Crossing Borneo West to East

A 6 day-5 night adventurous tour departing from Kota Kinabalu and ending in Sandakan.

Experience the true Borneo local life by sleeping in villages and mingling with the local population, taking part in their daily activities:  plant a tree in an effort for reforestation, explore Kinabalu National Park, go trekking and canopy walking in the rainforest, cook with the Orang Sungei tribe, sleep in a tea plantation and cruise the Kinabatangan River, a sanctuary for birds and several other jungle wildlife. Then cruise to Selingan Island for some beach time, snorkelling and close encounters with the green turtles that nest there. More emotions await you at the Sepilok Orang Utans Rehabilitation Centre, before flying out to your next destination from Sandakan airport. 

At 08:00 am enjoy some terrific scenic mountain views in the 2 hrs journey along the Crocker Range. At your homestay Kampung Kiau (Kiau Village) mingle with the villagers and experience their activities and their daily life. Plant a tree to help their reforestation efforts. Your visit will help the local community as they learn to appreciate more their culture and forest.

Overnight in Kampung Kiau.

Enjoy a full-day excursion to Kinabalu National Park, at the base of the highest mountain in Southeast Asia. Explore this botanist’s paradise with over a thousand species of orchids, numerous Rhododendrons and pitcher plants as well as many species of birds. Enjoy a guided nature walk and the exhibition hall. At the Poring Hot springs go on a trek before embarking on an exhilarating adventure at the Canopy Walkway.

Overnight in Sabah Tea Plantation

Explore the tea plantation and the tea factory (closed on Monday & Public Holidays). Relax during the 3.5 hours land journey and short boat trip to reach a wonderful lodge along the river bank, where you will spend the night. In the late afternoon, embark on a river cruise in search of wildlife. The lower reaches of Kinabatangan River have the greatest concentration of wildlife in Borneo.

Overnight in Kinabatangan River (Air-conditioned en-suite room)

As dawn sets in at six o’clock in the morning, enjoy a 1½-hour boat trip witnessing the dramatic change of colours over the horizon. Be amazed with the scenery of colourful birds; some of the bird species found here are the elegant egrets, kingfishers, oriental darter, the swift, bee-eaters, and hornbills. Check out and travel by boat to visit Orang Sungei tribe and learn traditional cooking. Visit Gomantong Cave.

Overnight in Sandakan

At 08:45am, depart to the jetty from where, at 09:30am, it’s a one hour boat journey  to Selingan Turtle Island, a main nesting area for the Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. Relax, swim or snorkel. Be amazed by the sight of turtles laying eggs and baby turtles scrambling to the open sea upon being released on the shore.

Overnight in Selingan Island

Depart at 07:00am to Sandakan Jetty for the overland journey to the world-famous Sepilok Orang Utans Rehabilitation Centre. Witness the feeding of Orang Utans and be charmed by orphaned baby Orang Utans at play. After the tour, transfer to Sandakan Airport or hotel.

— End of services —

The program may also be subject to changes based on traffic, weather or other events beyond our control. In this case we will take care of evaluating the necessary changes together with the travelers. 

• Kampung Kiau. A settlement at the foot of Mount Kinabalu, immerse in the interesting culture of the Dusun people.
• Kinabalu National Park. Kinabalu national park is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO known for its biological splendours.
• Poring Hotspring. Canopy Walkway suspended between trees at a height of 40m and soak in the therapeutic sulphuric waters.
• Sabah Tea Plantation. Immerse yourself in the lush surroundings of the green carpet of the tea plantation with a guided tour.
• Gomantong Caves. Home to millions of bats and swiftlets, explore the biggest bird’s nest cave in Sabah.
• Kinabatangan River. Lookout for wild Orang Utans, Proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephant. Explore the incredible diversity of plants.
• Selingan Turtle Island. Due to its excellent conservation practices, one can see turtles coming ashore almost every night.
• Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Home for orphaned, injured and displaced Orang Utans before they are released to the surrounding forest.

• If there is any mourning or major event in the village, traditional cooking will not be conducted at Kiau Village
• Tea factory is closed on Sunday and public holidays.
• At Kinabalu National Park the usage of cameras is allowed but without flash for the comfort of wildlife.
• Professional video cameras are not allowed in the Parks.
• Although daily sightings of turtles laying eggs have been reported at Selingan Island, it is not guaranteed.
• Conservation fee of MYR60.00 (at time of printing) per visitor is payable directly at Selingan island
• Visitors are not allowed to go around the island on their own from 06:00pm – 06:00am
• We recommend your departure flight from Sandakan on Day 6 to be after 02:00pm.
• All distances stated are based on land journeys.

As the hotels have different seasons that vary from hotel to hotel, the tour price will be on request, and the final amount will be calculated at the time of booking, according to the travel dates chosen.

Prices are per person on request in (MYR) Malaysian Ringgit

Travelers can cancel the tour before the deadline of cancellation; charges will be applied according to the cancellation deadline. The date of cancellation is the date in which the written communication od cancellation is received by the company.  Charges are a percentage of the total tour price per person, including surcharges but excluding any amendment charges and any insurance payment.