13-Day Borneo: Wildlife Photography Tour

Dates: 24th July to 5th August 2027
Group Size: minimum of 5, maximum of 6.
Cost: £6,695 per person (single supplement of £1,495)
Deposit: A non-refundable £1,500 deposit required at time of booking.
Meals: Full Board included (all meals and bottled water).

Itinerary & Accommodation

(Note: International flights must depart the UK on Friday 23rd July 2027 to arrive for Day 1)

2 Nights: Sepilok Forest Edge Resort

Day 1: Arrival in Sandakan, where you will meet your private guide and driver for the 30-minute transfer to Sepilok. Check into the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort, enjoy a welcome dinner, and rest after the long journey.

Day 2: We start early with a visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to photograph the world’s smallest bear species. Afterwards, we head next door to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to explore the forest boardwalks during morning feeding and visit the outdoor nursery where young orangutans play. After lunch at the lodge, we spend the afternoon at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), utilising the spectacular canopy walkway for eye-level bird and wildlife photography. As darkness falls, we embark on a private night walk at the RDC in search of elusive nocturnal frogs, insects, and owls.

2 Nights: Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort (Abai)

Day 3: A final morning session at the Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walkway to capture early morning bird activity. We return to the lodge to check out and transfer to the Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty for our private 12:00 PM boat departure. The 1.5-hour boat journey crosses Sandakan Bay, passing historical islands and local fishing villages before arriving at our luxury eco-lodge. After lunch and a rest, we board a smaller boat for a private afternoon river cruise down the Kinabatangan River, photographing wildlife against a classic Bornean sunset. We will watch thousands of fireflies illuminate the riverbanks before returning for dinner and a night walk along the resort's boardwalks.

Day 4: An early morning river cruise at 6:30 AM takes us to the misty Pitas Oxbow Lake to catch the river system waking up. We return to the lodge for breakfast and a relaxing midday break on the nature boardwalks. At 4:00 PM, we head out for another private afternoon boat cruise to track wild orangutans, pygmy elephants, and proboscis monkeys along the riverbanks. Following dinner, we embark on a night jungle walk to target sleeping birds and nocturnal tree-dwellers.

2 Nights: Hornbill Lodge (Bilit)

Day 5: We check out of our lodge and transfer further upriver by boat to the village of Bilit. Check into Hornbill Lodge, settle into your river chalet, and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, a short boat ride and overland transfer takes us to the colossal Gomantong Caves. We will explore the reserve and enter the bat cave, positioning ourselves at dusk to photograph the breathtaking bat exodus, where over one million bats stream out into the evening sky to feed. After dinner back at the lodge, we head out on a night walk hoping to capture rare images of slow loris, western tarsiers, and civets.

Day 6: Wake up at the crack of dawn to photograph the river while it is shrouded in atmospheric morning mist. We take a morning boat cruise as the jungle comes alive, returning to the lodge for a full breakfast spread. After a midday rest, we return for an exclusive afternoon session at Gomantong Caves to witness the dusk bat exodus from a different vantage point. After dinner, we take to the water for a private night cruise to look for nocturnal crocodiles, owls, and kingfishers sleeping along the river branches.

2 Nights: Tabin Wildlife Resort

Day 7: Following an early breakfast, we transfer overland to Lahad Datu and onward into the rugged Tabin Wildlife Reserve (a 2.5-hour journey). After checking into our riverside chalets, we explore the surrounding reserve trails, which are teeming with endemic birds and small mammals. In the afternoon, we trek down the Elephant Trail to the active Lipad mud volcano, a natural mineral salt lick that attracts a wide variety of wildlife. We will climb the elevated viewing tower for clear photographic angles over the bare mineral area. After dinner, we embark on a night safari drive using spotlights to search for active nocturnal predators.

Day 8: We join an early morning bird walk to look for some of Tabin's 300 bird species, including spectacular hornbills. After breakfast, we take a safari drive to the reserve's core area for wildlife spotting, followed by a rainforest trek to the Lipad Waterfall. You can take a refreshing dip in the natural waterfall pool or photograph the lush surrounding vegetation. In the afternoon, indulge in a traditional Tabin Rainforest Foot Soak made from local wild herbs to relax your muscles. We conclude the day with a dedicated dusk safari drive and a post-dinner night trail walk.

4 Nights: Danum Valley Field Center (Deluxe Resthouse)

Day 9: We leave Tabin after an early breakfast and transfer back to Lahad Datu for a midday lunch stop. From the office, we switch into rugged 4x4 vehicles for a 2.5-hour deep-dive drive into the world-renowned Danum Valley—a pristine primary rainforest millions of years old. After checking into our deluxe resthouse rooms at the Danum Valley Field Center (DVFC), we head out for an introductory mid-afternoon walk. The area surrounding the research station is famous for wild orangutans, gibbons, and hornbills. After dinner, we head out for a private night safari drive to search for flying squirrels and wild cats.

Day 10, 11 & 12: On each of these three full days, our schedule is entirely optimised around the best light and maximum wildlife activity. We start with breakfast in the dining hall followed by a comprehensive, 4-hour guided morning trek through the towering primary rainforest trails. We return to the center for lunch and a midday rest during the harshest light. In the cooler mid-afternoon, we head back out for a 2-hour evening trek to capture canopy activity. Every evening after dinner, we venture into the darkness for a guided night walk to look for glowing fungi, masterfully camouflaged insects, tarsiers, and roosting birds.

Day 13: We wake up early for a final morning wildlife photography session around the field center as the valley mists dissipate. After breakfast, we pack up our gear and check out at 9:30 AM for our private 4x4 transfer back to Lahad Datu Airport for your onward journey home.

As this is wildlife photography, please allow for some minor changes in the itinerary depending on what I and the local guide think is best to maximise our chances for photography.