Borneo Wildlife Discoverer

Name: Borneo Wildlife Discoverer
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.8 (50 reviews)

50 reviews

Activity

Wildlife

Overview

Discover the best of Borneo – wildlife, rainforests and tropical beaches

Borneo is home to some of the most diverse and beautiful wildlife in Southeast Asia. This adventure covers many natural wonders, including majestic Mount Kinabalu and Tabin Wildlife Reserve, one of the trip highlights, for a jungle trek in search of the elusive orangutan. It’s a nature lover’s paradise, whose beauty and wildlife are equalled only by Bako and Mulu national parks, which we also explore. We come face to face with more orangutans in Sepilok, stay at a bamboo longhouse in Sabah, and finish the trip in the historic port town of Sandakan.

Key Information

Trip Code: WOH
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Malaysia
Carbon Footprint: 57kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

14 breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Highlights

Join a small group in the wilds of Borneo to experience the natural world in full bloom
Enjoy multiple chances to see wild orangutans and visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
Visit Mulu National Park in time to see the incredible bat exodus from Deer Cave
Take a dawn cruise along Kinabatangan River – the perfect time to spot wildlife!
Stay at Tabin Wildlife Resort, an award-winning jungle resort in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Itinerary

First Destination: Kuching
Next Destination: Sandakan

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Kuching
Next Destination: Sandakan

Kuching, capital of the Sarawak state, is a vibrant riverside city full of different ethnic groups. With a great museum and a well-preserved colonial centre there is much to do in this cultural hot spot.

Around 6pm, say selamat petang to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Malaysian welcome by arranging a group dinner at the waterfront hawkers’ stalls.

Want extra time in Kuching? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Hotel Lime Tree (or similar)

Meals included:Dinner

We enjoy our first foray into the amazing nature of Borneo as we head to nearby Bako National Park, home to proboscis monkeys. Here, the rainforest meets the sea and the only way to get to the park is by boat (after a one-hour drive out of the city). It has abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, interesting plants, secluded beaches and trekking trails. Despite being the smallest national park in Sarawak, Bako contains almost every type of vegetation in Borneo. We return to Kuching for the night.

Please note, our time at Bako is often dictated by tides and weather conditions. Our leader will inform us of the details the previous day.

Accommodation: Hotel Lime Tree (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

We leave the city and fly to Mulu National Park (schedules vary). After checking in at the park HQ, we meet the park guides and head through the forest to Deer Cave, the largest cave passage in the world and home to millions of bats and swifts. The floor has a raised platform, though that is no escape from the smell of guano (bird and bat excrement).

Nearby is Lang’s Cave which, though much smaller, has stalactites and stalagmites and other cave formations. The surrounding forest is spectacular and there is plenty of time to examine it closely.

The walk to Deer Cave is 1.9mi (3km) each way along boardwalks and there are wooden steps leading to different viewing platforms inside the show caves.

We arrive at Deer Cave in time for dusk, when the bats leave their home to feed on insects (as long as it is not raining). This is a sight to behold with the bats forming a long, snaking line across the sky for quite some time. Dependent on the timings of the day, we may visit the caves tomorrow instead.

Please note, due to flight schedules, there isn’t much time for lunch between our arrival at Mulu National Park and when we depart for the caves. You should buy something at the airport to have later.

Accommodation: Mulu National Park Garden Cottages (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Today we explore Mulu with a local guide. In the morning, we visit two of the show caves, including Clearwater, where we can enjoy a picnic lunch (not included) in the gorgeous riverside location. The park has some incredible statistics: it has more than 3,500 plant species, 8,000 types of fungi, and 170 orchid species. There are also 262 bird species, almost 300 butterfly species and many reptiles and mammals.

Members of the Penan people also live within the park. They are a small population of nomadic forest dwellers who live as hunter-gatherers. There has been fierce international opposition to the Malaysian government who tried to settle them in permanent longhouses and indeed the Penan themselves have resisted. In 1994, they were granted an area of the forest where they could continue their traditional lifestyle. Although you are unlikely to meet these elusive people, you occasionally see their fishing shelters or areas in the forest where they have recently visited.

This afternoon, relax in the park and listen to the weird and wonderful creatures that call it home or explore self-guided trails within the park.

Those with a head for heights can try the optional canopy walkway. This 1,575ft (480m) high skywalk takes approximately two hours to complete. Along the way, you may spot macaques, hornbills, flying lizards, squirrels and a variety of rainforest birds. Time slots are subject to availability. In the evening, there is an optional night walk or we can try tuak, the Mulu firewater.

Accommodation: Mulu National Park Garden Cottages (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

This morning, we bid farewell to Sarawak and our local Sarawak tour leader and aim to catch the morning flight out of Mulu and onto Kota Kinabalu in the state on Sabah, though delays are not uncommon. Depending on what time we fly out of Mulu, there may be time to walk along self-guided trails or peruse the visitor centre.

Known as KK to the locals, the capital of Sabah is a modern, multicultural city. Upon arrival in KK, we meet our Sabah tour leader for the remainder of the trip. The evening is free to relax, explore the busy Filipino markets or enjoy a waterfront sundowner.

Accommodation: Hotel Dreamtel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Today you are free to enjoy some of the many activities Kota Kinabalu has to offer. A popular option is to visit one of the tropical islands in the marine park, a 15-minute boat journey from the city and with excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities. You can never be bored here, whether you are relaxing on the white sand, snorkelling or swimming in the warm South China Sea.

There are good birdwatching opportunities in the wetlands not far from KK and a culturally interesting village in Mari Mari where you can learn about the different cultures of Sabah. Your tour leader can help organise any of these options.

Accommodation: Hotel Dreamtel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Today we transfer (about two hours) and explore Mount Kinabalu National Park. It’s a Unesco World Heritage site and home to the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu, which stands at (4,095m) tall. This impressive granite peak can be viewed from the Crocker mountain range, which we pass over, with panoramic views of the countryside and soaring hills. The lower mountain slopes are covered in thick vegetation and it is well known for its diverse botanical and biological species.

En route, we stop at Nabalu market, where villagers sell their produce and handicrafts. It’s possible to walk through the plantation on your own if you want this afternoon. Tea, medicinal herbs, fruit and vegetables are just some of the local produce. From the plantation, the sunrise with a view of Mount Kinabalu is often spectacular. If we’re lucky, we can see the spectacular rafflesia in flower nearby or en route to the plantation.

Accommodation: Sabah Tea Gardens Longhouse

Meals included:Breakfast

We visit the tea factory before we leave the plantation behind and continue our journey to eastern Sabah. Our destination is Sepilok, home to a well-known orangutan rehabilitation centre. The journey is about five hours and we stop at the Sandakan War Memorial enroute. We then continue to our lodge in Sepilok. This evening, as dusk approaches, we head to the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre, which has fantastic bird-watching opportunities (though luck does play a role) as hornbills and Borneo bristleheads are often seen. Orangutans are also spotted during the fruiting season and there is an impressive canopy walkway plus easy walking trails.

Accommodation: Sepilok Jungle Resort

Meals included:Breakfast

Up early, there will be the option to enjoy an early morning walk near our resort for more birdlife and wildlife viewing before breakfast. We then visit Sepilok Orangutan Centre, the largest orangutan sanctuary in the world. Here rehabilitated orphans and captured orangutans are cared for until they are ready to be released into the wild. We can see these incredible relations of ours close-up and learn about the threats to their existence. You have the chance to visit both morning and afternoon feedings. There is also an orangutan nursery where youngsters are trained to climb with the aim of reintroduction to the wild. We have the chance to view the youngsters from a special viewing platform that sits behind one-way glass so as not to disturb or influence them.

There is the option of visiting the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which works to research, rescue and rehabilitate captured bears and provide education to the community.

Accommodation: Sepilok Jungle Resort

Meals included:Breakfast

After breakfast, we depart Sepilok and transfer (approximately two to three hours) to the third-longest river in Borneo, Kinabatangan.

Our lodge is by the mighty Kinabatangan River, an area home to an astonishing array of wildlife including 10 primate species, four of which are endemic to Borneo. It has one of the highest concentrations of proboscis monkeys and orangutans in Malaysian Borneo. Other wildlife includes Bornean gibbon, long-tailed macaques, sun bears and barking deer. The Asian pygmy elephant and clouded leopard also inhabit this area, but sightings are rare. There are also more than 200 bird species, including hornbills, eagles, herons, kingfishers, oriental darters, night jars, flowerpeckers and spider hunters. Later this afternoon, we take our first river cruise.

Accommodation: Tanini Kinabatangan (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We are up with the animals for a dawn wildlife cruise followed by a trek. In the afternoon, we once again take a river cruise to spot wildlife and, if we are lucky, a crocodile or two.

Accommodation: Tanini Kinabatangan (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer (approximately three hours) to Lahad Datu, where we change vehicles and drive off-road (approximately 1hr 45min) into the Tabin Wildlife Reserve. The first 30 minutes is on a sealed road, with the rest on gravel (expect some bumpy conditions).

Our accommodation is nestled within the rainforest beside the Lipad River, a lovely setting home to a variety of birds, insects and small mammals. We arrive in time for a late lunch, followed by a briefing from our in-house guide about the conservation and wildlife of Tabin Wildlife Reserve.

This afternoon, we transfer (30 minutes) to the trailhead for a 30-minute trek to the active Lipad Mud Volcano, visiting an elevated area that provides a nutritious mineral salt lick for wildlife.

Our resort guide identifies the multitude of tracks found here, plus birds and small mammals we might spot en route. Walk back along the trail to our transfer, returning to the resort in time to relax before dinner.

After dinner, we venture out again for a 1hr 30min night drive to look for nocturnal wildlife and see the constellations in the clear, dark sky.

Please note, the itinerary during your stay in Tabin is a guide of what to expect but the order of activities may vary based on recent animal sightings and local knowledge.

Accommodation: Tabin Wildlife Resort

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Join a dawn walk to see some of the 300-odd bird species that live in Tabin. After breakfast, we drive to the core area, learn about local orangutan conservation and climb up the bird-watching tower before trekking through the rainforest, known for its rich diversity of plants and animals, to visit Lipad Waterfall.

Take a dip in the natural pool and enjoy a refreshing shower under the waterfall. Returning to the resort, we stop at the Tabin Giant Tree for a photo opportunity.

In the early evening, take a dusk drive to look for more nocturnal wildlife and birds; after dinner, we’re out again, this time on foot along the Kingfisher Trail near the resort in search of sleeping birds, frogs and nocturnal wildlife.

Accommodation: Tabin Wildlife Resort

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Journey to Sandakan (approximately five to six hours) with a packed lunch along the way. Home to many Chinese and Filipino people, it was once a huge logging centre, first exporting wood in the late 1880s to supply the building of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The waterfront is the place for an evening walk and the rooftop restaurant at the Nak hotel is great for a cocktail or two.

Accommodation: Sabah Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Our Borneo adventure ends after breakfast. Depending on your flight, you may have time to enjoy the hotel pool or explore Sandakan more before beginning your return journey home. Alternatively, speak to your sales representative to extend your stay in Borneo.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Hotels, lodges and traditional Rungus longhouse

On this Borneo adventure, we spend 13 nights in hotels and lodges, plus one night in a traditional Rungus longhouse. The accommodations typically used are on the day-to-day itinerary. However, below are some of the notable places we stay on this trip.

Kinabalu National Park: Sabah Tea Gardens Longhouse (night 7)

Experience the traditional local life with a stay in a reconstruction of a Rungus longhouse. In a peaceful spot surrounded by forest-cloaked hills, the building is made entirely of bamboo, with rattan walls dividing the rooms. Rooms are mixed sex and simple with mattresses on the ground, mosquito nets and ceiling fans, while bathroom facilities are shared with hot showers.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve: Tabin Wildlife Resort (nights 12-13)

Journey deep into the jungles of Tabin for a complete immersion into the wild side of Borneo. The reserve is home to an astonishing amount of wildlife, including more than 300 different bird species and nine types of primate, plus a mud volcano and jungle trails. When you’re not exploring, the resort offers spacious chalets with private balconies, plus the chance to enjoy a herbal foot soak.

Worth knowing

While the resorts we stay at in Borneo (Sepilok and Kinabatangan) are modest, they have been selected due to their proximity to wildlife activities included on the trip in conjunction with reduced accommodation options in the area.
Single rooms are available (subject to availability) for a supplement (singles are not available in Tabin Wildlife Reserve in 2026, but are for 2027). Please advise your sales representative at the time of booking if you would like to request a single supplement.

Essential Information

Trip Expert

Nostalia Jaidul

Expert Leader: Borneo

Introducing Nostalia Hailing from Sabah, north Borneo, Nostalia has been expertly guiding tours since 2012.

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate) with a Wildlife Rating of Four. Visit our Activity Level Guidelines page for more on our trip gradings or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

Accommodation: There is a wide selection of accommodation, including hotels, national park lodges, river lodges, a jungle resort and longhouse with shared bathroom facilities. We visit some remote, wild areas on this tour.

Weather: The climate tends to be tropical, which means it can get very hot and humid.

Walks: There are several hikes in the forest. Though these are not strenuous, you should be comfortable with some early starts and active days and be aware that the heat and humidity can also make it a bit more challenging.

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Lime Tree, 317, Jalan Abell, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Phone: +60 82-414 600
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today, there will be a welcome briefing around 6pm.
Airport: Kuching Airport (KCH)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to Sandakan Airport (SDK) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Malaysia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Malaysia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Important information

All foreign visitors must now complete and submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within three days (including date of submission) prior to their arrival in Malaysia.

To complete the MDAC form, you need to add your date of arrival/departure in Malaysia, passport details, and accommodation (the start hotel of your tour). To obtain these details, please refer to the Final Joining Instructions, which are sent one to two weeks before your departure.

Once the MDAC form is submitted, you will receive an email with a PIN to check your registration on the MDAC website where you can download a PDF copy of your authorised MDAC. It is advised to also print a copy of your MDAC for immigration. All visitors must then present their printed, completed form and their passport at immigration upon arrival in Malaysia.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive in Malaysia.

Allow about 555-850 Malaysian ringgits (US$130-US$200) for food not included. If you fancy a few drinks, you may want to bring a little more as beer and other alcoholic drinks are expensive – expect to pay Western prices.

Malaysia is renowned for its culinary excellence; however, food can often be relatively unexciting and limited in the lodges and for hotel breakfasts.

Meals are more varied in the cities and seafood is widely available on the coast. In the bigger hotels and cities, a full range of Western and local foods are available. Most meals are basic, based around rice and noodles although most accommodations offer a Western breakfast of beans, toast and eggs. You can generally avoid spicier food if you wish.

Vegetarians are well catered for, but may find the food choice limited. Please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent (for example wheat- or dairy-free), please be prepared for this as you may need to bring these from home.

Borneo has an equatorial monsoon climate with the weather remaining similar throughout the year. It is hot and humid; temperatures are 23C-33C (73F-91F) during the day and rarely drop below 20C (68F) at night. The rainy season is from November to January and the dry season is from May to September, though it can rain at any time. A Borneo rain shower is quite an event.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

You’ll also find Thriving Nature, Thriving People moments across our trips. These experiences are often a highlight of your adventure, while also benefiting the natural world or local communities.

On this trip, we:

Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Centre to learn about their vital work rehabilitating orphaned and captured orangutans for a return to the wild
Have the opportunity to explore the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which works to research, rescue and rehabilitate captured bears

Reviews

Really enjoyed Danum Valley after a difficult walk with the humidity seeing orangutans close up. Also really enjoyed the snorkelling and got my confidence back after a bad experience on another holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roni was a good leader, very organised and he coped very well when one of our group had a fall. Everything was organised properly and I felt he really enjoyed his job.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is a busy trip and you don't get much free time but really thought I got my monies worth. Leeches weren't as bad as I thought, luckily only got 1 bite that I know of and I didn't buy the leech socks.

Suggestions

I would recommend this trip.

Read all reviews