After breakfast, the morning heads to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where wooden boardwalks wind through the rainforest. Take a stroll along them to the feeding platform to admire the orangutans up close, and don’t miss the newly completed nursery, offering a closer look at younger animals in rehabilitation.
From there, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre introduces the world’s smallest bear species – a reclusive creature standing just 70 centimetres tall and rarely seen in the wild.
After lunch, the Rainforest Discovery Centre’s canopy walk – 147 metres long, 28 metres above the forest floor – puts guests level with the rainforest giants. Birdwatchers will want their binoculars: the centre is home to over 250 species, including the rare Bornean Bristlehead, alongside hornbills, broadbills, pittas and kingfishers.
The day closes at the Sandakan War Memorial, a moving tribute to the Australian and British prisoners of war, one of the lesser-known but most sobering chapters of the Pacific War.
Return to the hotel after a packed day for dinner and an evening at leisure.
Please note: At Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, cameras with zoom lenses from 100–400mm, video cameras or other video recording equipment will incur a surcharge of MYR10 per unit. Filmmaking equipment is chargeable at MYR1,000 per unit, payable directly to the centre.
Travel time: Coach – approx. 90 minutes
After breakfast, take a short walk to Sandakan’s seafood market before a short drive to the heritage district.
St. Michael’s Church – one of Sabah’s oldest, its century-old walls still in active use – and the Agnes Keith Museum offer a window into the colonial era. Keith’s 1939-released memoir, ‘Land Below the Wind’, remains one of the most evocative accounts of life here, and her home is one of the few places where that era feels genuinely preserved. The English Tea House – another colonial-era favourite perched above Sandakan – makes an atmospheric stop for lunch at leisure, with sweeping views over the bay.
After lunch, the group transfers to Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty for a boat ride into the jungle. The Kinabatangan Wetland Resort at Abai is accessible only by river – there are no roads in – and its remote location is the point.
Arriving at the resort in the late afternoon, your first river cruise soon sets out along the Kinabatangan in search of wildlife along the banks. If conditions allow, the boat stays out to watch fireflies illuminate the trees after dark before returning to the resort for dinner in the midst of the jungle.
Travel time: Boat transfer – approx. 90 minutes
The sounds of the rainforest are the alarm clock here. An early morning river cruise heads out for wildlife sightings before returning to the lodge for a jungle walk.
The afternoon is at leisure. A late afternoon cruise ventures into the Kinabatangan’s smaller tributaries in search of more wildlife, and after dinner a night river safari reveals the nocturnal residents of the forest.
A final morning walk along the resort’s nature boardwalk before the boat transfers the group back to Sandakan for lunch.
From there, your tour makes its way to Sandakan Airport (SDK) for a short domestic flight to Kota Kinabalu (BKI), where the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort awaits. Transfer and check-in to jungle-edge luxury on the city’s outskirts with the South China Sea visible from the gardens.
Set across 400 acres of beachfront rainforest with a three-kilometre private beach, Shangri-La Rasa Ria pairs its own 18-hole championship golf course with two swimming pools, a spa, tennis and croquet courts. It also boasts six diverse dining venues alongside a private forest reserve offering guided rainforest walks and hiking trails right on the property.
Travel time: Boat transfer – approx. 90 minutes / Driving – approx. 30 minutes / Flying – approx. 45 minutes / Driving – approx. 60 minutes
The drive to Kundasang along the Crocker Range is one of Sabah’s finest – Mount Kinabalu’s summit emerging above the clouds as the road climbs through vegetable farms and roadside markets.
A stop at Nabalu Market offers a first taste of the local economy before the group continues to Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park’s extraordinary biodiversity spans six vegetation zones and is home to over 1,000 orchid species, 326 bird species and 90 species of lowland mammals.
A Dusun tribal village on the mountain’s foothills closes the day’s cultural thread. The Kadazan Dusun community here have guided climbers up Kinabalu for generations, and a tribal lunch including hinava – a Kadazan Dusun delicacy of fresh fish cured with lime and local herbs, similar in spirit to a ceviche.
Travel time: Coach – approx. 4.5 hours
Enjoy one more breakfast at Shangri-La Rasa Ria before checking out and heading on a guided heritage walk through Kota Kinabalu. The tour uncovers the city’s layered history, passing the Sabah Tourism Building, Atkinson Clock Tower, Community Centre, Jesselton Hotel, City Council Building, War Memorial and Malaysia Monument.
The route meets a bustling local market where souvenirs, textiles and local goods are in plentiful supply. After lunch at a local restaurant, the group checks in to its second Shangri-La for the day – this time, the beachfront Shangri-La Tanjung Aru.
Get your bearings at this coastal sanctuary before spending another evening at leisure. You could lounge on the resort’s private beach or share a cocktail at Coco Joe’s Bar & Grill – the choice is yours.
Celebrate the end of your Borneo tour with a full day at leisure. You may choose to further explore the resort and its exquisite dining options, or venture back into town for another sense of Kota Kinabalu.
Those after one more adventure can join the optional Mamutik Island excursion (surcharges apply), featuring a boat ride into Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park to snorkel among colourful reef fish in the clear waters of the South China Sea, followed by a lunch on the beach.
The evening brings the group together for a farewell dinner at Coco Joe’s Bar & Grill, with a good time guaranteed as you reflect on your incredible Bornean adventure.
Today marks the end of your shared Borneo adventure and the start of a relaxing three-night stay in Kuala Lumpur.
After breakfast, you’ll board your transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) for your included Malaysia Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). On arrival, make your own way to EQ Kuala Lumpur and settle into your three-night stay.
Settle into a Deluxe King Twin Towers View Room, where Kuala Lumpur’s iconic skyline takes centre stage. Enjoy daily breakfast, Equator Club Lounge access, rooftop cocktails at SKY51 and the freedom to spend your final days discovering the city or unwinding at the hotel.
Your EQ Kuala Lumpur inclusions:
- MYR200 food and drink credit per package for use at any onsite venue
- Daily buffet breakfast at Nipah or the Club Lounge
- Daily Equator Club Lounge access, including all-day refreshments, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapés
- Nightly rooftop cocktail per adult at SKY51
- Complimentary snacks and minibar, replenished daily
- 15% discount at Sanctum Spa
- Late 2pm checkout, subject to availability
Wake up to views of Kuala Lumpur’s iconic skyline and enjoy a leisurely day exploring the city or relaxing at EQ Kuala Lumpur.
Your EQ Kuala Lumpur inclusions:
- MYR200 food and drink credit per package for use at any onsite venue
- Daily buffet breakfast at Nipah or the Club Lounge
- Daily Equator Club Lounge access, including all-day refreshments, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapés
- Nightly rooftop cocktail per adult at SKY51
- Complimentary snacks and minibar, replenished daily
- 15% discount at Sanctum Spa
- Late 2pm checkout, subject to availability
Savour your final full day in Kuala Lumpur with time to discover more of the city or enjoy one last unhurried day at EQ.
Your EQ Kuala Lumpur inclusions:
- MYR200 food and drink credit per package for use at any onsite venue
- Daily buffet breakfast at Nipah or the Club Lounge
- Daily Equator Club Lounge access, including all-day refreshments, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapés
- Nightly rooftop cocktail per adult at SKY51
- Complimentary snacks and minibar, replenished daily
- 15% discount at Sanctum Spa
- Late 2pm checkout, subject to availability
After breakfast, make your own way to the airport for your onward journey, bringing your Borneo and Kuala Lumpur escape to a close.