Board your flight this evening and begin your journey to Sabah. Depending on your routing you’ll likely connect via Kuala Lumpur before arriving in Kota Kinabalu (KK), Sabah’s lively coastal capital. Meet your local leader at the airport and transfer to your hotel to unwind, stretch your legs and enjoy your first taste of Malaysian Bornean cuisine.

Join in an orientation about the week ahead and get to know your local leaders over breakfast. After breakfast we take a short boat ride to the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Spend the morning snorkeling among coral gardens at Mamutik or Sapi Island! Keep an eye out for clownfish, reef fish and sea turtles today. Return to Kota Kinabalu for a late lunch, then enjoy a relaxed afternoon exploring the city. As evening falls, wander the lively waterfront and the central fresh-seafood stalls where chefs grill the day’s catch, a perfect introduction to Sabah’s food culture.

oin in an orientation about the program ahead and get to know your local leaders over breakfast. We depart KK by road this morning and head inland toward the dramatic slopes of Mount Kinabalu. Stop in Kundasang to visit botanical gardens famed for pitcher plants and other highland flora; take a short guided walk through montane forest to learn about endemic species and the mountain’s role in local culture. Enjoy a scenic lunch with mountain views before continuing to Sepilok/Sandakan region by mid-afternoon.

Begin with a visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn these intelligent and vulnerable species and the centre’s rescue work. In the afternoon, visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to observe semi-wild and rescued orangutans at the feeding platform and learn about rehabilitation, release and research programs. Join a guided talk from a centre educator on human–wildlife conflict and rehabilitation and then spend the evening at your eco-lodge; dusk may bring hornbills and other forest birds to the canopy.

Over the next two days you’ll contribute to a range of meaningful and hands-on learning activities with the local community. You’ll take part in service projects that support ongoing environmental or social initiatives which may include tree planting, beach clean-ups, assisting with community gardens, or helping with local education programs. As all our service initiatives are community-led, with project specifics confirmed closer to the date based on community needs.
In between activities, spend time learning about daily life and traditions through shared meals, storytelling, or cultural workshops. This is a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the local culture, exchange perspectives, and contribute in a small but lasting way to the community’s sustainability efforts.

This morning we transfer to the Kinabatangan River. After settling into a riverside ecolodge, take a late-afternoon river cruise through the mangrove and riverine forest to spot proboscis monkeys, macaques, pygmy elephants, monitor lizards and a rich variety of birdlife. The sounds of the jungle at dusk are unforgettable.

Immerse yourself in the heart of Borneo’s wildlife corridor and connect with the local communities who call the Kinabatangan River home. Journey deep into the floodplain from Sepilok to your riverside ecolodge, where the adventure begins with an introduction to village life and local conservation efforts. Cruise the river at dawn and dusk to spot proboscis monkeys, hornbills, crocodiles, and, with luck, pygmy elephants. Trek through lush jungle trails alongside expert local guides, learning about medicinal plants, traditional uses of the forest, and the delicate balance between people and nature. Participate in a hands-on community project such as tree planting, river clean-ups, or supporting village education initiatives, and gain insight into sustainable living along the river. Share meals and stories with local families, experience traditional cooking or handicrafts, and fall asleep to the chorus of the rainforest. This three-day journey offers an authentic blend of wildlife exploration, environmental stewardship, and cultural exchange.

We travel toward Gomantong Caves, a spectacular limestone system known for its towering swallow-nest chambers. Learn about traditional edible-bird’s-nest harvesting (from a safe viewpoint) and the cave’s ecological importance. Continue to Selingan (Turtle) Island in the afternoon via boat to a protected seabird and turtle sanctuary where you’ll learn about nesting cycles and conservation efforts.

At night (or pre-dawn, season permitting) witness sea turtles coming ashore to lay eggs. Visit the island’s hatchery to see newly hatched turtles if timing allows, then return to Sandakan or Sepilok after breakfast. In the afternoon choose from optional visits: the Rainforest Discovery Centre for canopy walks and a night safari, or a short heritage walk around Sandakan to learn about the region’s WWII history and multicultural communities.

Spend a relaxed morning packing in any last wildlife sightings or souvenir shopping. Transfer to Sandakan or Kota Kinabalu airport where you will bid farewell to your program leaders for your onward flight home, carrying new knowledge of Sabah’s forests, wildlife and conservation communities and many unforgettable memories.

Arrive home this morning - We hope you enjoyed your time in Malaysian Borneo!