3 Days 2 Nights Sepilok & River Adventure
Start in Sepilok with wildlife encounters at Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, then settle into Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort for a relaxed first night.
Explore the Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walkway and forest trails before continuing to Bilit, where Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort becomes your base for Kinabatangan River cruises. This 3-day trip balances Sepilok wildlife centres, rainforest scenery and river wildlife viewing with transfers, guiding, selected meals and two resort stays arranged.
Tour Overview
Start: Sandakan
End: Sandakan
Duration
Departure Time
Minimum guests
Meals
Accommodation
FROM
Why you'll love this trip
- Begin with Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, two of Sandakan’s best-known wildlife stops.
- Stay overnight at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort, giving the first day a relaxed resort base rather than a rushed transfer.
- Walk the Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walkway and forest setting, with time for birding and rainforest views.
- Continue to Bilit and Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort for Kinabatangan River wildlife viewing.
- Join a late afternoon river cruise and a final early morning cruise for different wildlife-viewing conditions.
- Keep logistics simple with hotel within Sandakan or Sandakan Airport pickup, inter-resort transfers and return drop-off included.
Itinerary
Day 1 • Sepilok / Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort
meet your guide at your hotel within Sandakan or Sandakan Airport at 8:00 AM, then travel to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch the centre’s conservation work and, when scheduled by the centre, observe orangutans around the feeding platform or nursery viewing area.
Continue to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre before lunch and check-in at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort. After some free time at the resort, visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre for the canopy walkway, forest setting and birding opportunities. Return to the resort for your overnight stay.
Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort (1 night)
Lunch
Sandakan – Hotel or airport pickup
Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort – Lunch and check-in
Rainforest Discovery Centre – Canopy walkway and forest/birding visit
Centre schedules, animal visibility and canopy access depend on operating conditions, weather and wildlife behaviour. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring rain protection.
Day 2 • Sepilok / Bilit / Kinabatangan River
Enjoy breakfast at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort and a relaxed morning before your 12:45 PM pickup. Travel overland to Bilit and continue to Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort by the Kinabatangan River.
On arrival, receive refreshments, a short briefing and check in at the resort. At 4:00 PM, join a Kinabatangan River cruise in search of proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills, orangutans, pygmy elephants and other wildlife. Return to the resort for dinner and overnight.
Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort (1 night)
Breakfast
Dinner
Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort – Breakfast
Sepilok to Bilit transfer
Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort – Refreshment, briefing and check-in
Kinabatangan River – 4:00 PM wildlife cruise
River cruise routing and timing may be adjusted for river level, rain, weather and safety. Wildlife sightings are possible but not guaranteed.
Day 3 • Kinabatangan River / Sandakan
Wake early for a final Kinabatangan River cruise, a rewarding time to look for wildlife and birdlife as the river corridor comes alive. Return to the resort for breakfast.
After breakfast, check out and travel back to Sandakan. Drop-off is at your hotel within Sandakan or Sandakan Airport.
No accommodation included
Breakfast
Kinabatangan River – Early morning wildlife cruise
Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort – Breakfast and checkout
Bilit to Sandakan return transfer
Sandakan – Hotel or airport drop-off
Please allow enough buffer before onward flights, as road transfers may be affected by weather, traffic or local conditions.
Inclusions and activities
-
Sandakan and resort transfers
Pickup from hotel within Sandakan or Sandakan Airport, Sepilok transfers, 12:45 PM pickup from Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort to Bilit, and return transfer to Sandakan on Day 3.
-
English-speaking guide
Guiding and coordination for Sepilok visits, resort briefings, Rainforest Discovery Centre, Kinabatangan river cruises and listed activities.
-
Two resort stays and meals
One night at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort and one night at Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort, with meals as stated in the itinerary.
-
Sepilok wildlife centres
Visit Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre on Day 1.
-
Rainforest Discovery Centre
Explore the Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walkway and forest setting, with time for birding and rainforest views.
-
Kinabatangan river cruises
Join a 4:00 PM river cruise on Day 2 and an early morning cruise on Day 3 from Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort.
Before you book you should know
- Wildlife and rainforest focused: This trip combines Sepilok's wildlife centres, Rainforest Discovery Centre and Kinabatangan River cruises.
- Natural conditions: Orangutan, sun bear and river wildlife sightings depend on animal behaviour, centre operations, weather and river conditions.
- Outdoor travel: Expect warm, humid conditions, boat boarding, uneven paths, stairs or boardwalk sections and time outside in the rainforest.
- Balanced pace: The first night stays in Sepilok before the second night at Bilit, keeping travel segments manageable.
Malaysia entry requirements depend on your passport, nationality and travel history. Please check the latest visa and entry rules before booking your flights.
Travellers are responsible for holding valid passports, visas, onward travel documents and any arrival requirements set by Malaysian authorities or airlines.
If you are unsure, contact your nearest Malaysian embassy, consulate or airline before travelling.
This tour includes one night at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort and one night at Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort.
Rooms are arranged based on availability and booking configuration. Please advise bedding preferences at the time of booking, especially if you require twin or double bedding.
Both properties are nature-based resorts, so expect tropical humidity, outdoor walkways and normal rainforest sounds.
Camera fees
- Camera or video fees, if charged by Sepilok, Rainforest Discovery Centre or any site authority, are not included and should be paid directly on site.
- Fees and photography rules may change without prior notice.
What to bring
- Sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, cap or hat, raincoat or poncho
- Comfortable walking shoes or sandals suitable for boardwalks, resort paths and boat boarding
- Camera, binoculars and reading material if preferred
- Personal items and comfortable light cotton casual attire with long or short pants, as humidity is high throughout
Important notes
- Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed and depend on animal behaviour, centre operations, river conditions, weather and seasonality.
- Sepilok visits, Rainforest Discovery Centre access and river cruises may be adjusted by the guide or site operator for safety, weather, river level or local operating conditions.
- Accommodation is based on twin-share rooms at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort and Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. Please advise bedding requests at the time of booking.
- Meals are included as stated only: Day 1 lunch, Day 2 breakfast and dinner, and Day 3 breakfast. Beverages, special meal requests and extra snacks may not be included, so please advise dietary requirements when booking.
- Camera fees, personal expenses, beverages, airfare, tipping, porterage and items not stated in the inclusions are excluded.
- Please provide your hotel within Sandakan name or flight details when booking so pickup and drop-off can be arranged correctly.