Tour overview

This 10-day small-group adventure for travellers aged 18 to 35 explores the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo, from orangutan sanctuaries and jungle rivers to mountain villages and coral reefs. Groups have up to 16 travellers, with a leader throughout. You stay nine nights: six in hotels, two in dormitory rooms at a jungle lodge on the Kinabatangan River and one in a traditional bamboo hut in a village. Eight breakfasts, five lunches and three dinners are included, so you can enjoy local food with your new travel companions.

Your adventure begins in the coastal city of Sandakan. At the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre you watch orphaned orangutans learning to climb and feed in the forest, and next door you visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which rescues and cares for the world's smallest bears. A free afternoon allows for the canopy walkway at the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

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Moving to a jungle lodge on the Kinabatangan River, one of the best places in Asia to see wildlife, you join three river cruises in search of wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills, crocodiles and perhaps pygmy elephants, as well as a night walk to spot nocturnal creatures. A long drive then brings you to Kundasang, a cool mountain town in the shadow of Mount Kinabalu, where you may visit the war memorial to the Sandakan Death Marches.

From Pukak in the Kiulu valley, you trek for around three hours to Kampung Ratau, where you spend the night in a bamboo hut, joining villagers for beadwork, traditional fishing, a gong class and a cooking class to prepare your own dinner. The next day you continue trekking through rural Kiulu for around four hours to Lokub, where a lunch is served with a Dusun dance and martial arts show. A full day on Dinawan Island follows, with snorkelling over coral reefs, kayaking and afternoon tea, before the trip ends in Kota Kinabalu.

The physical rating is medium, with treks of three to four hours and long drives. This trip suits sociable, active young travellers who love wildlife and want real local encounters.

Trip highlights

  • Sepilok's orangutans and sun bears (Day 2)
  • River cruises on the Kinabatangan (Days 3–4)
  • A night jungle walk (Day 4)
  • Mount Kinabalu views from Kundasang (Day 5)
  • A bamboo-hut village stay in Kiulu (Day 6)
  • Snorkelling on Dinawan Island (Day 8)

Your route

8 stops from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu

10-day route: Sandakan – Sepilok – Kinabatangan River – Kundasang – Kiulu – Kinarut – Kota Kinabalu
  1. Sandakan Days 1–2
  2. Sepilok Day 2
  3. Kinabatangan River Days 3–4
  4. Kundasang Day 5
  5. Kiulu Day 6
  6. Kinarut Days 7–8
  7. Dinawan Island Day 8
  8. Kota Kinabalu Days 9–10

Why choose this tour

Borneo's wildlife, villages and reefs in ten days at a great price. Designed for travellers aged 18 to 35.

Best suited to

  • Travellers aged 18 to 35
  • Wildlife lovers
  • Solo travellers looking for a social group
  • Budget-conscious travellers
A proboscis monkey in the Sandakan rainforest

Day-by-day itinerary

10 days from Sandakan, Malaysia to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

  1. Day 1 · Sandakan Arrive in Sandakan

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre Sepilok

    Orangutans and sun bears.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Kinabatangan River Kinabatangan River

    A first river cruise.

    Hotel
    Jungle lodge, dormitory
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Kinabatangan River Kinabatangan River

    Two cruises and a night walk.

    Hotel
    Jungle lodge, dormitory
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Kundasang, Mount Kinabalu Kundasang

    Drive to the mountains.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Pukak, Kampung Ratau Kiulu

    Trek to a village and cook dinner.

    Hotel
    Bamboo hut
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Lokub, Kinarut Kinarut

    Trek on and see a Dusun show.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  8. Day 8 · Dinawan Island Dinawan Island

    Snorkelling and kayaking.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  9. Day 9 · Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu

    A free afternoon in the city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Kota Kinabalu Trip ends

    Depart at any time.

Boats on a jungle river at sunset

Where you stay

  • Sandakan (2 nights) Hotel
  • Kinabatangan River (2 nights) Jungle lodge, dormitory
  • Kundasang (1 night) Hotel
  • Kiulu (1 night) Bamboo hut
  • Kinarut (2 nights) Hotel
  • Kota Kinabalu (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 6 nights in hotels, 2 in a jungle lodge and 1 in a bamboo hut
  • Meals 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
  • Private transport and boats
  • Sepilok Orangutan and Sun Bear centres
  • Three Kinabatangan River cruises and a night walk
  • Two-day Kiulu village trek with a cooking class
  • Dinawan Island snorkelling day
  • Leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not included 1 breakfast, 3 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
A Bornean sun bear

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You are outside the 18–35 age range
  • You dislike dormitories or simple stays
  • You want luxury
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 3–4 and 6–8 · Dinner: Days 3–6
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Malaysia
Mount Kinabalu above the hills

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £567 per person, twin share, tour only. 81 upcoming departures.

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.

Who is this trip for?

Travellers aged 18 to 35.

What is the jungle lodge like?

Simple dormitory rooms, which may be mixed. Single rooms are not available there or in the bamboo hut.

How long are the treks?

About three hours on Day 6 and four hours on Day 7.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors do not usually need a visa for short stays in Malaysia. Check the latest advice before travel.

Is eastern Sabah safe to visit?

Check the FCDO advice for eastern Sabah. The trip follows local rules, including no boat travel at night.

How many people travel together?

Up to 16 travellers, with a 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

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