Overview
Borneo is the world’s third largest island and located in the South China Sea.
Just the name conjures images of exotic experiences in the mind of the intrepid traveller. Rainforests, orangutans - the Men of the Jungle, adventure, off-the-beaten-track treks and so much more. The rainforests on the island are a 140-million years old.
For the discerning traveller who has a passion for adventure and is looking for something out of the ordinary, this expectation will be fulfilled. You will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the jungle, different cultural influences and tropical adventures. The island is home to half of all the known plant and animal species in the world.
Discover Borneo with us from 21 September 2025 to 02 October 2025.
Live the Journey would like to thank Dr. Willem Kok for the images featured here. All images were taken during a previous Borneo Tour.
Itinerary
DAY 0: DEPART
Depart South Africa for Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo.
DAY 1: ARRIVE KOTA KINABALU
Arrival in Kota Kinabalu.
Welcome to Borneo!
Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, you will be met by a local guide for transfer to the Le Meridien for check in. (Standard check in is at 2pm, alternatively if the hotel has available rooms, guests can check in earlier.)
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. You can enjoy some shopping at the waterfront markets or at the shopping complex which is about a 5-minute walk from the Le Meridien hotel.
20h00 Meet for buffet dinner at hotel restaurant.
O/N at Le Meridien Hotel 5* in a Classic/Urban Room or similar
Meals included for the day - Dinner
DAY 2: SANDAKAN CITY EXCURTION / KINABATANGAN WETLANDS RESORT
07h00 Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and check-out.
Transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport for your domestic flight to Sandakan.
Depart on flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
Suggested flight - AK6492.
09h35 Depart from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
10h25 Arrival Sandakan.
Upon arrival in Sandakan transfer to Sandakan town for a “Kopi Ping” which is a local ice latte at a local kopitiam.
You will then transfer to Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty. Boat transfer to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort which will take approximately 2 hours. We should arrive around 14h30 at the Kinabatangan Wetland Resort where you will check-in and enjoy a late lunch while you are briefed on the lodging and the activities. You can enjoy leisure time after the briefing.
At 16h30 you will board a smaller boat for a cruise along Kinabatangan River in search of wildlife and to admire the stunning river landscape as the sun sets. If the weather permits, you will continue to observe the fireflies shimmering as the evening falls before cruising back to the resort.
Dinner will be served at the Common Hall.
After dinner, geared with your headlamps or flashlights, you will take a stroll along the boardwalk to look for interesting insects and other nocturnal wildlife.
O/N at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort in chalets
Meals included for the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 3: KINABATANGAN WETLAND RESORT
Enjoy an early morning cruise to observe wild- and birdlife. We will cruise to the nearby ox-bow lake, Danau Pitas, to explore the area. Enjoy your coffee while admiring the natural surroundings. Return to the lodge for breakfast and time at leisure. Explore the resort grounds which is filled with interesting plants and insects in your own time. Numerous bird species can also be observed. Lunch will be at the resort restaurant.
The Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort is surrounded by a secondary forest reserve. It is located within nipah and mangrove vegetation and is safe from flooding throughout the year. Access to this from the resort is by wooden walkways made from local hardwood called belian.
Apart from the river cruises, guests can enjoy the natural surroundings in own time. Various bird species and different monkey species (e.g. the Silvered Langur, Maroon Langur, Hose Langur, and the Wild orangutan) are regularly spotted within the area.
Jungle trails via a raised boardwalk allows for night as well as morning walks.
In the late afternoon set off for another river adventure, cruising in search of more wildlife along small tributaries. Return to the resort to freshen up.
Dinner will be served at the Common Hall.
Enjoy your dinner after which you set off again for a night cruise along small tributary rivers in search of nocturnal wildlife.
Return to the lodge and retire for the night.
O/N at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort in Chalets
Meals included for the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4: KINABATANGAN WETLAND RESORT / SEPILOK FOREST RESORT
Enjoy breakfast at the resort after which you check-out and transfer by boat back to Sandakan.
Upon arrival at Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty, visit the Sim-Sim Water Village before visiting the restored colonial home, now a Museum, of the famous American writer – Agnes Keith. During the years between 1934 and 1952, Agnes Keith penned a trilogy of her moving experiences during her stay in Sandakan. The first book is called “Land Below the Wind” published in 1939. This book tells us more about the halcyon pre-war days. The second book is called “Three Came Home”, published in 1947 which is focused on hardships suffered during the Second World War. The third book is called “White Man Returns”, published in 1951 which tells of her life in Sandakan after the war. Later proceed to the English Tea House for your lunch. This establishment is a former Colonial Residence and serves western cuisine. It is conveniently located adjacent to the Agnes Keith Museum.
Enjoy Lunch - The restaurant has a panoramic view of the city of Sandakan.
After lunch transfer to Sepilok Forest Edge Resort. Check-in and relax.
19h00 Dinner at your resort restaurant.
O/N at Forest Edge Lodge or similar.
Meals included for the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 5: SEPILOK ORANGUTAN / SUN BEAR CONSERVATION / RDC
Note: Camera fees at RM10 per camera for visit to Sepilok
You will have breakfast at the resort before experiencing a close encounter with the “Wild Man of Borneo”, tamed orangutans that are being rehabilitated into the wild at Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre.
Take a short walk in this forest reserve to the observation platform to witness the orangutan being fed by the rangers. Proceed to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). This centre was founded in Sabah, in 2008 as a two-stage effort to provide for the care, rehabilitation and release of orphaned and captive sun bears, as well as to address the lack of knowledge and awareness of this bear both in Malaysia and internationally. The Malayan sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), found only in south-east Asia, is the world’s smallest bear species.
While Borneo is a remaining stronghold for this species, it is seriously threatened if not extinct in many areas of mainland Asia, including India, Bangladesh, China, Burma and Vietnam.
Have lunch at the nearby Forest Edge Restaurant.
After lunch, walk to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC). The Rainforest Discovery Centre is an education facility run by the Sabah Forest Department, primarily to create public awareness and appreciation for the importance of conserving forests. Learn about rainforest ecology and experience its amazing biodiversity while walking along a network of self-guided trails in the forest. Be sure not to miss the 150 m-long canopy walkway which provides a spectacular view of the lush rainforest of Sepilok from 25 m above the ground. After your walk, return to the resort where you will have time at leisure.
Dinner at Forest Edge Lodge.
O/N at Forest Edge Lodge or similar
Meals included for the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 6: SEPILOK FORESTEDGE / KINABALU PARK
Enjoy breakfast before you check-out.
NOTE: Camera fees at RM10 per camera at Labuk Bay
Today we will overland to Kinabalu Park.
Stop at Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary located in the centre of the mangrove forest along the coast near Samawang Village. These unique primates are not found elsewhere in the world and offer you one of the most exhilarating and memorable experiences as you will observe both young and adults leaping from tree to tree and eventually coming down to feed on young leaves and plants. The leaping act is superb, fast, steady, stylish and perfect.
After the completion of this visit, we continue with our journey overland to Kinabalu Park. En route stop at the Sabah Tea Resort and learn about the processes of making tea. Later enjoy your Lunch at Sabah Tea Restaurant.
Lunch at Sabah Tea Restaurant.
Proceed to Kinabalu Park, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site for its role as one of the world’s most important biological sites. Upon arrival check in at Kinabalu Park – Sutera Sanctury Lodge.
The road transfer for today is approximately a 5 hours’ drive.
Dinner at Liwagu Restaurant.
O/N in a selection of villas within the Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Portfolio in Kinabalu Park
Meals included for the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 7: KINABALU PARK
Enjoy breakfast.
Be entertained by the sounds of the early morning “music” of the montane species of birds found on Mt Kinabalu as you prepare to go for breakfast. You are at leisure to explore the natural surroundings of the park or accompanied by your guide, trek one of the trails of the park with a scenic view of the mountain flora. A number of walking trails have been developed around the Park HQ ranging in length from 20 minutes to 2-3 hours. These trails are marked on the trail maps available at Park HQ.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Liwagu Restaurant.
O/N in a selection of villas within the Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Portfolio in Kinabalu Park
Meals included for the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 8: KINABALU PARK / NABALU TON / TRADITIONAL COOKING EXPERIENCE
Enjoy breakfast at the resort restaurant and check-out.
Meet at 08h00 for a Cultural Adventure. Today we will be heading back to Kota Kinabalu, make a stop at Nabalu village to savour local fruits and to bargain prices for the handicrafts, then stop at a small town before proceeding to the village in Kiulu for a traditional cooking experience.
Tamparuli is the small town where we will stop. It is in a sub-district of Tuaran on the west coast of Sabah. It is populated mainly by native Dusuns, while a sizeable Chinese community (of whom most are Hakkas) runs most of the shops in the town. As with many other small towns in Sabah, the town itself consists of both newer concrete shops as well as old wooden ones.
The most famous landmark in Tamparuli is a long hanging bridge - unlike the traditional hanging bridges in Sabah, the new bridge is supported by concrete pillars and steel ropes. Another concrete bridge, built for motorized vehicles is located far below the hanging bridge and is frequently flooded during heavy rain.
We will reach Kiulu and enjoy a traditional cooking experience. You will be introduced to the local cuisine such as Hinava (pickled fish salad) etc. You will be given the opportunity to learn how to cook this dish under the guidance of locals. Later enjoy your lunch and taste your own food.
Later continue your journey to Kota Kinabalu after lunch, roughly a 1½-hours’ drive. Upon arrival check in and relax.
Dinner will be served at the hotel.
O/N at Le Meridien Hotel 5* in a classic/ urban rooms
Meals included for the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
We have arranged day rooms so we can sleep in and check out later before we leave late afternoon for the airport.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Morning at leisure. Enjoy some last-minute shopping at the market or the local malls within walking distance of your hotel.
Enjoy lunch at your hotel before we transfer to the airport this afternoon to check-in for your departing flight.
16h00 Afternoon check-out.
17h00 Arrival at the airport for check-in at least 3 hours prior to departure.
Meals included for the day – breakfast & Lunch.
Depart on your international flight home.
DAY 9: MARINE ECOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER / CULTURAL DEMONSTRATION AND LOCAL HIGH TEA
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Depart for Jesselton Point from where you will travel for about 15 minutes by boat to Gayana Eco Resort. Take a short walk to the Marine Ecology Research Centre where a briefing, followed by a guided tour of the centre, will be conducted. The Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC) is fully committed to the propagation of Giant Clams. The centre, besides having other various sea creatures, contains seven out of the eight giant clam’s species known to man and prides itself in the protection and rehabilitation of these species. The centre’s core efforts are focused upon the conservation, protection and regeneration of marine life, coral reef and the surrounding mangroves.
It is a sanctuary where injured marine life is rehabilitated and eventually released back into the ocean. Encounter the amazing sea creatures up close.
Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in marine ecological research through coral planting.
Have a Chinese set luncheon at one of the resort restaurants, perched on stilts overlooking the scenic Malohom Bay. Later, return to the jetty to take the boat shuttle back to Jesselton Point.
Your last stop is to visit Mari – Mari Cultural Village. Upon arrival and after a briefing with your village guides, cross over the hanging bridge to arrive at the entrance of the village. Here, you will be ushered to the warmth of different homes of the ethnicities of Sabah.
Each home was built by descendants of the tribes they represent – namely the Bajau, Kadazan, Rungus, Muruts and others. It offers you a genuine experience seeing everything in and around the village lends to its magical prowess of taking you back in time. Not only does this village portray these tribes through the architectural genius of their traditional houses, but also through a range of simulated activities by the residents of the village. Acquaint yourself with each tribe as they let you come into their house and their simple yet intricate lives. As you traverse the village, you will find demonstration huts along the main houses in which daily activities of old times are demonstrated. For example, the making of blowpipes, starting a fire (from bamboo tree – you will learn the steps of making fire without the help of a lighter), tattoo-art (and its symbolisms) and more.
Later, proceed to see the cultural show performed by the village guides and you will be welcomed to join in the performance. Enjoy delectable traditional and fusion cuisines for high tea before the end of the tour.
Return to the hotel, you will be free this evening and dinner is for your own account.
O/N at Le Meridien Hotel 5* in a classic/ Urban Rooms
Meals included for the day - breakfast, lunch, afternoon high tea
*This Market visit might change depending on the day of the week.
*The cultural adventure programme may change its venue, but the activities will be similar
