This 12-day Borneo itinerary is crafted for nature lovers who want the perfect balance of leisure and wildlife adventure. Begin in Kota Kinabalu before heading to Sepilok for close encounters with orangutans and sun bears. Cruise the Kinabatangan River in search of proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and hornbills, then spend three unforgettable nights at the luxurious Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Danum Valley—trekking through ancient jungle and experiencing rare nocturnal wildlife.
Kota Kinabalu International Airport/Kota Kinabalu
Preferable afternoon
Birding along Kinabalu Park trails for montane endemics
Canopy birding at Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), Sepilok
River cruises along Kinabatangan spotting hornbills, kingfishers & raptors
Night birding in Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Wetland birding at Kota Kinabalu for coastal & migratory species
Local bird guides with spotting scopes
(Afternoon — ideally)
Arrive at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Rest and prepare for your birding journey.
Morning transfer to Kinabalu National Park. Spend the day on montane trails searching for Whitehead’s Trogon, Broadbill, and Spiderhunter, along with endemic warblers and partridges.
Continue birding at different elevations within Kinabalu Park for more endemics and montane species.
Depart for Sandakan and check into Sepilok. In the late afternoon, visit Rainforest Discovery Centre for canopy birding—broadbills, pittas, kingfishers, and Bornean Bristlehead possible.
Early morning birding at RDC. After lunch, depart for Kinabatangan River. Evening birding-focused river cruise.
Dawn and dusk river cruises in search of hornbills, kingfishers, raptors, and waterbirds. Midday birding around lodge grounds.
Another full day of dawn and dusk cruises, maximizing opportunities for rare species like Storm’s Stork and Oriental Darter.
Transfer to Lahad Datu and continue into Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Evening birding walk and night drive for owls and nightjars.
Full day of birding along Tabin’s trails and forest edges, targeting ground dwellers, pheasants, and lowland endemics.
Second full day at Tabin, with early morning and late afternoon sessions, plus optional night birding for nocturnal species.
Transfer to Lahad Datu for flight to Kota Kinabalu. Evening at leisure.
Early morning birding at Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, searching for shorebirds, herons, and migratory species. Transfer to the airport for departure.
