Sabah & Kalimantan

The Borneo rainforest has been around for 130 million years. It is home to a dazzling number of species including plants, trees, animals, and birds. The hornbill, as the king among birds, can be easily found while traveling on this route. We will travel from Sabah and cross the land border to East Kalimantan for the Mahakam River, known as the Mother River. Some of the highlights of this route include Kota Kinabalu, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Kinabatangan River, Sipadan Island, Mahakam River, Muara Muntai and Mancong Dayak Village.

Travel Date: Year round     Capacity: Min 6 pax

[ Day 1 ]	Kuala Lumpur > Kota Kinabalu Morning, board the flight (2h 40m) to Kota Kinabalu. After breakfast, visit Mari Mari Cultural Village. After lunch, check into hotel and stay for 1 night. The rest of the day is free & easy. Suggest to do shopping at Filipino Market and enjoy seafood dinner. Overnight at Kota Kinabalu.
[ Day 2 ]	Kota Kinabalu > Sandakan Morning, board the flight (45min) to Sandakan. After lunch, take a drive (30min) to Sepilok. Check into hotel and stay for 2 nights. The rest of the day is free & easy. Suggest to visit Forest Discovery Centre. Overnight at Sepilok.
[ Day 3 ]	After early breakfast, visit Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to see Orangutan, red apes. Then walk over to see sun bears at Sun Bear Centre. After lunch, the rest of the day is free & easy. Overnight at Sepilok.
[ Day 4 ]	Sepilok > Sukau (Kinabatangan) After breakfast, take a drive (1h 30m) to Sukau on Kinabatangan River. Check into lodge and stay for 2 nights. After lunch, go for a Kinabatangan River cruise for animal and bird seeing. Kinabatangan river is one of the best place to see hornbills, crocodiles, proboscis monkeys and elephants, depending on luck! After dinner is free & easy. Overnight at Sukau.
[ Day 5 ]	Early morning, go for a river cruise. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, go for jungle trekking. After lunch, option to either go for river cruise or relax at lodge. Evening, free & easy after dinner. Overnight at Sukau.
[ Day 6 ]	Sukau (Kinabatangan) > Sandakan > Tawau > Semporna After breakfast, leave for the airport to board the flight (40min) to Tawau. After lunch, drive (1h 50m) to Semporna. Check into the hotel and stay for 3 nights. The rest of the day is free & easy. Overnight at Semporna.
[ Day 7 ]	After breakfast, take an island tour to Bohey Dulang for moderate hiking and enjoy the great view of the island. After lunch, go snorkeling. In the evening, return to the hotel; the rest of the day is free & easy. Overnight at Semporna.
[ Day 8 ]	After breakfast, take an island-hopping tour to Mataking, Pom Pom Island, and Timba Timba Island. In the evening, return to the hotel; the rest of the day is free & easy. Overnight at Semporna.
[ Day 9 ]	Semporna > Tawau After breakfast, drive to Tawau. Check into hotel and stay for 1 night. The rest of the day is free & easy. Overnight at Tawau.
[ Day 10 ]	Tawau > Tarakan Island (Kalimantan) After breakfast, take a 4 hours boat ride to cross the border from Malaysia to Tarakan Island) Kalimantan. Evening, check into hotel and stay for 1 night. At 7pm, meet at the hotel lobby and go for seafood dinner. Due to traffic uncertainty at the immigration border, please prepare some simple food in advance! Overnight at Tarakan Island.
[ Day 11 ]	Tarakan Island > Balikpapan > Samarinda Morning, board the flight (1h 5m) to Balikpapan. After lunch, take local public bus (3h 11m) to Samarinda. The rest of day is free & easy. Suggest to visit Islamic Centre at Baitul Muttaquien Mosque . To view the Mahakam River, known as the Mother River, proceed to Menara Utama 99 (lighthouse) in the centre. Overnight at Samarinda.
[ Day 12 ]	Mahakam River > Muara Muntai After breakfast, take a local public bus to Kota Bangun Harbour. After lunch, take a boat ride through the Mahakam River to Muara Muntai. Might see pink dolphins if lucky! Evening, check into guesthouse and stay for 2 nights. Meet at 7pm and go for local dinner. Overnight at Muara Muntai.
[ Day 13 ]	Muara Muntai > Jempang Lake > Ohong Greek > Mancong Dayak Village After breakfast, visit Muara Muntai. As a wooden village, Muara Muntai is built over a swamp and has an 8km wooden boardwalk connecting different areas of the village. After lunch, take a boat ride starts from Jempang Lake to Ohong Greek and arrive at Mancong Dayak Village. At village, enjoy a Dayak welcome ceremony and dance performance. Evening, is free & easy after dinner. Overnight at Muara Muntai.
[ Day 14 ]	Muara Muntai > Samarinda > Balikpapan After breakfast, take a local public bus to Samarinda and then proceed to Balikpapan. After lunch, check into hotel and stay for 1 night. The rest of the day is free & easy. Overnight at Balikpapan.
[ Day 15 ]	Balikpapan > Kuala Lumpur Leave for the airport to board the flight back (2h 50m) to Kuala Lumpur. End of tour. Member can opt to extend their trip.

 

PRICE DETAIL

Tour Fee Includes:

• Accommodation (a combination of hotel, nature lodge, and homestay)

• Flight Kota Kinabalu > Sandakan, Sandakan > Tawau, Tarakan Island > Balikpapan

• Land transport for travel between towns. Ferry to cross the border from Tawau (Malaysia) to Tarakan Island (Kalimantan)

• National park entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary

• Meals in Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and from Day 12 to Day 13 in Kalimantan

 

Tour Fee Excludes:

• Malaysia visa application fee

• • Flight Kuala Lumpur > Kota Kinabalu, Balikpapan > Kualal Lumpur. Once the trip is confirmed, IWTP will provide tour members with flight details for self-purchase online

• Meals (estimated at RM800)

• Tipping for the local guide

• Expenses during free time or optional activities

• International travel insurance

 

Payment Terms:

A non-refundable deposit of RM 6,000 is required to secure the booking (unless the tour is canceled by IWTP). The balance fee must be paid by the booking deadline or when the tour is fully booked.

Please review the terms and conditions regarding the cancellation policy before signing up.