best kinabatangan river tour

Dive Into Malaysia

Kinabatangan River Cruise: Best Tours And Everything You Need To Know

Heading to Sabah and looking for amazing experiences? Fantastic! A Kinabatangan river cruise is a great way to explore and appreciate this part of the world.

A Kinabatangan cruise takes you along the Kinabatangan River (or Sungai Kinabatangan in Malay). This river is Sabah’s longest at 560 kilometres and starts in Borneo’s interior before snaking its way to the sea. Its chocolate coloured water is surrounded by forest which wildlife call home.

Sadly, the stretches of forest that line the river are getting smaller and smaller as palm oil plantations grow and grow. However, the upside of this is that it makes it easier to spot wildlife along this river than in most other places.

There are lodges scattered along the river and many Kinabatangan river tours to choose from as a cruise here is a popular option. And for good reason. It’s a great way to see wildlife in their natural habitat in a very easy and accessible way. Plus, there’s some great lodges! This is one of my personal favourite Sabah experiences!

However, there is a lot of choice which can make it confusing. Below, I walk you through everything you need to know to have your perfect Kinabatangan river tour whether you are looking for a Kinabatangan river cruise day trip or a multi-night option. You can easily compare all the options and make up your own mind.

I also share a video walk through from my personal experience of a two day/one night Kinabatangan package which shows you what to expect on your river cruises.

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Why Book A Kinabatangan River Cruise?

As mentioned above, the banks of the Kinabatangan River and the river itself is home to a lot of wildlife. This makes a Kinabatangan tour perfect for any nature lover or anyone who wants to see everything Sabah has to offer.

It’s the one place in Sabah where you can see ten primates including orangutans, Bornean gibbon, macaques, proboscis monkeys and tarsiers. There’s also monitor lizards, crocodiles, wild boars and Borneo pygmy elephants. It’s amazing.

Small groups of mammals can be seen year round and it’s also a fantastic place for bird watchers. You can see all varieties of Borneo’s hornbills, pittas, kingfishers and more.

The good news is that this is all reasonably accessible too. It’s a couple of hours drive from Sandakan or Sepilok to the lodges where your river cruise Kinabatangan will start. I found everything well organised and easy (plus, very enjoyable!).

However, this isn’t an activity where you can just show up. For one, it’s impossible to get to one of the Sungai Kinabatangan river cruise options by public transport. You can take a private taxi, but it’s easier and cheaper to join a tour that will take you there.

You’ll also want to already be booked on a boat before you arrive which is why booking one of the Kinabatangan tours is your only real option.

Compare All The Best Kinabatangan River Tours

Here’s a quick comparison of all of your Kinabatangan river cruise Borneo options.

You can read more about each of these options below. All details are correct at time of publishing but may change before you visit so check before booking that your preferred option has everything you want.

What You Need To Know About A Kinabatangan River Tour

The cruises leave twice a day in the early morning and late afternoon as these are the best wildlife spotting times. There are also night options. When I visited, I had a morning cruise at 6am – my favourite as the air was so still and relatively cool – and 4pm.

At different times of the day, you’re likely to see different animals, so ideally, you want to do all of them. This is why booking at least one night at a lodge to go at these different times is worthwhile if you can spare the time.

Longer is even better. The more days you are there, the more wildlife and better variety you’ll be able to spot.

Otherwise, it is possible to do a Kinabatangan river cruise day trip from Sandakan. I only recommend this if you really can’t spare any longer.

Cruises don’t necessarily stay just on the Kinabatangan River, you may visit its tributaries as well.

Lodges should include the twice-daily river cruises in their prices. Everyone knows you are here to do these cruises. Night cruises, walks and other activities may be extra or they may be included so make sure you read any details carefully.

Take binoculars, a great camera, a poncho or rain jacket and a torch or headlamp for night exploration. Good hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellent are essential too.

If you are staying overnight, bring cash (there are no ATMs). It can also be cool in the evenings so a longer shirt is a good idea. I recommend taking some snacks as well as this is a remote area, and there are limited options for food. Don’t expect good wifi or for your phone to work, although my phone worked with Digi at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort.

This area can flood in the rainy season (October to March) which can stop tours from lodges affected. Otherwise, river tours run year round.

You can also book a Kinabatangan river cruise package that includes other activities, like exploring Sepilok.

If you want to know more about what to expect when visiting Kinabatangan River, find our full guide here.

Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip

Day trips visit Kinabatangan River for just one cruise which limits your chances to see a range of wildlife. If possible, I recommend you stay overnight. However, if you are short on time, here are your best Kinabatangan river cruise 1 day options…

Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip

If you simply want to get to Kinabatangan River and do a cruise and then return to the Sandakan/Sepilok area, this is your tour!

You’ll be picked up from your hotel from 12 – 1:15pm and driven to Kinabatangan River for your 4pm cruise. On arrival at the river, you’ll have a refreshment as you wait for the cruise to start with your local guide.

The cruises goes for about two hours and then you’ll have dinner (included) before you make the 2-3 hour drive back to your hotel in the Sandakan area.

Click here to see the latest prices and availability.

Private Full Day Gomantong Cave and Kinabatangan River Cruise

On this private tour, you’ll be picked up around 11am and taken to a local restaurant for an included lunch.

On the way to Kinabatangan River, you’ll visit Gomantong Cave. This is about an hour and a half from Sandakan. Gomantong Cave is famous for its edible bird’s nests which are used in Chinese cooking. It’s also home to many bats. Thanks to dwindling bird populations, entry to this cave is now restricted so it’s not always possible to visit.

After exploring Gomantong Cave, you venture on the Kinabatangan River for the 4pm cruise to spot wildlife and enjoy your surrounds. After it finishes around 6pm, you can buy dinner at the lodge before the 2-3 hour journey back to Sandakan.

Kinabatangan River Cruise 2D1N Options

An overnight option is the best way to get to see the river at different times of day, and I recommend you do one of these packages if possible.

Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night

This Kinabatangan river tour package is perfect for exploring what this area has to offer in a small-group and remote setting.

You’ll stay at Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp which is owned and operated by the local tribe and proceeds help support local community projects. It’s in a more remote location so you are unlikely to be around other river boats when you go on your tour. This is helped by the fact that only 12 people can stay here at any one time.

This package includes transfers from the Sandakan area, dinner, breakfast and morning, afternoon and night cruises meaning you’ll get the best chance to spot different types of wildlife.

Pick up time is on day one around 12pm. You’ll have lunch on the way at a local restaurant (your cost) and will arrive at the lodge in time for the 4:30pm river cruise. This cruise goes for an hour and a half.

Dinner is included at 7pm before a one hour night cruise at 8pm. The generator for this accommodation is only on from 6pm – 10pm.

The next morning, you’ll be up early for the 6:30am one hour cruise before the included breakfast at 8am. At 9am, you’ll say goodbye and head back to the Sandakan area.

They also have a 3 night option which you can find here.

2D1N Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise

This is a similar overnight option with stays at either Nature Lodge Kinabatangan or Sukau BackPackers B&B depending on whether you want your own room or budget dorm accommodation.

While not as remote as Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp, you’ll still feel like you have got away from it all. No matter which accommodation option you pick, your Kinabatangan river tour price includes transfers, a river cruise, and a breakfast, lunch and dinner. You also get to visit some attractions in the Sepilok/Sandakan area.

You’ll be picked up around 8am from the airport or your hotel. The first stop is at the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where you’ll get to view and learn more about orangutans.

You’ll then have an included lunch at a local restaurant before driving on to your Kinabatangan lodge.

At 4pm, it’s time for your river cruise to spot wildlife before the included dinner.

On the second day, you’ll have your included breakfast then depart Kinabatangan for Gomantong Cave (if it’s open). After exploring this huge cave, which is home to swiftlets and bats, it’s back to Sandakan for a city tour visiting historic buildings like St Michaels Church, a Buddhist temple and Sim-Sim Water Village.

Lunch is included at English Tea House that overlooks the Sulu Sea.

You’ll be dropped off at the airport or your hotel.

The big drawback of this tour is that it only includes one river tour. Unless you are short on time so need to use these two days to also visit Sepilok and Sandakan, I would pick the tour above instead so you get the three cruises.

2D1N Package with Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort

This option allows you to book your tour direct with the accommodation, Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. The great part about doing it this way is you can stay as many nights as you like.

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort has many room options so you can save money by staying in a dorm or have the ultimate experience of staying in one of these fabulous deluxe rooms as pictured above.

The resort is well organised with set packages depending on how long you stay. Meals are included and food is good and filling.

In just one night, you can do both an afternoon and morning cruise as well as a night walk.

Transfers from the Sandakan area are also included.

Click here to see the latest options and prices.

Kinabatangan River Cruise 3D2N Options

A longer Kinabatangan tour package is perfect for when you have the time, and you want to spot as much wildlife as possible. The cruises are the same as the one night options, but you get more opportunities over multiple days to see varied wildlife.

3D2N Discover Kinabatangan River 

This tour package includes two nights at the Bilit Adventure Lodge, all meals and river tours twice a day, two hikes and transfers to and from the Sandakan area.

Bilit Adventure Lodge is one of the better lodges in the area, and you’ll have a well presented room that’s comfortable in a scenic location.

You’ll depart Sandakan around 10:30am with a pick-up from the airport or your hotel. Along the way, you’ll stop at a local restaurant for lunch. On arrival at Bilit Adventure Lodge, you’ll have a quick briefing by a nature guide and afternoon tea before your 4pm river cruise.

After the cruise, the included dinner is served and then you’ll have a night walk.

The next morning, you’ll be up early for your morning cruise. Today, you’ll have all three meals and afternoon tea included at your lodge as well as a guided jungle walk about the vegetation in this area and your afternoon cruise.

The final morning, you’ll have breakfast before your transfer back to the Sandakan area.

This is a great option for exploring Kinabatangan River.

3D2N Package with Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort

As above, this option allows you to book your tour direct with the accommodation, Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. You can read my full review of this resort here.

There are many room options so you can save money by staying in a dorm or stay in a villa by the water.

The resort is well organised with set packages depending on how long you stay.

Packages include morning and afternoon cruises, walks and all meals. You can choose how long you stay and enjoy this area.

4D3N Sepilok Wildlife Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise

This is a perfect package if you want to explore Kinabatangan River and Sepilok with everything included. It’s all nice and easy!

On this package, your tour starts with a pick up around 8:30am at your hotel in the Sandakan area or the airport. You’ll visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center before checking in at the Sepilok Jungle Resort and having lunch.

Next up is a guided walk at the Rainforest Discovery Center before dinner.

The next day, you’ll have breakfast and then a free morning until lunch. After lunch, you leave for Bilit Adventure Lodge, one of the best accommodation options around Kinabatangan.

You’ll have a short introduction by a nature guide before afternoon refreshments. This afternoon, you’ll do your first river cruise. It’s then dinner time. You can choose to do a night walk for an extra RM10 which can be arranged locally. You can also choose to do a tree planting activity for RM10 per tree.

The next day, it’s a 5:30am start for your morning cruise before returning for breakfast. You’ll have a guided walk to learn about the vegetation of the area before lunch. Your afternoon will be relaxing until your afternoon river cruise. Dinner is served and then you can choose to do a night walk for an extra fee.

On day four, you’ll have breakfast before checking out and being driven back to the Sandakan area. You can be dropped off at your hotel or the airport.

Kinabatangan River 2D1N Video Walk Through

To get an even better idea of what you’ll do and what to expect at the Kinabatangan River, watch our full video walk through below of a typical 2 day/1 night stay.

It shows you everything from the journey here to inside a resort to the animals we saw on the cruises.

It was filmed at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. You can find our full review of this resort here.

Final Words

I hope you have found this guide to Kinabatangan River cruises useful and you now know whether a cruise here is right for you, what to expect and are ready to book your perfect experience.

I very much enjoyed my Kinabatangan experience. I can’t recommend enough that you stay for two or three nights and experience cruises at different times of the day and have the best chance of spotting wildlife like the pygmy elephants. Experiences like this are exactly why you come to Borneo!

Want more help planning your trip? Find our full guide to Kinabatangan River here and full travel guide to Sandakan here , all the top Sandakan tours here and all our guides to more remote Sabah experiences here.

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By Sharon Gourlay

Sharon is a certified Malaysia travel expert and can't get enough of travelling and talking about Malaysia since she first visited 21 years ago. She travels around Malaysia multiple times a year both alone and with her kids. She used to call Penang home and especially loves this food paradise. Sharon also has a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, a Certificate III in International Travel Sales and has been certified by Tourism Malaysia as a Malaysia Travel Expert. Through this site, she'll help you have the perfect trip to this amazing destination.

Kinabatangan River Cruise: A Must-do in Borneo (2024 guide)

By: Author Kris

Posted on Last updated: January 23, 2024

The Kinabatangan River is an area with tropical lowland rainforest vegetation and unique ecosystems.  It’s a popular place to spot wildlife.

Do you have plans to visit this lush green region during your Borneo trip? A Kinabatangan river cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In this article, we share the best time to visit the Kinabatangan river, how to get there, some excellent all-inclusive Kinabatangan river lodges, and what it is like to spend a day in the jungle.

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you.

In a Hurry? Here you will find the most important information about making a Kinabatangan River Cruise

• The Kinabatangan River in Borneo can be visited almost all year round.
• The most popular way to get here is to fly to Sandakan. That’s also how we got here.  Most Kinabatangan river lodges include transportation to and from Sandakan airport in their bookings.
• The price of your Kinabatangan river cruise package depends on many elements. We advise taking an all-inclusive package.  You will have nothing to worry about because your tours and your meals will be included. As you are in the jungle there are no other restaurants around.
• We stayed in the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Lodge and loved our stay.

Table of Contents

Best time to visit the Kinabatangan River

The Kinabatangan River in Borneo can be visited almost all year round. March to early September are the driest months.

This is a great time to see wildlife near the Kinabatangan river.

From April to October is a good period for bird lovers as it is the flowering and birding season.

We went in July and we had nice weather with blue skies and we saw a lot of wildlife including orangutans and pygmy elephants.

The wettest months are November to March. This season has its advantages and disadvantages.

The main advantage is that you can enter deeper into the river channels and you will have more chances of spotting wildlife.

The disadvantage is that it will rain a lot and sometimes the river and channels are flooded. Especially during the monsoon season in December and January.

We recommend you to avoid the monsoon season.

How to get to the Kinabatangan River in Borneo?

The most popular way to get here is to fly to Sandakan.  That’s also how we got here.  Most Kinabatangan river lodges include transportation to and from Sandakan airport in their bookings.

If you are not sure if it’s included, you should check this with your lodge.

The journey involved a long drive in a minibus and then just a few more minutes over the Kinabatangan River.

This will be the case for most Kinabatangan river accommodations as most of them are located close to the pier at the main road.

Kinabatangan Riverside Lodges

The price of your Kinabatangan river cruise package  depends on many elements.  The level of comfort of the accommodation will make a difference but there will also be differences in what’s included in your package.

Some Kinabatangan river lodges offer all-inclusive packages (typically including all meals and 2 daily Kinabatangan River Cruises) but some only include your accommodation.

We advise taking  an all-inclusive package.   You will have nothing to worry about because your tours and your meals will be included. As you are in the jungle there are no other restaurants around.

If you are just like us a big nature fan,  opt for a 4 days/3 nights package  so you can enjoy 3 full days in the Malaysian wilderness. You will have more chances to see the orangutans and pygmy elephants. We saw different animals on each river cruise.

There’re many Kinabatangan river tours and accommodations. Remember that you are in the jungle and that these river accommodations may not offer all the amenities that you are used to.

Here we share 3 comfortable Kinabatangan accommodations with air conditioning that offers all-inclusive packages.

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort

We stayed in the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort, one of the more comfortable Kinabatangan riverside lodges. It’s the only lodge in Kinabatangan rated 2 stars. 

The manager took really good care of us and we were treated with delicious meals after every river safari.  

We comfortably enjoyed the pleasures of the jungle :-).

Check prices and availability here:

Booking.com

Nature Lodge Kinabatangan

The Nature Lodge Kinabatangan offers basic clean rooms with air conditioning.  

Incredibly friendly staff.

The tours are good and the group sizes are considerably smaller than other tours.

Kinabatangan Wildlife Lofe

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge offers spacious rooms with air conditioning.  

They offer a reasonable selection of well-prepared food, Very friendly and helpful staff.

The river safaris are excellent and the guides are good at spotting wildlife.

If you aren’t convinced of these hotels, you will find a lot of other hotels along the Kinabatangan river on booking.com: Booking.com

Jungle days with Kinabatangan river safaris

A typical day in the jungle takes an early start mostly around 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning.

A small snack and some coffee will be waiting to help you wake up before you head to the boats to do a Kinabatangan cruise at sunrise.

2 hours later you will get back to your lodge where you will enjoy breakfast.

After breakfast, you have time to read that good book that you wanted to read for so long.  You could take a nap or if you’re like me you could unwind by just listening to the sounds of nature.

You will be amazed at how quickly it is time for lunch…

Most packages will include all meals and morning- and evening river safaris

After lunch, you have time until 4 PM to do more of the same. At 4 PM it is time for another Kinabatangan river cruise.  Your sunset cruise typically lasts 2 hours and returns to the lodge after dark.

Dinner will be waiting for you when you get back to the lodge.

Most Kinabatangan river accommodations offer all-inclusive packages with all meals (no drinks) and morning and evening cruises included.

You can choose to add some extra excursions to your Borneo river safari packages like a night walk, a night cruise or an excursion to a nearby village.

The forest is alive day and night and a night excursion is particularly interesting if you want to see the nocturnal animals. (think, among other things, of big hairy spiders)

You can also approach birds more easily to take some really good close-up pictures.

We were hoping to see the Pygmy elephants but when we inquired as to their location upon arrival our hopes were quickly scuttled.  The main group of elephants had moved to a location that was too far away, out of reach for our boat safaris.

We had set our hopes for elephants but the orangutans, birds, and snakes we saw on the first day generously made up for failing to see any elephants.

If you love nature this is definitely a place you should go to.

Things only got better from there. You can imagine how excited we were when we encountered some elephants during our evening cruise on the second day.

We became even luckier on the third day when we got to see some elephants swimming. At the end of our 3 days we had spotted orangutans, snakes many proboscis and macaques and lots of birds (kingfishers, raptors, eagles, owls, …)

Some of the lodges include optional tours upon arrival and departure.

We opted to include these tours when we booked our package at the Borneo Nature Lodge and visited the Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center on our way to the lodge and the Gomatong cave upon departure.

Very often a Borneo orangutan tour is included, a tour where you visit an orangutan rehabilitation center, but other lodges may offer different Kinabatangan river tours.

The Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center

Since earlier on we visited  the Semenggoh rehabilitation center  we can make a good comparison of both and I think Sepilok beats Semenggoh. 

Not that we didn’t like Semenggoh, as animal lovers I would visit each center if I could, but if you have to choose between the two my first choice would be Sepilok. 

They have a professional and very informational visitor center where you learn a lot about these interesting animals. 

The presentation and the video in the center make your visit somewhat more worthwhile.

The 3 best activities to do in Kuching .

If you only have time for one Borneo orangutan tour our advice would be to visit the  Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center.

The creepy Gomatong caves on our way back

On our last day, we got to sleep late, actually just a normal hour but if you have to get up at 5 for the morning cruise it’s a treat to sleep until 7 for once.

After breakfast, we headed to the Gomatong cave .

One part of the cave is open to the public and here you can witness the conditions in which twice yearly the edible bird’s nests are harvested.  These swallow nests are a delicacy in China and they pay big money for it.

But not only swallows are living in the cave… A population of bats lives in the cave and their pile of guano has attracted millions of cockroaches and centipedes.

As soon as you stopped walking those little creatures started walking across your feet which means I haven’t taken any pictures and share some pictures taken by other braver visitors (credit in the picture’s caption).

I do respect the guards that live in the cave day and night to protect the bird’s nests

I think I could say our visit was disgusting but interesting at the same time.  We witnessed an ecosystem here as we had never seen one before.

The Gomatong cave is situated in a wildlife protected area and as you make your way along the walkway towards the cave you should keep your eyes open for orangutans. We did see 2 of them.

Other people reported that they had also seen lemurs and colorful kingfishers.

Nature enthusiasts should definitely put a nature lodge stay along the Kinabatangan river on their bucket list. The river safari in Borneo is an unforgettable experience.

You adopt the pace of nature and in just a few days you will leave recharged with some great memories.

Staying in a comfortable lodge in the middle of the jungle has something magical.

We did it in Peru and we repeated it here in Kinabatangan and both times it was one of the best memories of our trip.

Don’t forget your binoculars!

A torch can come in handy to use during your night walk (usually torches are provided).  You might also need it as some hotels don’t have 24/7 electricity.

As soon as the sun sets the mosquitos come out.  Make sure to bring mosquito repellent to avoid becoming a mosquito buffet.

One day seems too short to visit this vast region but if that’s all you have you should have a look at this one-day Kinabatangan excursion .

Kinabatangan river cruise – The best trip in Borneo (amazing experience)

Posted on Last updated: October 27, 2022

Categories Sabah , Visit Malaysia

Our East Sabah trip is not complete without the Kinabatangan River trip.

Kinabatangan is Sabah’s longest river, beginning from the southwest and ending at the Sulu sea east of Sabah. Kinabatangan is 560 kilometers long, the longest in Sabah and Malaysia’s second longest river.

The lower Kinabatangan wildlife reserve has the highest concentration of wildlife in Borneo. The river cruise at the Kinabatangan area is the best way to observe the animals along the riverside.

That is why we have planned to stay at Bilit Adventure Lodge for three days, exploring the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary by joining the river cruises and jungle walks.

Don’t miss the video shot at Kinabatangan River. It is at the end of this article. 👇👇

1. Our trip from Kuala Lumpur to Kinabatangan river

Since there is no international flight to Sandakan, you must fly to either Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur and then take the internal flight to Sandakan if you come from another country.

As Malaysians, we took the internal flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan, which is the most convenient way. We spend a few days visiting the Sandakan town, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary before heading to Kinabatangan River.

Bilit and Sukau are two villages located at the lower Kinabatangan river, where you can book lodges to stay during your visit. The road trip from Sandakan Airport to Bilit and Sukau Village is about two hours, depending on the traffic.

This article will share what we have seen during our trip to the Kinabatangan river. You can read our review of Bilit adventure Lodge here .

2. Where did we stay while visiting the Kinabatangan river?

We arrived at Billit Adventure Lodge in the afternoon at about 4:00 pm and immediately prepared to join the evening cruise starting at 5:00 pm.

It is located on the Kinabatangan riverbank, making it super easy to join the river cruise in the morning and late afternoon. According to our guide, we expected to spot different wildlife in the morning and afternoon.

The lodge is quite basic but has all the basic amenities required. Our room was spotless, with an attached bathroom and air conditioning. That was the lodging we looked for as we were here for the wildlife, not aiming to stay at a luxurious resort. The cost is also quite competitive.

Bilit Adventure Lodge is located opposite the river near Kampung Bilit. There is no road or vehicles on this side of the river as it is a virgin jungle. 

If you are looking for more luxurious accommodation, check out Sukau Rainforest Lodge at Sukau village.

3. Additional stuff we brought for the Kinabatangan trip

Here is a list of specific things we carried during our Kinabatangan river trip.

• Binoculars . Since we stayed on our boat during the cruise, binoculars are essential to locate the birds, monkeys, orangutans, and pygmy elephants.
• I also brought my full-frame camera and telephoto 100mm-400mm zoom lens . Full frame camera allowed me to crop in during postproduction, as some animals were just too far from me. I also had a tripod , which is handy for photographing wildlife. 
• As suggested by our guide, I used the insect repellent called Mosi Guard , which is effective for leeches.
• Since we had jungle tracking, our headlamps were helpful during our night trekking tour.
• We purchased our leech socks , but Bilit Adventure Lodge can provide them for the guest for a small fee. 
• I used my regular trekking shoes . My wife purchased the locally made Addidas Kampong in Sandakan, which locals widely use for trekking. It is especially useful when crossing rivers and streams, as it has good grips and is quick to dry.

Note : If you are using your iPhone, I suggest purchasing a telephoto lens dedicated to iPhones. Telephoto Moment lenses are made for iPhone. It can increase the focal length up to four times, greatly useful for wildlife photography.

4. Animals that we spotted during the Kinabatangan river safari

We joined the early morning river cruise and afternoon cruise because different animals will come out at other times of the day.

Although we have seen orangutans and the proboscis monkey at Sepilok, seeing them again in the wild is a different experience. The Kinabatangan river is the natural habitat for various primates, including the proboscis monkey, long and short-tailed macaques, and orangutans.

The cruise offers a relatively easy way to observe wildlife along the riverbanks. The late afternoon Kinabatangan river cruise took about two hours. 

A. Borneon pygmy elephants

These elephants have separated from relatives like Asian elephants since 300,000 years ago. As a result, during the evolution process, they become smaller and endure significant body changes.

They have long tails, large ears, and a straight tusk. They are relatively small, about 8 to 9 feet tall, even when fully grown.

We were lucky to sight a herd of Bornean pygmy elephants at the riverbank. No one can guarantee that we could see the elephants, depending on our luck. The elephants roamed into the inner land the following day, and visitors could only see one elephant the next day!

Hunting, poaching, and reduced genetic diversity due to the small population contributed to the near extinction of Bornean pygmy elephants. As a result, they are considered endangered species. It is only estimated about 1500 remain in the wild of Borneo. 

Although you can spot the pygmy elephants in Borneo at Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve, the easiest place to spot these elephants is along the Kinabatangan riverbank.

B. Proboscis monkey

Proboscis monkeys are the largest monkey species in Asia. The male is generally about 70 centimeters tall, and his weight can go up to 20 kilos. They have a large and long noses for males. Female noses are not as large as the males but larger than most monkeys. In addition, both females have bulging stomachs that look like potbellies.

Proboscis monkeys are an endangered species in Borneo. Their predators are large lizards, crocodiles, and some large birds, like eagles.

Their natural habitats are mixed dipterocarp-kerangas, mangroves, and lowland forests near freshwater and rivers.

They were pretty naughty and jumped from one tree to another. One of the proud males nearly fell to the ground. After that, he just sat there quietly. His expression is like saying, ‘Oh my God, what have I done?’

C. Orangutans

Orangutan is also an endangered species in Borneo.

The best way to get closer to orangutans is to visit them at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

Orangutan has long arms and short legs. They have reddish brown hair covering their bodies. The male can weigh up to 75 kilos while females can reach about 37 kilos. Fruit is the most crucial component of the diet. 

Orangutans spend most of their time in trees. Our guide helped us to spot a few wild orangutans during our river cruise.

D. Saltwater crocodiles

We saw a few saltwater crocodiles during our cruise, but it was pretty tricky to photograph because they were mostly beneath the water.

Saltwater crocodiles have a reputation as one of the most aggressive crocodiles when they are fully grown. So we were a little bit nervous initially, but our local guide said that as long as they were not disturbed, we were saved from observing them from afar.

E. A variety of birds

We spotted a variety of birds during our cruise. 

It wasn’t easy to find them initially, but our guide with trained eyes spotted them quickly. Otherwise, we could not locate them except the great egret on the riverbank.

Among all the birds we spotted are storm’s stork, oriental pied hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, falconet, green imperial pigeon, and stork bill kingfisher.

5. Guided jungle walk at the riverine forest

Besides the Kinabatangan River tour, we went for a guided jungle walk after dinner and another during the day.

a. Night walk in the jungle

Since the jungle is located in the wetland, the trail can be pretty muddy.

The lodge has provided boots for us as the regular trekking shoes were not suitable in the swampy area. We also wore leach socks to prevent getting bitten by the leeches.

Walking in the jungle at night was a different kind of experience because it was pitch dark.

We were asked to switch off our headlamps and torch at one point for a minute to let us experience how it feels in total darkness. It was a unique experience for anyone who had never tried that before, as we saw absolutely nothing.

Our guide helped us spot insects, nocturnal animals, and birds while meandering through the muddy bushes. It was such a good experience that we joined the night walk again on the second night.

Our guide also spotted a slow loris that had not been seen for the past three years. Unfortunately, it was too dark, and we did not manage to take a good photograph.

b. Trekking through a swampy area

The following day, our guide brought us to a different area without any clear trail at certain parts. 

This area is swampy, and the boots given to us came in handy. Not many animal animals were found, but walking through the swampy area was quite an experience.

6. What’s next in our itinerary?

Our stay at Kinabatangan river is a new experience. We spotted many animals, insects, and birds we had never seen before. Our next stop was Tabin Wildlife Reserve at Lahad Datu, where we enthusiastically anticipate seeing more rare species and visiting the mud volcano.

6. More information about the Kinabatangan River trip

A. what is the best time to visit the kinabatangan river.

Anyone can visit the Kinabatangan river in Borneo any time of the year. However, it is best to visit during the dry season between March and September. April to October is the best time if you like bird watching because that’s the birding season.

Avoid the monsoon season, especially between December and January, as it will rain a lot, and sometimes the river and the channels are flooded, making it inaccessible.

B. How long should you plan your trip to Kinabatangan river?

Since it takes about 3 hours to travel from Sandakan to Kinabatangan river, I suggest you stay here for at least two nights.

During your stay, you can join the morning and evening cruises, where you will spot different wildlife.

In addition, don’t miss out on the jungle trail walk during the day and at night. There is a high chance you will see some rare nocturnal animals and birds that can only be able to find at night.

Watch our video shot during our stay at Kinabatangan River . 👇👇

If you have read this blog post this far, don’t miss out on the video shot at Kinabatangan River. Click the image below to watch on YouTube (shot in high definition!).

Other places we visited in Sabah, Malaysia

If you like this article, you may also want to read about other articles we wrote during our visit to Sabah, Malaysia.

• (EP1 Sabah) Sandakan food guide: Ten best restaurants in Sandakan
• (EP2 Sabah) Sandakan Heritage Trail & Memorial Park guide- Best places to visit in Sandakan
• (EP3 Sabah) Sepilok Jungle Resort review- Our true experience (with amazing hospitality)
• (EP4 Sabah) Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary- feeding session (amazing photos)

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

Hi, what company did you use for your travel guides for your Sabah trip? Thanks

Monday 6th of March 2023

The tour company is Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure. Here is their website: http://www.stwadventure.com/main.php

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KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE IN SABAH BORNEO: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE!

WANDERING HOW TO PLAN A KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE WHEN VISITING SABAH BORNEO?

When we visited Borneo for 2 weeks for our honeymoon, we were surprised by how little information there was on what exactly a Kinabatangan river cruise was and how / where to book them, which we found very frustrating.

Now armed with new found knowledge from our personal experience here, we have specifically written the blog post below to explain everything you need to know about planning a Kinabatangan River cruise to save you the same annoyance!

Includes: All cruise booking options, how to get to Kinabatangan River, accommodation options, wildlife to spot (including the iconic Borneo Big 5 ), tips and more!

KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE: AN INTRODUCTION

Located north of Sabah, Borneo is the mighty Kinabatangan River, the second longest river in Malaysia. The enriched river banks and dense canopies are home to the highest concentration of wildlife in one place in Borneo!

The ability to take a cruise down the Kinabatangan River allows visitors to head deep into this epicentre of activity with ease to spot the very best of Borneo’s wildlife.

When we visited Borneo, the majority of wildlife we saw – including orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, macaques, dozens of birdlife and saltwater crocodiles – was on a Kinabatangan River cruise!

When we say cruise, we’re not talking a big catamaran. A river cruise on Kinabatangan River is always in a small motor boat, with usually no more than 6 to 8 guests plus guides.

From our own personal experience, we compiled all of the information below to help you easily plan your own epic experience on the Kinabatangan River.

PLANNING A KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE

Before we headed to Borneo, there was very little information about how to plan a Kinabatangan River cruise. We were under the assumption that you had to be part of an organised, all-inclusive tour to be enrolled on a cruise.

So when we arrived, it surprised us to find out that in fact most accommodation dotted along the Kinabatangan River (from the luxury Sukau Rainforest Lodge to the budget lodges) offer their own in-house cruise experiences on the Kinabatangan River.

There really is an option to suit everyones travel preferences and budget. We explain the two options in more depth below:

OPTION 1: ALL-INCLUSIVE HOTEL & CRUISES

The first option is to book your stay at Kinabatangan on an all inclusive basis, which includes all transfers from the airport and onward travel, all food and drinks throughout your stay and – most importantly – all river cruises already reserved and booked.

Many visitors may prefer this for peace of mind that everything is already sorted before you arrive, all you have to do is turn up!

If you do decide this option, we highly recommend using local tour agency Sticky Rice Travel. We personally used them to organise our trip to Kinabatangan and they provided a great, reliable service. Check out all of their Kinabatangan River all-inclusive tour options here .

While this option may be the most expensive, Sticky Rice Travel do give 3 accommodation options to choose from to help cater to different budgets, ranging from ultimate luxury at Sukau Rainforest Lodge (where we stayed) or mid-range premium at Borneo Nature Lodge or Borneo Eco Camp.

OPTION 2: BOOK CRUISES INDEPENDENTLY AT CHOSEN ACCOMMODATION

The second option is perfect for those who don’t mind not going all-inclusive and looking for a more budgeted, independent travel experience.

You can easily find some great budget Kinabatangan River lodges (we recommend Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge ), which you can easily reserve the best deal yourself on Booking.com.

You can contact them directly before you even arrive to confirm they do provide Kinabatangan River cruises, and even pre-pay / pre-book river cruise time slots for the duration of your stay for added peace of mind.

In 2023, a cruise per person at Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge is 80 MYR (Approx. £13 GBP / $17 USD).

If you aren’t too fussed about pre-booking, you can always book your cruises when you arrive (though we recommend to pre-book during Borneo’s busier period between May to September).

GETTING TO KINABATANGAN RIVER

As the Kinabatangan River is in a protected and relatively remote location, it’s super handy to know all viable options on how to get there easily. We lay out all of the best options to consider below. You will notice we have broken this down into two simple steps:

• Arrive into Sandakan Airport (SDK)
• Land transfer to Kinabatangan River

ARRIVE INTO SANDAKAN AIRPORT (SDK)

The closest airport to the Kinabatangan River is Sandakan (SDK), a very small local airport on the North coast of Sabah. You can fly into Sandakan from multiple nearby airports:

INTERNALLY FROM BORNEO:

✈️ You can fly direct from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) . Kota Kinabalu is Borneo’s main International airport, located on the left-hand side of Borneo. From Kota Kinabalu, there are multiple internal flights to Sandakan every day. The flight duration is 50 minutes.

✈️ You can fly direct from Lahad Datu (LDU) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) . Lahad Datu is a tiny airport located on the right-hand side of Borneo. There is 1 direct internal 35 minute flight available every day. As a side note, Lahad Datu is the closest airport to Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley .

FROM MALAYSIA:

✈️ You can also fly directly from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Sandakan (SDK) airport. There are multiple direct 2 hour 50 minute flights available every day. We personally did this option, and flew with AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur straight to Sandakan.

LAND TRANSFERS FROM SANDAKAN AIRPORT TO KINABATANGAN

From Sandakan airport, it is roughly a 2 hour drive to Kinabatangan River . On reaching the river, some Kinabatangan lodges require an additional 5 minute boat ride to get to their river bank location if they are not accessible by road. An example of this is Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

There are multiple ways you can arrange a land transfer from Sandakan airport to your Kinabatangan River accommodation:

PRIVATE TRANSFER (PRE-ARRANGED TOUR)

If you want zero hassle and all transfers booked before you arrive in Borneo, booking a pre-arranged tour is the best option for you.

From our personal experience, we recommend local tour agency Sticky Rice Travel. Check out their Kinabatangan River all-inclusive tour options here , which include all land transfers, accommodation and food.

This can also be arranged as part of a longer bespoke itinerary throughout Borneo, not just specifically for Kinabatangan. If this is of interest, contact them directly for more information.

PRIVATE TRANSFER (HOTEL PICK-UP)

If you haven’t got a fully pre-arranged tour but you have reserved Kinabatangan accommodation yourself (i.e. on Booking.com ), it is very common practise to pre-arrange a transfer from Sandakan airport directly through your accommodation before you arrive.

This will be an additional cost you will settle directly with your accommodation. The average price for a private vehicle charter from Sandakan airport is around RM300 per way (approx. £56). This is a convenient option as it will ensure you are taken directly to your accommodation, including the boat ride (if required).

USE GRAB (MALAYSIA’S VERSION OF UBER)

Another option is to book a taxi ride using GRAB , Malaysia’s version of Uber which is widely used throughout Borneo. We recommend downloading the app and setting up your account before you arrive for a seamless process.

You can check approximate fares to any destination using their Fare Check service beforehand to see which is the most cost effective option.

This option however only covers the land transfer up to the river. Check with your accommodation whether it requires an additional boat ride from the river. If so, arrange a pick-up point and approximate ETA for them to then collect you.

HIRE A CAR AND SELF-DRIVE

For those wanting full control of their itinerary, another option is to hire a rental car and drive from Sandakan airport to your Kinabatangan River accommodation. For this option, first check that your accommodation is road accessible, and your lodge caters for parking).

It’s worth noting the road leading up to Kinabatangan for the last hour or so is pretty bumpy, so we would only recommend this option to confident drivers.

ACCOMMODATION AT KINABATANGAN RIVER

Dotted along the Kinabatangan River, there are approximately 15 different accommodation options to choose from, with lodges ranging from budget-friendly options to the pricier luxury lodges.

All accommodation along the Kinabatangan River will offer Kinabatangan River cruise options, either included as part of the stay or at an additional cost, which you can easily pre-book with them beforehand or just arrange once you arrive.

We have listed a few popular options to suit different budgets:

LUXURY OPTION: SUKAU RAINFOREST LODGE 💰💰💰

MID RANGE OPTION: BORNEO NATURAL SUKAU BILIT RESORT 💰💰

BUDGET OPTION: KINABATANGAN WILDLIFE LODGE 💰

LUXURY OPTION: SUKAU RAINFOREST LODGE

Sukau Rainforest Lodge is unquestionably the most popular (and most expensive) Kinabatangan River accommodation – and for good reason!

Beautifully integrated into the surrounding landscape, this eco-friendly lodge provides a sense of luxury, the perfect choice for honeymooners in Borneo!

With 40 rooms available ranging from Superior Rooms to Villas , this lodge also provides morning, afternoon and evening river cruises with incredible tour guides, has a riverside restaurant and bar, 2 dip pools with sun loungers and a nature boardwalk.

If you want to be ultra Deluxe and your budget allows, we would recommend staying in a Villa at Sukau Rainforest Lodge! While the Superior Rooms we stayed in were nice, they were smaller than expected and the Villas (from the outside) looked amazing and very big!

We personally recommend this accommodation after our stay here. You can contact them directly via their official website or alternatively, book a stay with them through our recommend local tour company, Sticky Rice Travel.

MID-RANGE OPTION: BORNEO NATURAL SUKAU BILIT RESORT

The Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort is a mid-range Kinabatangan River accommodation with an added sense of grandeur.

All room options are all-inclusive of food, drink and tours – with prices ranging from £75 per night (single dorm) to £227 a night (deluxe room, 2 day 1 night package).

The tours included during your stay here are morning and afternoon river cruises, plus guided walks to point out smaller creatures and fauna around the resort.

Nestled directly on the Kinabatangan River bank, this idyllic location does however mean there is no option to park a hire car, however the resort does offer private airport pick-up from Sandakan. Contact them to arrange in advance.

BUDGET OPTION: KINABATANGAN WILDLIFE LODGE

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge is a very budget-friendly Kinabatangan River accommodation, at approximately £60 per night for a private double room (including breakfast).

Situated just a 5 minute walk away from the Kinabatangan River, the lodge offers two cruise time slot options: Early morning (6am) and afternoon (4pm). You can book these during your stay.

To top it off, Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge offers private vehicle transfers from Sandakan airport at 300 MYR per way (approximately £50 GBP / $64 USD). This lodge is accessible by road, so an additional boat ride is not required to get to the lodge.

Free private parking is also available on-site, perfect for those arriving by rental car.

KINABATANGAN RIVER WILDLIFE

Of course, it is down to luck and circumstance to what wildlife you will see during your visit to the Kinabatangan River.

Nonetheless, it is worth noting that best times to visit to see wildlife on the Kinabatangan River in Borneo is between May to October. This is when Borneo is at its driest and the trees begin to fruit.

This tempts all manner of creatures, especially Orangutans, down to the lower parts of the tree canopies and increasing your chances of spotting them!

To give a rough idea of what you might be able to expect, the wildlife we saw during our Kinabatangan River cruises in the month of September are:

• Pygmy Elephants
• Estuarine Crocodiles
• Red Leaf Monkeys
• Proboscis Monkey
• Long-Tailed Macaques
• Pig-Tailed Macaques
• Hornbills (Pied / Oriental)
• Storks and countless small, colourful birds.

KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE: “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” FAQ’S

Where is the kinabatangan river.

The Kinabatangan River is located on the North East of Borneo island, specifically in the state of Sabah. It is the second longest river in Malaysia, and is well known for being one the best places to see wild Orangutans in Borneo!

IS KINABATANGAN RIVER WORTH VISITING?

Yes! The Kinabatangan River is absolutely worth visiting for anyone visiting the Sabah region of Borneo. Kinabatangan River cruises allow for the best chance to see some of Borneo’s most amazing wildlife in the wild, including wild Orangutans, Pygmy elephants, Proboscis monkeys, Saltwater crocodiles and more!

HOW TO VISIT KINABATANGAN RIVER?

To visit to Kinabatangan River, you can either pre-arrange an all-inclusive tour with a local tour agency (we recommend Sticky Rice Travel). Alternatively, you can book your accommodation and cruises independently. Click here to see descriptions of both options in-depth.

HOW TO GET TO KINABATANGAN RIVER FROM SANDAKAN?

To get to Kinabatangan River from Sandakan, there are multiple land transfer options you can choose from that best suits your travel preferences or budget. Click here to see all of the best options available.

HOW LONG SHOULD I STAY AT KINABATANGAN RIVER?

From our own experience, we would suggest 3 days and 2 nights is the perfect amount of time to stay at the Kinabatangan River.

With a Kinabatangan River cruise basically being the main thing to do here, 3 days worth of cruises in the morning, afternoon and potentially at even night will give you plenty of opportunities to spot as much wildlife as possible!

WHAT TIME IS A KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE?

It is worth noting most Kinabatangan accommodation will offer 2 daily cruise slots, typically early morning (6am) and late afternoon into sunset (4pm).

However, some will also offer an additional night-time Kinabatangan river cruise to spot nocturnal animals. If this is something that interests you, be sure to book an accommodation which offers this service.

One such accommodation that does offer night time cruises daily is Sukau Rainforest Lodge , where we stayed. It was possible to book the night cruises last minute on the day.

CONCLUSION: KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE

In conclusion, from our own personal experience we would recommend a Kinabatangan River cruise to anyone visiting the Sabah region of Borneo.

The Kinabatangan River is one of the core protected areas and wild animal sanctuaries left in Borneo, meaning it is one of the best places to see a colossal amount of wildlife.

As mentioned previously, we strongly advise to visit between May to October. This is the best time to visit Kinabatangan and see Borneo wildlife, being the driest season with plenty of fruiting trees that coax Borneos wonderful creatures – especially wild Orangutans – for you to see!

With regard to accommodation, there are plenty of options dotted along the Kinabatangan River to suit all travel preferences and budgets. Likewise, there are multiple easy private transfer options to choose from to get to Kinabatangan River.

We hope you have the most incredible time, and truly wish you the best of luck seeing the ‘Borneo Big 5’ wildlife check list on your river cruises!

This blog post was written by… Jordie Flain! Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com, Travel Itinerary Creator & Wildlife Enthusiast

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Jordie Flain is the owner and author of The Flains Travel, a travel blog with emphasis on ethical wildlife experiences, "seen to be believed" natural beauty and "real magic" phenomena, such as the northern lights. Jordie crafts every itinerary and post to perfection for travellers to follow and get the very most out of their time in a destination.

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How to take the BEST Kinabatangan River Trip

This 560-kilometer-long river is part of the Sukai-Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and runs through Sabah state in Malaysian Borneo.    It is a simply stunning area to visit and encounter a wide variety of wildlife.  The Kinabatangan River has the highest concentration of wildlife in Borneo.  While most of the travel and wildlife spotting is from the river, most people stay in riverside lodges and spend several days here.   It’s possible also to take wildlife hikes and the wide variety of habitats provides for diverse wildlife spotting.  Taking a Kinabatangan River cruise and tour provides fabulous opportunities to see truly wild animals in their native environment.

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION IN  OUR DISCLAIMER

EASIEST WAY TO VISIT

Is to take a trip from Sandakan. These trips include transport to and from the river. And they include accommodation. Staying overnight on the river is the BEST way to see all the wildlife that the area has to offer. Book early for the best accommodation!

Why You Should Visit the Kinabatangan River

This is the area of Borneo that has the largest concentration of wildlife on Borneo.  It means that this is your best chance of seeing some of Malaysia’s animals in the wild.  It is also possible (and we did) to see some of Malaysia’s rarest animals.  In the Kinabatangan River area, you can spot

• Proboscis monkeys
• Pygmy elephants
• A whole variety of birdlife including the hornbill, kingfisher, and the endangered Storm Stork

Best Tours of the Kinabatangan River

There are a variety of ways to see this area and the wildlife in it. If you only have a half-day or one day, then your best options are to focus on the wildlife rehabilitation centers. They are amazing. and you’ll get to see these stunning creatures in a natural habitat. You won’t, however, get to travel on the Kinabatangan River. You’ll need to stay around for at least 2 days to do that. The best options for visiting are:

Best Half-Day and One-Day Trips of the Kinabatangan Area

• Half-day visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehab Centre
• Half-day visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehab Center + the Sun Bear Conservation Center
• Day Trip from Sandakan to see Orangutan and Probiscis Monkeys
• Full-Day Trip to see Orangutan, Probiscis Monkey & Sun bears from Sandakan

Multi-Day Trips to the Kinabatangan River

If you truly want to see the natural aspects of the Kinabatangan River, then you need to come and stay overnight. In the jungle. But that doesn’t mean that you have to rough it. Far from it. And what you pay here goes a long long way. Many of the accommodation options you can book (see later in this article) are ALL-INCLUSIVE – which means that you get all your food, water and river cruises, night walks, and forest trail walks included. It doesn’t include beer, which you’ll have to pay for in cash. You may, when booking accommodation-focused trips have to pay for a transfer from Sandakan. Here are the best trips you can book that are all-inclusive, and include transport.

Best 2 Day One Night Visit to the Kinabatangan River Area

This one night, 2 day visit to the Kinabatangan area includes one night’s accommodation at the Sepilok Jungle Resort, located in the rainforest. You’ll get to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Sun Bear Conservation Center. It includes your lunch and breakfast and transfers to and from Sandakan hotels or the Sandakan airport. You can reserve this here. Note that this does not have a Kinabatangan River Cruise included.

Best 3 Day 2 Night Kinabatangan River Cruises included

This 2 night, 3 day Kinabatangan River stay includes 2 nights at the Bilit Adventure Lodge, surrounded by the rainforest. You’ll get to cruise on the river, and see the wildlife in its natural habitat – there are elephants, orangutan, maroon langur (endemic to Borneo), and Bornean gibbon (endemic to Borneo), snakes, crocodiles, civet cats, monitor lizards, macaques, and otters. If you want to stay in the rainforest and cruise on the Kinabatangan river this is a superb option. Reserve your place here.

Do everything on this 4 day, 3-night visit to the Kinabatangan River

If you really want to experience everything that the Kinabatangan River has to offer, then this is the trip for you. You’ll stay for one night at the Sepilok Jungle Resort and visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehab Center, then see the sun bears at the Sun Bear Conservation Center, there’s also a visit to the Rainforest Discovery Center to see red giant flying squirrels and birds. Then you’ll move to the Bilit Adventure Lodge and stay there for two nights. Your visit will include river cruises, night walks, and forest trail walks. It doesn’t get better than this! See availability for this Kinabatangan River trip here!

When to Visit the Kinabatangan River

One of the beauties of the Kinabatangan River is that you can visit it all year round, almost regardless of the weather.   November to March is the rainy season in Borneo and while this means that you’ll be able to go further into the offshoot channels of the river, it also means that at the peak (December to January), it might be pretty tough to get there.

If you’re looking to visit the Kinabatangan River to view birdlife, then taking your trip between April and October will give you the best chance of spotting avian life.

Where is the Kinabatangan River?

The Kinabatangan River is located on the island of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sabah.  It runs from the Crocker range of mountains in the southeast of the state to the Sulu Sea to the southeast of the city of Sandakan.

What to Expect on a Kinabatangan River Cruise

Depending on how long you spend in the Kinabatangan River area you can expect to see a wide variety of wildlife here.  Many of the species that you’ll see here you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world.  The banks of the Kinabatangan River are home monitor lizards, macaques, the Proboscis monkey, orangutans, and crocodiles.  You’ll also find herds of the Borneo pygmy elephants.  These are the smallest elephants in Asia.

If you’re looking for other ethical places to see elephants, then I highly recommend the Mondulkiri Elephant Sanctuary in Cambodia. It is glorious. We took a hike there and you can read about it here.

How long should you spend on the Kinabatangan River?

As your trip to the Kinabatangan area takes around 3 hours to get from Sandakan, you’re going to spend half a day getting there.  We recommend you spend at LEAST 2 nights in the Kinabatangan area.  You’ll often find that adding an extra night doesn’t add a huge cost to your trip.

There is no National Park fee to pay, and depending on the lodge that you select, you may also be able to spot wildlife directly from your lodge, as we did.  However, you’re going to want to take regular trips out onto the river.  Our schedule, which is reviewed at the bottom of this article had us taking 2 river trips a day (morning and early evening), mid-afternoon walks, and evening walks as well.    Unless you have a specific wildlife interest in the area you are unlikely to return to this area, so we recommend that you make the most of it!

There’s a lot that you can see here, depending on how much time you have.

If you like National Parks, then also head to Bako National Park, near Kuching also on Malaysian Borneo, our guide to Bako National Park is here.

Half-Day Trips to the Kinabatangan River Area

Here are the half-day short trips to the Kinabatangan River.

Half-Day Visit to the Kinabatangan River Area to see Orangutan & Sun Bears

This half-day Kinabatangan area trip picks you up either from Sandakan airport or your hotel and takes you to the world’s largest and oldest Oran Utan Rehabilitation Centre. You’ll also get to see the first Sun Bear Conservation Centre in the world. (I wrote about Sun Bears here ) At the end of your visit, your English-speaking driver will return you to either your hotel or the airport. If you only have a very short time here this is a great option to explore this part of the world and see the animals that make it so special. You can book online for immediate confirmation here.

Half-Day Trip to the Sepilok Orangutan Centre

This is a truly magical place to visit. And this half-day trip to Sepilok makes it super easy to get here and back to your hotel. You’ll be collected from your accommodation and taken to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehab center. This is one of the top things to do in Sabah and you’ll get to see how baby orangutans are nurtured back to health, and see how they place, you can even participate in feeding time. Get immediate confirmation of your place, and free cancellation too.

One Day Trips to the Kinabatangan River Area

If all the time you have is one day, then here are two options for a day trip to the Kinabatangan River. Note that these day trips take place from Sandakan. You can be picked up from the airport in Sandakan or your accommodation.

See Orangutans & Proboscis Monkeys in a One day Kinabatangan Trip

This 10-hour day trip to see Orangutans & Proboscis Monkeys picks you up from either your hotel or Sandakan airport and then transports you, with an English-speaking guide to the oldest and the biggest Orang Utan Rehabilitation in the World. You’ll get to see the work done here and get up close with Orangutans, there’s even the chance to get involved at feeding time. See how baby orangutans are rehabilitated and how they play. Then you’ll visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre where you can experience its amazing ecology and biodiversity. Your final stop on this day trip in the Kinabatangan River area is the Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary, situated at the center of the mangrove forest, close to the sea shore. This is the only place to watch the Proboscis Monkey at close range in Borneo. Reserve your place to see Orangutan and Proboscis monkeys here.

See Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys & Sun Bears in a One day Kinabatangan River Area Trip

In this 9-hour day trip , you’ll get a little less time in each location, but you’ll get to visit the oldest and biggest Orangutan Rehabilitation in The World. During the visit, which happens at feeding time, you’ll see where orphaned baby Orangutans get nursed back to health, and how they learn by playing. Then you’ll go to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary, the only place in Borneo where you can view this monkey at close range. Finally, you’ll get to visit the Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Your trip will wrap up with a forest walk through the rainforest before you’ll be transported back to your hotel or the airport. This day trip really packs it in, and if a day is all you have it’s great value for money to see the wildlife of the Kinabatangan River area. Book your place now, this trip is super popular.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. And this is what I recommend. What you’re seeing on the one-day or less tours of the Kinabatangan area are the wildlife rehab centers for sun bears, orangutans, and proboscis monkeys. They are all amazing centers and do fantastic work. But if you want to see the wildlife along the river, wake at dawn and see the rainforest waking up, or take a night hike along forest trails, then you’ll need to stay at least one night. You’re better off staying 2 or 3 nights, as animals don’t perform here. this is the Jungle. And it’s a long way to come.

How to Get to the Kinabatangan River

Virtually all tours and cruises of the Kinabatangan River start from the closest main town, Sandakan, which you’ll find in the eastern part of the state of Sabah on Malaysian Borneo.   Sandakan is around a four-hour drive to the Kinabatangan River area.  This timeframe is, however, rainy season dependent.

If you are traveling from other parts of Malaysia to visit the Kinabatangan River, it’s advisable to spend the night before your trip in the town of Sandakan.   Check accommodation options in Sandakan now

How to Get to the Kinabatangan River from Kuala Lumpur

You’ll be able to easily take a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan Airport, which is located VERY close to the town of Sandakan.  While it is possible to take an early morning flight to Sandakan from KL, we recommend spending the night before your Kinabatangan River cruise in Sandakan to ensure you have time to make the trip to the river.  –  Check Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan flight options now

The alternative cheaper route from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan is to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu and then take a bus from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.  The bus takes around 6 hours from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.  The combination of flight and bus is usually cheaper than flying directly to Sandakan, but you’ll spend an entire day getting here.  Check your options here, but we recommend flying directly to Sandakan.

If you’re coming over from Kuala Lumpur, then our guide to Malaysia’s capital city is here.

How to get to the Kinabatangan River from Sandakan

This is the easy bit.  For you, at least.  It takes a minimum of four hours to travel from Sandakan to the Kinabatangan River area.  In the wet season, this can take a lot longer. Much of the route is not paved and becomes heavy, clogging mud very quickly, so you’ll want to ensure that your transport has a great 4WD option and high clearance!  99% of all trips to the Kinabatangan River include transport from your hotel or hostel in Sandakan.

Check these options f or Kinabatangan Tours from Sandakan now!

How to Get to the Kinabatangan River from Kota Kinabalu

The cheapest way to go from Kota Kinabalu to the Kinabatangan River is by bus to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu.  The bus journey is easy, but long – about 6 hours.  You’ll get to travel past the entrance to Mount Kinabalu and see the palm oil plantations that are taking over the landscape of Malaysia.

It’s not possible to book the bus ticket to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu online at this time.    You’ll need to either book with your hostel or hotel, or go to the bus station in Kota Kinabalu and buy the ticket.  Two bus companies run this trip, and so long as you get there about 90 minutes before the bus leaves you should be able to book a ticket.  If you want to book online for your trip to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu, then we recommend a flight.

You can also fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan – flights are relatively cheap (not as cheap as the bus though) and the flight takes an hour – check the options for flights to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu here .

If you are traveling to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu to start a Kinabatangan River tour then you’ll need to stay overnight in Sandakan one night > best options here

While you’re in Sandakan, be sure to check out some of the best things to do there, our guide is here.

Where to stay on the Kinabatangan River

For visiting the Kinabatangan River area and seeing wildlife, you have a choice of staying in a lodge on the river – and our two recommendations are below – or you can stay in a homestay in the village of Sukau Bilit.   Note that any transfers for these stays will be an additional cost and you will need to negotiate with your host any river cruises that you wish to take.

For a full Kinabatangan River experience, we recommend staying in a lodge on the river.  And it doesn’t have to completely blow the budget.

The Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort with Private Cottages or Dorms

This place is amazing , it was our luxury stay for 2 nights.    It’s located directly on the banks of the Kinabatangan River.  All the buildings are on wooden stilts above the forest floor and are connected by a series of boardwalks.  All the rooms and the main lodge are constructed of local Borneo Iron Wood, native to Borneo.  All the rooms have balconies, air conditioning, a ceiling fan, and mosquito nets.  Ensuite bathrooms have hot and cold showers.  You can spot wildlife from the resort itself. Reserve a room now! The rates are all-inclusive, which means all your river cruises and food are included.

It is quite simply glorious.   Their packages include transport to and from Sandakan, as well as river cruises and night walks.  This is amazing value for a stunning location.  Take the longer package for the best option of seeing more wildlife.  Check availability and book now.

The Gorgeous Borneo Nature Lodge

All packages include transfers to and from Sandakan town or the airport (transfers take 2-2.5 hours each way).   Each of the lovely wooden chalet-style rooms, located on stilts above the forest floor has mosquito nets, air conditioning, and en suite bathrooms.  All packages also include river cruises and forest walks.  Meals are taken in the common area restaurant and lounge.  There’s also a satellite TV here and you can also fish from the resort.  Check availability and book now.

The Last Frontier Boutique Resort

While the Last Frontier Boutique Resort isn’t set on the Kinabatangan River, it is in quite a stunning location – on the top of a 350-foot high hill overlooking the Kinabatangan Forest Reserve.  The only way to access this resort is by way of 600 steps. Up.  You will be staying in the middle of the jungle, and this location is stunning.  We didn’t stay here as they didn’t have availability when we visited, but we did take a hike here to see the views and the location.  Some rooms have an en suite, and boat cruises and jungle-trekking activities are included in every stay.  Meals are included and there is an on-site bar (beer and wine) for extra costs.  Transfers from Sandakan can be arranged at an extra cost, ask when or before you book.

Book this amazing location for your Kinabatangan Experience now!

Wildlife Spotting on the Kinabatangan River

This is a unique place to spot wildlife.  The Kinabatangan Reserve is home to a huge variety of birds, crocodiles, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, and Asia’s smallest elephants to name but a few species that you can expect to find here.

What wildlife can you expect to see on the Kinabatangan River

The wildlife that you see will depend on the trips that you take – and all of the places to stay that we recommend have included river cruises and jungle walks (day and night).  You are most likely to spot the wildlife in the early morning or later afternoon.

Pygmy Elephants on the Kinabatangan River

The pygmy elephants of Borneo are baby-faced with oversized ears, plump bellies, and tails so long they sometimes drag on the ground as they walk.   They’re genetically different from other Asian elephants and were isolated more than 300,000 years ago from their cousins on mainland Asia and the island of Sumatra.  They’re the smallest elephants in Asia.  Even when they’re fully grown they look like babies.

There are only around 1,500 of these left in the world.

Orangutans on the Kinabatangan River

The Bornean Orangutan is native to Borneo.  They are an endangered species and seeing them in the wild (as well as at the rescue centers in Sepilok, one of the best things to do in Sandakan , and Semenggoh , one of the best things to do near Kuching ) is a stunning experience.  You will most likely see them on a river cruise.

Orangutans are becoming increasingly endangered, as their habitat continues to decrease.  If you take the bus from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu you’ll see the increasing number of palm oil plantations responsible for this.

Proboscis monkeys on the Kinabatangan River

They’re reddish-brown, and this monkey is endemic to Borneo, where they exist alongside the Bornean Orangutan.  They’re the largest monkey species native to Asia – males are generally 66 – 76cm tall, and weigh in at up to 22 kilos.  The males have a large nose  (or Probiscus) – which can be more than 10cm long and both males and females have bulging stomachs – like a potbelly.  They’re also called, a “Dutch” monkey, as the Bornean often thought that they looked like their colonizers, with large noses and bellies.

Crocodiles on the Kinabatangan River

Crocodiles are territorial, so it’s relatively easy for your guide to find crocodiles for you to photograph along the banks of the Kinabatangan River.  The river is home to the most deadly of crocodiles, the saltwater crocodile and you are bound to see at least a few of them.

Snakes on the Kinabatangan River

There are around 160 different types of snakes on Borneo.  Most of the everyday ones are harmless, and most of the time you won’t even see them unless your guide points them out.

Birdlife on the Kinabatangan River

This area is a birders paradise – this is the home of some of Borneo’s most glorious birds, which include the smallest raptor in the world, the White-Fronted Falconet, and the endangered Storm’s Stork as well as Dwarf Kingfishers, Wallace’s Hawk-eagle, the Malaysian Flycatcher, Oriental Darter, the Rhinoceros Hornbill, the Asian Black Hornbill, and the Oriental Pied Hornbill.

The Storm Stork

The Storm Stork is a 90cm long stork with black and white plumage, a red bill, and red legs, it has a world population of fewer than 500 individuals and is officially endangered.

The best time of day to spot wildlife on the Kinabatangan River

You’ll want to ensure that whatever tour you select, it includes trips on the river and hikes at the time of day when it’s best to spot the wildlife that you want to.  The best times to spot wildlife are

0530-0730:  Best time for spotting birds and orangutans

1600-1730:  Best time for spotting proboscis monkeys

1900 +  Best time for crocodiles and nocturnal birds

Kinabatangan River Tour Tips

• Take a head torch/headlamp with both white and red lights – your accommodation may be located away from the central lodge. Red lights are best for nighttime viewing, you won’t scare away the animals or blind them.  A head strap means you’ll keep both hands free.
• We know that it’s exciting seeing wildlife, but be sure to keep quiet. Exclaiming wow loudly or shrieking will only frighten animals away.  Keep your mouth shut and whisper!
• Make a note of the species that you see, when you see them. It’s tough to remember what’s what when you return home with hundreds of photos.
• Don’t get too close. Stay away from animals.  Do NOT feed them.  Getting too close to animals and feeding them endangers them and their future survival.

BEST RECHARGEABLE HEADLAMP

Rechargeable Headlamp

Nitecore is a fabulous brand, and this is a great rechargeable headlamp for all your travels. Charges really quickly and it’s super bright too.

Our Review of our visit to the Kinabatangan River

We left our hotel in Sandakan at 12:30 promptly.  Our Kinabatangan River tour was two nights on the Kinabatangan River along with transfers, four river cruises, two-night walks, and a hike to Oxbow Lake.

You can book a similar trip ahead of time – and get a GREAT price for a Kinabatangan River Adventure

Next up was the Borneo Nature Sukai Bulit Resort. It’s just new promised our host in Sandakan. The photos looked like it was new, and so did the pics posted on Facebook in May of that year. Two and a half hours and 6 other folks (four Germans and two Aussies) later, we’d arrived. It looks exactly like it did on the internet. To say we were all stunned was an understatement.

It is lovely

The lodge itself is located RIGHT on the river, the accommodation is set a little further back.

We have a “private cottage” – which is basically a detached wooden chalet on stilts with a rainfall (hot water) shower, two large twin beds, individual mosquito nets, a fan, and air conditioning. There are even multiple electricity sockets. I think I’m in heaven.

There is crisp white bed linen, warm duvets (which kind of concerns me, it is currently around 30 degrees outside), a very comfortable mattress, a really decent pillow and we have face cloths (!!!) and fluffy white towels. And there’s a reading light too. I bet the Aussies who only booked for one night are frantically trying to rearrange their plans!

Our trip from Sandakan took 2.5 hours and we were welcomed with an icy flannel and drinks (tea, coffee, and water are available for free the whole time we’re here), and then shown to our rooms. The two German guys are in a dorm, which they say is nice. It’s just the two of them at the moment, so they have their choice of all six toilets in there! This truly was a fabulous tour from Sandakan, you can see some of the other top Sandakan tours that I’ve written about here.

High tea of fried bananas, coffee, and tea was at 3:30 pm and we met Aloy our guide. We were joined by 6 others who arrived yesterday for our first river cruise.

The dining room where we’ll take our meals sits right on the edge of the property, right on the river banks, so we can watch the world float by.  We can actually see the Asian pygmy elephants from the restaurant. Without binoculars, although they certainly help.

Just after 1600, we took to the boat. Arthur, our tour guide (up until now) and driver, is our host and Roy is our driver for the next two hours, although we don’t have to go far for our first stop.

There are 14 of us in our boat and we join nine other boats hovering, 50 meters from the elephants and watching them feed.

Later, the elephants are literally 200 meters from our lodge. Our night walk is subsequently canceled, we can’t go on the trail when there are elephants there, but at the moment that’s of no consequence, because we’re here watching them eat, mate, swim, and generally be elephants in the wild.  Now that is more than a little bit cool.

There’s a group of folks who have been at a resort across the river from us for 7 days and today is the first day that they’ve seen elephants, a boat alongside has come from 20 kilometers upriver to see the elephants, so we feel incredibly lucky.

It is a further few minutes before we’ve found a group of Proboscis monkeys.

It’s hard to spot them as the sun is starting to go down behind the trees that they’re in, but we manage a few shots.

Our final sighting is of a bird that’s endangered in Malaysia, the Storm Stork.  We can’t really see anything more than the silhouette against the setting sun, so we head back and at 6:15 pm we’re back at the boat jetty.

“Dinner at 7”, says Joe as we all troop off back to our rooms.  There’s no night walk tonight, as the elephants are too close, so there will be “alternative” entertainment after dinner.

Dinner is buffet style – rice, a chicken dish, plus bitter gourd (which is REALLY bitter), cucumber salad, oysters fried up in oyster sauce with vegetables, long beans, and some form of meat.  It is SO good to have dishes that don’t taste as though they’ve been fried to within an inch of their life. And plain white rice. It’s good food.

After dinner, Joe introduces us to the team – drivers, boat drivers, chef, and the kitchen staff. He explains that Malaysia is made up of 42 different peoples and tribes and explains where the team is from. There will be a short cultural show, he explains, some music and dancing and if we play an instrument we can join in, but we can all join in the dancing.

And we do. There are several traditional Malay dances, which few of us seem able to master, (this is like your worst Dad’s dance at an 80’s disco nightmare EVER) but which aren’t too dissimilar to a barn dance or a line dance and just as we’re all starting to get rather warm, we wrap up with La Bamba and Aloy on guitar with a final traditional Malay song.

We might not have got our night jungle walk, but it’s been a really pleasant evening that we wrap up with a Tiger sighting. This one costs 10 RM for a 330 ml can and is wonderfully, bitterly cold. Then after THE best shower in 15 months on the road (you have to visit this place for the shower alone, actually scratch that, I might not have left by then, I have another 65 days or so left on my visa..and it is going to be hard to leave this bathroom and bedroom) we turned in.

The alarm is set for 05:15, coffee will be ready at 05:30 and we’re going crocodile hunting at 6.

Getting up the next morning, it turns out that the noises we heard in the night were elephants, closer than we’d thought, but not close enough to disturb us in our little cocoon of luxury. ( I doubt anything would have moved me from it).

Two cups of coffee later, we’re all in the boat heading on the hunt for crocodiles as the mist covers part of the river, the boat is mostly silent.

Well, the people in the boat are, the engines whine as we head upriver.

Two hours later and we’ve spotted several crocodiles, who must snooze in the same spot each morning based on Aloy’s unerring ability to motor along at high speed and drift to a halt before he seemingly finds them, and we’re back for breakfast.

There’s time for a quick shower and we’re off on a walk.   We can’t head into the Jungle area, because although the elephants have swum across the river, they could also swim back, so we’re going up “Dutch Hill” with Aloy.

We walk through the village and find ourselves at the bottom of a set of rickety wooden steps.  These are the steps to the “Last Frontier” ( book your place now , this place goes QUICK!)   It turns out that this is Aloy’s Dad’s land and it’s leased to the Last Frontier folks.   It gets rave reviews, but there are a huge number of steps here.  And no other way in.

The view from the top is so-so, but I can’t deny it’s gloriously isolated and it must be wonderful to see the stars and listen to the wildlife here at night.

But we’re staying on the river, and so we headed back, we’d spent a couple of hours just wandering, the only wildlife being the yellow-banded tree snake that we saw just on leaving the property.  Curled up sleeping in a tree above our heads.  (shudder).

After lunch, we head out on another walk into the village – just a few minutes away.

We make it as far as a homestay.  Where we’re sat on the porch to eat Hari Raya delicacies while Aloy chatters away with his mates.  And then it’s more time on the river.

It might sound like this was a non-stop trip, but it definitely was laid back and slow – the lack of Jungle Walks was a little disappointing, but there’s no doubt that the Kinabatangan River is beautiful.  It was busier though on this second day, with more boats, but also more wildlife that we started to get better at spotting.

Another herd of elephants – this time we found them downriver and sat, engine idling for perhaps an hour just watching them feed, drink and bathe.

The only low point of the trip was a boat from the Sukai Greenview Resort (the only folks to reply to us on email) which pulled up to the river bank and sat there, less than 5 meters from the elephants, who were clearly disturbed by the intrusion for the entire time we were watching, while those inside the boat took selfies after selfie and laughed and shrieked at their good fortune.

It’s such a huge privilege to be here and to see these animals in their habitat, but each time we see them and each time we see something like this happen,  I can’t help but wonder on the damage that we’re doing to them.  Is it better to stay away?  How do we police better management? And it just makes me feel so very sad.

Elephants seen we headed downriver, one boat idled near the bank on the other side, then pulled off as we pulled up.  We sat in silence, apart from the clicking of cameras (seriously, they’re all digital, doesn’t anyone know where the sound off button is?), and watched.

This was our old man of the forest in the wild.  The Bornean Orangutan.

We only had a few minutes of his time, but it was absolutely magical.

Returning to the lodge and another canceled Jungle Night Walk (it’s those elephants again) it was an early night for all because we were up again at 0515 for our last trip on the river.

More crocodiles, and birds this time.

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Final Words on Visiting the Kinabatangan River

The final word as we left the Kinabatangan and headed back to Sandakan goes to the elephants.  We’re leaving our wonderful rainfall shower, and crisp white linen, and heading back to a hostel, but it truly has been an honor to spend time in this glorious location, I hope it, and the animal habitat don’t get overcome with selfie-stick-waving hordes.

We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using our affiliate links. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

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Sarah Carter

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2 thoughts on “ How to take the BEST Kinabatangan River Trip ”

• 2 comments

Wonderful adventure Sarah! My family learned a lot from yr sharing before we visited Sandakan. The orangutan, Proboscis monkeys and the birds were amazing. Come back to Malaysia and visit other parts of the country again…!

So glad you had a great time, I miss Malaysia, Borneo specifically, it is my favourite place in Malaysia!!

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• Sabah Destinations
• Kinabatangan River (Sukau/Bilit)

Kinabatangan River (Sukau / Bilit)

About kinabatangan river.

Located just 132 kilometres out of Sandakan town, the river attracts travellers from all walks of life into the deep interiors of Borneo to unveil a destination in South East Asia unlike any other. Stretching a good 560 kilometres, the Kinabatangan River is the second longest river in Malaysia, starting at Crocker Range and travels upwards to the Sulu Sea. It sustains a rich ecosystem with 5 distinct habitats, which includes surrounding areas of the river such as dryland dipterocarp forests, riverine forest, limestone caves, and freshwater and saline swamps, each contributing to the most diverse concentrations of wildlife in Borneo.

Cruise along the Kinabatangan River at dusk or dawn to spot unique wildlife of many kinds, where pygmy elephants frolic in the wild, pot-bellied proboscis monkeys chill high up in the trees, silver-tailed macaques roam free, and even a chance to spot Borneo’s favourite wild man, the orang utan. If you’ve had enough the proboscis monkeys and orang utan, the Kinabatangan riverine rainforest is also home to and one of two known places in the world to host 10 species of primates! All 8 species of hornbills - the rhinoceros, helmeted, black, pied, wreathed, wrinkled, white-crowned and bushy crested hornbills, have been spotted in Lower Kinabatangan. This region is also renowned for colourful tropical birds, crocodiles, wild boars, otters, monitor lizards, tree snakes and more.

Venture into tranquillity to absorb the sights and sounds of rainforest ensemble at the Oxbow Lake, a large crescent or U-shaped billabong cut off from the main stream of Kinabatangan River, to truly get in touch with Mother Nature. Jungle walk or even cruise along the oxbow lakes in search of more endemic wildlife in the wild terrain.

The quaint location of Sukau offers a variety of jungle trails for those who prefer to explore on their feet or hop on one of the exciting night safaris in search of nocturnal creatures.

Accommodation

Exploring the lower kinabatangan.

Over the past years, increasing number of visitors have come to explore the rich and diverse wildlife, leading to many tourism operators opening up accommodation lodges, transport and guide services in the regions nearby, which in turn encourage sustainable tourism and benefit the local orang sungei or “People of the River”. The first basic camp was set up in 1989 downriver from Batu Putih and the first wildlife lodge was established in Sukau in 1991. There are now numerous lodges, both budget and luxury, located in Kampung Sukau, Kampung Bilit and all the way down river to Kampung Abai, offering visitors an opportunity to experience staying in an eco rainforest lodge and river cruising along the Kinabatangan River in search of animals and bird species.

When to visit?

There is really no best time to visit Kinabatangan region as it is welcoming to visitors all year round. December and January are the wettest part of the year, as its often flooded. November to March is the rainy season with showers in the afternoon but its also during these rainy seasons that you will get to see a greater concentration of wildlife and navigate deeper into the oxbow lakes through the river channels. The main flowering and fruiting season is during the dry season from April to October, and its good for spotting many birds and animals.

Who is it for?

It’s time to get your zoom lenses out because wildlife and birding enthusiasts and professionals are going to have a field day at the Kinabatangan River. If you’re unfazed by the love bites of leeches, you may find yourself quite at home here. Honeymooners will also find this area appealing as it offers couples a romantic escape out of urbanscapes and warmly welcomed into Mother Nature’s humble abode.

Browse through our wildlife packages offered to select one that fits your budget and travelling style. All packages include accommodation, transportation, food and guiding services, and different destination highlights to Gomantong Caves, Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre or even Sandakan City Tour depending on your selection.

Recommended Tours

2D1N Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort - Kinabatangan River Cruises & Jungle Walk (Budget)

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Kinabatangan River

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Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan

2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise

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KINABATANGAN RIVER (Sabah) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Kinabatangan River Borneo: guide to a bucket list jungle experience

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Table of Contents

Beams of a rising sun shining through the morning fog over the Kinabatangan River, the magical silence interrupted by the calls of monkeys and flapping wings of hornbills flying over. We’re sitting in a small boat, cruising down the Kinabatangan River deep in the jungle of Borneo. Despite the early hour, we’re intently observing the river banks to spot wildlife.

It’s difficult to capture this experience in words… It was magical and moved us deeply, we’ll never forget it! Definitely one of the highlights of our Malaysian travels .

In this guide, we’ll give you all the information you need to experience and plan this multiple-day and night Kinabatangan River cruise and jungle adventure yourself . How to do this on a budget , where to sleep, how to get there and so much more!

This guide is useful to anyone traveling out there. But as we were there with two small kids of 6 and 7 years old, we’ll also show you this amazing experience deep in the jungle of Borneo, is perfectly doable with young children !

Read more:  Our travel diary, we discover magical Borneo

How to get to the Kinabatangan River

The Kinabatangan River is situated in Sabah , the northern province of Malaysian Borneo .

Although it isn’t really difficult to reach Kinabatangan, there is no direct public transport to Sukau or Bilit, which are the two main villages next to the Kinabatangan River where you can stay to do these cruises. You’ll have to pass one of the hubs nearby, which are Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sepilok, or Semporna .

A lot of the hotels or resorts offering the 2D/1N or 3D/2N jungle and river experiences will include a private pickup from either Sandakan, the Sukau junction, or the Sepilok junction . Read more below to get the details. If you’re out of options, you can always contact Mr Choy , a local from Sukau who arranges private transport. His number is easy to find on Google and we’ve heard very good reviews.

First of all, you need to fly to Borneo . It is very cheap to fly from Kuala Lumpur to either Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan with Air Asia .

It depends on the rest of your Borneo itinerary which one you should choose. Sandakan is closer to Kinabatangan, but we flew to Kota Kinabalu because we wanted to spend some time there as well.

From Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan

There are two ways to get from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan

This is the   cheapest option . From Kota Kinabalu, busses leave to either Sandakan or Semporna.

If you take the bus to Semporna, get off at the Sukau junction. If you take the bus to Sandakan, you can either stay on the bus till Sandakan or ask them to drop you off at the Sepilok junction.

Whichever option you take, ask your accommodation to pick you up there. Or try to find a van at the junctions and ask them to bring you to your destination. 

The bus ride takes long (about 6 hours) and passes Mount Kinabalu which is the interesting part. After that, you get hours of palm tree plantations. It’s such a shame to see how much jungle has disappeared. But because we wanted to visit the orangutan sanctuary at Sepilok,  we decided to take the bus to Sandakan anyway, even with two young kids.

You could go straight from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan, but it will be a very long day that way. Staying overnight in Sandakan or Sepilok could be a better option.

We highly recommend choosing Sepilok! You’ll get a more authentic jungle experience and nicer accommodation. We spent the night in the Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat . It was basic, but we had a lovely stay right in the jungle and they arranged our transport to the Sepilok center.

Compare accommodations in Sepilok here.

If you choose to stay in Sandakan anyway, try to book accommodation near the beach. We’ve heard it’s not safe everywhere, but this area is okay.

Compare accommodations in Sandakan here.

By plane and bus

Flying by plane from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is by far the quickest option to reach the Kinabatangan River. It will be a bit more expensive than by bus, but still very affordable with Air Asia. Not as good for the environment on the other hand. Ask your hotel or resort to pick you up in Sandakan, if possible even on the same day.

Check out cheap tickets from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu here.

If not, take the bus from Sandakan to Semporna or Lahad Datu and again, ask them to drop you off at the Sukau junction. Ask your accommodation to pick you up there or try to find a van at the junctions and ask them to bring you to your destination.

If you want to visit  Sepilok before heading over to Kinabatangan, take the bus to Kota Kinabalu and ask them to drop you off at the Sepilok junction.

From Sandakan or Sepilok to Kinabatangan

First, check if your accommodation can arrange a transfer from Sandakan or Sepilok. The resort where we booked our 3D/2N stay at Kinabatangan, picked us up in our accommodation in Sepilok. Very handy, especially with kids.

If that’s not possible, from Sandakan, take the bus to Semporna or Lahad Datu and get off at the Sukau Junction. From Sepilok, wave at the bus to Lahad Datu or Semporna that is passing by at the Sepilok Junction.

Taking Grab is possible, but it will cost you a lot. Drivers often will charge double because they need to drive back with an empty car.

From Semporna to Kinabatangan

In Semporna, take the bus to Kota Kinabalu and get off at the Sukau junction. From there, take one of the vans waiting to drive you to Sukau or Bilit, or wait for your hotel/resort pickup.

The best time to visit the Kinabatangan River

Travel to Sabah is possible all year round, but the  best time to visit Borneo is from March until September . Also for diving, with clearest views from April to June. If you love photography, you better choose to travel to Borneo during the dry season.

Starting from October, your chances of heavy rainfall increase significantly, and traveling in Borneo from November to February means you are right in the middle of the rainy season. It’s possible but we wouldn’t recommend it, especially with kids.

Kinabatangan River on a budget

If you start to search the internet to plan a Kinabatangan River Cruise, it appears as if the only way to experience this, is to book one of the many tour packages , often organized from Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan. They are  very expensive !

However, it is perfectly possible to plan everything yourself and it will be much cheaper !

Read more: Best travel planning resources and inspiration

We love to travel with our kids on a budget so we arranged everything without an agency and got an amazing, all-included , 3-day Borneo jungle experience for RM 1490 ($350/€330) for the whole family. We paid around $130/€120 for an adult and $65/€60 for a child, including all jungle treks and river cruises, accommodation, and food.

You could even just book a room and arrange the river cruises or jungle treks when you’re there. Most homestays charge about RM50 per person for one river cruise.

Read more:  The ultimate guide to travel with kids on a budget

How to arrange your own Kinabatangan experience?

First, contact one of the resorts or homestays we discuss below and book your tour directly with them. Ask them if they can pick you up in Sandakan, Sepilok, or where the bus drops you.

Next, take the bus from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sepilok, or Semporna as we explained above, instead of flying or grabbing a private taxi. Await your pickup, call Mr Choy, or walk over to your resort. And that’s it!

Kinabatangan River with kids

We often get the question if Borneo and the Kinabatangan River are suitable for children. First of all, yes! Take your kids over there! The whole family will love it!

We absolutely believe you can travel to Borneo with kids of all ages ! There are many activities, villages, cities, and cultural experiences that are great for even the smallest kids.

However, we’re not sure if babies or toddlers are ready for wildlife spotting . For example, in Bako National Park or at the Kinabatangan River, during one of the jungle treks or river cruises, you have to be silent. The guides listen to the sounds of the jungle to spot the wildlife. And as all parents know, it can be hard sometimes to get babies and toddlers quiet… 

Our girls were 6 and 7 when we did this jungle experience! They loved it! It’s one of the things they still talk about. They made many drawings afterward of the wildlife they saw on the river banks. The whole experience left a deep positive impression on them and certainly sparked their love for wildlife and the rainforest !

Where to stay at Kinabatangan River – Accommodations

Almost all of the homestays and resorts offer their own river cruises and jungle treks. Most people choose the 3D/2N or 2D/1N packages , but you can also just book a room and arrange your own jungle experiences à la carte .

We did a 3D/2N package. which we can highly recommend if you have the time (especially with kids). It will take you a while to get here and if you only stay one night, you might feel rushed. The place is amazing and so relaxing, take your time to enjoy it! That way you’ll have the most chance to spot the ‘big five’ of Borneo.

There are two villages next to the Kinabatangan River where you can find resorts and homestays, Sukau and Bilit . We stayed in Bilit, but Sukau is the most famous one.

Homestays are often basic, so don’t expect luxurious facilities. There are some more expensive resorts around if you would like some more luxury. And Sukau is mostly Muslim, so you’re not allowed to drink in the homestays.

Below we list some popular homestays that have great reviews. And the one we stayed in, of course!

Accommodations in Sukau

Sukau RB Lodge:  Probably one of the cheapest homestays around, which is also reflected in the accommodation. It is clean but old and very basic. However, if basic is okay for you, this is your place.

Sukau Riverside Homestay:  You stay with the most friendly family who will make your time here unforgettable with their delicious meals and excellent river cruises. Accommodation is basic but clean.

Osman’s Homestay:  Another homestay that gets great reviews and offers affordable packages or rooms and à la carte jungle experiences. 

Sukau Backpackers B&B:  This homestay also offers very affordable clean rooms and has great package prices. 

Sukau Greenview:  One of the most popular homestays that offer very affordable 3D/2N or 2D/1N packages. Their rooms are a bit more comfortable than the budget options.

Sukau Rainforest Lodge:  A National Geographic award-winning eco-lodge. They offer comfort and amazing experiences, but all sustainable and eco-friendly. 

Accommodations in Bilit

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort:  this is the resort we stayed in. Their rooms are very comfortable and clean and they have amazing package deals. We paid RM 530 for an adult and RM 215 for a child. This included all meals, 4 river cruises, 2 night walks, and 1 jungle trek. We loved our stay by the river and our kids even got the opportunity to plant two fig trees. Locals are trying to recover the rainforest after the deforestation by the palm oil industry.

Kinabatangan Nature Lodge:  They offer great value for money. They have both dorms and private rooms. 

Wildlife Spotting at the Kinabatangan River

The borneo big five.

A lot of people who come to Borneo, want to see the Borneo big 5 !

• Pygmy Elephant
• Proboscis Monkey
• Salt Water Crocodile
• Hornbill (8 types of hornbills live here in total)

Chances are very high you’ll see proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, and hornbills. To spot the small pygmy elephants and orangutans you need to get lucky, with the elephants being the hardest one.

These elephants roam the flanks of the river, looking for food. The guides usually know if they are anywhere around. If so, the main focus of your river cruises will be to find them. While doing that, you’ll see countless other animals.

On our first river cruise, we already saw 4 of them. Unfortunately, the Pygmy elephants never revealed themselves to us. The guides said they hadn’t been around for a few weeks.

Plenty of wildlife around Kinabatangan

Besides the Big 5, there is so much more wildlife to observe around the Kinabatangan River. Unfortunately, due to the many palm oil plantations nearby, animals are forced to live around the river, which is why it’s so easy to spot them.

Remember there is never any guarantee of how many and which animals you’ll see. Although the guides are experts in wildlife spotting and know the jungle very well, these animals are free to go wherever they want (luckily!). But trust me, you’ll see enough!

• Orangutan (if you get lucky)
• Proboscis monkey (endangered but plenty around)
• Long-tailed and short-tailed macaques (hundreds of them)
• Leaf monkeys (less common, we saw the silver leaf monkey)
• Borneo gibbon (you need to get lucky, but you might hear them)

• Kingfishers
• Owls (during the night)

Reptiles and amphibians:

• Saltwater crocodiles
• Monitor Lizard
• Frogs (mostly during the night)
• Turtles (if you are lucky)

Countless insects

Other amazing animals if you are lucky:

• Irrawaddy Dolphin (very rare)
• Sun Bear (very rare)

What to do at Kinabatangan River

If you come over here, it’s because you want the ultimate jungle and wildlife spotting experience. You can book river cruises and jungle treks à la carte with your homestay, or you might have booked a 3D/2N or 2D/1N package with your homestay.

We booked the 3D/2N experience with our kids . Below you can find our program. Although this might seem like a lot, we were all so enthusiastic about spotting the wildlife we didn’t mind. You’re absolutely free to skip something if you’re too tired. We skipped the night walk on our second night to give our girls some more sleep.

Itinerary for a 3D/2N Kinabatangan River Experience

• 11:45 am pick up in Sandakan or 13:00 am in Sepilok
• 3:30 pm tea time
• 4:00 pm river cruise about 2 hours
• 7:00 pm dinner
• 8:00 pm night walk for about 1 hour but it’s subject to weather availability
• 10:00 pm overnight

Second day:

• 6:00 am morning cruise about 1 hour
• 7:30 am breakfast
• 9:30 am Jungle trekking about 45 minutes
• 12:00 pm lunch
• 3.30 pm tea time
• 8.30 am check out – transfer to Sandakan or to one of the junctions where you want to take the bus to your next destination.

Morning Sunrise River Cruise

Be ready for an early awakening , as your morning cruise leaves at 6 a.m. sharp! Despite the very early hour, these sunrise river cruises were our favorite.

The morning fog creates a mystical atmosphere and the sun is not visible yet. It is still rather cold (so wear a jacket) and the animals are very active before the heat of the day rolls in.

The early morning is a perfect time to see crocs, as they try to catch one of the hundred birds or small monkeys sitting around the river. We saw some huge adult saltwater crocodiles and a few babies lying on the mud of the river banks.

Once the sun starts to rise and you get deeper into the jungle, you’ll see more and more monkeys wake up giving you an amazing show! We spotted macaques, proboscis monkeys (who are endangered but are commonly seen here), and even some leaf monkeys. 

Day Trek Jungle Experience

After having breakfast and resting a bit, it’s time to discover the surrounding jungle. It’s amazing how the local guides spot the wildlife! They’re definitely experts!

However, I have to be honest, we saw some, but not a lot of wildlife during our walk. Mainly because the jungle directly surrounding our homestay has been severely reduced due to the palm oil industry. Locals are trying hard to recover that. Our girls even planted two new trees near our homestay.

Nevertheless, a walk through the rainforest is never boring ! Our local guide, who lived here all his life, told us many interesting stories about surviving in the jungle and special trees, plants, and insects. Which leaves to use as a medicine, which branch to transform into a weapon.

Afternoon Sunset River Cruise

The afternoon cruises are great for spotting monkeys . Once the heat of the day is over, they love to rest, play, and just sit around the Kinabatangan River banks. 

We got very lucky and spotted orangutans immediately on our first sunset cruise and again the day after that. An entire family (mom, dad, and baby) were hanging out high in the treetops. We’ll never forget the experience of observing the ‘man of the jungle’, as orangutan means in the local language.

Many birds hang around the river as well. We spotted hornbills flying over, a kingfisher sitting on a branch, and  lizards  and crocodiles resting in the sun.

Again, being on a boat in the middle of the Borneo jungle while the sun is setting is magical . After spotting many monkeys, birds, a lizard, some crocodiles, and a few others, all we could do was silently enjoy the sunset over the river while going back to our homestay.

Night Walk Jungle Experience

Make sure you don’t miss a night walk in the jungle of Borneo! Many species come out at night, some scarier than others. But no worries, your very knowledgeable guide will not only spot them for you but also reassure you there is nothing to be afraid of.

For our girls this was a very thrilling experience, walking with their flashlight through the jungle looking for wildlife. At night, the sounds of the jungle are everywhere. This is how exciting as it gets!

We saw many insects , frogs , a palm civet cat , heard the monkeys, and spotted lots of birds sleeping on branches.

Environmental and ethical issues at Kinabatangan

Unfortunately, there is a reason why the Kinabatangan River is now such an amazing experience and one of the hot spots to see wildlife. The rainforest in this area has been severely reduced by the palm oil industry , forcing all the animals to live near the river which increases the chances of seeing them.

When we came by bus from Kota Kinabalu, we were devastated to see how much of the natural habitat of the wildlife had been destroyed . We saw palm plantations for hundreds of kilometers in a row.

If you come to this area, try to support the local communities and the environment . They have lost their land to the multinationals and are trying to earn an income out of tourism.

Book your stay with homestays , run by families who work with local people and fishermen. Besides the fact you provide them with an income, this choice is better for the environment as well. They use smaller boats and cook more local food.

A lot of local people understand how important the rainforest is for their existence and preserving wildlife. They try to buy back the land of the palm oil industry and make it into the forest again. When we were here, our girls also planted a fig tree each. Small steps, but every little help counts!

Here are some organizations you can support in their efforts to recover and preserve the rainforest, wildlife, and local communities.

• Itochu Corporation : Group working together with WWF to restore the tropical rainforests and conserve Borneo’s ecosystem.
• WWF – Heart of Borneo : An ambitious transboundary conservation initiative to preserve the heart of Borneo.
• Save The Orangutan : Program to protect and recover the natural habitat of the orangutan
• World Land Trust : buying land to make into forests again.
• Borneo Nature Foundation : Saving the rainforest by habitat protection, canal blocking, fighting fires and reforestation.
• Rainforest Trust : setting up crowdfunding to protect the rainforest and buy land.
• The Borneo Project : brings international attention and support to community-led efforts to defend forests, sustainable livelihoods, and human rights.

Tips before you go

If you plan a Kinabatangan River experience, here are some useful tips to make the best out of your stay.

The reason you come here is to spot wildlife of course. But adjust your expectations. Don’t expect you’ll be able to check everything on your bucket list. These animals are wild, which means they don’t pop up every time you want them to. For example, we didn’t see the Pygmy Elephants. However, no need to worry! You’ll see plenty of wildlife!

The homestays and villages are remote. Bring cash before you come here! There aren’t any ATMs nearby. And most homestays or restaurants won’t accept paying by card.

Don’t forget to stock up on food and snacks as well. Although the local people provide excellent food in their homestays, you might want to bring some extra snacks, especially for kids. There aren’t any big supermarkets around and everything will be much more expensive.

You’ve come to the jungle to spot wildlife, experience the rainforest, and relax. There won’t be any good Wifi or 4G. Some homestays do have a connection, which will allow you to send a message or mail and maybe even upload a picture. But that’s about it. So put your phone, tablet, or computer aside and enjoy the environment!

What to bring for a Kinabatangan River Cruise

Besides the regular stuff, you would bring to any vacation in South-East Asia, here are some things we really advise you to take along when you come to the Kinabatangan River.

First of all, it rains a lot in the area! It’s called a rainforest for a reason. Which means the humidity can be very high (above 90%). Try to avoid cotton clothes, they absorb the humidity. In the morning and evening, it can be rather cold as well. So don’t forget the following essentials:

• Rain jacket  for women , men , or kids . If you want to safe space, you could also choose a rain poncho .
• Dry bag  as you’ll be in a boat a lot and might encounter rain. So bring a dry bag to protect your valuables such as your camera or phone.
• Longsleeve or fleece for the afternoon for women , m en, or kids .

During your stay, you’ll need to do one or more jungle treks and  river cruises . Some homestays will provide boots but don’t count on it. It can get very hot as well during the day. So don’t forget the following essentials:

• Good hiking shoes for women , men , or kids . Personally, we love the Merell shoes.
• Hiking socks for women , men , or kids .
• Strong sunscreen , we like Banana Boat Sunscreen a lot, also for our kids.
• A hat for the sun  for women , men , or kids .
• Mosquito repellent: we use OFF! which works amazing. It is not as harmful as some others (especially for kids) and is perfect for the tropics.
• Leech socks: fortunately, we didn’t need them. And some homestays offer them to use. But it doesn’t hurt to bring your own leech socks.

You come here to spot wildlife . You’ll want to have a few essentials to truly enhance the experience and capture the animals.

• Binoculars  for adults or kids . Our homestay offered their own binoculars, but the small and rather cheap one we brought was better. They don’t need to cost a lot to be great!
• A good camera:  we love our compact and affordable Sony A6000 , but with the upgraded full-frame Sony A7R IV you will have all the options. Full-frame cameras offer a lot more options to take pictures in low-light situations.
• Zoom lens:  the wildlife won’t pop up right next to your boat. If you’d love to capture it, make sure to bring a zoom lens . Anything above 200mm will be great! I even used my camera as a binocular too.
• Flashlight:  during the night walks, you have to take a flashlight or headlamp .

Between the jungle experiences, you have some time to relax .

• Flip flops  for women , men , and kids .
• Yoga pants  for women , men , and kids .

And last but not least, don’t forget these other essentials.

• First-Aid Kit:  we bring our first-aid kit everywhere. You can either make your own or buy a complete first-aid kit .
• Water bottle, let’s reduce plastic!  We take our water bottles everywhere!

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1 thought on “kinabatangan river borneo: guide to a bucket list jungle experience”.

Amazing post! 🙂 Do you have the link for the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort? I seem I can’t find them anywhere online. Only tour operators… Thanks! Best, Joao

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Sepilok & Kinabatangan River Cruise (Sukau) 4D3N

Book This Tour

Day 1 sandakan – my nature resort (l/d).

Pickup from Sandakan airport and transfer to MY Nature Resort at Sepilok. Lunch at the resort. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Relax, swim in the pool or walk (5-10 minutes) to the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre (entrance fee applies) and experience the canopy walkway, one of the best in Malaysia. Dinner and overnight at MY Nature Resort.

Day 2 Sepilok Orangutan – Kinabatangan River – Sukau (B/L/D)

Pick up from your resort and visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild. You will be able to observe them at their feeding stations in the rainforest and at the nursery (if open). Watch the feeding session at 1000 hours. Then proceed to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). This centre rescues captured sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare rehabilitation and education. Over 30 sun bears live at the centre in the bear house and outdoor enclosures.

1130 hours travel by road to Sukau. Arrive at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge around 1330 and have lunch. 1630 hours go on a river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to the Menanggul River in search proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles and other wildlife. Overnight stay at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge (non-air conditioned).

Note: The nursery at Sepilok is sometimes closed to visitors. This occurs if any of the young orangutan are sick. As such there is no guarantee that the nursery will be open.

Day 3 Oxbow Lake – Menanggul River – Sukau (B/L/D)

0630 hours depart on another Kinabatangan river cruise and search for birds and wildlife at the nearby Ox Bow Lake. Then return to the lodge for breakfast. Free at leisure to relax. 1630 hours venture on another river cruise down the Menanggul River in search of wildlife. Return to the lodge at dusk. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside lodge.

Day 4  Sukau – Sandakan (B/L)

After breakfast depart the lodge at 0800 hours and return to Sandakan by road. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then be dropped off at your hotel or the airport.

English speaking guide, tours & transfers, entrance fees, meals as indicated, 1 night stay at MY Nature Resort Sepilok and 2 nights at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.

Airfare: KK - Sandakan – KK, alcoholic beverages, juices, camera & video fees

2 adults per order

Price is based on twin or tripe sharing, if you require your own room there is a single room supplement of RM 750.

Accommodation

MY Nature Resort is located at Sepilok and opened in July 2015. The resort has a fantastic rainforest location and is just 500 m from the Rainforest Discovery Centre and 2 km from Sepilok orangutan sanctuary. Accommodation consists of 12 semi-detached chalets offering a total of 24 spacious rooms overlooking the rainforest. All rooms have air conditioning, attached bathroom, hot shower, ceiling fan and satellite TV. Other facilities include a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, boardwalk and jungle trails. The resort has its own 1,050 m long boardwalk that winds its way around the hilly rainforest terrain. The resort's grounds offer good birdwatching opportunities (e.g. hornbills often fly over the chalets) and wildlife is often spotted within the resort's 25 acres of rainforest.

Recommended Flights

Any flight arriving before 11 am will have lunch at MY Nature Resort. If you arrive on an afternoon flight there will be no lunch on Day 1. Flights out of Sandakan should depart after 2 pm.

There are no ATMs at Sukau. If you need cash go to an ATM in Sandakan before the trip.

These tours operate on the principle that you may be in a small group of other people.

Interested in this tour? For more information on this tour and our other tours contact us

Also look at these tours inSabah:

Tabin Rainforest Lodge 3D2N

Stay at Tabin Rainforest Lodge, experience the rainforest and search for wildlife on this 3 days / 2 nights tour

Selingan Turtle Island & Sepilok 3D2N

3D2N Tour of Sepilok and Selingan Turtle Island.

Imbak Canyon Discovery 4D3N

4 day, 3 night tour of Imbak Canyon Conservation Area

Danum Valley Field Centre 3D2N

3 day / 2 night tour of Danum Valley with accommodation at the Danum Valley Field Centre

Enquire about Sepilok & Kinabatangan River Cruise (Sukau) 4D3N

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2D1N Kinabatangan River Wildlife Tour

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• Tour Code : BC-SO-K2
• Availability : Everyday
• Duration : 2D1N
• Departure Time : 11.45 am onwards
• Drop Off : Sandakan City
• Minimum Age : No Limit
• Minimum Pax : 1 Person
• Pick Up : Wisma Khoo/Sabah Hotel/Airport/Sepilok

WHY CHOOSE US?

1. VALUE FOR MONEY

Best Price, no hidden fees! (Our prices are always affordable)

2. WE PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Contribute to the local community! (We hire local experts and promote local products)

All start time are estimated and for reference purposes only. Actual timing will be provided prior to your departure.

2D1N KINABATANGAN RIVER WILDLIFE TOUR

Validity: 1 Jan 2023 – 31 Dec 2023 (MYR/Pax For All Market)

Optional add on tour (myr/pax).

CHILD RATE:

1) Child rate: Applied to a child aged 2 – 11 years old.  50% of tour fee will be charged.

2) Aged 12 years old and above considered as adults, and adult rate will be applied.

3) Infant below 2 years old is Free of Charge.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:

1) Add on  RM100 per pax  on top of the package rate stated above.

1) Tour is based on Seat-in Coach Basis and subject to weather conditions.

2) There are four standard pick-up points: Wisma Khoo in Sandakan city, Sabah Hotel, Sandakan Airport, and Sepilok area only. Pick-up times vary depending on the individual pick-up location. Please inform us of your preferred pick-up point at least 1 day before tour departure.

3) Federal Tourism and Culture Ministry of Malaysia has imposed a Malaysian Tourism Tax (TTX) effective from September 2017. Foreign tourists are required to pay a flat rate of MYR 10 per room per night  regardless of hotel star level. The tax will be collected from every check-in guest directly at the resort which is not included in the package.

4) All rate are quoted in Ringgit Malaysia & Nett  (No hidden cost unless otherwise stated)

5) All passports and visas must be valid at least 06 months from the date of entry into the country destination.

PACKAGE DETAILS

Return Land Transfer

• Hotel > Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort > Hotel/Airport

One Night Accommodation

• At Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort (On twin sharing basis)

River Cruise

• TWO (2) Scheduled river cruise (Day1 – Afternoon cruise, Day 2 – Morning cruise)

Full Board Meal Free Flow Coffee and Tea In-house Guide

Air Fare Travel Insurance Camera Fees (If any) Guided Night Walk (Upon request with RM30/pax) Malaysian Tourism Tax (TTX) Others not stated

Insect Repellant Sun Block Lotion Binocular Camera Headlamp / Torch Light Leech Sock Sandal Hat & Raincoat

**Wear comfortable light cotton casual attire with short/long pants is recommended

After commencement of tour service there will be no refund in part or full, will be made for unused service/activity.

Full passport/IC number, name, nationality, gender, confirmed flight details and pick up point are required.

Sightings of wildlife animals are not guaranteed.

Tour activities are subject to weather conditions, and may be re-organised to best meet operational situations.

The safe keeping of your personal belongings are at your own responsibility.

We strongly recommend that all guests take up adequate travel insurance that covers accident, loss caused by cancellations, loss of baggage, personal property, medical expenses, medical evacuation and weather disruption that caused any acitivity cancellations.

Borneo Calling shall be relieved of all its obligation and liabilities in the event and to the extent of its performance of this agreement is delay or prevented in whole or in part by any cause beyond its control, including without limiting to, act of God, change of laws, war, riot, strikes civil unrest, fire, flood, earthquake or explosion, sale, essential construction, to the property, epidemics as confirmed by the government of Malaysia or/and act of terrorism.

SANDAKAN > KINABATANGAN RIVER

Pick up from Sandakan city and proceed to Kinabatangan River . A trip up the river at dawn or dusk is the best opportunity to see Borneo’s wildlife.  The journey will take approximately 2 hours drive and passing through rustic countryside. Upon arrival at the resort, you will be greeted by the resort’s crew and refreshment will be served followed by briefing featuring the overview of the resort routes & safety. Check in to your room.

At 1600 hrs, embark on the adventure of your life to spot the elusive Proboscis Monkey, Orang Utan, Silver-Leaf Monkeys, Macaques, Crocodile, birds, and many more. Enjoy cruising along the mighty Kinabatangan River and be mesmerized by a myriad of wildlife along the riverbank.

You might even sight the world smallest elephant – Borneo Pygmy Elephant in search of food at the riverbank during certain seasons. Apart from that, all the eight species of hornbill found in Borneo make this river their home too! When the sun goes down, its time for dinner.

After dinner, Overnight at Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. (Optional night walk – upon request with RM30/pax top up and subject to weather conditions) Geared with your headlamp or torchlight, taking uncertain steps into the dark jungle trail to look for interesting insects, frogs, sleeping birds, and nocturnal wildlife that may turn up after dark. Enter a world inhabited by the shy night creatures before the day end. 

KINABATANGAN RIVER > SANDAKAN

Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbill. Proceed for an early morning cruise along the Kinabatangan River to observe more wildlife and birdlife. Return to the resort for breakfast. Check out and depart for your return journey to back to Sandakan city.

TOUR DETAILS

Scheduled Transfer

• Schedule transfer only applicable on tour arrival and departure date, based on seat-in coach basis.
• Package prices are inclusive of land transfer on the check-in and check-out day only. Additional fees will be charged for unscheduled transfer which is not included in the package.

Meal Timing

Check in & check out.

ABOUT KINABATANGAN RIVER

Kinabatangan River

Kinabatangan River , Sabah’s longest river, flowing 560km from the mountainous interior to the Sulu Sea, is one of the most exciting and accessible places to explore the rich biodiversity of  Sabah , Borneo. Along its lower reaches, where the river winds as sinuously as a snake across the flatland, it rises and spills over its bank every monsoon season to create Sabah greatest freshwater floodplain.

The river offers an incredible opportunity to see a large range of wildlife including  Proboscis Monkey   (an endemic species to the island of Borneo), the Orang Utan,   Borneo Pygmy Elephant , crocodiles, otters, and countless rare and beautiful birds.

ACCOMMODATION

BORNEO NATURAL SUKAU BILIT RESORT

The resort is approximately 2.5 hours drive from Sandakan and has the most enviable location. Comprises 6 types of room and each of them is hewn and hand-crafted by local tradesman using the Borneo Iron Wood – a rare timber tree native to the Borneo and are exquisitely designed and decorated with local materials to blend harmoniously into the natural landscape of the rainforest.

Nestled along the bank of the Kinabatangan River, the resort is surrounded by quaint local village that provides a unique “close to nature” experience with plenty of opportunities for river cruise, jungle trekking, stroll through traditional villages and chance to see the proboscis monkeys, the orang utan, pygmy elephants, the oriental darter, hornbills, kingfishers and many living in their natural habitat.

It is a heaven for nature lovers and for those who need to retreat into nature, to recharge and to escape to a different reality. With the unique and classic ethnic room designed resembling the typical and traditional village house, the resort rests on the 4ft wooden stilts rising within the nature forest with the cottages scattered among the ancient trees and linked by series of boardwalk with each room comes with its own balcony. It is truly a great escape to enjoy the sounds of nature at its finest. 

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort

Types of Room At The Resort

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