Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge – Join a 2 Day Trip (Kinabatangan Nature Lodge), Sabah, Borneo
The 2D1N Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip is a great choice for seeing wildlife if you only have limited time available and seeing an amazing array of wildlife is on your ‘to-do’ list during your holiday in Sabah, Borneo. During this Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge trip, you will stay overnight at the Kinabatangan Nature Lodge located in the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. The Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge is located on the banks of the Kinabatangan River, close to Bilit Village, a perfect location for starting your river cruises.
During your 2D1N Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip, you will join two river cruises (one in the afternoon, one in the early morning), one night trek in the rainforest in search of nocturnal wildlife, a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and a visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Phew! At Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, you will watch the morning feeding session, where rehabilitating Orangutans visit to collect their morning snack. After lunch, on your first day, you will then be transferred to your Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge located along the Kinabatangan River, Kinabatangan Nature Lodge. From the Lodge, you will join river cruises along the Kinabatangan River with a Nature Guide in search of wildlife and birds.
Wildlife Encounters Galore during a Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Adventure, Sabah
There are plenty of opportunities to spot the different species of primates along the Kinabatangan River, including the Proboscis Monkey and Macaques. There is also an amazing range of birdlife along the Kinabatangan River, including numerous species of Hornbills, Kingfishers and more. If you are lucky, you might see the critically endangered “Borneo Pygmy Elephants” along the river bank.
During your Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge trip, you will stay overnight at Kinabatangan Nature Lodge located on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. The Lodge offers comfortable, clean accommodation in private chalets. You will stay in an Agamid Chalet (twin or double bed, air-conditioning and ensuite shower room). If you’re looking for high-quality accommodation for your stay along the Kinabatangan River, check out our 2D1N package at the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort.
For nature and wildlife lovers, this 2D1N Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip also works well when combined with a trek through the pristine Sepilok Forest Reserve as part of the 3D2N Sepilok Trek & Kinabatangan River Trip or followed by joining the 4D3N Danum Valley Package.
Trip Itinerary – 2D1N Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip (Kinabatangan Nature Lodge), Sabah, Malaysia
Day 1 (Meals: L & D)
8:00hrs – 9:00hrs: You will be collected from your hotel within Sandakan or at Sandakan Airport (you need to book a flight that arrives at Sandakan Airport before 8:00hrs) or near Sepilok. You will be transferred by minibus/coach to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
1000hrs: Visit Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. At this world-renowned centre, come face to face with human’s closest relatives, the Orangutans. Orangutans share 97% of the same DNA as humans. The Orangutans’ feeding time is at 1000 hrs. While Orangutan rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok, present aims include public education on conservation and research and assistance for other endangered species (such as captive breeding of the endangered Rhinoceros).
11:30hrs – 12:00hrs: After the feeding session at Sepilok, proceed for lunch at a local restaurant in the Sepilok area.
13:00hrs: After lunch, you will be transferred to a Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge called Nature Lodge, which is located in the Lower Kinabatangan River Sanctuary. The journey will take approximately 2 hours, passing by Kota Kinabatangan town and also oil palm plantations. Once you arrive at Kampung Bilit, you will then transfer to Kinabatangan Nature Lodge, just 3 mins by boat transfer across the River. Welcome drinks will be served upon arrival.
15:00hrs: On arrival at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge, you will have a welcome briefing, including an orientation of the Lodge and the surrounding area. Check into your chalet within the Agamid Wing of Kinabatangan Nature Lodge. Join the afternoon river cruise at 16:00hrs to search for wildlife and bird life along the Kinabatangan river banks. Return to the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge around 18:00hrs to freshen up and then enjoy dinner at the Lodge restaurant in the midst of the Kampung Bilit secondary jungle.
As an optional extra during your Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge tour, you can choose to join a short local dance session after dinner before you join your night trek. During this activity, you will learn a traditional dance from one of the tribes found in Sabah, such as Sumazau (a KadazanDusun dance) or daling daling (a Bajau dance).
After dinner, go for a guided night walk behind the Lodge to enjoy the wilderness and watch sleeping birds and nocturnal creatures of the jungle.
Overnight at the Kinabatangan Nature Lodge in an Agamid Chalet (with twin or double bed, aircon and ensuite Shower Room). Click here to see photos of the accommodation for the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge trip.
Day 2 (Meals: B)
06:00hrs: Join an early morning river cruise to see more birds and wildlife.
07:00hrs: Return to the Kinabatangan riverside lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, you will proceed to check out of your Chalet.
08:30hrs: Start your transfer by minibus/coach back to the Sepilok area.
10.30 – 11.00hrs: Arrive at the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Embark on a journey along the Rainforest Skywalk, Sabah’s longest canopy walk, and soak in panoramic views across the rainforest canopy. Hopefully, you’ll see some of the exotic birds found here and possibly a sighting of an Orangutan. You’ll join a guided walk along one of the marked trails to visit “Old Sepilok,” the tallest tree at the centre. It’s like meeting a giant from the rainforest’s ancient past. If time permits, you will also visit the botanical garden and see some of the endemic flowers of Borneo.
12.30 – 13.00hrs: Continue your journey back to Sandakan and transfer to either your hotel or Sandakan Airport (recommended flight AK6497 ETD 2.50 pm or later). We hope you’ve enjoyed your Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip.
Trip Pre-requisites – 2D1N Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip (Kinabatangan Nature Lodge), Sabah, Malaysia
This 2D1N Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge trip is open to all.
Trip Inclusions – 2D1N Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip
- Return road transfer from Sandakan or Sepilok area and return boat transfers to the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge from Kampung Bilit.
- Meals (1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch & 1 Dinner).
- Visits & entrance fees to Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre visit and the Rainforest Discovery Centre.
- At the Kinabatangan River: 2 x river cruises (1 morning & 1 late afternoon), 1 x guided night nature walk. The Kinabatangan River cruises included with this trip will travel as far upstream as ~7km to Pontian Point and downstream a maximum of ~ 10 km to Tenegang Besar Point.
- 1-night accommodation in an Agamid chalet (twin/double/triple beds, ensuite shower room and toilet, aircon) within the Agamid Wing of Kinabatangan Nature Lodge.
- Guided throughout your trip by an English-speaking licensed, experienced and friendly Nature Guide.
- Access to free-flow coffee/tea and fresh water at the restaurant at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.
- 0% Sales & Service Tax on the tour price as applicable from 6th May 2019.
Trip Exclusions – Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip
Camera/video conservation fee at Sepilok Sanctuary (RM10 per item) and the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RM10 per item), soft drinks or alcoholic drinks, and flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan. There is a single supplement of RM212.00 on top of the trip price if you book this trip on your own (for single sharing a Chalet). The new Tourism Tax – the Tourism Tax is currently set with a flat rate of RM 10 per room per night and will be charged to Non-Malaysian or Foreign tourists from 1st September 2017.
Upgrades are available for this tour – see add-on options above. Tour price is based on joining a shared trip.
Recommended Packing List – Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip
To get the most from this trip, please bring with you a raincoat, cap/hat, insect repellent, sun cream, good walking shoes, a comfortable cotton T-shirt, long sleeve top, long or short trousers, binoculars for observing wildlife, a head torch for night trek, 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 – 2D1N Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge Trip (Kinabatangan Nature Lodge), Sabah, Malaysia
If weather, or other factors (e.g. landslide), makes an activity unsafe, the Lodge will adapt the trip itinerary for safety reasons. There will be no refund if a trip itinerary needs to be adapted on the day due to safety reasons.
The Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge trip price is valid for trips taken up to 31st December 2023.
Emily Somova (verified owner) –
We had a great trip. The guides were great, and Alan the driver was fantastic. I liked that we didn’t feel rushed at any point.
Kate Whitehead –
Everything about my Kinabatangan River trip was fabulous. The booking process online was easy and my emailed enquiries were all answered promptly.
The pickup from Sandakan airport was well organised and meant that the start of the trip was hassle free. The visit to Sepilok was great, made rather exciting when a big dominant male orangutan came quite close!! It was amazing to be able to see the mature orangutans without glass or fences.
I was made to feel very welcome on arrival at the Riverside Lodge and my little chalet was very cozy. All the activities at the lodge were organised very efficiently, with the use of a gong to announce the start of an outing or meal, meaning that I didn’t have to stress about clock watching too much.
The afternoon and morning speed boat trips on the river were the highlight of the trip for me. The river is stunningly beautiful and the guides were so good at spotting wildlife. We saw wild orangutans which actually made me feel quite emotional! If I could have had full flexibility I would have much preferred to have an extra river trip and not go to the cave. Although the cave was interesting it was nothing like as fantastic as the river.
Every single member of staff I had contact with on the tour, including guides, drivers, catering staff and Lodge staff, was lovely. Everyone was helpful and welcoming. The food was all delicious and I was well catered for as a vegetarian.
A big thank you to everyone 🙂
Michael Wells –
I had a wonderful time and got very lucky to see the pigmy elephant. Which was reason for this short tour. I had left my passport in the room and they called our guide right away and got it to me before we got far away. Very happy with the guide I had for the boat rides and cave. Very good job on the booking end with info and follow ups.
Peter F (TripAdvisor) –
An amazing experience. – We were blessed with clear blue skies as we sailed across to the island followed by baby turtles hatching right next to us on the beach and scrambling to the sea. The highlight was at 9pm when a nesting turtle came up onto the beach to lay her eggs, we were able to get so close to watch this amazing site. The babies from the hatchery were then released under the moonlight, truly unforgettable. Don’t expect a 5-star resort as that is not what you go for, a once in a lifetime experience, however, you are guaranteed to have.
Fi-JN123 Staffordshire, United Kingdom (TripAdvisor) –
Amazing trip! – We loved the river cruise and saw lots of wildlife including proboscis monkeys. I’d definitely recommend Borneo Dreams. The team were very easy to contact before the trip and got back to me quickly answering any queries I had. On the day of the trip, we were picked up on time by a friendly driver. Once we got to the river lodges we were greeted with smiles from efficient staff. The guide on the cruise was informative and ridiculously good at spotting wildlife (i’m not sure how he did it!). After the cruise I asked if it would be possible to head straight back to Sandakan and skip dinner as we’d had a long day and the next day was also going to be packed full. The staff organised this quickly.
Every step of the trip felt well organised and the staff were all friendly and welcoming. I wouldn’t change a thing about our trip and couldn’t be more impressed with the service we received.
Jon Cross –
Excellent trip – very smoothly run and highly recommended