Overview
Between its intriguing wildlife, skyscraper-height jungle canopies, and gorgeous coastlines teeming with tropical fish, this magical stretch of Borneo is positively bursting with stuff to see and do. This eight-day adventure promises to keep you busy; time spent marvelling at nature’s glory on Libaran Island, close encounters with orangutans at a rehabilitation centre, prowling the streets of Kota Kinabalu by night, and otherworldly wonders in the jungle. Borneo has it all, and in east Sabah, it’s all close at hand.
Trip Length
8 Days
Trip Starts
Kota Kinabalu
Trip Ends
Kota Kinabalu
Departures
Jul 2026 to Dec 2028
Countries Visited:
5 Trip Reviews
Avg. Rating: 4.8/5
Trip Style
Classic
Budget
Affordable
Age Range
6-99 Years
Max. Group Size
15
Pace
Leisurely
Guide Style
Fully Guided
Tour Code
AAES
Itinerary
Arrive at any time.
Accommodation:
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre
Included Experiences
- Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
From Kota Kinabalu, travel to Tambatuon village and meet the local community. Walk to a nearby river, exploring the landscape surrounding the village along the way. Visit a local farm and gather fresh ingredients for an included dinner. Learn how to cook some local recipes with the host.
Accommodation:
D'Danau Homestay
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
- D'Danau Homestay: D’danau’ Homestay is a beautiful homestay located in Kota Belud Sabah, Malaysia. It provides job opportunities for locals offering great experiences to travellers like hiking, water tubing, cooking classes and other activities. The income generated from tourism allows the community to collect fees that are invested in the nature conservation and development of the village. Visitors can also learn about the lives of the Borneo people, and enjoy the cool climate and peaceful atmosphere. D’danau’s mission is to promote their culture and way of life, protect the environment and enhance their livelihood.
- Local Farms and Cooking Demonstration: Visit a farm and learn of their contrasting techniques while picking fresh vegetables, later used when learning to cook local recipes with the villagers. First visit Kundasang Aquafarm, a community-led farm that uses fish waste instead of chemical fertilizer for a hydroponic system. Then you are off to Onis farm that practices more traditional farming.
Travel towards Sandakan and continue to the immersive jungle lodge on Kinabatangan River, Sabah's longest. After settling in, head out on a river cruise to experience the serenity of evening river life (keep your eyes peeled for birds and monkeys and crocodiles, oh my!). Enjoy dinner then opt for a guided night walk through the jungle.
Accommodation:
Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Kinabatangan River Evening Cruise: Cruise through the crocodile-infested waters with an expert boatman. While wildlife-spotting can't be guaranteed there's a good chance you will spot some monkeys, birds and the occasional saltwater crocodiles.
Optional Experiences
- Jungle Night Walk: Take a night walk on the trails near the Jungle Lodge and look for the unique creatures that are active at night.
Begin the day with a river safari to witness the morning wildlife activity. After breakfast, visit the nearby Oxbow Lake with a professional guide and seek out proboscis monkeys, macaques, and gibbons. Enjoy another river cruise for a second chance to spot more wildlife (you never know what you may see) before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Accommodation:
Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise: Jump into a boat and explore the muddy river; keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, birds, and crocodiles.
- Guided Oxbow Lake Walk and Wildlife Spotting: Enjoy a guided trek along the lake and seek out proboscis monkeys, macaques, and gibbons.
- Kinabatangan River Evening Cruise: Cruise through the crocodile-infested waters with an expert boatman. While wildlife-spotting can't be guaranteed there's a good chance you will spot some monkeys, birds and the occasional saltwater crocodiles.
Optional Experiences
- Jungle Night Walk: Take a night walk on the trails near the Jungle Lodge and look for the unique creatures that are active at night.
Depart in the morning and travel to Sepilok - a wildlife haven. Enjoy a visit to the orangutan rehabilitation centre and the adjacent sun bear conservation centre.
Accommodation:
Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Included Experiences
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Visit: The orangutans at the centre were either rescued as orphans or from illegal domestication. Once rehabilitated, they are set free to live in the wild. Watch these creatures being fed or roaming the grounds along with other animals such as macaque monkeys.
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Visit: Visit the conservation centre and see the world’s smallest bear. Learn more about the sun bears and the conservation efforts being made to protect them.
Optional Experiences
- Jungle Night Walk: Take a night walk on the trails near the Jungle Lodge and look for the unique creatures that are active at night.
Transfer to Sandakan and continue by boat to Libaran Island, also known as Turtle Island because thousands of sea turtles return to nest each year. Take a guided tour of the island's turtle hatchery and learn about the turtle conservation program. Later, visit the local village and experience what life is like on the island. Opt to go snorkelling or kayaking with some free time.
Accommodation:
Walai Penyu Resort
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Speedboat: Cut swiftly through the water en route to the next stop (and hang on to your hat).
- Turtle Experience: Accompany Island rangers to learn more about these amazing creatures and the threats to their existence. Depending on the time of year, observe turtles laying their eggs on the beach, follow the park rangers as they transfer the eggs to the hatchery, or stand on the shore and witness the release of baby turtles to the open sea.
- Libaran Island Village Walk: Visit the friendly village of Libaran Island, part of a Planeterra Foundation community development project. View demonstrations by villagers who make flower souvenirs from plastic bottles, master Pandanous weaving, and meticulously knit fishing nets. Also see how local snacks are prepared and enjoy the delicacies.
After breakfast, depart Libaran Island and travel back to the Sandakan jetty. From the jetty, transfer to Sandakan airport for a flight to Kota Kinabalu. On arrival, enjoy a free afternoon to walk and shop at Jesselton Point, a waterfront district lined with shops and street food. Opt to visit the famous Filipino market.
Accommodation:
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City Centre
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Included Experiences
- Speedboat: Cut swiftly through the water en route to the next stop (and hang on to your hat).
- Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
- Free Time: Take advantage of your free time to stroll and shop along the waterfront.
Depart at any time.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Trip Inclusions
- Gather fresh local ingredients for a cooking demonstration.
- Embark on a river safari.
- Keep an eye out for proboscis monkeys and other wildlife.
- Visit a turtle hatchery on Libaran Island.
- Your G for Good Moment: D'Danau Homestay, Kota Belud
- Your G for Good Moment: Libaran Island Village Walk, Pulau Libaran
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
- Your Foodie Moment: Local Farms and Cooking Demonstration, Tambatuon Village
- Morning and evening Kinabatangan River safaris
- Guided oxbow lake visit and wildlife spotting (Kinabatangan)
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre visit
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Visit
- Turtle hatchery visit
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Private vehicle, plane, speedboat, walking
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides
- Hotels (2 Nights), Homestay (1 Night, Multi-share), Jungle Lodge (3 Nights, Twin-share), Permanent Tented Camp (1 Night, Twinshare)
- A variety of styles of hotels/guesthouses are used in Malaysia. In many instances they might not be like what you are used to back home. In some areas we stay in simple local guesthouses in stunning locations - rooms are small and basic and there may only be shared toilet facilities and showers. Service and efficiency can also vary.
- 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
Operator
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful more experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Trip Style: Classic
Get the best of both worlds with G's Classic trips as your knowledgeable CEO (Chief Experience Officer) leads you to iconic highlights and hidden gems, while ample free time lets you discover what excites you most. Enjoy included meals showcasing local flavours, plus opportunities to dive deeper into the food scene independently. Stay in comfortable hotels, authentic homestays, and unique accommodations that capture the spirit of each destination.
Trip Reviews (5)
Borneo magic 1
Merryn, Australia, May 2024
Wonderful trip, Borneo is a magical place. Loved this country, so much to see, I will be back. Thanks G adventures and Global Journeys.
Borneo delivered over and above our perceived expectations. Hot, humid and inviting ... friendly people, exquisite scenery, fascinating wildlife, amazing history and a jungle to boot! This experience is one not to miss and the people at Global Journeys and G Adventures make it seamless and easy to enjoy. A highly recommended company that continues to deliver.
Animals and Birds in the natural settings in Borneo 2
Kevin and Pamela, Hamilton, New Zealand, Jan 2024
This tour provided a lot of variation from seeing how the locals live, learn about their food, taste great dishes prepared by the locals, live from hotel, homestay, lodges to glamping. Travel the river searching for birds, elephants, monkeys and orangutangs. Visit an island where turtles come to lay their eggs and if weather , tides and visibility are read more fine then a little snorkeling as well.
Very full itinerary with river cruises, trekking in night and day, and watching turtles start their swim to the ocean. Did love the Orangutan and Sun Bear Sanctuary that was a great day. Chose this tour as the itinerary included all I wanted to do and it did not disappoint. Well run by helpful CEO and great group of people to share it with.
This tour packed so much into 8 days- mountains, islands, jungle and abundant wildlife. A highlight was our stay at the Kinabatangan River which we cruised in the early morning and late afternoons spotting monkeys, birds and crocodiles on the riverbanks. We will have lifelong memories of cruising down the river at sunset, watching the silhouettes of read more Proboscis Monkeys swinging high in the trees. We didn't spot any of the shy pygmy elephants but did come across their tracks on one of the jungle hikes which was really cool! We would have liked a little longer at the Orangutan sanctuary but operating hours are fairly limited, and the time we did have was fantastic.
The days on tour were busy, but we had a good amount of downtime during the heat of the day to have a siesta in a hammock or in the comfort of air con.
We had a great group of easygoing tour buddies and everyone got along well - a range of ages, including friends travelling together, couples and solos. Our G Adventures CEO was fantastic, sweet and friendly. He is from a local village and has spent several years working in Sabah national parks so has plenty of knowledge about the wildlife.
There was a variety of accommodation which added to the experience, all clean and comfortable with good facilities. We stayed an extra night at the end of the tour and visited the islands off Kota Kinabalu which was worth doing because it was different again to the island we visited on the tour, but if you're going to stay on I would spend a little extra on a hotel with a pool.
Global Journeys provided excellent service at the best price and our travel advisor was professional, intelligent, patient and beautiful.
Borneo is close(ish), safe, and a great destination if you want to see wildlife and go somewhere really different but are short on time. We will travel with G Adventures again and when we do we will book through Global Journeys.
The days on tour were busy, but we had a good amount of downtime during the heat of the day to have a siesta in a hammock or in the comfort of air con.
We had a great group of easygoing tour buddies and everyone got along well - a range of ages, including friends travelling together, couples and solos. Our G Adventures CEO was fantastic, sweet and friendly. He is from a local village and has spent several years working in Sabah national parks so has plenty of knowledge about the wildlife.
There was a variety of accommodation which added to the experience, all clean and comfortable with good facilities. We stayed an extra night at the end of the tour and visited the islands off Kota Kinabalu which was worth doing because it was different again to the island we visited on the tour, but if you're going to stay on I would spend a little extra on a hotel with a pool.
Global Journeys provided excellent service at the best price and our travel advisor was professional, intelligent, patient and beautiful.
Borneo is close(ish), safe, and a great destination if you want to see wildlife and go somewhere really different but are short on time. We will travel with G Adventures again and when we do we will book through Global Journeys.
Dates & Pricing
USD
Friday
05 Jun 2026
05 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Friday
12 Jun 2026
12 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,999
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Sunday
07 Jun 2026
07 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Sunday
14 Jun 2026
14 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,999
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Friday
12 Jun 2026
12 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Friday
19 Jun 2026
19 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$2,099
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Sunday
14 Jun 2026
14 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Sunday
21 Jun 2026
21 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,999
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Friday
19 Jun 2026
19 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Friday
26 Jun 2026
26 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,999
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Sunday
21 Jun 2026
21 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Sunday
28 Jun 2026
28 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$2,099
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Wednesday
24 Jun 2026
24 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Wednesday
01 Jul 2026
01 Jul 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$2,099
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Friday
26 Jun 2026
26 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Friday
03 Jul 2026
03 Jul 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,999
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Sunday
28 Jun 2026
28 Jun 26
Kota Kinabalu
Sunday
05 Jul 2026
05 Jul 26
Kota Kinabalu
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,999
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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