Travel across the biodiverse Sabah region, immersing yourself in nature and learning about the island’s indigenous cultures on a 10-day journey through Borneo. From orangutan encounters and bamboo hut homestays to village trekking and sea snorkelling, you’ll find a nature lover’s paradise! Where else can you spot pygmy elephants on a riverbank one day and see proboscis monkeys the next (not to mention slow lorises, flying foxes and rescued sun bears). Explore Borneo on this incredible trip with new friends through rainforest-clad mountains, on warm island sands and in the middle of the jungle.
Real Borneo
Deal number: 17743334
Intrepid
This deal expires 16 Aug 2025
From 17/08/2025 to 28/12/2027
Malaysia
10-day tour
Price from
$1,595*
per person
Deal number: 17743334
Get the opportunity to meet our closest redheaded relatives at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and watch these gentle giants as they go about their day.
Hike to and from the rural village of Ratau, where you’ll mingle with the locals, take part in a cooking class, learn how to play the Gong and sleep in a traditional bamboo hut.
Take not one, not two, but three river cruises on the Kinabatangan River to spot local wildlife – look out for pygmy elephants, crocodiles, flying squirrels and proboscis monkeys among the teeming birdlife.
Dive into the clear waters at Dinawan Island and snorkel among colorful fish. If you're lucky, you might even spot a turtle swimming by.
Meet the rescued sun bears at the Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok and learn about how this organisation works to rescue, protect, rehabilitate and hopefully reintroduce the sun bears back into the wild after they were mistreated.
Breakfasts Included: 8
Lunches Included: 5
Dinners Included: 3
Hotel (6 nights),Bamboo Hut (1 night),Jungle Lodge (dormitory room) (2 nights)
Private vehicle,Boat
Age: min 18, max 35
Group Size: 1 - 16
Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Sepilok - Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Cruise
Kinabatangan River - Night Jungle Walk
Kinabatangan River - Morning Wildlife Cruise
Kiulu - Village Trek (2 days / 1 night)
Kiulu - Cultural Activities
Kiulu - Cooking Class
Kiulu - Dusun Martial Art Show
Dinawan Island - Snorkelling Excursion
Hike to and from the rural village of Ratau, where you’ll mingle with the locals, take part in a cooking class, learn how to play the Gong and sleep in a traditional bamboo hut.
Take not one, not two, but three river cruises on the Kinabatangan River to spot local wildlife – look out for pygmy elephants, crocodiles, flying squirrels and proboscis monkeys among the teeming birdlife.
Dive into the clear waters at Dinawan Island and snorkel among colorful fish. If you're lucky, you might even spot a turtle swimming by.
Meet the rescued sun bears at the Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok and learn about how this organisation works to rescue, protect, rehabilitate and hopefully reintroduce the sun bears back into the wild after they were mistreated.
Breakfasts Included: 8
Lunches Included: 5
Dinners Included: 3
Hotel (6 nights),Bamboo Hut (1 night),Jungle Lodge (dormitory room) (2 nights)
Private vehicle,Boat
Age: min 18, max 35
Group Size: 1 - 16
Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Sepilok - Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Cruise
Kinabatangan River - Night Jungle Walk
Kinabatangan River - Morning Wildlife Cruise
Kiulu - Village Trek (2 days / 1 night)
Kiulu - Cultural Activities
Kiulu - Cooking Class
Kiulu - Dusun Martial Art Show
Dinawan Island - Snorkelling Excursion
1 Sandakan
Selamat! Welcome to Borneo. You’ll kick things off in the coastal city of Sandakan with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive with time to spare, spend the day exploring this city’s culture on the Heritage Trail or visit the Sandakan War Memorial or Agnes Keith House. Sandakan has a great food scene, too, so tonight, maybe grab your new travel companions and eat dinner together at a local restaurant to get better acquainted – your leader will have the best recommendations.
2 Sandakan
This morning, you'll visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and meet the world’s cutest redheads. These beautiful creatures will tug on your heartstrings as you watch them going about their daily business (eating bananas and hanging upside down). Swing by the nursery where young orangutans learn to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym and grab a selfie with them in the background if you can! Later, spend some time at the Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where staff rescue and take care of the once-mistreated sun bears with the hopes of rehabilitating and reintroducing them into the wild. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Sepilok and Sandakan further. Maybe head to Sepilok’s Rainforest Discovery Centre, Malaysia’s most educational nature park, which features a 620 m long, 28 m high canopy walkway with spectacular views of the giant rainforest trees. At night, you can look out for slow lorises, tarsiers and flying squirrels!
3 Kinabatangan River
Enjoy a free morning in Sandakan before you make the journey after lunch to tonight’s jungle lodge near the banks of the Kinabatangan River. When you’ve settled into your lodge, you’ll hit the water for a river cruise. Keep an eye out for wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and maybe even a few pygmy elephants.
4 Kinabatangan River
This morning, wake up to the sounds of the jungle and have some breakfast before setting out for your first of two included river cruises today. Keep your eyes peeled, and you might be lucky enough to spot short and long-tail macaques, a variety of birds, including hornbills and kingfishers, crocodiles or reptiles like snakes and frogs. After a spot of lunch, you’ll hit the water again and continue your search along the river’s waters for wildlife and jungle scenery. Tonight take a night walk with your leader, looking for nocturnal birds, insects and other wildlife that come alive after sunset. You’ll have dinner together at your lodge.
5 Kundasang
After breakfast, leave your jungle oasis and embark on the overland journey to Kundasang – a little town that sits in the shadow of Mount Kinabalu. This is a long drive, so have your favourite book or travel games ready. When you arrive in Kundasang and if the weather is right, have your camera ready, capturing the views of Mt Kinabalu. From here, maybe visit the Kundasang War Memorial to learn about the Sandakan Death Marches. Sit in reflection in the solemn memorial gardens or simply take in the serene view of the fields below.
6 Kiulu Village Trek
This morning you’ll drive to Pukak in Kiulu Valley – a small area in Kiulu named after the bamboo that grows on the riverbanks. This will be the starting point of your trek to Kampung Ratau (Ratau Village), where you’ll spend the night among the locals. After your hike this afternoon, participate in cultural activities – learn how to work with beads, join the group for some traditional fishing, take a cooking class to learn how to prepare the local food (which you’ll enjoy later for dinner) and take a Gong class. In your traditional bamboo hut, you’ll fall asleep to the peaceful sounds of the village and its natural surroundings.
7 Kiulu Village Trek - Kinarut
This morning, you’ll have breakfast in the village before continuing your trek through rural Kiulu, winding your way towards Lokub. When you arrive, you’ll be treated to a traditional cultural dance and Dusun martial art show over lunch. After, continue by private vehicle to Kinarut, where you'll have some free time to relax when you arrive.
8 Kinarut
Fuel up on breakfast and embark on a daytrip to Dinawan Island for a day of snorkelling. When you arrive, be welcomed by a refreshing homemade drink before getting ready to head out on your first snorkelling adventure to spot colourful fish and corals. Enjoy a delicious lunch, then continue snorkelling or choose to pick up a paddle and explore the island from a kayak. Relax and enjoy afternoon tea after a day in the sun before travelling back to your accommodation later today. Tonight, why not head out for a group dinner? Your leader can point you in the right direction if you’re looking for restaurant recommendations in Kinarut.
9 Kota Kinabalu
Leave Kinarut this morning and make the drive to Kota Kinabalu. The afternoon's free for you to check out some optional activities – maybe take an interactive and educational visit to Koisaan Cultural Village to see how indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live. Tonight, maybe head out with your new mates and mark the end of your adventure with a group dinner. Your leader will have some great recommendations for where to go on the waterfront. The nightlife here is also worth exploring, so maybe after dinner go bar hopping and soak up the city after dusk.
10 Kota Kinabalu
There are no activities today and your Borneo adventure will come to an end. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Selamat! Welcome to Borneo. You’ll kick things off in the coastal city of Sandakan with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive with time to spare, spend the day exploring this city’s culture on the Heritage Trail or visit the Sandakan War Memorial or Agnes Keith House. Sandakan has a great food scene, too, so tonight, maybe grab your new travel companions and eat dinner together at a local restaurant to get better acquainted – your leader will have the best recommendations.
2 Sandakan
This morning, you'll visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and meet the world’s cutest redheads. These beautiful creatures will tug on your heartstrings as you watch them going about their daily business (eating bananas and hanging upside down). Swing by the nursery where young orangutans learn to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym and grab a selfie with them in the background if you can! Later, spend some time at the Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where staff rescue and take care of the once-mistreated sun bears with the hopes of rehabilitating and reintroducing them into the wild. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Sepilok and Sandakan further. Maybe head to Sepilok’s Rainforest Discovery Centre, Malaysia’s most educational nature park, which features a 620 m long, 28 m high canopy walkway with spectacular views of the giant rainforest trees. At night, you can look out for slow lorises, tarsiers and flying squirrels!
3 Kinabatangan River
Enjoy a free morning in Sandakan before you make the journey after lunch to tonight’s jungle lodge near the banks of the Kinabatangan River. When you’ve settled into your lodge, you’ll hit the water for a river cruise. Keep an eye out for wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and maybe even a few pygmy elephants.
4 Kinabatangan River
This morning, wake up to the sounds of the jungle and have some breakfast before setting out for your first of two included river cruises today. Keep your eyes peeled, and you might be lucky enough to spot short and long-tail macaques, a variety of birds, including hornbills and kingfishers, crocodiles or reptiles like snakes and frogs. After a spot of lunch, you’ll hit the water again and continue your search along the river’s waters for wildlife and jungle scenery. Tonight take a night walk with your leader, looking for nocturnal birds, insects and other wildlife that come alive after sunset. You’ll have dinner together at your lodge.
5 Kundasang
After breakfast, leave your jungle oasis and embark on the overland journey to Kundasang – a little town that sits in the shadow of Mount Kinabalu. This is a long drive, so have your favourite book or travel games ready. When you arrive in Kundasang and if the weather is right, have your camera ready, capturing the views of Mt Kinabalu. From here, maybe visit the Kundasang War Memorial to learn about the Sandakan Death Marches. Sit in reflection in the solemn memorial gardens or simply take in the serene view of the fields below.
6 Kiulu Village Trek
This morning you’ll drive to Pukak in Kiulu Valley – a small area in Kiulu named after the bamboo that grows on the riverbanks. This will be the starting point of your trek to Kampung Ratau (Ratau Village), where you’ll spend the night among the locals. After your hike this afternoon, participate in cultural activities – learn how to work with beads, join the group for some traditional fishing, take a cooking class to learn how to prepare the local food (which you’ll enjoy later for dinner) and take a Gong class. In your traditional bamboo hut, you’ll fall asleep to the peaceful sounds of the village and its natural surroundings.
7 Kiulu Village Trek - Kinarut
This morning, you’ll have breakfast in the village before continuing your trek through rural Kiulu, winding your way towards Lokub. When you arrive, you’ll be treated to a traditional cultural dance and Dusun martial art show over lunch. After, continue by private vehicle to Kinarut, where you'll have some free time to relax when you arrive.
8 Kinarut
Fuel up on breakfast and embark on a daytrip to Dinawan Island for a day of snorkelling. When you arrive, be welcomed by a refreshing homemade drink before getting ready to head out on your first snorkelling adventure to spot colourful fish and corals. Enjoy a delicious lunch, then continue snorkelling or choose to pick up a paddle and explore the island from a kayak. Relax and enjoy afternoon tea after a day in the sun before travelling back to your accommodation later today. Tonight, why not head out for a group dinner? Your leader can point you in the right direction if you’re looking for restaurant recommendations in Kinarut.
9 Kota Kinabalu
Leave Kinarut this morning and make the drive to Kota Kinabalu. The afternoon's free for you to check out some optional activities – maybe take an interactive and educational visit to Koisaan Cultural Village to see how indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live. Tonight, maybe head out with your new mates and mark the end of your adventure with a group dinner. Your leader will have some great recommendations for where to go on the waterfront. The nightlife here is also worth exploring, so maybe after dinner go bar hopping and soak up the city after dusk.
10 Kota Kinabalu
There are no activities today and your Borneo adventure will come to an end. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Enquire to book this trip
Deal number: 17743334
Real Borneo
Intrepid
From 17/08/2025 to 28/12/2027
Malaysia
10-day tour
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*Travel restrictions & conditions apply. Review any specific conditions stated and our general terms at Terms and Conditions. Prices & taxes are correct as at the date of publication & are subject to availability and change without notice. Prices quoted are on sale until the dates specified unless otherwise stated or sold out prior. Prices are per person.
