Itinerary Details
Day 1: Arrive in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo
Transfer: Kota Kinabalu Airportto Kota Kinabalu - City Centre
Hotel: Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu (5 Star Rating)
Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu is a stylish, modern hotel located in the heart of the city, offering contemporary rooms, offering stunning views of the South China Sea or lush green hills. The hotel features a rooftop infinity pool, a fitness center, and a vibrant dining scene, making it a perfect choice for travelers seeking comfort, convenience, and a touch of luxury in Sabah's capital.
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Day 2: Kota Kinabalu Heritage, Markets & Evening DelightsMeet your guide in the hotel lobby and set out on foot to explore the vibrant Handicraft Market, home to hundreds of stalls showcasing locally made crafts and artisanal treasures from across Sabah. Browse an array of woven baskets, traditional textiles, batik fabrics, pearls, shell crafts, intricate wood carvings, and other unique souvenirs while learning about the region's rich cultural heritage.
Continue to the bustling Spice Bazaar, where you'll discover the fragrant spices and ingredients that form the foundation of Malaysian cuisine. Learn about their culinary uses before pausing to enjoy a refreshing glass of traditional teh tarik (pulled tea) served with roti canai, a flaky Indian flatbread accompanied by aromatic curry.
From here, stroll through Kota Kinabalu's historic quarter, visiting landmarks including Padang Merdeka, the Atkinson Clock Tower, and Australia Place, each offering a glimpse into the city's colonial past. Continue along Gaya Street, the oldest street in Kota Kinabalu and once the heart of the town, where you'll sample freshly baked Chinese pastries before concluding the tour with lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, return to your hotel.Enjoy an evening immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of a local night market, where colorful stalls overflow with fresh fruits, local produce, handicrafts, and an array of unique regional specialties. As you stroll through the bustling market, your guide will introduce you to the local ingredients, traditions, and everyday culture before enjoying an authentic Malaysian dinner.
After dinner, continue with a drive past the iconic Menara Tun Mustapha (formerly the Sabah Foundation Building), renowned as one of Southeast Asia's most distinctive column-free structures. Conclude the evening with a stop at the beautifully illuminated Blue Mosque, its elegant architecture reflected in tranquil surrounding pools, before returning to your hotel.
Day 3: Fly to the Danum ValleyUpon arrival at Lahad Datu, meet your guide and begin an overland journey into the heart of the Danum Valley Conservation Area, arriving at the eco-luxury Borneo Rainforest Lodge set within one of Borneo's most pristine and biodiverse rainforests. This ancient forest is home to towering trees, natural rock pools, and elevated canopy walkways that reveal its remarkable ecosystem.
After check-in and a briefing, ease into your surroundings with an introductory nature walk and canopy experience, complemented by an informative lodge presentation. As night falls, venture out on a guided night drive in electric buggies to search for elusive nocturnal wildlife, before returning to the comfort of your chalet in the rainforest.
Meal(s): Dinner, Lunch
Hotel: Borneo Rainforest Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Borneo Rainforest Lodge is an eco-luxury lodge located deep within the protected Danum Valley Conservation Area, one of Borneo’s most pristine and biodiverse rainforests. It offers comfortable chalet-style accommodation surrounded by untouched primary jungle, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in a rare wilderness setting. The lodge is known for guided wildlife experiences, including jungle treks, canopy walks, river activities, and night safaris that showcase the region’s extraordinary biodiversity.
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Transfer: Kota Kinabalu - City Centre to Kota Kinabalu Airport
Day 4: Danum Valley Wildlife & River AdventuresWake to the calls of Bornean gibbons and set out on a trek to the scenic Danum Valley Viewpoint and the ancient Coffin Cliff, returning to the lodge for a relaxing lunch.
The afternoon offers a choice of guided jungle walks, a river tubing adventure along the Danum River (conditions permitting), or time to unwind in the tranquil surroundings. As evening approaches, join a torchlit walk along the Nature Trail to discover the rainforest's nocturnal wildlife in its natural habitat. Many species that are rarely seen during the day become active at nightfall, including flying squirrels, tree frogs, civets, slow lorises, and the more elusive and seldom seen leopard cats, clouded leopards, and binturongs.
Hotel: Borneo Rainforest Lodge (3 Star Rating)
Borneo Rainforest Lodge is an eco-luxury lodge located deep within the protected Danum Valley Conservation Area, one of Borneo’s most pristine and biodiverse rainforests. It offers comfortable chalet-style accommodation surrounded by untouched primary jungle, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in a rare wilderness setting. The lodge is known for guided wildlife experiences, including jungle treks, canopy walks, river activities, and night safaris that showcase the region’s extraordinary biodiversity.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 5: Danum Valley to SandakanEnjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge before spending the morning at your own pace. After lunch, check out and embark on a scenic transfer back to Lahad Datu to continue your onward journey.
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
Transfer: Sandakan Airportto Sandakan
Hotel: Ormond Sandakan (4 Star Rating)
Ormond Sandakan is a modern waterfront hotel located right in the centre of Sandakan, making it a convenient base for exploring the city and nearby wildlife attractions. Guests can enjoy comfortable rooms, views of Sandakan Bay, and easy access to restaurants, shops, and the harbour just steps away. Its relaxed atmosphere and central location make it a practical choice for travelers looking to experience both the local culture and natural beauty of Sabah.
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Day 6: Orangutans & the Kinabatangan RiverBegin your day with a early morning flight to Sandakan where you will be met on arrival (alternatively you may arrive in Sandakan the day prior and be met at your hotel this morning). Then take a short drive to the renowned Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where you'll watch a short introductory film about the centre's conservation work before heading to the platform to observe rehabilitated orangutans up close. You'll also have time to watch the playful young orangutans in the nursery. Continue to the nearby Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn about the protection of the world's smallest bear.
After lunch, board a shared boat for a scenic 2.5 hour journey along the river to Sukau Rainforest Lodge, located directly on the banks of the Kinabatangan River in the heart of Borneo's wildlife-rich rainforest. Sukau Rainforest Lodge is regarded as one of the best eco-lodges in Borneo, earning multiple ecotourism and sustainability awards including being named among National Geographic Adventure's Top 50 Ecolodges in the world. Following check-in, set out on a late-afternoon river safari in search of Borneo's remarkable wildlife and birdlife.
Return to the lodge for a delicious dinner, then enjoy an engaging presentation by a naturalist guide.
Hotel: Sukau Rainforest Lodge (5 Star Rating)
Sukau Rainforest Lodge is an award-winning eco-lodge located along the wildlife-rich Kinabatangan River in Malaysian Borneo, known for combining comfortable accommodations with immersive rainforest and river safari experiences. The lodge is a premier base for spotting iconic Bornean wildlife such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, hornbills, and crocodiles through guided river cruises and nature walks led by expert naturalists. Recognized internationally for its sustainability and conservation efforts, the lodge emphasizes eco-friendly operations, local community involvement, and environmental education while offering a high-quality jungle retreat experience.
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Meal(s): Dinner, Lunch
Day 7: Kinabatangan River Safaris & WildlifeStart the day early with a morning river cruise along the Kinabatangan River to the tranquil Kelenanap Oxbow Lake, an excellent spot for observing birds and other wildlife as the rainforest awakens. Many wildlife species concentrate along the riverbanks and lakes, including the Bornean orangutan, proboscis monkey (endemic to Borneo), Bronean pygym elephant, saltwater crocodile, long-tailed macaque, silvered langur monkeys, and various types of birds such as the oriental pied hornbill, kingfisher and buffy fish owl.
Return to Sukau Rainforest Lodge for breakfast, then join the resident naturalist for a guided nature walk along the lodge's Hornbill Boardwalk to discover the rich flora and fauna of the surrounding rainforest.
After lunch, enjoy some leisure time to relax at the lodge. Later in the afternoon, head out on another river cruise along the Kinabatangan River for more opportunities to spot Borneo's remarkable wildlife.
Hotel: Sukau Rainforest Lodge (5 Star Rating)
Sukau Rainforest Lodge is an award-winning eco-lodge located along the wildlife-rich Kinabatangan River in Malaysian Borneo, known for combining comfortable accommodations with immersive rainforest and river safari experiences. The lodge is a premier base for spotting iconic Bornean wildlife such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, hornbills, and crocodiles through guided river cruises and nature walks led by expert naturalists. Recognized internationally for its sustainability and conservation efforts, the lodge emphasizes eco-friendly operations, local community involvement, and environmental education while offering a high-quality jungle retreat experience.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
Day 8: Fly to Kota Kinabalu and Boat Transfer to Gaya IslandEnjoy breakfast before departing the lodge by boat and then transfer by vehicle back to Sandakan. You will be dropped off at the airport or at your hotel in Sandakan, depending on your itinerary.
If you have an evening flight and time permits, you may enjoy an optional visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre to walk along the canopy walkway and hanging bridges for a bird's-eye view of the rainforest, and a visit to the botanical gardens.
Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
Transfer: Kota Kinabalu Airportto Jesselton Point Jetty
Hotel: Gaya Island Resort (4 Star Rating)
Set on a lush tropical island just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Gaya Island Resort offers an exclusive escape surrounded by pristine rainforest and the marine-rich waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Guests can enjoy elegant villas, exceptional dining, and a range of experiences including snorkeling, kayaking, nature walks, and spa treatments
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Day 9: At Leisure on Gaya Island: Tropical Island GetawayDay 10: At Leisure on Gaya Island: Secluded Beach & Coral WatersDay 11: Depart from Gaya IslandTransfer: Jesselton Point Jetty to Kota Kinabalu Airport
