The Kinabatangan River Cruise half-day trip price is valid for trips taken up to 31st December 2023. Wildlife watching on the Kinabatangan is done from boats making this location suitable for a range of ages and fitness levels. While doing that, youll see countless other animals. Located around 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu, Weston Wetland Park is home to many wildlife wonders you cannot easily find anywhere else. I see that you did the river cruises as a day trip but I am more interested in doing a multiday trip on the river boats that you sleep on. Do you find this article interesting or want to remember it for later? Tour includes transfers and . Block E-27-3A, KK Times Square, off Coastal Highway 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Tel: +60-88-486800 . Wondering how to get to the Kinabatangan River? Starting from October, your chances of heavy rainfall increase significantly and travelling in Borneo from November to February means you right in the middle of the rain season. This bus will follow the same standard bus route as the reverse trip from Kota Kinabalu and you will have to get off at the Sukau Junction just the same. River Junkie Tours: Kinabatangan river cruise - See 191 traveler reviews, 245 candid photos, and great deals for Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, at Tripadvisor. Once the heat of the day is over, they love to rest, play and just sit around the Kinabatangan River banks. In this guide, well give you all the information you need to experience and plan this multiple day and night Kinabatangan River cruise and jungle adventure yourself. Travel 2.5 hours by speedboat. While you're here, make sure to check out some of my other guides below for more travel tips and inspiration for your journey. Our guide Beatrice was lovely and personable, and tried hard to find every type of wildlife possible for us. A river cruise along the Kinabatangan River is typically in the 'top 5' for most tourists coming on holiday to Sabah, Borneo. Here's a quick summary of some of the Kinabatangan River Wildlife you might see based on how rare they are. Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan. Also known as "The Little Kinabatangan", Weston River Cruise offers a similar experience of wildlife sightseeing as the Kinabatangan River cruises, but without the hassle of a long journey and air flight! Accommodation is basic but clean. We were thinking we had to do a ridiculous package but now sounding much more hopeful of something a little cheaper. If weather, or other factors (e.g. It depends on the rest of your Borneo itinerary which one you should choose. The Kinabatangan River cruise included with this trip will travel as far upstream as ~7km to Pontian Point and downstream maximum ~ 10 km to Tenegang Besar Point. . Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside lodge. A Kinabatangan River cruise is an incredible experience for anyone, but especially for people who are fed up with the stress of living and working in the city. After dinner, there will be a brief presentation on the wildlife in the Kinabatangan area and also the conservation programme was undertaken by Nature Lodge Kinabatangan. In Sabah, the top three places to see orangutans in the wild, along with other wildlife encounters on offer, are the Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. The atmosphere was great at the lodge and we met lots of nice, friendly people. Note: The nursery at Sepilok is sometimes closed to visitors. Arrive at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge around 1330 and have lunch. We very much enjoyed our trip, thank you very much. After going through the process of organizing transport myself, Ive prepared this detailed guide to help you reach Sukau either by independent travel or on a multi-day organized trip from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Semporna, or Sepilok. (Sukau / Bilit) About Kinabatangan River Located just 132 kilometres out of Sandakan town, the river attracts travellers from all walks of life into the deep interiors of Borneo to unveil a destination in South East Asia unlike any other. For our girls this was a very thrilling experience, walking with their flashlight through the jungle looking for wildlife. Many species come out at night, some scarier than others. We have a diving trip booked from Semporna around 14 days after we arrive in KK, We are thinking about a hire car and self drive to try to cover these attractions on the way to Semporna by road, what are your thoughts? Note that it's a good idea to spend at least a night in Sukau once you arrive if you are traveling indepently. 12:30hrs: You will then be transferred by minibus to Kinabatangan Nature Lodge which is located on the banks of the Kinabatangan River in the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, a ~ 2.5-hour journey (including stop). There is one location tourists can stay at in Tabin Reserve Tabin Wildlife Resort. During certain times of the year, you will also catch the Borneo Pygmy Elephants at the riverbank. I strive to capture images that tell a story and captivate those with a connection to travel and adventure. An entire family (mom, dad and baby) were hanging out high in the treetops. From here, hope to take a van waiting on the road to Sukau. Below I'll detail the most cost-effective and convenient options for reaching the Kinabatangan River. Guiding by a licensed Nature Guide (English speaking). Return short boat transfer from Kg. As well, the companies are often based elsewhere and not local. Staying on the river means that you don't need to buy a pre-booked package on check-in. After breakfast depart the lodge at 0930 hours and return to Sandakan by road. So dont forget the following essentials: During your stay, youll need to do one or more jungle treks andriver cruises. Read more:Our travel diary, we discover magical Borneo. Are you planning to add a Kinabatangan River Cruise to your Sabah itinerary? Co. No. However, we saw more than our fair share of animals, many of which are incredibly rare. River Cruise through Kinabatangan, Borneo 2023 - Sandakan Home Things to do in Malaysia Things to do in Sabah Things to do in Sandakan Sandakan Tours Day Trips Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip 9 Reviews Sandakan, Malaysia Save to Wishlist From $78.00 Lowest Price Guarantee Select Date and Travelers Check Availability Non-refundable This centre rescues captured sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare rehabilitation and education. We were also told that it's a higher chance to spot more birds, but I think we saw just as many in the afternoons. The Best Option: Organised Tour to Kinabatangan River from Sandakan or Sepilok, More Options for Getting to Sukau (Kinabtangan River) from Sandakan, How to Get From Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan River, How to Get from Semporna to Kinabatangan River, How to Organize a Bohey Dulang Day Trip from Semporna, 11 Best Hotels in Kota Kinabalu - Where to Stay in 2023, How to Plan a Kinabatangan River Cruise & What to Expect in 2023 - (Sukau, Sabah), Kinabatangan Caves - Elephant Trail Hike to Sukau Caves, Mabul Island Travel Guide - How to Get Here & What to Expect in 2023, Sabah Itinerary 7 Days - Top Things to Do in Sabah Borneo in 2023, Sabah's Bohey Dulang Island: Guide to Island Hopping & The Epic Viewpoint Hike, What to Do in Kinabalu Park - Complete Trail Guide. Airfare: KK - Sandakan KK, alcoholic beverages, juices, camera & video fees. There will be no refund if a trip itinerary needs to be adapted on the day due to safety reasons. We got very lucky and spotted orangutans immediately on our first sunset cruise and again the day after that. These cookies do not store any personal information. Kinabatangan River Cruise 12 Reviews Sandakan, Malaysia 3 days (approx.) This resort is set in 25 acres of rainforest bordering the Sepilok forest reserve, a protected area rich in wildlife. Youre absolutely free to skip something if youre too tired. You can contact him on WhatsApp; 019-536-1889 or by email: at [email protected]. If you want more wildlife encounters during your holiday in Borneo, and have an extra day available, then you should consider the 2D1N Kinabatangan River Trip as an ideal alternative and join to river cruises and a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. Only tour operators Thanks! Some homestays do have a connection, which will allow you to send a message or mail and maybe even upload a picture. They arevery expensive! Drivers often will charge double because they need to drive back with an empty car. Next, take the bus from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Sepilok or Semporna as we explained above, instead of flying or grabbing a private taxi. Your travel site is awesome! The journey from Sandakan Airport (SDK) to Kinabatangan River (Bilit) is 156 kilometres and takes 1 hour 57 minutes approximately. These tours operate on the principle that you may be in a small group of other people. It was a buffet for dinner and the food was good, the toilet facilities are undercover, reasonably clean, but are basic and expect a few spiders. Since it's on location so to speak, Sukau is a great place to book a day-to-day Sukau Kinabatangan River cruise for wildlife spotting through your lodge. We had the right guy here! Its amazing how the local guides spot the wildlife! Luckily, however, getting to the Kinabatangan River to see the last remaining glimpses of Borneos once-flourishing biodiversity can be done independently and on a backpackers budget! Our local guide, who lived here all his life, told us many interesting stories about surviving in the jungle and special trees, plants or insects. The Centre has two feeding sessions a day which is open to the public during which you can go to a raised platform to watch the orangutans come in from the surrounding forest to be fed. 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Tel: +60-88-486800 Fax: +60-88-486880. Rather than hacking through the jungle, the best way to see Borneo's rich wildlife is on a river cruise. 1102. Overnight stay at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge (non-air conditioned). Flying to Sandakan is an easy, quick option and if flights are booked well in advance you can typically pick up low price tickets with the airlines. Be ready for an early awakening, as your morning cruise leaves at 6 am sharp! Tour includes transfers and . The Kinabatangan River is the second longest river in Malaysia (and longest in Sabah). Pickup offered Mobile ticket Offered in: English and 1 more Sandakan Tours All Sandakan Tours Art & Culture Culture Cultural Tours Kid-Friendly Nature and Wildlife Tours Eco Tours Nature Walks Wildlife Encounters Wildlife Watching Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises How to Get Around While you're here, check out some of my other guides below for more travel & adventure inspiration for your trip to Malaysian Borneo! Kinabatangan River Cruise, Sabah, Borneo is famous for its astounding multiplicity of wildlife creatures. If this is something that you've always wanted to see, then just pop out at night and go for a look. After having breakfast and resting out a bit, its time to discover the surrounding jungle. The rainforest in this area has been severely reduced by the palm oil industry, forcing all the animals to live near the river which increases the chances of seeing them. 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We would love to hear from you! Check your cheap tickets from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan here. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We love to travel with our kids on a budget so we arranged everything without an agency and got amazing, all included, 3-day Borneo jungle experience for RM 1490 ($350/330) for the whole family. The fastest way to get from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan River is to take a flight from KK airport to Sandakan. The Kinabatangan River offers a relatively easily accessible, and affordable, option for viewing wildlife along the banks the river and in the rainforest fringing the river banks. You can get off here and hope for a van to take you down the long dirt road into Sukau. Sukau Riverside Homestay:You stay with the most friendly family who will make your time here unforgettable with their delicious meals and excellent river cruises. Besides the regular stuff, you would bring to any vacation in South-East Asia, here are some things we really advise you to take along when you come to the Kinabatangan River. This also includes Danum Valley, Tabin, Selingan island and Lankayan Island. The river cruise at the Kinabatangan area is the best way to observe the animals along the riverside. We paid RM 530 for an adult and RM 215 for a child. The best thing to do in the Kinabatangan River is to take a Kinabatangan River cruise. There are two villages next to the Kinabatangan River where you can find resorts and homestays, Sukau and Bilit.