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Activity Sandakan, Malaysia

Sandakan 5 Day River City Culture Caves Wildlife Tour

5 days
Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Sandakan 5 Day River City Culture Caves Wildlife Tour

About this activity

Explore the lush landscapes of Borneo on this immersive 5-day wildlife adventure. Begin your journey spotting proboscis monkeys and enjoying a sunset river cruise amidst fireflies. Discover the Sepilok rainforest with guided walks into its depths, visit a local market, and uncover wartime history. Marvel at the Gomantong Caves, home to swiftlets and bats, before settling into an eco-lodge, homestay or resort subject availability. Experience the calls of gibbons and search for pygmy elephants on evening cruises. This tour combines wildlife encounters, cultural insights, and stunning natural beauty for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.

  • 5-day tour showcasing Borneo's unique wildlife and landscapes
  • Includes river cruises, cave exploration, and rainforest hikes
  • Engage with local markets and learn about Borneo's history
  • Accommodations inclusive and local flavors at every meal
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At a glance

Duration
5 days
Confirmation
Instant confirmation
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group
Up to 12 people
People per booking
1–12
Guide
Malay, English
Operated by
Wadi Rum Fire Camp

Ages: Adults (0–99 years)

What is included

Included

  • Included: Visit to Gomantong Caves and guided nature walk in Sepilok
  • Included: All entry tickets, parking fees and vehicle transfers as per itinerary
  • Included: 4 nights' accommodation in a private room
  • Included: Round-trip transfer in Sandakan or Sepilok
  • Included: Lunch
  • Included: Dinner
  • Included: Breakfast
  • Included: Visit Rainforest, canopy walkway, heritage, wartime history, religious, monuments and landmarks
  • Included: 5 river cruises and 1 jungle walk ( subject weather and river conditions)
  • Included: Fireflies tour and evening river cruise

Not included

  • Not included: Personal expenses, itinerary or preference starting time

Itinerary

Day 1 · Day 1: Afternoon Arrival, Proboscis Monkeys & Fireflies

  1. Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

    6 hours Admission included

    Begin your adventure with a pickup in Sandakan, Sepilok or at the airport. Head directly to the proboscis center to spot the proboscis monkey along with macaques and wildlife with a guide. As evening approaches, embark on a river cruise and fireflies through the mangroves while enjoying a breathtaking sunset over the river.

  2. Sandakan

    6 hours

    After a delicious dinner featuring local flavors, continue to look for potential fireflies, return and overnight in Sandakan.

Overnight in Sandakan either hotel and resort

Day 2 · Sepilok Rainforest Discovery, Local Markets & Wartime history

  1. Sepilok

    one day

    After breakfast, enjoy a guided nature walk through the Sepilok forest floor, where your guide will help you spot ground-dwelling wildlife, insects, and unique plant life and check one of the tallest rainforest tree in the world in borneo, lunch and them continue the city tours engaging stop en route at a bustling local market to experience Borneo's fresh produce and handicrafts, uncover the echoes of its glorious past, monuments and stories about the religions and locals. return, dinner and overnight in Sandakan.

Overnight in Sandakan either hotel and resort

Day 3 · Gomantong Caves' Wonder and Primate Calls in Forest

  1. Stop 1

    one hour

    After breakfast, drive to the renowned Gomantong Caves, described by WWF as "the best-managed bird's nest cave in the world." Enter the cathedral-like Simud Hitam cavern via the raised boardwalk, observing the cave's amazing ecosystem, the swiftlets and bats, and the ancient practice of bird's nest harvesting.

  2. Kinabatangan River

    8 hours Admission included

    Lunch in between the continue to the Kinabatangan, Arrive at your eco-lodge or homestay, settle in. In the late afternoon, embark on an evening river cruise to a smaller river bend in search for the first big 5 at sunset. After dinner, join an optional night river cruise walk potential spot nocturnal wildlife before retiring for the night. Overnight at Kinabatangan.

Overnight at Kinabatangan eco lodge or homestay

Day 4 · Dawn, Gibbons Calls, Jungle

  1. Kinabatangan River

    one day Admission included

    Rise early for a pre-dawn river cruise to a quiet bend where the jungle awakens with the echoing calls of gibbons and the chatter of macaques, offering a prime chance to potential spot big 5 and other wildlife in the wild. After a breakfast, put on your boots for a specialized "Jungle walk" and see how the forest inside the bornean look alike. Following lunch and some rest or own self leisure, In the late evening, set out on a evening cruise along a quieter tributary, searching for the potential pygmy elephants and other shy wildlife while watching the sunset over the pristine river. Enjoy one last delicious dinner filled with local Bornean flavors, overnight at the Kinabatangan.

Overnight at Kinabatangan eco lodge or homestay

Day 5 · Final Dawn Cruise

  1. Kinabatangan River

    2 hours

    Early risers may choose one last morning cruise or simply enjoy a quiet time if tired on the deck. .

  2. Sandakan

    4 hours

    After breakfast and check-out, continue back to Sandakan leaving with photos and an eye full of sounds, smells, and sights from one of our planet's most vibrant and wild regions.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

  • D North Star Hotel & Spa
  • OYO 89553 Hotel Benaria Bandar Indah
  • The Garden Boutique Hotel
  • The Grand Hotel 2 Sandakan
  • Sepilok Jungle Resort
  • Sepilok Forest Edge Resort
  • Hotel Prima
  • Asia Hotel
  • The Grand Hotel 2
  • OYO 43930 Hotel Esplanade
  • Hotel Premier Inn - Bandar Prima
  • Hotel O Esplanade

and 3 more pickup points

We will contact you one day before your tour starts with all the final details and instructions regarding your pick-up, travellers can be picked up from anywhere within the designated pick-up zone, but please ensure that your location is selected before making your reservation – this will help us coordinate your pick-up smoothly.

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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Good to know

  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

  • The tour involves walking and river cruises, so a moderate level of fitness is required.

  • This tour doesn't accept personalised itinerary.

  • Vegan and vegetarians friendly.

  • Insect repellent is recommended due to the presence of mosquitoes.

Activities, prices and reviews are from Viator. Booking and payment happen on Viator; Vacantier may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Sandakan 5 Day River City Culture Caves Wildlife Tour

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