Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Borneo: Sarawak and Sabah, from Kuching and Mulu to the Kinabatangan
13 days from Kuching to Sandakan: Bako and Semenggoh, two nights in Gunung Mulu for the caves and the bat exodus, Kota Kinabalu, Kinabalu Park, Sepilok and two nights on the Kinabatangan River.
13 days · Kuching to Sandakan · up to 12 guests
Mount Santubong on the coast north of Kuching Photo: Esther Siaw, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cove_55_surroundings,_Kuching,_Sarawak,_Malaysia.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 13 days, 12 nights
- Start and end
- Kuching to Sandakan
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Mostly boardwalks, cave paths and short forest trails, with time in boats. The longest walks are a plank path of about 3 km each way to Deer Cave at Mulu, about 200 steps up to and inside Clearwater Cave, and up to 2 hours on the trails near Kinabalu Park headquarters at about 1,560 m. Heat and humidity are the main effort. Every demanding day has an easy option, and you can sit any walk out.
- Meals included
- 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 5 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 990 (estimated price)
- Season
- March to October
Highlights
Why this trip
- Millions of bats pouring out of Deer Cave at dusk in Gunung Mulu, with a second evening if rain stops the first
- The Mulu canopy skywalk on the first morning slot, then a longboat up the Melinau River to Wind and Clearwater caves
- Proboscis monkeys and bearded pigs on the beaches and trails of Bako National Park
- Orangutans at the morning feeding in Semenggoh, then lunch in a Bidayuh longhouse at Annah Rais
- An early boat to the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and an afternoon at Mari Mari Cultural Village
- Mount Kinabalu at first light after an afternoon on the easy trails of Kinabalu Park
- Sepilok's orangutans and the rescued sun bears next door
- Two nights on the Kinabatangan River with boat safaris at dusk and at dawn
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 990 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Kuching
Kuching International Airport to your hotel on the waterfront
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Kuching
- Drive about 30 min
Fly into Kuching International Airport (KCH), about 11 km from the centre, where a driver meets you for the ride to your hotel near the Sarawak River. Kuching is the capital of Sarawak, a low-rise riverside city of shophouses, Chinese temples and colonial buildings from the years when the Brooke family ruled Sarawak. If you land early, walk the waterfront promenade, cross the Darul Hana pedestrian bridge to the riverside Fort Margherita, or look into the Borneo Cultural Museum.
Evening
In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a briefing on the days ahead: the domestic flights and their baggage limit, what to wear in caves and forest, and how we plan around the best hours for wildlife. Then we walk to a welcome dinner of Sarawak dishes, perhaps laksa Sarawak, midin fern and grilled fish, and take the little sampan ferry across the river afterwards if anyone wants to see the waterfront lit up.
Included
- Pick-up at Kuching International Airport (KCH)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Activity: Plan to land by about 4 pm to join the briefing; later arrivals are met and briefed the next morning.
Bako National Park
Kuching to Kampung Bako by road, then by boat to Bako National Park and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Kuching
- Drive about 1.5 h
Bako is Sarawak's oldest national park, a sandstone peninsula of cliffs, beaches, mangroves and heath forest at the mouth of the Bako River, and there is no road in.
Morning
We drive about 45 minutes to the jetty at Kampung Bako after breakfast and take a boat of around 20 minutes across the bay, with Mount Santubong rising on the far shore. Boat times depend on the tide, so your guide sets the start the day before. At the park headquarters a park guide joins us on a short trail through the forest to a beach, looking for proboscis monkeys, which are found only on Borneo, silvered langurs and the bearded pigs that wander the beaches.
Afternoon
Lunch is at the park canteen.
Evening
We head back while the tide allows, usually by mid-afternoon, and the rest of the day is free in Kuching: the old bazaar on Main Bazaar street, the Tua Pek Kong temple, or a rest before dinner on your own.
Included
- Return boat to Bako National Park, with entry
- Guided walk with a park guide to a beach on the Telok Paku or a similar short trail
- Lunch at the park
Easier option: Stay on the boardwalks near park headquarters, where proboscis monkeys often feed in the mangroves.
More active option: A longer loop of 3 to 4 hours over the plateau with the park guide, in place of the short trail.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Kuching; dinner on your own
Activity: Landing at Bako is from the boat onto the beach or a jetty, depending on the tide; wear shoes you can get wet. Do not feed or carry open food near the macaques. Sea crossings can be cancelled in rough weather, mostly in the monsoon months.
Semenggoh and a Bidayuh longhouse
Kuching to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, then Annah Rais and back to Kuching
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Kuching
- Drive about 2.5 h
Morning
We leave early for Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, about 24 km south of the city, to be at the platform for the morning feeding at about 9 am. Semenggoh's orangutans were rescued or born to rescued mothers and now live free in the surrounding reserve, so whether they come in for fruit depends on what is ripe in the forest; in fruiting season some mornings are quiet. From there we drive about 35 km on into the hills near the Indonesian border to Annah Rais, a Bidayuh longhouse community where families still live along a shared bamboo and timber veranda.
Afternoon
A local host shows us the longhouse and the head house, explains how the community farms and worships today, and we eat lunch with the family who host us.
Evening
We are back in Kuching by mid-afternoon, with the evening free for the night food stalls at Top Spot or a walk along the lit waterfront.
Included
- Semenggoh Wildlife Centre at the morning feeding, with entry
- Annah Rais Bidayuh longhouse visit with a local host, with the community fee
- Lunch at Annah Rais
Easier option: Stay on the level path at Semenggoh and skip the climb to the upper longhouse rooms.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Kuching; dinner on your own
Activity: Keep quiet at the platform, use no flash and stay well back from the orangutans. At the longhouse, ask before photographing people inside their homes.
Fly to Mulu: Deer Cave and the bats
Kuching to Gunung Mulu National Park by air, then on foot to Lang and Deer caves
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Gunung Mulu National Park
- Drive about 30 min
Gunung Mulu National Park has no road to the coast, so we fly from Kuching to the small airport at Mulu, a few minutes from the park gate, on the turboprop service (flight times vary by day; your guide confirms them before you leave home). Gunung Mulu was listed by UNESCO in 2000 for its limestone karst, caves and rainforest.
Afternoon
After checking in near the park, we meet our park guide in the afternoon and walk the 3 km plank path through the forest to Lang Cave, small but full of stalactites and columns, and then into Deer Cave, one of the largest cave passages known, where a path leads through the main chamber.
Evening
At dusk we wait at the bat observatory outside the cave mouth, when on most dry evenings hundreds of thousands of bats spiral out in long ribbons to feed. Rain can stop the exodus, which is why we have a second evening here. Dinner tonight is near the park.
Included
- Flight from Kuching (KCH) to Mulu (MZV)
- Gunung Mulu National Park entry
- Lang Cave and Deer Cave with a park guide
- The bat exodus at the Deer Cave observatory, weather permitting
- Dinner
Optional experiences
- Guided night walk from park headquarters, run by the park
Easier option: Visit Deer Cave only and wait at the observatory while the group sees Lang Cave.
Activity: About 6 km of flat plank path in total, plus paths and steps inside the caves. Bring a torch and rain jacket; the cave floors are wet and the guano smell in Deer Cave is strong.
Mulu: canopy, river and caves
Mulu canopy skywalk, then by longboat on the Melinau River to Wind and Clearwater caves
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Gunung Mulu National Park
- By boat
Morning
We start on the first morning slot of the canopy skywalk, about 480 m of walkway slung between the crowns of the forest trees, when birds are most active and the heat has not built. Places on the walkway are limited and we book them ahead. After a break we board longboats on the Melinau River, stopping at the Penan settlement of Batu Bungan, where families sell handicrafts at a small market. Upriver, a short path and steps lead into Wind Cave, named for the cool air that moves through it, and its chamber of stalactites. A little further on is Clearwater Cave, part of a long river cave system, reached by a flight of steps; inside, a path leads down to the underground river.
Afternoon
We have a picnic lunch by the clear pool at the cave mouth, where you can swim.
Evening
The afternoon is free at the lodge, and if rain stopped the bats yesterday we go back to the observatory at dusk.
Included
- Mulu canopy skywalk with a park guide
- Longboat on the Melinau River with a stop at Batu Bungan
- Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave with a park guide
- Picnic lunch at Clearwater
- A second evening at the bat observatory if needed
- Dinner
Optional experiences
- Guided night walk from park headquarters, run by the park
Easier option: Skip the canopy skywalk and join the group at the boat; at Clearwater, stay by the pool instead of climbing into the cave.
More active option: The Paku waterfall trail, about 3 hours return on a flat forest path, in the free afternoon with a park guide.
Free time: Afternoon free at the lodge
Activity: The skywalk is a narrow, swaying walkway at height and has a minimum age set by the park; tell us if heights trouble you. Expect about 200 steps at Clearwater.
Fly to Kota Kinabalu
Mulu to Kota Kinabalu by air, then to your hotel and the seafront
- Breakfast
- Stay in Kota Kinabalu
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
A slow morning: walk the boardwalk near park headquarters at first light, when hornbills and gibbons call, or simply rest. Then we fly from Mulu to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, on a direct flight on the days it runs or with a connection in Miri on the others, and are met at Kota Kinabalu International Airport for the short drive to the hotel. Sabah keeps its own immigration check, so your passport is stamped again.
Afternoon
Flights here are sometimes delayed, so nothing is fixed for the afternoon.
Evening
In the early evening, if the flight allows, your guide takes the group to the seafront at Tanjung Aru, a few kilometres from the centre, where locals come out to walk and eat as the sun sets behind the islands. Dinner is your own choice, at the beach stalls or back in the city at the waterfront night market.
Included
- Flight from Mulu (MZV) to Kota Kinabalu (BKI), direct or via Miri
- Transfers at both airports
- Sunset walk at Tanjung Aru with your guide
Easier option: Rest at the hotel instead of the sunset walk.
Free time: Afternoon free in Kota Kinabalu; dinner on your own
Activity: Any flight delay simply shortens the free afternoon. Keep the same baggage limit as the flight into Mulu.
Islands in the morning, Mari Mari in the afternoon
Kota Kinabalu to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park by boat, then Mari Mari Cultural Village
- Breakfast
- Stay in Kota Kinabalu
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
We walk to Jesselton Point after breakfast and take one of the first boats of the day to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, a marine park of five islands a short ride off the city.
Afternoon
Going early means calmer water and quieter beaches before the midday boats arrive. On Manukan or Sapi, depending on the sea, you can swim, snorkel over the reef with the gear we bring, or walk the short forest path across the island. We are back in the city around midday for a quick lunch on your own, then drive about 40 minutes into the hills to Mari Mari Cultural Village for the afternoon session. Local guides take us through traditional houses of several Sabah peoples, including the Kadazan-Dusun, Rungus and Murut, with demonstrations of rice wine, fire-making and blowpipes, tastings of local food and a dance performance at the end.
Evening
Evening free.
Included
- Return boat to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, with the park conservation fee
- Snorkel gear and time on Manukan or Sapi island
- Mari Mari Cultural Village afternoon session with local guides
Easier option: Stay on the beach in the shade, or skip Mari Mari and rest in the city.
Free time: Evening free in Kota Kinabalu; dinner on your own
Activity: Snorkelling is from the beach in shallow water and depends on the sea; life jackets are available.
Up into Kinabalu Park
Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu Park headquarters
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Kinabalu Park
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
We leave after breakfast and drive about two hours north-east, climbing over the foothills of the Crocker Range. On a clear morning the granite crown of Mount Kinabalu, 4,095 m and the highest peak in Malaysia, shows ahead long before we arrive, so we stop at the roadside stalls of Nabalu for the view and a coffee. Kinabalu Park was listed by UNESCO in 2000 for its plant life, from orchids to pitcher plants. The headquarters sit at about 1,560 m, where the air is cool and often misty.
Afternoon
After lunch in the park, a park guide walks us along the short trails near headquarters, through moss forest and along a stream, with the focus on plants and birds rather than distance. There is no summit climb on this trip.
Evening
The late afternoon and evening are free, and nights here are cool, so bring a warm layer.
Included
- Drive from Kota Kinabalu with a stop at the Nabalu viewpoint
- Kinabalu Park entry and a guided walk on the trails near headquarters with a park guide
- Lunch at Kinabalu Park
Easier option: Stay on the level paths near headquarters and the park garden.
More active option: A longer, steeper forest trail of 3 to 4 hours with the park guide, in place of the short loop.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free
Activity: No summit climb: Mount Kinabalu needs a permit and a mountain hut night booked well ahead. Nights at this height are about 13 to 18 C.
Kinabalu at first light, then east to Sepilok
Kinabalu Park to Kundasang, Ranau and Telupid, then Sepilok
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Sepilok
- Drive about 4.5 h
Morning
Get up for first light: the mountain is clearest early, before cloud gathers around the summit by mid-morning. After breakfast we stop at the Kundasang War Memorial, gardens made in memory of the Australian and British prisoners who died on the Sandakan death marches of 1945, a story we finish in Sandakan. Then comes the longest drive of the trip, about 220 km and four and a half hours of driving east via Ranau and Telupid. There is no shorter way: flying would mean driving two hours back to Kota Kinabalu first, and the day would be no shorter.
Afternoon
We break it with a sit-down lunch near Telupid, about halfway, and short stops as the hills give way to lowland forest and oil palm, which your guide explains. We reach Sepilok by mid-afternoon and walk the canopy walkway at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in its last open hours, when hornbills are often about.
Included
- Mount Kinabalu at first light
- Kundasang War Memorial
- Sit-down lunch near Telupid
- Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walkway
Easier option: Rest at the lodge on arrival instead of the canopy walkway.
Free time: Evening free in Sepilok
Activity: The one long road day: about four and a half hours of driving, broken by the memorial, lunch and short stops. Drive time is approximate and confirmed with our ground team before departure.
Sepilok, then down to the river
Sepilok to the lower Kinabatangan River
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Kinabatangan River
- Drive about 2.5 h
The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre was founded in 1964 to return orphaned and rescued orangutans to the forest. The animals range freely in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, so whether they come to the platform depends on them. We are on the boardwalk before the 10 am feeding, then watch the young orangutans in the outdoor nursery from the viewing gallery. Next door, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre cares for sun bears, the smallest bears in the world, most rescued from captivity; you watch them from walkways above their forest enclosures.
Afternoon
After a sit-down lunch we drive about two and a half hours to the lower Kinabatangan, Sabah's longest river, and settle into our riverside lodge for two nights. In the late afternoon we take the first boat safari, as proboscis monkeys gather in the riverside trees to sleep; your guide confirms the time on the day.
Included
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at the morning feeding, with the nursery viewing gallery
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Sit-down lunch at Sepilok
- Dusk boat safari on the Kinabatangan River
- Binoculars on loan for the river days
Easier option: Skip the Sun Bear Centre and rest at the lodge before lunch.
Activity: Easy walking on boardwalks. Keep quiet at the platforms, use no flash and never approach an orangutan. Boats have shade and life jackets.
Dawn and dusk on the Kinabatangan
A full day at the lodge and on the river
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Kinabatangan River
- By boat
The boat leaves at about 6 am, when mist still lies on the water and the forest is loudest: gibbons calling, hornbills crossing the river, macaques feeding on the banks.
Morning
We are back for breakfast as the heat builds. The Lower Kinabatangan is a protected wildlife sanctuary of forest strips and oxbow lakes, squeezed by plantations, so animals concentrate along the river; that is why it is a good place to look, and why we watch from a distance. Late morning there is a short guided walk near the lodge to look at insects, plants and tracks. The middle of the day is free to rest. At about 4 pm we go out again, this time into a narrow side stream where the boat can drift close to the banks. Pygmy elephants move along the river in herds and are seen some weeks and not others.
Evening
After dinner a lodge guide leads a night walk.
Included
- Dawn boat safari
- Guided walk near the lodge
- Afternoon boat safari into a side stream
- Guided night walk with a lodge guide
Optional experiences
- Night boat cruise, run by the lodge when the river allows
Easier option: Skip the late-morning walk and the night walk and rest at the lodge between the two boat trips.
More active option: Add the night boat cruise after dinner.
Free time: Middle of the day free at the lodge
Activity: Leech socks help on forest walks after rain. Boat crews keep their distance and cut the engine near animals. In the monsoon months the river can run high; then the lodge keeps to the safest stretches.
Gomantong and Sandakan
Kinabatangan River to Gomantong Cave, then Sandakan
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Sandakan
- Drive about 2.5 h
Afternoon
An optional last dawn boat for anyone who wants it, then breakfast and lunch at the lodge before we leave. About half an hour away is Gomantong, a limestone cave system where swiftlets build the nests that local collectors harvest under licence. A short boardwalk leads through forest to the Black Cave, dark, humid and strong with guano; in the harvest seasons access can be limited, and then we walk the forest boardwalk and visit the visitor centre instead. From there it is about two hours to Sandakan. We stop at the Sandakan Memorial Park, on the site of the prisoner of war camp from which the death marches to Ranau began in 1945; of about 2,400 prisoners held here, only six survived, all of them escapees.
Evening
Then we check into our hotel in town, with time to walk the waterfront before a farewell dinner together overlooking Sandakan Bay.
Included
- Dawn boat safari (optional to join)
- Lunch at the lodge
- Gomantong Cave with a local guide
- Sandakan Memorial Park
- Farewell dinner
Easier option: Sleep in instead of the dawn boat; wait at the Gomantong visitor area instead of walking into the cave.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Sandakan
Activity: Inside the cave the boardwalk is wet and slippery; wear closed shoes you do not mind getting dirty.
Sandakan and home
Sandakan to Sandakan Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
The last morning is yours. Have a slow breakfast, then walk up the stairs to Agnes Keith House, where the American author of Land Below the Wind lived before and after the war, for the view over the bay, or wander the central market by the harbour, where fish, fruit and dried seafood come in from the Sulu Sea.
Evening
Your guide will have checked your flight the evening before. A driver takes you to Sandakan Airport (SDK), about 11 km and 20 minutes from town, at the time that suits your flight. There are daily flights from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur for connections home, so book an onward flight leaving from about midday onwards to keep the morning unhurried. If you want more time in Malaysia, ask us about extra nights or a connection to our Kuala Lumpur and Penang trip.
Included
- Drop-off at Sandakan Airport (SDK)
Free time: Free until your airport transfer
Activity: Book your flight out of Sandakan (SDK), not Kota Kinabalu; any departure from about midday works.
- Kuching3 nights
- Gunung Mulu National Park2 nights
- Kota Kinabalu2 nights
- Kinabalu Park1 night
- Sepilok1 night
- Kinabatangan River2 nights
- Sandakan1 night
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Borneo is hot and humid all year, with showers most afternoons. March to October is drier. From November to February the monsoon brings heavier rain, Kuching is wettest around December and January, and the Kinabatangan can flood. Rain can stop the Mulu bat exodus on a given evening, which is why we stay two. When forest fruit is plentiful, fewer orangutans come to the feeding platforms.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want both Sarawak and Sabah in one trip, with flights doing the long hauls
- Anyone who wants the Mulu caves and bat exodus with two nights to catch it
- Wildlife lovers happy with dawn boats and boardwalks rather than camping
- First-time visitors to Borneo who want culture as well as nature
Not for you if you want
- Anyone who wants to climb Mount Kinabalu
- Travellers who need a guaranteed sighting of orangutans, bats or elephants
- Those who dislike small aircraft or a strict baggage limit
- A beach holiday: there is one island morning
- Step-free access: boats, steps and forest trails throughout
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
12 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Kuching3 nights
- Gunung Mulu National Park2 nights
- Kota Kinabalu2 nights
- Kinabalu Park1 night
- Sepilok1 night
- Kinabatangan River2 nights
- Sandakan1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 12 nights: 3 in Kuching, 2 at Gunung Mulu National Park, 2 in Kota Kinabalu, 1 at Kinabalu Park, 1 in Sepilok, 2 at a lodge on the Kinabatangan River and 1 in Sandakan
- Hotels of a 3-star-plus standard, central in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan; lodges near the park gates at Mulu, Kinabalu and Sepilok; a river lodge with private rooms and bathrooms; we name each when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Kuching International Airport (KCH) and drop-off at Sandakan Airport (SDK)
- The flights from Kuching (KCH) to Mulu (MZV) and from Mulu (MZV) to Kota Kinabalu (BKI), with airport transfers
- Our own air-conditioned vehicle and driver in Kuching and from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
- Boats to Bako National Park, on the Melinau River at Mulu and to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
- Boat safaris on the Kinabatangan River: dusk, dawn and a side stream, plus an optional last dawn
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from day 1 to day 13, including on both flights
- Park guides at Bako, Gunung Mulu and Kinabalu Park, a local host at Annah Rais, local guides at Mari Mari and Gomantong, and lodge guides on the river
Activities
- Kuching: Bako National Park with a park guide, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre at the morning feeding, Annah Rais longhouse
- Gunung Mulu: Lang and Deer caves, the bat exodus, the canopy skywalk, the Melinau longboat, Batu Bungan, Wind and Clearwater caves
- Kota Kinabalu: Tunku Abdul Rahman Park with snorkel gear, Mari Mari Cultural Village, the Tanjung Aru sunset walk
- Kinabalu Park: entry, a guided walk with a park guide, first light on the mountain and the Kundasang War Memorial
- Sepilok: the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walkway
- Kinabatangan River: boat safaris, a guided walk and a night walk
- Gomantong Cave and Sandakan Memorial Park
- Binoculars on loan for the river days
- All park, conservation, community, entry and camera fees for included visits
Meals
- 12 breakfasts
- 8 lunches, including at Bako, Annah Rais, the Clearwater picnic, Kinabalu Park and on the road to Sepilok
- 6 dinners: a welcome dinner, two at Mulu, two at the river lodge and a farewell dinner
Not included
- International flights to Kuching and from Sandakan
- Visa, if your passport needs one
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide, driver, park guides and boat crews
- Optional activities, such as the Mulu night walk and the Kinabatangan night cruise
- Excess baggage on the domestic flights
- Personal expenses
- A Mount Kinabalu summit climb
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 990 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Twelve nights in hotels and lodges, 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 6 dinners, the flights from Kuching to Mulu and from Mulu to Kota Kinabalu, airport transfers, our own vehicle and driver, every boat in the day plan, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, and every visit with its park, entry and camera fees, including the Mulu canopy skywalk.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so the whole group fits in one boat on the Kinabatangan and the Melinau, boards small aircraft together, and stays quiet at the orangutan platforms.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from Kuching to Sandakan, including on both flights. Park guides lead us in Bako, Mulu and Kinabalu Park, a local host welcomes us at Annah Rais, and lodge guides and boat crews lead the river safaris.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Most walking is on boardwalks and short forest trails, with a plank path of about 3 km each way to Deer Cave and about 200 steps at Clearwater Cave. Heat and humidity are the main effort. Every demanding day has an easy option, and you can sit any walk out.
Why are there two one-night stops in Sabah?
Kinabalu Park and Sepilok get one night each so the crossing of Sabah never needs a road day over about four and a half hours. Both days arrive by mid-afternoon, so there is time to walk before dark. Every other base, Kuching, Mulu, Kota Kinabalu and the river lodge, gets two or three nights.
Will we see the bats at Mulu?
Very likely, but not certainly. The bats leave Deer Cave at dusk on most dry evenings, and heavy rain can stop or delay them. That is why we spend two nights at Mulu: if the first evening is washed out, we go back to the observatory the next evening.
Will we see orangutans and pygmy elephants?
Probably orangutans, possibly elephants, but no one can promise either. The orangutans at Semenggoh and Sepilok are semi-wild and fewer come to the platforms when forest fruit is plentiful, which is why we visit both. Elephant herds move along the Kinabatangan and are seen some weeks and not others.
I am travelling solo. What will it cost?
Solo travellers pay the same trip price plus a single supplement of CAD 990 for a room of their own, shown up front with no surprise at checkout. If you would rather share, ask us when you book. Solo guests get the same rooms, seats, boats and tables as everyone else.
When is the best time to go to Borneo?
March to October is drier and the best time for this trip. From November to February the monsoon brings heavier rain, Kuching is wettest around December and January, and the Kinabatangan can flood, so we run fewer departures then. It is hot and humid all year.
Do I need a visa for Malaysian Borneo?
Citizens of Canada, the US, the UK and most of Europe do not need a visa for a tourist stay. Fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card before you land. Sarawak and Sabah each run their own immigration check, so expect a passport stamp in Kuching and another on arrival in Sabah.
How much luggage can I bring on the internal flights?
Pack light. The flights into and out of Mulu use small aircraft with a strict limit, usually about 20 kg checked and 7 kg in the cabin; we confirm the exact allowance when we book. A soft bag is easiest, and excess baggage is paid at the airport.
How does booking work?
Choose a start date and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken until we do. Prices are per person sharing a room, with taxes; the small group starts from CAD 5,815 and the private trip from CAD 10,465.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The private style is for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide, vehicle and boats. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote a comparable route.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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