28 Mar 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £3,831
Escorted tour
Borneo Wildlife Discoverer – 15 Days
Bako, Mulu, Sepilok, the Kinabatangan and Tabin in a group of up to sixteen.
15 days
From £3,328
Tour overview
This 15-day adventure explores the rainforests and wildlife of Sarawak and Sabah. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers between four and sixteen. You stay fourteen nights in hotels, cottages, resorts and lodges, including a night in a traditional longhouse at a tea plantation, with breakfast daily and several lunches and dinners.
From Kuching you make a day trip to Bako National Park to see proboscis monkeys, then fly to Mulu National Park to watch millions of bats stream out of Deer Cave at sunset and explore its caves and forest. After a free day in Kota Kinabalu for snorkelling or birdwatching, you stay at the Sabah Tea Gardens below Mount Kinabalu.
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At Sepilok you visit the orangutan sanctuary, then cruise the Kinabatangan River and walk its forests. Two nights in Tabin Wildlife Reserve include jungle walks and a nocturnal safari before you end in Sandakan.
The physical rating is medium. This trip suits wildlife lovers who want a varied and active Borneo adventure.
Trip highlights
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Bako’s proboscis monkeys (Day 2)
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The bat flight at Mulu (Day 3)
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A tea plantation stay (Day 7)
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Sepilok orangutans (Day 9)
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Kinabatangan River cruises (Days 10–11)
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A nocturnal safari in Tabin (Day 12)
Your route
11 stops from Kuching to Sandakan
- Kuching Days 1–2
- Bako National Park Day 2
- Mulu National Park Days 3–4
- Kota Kinabalu Days 5–6
- Kinabalu National Park Day 7
- Sabah Tea Plantation Day 7
- Sepilok Days 8–9
- Kinabatangan River Days 10–11
- Lahad Datu Day 12
- Tabin Wildlife Reserve Days 12–13
- Sandakan Days 14–15
Why choose this tour
Five great wildlife areas in two weeks. A small group with a tour leader.
Best suited to
- Wildlife lovers
- Active travellers
- Photographers
- Solo travellers and couples
Day-by-day itinerary
15 days from Kuching, Malaysia to Sandakan, Malaysia
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Day 1 · Kuching Kuching
A welcome dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel Lime Tree
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2 · Bako National Park Bako
Proboscis monkeys.
- Hotel
- Hotel Lime Tree
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Mulu National Park, Deer Cave Mulu
The bat flight.
- Hotel
- Mulu National Park Garden Cottages
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Mulu National Park Mulu
Caves and forest.
- Hotel
- Mulu National Park Garden Cottages
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Mulu, Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu
The dawn chorus and a flight.
- Hotel
- Hotel Dreamtel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu
A free day.
- Hotel
- Hotel Dreamtel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 7 · Kinabalu National Park, Sabah Tea Kinabalu
A tea plantation.
- Hotel
- Sabah Tea Gardens Longhouse
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Sabah Tea factory, Sepilok Sepilok
To Sepilok.
- Hotel
- Sepilok Jungle Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Sepilok
Orangutans.
- Hotel
- Sepilok Jungle Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Kinabatangan River Kinabatangan
An afternoon cruise.
- Hotel
- Tanini Kinabatangan
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 11 · Kinabatangan River Kinabatangan
Cruises and forest walks.
- Hotel
- Tanini Kinabatangan
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 12 · Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin
A night safari.
- Hotel
- Tabin Wildlife Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 13 · Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin
A full day in Tabin.
- Hotel
- Tabin Wildlife Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 14 · Sandakan Sandakan
To Sandakan.
- Hotel
- Sabah Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 15 · Sandakan Sandakan
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Kuching (2 nights) Hotel Lime Tree
- Mulu (2 nights) Mulu National Park Garden Cottages
- Kota Kinabalu (2 nights) Hotel Dreamtel
- Kinabalu (1 night) Sabah Tea Gardens Longhouse
- Sepilok (2 nights) Sepilok Jungle Resort
- Kinabatangan (2 nights) Tanini Kinabatangan
- Tabin (2 nights) Tabin Wildlife Resort
- Sandakan (1 night) Sabah Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 14 nights in hotels, lodges and a longhouse
- Meals 14 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners
- Internal flights, minibus, 4x4 and boats
- Bako and Mulu National Parks
- Sepilok and Kinabatangan cruises
- Tabin jungle walks and night safari
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Optional activities
- Meals not included 8 lunches and 9 dinners
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want luxury hotels
- You dislike heat and humidity
- You want a beach holiday
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–15 · Lunch: Days 10–14 · Dinner: Days 1 and 10–13
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Malaysia
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,328 per person, twin share, tour only. 10 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £3,755 (single supplement from £428).
Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.
11 Apr 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £3,831
09 May 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £3,831
06 Jun 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £3,831
25 Jul 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £3,756
08 Aug 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £3,756
22 Aug 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £3,756
12 Sept 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £3,831
10 Oct 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £4,355
12 Dec 2027
Twin share
Book by 16 Oct
Single from £4,355
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What is the longhouse stay like?
Mixed-sex rooms with mattresses, mosquito nets and shared bathrooms with hot showers.
Are internal flights included?
Yes, to Mulu and to Kota Kinabalu.
Do I need a visa for Malaysia?
UK citizens don’t need a visa for Malaysia for tourist stays, but must complete the digital arrival card.
Will I see orangutans?
Very likely at Sepilok, and possibly wild on the Kinabatangan.
Can I have my own room?
A single supplement is available, except at the longhouse.
How many people travel together?
Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary