river cruise kinabatangan

Dive Into Malaysia

Kinabatangan River Cruise: Best Tours And Everything You Need To Know

Heading to Sabah and looking for amazing experiences? Fantastic! A Kinabatangan river cruise is a great way to explore and appreciate this part of the world.

A Kinabatangan cruise takes you along the Kinabatangan River (or Sungai Kinabatangan in Malay). This river is Sabah’s longest at 560 kilometres and starts in Borneo’s interior before snaking its way to the sea. Its chocolate coloured water is surrounded by forest which wildlife call home.

Sadly, the stretches of forest that line the river are getting smaller and smaller as palm oil plantations grow and grow. However, the upside of this is that it makes it easier to spot wildlife along this river than in most other places.

There are lodges scattered along the river and many Kinabatangan river tours to choose from as a cruise here is a popular option. And for good reason. It’s a great way to see wildlife in their natural habitat in a very easy and accessible way. Plus, there’s some great lodges! This is one of my personal favourite Sabah experiences!

However, there is a lot of choice which can make it confusing. Below, I walk you through everything you need to know to have your perfect Kinabatangan river tour whether you are looking for a Kinabatangan river cruise day trip or a multi-night option. You can easily compare all the options and make up your own mind.

I also share a video walk through from my personal experience of a two day/one night Kinabatangan package which shows you what to expect on your river cruises.

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Why Book A Kinabatangan River Cruise?

As mentioned above, the banks of the Kinabatangan River and the river itself is home to a lot of wildlife. This makes a Kinabatangan tour perfect for any nature lover or anyone who wants to see everything Sabah has to offer.

It’s the one place in Sabah where you can see ten primates including orangutans, Bornean gibbon, macaques, proboscis monkeys and tarsiers. There’s also monitor lizards, crocodiles, wild boars and Borneo pygmy elephants. It’s amazing.

Small groups of mammals can be seen year round and it’s also a fantastic place for bird watchers. You can see all varieties of Borneo’s hornbills, pittas, kingfishers and more.

The good news is that this is all reasonably accessible too. It’s a couple of hours drive from Sandakan or Sepilok to the lodges where your river cruise Kinabatangan will start. I found everything well organised and easy (plus, very enjoyable!).

However, this isn’t an activity where you can just show up. For one, it’s impossible to get to one of the Sungai Kinabatangan river cruise options by public transport. You can take a private taxi, but it’s easier and cheaper to join a tour that will take you there.

You’ll also want to already be booked on a boat before you arrive which is why booking one of the Kinabatangan tours is your only real option.

Compare All The Best Kinabatangan River Tours

Here’s a quick comparison of all of your Kinabatangan river cruise Borneo options.

You can read more about each of these options below. All details are correct at time of publishing but may change before you visit so check before booking that your preferred option has everything you want.

What You Need To Know About A Kinabatangan River Tour

The cruises leave twice a day in the early morning and late afternoon as these are the best wildlife spotting times. There are also night options. When I visited, I had a morning cruise at 6am – my favourite as the air was so still and relatively cool – and 4pm.

At different times of the day, you’re likely to see different animals, so ideally, you want to do all of them. This is why booking at least one night at a lodge to go at these different times is worthwhile if you can spare the time.

Longer is even better. The more days you are there, the more wildlife and better variety you’ll be able to spot.

Otherwise, it is possible to do a Kinabatangan river cruise day trip from Sandakan. I only recommend this if you really can’t spare any longer.

Cruises don’t necessarily stay just on the Kinabatangan River, you may visit its tributaries as well.

Lodges should include the twice-daily river cruises in their prices. Everyone knows you are here to do these cruises. Night cruises, walks and other activities may be extra or they may be included so make sure you read any details carefully.

Take binoculars, a great camera, a poncho or rain jacket and a torch or headlamp for night exploration. Good hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellent are essential too.

If you are staying overnight, bring cash (there are no ATMs). It can also be cool in the evenings so a longer shirt is a good idea. I recommend taking some snacks as well as this is a remote area, and there are limited options for food. Don’t expect good wifi or for your phone to work, although my phone worked with Digi at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort.

This area can flood in the rainy season (October to March) which can stop tours from lodges affected. Otherwise, river tours run year round.

You can also book a Kinabatangan river cruise package that includes other activities, like exploring Sepilok.

If you want to know more about what to expect when visiting Kinabatangan River, find our full guide here.

Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip

Day trips visit Kinabatangan River for just one cruise which limits your chances to see a range of wildlife. If possible, I recommend you stay overnight. However, if you are short on time, here are your best Kinabatangan river cruise 1 day options…

Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip

If you simply want to get to Kinabatangan River and do a cruise and then return to the Sandakan/Sepilok area, this is your tour!

You’ll be picked up from your hotel from 12 – 1:15pm and driven to Kinabatangan River for your 4pm cruise. On arrival at the river, you’ll have a refreshment as you wait for the cruise to start with your local guide.

The cruises goes for about two hours and then you’ll have dinner (included) before you make the 2-3 hour drive back to your hotel in the Sandakan area.

Click here to see the latest prices and availability.

Private Full Day Gomantong Cave and Kinabatangan River Cruise

On this private tour, you’ll be picked up around 11am and taken to a local restaurant for an included lunch.

On the way to Kinabatangan River, you’ll visit Gomantong Cave. This is about an hour and a half from Sandakan. Gomantong Cave is famous for its edible bird’s nests which are used in Chinese cooking. It’s also home to many bats. Thanks to dwindling bird populations, entry to this cave is now restricted so it’s not always possible to visit.

After exploring Gomantong Cave, you venture on the Kinabatangan River for the 4pm cruise to spot wildlife and enjoy your surrounds. After it finishes around 6pm, you can buy dinner at the lodge before the 2-3 hour journey back to Sandakan.

Kinabatangan River Cruise 2D1N Options

An overnight option is the best way to get to see the river at different times of day, and I recommend you do one of these packages if possible.

Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night

This Kinabatangan river tour package is perfect for exploring what this area has to offer in a small-group and remote setting.

You’ll stay at Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp which is owned and operated by the local tribe and proceeds help support local community projects. It’s in a more remote location so you are unlikely to be around other river boats when you go on your tour. This is helped by the fact that only 12 people can stay here at any one time.

This package includes transfers from the Sandakan area, dinner, breakfast and morning, afternoon and night cruises meaning you’ll get the best chance to spot different types of wildlife.

Pick up time is on day one around 12pm. You’ll have lunch on the way at a local restaurant (your cost) and will arrive at the lodge in time for the 4:30pm river cruise. This cruise goes for an hour and a half.

Dinner is included at 7pm before a one hour night cruise at 8pm. The generator for this accommodation is only on from 6pm – 10pm.

The next morning, you’ll be up early for the 6:30am one hour cruise before the included breakfast at 8am. At 9am, you’ll say goodbye and head back to the Sandakan area.

They also have a 3 night option which you can find here.

2D1N Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise

This is a similar overnight option with stays at either Nature Lodge Kinabatangan or Sukau BackPackers B&B depending on whether you want your own room or budget dorm accommodation.

While not as remote as Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp, you’ll still feel like you have got away from it all. No matter which accommodation option you pick, your Kinabatangan river tour price includes transfers, a river cruise, and a breakfast, lunch and dinner. You also get to visit some attractions in the Sepilok/Sandakan area.

You’ll be picked up around 8am from the airport or your hotel. The first stop is at the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where you’ll get to view and learn more about orangutans.

You’ll then have an included lunch at a local restaurant before driving on to your Kinabatangan lodge.

At 4pm, it’s time for your river cruise to spot wildlife before the included dinner.

On the second day, you’ll have your included breakfast then depart Kinabatangan for Gomantong Cave (if it’s open). After exploring this huge cave, which is home to swiftlets and bats, it’s back to Sandakan for a city tour visiting historic buildings like St Michaels Church, a Buddhist temple and Sim-Sim Water Village.

Lunch is included at English Tea House that overlooks the Sulu Sea.

You’ll be dropped off at the airport or your hotel.

The big drawback of this tour is that it only includes one river tour. Unless you are short on time so need to use these two days to also visit Sepilok and Sandakan, I would pick the tour above instead so you get the three cruises.

2D1N Package with Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort

This option allows you to book your tour direct with the accommodation, Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. The great part about doing it this way is you can stay as many nights as you like.

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort has many room options so you can save money by staying in a dorm or have the ultimate experience of staying in one of these fabulous deluxe rooms as pictured above.

The resort is well organised with set packages depending on how long you stay. Meals are included and food is good and filling.

In just one night, you can do both an afternoon and morning cruise as well as a night walk.

Transfers from the Sandakan area are also included.

Click here to see the latest options and prices.

Kinabatangan River Cruise 3D2N Options

A longer Kinabatangan tour package is perfect for when you have the time, and you want to spot as much wildlife as possible. The cruises are the same as the one night options, but you get more opportunities over multiple days to see varied wildlife.

3D2N Discover Kinabatangan River 

This tour package includes two nights at the Bilit Adventure Lodge, all meals and river tours twice a day, two hikes and transfers to and from the Sandakan area.

Bilit Adventure Lodge is one of the better lodges in the area, and you’ll have a well presented room that’s comfortable in a scenic location.

You’ll depart Sandakan around 10:30am with a pick-up from the airport or your hotel. Along the way, you’ll stop at a local restaurant for lunch. On arrival at Bilit Adventure Lodge, you’ll have a quick briefing by a nature guide and afternoon tea before your 4pm river cruise.

After the cruise, the included dinner is served and then you’ll have a night walk.

The next morning, you’ll be up early for your morning cruise. Today, you’ll have all three meals and afternoon tea included at your lodge as well as a guided jungle walk about the vegetation in this area and your afternoon cruise.

The final morning, you’ll have breakfast before your transfer back to the Sandakan area.

This is a great option for exploring Kinabatangan River.

3D2N Package with Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort

As above, this option allows you to book your tour direct with the accommodation, Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. You can read my full review of this resort here.

There are many room options so you can save money by staying in a dorm or stay in a villa by the water.

The resort is well organised with set packages depending on how long you stay.

Packages include morning and afternoon cruises, walks and all meals. You can choose how long you stay and enjoy this area.

4D3N Sepilok Wildlife Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise

This is a perfect package if you want to explore Kinabatangan River and Sepilok with everything included. It’s all nice and easy!

On this package, your tour starts with a pick up around 8:30am at your hotel in the Sandakan area or the airport. You’ll visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center before checking in at the Sepilok Jungle Resort and having lunch.

Next up is a guided walk at the Rainforest Discovery Center before dinner.

The next day, you’ll have breakfast and then a free morning until lunch. After lunch, you leave for Bilit Adventure Lodge, one of the best accommodation options around Kinabatangan.

You’ll have a short introduction by a nature guide before afternoon refreshments. This afternoon, you’ll do your first river cruise. It’s then dinner time. You can choose to do a night walk for an extra RM10 which can be arranged locally. You can also choose to do a tree planting activity for RM10 per tree.

The next day, it’s a 5:30am start for your morning cruise before returning for breakfast. You’ll have a guided walk to learn about the vegetation of the area before lunch. Your afternoon will be relaxing until your afternoon river cruise. Dinner is served and then you can choose to do a night walk for an extra fee.

On day four, you’ll have breakfast before checking out and being driven back to the Sandakan area. You can be dropped off at your hotel or the airport.

Kinabatangan River 2D1N Video Walk Through

To get an even better idea of what you’ll do and what to expect at the Kinabatangan River, watch our full video walk through below of a typical 2 day/1 night stay.

It shows you everything from the journey here to inside a resort to the animals we saw on the cruises.

It was filmed at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. You can find our full review of this resort here.

Final Words

I hope you have found this guide to Kinabatangan River cruises useful and you now know whether a cruise here is right for you, what to expect and are ready to book your perfect experience.

I very much enjoyed my Kinabatangan experience. I can’t recommend enough that you stay for two or three nights and experience cruises at different times of the day and have the best chance of spotting wildlife like the pygmy elephants. Experiences like this are exactly why you come to Borneo!

Want more help planning your trip? Find our full guide to Kinabatangan River here and full travel guide to Sandakan here , all the top Sandakan tours here and all our guides to more remote Sabah experiences here.

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By Sharon Gourlay

Sharon is a certified Malaysia travel expert and can't get enough of travelling and talking about Malaysia since she first visited 21 years ago. She travels around Malaysia multiple times a year both alone and with her kids. She used to call Penang home and especially loves this food paradise. Sharon also has a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, a Certificate III in International Travel Sales and has been certified by Tourism Malaysia as a Malaysia Travel Expert. Through this site, she'll help you have the perfect trip to this amazing destination.

Kinabatangan River Cruise: A Must-do in Borneo (2024 guide)

By: Author Kris

Posted on Last updated: January 23, 2024

The Kinabatangan River is an area with tropical lowland rainforest vegetation and unique ecosystems.  It’s a popular place to spot wildlife.

Do you have plans to visit this lush green region during your Borneo trip? A Kinabatangan river cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In this article, we share the best time to visit the Kinabatangan river, how to get there, some excellent all-inclusive Kinabatangan river lodges, and what it is like to spend a day in the jungle.

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you.

In a Hurry? Here you will find the most important information about making a Kinabatangan River Cruise

• The Kinabatangan River in Borneo can be visited almost all year round.
• The most popular way to get here is to fly to Sandakan. That’s also how we got here.  Most Kinabatangan river lodges include transportation to and from Sandakan airport in their bookings.
• The price of your Kinabatangan river cruise package depends on many elements. We advise taking an all-inclusive package.  You will have nothing to worry about because your tours and your meals will be included. As you are in the jungle there are no other restaurants around.
• We stayed in the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Lodge and loved our stay.

Table of Contents

Best time to visit the Kinabatangan River

The Kinabatangan River in Borneo can be visited almost all year round. March to early September are the driest months.

This is a great time to see wildlife near the Kinabatangan river.

From April to October is a good period for bird lovers as it is the flowering and birding season.

We went in July and we had nice weather with blue skies and we saw a lot of wildlife including orangutans and pygmy elephants.

The wettest months are November to March. This season has its advantages and disadvantages.

The main advantage is that you can enter deeper into the river channels and you will have more chances of spotting wildlife.

The disadvantage is that it will rain a lot and sometimes the river and channels are flooded. Especially during the monsoon season in December and January.

We recommend you to avoid the monsoon season.

How to get to the Kinabatangan River in Borneo?

The most popular way to get here is to fly to Sandakan.  That’s also how we got here.  Most Kinabatangan river lodges include transportation to and from Sandakan airport in their bookings.

If you are not sure if it’s included, you should check this with your lodge.

The journey involved a long drive in a minibus and then just a few more minutes over the Kinabatangan River.

This will be the case for most Kinabatangan river accommodations as most of them are located close to the pier at the main road.

Kinabatangan Riverside Lodges

The price of your Kinabatangan river cruise package  depends on many elements.  The level of comfort of the accommodation will make a difference but there will also be differences in what’s included in your package.

Some Kinabatangan river lodges offer all-inclusive packages (typically including all meals and 2 daily Kinabatangan River Cruises) but some only include your accommodation.

We advise taking  an all-inclusive package.   You will have nothing to worry about because your tours and your meals will be included. As you are in the jungle there are no other restaurants around.

If you are just like us a big nature fan,  opt for a 4 days/3 nights package  so you can enjoy 3 full days in the Malaysian wilderness. You will have more chances to see the orangutans and pygmy elephants. We saw different animals on each river cruise.

There’re many Kinabatangan river tours and accommodations. Remember that you are in the jungle and that these river accommodations may not offer all the amenities that you are used to.

Here we share 3 comfortable Kinabatangan accommodations with air conditioning that offers all-inclusive packages.

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort

We stayed in the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort, one of the more comfortable Kinabatangan riverside lodges. It’s the only lodge in Kinabatangan rated 2 stars. 

The manager took really good care of us and we were treated with delicious meals after every river safari.  

We comfortably enjoyed the pleasures of the jungle :-).

Check prices and availability here:

Booking.com

Nature Lodge Kinabatangan

The Nature Lodge Kinabatangan offers basic clean rooms with air conditioning.  

Incredibly friendly staff.

The tours are good and the group sizes are considerably smaller than other tours.

Kinabatangan Wildlife Lofe

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge offers spacious rooms with air conditioning.  

They offer a reasonable selection of well-prepared food, Very friendly and helpful staff.

The river safaris are excellent and the guides are good at spotting wildlife.

If you aren’t convinced of these hotels, you will find a lot of other hotels along the Kinabatangan river on booking.com: Booking.com

Jungle days with Kinabatangan river safaris

A typical day in the jungle takes an early start mostly around 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning.

A small snack and some coffee will be waiting to help you wake up before you head to the boats to do a Kinabatangan cruise at sunrise.

2 hours later you will get back to your lodge where you will enjoy breakfast.

After breakfast, you have time to read that good book that you wanted to read for so long.  You could take a nap or if you’re like me you could unwind by just listening to the sounds of nature.

You will be amazed at how quickly it is time for lunch…

Most packages will include all meals and morning- and evening river safaris

After lunch, you have time until 4 PM to do more of the same. At 4 PM it is time for another Kinabatangan river cruise.  Your sunset cruise typically lasts 2 hours and returns to the lodge after dark.

Dinner will be waiting for you when you get back to the lodge.

Most Kinabatangan river accommodations offer all-inclusive packages with all meals (no drinks) and morning and evening cruises included.

You can choose to add some extra excursions to your Borneo river safari packages like a night walk, a night cruise or an excursion to a nearby village.

The forest is alive day and night and a night excursion is particularly interesting if you want to see the nocturnal animals. (think, among other things, of big hairy spiders)

You can also approach birds more easily to take some really good close-up pictures.

We were hoping to see the Pygmy elephants but when we inquired as to their location upon arrival our hopes were quickly scuttled.  The main group of elephants had moved to a location that was too far away, out of reach for our boat safaris.

We had set our hopes for elephants but the orangutans, birds, and snakes we saw on the first day generously made up for failing to see any elephants.

If you love nature this is definitely a place you should go to.

Things only got better from there. You can imagine how excited we were when we encountered some elephants during our evening cruise on the second day.

We became even luckier on the third day when we got to see some elephants swimming. At the end of our 3 days we had spotted orangutans, snakes many proboscis and macaques and lots of birds (kingfishers, raptors, eagles, owls, …)

Some of the lodges include optional tours upon arrival and departure.

We opted to include these tours when we booked our package at the Borneo Nature Lodge and visited the Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center on our way to the lodge and the Gomatong cave upon departure.

Very often a Borneo orangutan tour is included, a tour where you visit an orangutan rehabilitation center, but other lodges may offer different Kinabatangan river tours.

The Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center

Since earlier on we visited  the Semenggoh rehabilitation center  we can make a good comparison of both and I think Sepilok beats Semenggoh. 

Not that we didn’t like Semenggoh, as animal lovers I would visit each center if I could, but if you have to choose between the two my first choice would be Sepilok. 

They have a professional and very informational visitor center where you learn a lot about these interesting animals. 

The presentation and the video in the center make your visit somewhat more worthwhile.

The 3 best activities to do in Kuching .

If you only have time for one Borneo orangutan tour our advice would be to visit the  Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation center.

The creepy Gomatong caves on our way back

On our last day, we got to sleep late, actually just a normal hour but if you have to get up at 5 for the morning cruise it’s a treat to sleep until 7 for once.

After breakfast, we headed to the Gomatong cave .

One part of the cave is open to the public and here you can witness the conditions in which twice yearly the edible bird’s nests are harvested.  These swallow nests are a delicacy in China and they pay big money for it.

But not only swallows are living in the cave… A population of bats lives in the cave and their pile of guano has attracted millions of cockroaches and centipedes.

As soon as you stopped walking those little creatures started walking across your feet which means I haven’t taken any pictures and share some pictures taken by other braver visitors (credit in the picture’s caption).

I do respect the guards that live in the cave day and night to protect the bird’s nests

I think I could say our visit was disgusting but interesting at the same time.  We witnessed an ecosystem here as we had never seen one before.

The Gomatong cave is situated in a wildlife protected area and as you make your way along the walkway towards the cave you should keep your eyes open for orangutans. We did see 2 of them.

Other people reported that they had also seen lemurs and colorful kingfishers.

Nature enthusiasts should definitely put a nature lodge stay along the Kinabatangan river on their bucket list. The river safari in Borneo is an unforgettable experience.

You adopt the pace of nature and in just a few days you will leave recharged with some great memories.

Staying in a comfortable lodge in the middle of the jungle has something magical.

We did it in Peru and we repeated it here in Kinabatangan and both times it was one of the best memories of our trip.

Don’t forget your binoculars!

A torch can come in handy to use during your night walk (usually torches are provided).  You might also need it as some hotels don’t have 24/7 electricity.

As soon as the sun sets the mosquitos come out.  Make sure to bring mosquito repellent to avoid becoming a mosquito buffet.

One day seems too short to visit this vast region but if that’s all you have you should have a look at this one-day Kinabatangan excursion .

KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE IN SABAH BORNEO: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE!

WANDERING HOW TO PLAN A KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE WHEN VISITING SABAH BORNEO?

When we visited Borneo for 2 weeks for our honeymoon, we were surprised by how little information there was on what exactly a Kinabatangan river cruise was and how / where to book them, which we found very frustrating.

Now armed with new found knowledge from our personal experience here, we have specifically written the blog post below to explain everything you need to know about planning a Kinabatangan River cruise to save you the same annoyance!

Includes: All cruise booking options, how to get to Kinabatangan River, accommodation options, wildlife to spot (including the iconic Borneo Big 5 ), tips and more!

KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE: AN INTRODUCTION

Located north of Sabah, Borneo is the mighty Kinabatangan River, the second longest river in Malaysia. The enriched river banks and dense canopies are home to the highest concentration of wildlife in one place in Borneo!

The ability to take a cruise down the Kinabatangan River allows visitors to head deep into this epicentre of activity with ease to spot the very best of Borneo’s wildlife.

When we visited Borneo, the majority of wildlife we saw – including orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, macaques, dozens of birdlife and saltwater crocodiles – was on a Kinabatangan River cruise!

When we say cruise, we’re not talking a big catamaran. A river cruise on Kinabatangan River is always in a small motor boat, with usually no more than 6 to 8 guests plus guides.

From our own personal experience, we compiled all of the information below to help you easily plan your own epic experience on the Kinabatangan River.

PLANNING A KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE

Before we headed to Borneo, there was very little information about how to plan a Kinabatangan River cruise. We were under the assumption that you had to be part of an organised, all-inclusive tour to be enrolled on a cruise.

So when we arrived, it surprised us to find out that in fact most accommodation dotted along the Kinabatangan River (from the luxury Sukau Rainforest Lodge to the budget lodges) offer their own in-house cruise experiences on the Kinabatangan River.

There really is an option to suit everyones travel preferences and budget. We explain the two options in more depth below:

OPTION 1: ALL-INCLUSIVE HOTEL & CRUISES

The first option is to book your stay at Kinabatangan on an all inclusive basis, which includes all transfers from the airport and onward travel, all food and drinks throughout your stay and – most importantly – all river cruises already reserved and booked.

Many visitors may prefer this for peace of mind that everything is already sorted before you arrive, all you have to do is turn up!

If you do decide this option, we highly recommend using local tour agency Sticky Rice Travel. We personally used them to organise our trip to Kinabatangan and they provided a great, reliable service. Check out all of their Kinabatangan River all-inclusive tour options here .

While this option may be the most expensive, Sticky Rice Travel do give 3 accommodation options to choose from to help cater to different budgets, ranging from ultimate luxury at Sukau Rainforest Lodge (where we stayed) or mid-range premium at Borneo Nature Lodge or Borneo Eco Camp.

OPTION 2: BOOK CRUISES INDEPENDENTLY AT CHOSEN ACCOMMODATION

The second option is perfect for those who don’t mind not going all-inclusive and looking for a more budgeted, independent travel experience.

You can easily find some great budget Kinabatangan River lodges (we recommend Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge ), which you can easily reserve the best deal yourself on Booking.com.

You can contact them directly before you even arrive to confirm they do provide Kinabatangan River cruises, and even pre-pay / pre-book river cruise time slots for the duration of your stay for added peace of mind.

In 2023, a cruise per person at Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge is 80 MYR (Approx. £13 GBP / $17 USD).

If you aren’t too fussed about pre-booking, you can always book your cruises when you arrive (though we recommend to pre-book during Borneo’s busier period between May to September).

GETTING TO KINABATANGAN RIVER

As the Kinabatangan River is in a protected and relatively remote location, it’s super handy to know all viable options on how to get there easily. We lay out all of the best options to consider below. You will notice we have broken this down into two simple steps:

• Arrive into Sandakan Airport (SDK)
• Land transfer to Kinabatangan River

ARRIVE INTO SANDAKAN AIRPORT (SDK)

The closest airport to the Kinabatangan River is Sandakan (SDK), a very small local airport on the North coast of Sabah. You can fly into Sandakan from multiple nearby airports:

INTERNALLY FROM BORNEO:

✈️ You can fly direct from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) . Kota Kinabalu is Borneo’s main International airport, located on the left-hand side of Borneo. From Kota Kinabalu, there are multiple internal flights to Sandakan every day. The flight duration is 50 minutes.

✈️ You can fly direct from Lahad Datu (LDU) to Sandakan Airport (SDK) . Lahad Datu is a tiny airport located on the right-hand side of Borneo. There is 1 direct internal 35 minute flight available every day. As a side note, Lahad Datu is the closest airport to Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley .

FROM MALAYSIA:

✈️ You can also fly directly from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Sandakan (SDK) airport. There are multiple direct 2 hour 50 minute flights available every day. We personally did this option, and flew with AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur straight to Sandakan.

LAND TRANSFERS FROM SANDAKAN AIRPORT TO KINABATANGAN

From Sandakan airport, it is roughly a 2 hour drive to Kinabatangan River . On reaching the river, some Kinabatangan lodges require an additional 5 minute boat ride to get to their river bank location if they are not accessible by road. An example of this is Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

There are multiple ways you can arrange a land transfer from Sandakan airport to your Kinabatangan River accommodation:

PRIVATE TRANSFER (PRE-ARRANGED TOUR)

If you want zero hassle and all transfers booked before you arrive in Borneo, booking a pre-arranged tour is the best option for you.

From our personal experience, we recommend local tour agency Sticky Rice Travel. Check out their Kinabatangan River all-inclusive tour options here , which include all land transfers, accommodation and food.

This can also be arranged as part of a longer bespoke itinerary throughout Borneo, not just specifically for Kinabatangan. If this is of interest, contact them directly for more information.

PRIVATE TRANSFER (HOTEL PICK-UP)

If you haven’t got a fully pre-arranged tour but you have reserved Kinabatangan accommodation yourself (i.e. on Booking.com ), it is very common practise to pre-arrange a transfer from Sandakan airport directly through your accommodation before you arrive.

This will be an additional cost you will settle directly with your accommodation. The average price for a private vehicle charter from Sandakan airport is around RM300 per way (approx. £56). This is a convenient option as it will ensure you are taken directly to your accommodation, including the boat ride (if required).

USE GRAB (MALAYSIA’S VERSION OF UBER)

Another option is to book a taxi ride using GRAB , Malaysia’s version of Uber which is widely used throughout Borneo. We recommend downloading the app and setting up your account before you arrive for a seamless process.

You can check approximate fares to any destination using their Fare Check service beforehand to see which is the most cost effective option.

This option however only covers the land transfer up to the river. Check with your accommodation whether it requires an additional boat ride from the river. If so, arrange a pick-up point and approximate ETA for them to then collect you.

HIRE A CAR AND SELF-DRIVE

For those wanting full control of their itinerary, another option is to hire a rental car and drive from Sandakan airport to your Kinabatangan River accommodation. For this option, first check that your accommodation is road accessible, and your lodge caters for parking).

It’s worth noting the road leading up to Kinabatangan for the last hour or so is pretty bumpy, so we would only recommend this option to confident drivers.

ACCOMMODATION AT KINABATANGAN RIVER

Dotted along the Kinabatangan River, there are approximately 15 different accommodation options to choose from, with lodges ranging from budget-friendly options to the pricier luxury lodges.

All accommodation along the Kinabatangan River will offer Kinabatangan River cruise options, either included as part of the stay or at an additional cost, which you can easily pre-book with them beforehand or just arrange once you arrive.

We have listed a few popular options to suit different budgets:

LUXURY OPTION: SUKAU RAINFOREST LODGE 💰💰💰

MID RANGE OPTION: BORNEO NATURAL SUKAU BILIT RESORT 💰💰

BUDGET OPTION: KINABATANGAN WILDLIFE LODGE 💰

LUXURY OPTION: SUKAU RAINFOREST LODGE

Sukau Rainforest Lodge is unquestionably the most popular (and most expensive) Kinabatangan River accommodation – and for good reason!

Beautifully integrated into the surrounding landscape, this eco-friendly lodge provides a sense of luxury, the perfect choice for honeymooners in Borneo!

With 40 rooms available ranging from Superior Rooms to Villas , this lodge also provides morning, afternoon and evening river cruises with incredible tour guides, has a riverside restaurant and bar, 2 dip pools with sun loungers and a nature boardwalk.

If you want to be ultra Deluxe and your budget allows, we would recommend staying in a Villa at Sukau Rainforest Lodge! While the Superior Rooms we stayed in were nice, they were smaller than expected and the Villas (from the outside) looked amazing and very big!

We personally recommend this accommodation after our stay here. You can contact them directly via their official website or alternatively, book a stay with them through our recommend local tour company, Sticky Rice Travel.

MID-RANGE OPTION: BORNEO NATURAL SUKAU BILIT RESORT

The Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort is a mid-range Kinabatangan River accommodation with an added sense of grandeur.

All room options are all-inclusive of food, drink and tours – with prices ranging from £75 per night (single dorm) to £227 a night (deluxe room, 2 day 1 night package).

The tours included during your stay here are morning and afternoon river cruises, plus guided walks to point out smaller creatures and fauna around the resort.

Nestled directly on the Kinabatangan River bank, this idyllic location does however mean there is no option to park a hire car, however the resort does offer private airport pick-up from Sandakan. Contact them to arrange in advance.

BUDGET OPTION: KINABATANGAN WILDLIFE LODGE

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge is a very budget-friendly Kinabatangan River accommodation, at approximately £60 per night for a private double room (including breakfast).

Situated just a 5 minute walk away from the Kinabatangan River, the lodge offers two cruise time slot options: Early morning (6am) and afternoon (4pm). You can book these during your stay.

To top it off, Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge offers private vehicle transfers from Sandakan airport at 300 MYR per way (approximately £50 GBP / $64 USD). This lodge is accessible by road, so an additional boat ride is not required to get to the lodge.

Free private parking is also available on-site, perfect for those arriving by rental car.

KINABATANGAN RIVER WILDLIFE

Of course, it is down to luck and circumstance to what wildlife you will see during your visit to the Kinabatangan River.

Nonetheless, it is worth noting that best times to visit to see wildlife on the Kinabatangan River in Borneo is between May to October. This is when Borneo is at its driest and the trees begin to fruit.

This tempts all manner of creatures, especially Orangutans, down to the lower parts of the tree canopies and increasing your chances of spotting them!

To give a rough idea of what you might be able to expect, the wildlife we saw during our Kinabatangan River cruises in the month of September are:

• Pygmy Elephants
• Estuarine Crocodiles
• Red Leaf Monkeys
• Proboscis Monkey
• Long-Tailed Macaques
• Pig-Tailed Macaques
• Hornbills (Pied / Oriental)
• Storks and countless small, colourful birds.

KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE: “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” FAQ’S

Where is the kinabatangan river.

The Kinabatangan River is located on the North East of Borneo island, specifically in the state of Sabah. It is the second longest river in Malaysia, and is well known for being one the best places to see wild Orangutans in Borneo!

IS KINABATANGAN RIVER WORTH VISITING?

Yes! The Kinabatangan River is absolutely worth visiting for anyone visiting the Sabah region of Borneo. Kinabatangan River cruises allow for the best chance to see some of Borneo’s most amazing wildlife in the wild, including wild Orangutans, Pygmy elephants, Proboscis monkeys, Saltwater crocodiles and more!

HOW TO VISIT KINABATANGAN RIVER?

To visit to Kinabatangan River, you can either pre-arrange an all-inclusive tour with a local tour agency (we recommend Sticky Rice Travel). Alternatively, you can book your accommodation and cruises independently. Click here to see descriptions of both options in-depth.

HOW TO GET TO KINABATANGAN RIVER FROM SANDAKAN?

To get to Kinabatangan River from Sandakan, there are multiple land transfer options you can choose from that best suits your travel preferences or budget. Click here to see all of the best options available.

HOW LONG SHOULD I STAY AT KINABATANGAN RIVER?

From our own experience, we would suggest 3 days and 2 nights is the perfect amount of time to stay at the Kinabatangan River.

With a Kinabatangan River cruise basically being the main thing to do here, 3 days worth of cruises in the morning, afternoon and potentially at even night will give you plenty of opportunities to spot as much wildlife as possible!

WHAT TIME IS A KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE?

It is worth noting most Kinabatangan accommodation will offer 2 daily cruise slots, typically early morning (6am) and late afternoon into sunset (4pm).

However, some will also offer an additional night-time Kinabatangan river cruise to spot nocturnal animals. If this is something that interests you, be sure to book an accommodation which offers this service.

One such accommodation that does offer night time cruises daily is Sukau Rainforest Lodge , where we stayed. It was possible to book the night cruises last minute on the day.

CONCLUSION: KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE

In conclusion, from our own personal experience we would recommend a Kinabatangan River cruise to anyone visiting the Sabah region of Borneo.

The Kinabatangan River is one of the core protected areas and wild animal sanctuaries left in Borneo, meaning it is one of the best places to see a colossal amount of wildlife.

As mentioned previously, we strongly advise to visit between May to October. This is the best time to visit Kinabatangan and see Borneo wildlife, being the driest season with plenty of fruiting trees that coax Borneos wonderful creatures – especially wild Orangutans – for you to see!

With regard to accommodation, there are plenty of options dotted along the Kinabatangan River to suit all travel preferences and budgets. Likewise, there are multiple easy private transfer options to choose from to get to Kinabatangan River.

We hope you have the most incredible time, and truly wish you the best of luck seeing the ‘Borneo Big 5’ wildlife check list on your river cruises!

This blog post was written by… Jordie Flain! Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com, Travel Itinerary Creator & Wildlife Enthusiast

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Kinabatangan River Cruise | Half Day | Sabah, Borneo

If you are short on time during your holiday and really want to have the chance to see some of the wildlife Borneo is famous for, then the Kinabatangan River Half-Day Trip is an ideal choice. During this trip you’ll join a late afternoon river cruise along the famous Kinabatangan River in search of wildlife along the river banks, followed by dinner at a Lodge located along the Kinabatangan River. Short & sweet!

Note – The price shown above is for 1 person. Simply add the number of persons wishing to book. Choose a date and hit the Check Availability button.

Prices are valid until 31st March 2025 (NLK07).

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Kinabatangan River Cruise – Half Day Tour in Sabah, Borneo

A river cruise along the Kinabatangan River is typically in the ‘top 5’ for most tourists coming on holiday to Sabah, Borneo. The Kinabatangan River offers a relatively easily accessible, and affordable, option for viewing wildlife along the banks the river and in the rainforest fringing the river banks.

Most visitors going to the Kinabatangan River will join a 2D1N or 3D2N Kinabatangan River Cruise Trip as they offer more river cruise activities and, therefore, increased opportunities for seeing wildlife. If you are short on time during your action-packed holiday and only have an afternoon and evening free then this half-day trip is an ideal choice for you. During this trip, you will join a late afternoon river cruise down the Kinabatangan River . Kinabatangan River Cruise , Sabah, Borneo is famous for its astounding multiplicity of wildlife creatures. As well as being home to several species of primates the river is home to underwater inhabitants, crocodiles. From bird watching to seeing snake coiled up on a branch overhanging the river, this half-day river cruise adventure is a match made in heaven for wildlife and nature enthusiasts who are short on time in Sandakan.

Prepare to be amazed on your Kinabatangan River Cruise Half-Day Tour

If you want more wildlife encounters during your holiday in Borneo, and have an extra day available, then you should consider the 2D1N Kinabatangan River Trip as an ideal alternative and join to river cruises and a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary.

Trip Itinerary – Kinabatangan River Cruise Half-Day Tour

10:45hrs – 11:00hrs: For those staying in hotels in Sandakan, you will be collected for your tour. You will then be transferred to the Sepilok area.

11:30hrs -11:50hrs: Customers staying in Resort / Lodges near Sepilok will be collected for the Kinabatangan River Cruise Half-Day Trip.

11:50hrs – 12:30hrs: You will stop at Mango Garden Restaurant at Nature Lodge Sepilok, where you will have a chance to have lunch (lunch is included for new bookings from 8th August 2018) and have a toilet break. If you do not want to have lunch, you can relax in the seated area in the Lodge’s large, open reception area.

12:30hrs: You will then be transferred by minibus to Kinabatangan Nature Lodge, which is located on the banks of the Kinabatangan River in the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, a ~ 2.5-hour journey (including stop). On the way, you will make a brief stop, typically at Kota Kinabatangan, the nearest town from Nature Lodge Kinabatangan, to refresh (toilet stop plus cafe facilities available). During the journey, you will pass by small towns, oil palm plantations and local villages. Most of the villagers are the Orang Sungei (derived from the Malay words “the river people”). Their main source of living income is fishing, and, in times of low harvest, they build boats. Some of the locals work on the oil palm plantations. During the harvesting season in Gomantong cave, they work as harvesters for the Swiftlet bird’s nest.

~14:45hrs – 15:00hrs (subject to traffic): Arrive at Kg. Bilit and take a short boat ride across the Kinabatangan River to the Lodge, the starting point for your late afternoon Kinabatangan River Cruise. Your Nature Guide will provide a wildlife & conservation briefing in advance of your river cruise (if you arrive at the Lodge after 3:30 pm this briefing will happen after the Kinabatangan River cruise. After the briefing, you can relax in the Lodge’s restaurant area (free flow water, coffee and tea available for free) before your Kinabatangan River cruise starts.

16:00hrs: You will join your late afternoon Kinabatangan River cruise in search of wildlife along the Kinabatangan River (for ~ 2 hours). Life jackets will be provided for your river cruise. The Kinabatangan River is home to at least six different species of primates, including the Proboscis Monkey, Leaf Monkey, Long and Short-Tailed Macaques, Gibbons and even the Orangutan. During certain times of the year, you will also catch the Borneo Pygmy Elephants at the riverbank. There will also be plenty of opportunities to see birdlife such as the White Egret, Oriental Darter, Rhinoceros Hornbills and the Buffey Fish Owl.

18:00hrs: Around 6 pm you will return back to the Kinabatangan Nature Lodge. It’s then time for dinner at the Lodge’s restaurant, set amidst the secondary forest. After dinner, there will be a brief presentation on the wildlife in the Kinabatangan area and also the conservation programme was undertaken by Nature Lodge Kinabatangan. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the Voluntary Conservation Levy-VCL (RM20.00), which was initiated by WWF Malaysia and supported by the Kinabatangan-corridor of Life Tourism Association (KiTA), which goes towards supporting conservation efforts in the area.

20:00hrs: Start your transfer back to your hotel in Sandakan city. The estimated time of return to Sandakan city is 22:00 hours.

Amazing elephants of Kinabatangan River banks

Trip Pre-requisites – Kinabatangan River Cruise Half-Day Tour

The trip is open to all. Minimum 2 persons per booking.

Trip Inclusions

• Return transfer from Sandakan or Sepilok area to Kinabatangan Nature Lodge (by road).
• Return short boat transfer from Kg. Bilit to the Kinabatangan Lodge.
• 1 x late afternoon Kinabatangan river cruise. The Kinabatangan River cruise included with this trip will travel as far upstream as ~7km to Pontian Point and downstream, a maximum of ~ 10 km to Tenegang Besar Point.
• Meal: Lunch (for new bookings from 8th August 2018), Dinner.
• Refreshments: free flow water, coffee and tea in the restaurant at the Kinabatangan Lodge.
• Guiding by a licensed Nature Guide (English speaking).
• 0% Sales and service Tax on the tour price as applicable from 6th May 2019.

Trip Exclusions

• Personal spend
• Other meals not stated. Alcoholic or soft drinks at the Lodge.
• Single supplement if you book this trip on your own (and no other customers are booked on the same trip).

The Kinabatangan River Cruise trip price is based on a shared trip basis – surcharges are applicable if you would like a private boat for the river cruise or private land transfer via minibus.

Recommended Packing List For The Trip – Kinabatangan River Cruise Trip

Comfortable clothing for a tropical climate, binoculars for viewing wildlife, insect repellent, raincoat, hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Please take your passport with you on this trip – your passports will be checked at the Kinabatangan Lodge.

If weather, or other factors (e.g. landslide), makes an activity unsafe, the Lodge will adapt the trip itinerary for safety reasons. There will be no refund if a trip itinerary needs to be adapted on the day due to safety reasons.

3 reviews for Kinabatangan River Cruise | Half Day | Sabah, Borneo

Graeme King – 12/03/2019

Myself, wife and son have recently completed a Kinabatangan River tour and feel compelled to write to confirm what an exceptional experience the whole event turned out to be. Our driver Alan was prompt and very courteous picking us up from the Sheraton hotel in Sandacan and taking us to the lodge for lunch (which was excellent) and the return drive late on in the evening. He was exceptional.

The trip to the river jetty was a little arduous with at times poor road conditions and was hard driving but Alan was an accomplished driver and he remained very courteous throughout the 2 hour journey and felt safe with him

On reaching the River we were impressed with the staff on the lodge side if the river who made us feel very welcome. After a brief tour of the facility we were taken to the River where our guide and ‘pilot was Ramsan. There were a number of competing boats on the river at the time but Ramsan seemed to have an added insight into where the best spotting places were and boy did we see some wildlife. We had the right guy here! When we returned we were treated to another cracking meal prior to departure back to the hotel.

Ordinarily I do not write tour reviews however the experience which we had on our river trip on the day was such that I just had to give praise to those guys that made it such a great day for us.

Jillian Hannah – 18/07/2018

We very much enjoyed our trip, thank you very much. It was the perfect trip for a flying visit, as we’re already now into day 2 of our Hong Kong stop. The half day trip was perfect for us although I’d hope to do a couple of nights next time we’re in Borneo!

We were overjoyed to see the wildlife that we did. Our guide Beatrice was lovely and personable, and tried hard to find every type of wildlife possible for us.

The pick up and drop off were right on time, it was all very smooth and easy. The meal was delicious and our dietary requirements were catered to well. The atmosphere was great at the lodge and we met lots of nice, friendly people.

IrishAngel1 Rugby (TripAdvisor) – 11/06/2018

Kinabatangan River Half Day Trip – We did the Kinabatangan River Half Day Trip and it was very well organised. It took about 2 hours from Sandakan and we were picked up and dropped off at the hotel. Definitely bring a light raincoat & sunscreen with you as the weather is changeable on the river, Also a pair of binoculars is a must. You will be supplied a life jacket. Whilst on the river we were extremely lucky to see Proboscis Monkeys, Long and Short Tailed Macaques, Borneo Pygmy Elephants, Rhinoceros hornbill and even an Orangutan. It was a buffet for dinner and the food was good, the toilet facilities are undercover, reasonably clean, but are basic and expect a few spiders. Overall a nice trip but you will see over 2 hours of palm oil plantations ( this really does make you consider the use of palm oil at home) so I would bring a book or something to read.

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Kinabatangan River

As far as we know looking at local papers and government announcements There has never been any history of a security or criminal acts in the Kinabatangan area. This also includes Danum Valley, Tabin, Selingan island and Lankayan Island. However, there was a very small isolated incident on the outskirts of Sandakan.

The route to the Danum Valley Feild Centre Office in Lahad Datu is 124 kilometres and takes approximately 1 hour 54 minutes. Here is the normal route:

Take Jalan Sukau to AH150 for 32 min (36.8 km)

Follow AH150 to Lorong Fajar 1 in Lahad Datu for 1 hr 19 min (87.0 km)

Take Lorong Fajar 2 and Lorong Fajar 6 to Lorong Fajar 9 for 2 min (190 m)

The journey from Sandakan Airport (SDK) to Kinabatangan River (Bilit) is 156 kilometres and takes 1 hour 57 minutes approximately. The route it takes is:

Follow Jalan Airport and Jalan Lintas Labuk to Jalan Ranau – Sandakan/Jalan Sapi Nangoh/Route 22 for 8 min (5.1 km)

Follow Jalan Ranau – Sandakan/Jalan Sapi Nangoh/Route 22 and Jln Sandakan-Lahad Datu/AH150 to Kinabatangan for 1 hr 13 min (73.9 km)

Take Jalan Sukau to Jalan Kampung Bilit for 32 min (36.8 km)

Seeing an orangutan in its natural habitat is one of the top reasons for coming to Borneo. In Borneo, there are around 11,000 orangutans in Sabah and 1,600 in Sarawak. In Sabah, the top three places to see orangutans in the wild, along with other wildlife encounters on offer, are the Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. 

Kinabatangan River, Sabah

the Kinabatangan River is one of the best wildlife-watching destinations in Southeast Asia. If you spend a few days here joining river cruises you will have a very good chance of seeing an orangutan in the wild. Wildlife watching on the Kinabatangan is done from boats making this location suitable for a range of ages and fitness levels. The Kinabatangan River is the easiest and most ‘comfortable’ option in Borneo for seeing Orangutans in the wild.

Danum Valley, Sabah

Danum Valley  is the best place to see wild orangutans in pristine, undisturbed forest. Sightings are not ‘guaranteed’ but there is a pretty good chance of seeing an orangutan if you spend a few days at Danum. You will join guided treks into the forest in search of wildlife (including orangutans). The trekking is relatively easy so you don’t need to be super fit. 

Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah

Tabin Wildlife Reserve  is a large protected forest area covering 122,500 hectares. At Tabin, there are reasonable chances of seeing an orangutan by joining guided treks into the forest but they are not as high as Danum or the Kinabatangan. 

Alongside these ‘seeing orang-utans in the wild’ options, you also have the chance to see orangutans at the world-famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. At Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre illegally captured, orphaned and injured orangutans are taught to survive in the wild again. The Centre has two feeding sessions a day which is open to the public during which you can go to a raised platform to watch the orangutans come in from the surrounding forest to be fed.

Which one of these options is best for you for seeing orangutans in Borneo depends upon your budget, how to fit you are, how much time you have and the way you want to go in search of orangutan (by foot, boat or 4WD safari). Choose one, or more, of the above options to have the best chance of seeing an orangutan in Borneo.

The pygmy elephant (or Bornean pygmy elephant) are the smallest elephants in Asia and are endemic to Borneo. With only about 1,500 Bornean pygmy elephants left on Borneo, they are classified as critically endangered. For those visiting Borneo to see wildlife, the Bornean Pygmy elephant is likely to be in your top 5 of things to see. Encountering a herd of these elephants is unforgettable, and often once in a lifetime, experience. Whilst Borneo is big (it’s the third-largest island in the world) the pygmy elephant can only be found in a limited area in the forests of northeastern Borneo (with most found in Sabah, Borneo). The pygmy elephants migrate throughout the year, following a traditional corridor, and the top three places to see pygmy elephants in Sabah, Borneo are as follows:-

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is a narrow corridor of Protected lowland rainforest along the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Herds of the Bornean Pygmy elephant migrate through this sanctuary and when they are passing through they can be seen for a few days along the banks of the river as they forage for food. If you are lucky to be visiting the Kinabatangan River whilst they are in the area you will have the privilege of being able to watch the elephants during morning and afternoon river cruises. As with all wildlife encounters, sightings cannot be guaranteed but the more days you spend at a Lodge on the Kinabatangan River (and therefore more river cruises you join) the increased chance of seeing the rarer wildlife finds like the pygmy elephant. 

Danum Valley

Danum Valley , or Danum Valley Conservation Area, is one of the largest protected areas of primary rainforest in Sabah and offers a ‘safe-haven’ for the pygmy elephant and other wildlife found here. Elephants can often be seen along the access roads into Danum Valley, as well as roaming through the forest. There are two locations tourists can stay at in Danum Valley to see wildlife – Borneo Rainforest Lodge and Danum Valley Field Centre. At both locations, you are able to join guided treks into the forest, and guided night drives, in search of wildlife including the Bornean pygmy elephant.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Tabin Reserve is considered to be the largest wildlife reserve in Malaysia and covers an area of lowland forest of approximately 300,000 acres. It is home to the Bornean pygmy elephant as well as many other endangered wildlife species. Similar to Danum Valley, the access roads and guided treks into the forest provide the best opportunities to see pygmy elephants. There is one location tourists can stay at in Tabin Reserve –  Tabin Wildlife Resort .

At 560 kilometres long, the Kinabatangan River is Sabah’s longest river with the lower reaches of the River being home to a rich concentration, and diversity, of wildlife. This makes the Kinabatangan River one of the most popular places for tourists to visit during their holiday to Borneo. The simplest way to get to the Kinabatangan River is too join an organised tour. As the Kinabatangan River is located towards the east coast of Sabah the starting point for most tours to the River is from Sandakan (Sandakan Airport or from a hotel in Sandakan). 

How do you get to Sandakan?

Sandakan is a middle-sized city located on the east coast of Sabah and well connected to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. The main ways to travel to Sandakan from within Sabah are by plane, by public bus or by private transport.

Internal flights operate daily from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and Tawau to Sandakan Airport. Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines operate daily flights from these airports to Sandakan. You can also fly direct from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Sandakan Airport on a daily basis. Flying to Sandakan is an easy, quick option and if flights are booked well in advance you can typically pick up low price tickets with the airlines.

By public bus

A slightly cheaper option than flying is to catch a public bus to Sandakan Bus Station. You can catch a public bus from bus stations in Kota Kinabalu, Semporna or Tawau to Sandakan. The most popular bus route is from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. In Kota Kinabalu, you will need to go to the northern bus terminal (located in Inanam). There are several buses here going to Sandakan on a daily basis. We’d suggest you try and catch the first buses to depart in the morning as it’s a long journey to Sandakan bus station (a ~ 6 – 7 hour journey). 

By private transport 

This includes hiring a car to drive to Sandakan, using a local taxi or via an organised private coach transfer. 

How do I get to the Kinabatangan River Independently?

For independent travellers wanting to arrange their own way to the Kinabatangan River, there aren’t any direct public transport services to the two main villages on the river which provide access to Lodges on the Kinabatangan River – Bilit & Sukau. You would need to use local bus service and ask to be dropped off at Sukau Junction, followed by catching a transfer with a local van from Sukau Junction to either Bilit or Sukau (a ~ 45km journey). For this option, you still need to have booked a stay at a Lodge near the Kinabatangan River and arranged a transfer with the Lodge from your drop off point. This option may be a cheaper alternative to an organised tour but is a lot more hard work and involves more time for the amount you may save.   

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Kinabatangan river cruise – The best trip in Borneo (amazing experience)

Posted on Last updated: October 27, 2022

Categories Sabah , Visit Malaysia

Our East Sabah trip is not complete without the Kinabatangan River trip.

Kinabatangan is Sabah’s longest river, beginning from the southwest and ending at the Sulu sea east of Sabah. Kinabatangan is 560 kilometers long, the longest in Sabah and Malaysia’s second longest river.

The lower Kinabatangan wildlife reserve has the highest concentration of wildlife in Borneo. The river cruise at the Kinabatangan area is the best way to observe the animals along the riverside.

That is why we have planned to stay at Bilit Adventure Lodge for three days, exploring the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary by joining the river cruises and jungle walks.

Don’t miss the video shot at Kinabatangan River. It is at the end of this article. 👇👇

1. Our trip from Kuala Lumpur to Kinabatangan river

Since there is no international flight to Sandakan, you must fly to either Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur and then take the internal flight to Sandakan if you come from another country.

As Malaysians, we took the internal flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan, which is the most convenient way. We spend a few days visiting the Sandakan town, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary before heading to Kinabatangan River.

Bilit and Sukau are two villages located at the lower Kinabatangan river, where you can book lodges to stay during your visit. The road trip from Sandakan Airport to Bilit and Sukau Village is about two hours, depending on the traffic.

This article will share what we have seen during our trip to the Kinabatangan river. You can read our review of Bilit adventure Lodge here .

2. Where did we stay while visiting the Kinabatangan river?

We arrived at Billit Adventure Lodge in the afternoon at about 4:00 pm and immediately prepared to join the evening cruise starting at 5:00 pm.

It is located on the Kinabatangan riverbank, making it super easy to join the river cruise in the morning and late afternoon. According to our guide, we expected to spot different wildlife in the morning and afternoon.

The lodge is quite basic but has all the basic amenities required. Our room was spotless, with an attached bathroom and air conditioning. That was the lodging we looked for as we were here for the wildlife, not aiming to stay at a luxurious resort. The cost is also quite competitive.

Bilit Adventure Lodge is located opposite the river near Kampung Bilit. There is no road or vehicles on this side of the river as it is a virgin jungle. 

If you are looking for more luxurious accommodation, check out Sukau Rainforest Lodge at Sukau village.

3. Additional stuff we brought for the Kinabatangan trip

Here is a list of specific things we carried during our Kinabatangan river trip.

• Binoculars . Since we stayed on our boat during the cruise, binoculars are essential to locate the birds, monkeys, orangutans, and pygmy elephants.
• I also brought my full-frame camera and telephoto 100mm-400mm zoom lens . Full frame camera allowed me to crop in during postproduction, as some animals were just too far from me. I also had a tripod , which is handy for photographing wildlife. 
• As suggested by our guide, I used the insect repellent called Mosi Guard , which is effective for leeches.
• Since we had jungle tracking, our headlamps were helpful during our night trekking tour.
• We purchased our leech socks , but Bilit Adventure Lodge can provide them for the guest for a small fee. 
• I used my regular trekking shoes . My wife purchased the locally made Addidas Kampong in Sandakan, which locals widely use for trekking. It is especially useful when crossing rivers and streams, as it has good grips and is quick to dry.

Note : If you are using your iPhone, I suggest purchasing a telephoto lens dedicated to iPhones. Telephoto Moment lenses are made for iPhone. It can increase the focal length up to four times, greatly useful for wildlife photography.

4. Animals that we spotted during the Kinabatangan river safari

We joined the early morning river cruise and afternoon cruise because different animals will come out at other times of the day.

Although we have seen orangutans and the proboscis monkey at Sepilok, seeing them again in the wild is a different experience. The Kinabatangan river is the natural habitat for various primates, including the proboscis monkey, long and short-tailed macaques, and orangutans.

The cruise offers a relatively easy way to observe wildlife along the riverbanks. The late afternoon Kinabatangan river cruise took about two hours. 

A. Borneon pygmy elephants

These elephants have separated from relatives like Asian elephants since 300,000 years ago. As a result, during the evolution process, they become smaller and endure significant body changes.

They have long tails, large ears, and a straight tusk. They are relatively small, about 8 to 9 feet tall, even when fully grown.

We were lucky to sight a herd of Bornean pygmy elephants at the riverbank. No one can guarantee that we could see the elephants, depending on our luck. The elephants roamed into the inner land the following day, and visitors could only see one elephant the next day!

Hunting, poaching, and reduced genetic diversity due to the small population contributed to the near extinction of Bornean pygmy elephants. As a result, they are considered endangered species. It is only estimated about 1500 remain in the wild of Borneo. 

Although you can spot the pygmy elephants in Borneo at Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve, the easiest place to spot these elephants is along the Kinabatangan riverbank.

B. Proboscis monkey

Proboscis monkeys are the largest monkey species in Asia. The male is generally about 70 centimeters tall, and his weight can go up to 20 kilos. They have a large and long noses for males. Female noses are not as large as the males but larger than most monkeys. In addition, both females have bulging stomachs that look like potbellies.

Proboscis monkeys are an endangered species in Borneo. Their predators are large lizards, crocodiles, and some large birds, like eagles.

Their natural habitats are mixed dipterocarp-kerangas, mangroves, and lowland forests near freshwater and rivers.

They were pretty naughty and jumped from one tree to another. One of the proud males nearly fell to the ground. After that, he just sat there quietly. His expression is like saying, ‘Oh my God, what have I done?’

C. Orangutans

Orangutan is also an endangered species in Borneo.

The best way to get closer to orangutans is to visit them at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.

Orangutan has long arms and short legs. They have reddish brown hair covering their bodies. The male can weigh up to 75 kilos while females can reach about 37 kilos. Fruit is the most crucial component of the diet. 

Orangutans spend most of their time in trees. Our guide helped us to spot a few wild orangutans during our river cruise.

D. Saltwater crocodiles

We saw a few saltwater crocodiles during our cruise, but it was pretty tricky to photograph because they were mostly beneath the water.

Saltwater crocodiles have a reputation as one of the most aggressive crocodiles when they are fully grown. So we were a little bit nervous initially, but our local guide said that as long as they were not disturbed, we were saved from observing them from afar.

E. A variety of birds

We spotted a variety of birds during our cruise. 

It wasn’t easy to find them initially, but our guide with trained eyes spotted them quickly. Otherwise, we could not locate them except the great egret on the riverbank.

Among all the birds we spotted are storm’s stork, oriental pied hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill, falconet, green imperial pigeon, and stork bill kingfisher.

5. Guided jungle walk at the riverine forest

Besides the Kinabatangan River tour, we went for a guided jungle walk after dinner and another during the day.

a. Night walk in the jungle

Since the jungle is located in the wetland, the trail can be pretty muddy.

The lodge has provided boots for us as the regular trekking shoes were not suitable in the swampy area. We also wore leach socks to prevent getting bitten by the leeches.

Walking in the jungle at night was a different kind of experience because it was pitch dark.

We were asked to switch off our headlamps and torch at one point for a minute to let us experience how it feels in total darkness. It was a unique experience for anyone who had never tried that before, as we saw absolutely nothing.

Our guide helped us spot insects, nocturnal animals, and birds while meandering through the muddy bushes. It was such a good experience that we joined the night walk again on the second night.

Our guide also spotted a slow loris that had not been seen for the past three years. Unfortunately, it was too dark, and we did not manage to take a good photograph.

b. Trekking through a swampy area

The following day, our guide brought us to a different area without any clear trail at certain parts. 

This area is swampy, and the boots given to us came in handy. Not many animal animals were found, but walking through the swampy area was quite an experience.

6. What’s next in our itinerary?

Our stay at Kinabatangan river is a new experience. We spotted many animals, insects, and birds we had never seen before. Our next stop was Tabin Wildlife Reserve at Lahad Datu, where we enthusiastically anticipate seeing more rare species and visiting the mud volcano.

6. More information about the Kinabatangan River trip

A. what is the best time to visit the kinabatangan river.

Anyone can visit the Kinabatangan river in Borneo any time of the year. However, it is best to visit during the dry season between March and September. April to October is the best time if you like bird watching because that’s the birding season.

Avoid the monsoon season, especially between December and January, as it will rain a lot, and sometimes the river and the channels are flooded, making it inaccessible.

B. How long should you plan your trip to Kinabatangan river?

Since it takes about 3 hours to travel from Sandakan to Kinabatangan river, I suggest you stay here for at least two nights.

During your stay, you can join the morning and evening cruises, where you will spot different wildlife.

In addition, don’t miss out on the jungle trail walk during the day and at night. There is a high chance you will see some rare nocturnal animals and birds that can only be able to find at night.

Watch our video shot during our stay at Kinabatangan River . 👇👇

If you have read this blog post this far, don’t miss out on the video shot at Kinabatangan River. Click the image below to watch on YouTube (shot in high definition!).

Other places we visited in Sabah, Malaysia

If you like this article, you may also want to read about other articles we wrote during our visit to Sabah, Malaysia.

• (EP1 Sabah) Sandakan food guide: Ten best restaurants in Sandakan
• (EP2 Sabah) Sandakan Heritage Trail & Memorial Park guide- Best places to visit in Sandakan
• (EP3 Sabah) Sepilok Jungle Resort review- Our true experience (with amazing hospitality)
• (EP4 Sabah) Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary- feeding session (amazing photos)

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

Hi, what company did you use for your travel guides for your Sabah trip? Thanks

Monday 6th of March 2023

The tour company is Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure. Here is their website: http://www.stwadventure.com/main.php

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Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Tour

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• Tour Code : BC-S-K
• Availability : Everyday
• Duration : Half Day
• Departure Time : 11.45 am onwards
• Drop Off : Sandakan City
• Minimum Age : No Limit
• Minimum Pax : 1 Person
• Pick Up : Wisma Khoo/Sabah Hotel/Airport/Sepilok

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Best Price, no hidden fees! (Our prices are always affordable)

2. WE PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Contribute to the local community! (We hire local experts and promote local products)

All start time are estimated and for reference purposes only. Actual timing will be provided prior to your departure.

KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE DAY TOUR

Validity: 1 Jan 2023 – 31 Dec 2023 (MYR/Pax For All Market)

CHILD RATE:

1) Child rate is applicable when child aged 2 – 11 years old travelling with TWO (2) paying adults.

2)  Aged 12 years old and above considered as adults, and adult rate will be applied.

3) Infant below 2 years old is Free of Charge.

1) Tour is based on Seat-in Coach Basis and subject to weather conditions.

2) There are four standard pick-up points: Wisma Khoo in Sandakan city, Sabah Hotel, Sandakan Airport, and Sepilok area only. Pick-up times vary depending on the individual pick-up location. Please inform us of your preferred pick-up point at least 1 day before tour departure.

3) All rate are quoted in Ringgit Malaysia & Nett (No hidden cost unless otherwise stated).

4) All passports and visas must be valid at least 06 months from the date of entry into the country destination.

PACKAGE DETAILS

Return Land Transfer

• Hotel Lobby > Kinabatangan River Cruise > Hotel/Airport (Seat-In Coach)

Evening River Cruise One (1) Refreshment One (1) Dinner In-house Guide

Air Fare Travel Insurance Camera Fees (If any) Others not stated

Drinking Water Insect Repellant Sun Block Lotion Binocular Camera Hat & Raincoat

**Wear comfortable light cotton casual attire with short/long pants is recommended

After commencement of tour service there will be no refund in part or full, will be made for unused service/activity.

Full passport/IC number, name, nationality, gender, confirmed flight details and pick up point are required.

Sightings of wildlife animals are not guaranteed.

Tour activities are subject to weather conditions, and may be re-organised to best meet operational situations.

The safe keeping of your personal belongings are at your own responsibility.

We strongly recommend that all guests take up adequate travel insurance that covers accident, loss caused by cancellations, loss of baggage, personal property, medical expenses, medical evacuation and weather disruption that caused any acitivity cancellations.

Borneo Calling shall be relieved of all its obligation and liabilities in the event and to the extent of its performance of this agreement is delay or prevented in whole or in part by any cause beyond its control, including without limiting to, act of God, change of laws, war, riot, strikes civil unrest, fire, flood, earthquake or explosion, sale, essential construction, to the property, epidemics as confirmed by the government of Malaysia or/and act of terrorism.

KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE

Pick up from Sandakan and proceed to Kinabatangan River. A trip up the river at dawn or dusk is the best opportunity to see Borneo’s wildlife. The journey will take approximately 2 hours drive and passing through rustic countryside. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the local crew, and refreshment will be served.

At 1600 hrs, embark on the adventure of your life to spot the elusive Proboscis Monkey, Orang Utan, Silver-Leaf Monkeys, Macaques, Crocodile, birds, and many more. Enjoy cruising along the mighty Kinabatangan River and be mesmerized by a myriad of wildlife along the riverbank.

You might even sight the world smallest elephant – Borneo Pygmy Elephant in search of food at the riverbank during certain seasons. Apart from that, all the eight species of hornbill found in Borneo make this river their home too! When the sun goes down, its time for dinner. An early dinner will be served at the lodge.

After dinner, return to the city.

ABOUT KINABATANGAN RIVER

Kinabatangan River

Kinabatangan River , Sabah’s longest river, flowing 560km from the mountainous interior to the Sulu Sea, is one of the most exciting and accessible places to explore the rich biodiversity of  Sabah , Borneo. Along its lower reaches, where the river winds as sinuously as a snake across the flatland, it rises and spills over its bank every monsoon season to create Sabah greatest freshwater floodplain.

The river offers an incredible opportunity to see a large range of wildlife including  Proboscis Monkey   (an endemic species to the island of Borneo), the Orang Utan,   Borneo Pygmy Elephant , crocodiles, otters, and countless rare and beautiful birds.

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Kinabatangan

River cruise, cruise along the longest river in sabah.

Put on your life jacket and start river cruising along Kinabatangan River in search for wildlife. We will be cruising to one of the tributaries of the Kinabatangan River called Sungai Menanggol for wildlife viewing during Sunset, which is when wild is at its most active behavior. Search for the Proboscis Monkey, the most famous attraction called the“Biggest Nose of Borneo”. A trip down the Kinabatangan River almost certainly guarantees you several sightings of this large yet surprisingly graceful primate, as it flings itself forcefully from tree to tree, or watches you lazily from a comfortable lofty branch. Others animal such as the wild Orang Utan, Snakes, Birds, Long and Pig Tail Macaque, Silver Leaf Monkey and if you are lucky you might see the Wild Borneo Pygmy Elephants.

*This can be arrange at the reception counter.

 *Price is based on 2 person per booking

Depart from Sepilok Forest Edge Resort. The journey will take approximately 2 hours drive and passing through rustic countryside and oil palm plantations. 

Continue your journey to Bilit by the Kinabatangan River. At 1600 hours, river cruise in search of wildlife that is so prevalent in the area – a good chance to see proboscis monkey, orang utan, macaques, pygmy elephants, birds and other wildlife. An early dinner will be served at the lodge. After dinner, return to Sandakan and drop off at Sandakan Airport or at your respective hotel. 

Notes:  We reserves the right to amend, modify, change, vary or add to the tour arrangements. Remarks : Price is subject to low & peak season months

Day 1: Sandakan/Bilit/ Kinabatangan River (Dinner) Afternoon, you will be pick up at your respective hotel and adjourns to Bilit by the Kinabatangan River and then on to Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. Upon arrival at the resort, you will be greeted by our team and refreshment will be served followed by briefing featuring the overview of the resort routes & safety. Check in to your room ( Cottage Chalet ).

At 1600 hours, river cruise in search of wildlife that is so prevalent in the area – a good chance to see proboscis monkey, orang utan, macaques, pygmy elephants, birds and other wildlife. Return to the resort. Dinner will be served. After dinner and subject to weather conditions, follow our in-house naturalist for a night walk in search of nocturnal mammals though this is an optional activities which is separately charged from this package. Return to and overnight at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort.

Day 2: Kinabatangan River / Sandakan (Breakfast)

Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbill. Proceed for an early morning cruise along the Kinabatangan River to observe more wildlife and birdlife. Return to resort for breakfast. Check out and depart for your return journey to Sandakan. Drop off at your respective hotel in Sandakan or at the Sandakan Airport for your onwards flight. 

Day 1: Sandakan / Bilit /Kinabatangan River (Dinner) Afternoon, you will be picked up at your respective hotel or meet at Sandakan Airport and adjourn to Bilit by the Kinabatangan River and then on to Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. Upon arrival at the resort, you will be greeted by our team and refreshment will be served followed by briefing featuring the overview of the resort routes & safety. Check in to your room ( Cottage Chalet ). At 1600 hours, river cruise in search of wildlife that is so prevalent in the area – a good chance to see proboscis monkey, orang utan, macaques, pygmy elephants, birds and other wildlife. Return to the resort. Dinner will be served. After dinner and subject to weather conditions, follow our in-house naturalist for a night walk in search of nocturnal mammals though this is an optional activities which is separately charged from this package. Return to and overnight at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort.

Day 2: Bilit / Jungle Trekking-within Resort area / Kinabatangan River (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. Proceed for an early morning cruise to observe more wildlife and birdlife. Return to resort for breakfast. After breakfast, follow in house Guide for Jungle trekking within resort area. Return to the resort for lunch. Late afternoon, set off for another river adventure and try to spot more wildlife and birds before returning to the resort for dinner. Retire for the night at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort.

Day 3: Kinabatangan River / Sandakan (Breakfast)

Rise early for another early morning cruise along the Kinabatangan to observe more wildlife and birdlife. Return to resort for breakfast. Check out and depart for your return journey to Sandakan. Drop off at your respective hotel in Sandakan or at the Sandakan Airport for your onwards flight. (B) 

Kinabatangan River

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Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan

2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise

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Kinabatangan River - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Kinabatangan River Cruise - Everything You Need to Know

A complete guide on what to do and what to expect after the Kinabatangan River Cruise. This ultimate guide includes our tips and recommendations to make the most out of your visit to Sukau, Kinabatangan.

Stretching a good 560 kilometres, the Kinabatangan River holds the distinction of being the second longest river in Malaysia. This river supports a diverse ecosystem, featuring five distinct habitats. Each of these habitats plays a role in fostering the highest concentrations of wildlife diversity in Borneo. The wildlife found along the Kinabatangan includes fascinating creatures such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, langurs, wild cats, crocodiles, various birds, and more! The optimal and most comfortable wildlife observation experience, is by taking a cruise along the Kinabatangan River.

How to get to Kinabatangan River

The primary starting point for river tours in Kinabatangan is Sukau village. The nearest airport to Sukau is situated in Sandakan, approximately 3 hours away from where the cruises depart. You can also access Sandakan by using a public bus from other airports in Northern Borneo, such as Kota Kinabalu or Tawau. Unfortunately, there is no public transportation available to take you directly to Sukau. However, your accommodation can help arrange a private driver (RM250) for you, as this is the sole option to reach Sukau from Sandakan or Sepilok.

What to do in Suaku, Kinabatangan

The primary reason tourists visit Kinabatangan is to experience a river cruise in the hope of spotting the Borneo Big 5 in their natural habitat. Sukau is a quaint and small village, offering a pleasant environment for a leisurely walk, but it doesn't have much bustling activity. Opting for a stay in a river lodge allows you to fill your day with at least two daily cruises, leaving ample time for relaxation and enjoying the surrounding nature.

For those interested in venturing into the unknown, consider a day trip to Gomantong Caves. You can arrange this excursion through your accommodation. Gomantong Caves are an intricate cave system situated within Gomantong Hill, the largest limestone outcrop in the Lower Kinabatangan area. The main cave is split into two parts: the more accessible Simud Hitam (Black Cave) and the larger Simud Putih (White Cave). While walking along the trail, stay attentive to the sights and sounds for passing wildlife. This protected Reserve is home to Red and Silver Leaf Monkeys, Orangutans, Macaques, and a variety of birds.

Where to stay in Sukau, Kinabatangan for a river cruise

There are a few accommodation options in the Sukau area. You can discover budget-friendly choices as well as higher-end river lodges. Keep in mind that your accommodation will organize all your tours. According to my research, if you choose a more affordable lodge, the food and trips there tend to be more expensive. A helpful approach is to check the websites of the accommodations you've chosen and compare tour prices. We found good value at the Wildlife Lodge, where we spent one night. We joined tours at both sunrise and sunset, allowing us to witness the entire Borneo Big Five.

How does a river cruise in Kinabatangan look like

The Kinabatangan River Cruise is organized by various River Lodges located in the Sukau area, offering four daily cruises, each lasting 2 hours. These cruises can be booked along with your accommodation. According to what we learned from our guides, it's not certain to see animals on every tour as they come and go. However, after studying their routines, the guides can find them at the riverbank whenever they appear. Some animals are more active in the morning, while others are active in the evening or at night. To maximize your chances of seeing the most during your visit, it's advised to take multiple tours.

Depending on the boat, the tour can accommodate up to 12 passengers. Observations are done comfortably from the seats on the boat, eliminating the need to step onto the shore. The guides know places where there's the highest probability to see wild animals, and when spotting one, they will navigate the boat to arrive at a safe and close enough distance, allowing you to see them up very close.

How long to stay for the River Cruise in Sukau, Kinabatangan

Due to our busy schedule, we stayed for only one night, allowing us to take two tours. Conversations with other travelers revealed that most of them booked their stay for 3-4 nights, planning trips every day. We were lucky to see the full Borneo Big 5 during our two cruises, but that might not be the case every time. We'd recommend staying in Kinabatangan for a minimum of 1-2 nights to enjoy the nature, the vibe in the river lodge, and maximize your chances of seeing as many animals as possible.

Our Experience on a River Cruise in Kinabatangan

We arrived in Sukau just an hour before the evening cruise at 4 PM. After dropping our bags, we immediately boarded the boat, which was full with 10 other guests and our guide. As we navigated down the river, our excitement grew when passing boats signaled that the Pygmy Elephants were in their usual spot. Soon, we witnessed about 6 elephants eating and playing in the water—an incredible experience we hoped for during our visit to Kinabatangan. On that day, we also saw Proboscis Monkeys, many Macaques, and flying Hornbills.

The next morning, with the same group, we headed upstream to try our chances of seeing Orangutans in their nests. Although we saw them, they were hiding a bit in the bushes, so we didn't have a clear look at them. This cruise was less exciting than the one we had on the previous day as we saw very few animals. The only one left from the Borneo Big Five was the river crocodile. Our guide pointed out that it might be hard to find one today as it's high tide, and apparently, crocodiles aren't too active in such conditions. Still, we were able to spot two baby crocodiles, completing our search for the Borneo Big Five.

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Kinabatangan River

The 560-kilometre Kinabatangan River is Sabah’s longest river, beginning in the Crocker Range in Southwest Sabah and ending at the Sulu Sea southeast of Sandakan. From the headwaters to its vast river mouth, the Kinabatangan passes through a diverse range of habitats, including dipterocarp forest, seasonally flooded riparian forest, oxbow lakes, nipah and mangroves. Whilst the upper reaches of the Kinabatangan River have been extensively logged, much of the lowland forest and mangroves have survived.

This vast floodplain forest contains a rich mix of vegetation that supports a remarkable diversity of wildlife; including proboscis monkeys, orangutan, gibbons, Bornean pygmy elephants, tarsiers, slow loris, macaque monkeys, crocodiles, freshwater sharks, Irrawaddy dolphins, hornbills and a variety of other birds.

In 2005 the Sabah government gazetted the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. This protected area essentially forms a narrow wildlife corridor that follows the river. Whilst the sanctuary now safeguards an area of 27,800 hectares, a range of conservation issues remain . A number of NGOs and researchers are active in the Kinabatangan, contributing to conservation projects and working to better understand the environment.

The Kinabatangan River has gained a justified reputation as one of the top wildlife watching destinations in Southeast Asia. Sukau, located 132 km from Sandakan, is the main centre for wildlife tourism along the river. Abai, 47 km from the mouth of the Kinabatangan, also has lodge accommodation and serves as jumping off point for boat-based wildlife watching tours of the lower Kinabatangan and its tributaries.

Borneo Adventure offers a range of multi-day tours focusing on the wildlife attractions of the Kinabatangan River. These include 2D1N, 3D2N and 4D3N tours and packages. These trips include overnight accommodation at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge at Sukau and the Abai Jungle Lodge. Some tours combine stays at both of these lodges and others include a night at MY Nature Resort in Sepilok.

All tours include morning and afternoon boat cruises so that you can see a wide range of wildlife. The tours begin with a pick-up at Sandakan airport (or your hotel) and include a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Sun Bear Centre before departing Sandakan and travelling by boat to the Kinabatangan River.

To get an idea of the great wildlife watching you can experience on a tour of this destination watch our Kinabatangan video .

View more destinations on our Borneo Destination Map .

Kinabatangan River Cruise (Sukau) 3D2N

3 days / 2 nights Kinabatangan River tour including Sepilok Orang Utan and Sun Bear Centres, 2 nights at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge in Sukau plus wildlife watching river cruises

Kinabatangan River Cruise (Abai & Sukau) 3D2N

3 days / 2 nights Kinabatangan River tour including Sepilok Orangutan and Sun Bear Centres, 1 night at Abai Jungle Lodge, 1 night at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge in Sukau and wildlife watching river cruises

Kinabatangan River Cruise (Abai & Sukau) 4D3N

4 days / 3 nights Kinabatangan River tour including Sepilok Orangutan and Sun Bear Centres, 1 night at Abai Jungle Lodge, 2 nights at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge in Sukau and wildlife watching river cruises

Sepilok & Kinabatangan River Cruise (Sukau) 4D3N

4 days / 3 nights Kinabatangan River tour including Sepilok Orangutan and Sun Bear Centres ,1 night at MY Nature Resort at Sepilok, 2 nights at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge in Sukau and wildlife watching river cruises

Sandakan Wildlife Watching Tour 4D3N

4 day, 3 night night wildlife tour of Sepilok & Kinabatangan River, designed for those arriving in the afternoon on the Kuala Lumpur-Sandakan flight

Labuk Bay, Sepilok & Kinabatangan River Cruise (Abai & Sukau) 4D3N

4 days / 3 nights Kinabatangan River tour including Labuk Bay, Sepilok Orangutan and Sun Bear Centres, 1 night at MY Nature Resort at Sepilok, 1 night at Abai Jungle Lodge, 1 night at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge in Sukau and wildlife watching river cruises

Looking forSabah Holiday Packages that visitKinabatangan River? View holiday packages

Kinabatangan River Cruise

• Destination: Sandakan
• Duration From: 1 day
• Price From: RM275

A Kinabatangan River cruise is an incredible experience for anyone, but especially for people who are fed up with the stress of living and working in the city.

You can spend time with the local residents of the area and learn about their lifestyle. Even though many still have traditional occupations like boat building or fishing, young people are increasingly working in local industry. Some work in the palm-oil fields or the factories that process the oil. On the other hand, residents of Kampung Bilit Village often have part-time jobs such as gathering birds’ eggs from Gomatong Cave and the surrounding area.

On a Kitabatangan River cruise, you’ll get the opportunity to learn more about the numerous species that live on its shores. From the boat you will have the opportunity to watch orangutans, gibbons, macaques and proboscis monkeys, all in their natural habitat. Depending on the season, you may also get to see one or two pygmy elephants. The pygmy elephant is the tiniest breed of elephant in the world.

On your return to the Nature Lodge, you can expect an outstanding experience dining in the middle of the jungle. This is the ideal opportunity to taste the traditional meals of Malaysian cuisine.

After dinner you will be able to join the group of your choice to find out more about the region’s wildlife and the unique programs that focus on the preservation of this natural environment. Significant Malaysian and worldwide institutions back each one of these programs, and your participation is more than welcome.

If you choose to book a Kinabatangan River cruise with us, you will end up with some truly remarkable photographs and video footage to share with friends at home, and a lot of information to think about.

• Prices Include
• 1130 hrs: Pickup from any hotel within Sandakan.
• 1500 hrs: Arrive at Kampung Bilit jetty. Transfer to Nature Lodge Kinabanatangan
• 1600 hrs: River cruise along Kinabatangan River in search of wildlife and bird- life. Opportunity to seethe white egret, oriental darter, rhinoceros hornbills and the buffey fish owl.
• 1800 hrs: Dinner at lodge. After dinner, brief presentation on wildlife in Kinabatangan.
• 2000 hrs: Transfer back to hotel in Sandakan.
• Return land transfer (Bukit Garam – Kg. Bilit – Bukit Garam)
• Return boat transfer (Kg. Bilit – Trekkers Lodge Kinabatangan – Kg. Bilit)
• Nature walk
• River cruise

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Searching for Orangutans on a Kinabatangan River Cruise in Malaysia

If you’ve ever thought about cruising through the jungle in search of wild orangutans, then the Kinabatangan river cruise on Borneo Island in Malaysia is for you. One of the most diverse jungles on the planet, the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is home to these beautiful creatures as well as hundreds of other species.

Most people haven’t even heard of Borneo Island. Split between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, it’s the third largest island in the world, covered almost entirely by dense rainforest. If you’re lucky, you just might see what remains of the world’s orangutan population in these pristine rainforests.

This post will focus on how to visit the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, deep in the heart of the Malaysian rainforest, as a 2-day river safari from the Malaysian city of Sandakan. Here we will explain how to visit what remains of this native orangutan habitat and what to expect when you get there.

Kinabatangan River Cruise – What You Need to Know

A quick background on orangutans, the kinabatangan river cruise and tour, other bornean rainforest options, managing expectations, frequently asked questions.

Note: this article contains affiliate links, which means that should you purchase something or get a quote through them I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the site running with up to date information. I do not represent World Nomads, Booking.com, or GetYourGuide. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy the product mentioned in this article.

Where is the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary?

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is just outside of Sandakan, Malaysia at the northeastern tip of the island of Borneo in southeast Asia. The closest major city as the crow flies is Manila, Philippines.

How to get there

Getting to the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is not exactly easy, but going with an organized tour greatly simplifies the process. You will need to fly into Sandakan, where the Kinabatangan tours start, either from Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur. The domestic flight might be included in your tour, depending on who you book with and where you are coming from. 

From Sandakan it’s about a two-hour drive to the Kinabatangan River, where you will get on a boat that will take you to wherever you are staying along the river in the sanctuary. Transportation will be arranged by the tour company who will pick you up from the airport in Sandakan.

Organized Kinabatangan River Cruise tours

While it is possible to visit the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary on your own, it’s quite difficult and honestly not worth the hassle. The lodges along the river offer accommodation as part of an overnight tour package. It’s sort of like an all-inclusive stay, which includes pickup in Sandakan (usually from the airport), a room, food, and various tours with a licensed tour guide. 

Very few accommodations offer options for just a room. And if you go that route, you’ll have to get yourself from Sandakan to the river then hire a boat to take you to your lodge, so you’ll have to figure your own way down the river in a dense jungle. Not recommended!. 

You could also book a room in the small village along the river at the end of the road and arrange boat rides down the river on your own. However, the rates that many of the lodges offer for their tour services are very affordable and definitely worth it to get the best experience so I highly recommend doing it that way.

When you spend the night in the jungle at a lodge that comes with a tour – which we highly recommend – your accommodation will take care of everything for you. In fact it’s part of booking your room. When you book you’ll have to choose which package you want. 

It’s not possible to book just a room only at most places. It comes with at least one cruise down the river and a pickup in Sandakan. Typical options are a 1-day 1-night tour, a 2-day 1-night tour, and a 3-day 2-night tour. With the 1-day 1 -night tour you will do one cruise down the river in the afternoon, stay the night, and then be taken back to Sandakan in the morning.

The 2-day 2-night is similar, but you get a morning cruise and some additional destinations in the jungle. And the 3-day 2-night is just an extension of that.

Where to stay

There are quite a few different lodges in the rainforest along the river that all offer a similar experience, as previously discussed. Booking the lodges is easy, and you choose which tour package you want while booking. You can book directly through the lodge or on Booking.com . 

We stayed at the Borneo Nature Lodge and highly recommend it. The lodge was beautiful and the food was delicious. Our tour guide was great and super friendly. You definitely can’t go wrong with the Borneo Nature Lodge!

Best Lodges in Kinabatangan

Borneo Nature Lodge ( Booking.com link )

Bilit Rainforest Lodge ( Booking.com link )

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort ( Booking.com link )

The Last Frontier Boutique Resort ( Booking.com link )

If you’re looking for a place to book that is room-only, you can have a look at the Borneo Jungle Adventure lodge . You’re on your own for getting into the jungle there though, so be warned!

Weather and when to go

Borneo straddles the Equator so the days are pretty much the same all year round, though the winter months (Dec-March) see heavier and more frequent rainfall. It’s always hot and humid in the rainforest. Prepare for rain at any time and make use of cold showers to cool down. 

Your best bet to keep dry and see orangutans is between June and September. That being said, I went in December and it didn’t rain at all. I also got a sighting of a wild orangutan with a little baby. They are more frequently seen in the (northern hemisphere) summer months, so that’s really the best time to go to Kinabatangan.

The currency in Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit. You will need cash to tip your guide and if you want to purchase anything from the shops at the end of the road or in the city of Sandakan. All food and lodging in the rainforest will be included in the nightly rate you are paying (unless you’re doing the room-only option as discussed above).

The local language in Malaysia is Malay. Your guide will speak English, as well as the workers at the lodges. But most other people you encounter around this part of Malaysia will not. If you don’t speak any English or Malay, you’ll struggle in this part of the world.

Animals you might see in the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary

While the highlight of this part of the world is orangutans, there is an abundance of other wildlife as well. In this region you will also find proboscis monkeys, macaque monkeys, red leaf monkeys, crocodiles, monitor lizards, pygmy elephants (aka Bornean elephants), as well as many other smaller jungle creatures and hundreds of bird species.

The food offered in the rainforest lodges is remarkably delicious. Malaysian food is like a fusion of Indian and east Asian, but the thing I found most interesting is that they eat warm noodles with eggs for breakfast. It’s actually a pretty great combination. 

Malaysians also seem to love KFC, as the Colonel is everywhere in Malaysian cities. Luckily your rain forest tour won’t be spoiled by unwanted American fast food restaurants once you’re outside Sandakan.

Travel Insurance

When visiting the rainforest it’s a good idea to have travel insurance. We use World Nomads and had a good experience the one time we unfortunately had to actually use it. World Nomads provides coverage to travelers in over 100 countries. You can search for a coverage plan using the link below.

Orangutans are our closest living ancestors, sharing nearly 95% of human DNA. Known for their orange fur and freakishly long arms, they are the only species of great apes who live in the trees. They sleep in nests, like birds, and live solitary lives, unlike the other great apes who hang out in groups. 

While once plentiful in the wild, orangutans are currently an endangered species. It is estimated that there are only about 100,000 Borneo Orangutans left on the island. The reasons for their endangerment vary. Females only give birth every 3-5 years and like humans usually have just one baby at a time.

They can be victims of poaching too. But the main reason for their plight is clearly evident when you go on a tour through the Malaysian rainforest: habitat loss and deforestation. The sheer number of palm oil farms you see on the way from Sandakan to the sanctuary is staggering. Rainforest is torn away every day to make room for palm oil farms. And every tree cut down is one less home for the orangutans. 

I didn’t know anything about palm oil before this trip, but I quickly learned that it is in almost everything. And not just food. Palm oil is used in shampoo and lipstick and tons of other cosmetic products. While it’s not sold as a cooking oil, it’s put into a wide range of processed food such as instant noodles or cereals. 

There isn’t much you can do to avoid palm oil without going full organic. I don’t mention this to make you feel bad that washing your hair and eating breakfast is killing orangutans, but just to make you aware of the situation.

We did a 2-day 1-night rainforest tour with Borneo Nature Lodge and found it an adequate amount of time to see the highlights of the Malaysian jungle. Your adventure will start when you arrive in Sandakan and are picked up at the airport by your guide and driver. There are various stops included in your tour and we will go through all of those here.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

The first stop in most tours from Sandakan will be the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre . The sanctuary was set up by a British woman in 1964 and now is the most important orangutan rehabilitation center in the world. 

The goal of Sepilok is to nurse injured orangutans back to health and slowly prepare them for life in the wild. It takes a few years for the process to complete but eventually, if the orangutan is deemed fit, it will be released into the wild.

Technically there are no fences for the sanctuary. The animals can leave whenever they want. But why would they leave when they get fed delicious fruit twice a day? Sepilok is your only guaranteed orangutan spotting on your tour, so long as you are there at feeding time. The Centre is in the dense jungle, but these guys aren’t going to skip breakfast. 

Getting to the Kinabatangan River

After the Rehabilitation Centre you will hit the road towards the Kinabatangan River. It won’t be long before you see your first palm oil farm. While full of palm trees, these farms look completely different than the natural rainforest as their trees are perfectly aligned and evenly spaced apart. 

There is a small village at the foot of the river and this will be your last place to get snacks, drinks, cash , etc,so make use of it if you need something. You’ll bid farewell to your driver here and get picked up by a boat that will take you down the river into the sanctuary.

Lodges along the Kinabatangan River

Most of the rainforest lodges are in the same area, near the village of Bilit, 20-25 minutes down the river from the road. You’ll likely get to your lodge in time for lunch. 

Here along the river you are deep in the heart of the Malaysian rainforest. Nature rules here, and as a visitor it is your duty to leave this pristine environment intact. Do not litter and respect the locals when they tell you to do something. 

If you’re worried that spending the night in the jungle means you will be roughing it, fear not. Our room had a new air conditioning unit and the entire lodge was very nicely done. The food was excellent – all buffet style – and the service was top notch. I was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable the lodge was for its remote location. 

Cruise the Kinabatangan River in search of orangutans

While your lodge will surely be nice, you didn’t come all this way to sit in an air conditioned room and check your Instagram feed. In the afternoon you will be whisked away for a long, relaxing ride down the river. 

This is the main draw of the entire tour and what you came to Malaysia for. The monkeys and other animals usually hang out around the river, so this is your best bet to see wildlife.

The first monkeys we saw were proboscis monkeys , a funny looking larger monkey with a huge nose. The males constantly have erections. I’m not kidding at all. Although they hide under the bushes pretty well, so I never actually saw one of them below the waist. The proboscis monkey is indigenous to Borneo, so you won’t see these guys or their genitalia anywhere else in the world.

The most common creature you will see is the macaque monkey , a smaller grey monkey that seems to spend its entire day cleaning itself. Macaques are found all over the world and you will surely see many on your trip down the river.

Not everyone gets to see an orangutan along the river, but that’s the ultimate goal. Keep your eyes peeled and constantly be scanning the trees. Orangutans spend most of their days lounging around, so they’re not just going to announce to you that they are there. 

If you’re doing the two-day tour, you will get one more chance to cruise the river early the next morning. Do not waste any opportunity to ride down the Kinabatangan River in search of orangutans. This is what you came all this way for!

Gamontong Caves

The Kinabatangan River cruise tour will also stop at Gomantong Caves on the second day. A huge cave in the hills, this is one of the prime locations in the world to harvest edible bird nests. This might sound gross, but bird nest soup is a delicacy in China. 

Harvesters live in and around the cave and collect the bird nests for export. On top of this, the cave is usually full of bats, whose droppings form large mounds of poo at the base of the cave. Not surprisingly, the cave is known to smell pretty bad.

Right as we were about to enter the cave, another tour guide whispered something to our guide in Malay. “Up there,” our guide says. We look up to see a mother orangutan and her baby right above us in the tree. These two orangutans were very chilled out, just sitting up in the tree, relaxing. The baby took a few opportunities to swing on some branches and test his little arms out. It was very special to see an endangered species like this in the wild!

There wasn’t too much to do inside the cave itself other than wonder why someone would ever eat this stuff. You can walk around and try not to get pooped on by the birds and bats. You will actually be required to wear a hardhat inside the cave in case something falls on your head. 

Inside the cave there are tiny wooden shacks with nothing but a bed. In peak harvesting season, the harvesters will work day and night only stopping to sleep in these shacks. No thanks.

Sandakan city

The last part of the 2-day tour will be a city tour of Sandakan. There are few interesting things in Sandakan, like the floating Sim Sim Water Village . and various Buddhist temples, Christian churches, and Muslim mosques. But nothing quite compared to wild orangutans. 

The thing I found the most interesting about Sandakan was the mixture of three large religions: Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Churches, mosques, and temples are everywhere. It’s quite fascinating.

A discussion of what to do in Sandakan is beyond the scope of this post. If you are interested to know more about Sandakan I suggest maybe starting here . Your guide will also be very knowledgeable and able to answer any questions you might have. 

Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is not the only place to see orangutans in the wild. This part of Malaysia features a few other protected areas that have similar tours and wildlife viewing opportunities. There are so many more off the beaten path destinations in Borneo that it can be hard to keep track.

Here is a list of some of the other natural areas you can consider visiting if what I’ve described about the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary doesn’t float your boat:

• Danum Valley Conservation Area
• Tabin Wildlife Resort 
• Kulamba Wildlife Reserve

It’s also possible to visit some of the highlights of the jungle in Borneo as a day trip from Sandakan. These tours will take you to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, as well as a sanctuary for proboscis monkeys and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. 

It will be a busy day, but you’re guaranteed to see monkeys and bears, just not totally in the wild. You can check out some options on Viator below.

I want to make it clear that you absolutely should NOT go on a Kinabatangan River cruise into the Malaysian rainforest expecting to see wild orangutans. They are an endangered species and the island of Borneo is huge. Their concentration on the island is about one orangutan every three square miles.

Of course the concentration is considerably higher in the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, but they are still spread out and high in the trees of the jungle. They are solitary creatures and can be very difficult to spot if they are not moving around. You will see orangutans at the Rehabilitation Centre, but they are not really wild.

You should also have no expectations to see a pygmy elephant . While plenty of people see them bathing in the river, there are fewer than 2,000 of these elephants left in the wild these days. While their highest concentration is in the region of Kinabatangan, they are still tough to come by (I did not see any).

What you can be almost guaranteed to see are macaque monkeys. They are literally everywhere along the river. You can also have reasonable expectations to see some proboscis monkeys. They aren’t as plentiful as the macaques, but there are a lot of them in this region. Regardless, you can expect to be fascinated with the nature and wildlife of this part of the world no matter what you see.

What animals are on the Kinabatangan River cruise?

The Kinabatangan River is home to some amazing animal species. Along the river you can find orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaque monkeys, red leaf monkeys, crocodiles, monitor lizards, pygmy elephants, and hundreds of bird species.

When should I visit the Kinabatangan River?

The best time to visit the Kinabatangan River is in the summer between June and September. This is the driest time of the year and when orangutans are most likely to be out.

Is Kinabatangan safe?

The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is known to be a safe place to travel so long as you respect the wildlife and don’t go wandering through the jungle alone at night. There are no dangerous indigenous tribes (like you find in the Amazon) and crime is not common.

Are there crocodiles at the Kinabatangan River? 

Yes, there are crocodiles along the Kinabatangan River. They are not exactly common to see, but you don’t really want to go out for a swim in the muddy river.

A trip to the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in the heart of the Borean rainforest in Malaysia is an unforgettable experience. It’s not exactly easy to get to, but you will leave this magnificent island wanting more. 

There are so many fascinating animal species that only live on Borneo. And if you’re lucky, you might even get to see an orangutan or two in their natural habitat!

Chris Heckmann

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Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary

It was 1881 when William Pryer, the founder of Sandakan also the first British Resident in the area visited the Kinabatangan river. Based on his journal records, he had spotted bright blue kingfishers and hornbills too. It’s more than a century now, and still, the sighting of the kingfishers and hornbills are equally common as one cruises along the river during the highly sought, morning or evening river cruise.

The mighty Lower-Kinabatangan River sustains one of the world’s richest ecosystems. It is also recognized as Sabah’s first and Malaysia’s largest RAMSAR site. Other than being home to Borneo’s indigenous orang utan and proboscis monkey, the surrounding forest is one of only two known places in the world where 10 species of primates can be found.

This is Malaysia’s second-longest river with a massive length of 560km from its source in the Southwest Sabah to its outlet at the Sulu Sea, on the East Coast. A total of 26,000 ha was gazetted as the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary under the State’s Wildlife Conservation Enactment of 1997.

A river cruise along the river at dawn or dusk is the best opportunity to see the wildlife. You might even sight the Bornean pygmy elephant feeding along the river banks, witness stunts of the Proboscis jumping from tree to tree or even catching sight of a wild orangutan. Crocodiles? Yes the saltwater crocs frequently make themselves visible as they linger by the riverbanks… or even more thrilling, is to spot their eyes slightly protruded from the water (well stay away…).

Fun Fact! All the eight species of Hornbills found in Borneo, make this area their home. The most commonly spotted hornbills would be the Rhinoceros Hornbill and the Oriental Pied Hornbill. The diverse species of birds seen here has listed the Lower-Kinabatangan as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Bird enthusiasts from near and far often booked a carefully designed birding tour with travel agents specializing in this niche interest.

Many major local tour companies run lodges in the Sukau, Bilit and Abai area with packages that include accommodation (ranging from backpackers to luxurious river lodges), transportation, meals and guided tours. Additional tours such as night walks or night cruises can be arranged as well to spot crocodiles, birds and nocturnal animals. How to get there? Some tour operators offer you the opportunity to take a 1.5 to 2 hour boat ride from Sandakan or typically it would be to go overland which is about 1.5 hours as well. If you opt to take a bus, your pit stop us Kota Kinabatangan where you will then make arrangements to be picked up.

The Kinabatangan is a great wildlife and education escapism for all types of travelers and is family friendly too.

Although an overnight trip is do-able, a minimum of three days is recommended to stay at the Kinabatangan. A longer stay will yield a better chance to spot this wildlife.

You may also want to experience a well established homestay program; MESCOT KOPEL which is available in surrounding villages and provide visitors with a good opportunity to truly experience the life of the Orang Sungai. Join in their cultural activities or even try your hand at the local way of farming!

Meantime, while in the Kinabatangan area, don’t forget to visit the  Gomantong Cave , the largest cave and most important source of edible bird’s nest in Sabah and the Agop Batu Tulug Cave .

Other Attractions around Kinabatangan

Kinabatangan River Borneo: guide to a bucket list jungle experience

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Beams of a rising sun shining through the morning fog over the Kinabatangan River, the magical silence interrupted by the calls of monkeys and flapping wings of hornbills flying over. We’re sitting in a small boat, cruising down the Kinabatangan River deep in the jungle of Borneo. Despite the early hour, we’re intently observing the river banks to spot wildlife.

It’s difficult to capture this experience in words… It was magical and moved us deeply, we’ll never forget it! Definitely one of the highlights of our Malaysian travels .

In this guide, we’ll give you all the information you need to experience and plan this multiple-day and night Kinabatangan River cruise and jungle adventure yourself . How to do this on a budget , where to sleep, how to get there and so much more!

This guide is useful to anyone traveling out there. But as we were there with two small kids of 6 and 7 years old, we’ll also show you this amazing experience deep in the jungle of Borneo, is perfectly doable with young children !

Read more:  Our travel diary, we discover magical Borneo

Table of Contents

How to get to the Kinabatangan River

The Kinabatangan River is situated in Sabah , the northern province of Malaysian Borneo .

Although it isn’t really difficult to reach Kinabatangan, there is no direct public transport to Sukau or Bilit, which are the two main villages next to the Kinabatangan River where you can stay to do these cruises. You’ll have to pass one of the hubs nearby, which are Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sepilok, or Semporna .

A lot of the hotels or resorts offering the 2D/1N or 3D/2N jungle and river experiences will include a private pickup from either Sandakan, the Sukau junction, or the Sepilok junction . Read more below to get the details. If you’re out of options, you can always contact Mr Choy , a local from Sukau who arranges private transport. His number is easy to find on Google and we’ve heard very good reviews.

First of all, you need to fly to Borneo . It is very cheap to fly from Kuala Lumpur to either Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan with Air Asia .

It depends on the rest of your Borneo itinerary which one you should choose. Sandakan is closer to Kinabatangan, but we flew to Kota Kinabalu because we wanted to spend some time there as well.

From Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan

There are two ways to get from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan

This is the   cheapest option . From Kota Kinabalu, busses leave to either Sandakan or Semporna.

If you take the bus to Semporna, get off at the Sukau junction. If you take the bus to Sandakan, you can either stay on the bus till Sandakan or ask them to drop you off at the Sepilok junction.

Whichever option you take, ask your accommodation to pick you up there. Or try to find a van at the junctions and ask them to bring you to your destination. 

The bus ride takes long (about 6 hours) and passes Mount Kinabalu which is the interesting part. After that, you get hours of palm tree plantations. It’s such a shame to see how much jungle has disappeared. But because we wanted to visit the orangutan sanctuary at Sepilok,  we decided to take the bus to Sandakan anyway, even with two young kids.

You could go straight from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan, but it will be a very long day that way. Staying overnight in Sandakan or Sepilok could be a better option.

We highly recommend choosing Sepilok! You’ll get a more authentic jungle experience and nicer accommodation. We spent the night in the Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat . It was basic, but we had a lovely stay right in the jungle and they arranged our transport to the Sepilok center.

Compare accommodations in Sepilok here.

If you choose to stay in Sandakan anyway, try to book accommodation near the beach. We’ve heard it’s not safe everywhere, but this area is okay.

Compare accommodations in Sandakan here.

By plane and bus

Flying by plane from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is by far the quickest option to reach the Kinabatangan River. It will be a bit more expensive than by bus, but still very affordable with Air Asia. Not as good for the environment on the other hand. Ask your hotel or resort to pick you up in Sandakan, if possible even on the same day.

Check out cheap tickets from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu here.

If not, take the bus from Sandakan to Semporna or Lahad Datu and again, ask them to drop you off at the Sukau junction. Ask your accommodation to pick you up there or try to find a van at the junctions and ask them to bring you to your destination.

If you want to visit  Sepilok before heading over to Kinabatangan, take the bus to Kota Kinabalu and ask them to drop you off at the Sepilok junction.

From Sandakan or Sepilok to Kinabatangan

First, check if your accommodation can arrange a transfer from Sandakan or Sepilok. The resort where we booked our 3D/2N stay at Kinabatangan, picked us up in our accommodation in Sepilok. Very handy, especially with kids.

If that’s not possible, from Sandakan, take the bus to Semporna or Lahad Datu and get off at the Sukau Junction. From Sepilok, wave at the bus to Lahad Datu or Semporna that is passing by at the Sepilok Junction.

Taking Grab is possible, but it will cost you a lot. Drivers often will charge double because they need to drive back with an empty car.

From Semporna to Kinabatangan

In Semporna, take the bus to Kota Kinabalu and get off at the Sukau junction. From there, take one of the vans waiting to drive you to Sukau or Bilit, or wait for your hotel/resort pickup.

The best time to visit the Kinabatangan River

Travel to Sabah is possible all year round, but the  best time to visit Borneo is from March until September . Also for diving, with clearest views from April to June. If you love photography, you better choose to travel to Borneo during the dry season.

Starting from October, your chances of heavy rainfall increase significantly, and traveling in Borneo from November to February means you are right in the middle of the rainy season. It’s possible but we wouldn’t recommend it, especially with kids.

Kinabatangan River on a budget

If you start to search the internet to plan a Kinabatangan River Cruise, it appears as if the only way to experience this, is to book one of the many tour packages , often organized from Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan. They are  very expensive !

However, it is perfectly possible to plan everything yourself and it will be much cheaper !

Read more: Best travel planning resources and inspiration

We love to travel with our kids on a budget so we arranged everything without an agency and got an amazing, all-included , 3-day Borneo jungle experience for RM 1490 ($350/€330) for the whole family. We paid around $130/€120 for an adult and $65/€60 for a child, including all jungle treks and river cruises, accommodation, and food.

You could even just book a room and arrange the river cruises or jungle treks when you’re there. Most homestays charge about RM50 per person for one river cruise.

Read more:  The ultimate guide to travel with kids on a budget

How to arrange your own Kinabatangan experience?

First, contact one of the resorts or homestays we discuss below and book your tour directly with them. Ask them if they can pick you up in Sandakan, Sepilok, or where the bus drops you.

Next, take the bus from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sepilok, or Semporna as we explained above, instead of flying or grabbing a private taxi. Await your pickup, call Mr Choy, or walk over to your resort. And that’s it!

Kinabatangan River with kids

We often get the question if Borneo and the Kinabatangan River are suitable for children. First of all, yes! Take your kids over there! The whole family will love it!

We absolutely believe you can travel to Borneo with kids of all ages ! There are many activities, villages, cities, and cultural experiences that are great for even the smallest kids.

However, we’re not sure if babies or toddlers are ready for wildlife spotting . For example, in Bako National Park or at the Kinabatangan River, during one of the jungle treks or river cruises, you have to be silent. The guides listen to the sounds of the jungle to spot the wildlife. And as all parents know, it can be hard sometimes to get babies and toddlers quiet… 

Our girls were 6 and 7 when we did this jungle experience! They loved it! It’s one of the things they still talk about. They made many drawings afterward of the wildlife they saw on the river banks. The whole experience left a deep positive impression on them and certainly sparked their love for wildlife and the rainforest !

Where to stay at Kinabatangan River – Accommodations

Almost all of the homestays and resorts offer their own river cruises and jungle treks. Most people choose the 3D/2N or 2D/1N packages , but you can also just book a room and arrange your own jungle experiences à la carte .

We did a 3D/2N package. which we can highly recommend if you have the time (especially with kids). It will take you a while to get here and if you only stay one night, you might feel rushed. The place is amazing and so relaxing, take your time to enjoy it! That way you’ll have the most chance to spot the ‘big five’ of Borneo.

There are two villages next to the Kinabatangan River where you can find resorts and homestays, Sukau and Bilit . We stayed in Bilit, but Sukau is the most famous one.

Homestays are often basic, so don’t expect luxurious facilities. There are some more expensive resorts around if you would like some more luxury. And Sukau is mostly Muslim, so you’re not allowed to drink in the homestays.

Below we list some popular homestays that have great reviews. And the one we stayed in, of course!

Accommodations in Sukau

Sukau RB Lodge:  Probably one of the cheapest homestays around, which is also reflected in the accommodation. It is clean but old and very basic. However, if basic is okay for you, this is your place.

Sukau Riverside Homestay:  You stay with the most friendly family who will make your time here unforgettable with their delicious meals and excellent river cruises. Accommodation is basic but clean.

Osman’s Homestay:  Another homestay that gets great reviews and offers affordable packages or rooms and à la carte jungle experiences. 

Sukau Backpackers B&B:  This homestay also offers very affordable clean rooms and has great package prices. 

Sukau Greenview:  One of the most popular homestays that offer very affordable 3D/2N or 2D/1N packages. Their rooms are a bit more comfortable than the budget options.

Sukau Rainforest Lodge:  A National Geographic award-winning eco-lodge. They offer comfort and amazing experiences, but all sustainable and eco-friendly. 

Accommodations in Bilit

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort:  this is the resort we stayed in. Their rooms are very comfortable and clean and they have amazing package deals. We paid RM 530 for an adult and RM 215 for a child. This included all meals, 4 river cruises, 2 night walks, and 1 jungle trek. We loved our stay by the river and our kids even got the opportunity to plant two fig trees. Locals are trying to recover the rainforest after the deforestation by the palm oil industry.

Kinabatangan Nature Lodge:  They offer great value for money. They have both dorms and private rooms. 

Wildlife Spotting at the Kinabatangan River

The borneo big five.

A lot of people who come to Borneo, want to see the Borneo big 5 !

• Pygmy Elephant
• Proboscis Monkey
• Salt Water Crocodile
• Hornbill (8 types of hornbills live here in total)

Chances are very high you’ll see proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, and hornbills. To spot the small pygmy elephants and orangutans you need to get lucky, with the elephants being the hardest one.

These elephants roam the flanks of the river, looking for food. The guides usually know if they are anywhere around. If so, the main focus of your river cruises will be to find them. While doing that, you’ll see countless other animals.

On our first river cruise, we already saw 4 of them. Unfortunately, the Pygmy elephants never revealed themselves to us. The guides said they hadn’t been around for a few weeks.

Plenty of wildlife around Kinabatangan

Besides the Big 5, there is so much more wildlife to observe around the Kinabatangan River. Unfortunately, due to the many palm oil plantations nearby, animals are forced to live around the river, which is why it’s so easy to spot them.

Remember there is never any guarantee of how many and which animals you’ll see. Although the guides are experts in wildlife spotting and know the jungle very well, these animals are free to go wherever they want (luckily!). But trust me, you’ll see enough!

• Orangutan (if you get lucky)
• Proboscis monkey (endangered but plenty around)
• Long-tailed and short-tailed macaques (hundreds of them)
• Leaf monkeys (less common, we saw the silver leaf monkey)
• Borneo gibbon (you need to get lucky, but you might hear them)

• Kingfishers
• Owls (during the night)

Reptiles and amphibians:

• Saltwater crocodiles
• Monitor Lizard
• Frogs (mostly during the night)
• Turtles (if you are lucky)

Countless insects

Other amazing animals if you are lucky:

• Irrawaddy Dolphin (very rare)
• Sun Bear (very rare)

What to do at Kinabatangan River

If you come over here, it’s because you want the ultimate jungle and wildlife spotting experience. You can book river cruises and jungle treks à la carte with your homestay, or you might have booked a 3D/2N or 2D/1N package with your homestay.

We booked the 3D/2N experience with our kids . Below you can find our program. Although this might seem like a lot, we were all so enthusiastic about spotting the wildlife we didn’t mind. You’re absolutely free to skip something if you’re too tired. We skipped the night walk on our second night to give our girls some more sleep.

Itinerary for a 3D/2N Kinabatangan River Experience

• 11:45 am pick up in Sandakan or 13:00 am in Sepilok
• 3:30 pm tea time
• 4:00 pm river cruise about 2 hours
• 7:00 pm dinner
• 8:00 pm night walk for about 1 hour but it’s subject to weather availability
• 10:00 pm overnight

Second day:

• 6:00 am morning cruise about 1 hour
• 7:30 am breakfast
• 9:30 am Jungle trekking about 45 minutes
• 12:00 pm lunch
• 3.30 pm tea time
• 8.30 am check out – transfer to Sandakan or to one of the junctions where you want to take the bus to your next destination.

Morning Sunrise River Cruise

Be ready for an early awakening , as your morning cruise leaves at 6 a.m. sharp! Despite the very early hour, these sunrise river cruises were our favorite.

The morning fog creates a mystical atmosphere and the sun is not visible yet. It is still rather cold (so wear a jacket) and the animals are very active before the heat of the day rolls in.

The early morning is a perfect time to see crocs, as they try to catch one of the hundred birds or small monkeys sitting around the river. We saw some huge adult saltwater crocodiles and a few babies lying on the mud of the river banks.

Once the sun starts to rise and you get deeper into the jungle, you’ll see more and more monkeys wake up giving you an amazing show! We spotted macaques, proboscis monkeys (who are endangered but are commonly seen here), and even some leaf monkeys. 

Day Trek Jungle Experience

After having breakfast and resting a bit, it’s time to discover the surrounding jungle. It’s amazing how the local guides spot the wildlife! They’re definitely experts!

However, I have to be honest, we saw some, but not a lot of wildlife during our walk. Mainly because the jungle directly surrounding our homestay has been severely reduced due to the palm oil industry. Locals are trying hard to recover that. Our girls even planted two new trees near our homestay.

Nevertheless, a walk through the rainforest is never boring ! Our local guide, who lived here all his life, told us many interesting stories about surviving in the jungle and special trees, plants, and insects. Which leaves to use as a medicine, which branch to transform into a weapon.

Afternoon Sunset River Cruise

The afternoon cruises are great for spotting monkeys . Once the heat of the day is over, they love to rest, play, and just sit around the Kinabatangan River banks. 

We got very lucky and spotted orangutans immediately on our first sunset cruise and again the day after that. An entire family (mom, dad, and baby) were hanging out high in the treetops. We’ll never forget the experience of observing the ‘man of the jungle’, as orangutan means in the local language.

Many birds hang around the river as well. We spotted hornbills flying over, a kingfisher sitting on a branch, and  lizards  and crocodiles resting in the sun.

Again, being on a boat in the middle of the Borneo jungle while the sun is setting is magical . After spotting many monkeys, birds, a lizard, some crocodiles, and a few others, all we could do was silently enjoy the sunset over the river while going back to our homestay.

Night Walk Jungle Experience

Make sure you don’t miss a night walk in the jungle of Borneo! Many species come out at night, some scarier than others. But no worries, your very knowledgeable guide will not only spot them for you but also reassure you there is nothing to be afraid of.

For our girls this was a very thrilling experience, walking with their flashlight through the jungle looking for wildlife. At night, the sounds of the jungle are everywhere. This is how exciting as it gets!

We saw many insects , frogs , a palm civet cat , heard the monkeys, and spotted lots of birds sleeping on branches.

Environmental and ethical issues at Kinabatangan

Unfortunately, there is a reason why the Kinabatangan River is now such an amazing experience and one of the hot spots to see wildlife. The rainforest in this area has been severely reduced by the palm oil industry , forcing all the animals to live near the river which increases the chances of seeing them.

When we came by bus from Kota Kinabalu, we were devastated to see how much of the natural habitat of the wildlife had been destroyed . We saw palm plantations for hundreds of kilometers in a row.

If you come to this area, try to support the local communities and the environment . They have lost their land to the multinationals and are trying to earn an income out of tourism.

Book your stay with homestays , run by families who work with local people and fishermen. Besides the fact you provide them with an income, this choice is better for the environment as well. They use smaller boats and cook more local food.

A lot of local people understand how important the rainforest is for their existence and preserving wildlife. They try to buy back the land of the palm oil industry and make it into the forest again. When we were here, our girls also planted a fig tree each. Small steps, but every little help counts!

Here are some organizations you can support in their efforts to recover and preserve the rainforest, wildlife, and local communities.

• Itochu Corporation : Group working together with WWF to restore the tropical rainforests and conserve Borneo’s ecosystem.
• WWF – Heart of Borneo : An ambitious transboundary conservation initiative to preserve the heart of Borneo.
• Save The Orangutan : Program to protect and recover the natural habitat of the orangutan
• World Land Trust : buying land to make into forests again.
• Borneo Nature Foundation : Saving the rainforest by habitat protection, canal blocking, fighting fires and reforestation.
• Rainforest Trust : setting up crowdfunding to protect the rainforest and buy land.
• The Borneo Project : brings international attention and support to community-led efforts to defend forests, sustainable livelihoods, and human rights.

Tips before you go

If you plan a Kinabatangan River experience, here are some useful tips to make the best out of your stay.

The reason you come here is to spot wildlife of course. But adjust your expectations. Don’t expect you’ll be able to check everything on your bucket list. These animals are wild, which means they don’t pop up every time you want them to. For example, we didn’t see the Pygmy Elephants. However, no need to worry! You’ll see plenty of wildlife!

The homestays and villages are remote. Bring cash before you come here! There aren’t any ATMs nearby. And most homestays or restaurants won’t accept paying by card.

Don’t forget to stock up on food and snacks as well. Although the local people provide excellent food in their homestays, you might want to bring some extra snacks, especially for kids. There aren’t any big supermarkets around and everything will be much more expensive.

You’ve come to the jungle to spot wildlife, experience the rainforest, and relax. There won’t be any good Wifi or 4G. Some homestays do have a connection, which will allow you to send a message or mail and maybe even upload a picture. But that’s about it. So put your phone, tablet, or computer aside and enjoy the environment!

What to bring for a Kinabatangan River Cruise

Besides the regular stuff, you would bring to any vacation in South-East Asia, here are some things we really advise you to take along when you come to the Kinabatangan River.

First of all, it rains a lot in the area! It’s called a rainforest for a reason. Which means the humidity can be very high (above 90%). Try to avoid cotton clothes, they absorb the humidity. In the morning and evening, it can be rather cold as well. So don’t forget the following essentials:

• Rain jacket  for women , men , or kids . If you want to safe space, you could also choose a rain poncho .
• Dry bag  as you’ll be in a boat a lot and might encounter rain. So bring a dry bag to protect your valuables such as your camera or phone.
• Longsleeve or fleece for the afternoon for women , m en, or kids .

During your stay, you’ll need to do one or more jungle treks and  river cruises . Some homestays will provide boots but don’t count on it. It can get very hot as well during the day. So don’t forget the following essentials:

• Good hiking shoes for women , men , or kids . Personally, we love the Merell shoes.
• Hiking socks for women , men , or kids .
• Strong sunscreen , we like Banana Boat Sunscreen a lot, also for our kids.
• A hat for the sun  for women , men , or kids .
• Mosquito repellent: we use OFF! which works amazing. It is not as harmful as some others (especially for kids) and is perfect for the tropics.
• Leech socks: fortunately, we didn’t need them. And some homestays offer them to use. But it doesn’t hurt to bring your own leech socks.

You come here to spot wildlife . You’ll want to have a few essentials to truly enhance the experience and capture the animals.

• Binoculars  for adults or kids . Our homestay offered their own binoculars, but the small and rather cheap one we brought was better. They don’t need to cost a lot to be great!
• A good camera:  we love our compact and affordable Sony A6000 , but with the upgraded full-frame Sony A7R IV you will have all the options. Full-frame cameras offer a lot more options to take pictures in low-light situations.
• Zoom lens:  the wildlife won’t pop up right next to your boat. If you’d love to capture it, make sure to bring a zoom lens . Anything above 200mm will be great! I even used my camera as a binocular too.
• Flashlight:  during the night walks, you have to take a flashlight or headlamp .

Between the jungle experiences, you have some time to relax .

• Flip flops  for women , men , and kids .
• Yoga pants  for women , men , and kids .

And last but not least, don’t forget these other essentials.

• First-Aid Kit:  we bring our first-aid kit everywhere. You can either make your own or buy a complete first-aid kit .
• Water bottle, let’s reduce plastic!  We take our water bottles everywhere!

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1 thought on “kinabatangan river borneo: guide to a bucket list jungle experience”.

Amazing post! 🙂 Do you have the link for the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort? I seem I can’t find them anywhere online. Only tour operators… Thanks! Best, Joao

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Passing Thru Travel

Exquisite River Voyages: Explore Southeast Asia’s Boutique Cruises

Posted: March 11, 2024 | Last updated: March 11, 2024

Southeast Asia, with its rich tapestry of cultures, lush landscapes, and historic waterways, offers an enchanting experience for travelers. Boutique river cruises in this region are a unique way to explore its heart, offering an intimate and luxurious journey through some of the world’s most exotic rivers. These cruises provide a blend of cultural immersion, scenic beauty, and unparalleled comfort, making them a perfect choice for travelers seeking a more personalized experience.

This guide will take you through 15 essential aspects of planning and enjoying boutique river cruises in Southeast Asia, from the majestic Mekong River to the tranquil waters of the Irrawaddy. Each point is designed to enhance your journey, ensuring it is as memorable as it is breathtaking.

Selecting the Right Cruise Line

Choose a cruise line that specializes in boutique experiences, focusing on quality service, expert guides, and unique itineraries.

Understanding the Itinerary Options

Research the various itineraries to find a route that covers your interests, whether it’s ancient temples, bustling cities, or serene landscapes.

Planning for the Best Time to Travel

Consider the regional climate and travel during the dry season for comfortable cruising conditions and optimal sightseeing.

Embracing Smaller Vessels

Boutique river cruises often use smaller vessels, offering a more intimate setting and access to less-traveled parts of the river.

Exploring Beyond the River

Look for itineraries that offer on-shore excursions to explore local villages, historical sites, and hidden gems.

Experiencing Local Culture Onboard

Choose cruises that offer cultural experiences onboard, such as traditional music, dance performances, and local cuisine.

Prioritizing Comfort and Luxury

Opt for cruises that provide luxurious accommodations and amenities, ensuring a comfortable and pampered journey.

Engaging with Expert Guides

Benefit from the knowledge of local guides who can provide deep insights into the region’s history, culture, and natural beauty.

Enjoying Culinary Delights

Indulge in gourmet dining experiences that showcase the region’s diverse culinary traditions and flavors.

Ensuring Health and Safety Standards

Confirm that the cruise line adheres to high health and safety standards, especially important in remote river regions.

Capturing Photographic Opportunities

Take advantage of the scenic beauty and unique cultural encounters for unforgettable photography.

Preparing for River Conditions

Understand the nature of the river, such as water levels that can vary seasonally, affecting cruise routes and itineraries.

Packing Appropriately

Pack light and include clothing suitable for tropical climates, as well as for any religious or cultural sites visited onshore.

Considering Extension Options

Look into trip extensions, either pre- or post-cruise, to further explore the highlights of Southeast Asia.

Checking Visa Requirements

Be aware of the visa requirements for the countries included in your itinerary and arrange necessary documentation in advance.

Mekong River

Journey through Vietnam and Cambodia, exploring vibrant floating markets, ancient temples, and lush deltas.

Irrawaddy River, Myanmar

Discover the mystical land of pagodas, traditional villages, and the historic city of Bagan.

Chao Phraya River, Thailand

Experience the allure of Bangkok’s river life, with stops at historic sites and bustling markets.

Kinabatangan River, Malaysia

Explore Borneo’s wildlife and rainforests, with opportunities for spotting unique flora and fauna.

Rajang River, Malaysia

Cruise through Borneo’s remote areas, encountering traditional longhouses and diverse ecosystems.

Boutique river cruises in Southeast Asia offer an extraordinary way to experience the region’s captivating allure. These cruises provide not just a journey across water, but a passage through time, culture, and nature’s wonders.

Whether you’re gliding past ancient temples on the Mekong or witnessing the untouched beauty of Borneo’s rainforests, a boutique river cruise in Southeast Asia promises a journey filled with discovery, luxury, and unforgettable moments. So, embark on this unique adventure and let the rivers of Southeast Asia guide you through a world where every turn brings a new story, a new landscape, and a new adventure.

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The post Exquisite River Voyages: Explore Southeast Asia’s Boutique Cruises republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Day2505.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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