Travel Kuoni

Borneo Big Five

Imagine waking up to a jungle soundtrack of cicadas and macaques, and the sight of riverboats gliding through the morning mist. This is Borneo: raw, vivid, and alive with creatures you’ve only ever seen in an Attenborough documentary.

Over six days, you’ll track orangutans in the treetops, drift down rivers at dawn, and walk rainforest trails after dark with nothing but torchlight and luck on your side. Along the way, you’ll be chasing Borneo’s own Big 5 – orangutan, proboscis monkey, pygmy elephant, crocodile, and rhinoceros hornbill – a line-up that makes every boat trip and jungle trek feel like a live-action treasure hunt.

Private tour
5 nights
Sandakan, Sukau, Lahad Datu, Daynum Valley
Wildlife

Perfect for couples and families seeking an adventure. 

Pair with Kuala Lumpur before to explore the city and Kota Kinabalu after for a relaxing beach extension.

Itinerary overview

Day 1

Sandakan

Touch down in Sandakan and head to Sepilok, where the rainforest edges right up to your hotel. On...

Day 2

Sandakan – Sukau

The day begins at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where you’ll watch rescued orangut...

Day 3

Sukau

Dawn on the river means one thing: wildlife is up and about. You’ll cruise to Kelenanap Oxbow Lak...

Day 4

Sukau – Lahad Datu – Danum Valley

Today, the adventure dials up a notch. After a road trip to Lahad Datu, you arrive at the legenda...

Day 5

Daynum Valley

It’s full immersion in the rainforest today. Trek to Coffin Cliff, where ancient burial sites cli...

Day 6

Depart Daynum Valley

Your final morning is yours to savour. Wander the trails, soak in the views, or just sit with a c...

Day 1

Sandakan

Touch down in Sandakan and head to Sepilok, where the rainforest edges right up to your hotel. Once the sun dips, you’re whisked off to the Rainforest Discovery Centre for a night walk. It’s Borneo at its most mysterious. You might spot civets, owls, or fireflies, and if you’re really lucky, a ghost monkey with eyes bigger than its brain.

Day 2

Sandakan – Sukau

The day begins at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where you’ll watch rescued orangutans making their way back into the wild. Feeding time gives you the best chance to see them up close, before you step into the surrounding lowland forest for a short walk. From there, you continue to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, home to the world’s smallest bear and an important project protecting this endangered species. In the afternoon, a two-and-a-half-hour river cruise carries you to Sukau Rainforest Lodge, with wildlife sightings along the Kinabatangan River. Dinner is by candlelight on the riverbank, followed by a talk from a naturalist guide who knows the jungle like Londoners know the Tube map.

Day 3

Sukau

Dawn on the river means one thing: wildlife is up and about. You’ll cruise to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake, where kingfishers dart across the water and proboscis monkeys shift in the branches. After breakfast back at the lodge, a naturalist takes you along the Hornbill Boardwalk, pointing out plants and birds you’d never notice alone. Another river trip follows lunch in search of orangutans and hornbills. Back at the lodge, dinner feels well-earned after a day spent in the rainforest.

Day 4

Sukau – Lahad Datu – Danum Valley

Today, the adventure dials up a notch. After a road trip to Lahad Datu, you arrive at the legendary Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Lunch fuels you for an afternoon of trails and canopy walkways, with treetop views that make you feel like Tarzan, minus the loincloth. Evening brings a spotlighting session to catch the jungle’s night crew clocking in.

Day 5

Daynum Valley

It’s full immersion in the rainforest today. Trek to Coffin Cliff, where ancient burial sites cling to the rock face, then soak up panoramic views before descending to a natural jacuzzi pool. After lunch, trek deeper into the jungle, then swap boots for a giant inflatable ring and float downstream in a tubing session. By night, another walk in search of Borneo’s nocturnal wonders.

Day 6

Depart Daynum Valley

Your final morning is yours to savour. Wander the trails, soak in the views, or just sit with a coffee and listen to the forest. After lunch, it’s time to check out and head back to civilisation, carrying a little bit of Borneo with you.

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Call our South East Asia experts on

0800 294 9702

Available until 8pm

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