Sabah’s Reef and Rainforest

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8 Days / 7 Nights
Availability : Year-round
Sandakan
Tawau
Tour Details

Explore Sabah’s Reef and Rainforest on this adventure in the Malaysian Borneo.

The tour will take you to the towering rainforest in Danum Valley and to the Lower Kinabatangan River you can spot some of the world’s most amazing wildlife including orangutans, elephants, crocodiles and many different birds.

After the rainforest experience, you can enjoy the diverse underwater landscapes of Mabul, Kapalai and Sipadan Islands.

Highlights

  • Experience a wonderful Safari River Cruise on the Kinabatangan River. The lower basin is the largest forest covered floodplain in Borneo and has the largest concentration of wildlife in Southeast Asia.
  • Venture to Danum Valley to witness one of the oldest and most pristine rain forests on the planet houses which houses a wide variety of species of birds, animals, and plants.
  • Stay in a Water Bungalow in the middle of the sea. Kapalai is called an island it is actually a big sandbar in the middle of the Celebes Sea, with no land in sight.
  • Dive into the sparkling waters of the Celebes Sea and explore the dive sites around Sipadan Island – a marine paradise renowned among divers for its rich underwater biodiversity.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1
Sepilok - Kinabatangan River
Day 2
Kinabatangan River
Day 3
Sukau - Danum Valley
Day 4
Danum Valley
Day 5
Danum - Kapalai
Day 6-7
Diving Kapalai - Mabul -Sipadan
Day 8
Kapalai - Depart Tawau

What's Included

  • Accommodation for the nights listed in the itinerary
  • Internal transfers as per travel itinerary
  • Sightseeing tours / activities where specified
  • English speaking guide
  • Meals full board
  • Daily 3 boat dives
  • Use of tanks, weights & weight belts
  • Diving equipment (available for rent)
  • Tourism Tax (RM 10 per room/night)
  • Sipadan Entry Fee

Diving Sipadan

Kapalai Island Resort guarantees one day diving to Sipadan Island if you stay a minimum of a 4 Days and 3 Nights.

Itinerary

Day 1Arrive Sandakan - Sepilok - Kinabatangan River

Meet at Sandakan airport or hotel and transfer to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for up-close orangutan encounter.
Walk 10 minutes through the rainforest on wooden boardwalk to witness the feeding of orangutans from the platform in the forest.
Continue to the outdoor nursery where the juvenile and baby orangutans are taught the skills they need to survive in the forest.
Proceed to Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre where the world’s smallest bears are kept and rehabilitated.

After Sepilok venture on a 2-day wildlife safari on the Kinabatangan River. First, you will be taken to Sim Sim jetty to board the boat to Abai Jungle Lodge. Enjoy a relaxing 1-hour cruise, journeying up the river. Upon arrival check into your lodge on the riverbank and then enjoy lunch.

Late afternoon head out on a safari cruise on the Kinabatangan River. At dusk, you may have the chance to see proboscis monkey and other wildlife than the area is famed for.
Before dinner you will experience a night cruise to witness the glittering fireflies on the mangrove trees.

Overnight at the Abai Jungle Lodge

LUNCH | DINNER

Day 2Kinabatangan River

Wake up early and embark on a river cruise to the Pitas Lake in search of wildlife species that are significantly active during pre-dawn or early morning hours.
The rest of the morning is at your leisure to explore the rainforest on a boardwalk located behind the lodge or visit the village of the native “orang sungai” people and take part in a tree planting project.
After lunch head further up the river to Sukau. Switching lodges gives you a great chance to see more wildlife.
Upon arrival at the lodge head out on another safari cruise on the Menanggul River, a tributary of the Kinabatangan River.

Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge

BREAKFAST | LUNCH| DINNER

Day 3Sukau - Danum Valley

Early morning transfer to Danum Valley Conservation Area office in Lahad Datu (about 2-hour drive). Then after registration continue to Borneo Rainforest Lodge (about 2.5-hour drive).

Enjoy the changing landscape of the regenerated forest to virgin rainforest of a million years old.
Borneo Rainforest Lodge is nestled in the heart of Sabah’s largest protected forest, alongside the Danum River.
The entire Danum Valley Conservation Area is a primary rainforest, which means it has never been logged before and is completely untouched.

After a brief orientation and lunch, proceed for a guided walk along the Nature Trail for an introduction to the rainforest ecosystem.

In the evening see a slide presentation on Danum Valley Conservation Area, then join a night safari on an open-air truck. Using a powerful spot light the guide will point out nocturnal species.

Overnight at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge

BREAKFAST| LUNCH | DINNER

Day 4Danum Valley

Rise early this morning and enjoy a whole day in the beautiful Danum Valley. Start your day with the Canopy Walkway, a rope-style bridge built 26 meters above the forest floor. The view is magical. In the early mornings, mist hangs over the rainforest, forming a white veil from which only the tallest treetops emerge.

After breakfast hike to View Point Trail and Kadazandusun Burial Site. Stop along the trail to admire the variety of flora and fauna and spectacular views.
On the way down, enjoy a refreshing dip in the natural Jacuzzi pool.

After lunch (if weather permits) enjoy an extended hike to look for orangutan, birds and other wildlife along nature trails or go for a relaxing Water Tubing session down the Danum River.

As darkens falls, proceed for a guided night jungle walk in search of nocturnal species.

Overnight at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge

BREAKFAST | LUNCH | DINNER

Day 5Danum Valley - Semporna - Kapalai Island

After breakfast transfer to Semporna jetty (about 5-hour drive), then continue by speedboat to Kapalai Island (about 45-minute boat ride).

Upon arrival on the island check into you water bungalow and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight at the Kapali Island Resort

BREAKFAST | LUNCH | DINNER

Day 6 - 7Kapalai Island

You will have 3 dives per day around Mabul, Kapalai and Sipadan or time at leisure.

Overnight at the Kapali Island Resort

BREAKFAST | LUNCH | DINNER

Day 8Kapalai Island - Depart Tawau

Head back to Semporna and transfer to Tawau airport for your flight.

BREAKFAST

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