars and to wear close toed shoes, light long pants and long sleeve shirts, a windbreaker, and sunglasses. TrovaTrip works in tandem with the local operator to vet and ensure all animals are treated humanely and respectfully.

• Sunrise Oxbow Lake Wildlife Cruise

  It’s an early start on Oxbow Lake this morning to best capture the misty rainforest. Have a light breakfast and coffee before you board a 2 hour cruise during sunrise to explore the tranquil waters of Oxbow Lake in the Kinabatangan River. The cruise will provide opportunities for wildlife viewing and birdwatching amidst the lush surroundings of the Bornean rainforest. Oxbow Lake is the product of the bend in the river and is a stillwater lake which means that water does not flow in or out. You’ll have an opportunity to have a full breakfast after the morning cruise.

  06:00· 120 min· Kinabatangan River
• Morning Jungle Walk

  After breakfast, take a short walk in the jungle, potentially spotting some animal footprints along the way. You’ll be walking around 1 mile on mostly flat jungle terrain.

  10:30· 45 min· Bilit
• Golden Hour Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise II

  Board the river cruise right in front of the lodge. You'll head on the Kinabatangan River for another wildlife cruise during golden hour when the animals are most active. Spanning 350 miles from inner Borneo to the Sulu Sea, the Kinabatangan River is the most biodiverse area in Southeast Asia. While wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, keep your eye out for the Malaysian ‘Big 5’: pygmy elephants, orangutans, hornbills, proboscis monkeys, and estuarine crocodiles that roam around the area.

  16:00· 120 min· Kinabatangan River

After a light breakfast and a coffee, hop back on the boat for another wildlife cruise, offering an opportunity to spot the elusive Malaysian 'Big 5' amid the breathtaking sunrise. Following this exhilarating cruise, a full breakfast awaits at the hotel, replenishing energies for the day ahead. You'll have some downtime after the wildlife cruise before having lunch at the lodge and transferring to Gomantong Cave, a marvel of natural beauty and habitat for millions of bats. As dusk approaches, witness the awe-inspiring Bat Exodus, as millions of bats take flight from the cave's depths. You'll then return to the lodge for a well-deserved dinner and reflect on the day's extraordinary encounters with Borneo's diverse wildlife and natural wonders. Note that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. It is recommended to bring binoculars and to wear close toed shoes, light long pants and long sleeve shirts, a windbreaker, and sunglasses. TrovaTrip works in tandem with the local operator to vet and ensure all animals are treated humanely and respectfully.

• Sunrise Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise III

  After a light breakfast and a quick coffee, board the river cruise right in front of the lodge. You'll head on the Kinabatangan River during sunrise for the final wildlife cruise of the trip. Spanning 350 miles from inner Borneo to the Sulu Sea, the Kinabatangan River is the most biodiverse area in Southeast Asia. While wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, keep your eye out for the Malaysian ‘Big 5’: pygmy elephants, orangutans, hornbills, proboscis monkeys, and estuarine crocodiles that roam around the area. You’ll have an opportunity to have a full breakfast after the morning cruise.

  06:00· 120 min· Kinabatangan River
• Gomantong Cave Visit

  In the late afternoon, take a 30 minute private transfer to Gomantong Caves. The huge cave contains its own habitat, including a home to millions of bats. Enter the chamber to admire the millions-of-years-old limestone formations. In the right seasons, we may spot some of the workers collecting bird’s nests, a kind of edible swiftlet nest popular among East Asian cuisines. Upon sunset, witness millions of bats flying out from the cave, a phenomenon well known as the Bat Exodus. Then take a 30 minute transfer back to the lodge for dinner.

  15:00· 180 min· Kinabatangan River

• Sunrise Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise IV

  *Note that this is optional and you can opt out, in destination, if you do not wish to participate. The cost is included in your stay at the lodge so it will not be refunded if you choose not to participate. * After a light breakfast and a quick coffee, board the river cruise right in front of the lodge. You'll head on the Kinabatangan River during sunrise for the final wildlife cruise of the trip. Spanning 350 miles from inner Borneo to the Sulu Sea, the Kinabatangan River is the most biodiverse area in Southeast Asia. While wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, keep your eye out for the Malaysian ‘Big 5’: pygmy elephants, orangutans, hornbills, proboscis monkeys, and estuarine crocodiles that roam around the area. You’ll have an opportunity to have a full breakfast after the morning cruise.

  06:00· 120 min· Kinabatangan River
• Night Jungle Walk

  After dinner, take a 5 minute private transfer back to Rainforest Discovery Center for an evening jungle at the edge of the forest. The experience and the walking route will be totally different at night, offering chances to spot nocturnal animals such as flying squirrels, tarsier, slow lorries. Note that animal sightings are not guaranteed. Expect to walk a short distance, about 1 mile on mostly flat jungle terrain.

  19:00· 60 min· Sepilok
• Transfer · Kinabatangan River → Spilok

  Take a private transfer from Bilit to Sepilok. Bathroom breaks will be made as needed.

  private · 120 min

• Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

  After breakfast, take a 5 minute private transfer over to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. The Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Borneo is a vital sanctuary dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and eventual release of orangutans back into their natural habitat. At 10 am, during feeding time, semi-wild orangutans emerge from the forest to enjoy fresh fruits provided on the center's platform. Witness the endearing and cherished creatures delighting in their meal right before your eyes. Additionally, the fruits also draw in other wildlife such as squirrels, crab-eating macaques, and even pig-tail macaques, offering a delightful opportunity for observation.

  09:00· 120 min· Sepilok
• Sun Bear Conservation Center

  Walk next door to the Sun Bear Conservation Center, a dedicated facility focused on the protection and preservation of the world's smallest bear species, the sun bear. This center provides a safe haven for rescued sun bears that have been orphaned, injured, or illegally kept as pets. Through rehabilitation programs, these bears are given the opportunity to learn essential survival skills and regain their natural behaviors before being released back into the wild. The center also plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the threats facing sun bears, including habitat loss and poaching, and advocates for their conservation through educational initiatives and community engagement.

  11:00· 60 min· Sepilok
• Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

  From lunch, take a 30 minute transfer to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, a conservation area dedicated to the protection and rehabilitation of the iconic proboscis monkeys. Nestled within the pristine mangrove forest of Labuk Bay, this sanctuary provides a safe haven for these endangered primates, offering them a natural habitat where they can thrive and flourish. You’ll have the opportunity to observe these fascinating creatures up close as they go about their daily activities, including feeding and socializing in their natural environment. The sanctuary also plays a vital role in research and education, raising awareness about the importance of conserving proboscis monkeys and their fragile ecosystem. Then take a 30 minute transfer back to the lodge.

  13:00· 120 min· Sepilok

Today you can enjoy a slow morning and spend the day at your leisure or sign up for an optional city tour of Sandakan, visiting landmarks such as Sandakan Memorial Park, Central Market, Sim-Sim Water Village, and the Puh Jih Syh Buddhist Temple. In the evening, you’ll have a final farewell dinner with the group to celebrate the incredible memories that were made and all the wildlife you got to see along the way.

All good things must come to an end. Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before hopping on a transfer to the airport to catch your flight.

• Transfer · Sandakan → SDK

  TrovaTrip will provide 2 departure transfers from the hotel to Sandakan Airport (SDK) between 8 am and 12 pm. Exact transfer times within this window will be determined closer to your arrival based on provided traveler flight information. Travelers departing outside of the requested flight guidelines will need to make their own arrangements to the airport.

  private · 30 min