Basix
18 to 35s
Wildlife
Real Borneo
4.9
Excellent
97 reviews
10 days
Start
Sandakan, Malaysia
Finish
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Trip Code
TMYM
Min Age
18
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Boat
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Bamboo Hut (1 night), Jungle Lodge (dormitory room) (2 nights)
From £825(10 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Get the opportunity to meet our closest redheaded relatives at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and watch these gentle giants as they go about their day.
Hike to and from the rural village of Ratau, where you’ll mingle with the locals, take part in a cooking class, learn how to play the Gong and sleep in a traditional bamboo hut.
Take not one, not two, but three river cruises on the Kinabatangan River to spot local wildlife – look out for pygmy elephants, crocodiles, flying squirrels and proboscis monkeys among the teeming birdlife.
Dive into the clear waters at Dinawan Island and snorkel among colorful fish. If you're lucky, you might even spot a turtle swimming by.
Meet the rescued sun bears at the Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok and learn about how this organisation works to rescue, protect, rehabilitate and hopefully reintroduce the sun bears back into the wild after they were mistreated.
Is this trip right for you?
You’ll get the chance to stay in a variety of accommodation on this trip, from village huts and jungle lodges to hostels and hotels. It can be basic, but it’s always comfortable.
Itinerary
See orangutans, sleep in the jungle and go snorkelling at Dinawan Island
Travel across the biodiverse Sabah region, immersing yourself in nature and learning about the island’s indigenous cultures on a 10-day journey through Borneo. From orangutan encounters and bamboo hut homestays to village trekking and sea snorkelling, you’ll find a nature lover’s paradise! Where else can you spot pygmy elephants on a riverbank one day and see proboscis monkeys the next (not to mention slow lorises, flying foxes and rescued sun bears). Explore Borneo on this incredible trip with new friends through rainforest-clad mountains, on warm island sands and in the middle of the jungle.
Inclusions
Meals
8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Boat
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Bamboo Hut (1 night), Jungle Lodge (dormitory room) (2 nights)
Included activities
Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Sepilok - Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Cruise
Kinabatangan River - Night Jungle Walk
Kinabatangan River - Morning Wildlife Cruise
Kiulu - Village Trek (2 days / 1 night)
Kiulu - Cultural Activities
Kiulu - Cooking Class
Kiulu - Dusun Martial Art Show
Dinawan Island - Snorkelling Excursion
Optional activities
Sandakan - Sandakan Heritage Trail - Free
Sandakan - Agnes Keith House - MYR15
Sepilok - Rainforest Discovery Centre - MYR30
Sepilok - Night Walk at Rainforest Discovery Centre - MYR50
Kinabatangan River - Ox-Bow Lake Trekking - MYR25
Kinabatangan River - Rubber Boot Rental - MYR12
Kinabatangan River - Tree Planting - MYR250
Kinabatangan River - Batik Painting - MYR65
Kinabatangan River - Cooking Class (min. 2 participants) - MYR150
Kinabatangan River - Grass Planting - MYR200
Kundasang - Kundasang War Memorial - MYR15
Kota Kinabalu - Koisaan Cultural Village (Entrance) - MYR65
Kota Kinabalu - Tunku Abdul National Marine Park Snorkelling Trip (Minimum 2 people) - MYR345
Kota Kinabalu - PADI Discover Scuba Diving (Minimum 2 people) - MYR485
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement is not available on Days 3 & 4 (Jungle Lodge) or Day 6 (Bamboo Hut) and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Eastern Sabah before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. Further information can be found in our "Safety" section of the Essential Trip Information. You can find links to prominent government travel advisories our Travel Alerts page
3. Some governments may have increased travel advice levels in place for parts of Eastern Sabah, including Sandakan and Turtle Island. Check your government’s travel advice before departure. Travel insurance is mandatory and must cover all destinations and activities on the Itinerary. If you are unsure about your level of coverage, please contact your insurer. In addition to the increased security presence in the region, we comply with local regulations, including avoiding night boat travel and using approved routes and vessels. More details can be found in the Safety section of the Essential Trip Information.
Reviews (92)
5 stars
83
4 stars
7
3 stars
1
2 stars
1
Jasper
Oct 21, 2025
This is an excellent trip for an adventurous and social traveller. Every activity included was a hit with our group, and plenty of money-can't-buy sort of experiences as well: sampling rice wine in the jungle and playing soccer with the locals both stand out. Johmin was a responsible and knowledgeable but welcoming and fun guide - the exact type of guy you'd want for a tour like this. Highly recommend booking!
Tara
Oct 21, 2025
If you are an animal lover I wouldn’t think twice about booking this trip! It was so much fun and Johmin was a great guide. The wildlife and cultural experiences exceeded my expectations. Don’t forget binoculars!
Amy
Oct 19, 2025
The real Borneo trip was truly amazing , we saw so much beautiful wildlife in our time in Borneo, and also trekked in the jungle and finished with snorkeling at the beach. I would highly reccomend this trip !
Yarub
Oct 18, 2025
it was a great trip, great leader and travelers, and too many fun activities that made me feel alive, very good transportation and accommodation, but don't forget your insect repellant.
Thomas
Oct 07, 2025
Excellent experience showing the real Borneo’s nature, people and food. Would highly recommend for anyone
Rachel
Oct 07, 2025
The Real Borneo Intrepid trip was incredible. It had everything - adventure, hiking, cultural activities and engagement, local connections, delicious food, beach days, snorkelling, river cruise, animal sightings and more. Our guide, Aswad was truly the most wonderful, helpful guide I’ve ever had. He made the trip excellent - organised and fun.
Tamara
Oct 07, 2025
What a lovely way to discover Borneo, its culture, its food and its wildlife! We even saw Orang Utans in the wild – which was a huge highlight for everyone, even our guide. Accomodations are sometimes quite basic, but always worth a stay. Our guide was simply amazing.
Polly
Sep 26, 2025
This was the most amazing trip of my life and I will definitely be booking another. Felix is an excellent leader - nothing is too much trouble and the knowledge he has is second to none. We were very lucky with what we saw during the trip and the destinations were all amazing in different ways.
Daniel
Sep 24, 2025
I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see the wildlife and culture that Borneo has to offer. The trip is well organised and informative.
Eleonore
Sep 10, 2025
I enjoyed the trip! We saw a lot of animals in wildlife (twice the chance to see the elephants!). Everything is well planned and a big + if Felix is your tour guide!
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