• 8 Breakfast (B)
• 4 Lunch (L)
• 4 Dinner (D)

• Kuching: You’re gonna be exploring a tropical jungle, so we recommend that you get insect repellent, a torch, a raincoat, good walking shoes, a sun hat, and of course – binocs (a must-have!). For the beach, you should get sandals, swimwear, personal toiletries, and sun cream (preferably sweatproof!). Plus, you’ll need an overnight bag on some nights of this trip. Pro-tip: Extra-light cotton clothes are perfect for Borneo’s weather.  

• Kiulu: Roll up your sleeves and dive into village life as you help prepare four signature Kiulu dishes. You’ll wrap Linangatan rice in leaves, mix up Hinava (a zingy raw fish salad), slow-braise local fish for Pinasakan Sada, and finish with punchy Tuhau pickles. It’s hands-on, a little messy, and seriously rewarding. Plus you’ll get to eat everything you make.
• Kiulu: Step into the wild and learn how to live off the land. This interactive bushcraft session covers traditional fire-making, clever survival techniques, and a live demo of bamboo crafting and tool-making. It’s all about getting stuck in, thinking resourcefully, and seeing the jungle from a whole new angle.
• Kiulu: Slow things down this afternoon with a creative, culture-led session. You’ll learn the intricate art of Dalai bead-making before diving into the secrets of Tapai (rice wine), shared by village elders. Expect stories, hands-on moments, and a deeper connection to the traditions that shape daily life here.
• Kiulu: Sit down to a shared meal before enjoying a vibrant cultural dance performance. With time to chat, learn and laugh with your hosts, this is more than just dinner — it’s a chance to genuinely connect with the community.
• Kiulu: Get a feel for village life with a hands-on rubber tapping experience. Alongside a local farmer, you’ll learn the process from tree to collection, gaining insight into a trade that’s central to the community’s way of life.
• Kiulu: Wrap up your time in the village with a powerful Silat performance — a traditional martial art full of precision and energy. It’s a meaningful send-off from your hosts, giving you one last moment to soak up the culture and connection you’ve built here.
• Kundasang: Kick things off early with a jungle trek to one of the region’s most impressive sights. This 3.4km trail (around 2 hours each way) takes you through dense tropical forest, past giant trees and bamboo groves — and if you’re lucky, even a blooming Rafflesia. Your reward? The thundering Langanan Waterfall, crashing down from over 120 metres before the trek back.
• Sandakan: Start your day with a mindful visit to this golden and red temple atop a hill
• Selingan Island: We’ll jump on a boat and float over to our next beachy spot of the trip – Turtle Island!
• Selingan Island: First, we’ll join a Park Ranger to explore the sights on this island. And then head to laying site in small group. You’ll get to see a mother turtle laying eggs on the beach firsthand, see the tagging process and even witness the egg collecting before it’s planted in the hatchery. And to finish it off, you’ll even watch the baby turtles being released to the sea for the very first time! You don’t wanna miss this one…
• Selingan Island: Snorkel, sunbathe & soak in the scenery on the oh-so-stunning Turtle Island.
• Sepilok: A bear? With a crescent-shaped patch of fur that looks like the rising sun? Get ready for cuteness overload! Your local guide will take you on a tour of the centre, showing how rescued sun bears are researched, rehabilitated, and cared for. There’s also a spot to watch an info video during your free time to learn even more about these incredible animals.
• Sepilok: That’s right! This time we’re visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to see even more rescued orangutans.
• Kinabatangan River: Hop onto a river cruise along the Kinabatangan River to discover wildlife situated along the river where there is a chance to see the Proboscis Monkey, rare bird species of Borneo, Hornbills, Gibbons and maybe even Pygmy Elephants!
• Kinabatangan River: Join the birds and other animals of the river for a cruise up stream in search of wildlife as the bathe in the morning sun along the river
• Kinabatangan River: Take a nature jungle walk with a local guide who’ll fill you in on all the deets of this wonderful riverine forest.

Follow raised walkways to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where juveniles build confidence on ropes and platforms. Watch free-ranging orangutans at feeding time and observe tender moments in the nursery through protective glass.

Established in 1964, Sepilok leads rescue, rehabilitation and reintroduction across Sabah. Rangers share how confiscated or orphaned apes relearn forest skills before release into safeguarded habitat.

Rise above the city to visit Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple, its red-and-gold pavilions guarded by lions and lanterns. Stroll verandahs framed by frangipani and take in hilltop views over Sandakan Bay and the Sulu Sea.

This serene complex reflects the heritage of Sandakan’s Chinese Buddhist community. Incense curls through ornate prayer halls while gilded statues glow against polished tiles and fluttering prayer flags.

Contiki

Embrace the cool dawn as you set out on a sunrise village walk past paddy fields and fruit trees to small rubber plots. With a steady hand, try rubber tapping with a local farmer, scoring bark and watching latex drip into cups in the soft morning light.

Gain insight into a livelihood that helped shape Sabah’s rural economy since the British North Borneo era. This grounded encounter connects landscape, labour and the community’s daily rhythm.

Take a front-row seat to witness a Silat martial arts performance, where flowing forms meet precision footwork and controlled power. The demonstration blends ritual salutes with expressive movement and the whisper of fabric through the air.

Rooted in Malay heritage, Silat embodies discipline, respect and community guardianship. This captivating send-off frames your village stay with a living cultural tradition performed with pride.

Hit the trail to trek to Langanan Waterfall through lush lowland rainforest alive with cicadas and ferns. Walk beneath giant rainforest trees and bamboo groves, keeping an eye out for forest blooms before reaching the towering 120-metre cascade.

Set within the Kinabalu Park region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the falls thunder into a misty amphitheatre. Cool spray, mossy rocks and birdsong reward the effort on this classic Sabah hike.

Cruise by boat to “Turtle Islands Park” Selingan Island, a coral-ringed sanctuary with protected nesting beaches. Swim or snorkel in clear shallows and feel the pace slow on sun-lit sands before dinner at the island lodge.

After dark, join Park Rangers on a night patrol to witness a mother turtle laying eggs, see measurements and records taken, visit the hatchery, and—if conditions allow—watch baby turtles released to the sea. A rare, conservation-led encounter.

Glide along tea-brown waters to join a guided river safari at dusk, scanning fig trees and mudbanks for Proboscis monkeys, macaques and elegant hornbills. The lowering sun paints misty riverbanks as crocodiles slip silently beneath the surface.

These fertile floodplains are among Borneo’s richest wildlife corridors. With luck, distant trumpets or ripples may betray the passage of pygmy elephants moving through the edge of the forest.

Rise early to set out at first light when the river steams and birds stir. Scan overhanging branches for kingfishers as gibbon calls echo from the canopy and hornbills wing past in the cool, still air.

Morning is prime time for feeding and movement along the water’s edge. Your guide helps spot subtle shapes and sounds, turning soft ripples and rustles into memorable wildlife moments.

Switch on your headlamp and venture into the jungle after dark to seek out nocturnal wildlife. Look for sleeping kingfishers, gleaming frogs and the shining eyes of civets as leaves glint under torchlight.

The forest soundscape swells with chirring insects and soft wingbeats. With an expert guide, each reflection becomes a clue in a world that truly awakens at night.

Slow the pace to take a guided nature walk through alluvial forest, learning to read tracks, seed pods and scratch marks. Your guide unpacks riverine forest ecology, from strangler figs to buttress roots and insect-busy leaf litter.

Expect close-up encounters with wild gingers, butterfly activity and the quiet thrill of noticing more. This ground-level perspective complements the river safaris and deepens understanding of a complex habitat.

Walk shaded boardwalks to visit the Sun Bear Conservation Centre, observing the world’s smallest bears foraging in forest enclosures. Spot the signature crescent chest patch as rangers explain behaviour, diet and individual rescue stories.

Learn how rehabilitation and protected habitat combat threats from poaching and deforestation. An informative video and viewing platforms make this a meaningful, close-range conservation experience.

Opt for a guided night walk at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, combining forest trails with a famed canopy walkway. Guides spotlight owls, flying squirrels and luminous insects while explaining rainforest adaptations under the stars.

This after-dark exploration offers a different perspective on Sepilok’s biodiversity. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to local conditions and availability.

Explore the forest the local way as you learn traditional fire-making, basic bushcraft and resourceful shelter skills. Try your hand at bamboo crafting and tool-making while guides explain edible plants, simple traps and the art of reading trails under the canopy.

This practical session spotlights jungle survival skills shaped by generations of indigenous knowledge. Expect smoky palms, the rasp of split bamboo and a new respect for Borneo’s living toolkit hidden in plain sight.

Create your own keepsake as you craft Dalai beadwork guided by patient hands, learning motifs and colour pairings rooted in Dusun identity. Afterwards, discover Tapai rice wine traditions from fermentation to tasting, shared through stories around the verandah.

Hear how designs mark community and life passages while Tapai rituals bring people together at harvests and celebrations. It’s a gentle, sensory immersion in craft, memory and hospitality.

Settle in with your hosts to share a communal dinner of village favourites, fresh greens and river fish. As plates are cleared, enjoy a cultural dance performance to the shimmer of gongs and the lift of handwoven costumes.

Feel the drumbeat and sumazau-style rhythms echo through the open-air hall, celebrating Kadazan-Dusun heritage and the easy camaraderie of a meal earned and enjoyed together.

Discover Kiulu’s home-style flavours as you join a hands-on cooking class with village hosts. Prepare Sabah staples from scratch: wrap Linangatan rice in fragrant leaves, toss citrus-bright Hinava, slow-braise Pinasakan Sada, and mix punchy Tuhau pickles. The kitchen fills with the aromas of torch ginger, lime and woodsmoke.

Learn how Dusun techniques turn foraged herbs and river fish into daily comfort food. Stories flow as you share a communal meal, offering a warm window into village life and seasonal ingredients from Sabah’s fertile valleys.