Stephanie Brownell
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive at Sepilok
When you arrive in Borneo, your guide will greet you and take you to your lodge in Sepilok. There, you can check in, have lunch, and get settled. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and enjoy at your own pace.
Nature Lodge Sepilok is located in the picturesque surroundings of Sepilok, near the renowned Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, and the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Each room is equipped with air-conditioning, a charming balcony, and mosquito netting for a comfortable stay. Additionally, guests can enjoy delicious meals at the on-site restaurant.
Overnight Nature Lodge Sepilok
Day 2
Sepilok
Start your day with a visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre for an exclusive tour led by Dr. Wong, the center's founder. The center focuses on rescuing captured sunbears and is dedicated to their conservation, welfare rehabilitation, and education. More than 30 sun bears reside in indoor and outdoor enclosures at the center.
Then, make your way to the adjacent Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Here, you can observe the orangutans at their feeding stations in the rainforest and learn about the orangutans' rehabilitation program. Return to your lodge for lunch and take some time to relax during the midday heat. Later in the afternoon, head back to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for a feeding session.
Visit the Rainforest Discovery Center to explore the 2000-foot-long canopy walkway and enjoy the magnificent viewing platform offering sweeping vistas of the surrounding forests. Later, take a night walk to delve into the mysteries of the jungle and catch a glimpse of nocturnal creatures.
Overnight Nature Lodge Sepilok
Day 3
Kinabatangan River
In the early morning, you'll visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre to have the chance to observe wildlife before returning to the lodge for breakfast.
Check out of the lodge and enjoy lunch en route to Sandakan to catch a speedboat to the Kinabatangan River. The journey to the village of Sukau on the Kinabatangan River will take approximately 2.5 hours, first across Sandakan Bay, passing the historical Berhala Island and fishing villages, and then snaking through mangroves and upriver onto the Kinabatangan.
Once you arrive, settle into your room and have a few hours to relax or use the pool before taking a guided cruise to look for orangutans, pygmy elephants, silvered langurs, hornbills, and proboscis monkeys.
This evening, you have the option to embark on a night walk on the lodge's boardwalk in the hope of spotting nocturnal fauna such as the slow loris, western tarsiers, and civets, among others.
Sukau Rainforest Lodge is situated along the Kinabatangan River, one of Borneo's significant waterways and a habitat for various wildlife. Visitors can completely immerse themselves in the rainforest's serenity.
Overnight Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Day 4
Kinabatangan River
Wake up early to catch the misty, mysterious river at dawn and take an early morning cruise to witness the river coming to life. After lunch, participate in the in-house orangutan activity.
This afternoon, go on a wildlife search and enjoy the breathtaking river landscape as the sun sets. Return for dinner and then set out on a night cruise to spot nocturnal species before settling in for the night.
Overnight Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Day 5
Kinabatangan River
Start your morning with a scenic cruise along the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake for a scenic view of the awakening forest. After returning for breakfast, take your time exploring the boardwalk or relax until lunchtime.
In the afternoon, set out for Gomantong Cave, a magnificent limestone cave near Sukau. A brief boat ride and a half-hour overland transfer will get you there. Home to over a million bats, Gomantong Cave is a natural wonder. Witness a mesmerizing event as the bats exit the cave in endless spirals, disappearing into the evening sky.
Overnight Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Day 6
Danum Valley Conservation Area
Start your day with an early breakfast before your journey to Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Lahad Datu.
This afternoon, set out on a scenic drive through diverse landscapes, from regenerating forests to ancient virgin rainforests, and take a walk with your guide, who will brief you about your stay at the lodge. This evening you have the choice of taking a drive to spot nocturnal creatures.
Covering an expansive 170 square miles of relatively undisturbed terrain, Danum Valley Conservation Area boasts an incredibly diverse range of plant and animal life. Referred to as the 130-million-year-old rainforest, Danum Valley is known for its virgin rainforest and is recognized as one of the planet's hubs of biodiversity. Its extensive canopies provide a home for around 300 bird species and over 100 mammals, including the clouded leopard, Malayan sun bear, Bornean orangutan, and the rare Bornean pygmy elephant, along with a plethora of brightly colored butterflies. This unique ecosystem is a popular destination for natural scientists conducting research, and visitors can attend talks by resident environmental experts at the Danum Valley Field Centre. The surrounding jungle features a network of trails that lead to viewing platforms nestled among the treetops, a suspension bridge over the Segama River, picturesque waterfalls, and several ancient burial sites.
Borneo Rainforest Lodge is situated in a stunning location beside the Danum River in Sabah's largest protected Lowland Rainforest. This rainforest is home to over 340 species of birds, 124 species of mammals, 72 species of reptiles, and 56 species of amphibians.
Overnight Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Day 7
Danum Valley Conservation Area
Be awakened by the calls of Borneo gibbons, and begin your day with a guided trek to the viewpoint and burial site – Coffin Cliff. Take a brief pause at the natural pool for a refreshing dip before indulging in a picnic riverside lunch. In the afternoon, hike the canopy walk or participate in water tubing sessions down the Danum River. Head back to the lodge to freshen up before enjoying a private evening cocktail before dinner. Conclude the day with a guided night walk on the nature trail.
Overnight Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Day 8
Danum Valley Conservation Area
Wake up early to witness the sunrise at the GAW tower. Watch as the morning mist lifts, revealing the expansive tree canopy below. Return to the lodge for a full breakfast.
If you're up for some activity, trek to Fairy Falls & Serpent Falls before returning to the lodge for lunch. Alternatively, you can spend the morning relaxing on your balcony or enjoy shorter walks around the lodge.
After lunch, spend the day leisurely or join a guided hike along the Segama River.
In the evening, embark on another night walk to spot nocturnal creatures or unwind in the lodge's common area, enjoying your last evening in the jungle.
Overnight Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Day 9
Departure Day
Start your day with a guided morning walk before breakfast and spend the rest of the morning at your leisure. Enjoy an early lunch at the lodge, check out, and then head to Lahad Datu airport to catch your flight home.
