15 Nov 2026
Twin share
£3,950pp
Single from £5,085
Escorted tour
Borneo: Sarawak & Sabah Discovery – 16 Days
Orangutans, Mulu’s caves, the Kinabatangan and Tabin in a group of up to sixteen.
16 days
From £3,950
Tour overview
This 16-day journey crosses both Malaysian states of Borneo, Sarawak and Sabah, in search of orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and pygmy elephants. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers between ten and sixteen, with two internal flights. You stay fifteen nights in hotels, nature lodges and a longhouse homestay, with breakfast daily and many lunches and dinners.
From Kuching you cruise to Bako National Park to see proboscis monkeys, visit the orangutans of Semenggoh and spend a night with an Iban family in a longhouse. A flight takes you to Mulu National Park, a World Heritage Site, to explore vast limestone caves and walk a treetop canopy walkway.
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In Sabah you have lunch with the Dusun people below Mount Kinabalu, visit the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the Sepilok orangutan sanctuary, and spend two nights by the Kinabatangan River, cruising its banks for wildlife and walking the jungle by night. Two nights in Tabin Wildlife Reserve bring mud volcanoes, waterfalls and night walks before you finish in Sandakan.
The physical rating is medium. This trip suits wildlife lovers who want to see the best of Borneo in depth.
Trip highlights
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Proboscis monkeys in Bako (Day 2)
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A longhouse night (Day 3)
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The caves of Mulu (Day 6)
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Sepilok orangutans (Day 10)
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The Kinabatangan River (Days 11–12)
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Tabin Wildlife Reserve (Days 13–14)
Your route
12 stops from Kuching to Sandakan
- Kuching Days 1–2
- Bako National Park Day 2
- Semenggoh Day 3
- Mongkos Longhouse Day 3
- Kuching Day 4
- Mulu National Park Days 5–6
- Kota Kinabalu Day 7
- Kinabalu National Park Day 8
- Sepilok Days 9–10
- Bilit Days 11–12
- Tabin Wildlife Reserve Days 13–14
- Sandakan Days 15–16
Why choose this tour
Both Sarawak and Sabah in one trip. Orangutans, caves and river wildlife.
Best suited to
- Wildlife lovers
- Photographers
- Active travellers
- Solo travellers and couples
Day-by-day itinerary
16 days from Kuching, Malaysia to Sandakan, Malaysia
-
Day 1 · Kuching Kuching
The trip begins.
- Hotel
- Meritin Hotel
-
Day 2 · Bako National Park Bako
Proboscis monkeys.
- Hotel
- Meritin Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 3 · Semenggoh, Mongkos Longhouse
Orangutans and an Iban longhouse.
- Hotel
- Longhouse homestay
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Kuching Kuching
A countryside walk.
- Hotel
- Meritin Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 5 · Mulu National Park Mulu
Fly to Mulu.
- Hotel
- Mulu Park HQ
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Mulu caves, Canopy walkway Mulu
Caves and treetops.
- Hotel
- Mulu Park HQ
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 7 · Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu
Fly to Sabah.
- Hotel
- Howard Johnson
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Kinabalu National Park Kinabalu
Lunch with the Dusun.
- Hotel
- Sabah Tea Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 9 · Sepilok Sepilok
Proboscis monkeys.
- Hotel
- Sepilok Jungle Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Sun Bear Centre, Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary Sepilok
Orangutan feeding.
- Hotel
- Sepilok Jungle Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 11 · Sukau, Kinabatangan River Kinabatangan
A river cruise.
- Hotel
- Bilit Adventure Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 12 · Kinabatangan River Kinabatangan
More river wildlife.
- Hotel
- Bilit Adventure Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 13 · Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Lipad Mud Volcano Tabin
A mud volcano.
- Hotel
- Tabin Wildlife Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 14 · Tabin Wildlife Reserve Tabin
Birds and a waterfall.
- Hotel
- Tabin Wildlife Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 15 · Sandakan Sandakan
A morning walk.
- Hotel
- Sabah Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 16 · Sandakan Sandakan
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Kuching (2 nights) Meritin Hotel
- Mongkos (1 night) Longhouse homestay
- Kuching (1 night) Meritin Hotel
- Mulu (2 nights) Mulu Park HQ
- Kota Kinabalu (1 night) Howard Johnson
- Kinabalu (1 night) Sabah Tea Resort
- Sepilok (2 nights) Sepilok Jungle Resort
- Kinabatangan (2 nights) Bilit Adventure Lodge
- 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 15 nights in hotels, lodges and a longhouse
- Meals 15 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 6 dinners
- Flights to Mulu and Kota Kinabalu
- Bako boat trip and Semenggoh orangutans
- Mulu caves and canopy walk
- Sepilok, Kinabatangan cruises and Tabin
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Meals not included 5 lunches and 9 dinners
- Optional night cruise
- 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 beach time
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–16 · Lunch: Days 2–4, 8 and 10–14 · Dinner: Days 3, 5 and 11–14
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Malaysia
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,950 per person, twin share, tour only. 11 upcoming departures.
17 Apr 2027
Twin share
£4,589pp
Single from £5,714
06 May 2027
Twin share
£4,589pp
Single from £5,714
13 Jun 2027
Twin share
£4,589pp
Single from £5,714
26 Jul 2027
Twin share
£4,875pp
Single from £6,000
14 Aug 2027
Twin share
£4,875pp
Single from £6,000
03 Sept 2027
Twin share
£4,875pp
Single from £6,000
19 Sept 2027
Twin share
£4,589pp
Single from £5,714
03 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,589pp
Single from £5,714
24 Oct 2027
Twin share
£4,589pp
Single from £5,714
14 Nov 2027
Twin share
£4,585pp
Single from £5,760
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.
Will I see orangutans?
Very likely at Semenggoh and Sepilok, and possibly wild on the Kinabatangan.
What is the longhouse like?
A traditional Iban longhouse with simple shared facilities, for one night.
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.
Are internal flights included?
Yes, to Mulu and to Kota Kinabalu.
Is there a minimum group size?
Yes, the trip runs with at least ten travellers.
Who leads the trip?
A tour leader, with local guides in the parks.
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