Kinabatangan River Cruise & Gomantong Cave – Day Tour in Sabah, Borneo
If you have one full day free and you’re wanting to see wildlife whilst staying in Sandakan, Sabah then the Kinabatangan River Cruise & Gomantong Cave Day Tour is a great choice. During this day tour, you will visit Gomantong Cave and join one late afternoon river cruise along the Kinabatangan River.
The Gomantong Caves are an intricate cave system inside Gomantong Hill. The hill is the largest limestone outcrop in the Lower Kinabatangan area. The main cave is divided into two parts: the more accessible Simud Hitam (Black Cave), and the larger Simud Putih (White Cave) which lies above. During this trip, you will be taken on a guided walk inside the Black Cave. As you walk along the wooden boardwalk from the Information Centre in Gomantong Forest Reserve to the cave keep your eyes and hears open for passing wildlife. Found within this protected Reserve are Red and Silver Leaf Monkeys, Orangutans, Macaques and a range of birdlife including Crested Serpent Eagles, Kingfishers and Asian Fairy Bluebirds.
Providing You With A Glimpse Of The Amazing Wildlife Found In Borneo – The Kinabatangan River
After exploring the cave, led by your Nature Guide, you will head to the Kinabatangan River the world’s richest ecosystems and the largest concentration of wildlife in the South East Asian region. Join an afternoon cruise along the Kinabatangan River in search of wildlife along the river banks. At the end of the river cruise, you will be dropped off at the main jetty in Bilit Kampung before starting your journey back to Sandakan.
If you want more wildlife encounter opportunities, and have an extra day free then, then the 2D1N Kinabatangan River Cruise Trip is a great value choice with two river cruises, a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and a visit to Gomantong Cave.
Trip Itinerary
8:30hrs – 9:15hrs: You will be collected from your hotel in Sandakan or Sepilok area, or from Sandakan Airport (recommended arrival flight at Sandakan Airport is the MH2042 0700hrs depart Kota Kinabalu, arrive at Sandakan Airport 0750hrs).
Time for Gomantong Cave
9:15hrs: Start you transfer by minibus/coach to reach Gomantong Cave, a ~ 2.5-hour journey. Here you will explore the largest limestone cave in Sabah where millions of swiftlets nest. Your Nature Guide will take you on a guided walk around the inside of the cave and point out interesting life found in a living cave. Be ready for creepy crawlies!
Time for the Kinabatangan River
~12:30 – 12:45hrs: After visiting the cave, drive onwards to Bilit Village which is located next to the Kinabatangan River. You will be transferred by boat across to Bilit Adventure Lodge. Enjoy lunch at the Lodge overlooking the Kinabatangan River. You then have a couple of hours to chill out at the Lodge.
1530hrs: Enjoy afternoon tea with some local bites accompanied by a short briefing by your Nature Guide.
16:00hrs: Join an afternoon cruise along the Kinabatangan River, Sabah’s longest river at 560km, where you can observe wildlife along the river banks.
18:00hrs: After the boat cruise you will start your transfer back to Sandakan transferred back to your respective hotel (estimated time of return is 20:30hrs).
Explore the Kinabatangan Area – Kinabatangan River Cruise and Gomantong Cave
Trip Pre-requisites
Minimum 2 persons per booking (single supplement surcharge is applicable for 1 person booking).
Trip Inclusions
Return transfer from Sandakan Airport/hotel within Sandakan or Sepilok area, entrance fee to Gomantong Caves, lunch, tea with local titbits, 1 x river cruise, 0% Sales & Service Tax on the tour price as applicable from 6th May 2019.
Trip Exclusions
Camera/video conservation fee at Gomantong Cave (RM30 per item), soft drinks at the Lodge, single supplement if you book this trip on your own (and no other customers are booked on the same trip), flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
Recommended Packing List For Your Kinabatangan River Cruise and Gomantong Cave
To get the most from this trip please bring with you raincoat, cap/hat, insect repellent, sun cream, good walking shoes, comfortable cotton T-shirt with long or short trousers, binocular for observing wildlife, camera and personal medications (if needed). Please take your passport with you on this trip – your passports will be checked at the Kinabatangan Lodge.
Notes
- Pick up time: 0830 hrs (STW Office, City Hotels, Sandakan Hotel)
- Pick up time: 0845 hrs (Sabah Hotel), 0915 hrs (Sepilok Jungle Resort)
- Suggested arrival flight: MH2042 0700hrs depart Kota Kinabalu, arrive at Sandakan Airport 0750hrs
The trip price is valid for trips taken up to 31st December 2022.
Wendy Farrington –
We had a fabulous day trip to the cave and Kinabantang river.
Robert our guide was fantastic, very helpful, very knowledgeable and very enthusiastic. Our driver was extremely cautious, which made us feel very safe and was very reassuring after a long, wet drive back to our accommodation.
The lunch location was lovely and the food was very welcome.
As for the river trip, we were extremely lucky and saw so many different animals. We thoroughly enjoyed the excursion and had a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend “Borneo Dream” to friends.
Brett T Nsw central coast (TripAdvisor) –
Amazing visit to Sandakan – Borneo Dream organised our day tour to Sepilok to see the orangutan rehabilitation centre, the sun bear rescue centre, Tabuk Bay proboscis monkey sanctuary and other sights around Sandakan. Amazing, full on day with wonderful guide and drive. Highly recommended