3D2N Kinabatangan river safari
Two nights, four river cruises, jungle and night walks in search of proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and orang-utans. From RM1300 per person.
Our recommended minimum stay
Join us at Hornbill Lodge for 2 nights and experience 4 wildlife cruises, jungle walks and night walks in search of proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, orang-utans, tarsiers, wild cats and more! This budget-friendly option departs daily from Sandakan or Sepilok and is a great way to maximise your time at the Kinabatangan river without breaking the bank.
Note: there is no guided visit of the Sepilok sanctuaries included in this tour. If you would like to visit the sanctuaries with us then we recommend the 3D2N Sepilok & Kinabatangan river safari.
Your Itinerary Day By Day
01
Day 1 · Sandakan or Sepilok to the Kinabatangan
Your day will start with pick up from Sandakan hotels, Sandakan airport or the Sepilok area between 12pm and 1pm. Make sure to have something to eat before pick up or bring some snacks for the journey, as the estimated transfer time to the Kinabatangan river is 2 to 2.5 hours.
Upon arrival, check into your room and enjoy tea, coffee and snacks at our restaurant overlooking the river before embarking on your first river cruise at 4pm. Over the next 2 hours, your guide will be on the lookout for proboscis monkeys, long-tail & pig-tail macaques, silver leaf monkeys, orang-utans, crocodiles, birds and more!
After your river cruise, return to the lodge for dinner before joining your guide on an included night walk.
Meals: dinner
02
Day 2 · A full day on the river
As day dawns, join your second river cruise and watch as the river comes to life. Keep an eye out for bird life including Borneo’s endemic hornbills and have another chance to spot multiple species of primates.
Return to the lodge for breakfast then join your guide for a jungle walk looking for signs of orang-utans such as nests in the trees, or even orang-utans themselves if you are lucky!
Enjoy lunch overlooking the river and a chance to rest before joining your afternoon river cruise in search of more species of primates and hopefully an encounter with pygmy elephants! After dinner, join your guide for a night walk or add on an optional night cruise in search of nocturnal wildlife along the river bank.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
03
Day 3 · Final dawn cruise and onward travel
Wake up early and join your guide for a final dawn river cruise in search of this area’s outstanding wildlife, then return to the lodge for breakfast before catching your transfer back to Sandakan / Sepilok.
The transfer departs the lodge at 8:30am. Suitable for flights out of Sandakan from 1pm onwards, or a drop-off at hotels in Sepilok or Sandakan, arriving between 10:30 and 11:30am.
Meals: breakfast
Onward transfers to Lahad Datu (for Danum Valley & Tabin Wildlife Reserve) or Semporna (for Mabul / Sipadan) can be arranged on request, please inform us at the time of booking.
All prices are valid for tours in 2026. If you are visiting in 2027, please contact us for rates
Everything That's Included
Our recommended minimum stay — four cruises, two night walks, a jungle walk and all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 3.
What's included:
- 4 river cruises (2 morning, 2 afternoon)
- 2 night walks & 1 jungle walk
- Meals as per itinerary, tea, coffee & water
- Return transfers to Sandakan/Sepilok on scheduled basis
- Nature guide on join-in basis
Optional Add-ons & Extras
Not included: Drinks other than tea, coffee & water; Tourism Tax RM10 per private room per night; Flights; Tips (optional).
If you have extra time on your last day, join us for a day of adventure including a visit to the Gomantong caves, lunch in Sepilok and a visit to Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre before being dropped off at hotels in Sepilok & Sandakan or Sandakan airport. This optional add-on is suitable for guests staying overnight in Sepilok & Sandakan after their tour, or departing from Sandakan airport no earlier than 5.30pm.
Children aged 4 to 12 years old are entitled to a 25% discount on the above rates.
Night cruise
RM100 per person (min 2) — crocodiles, sleeping birds and owls by spotlight.
Extended river cruise
Up to 2 extra hours on the water at RM180 per person (min 4 pax).
Gomantong caves day
Caves, lunch and the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre after check-out
Pricing
Dormitory
Quad-share
RM1300
/ per person*
- Air-conditioned & ensuite
- Same guides, cruises & meals
- Best value for solo travellers
River Chalet
Twin or triple share, ensuite
RM1600
/ per person*
- Private ensuite bathroom
- River-facing veranda
- Single supplement RM500
Good to know
Supplements & children
25%
child discount (4–12 yrs)*
- High season supplement (all room types): RM100 per person per night for all nights in April, July, August & September 2026
- Infants 0–3 free on existing beds
- Tourism tax RM10 per room per night
*Prices valid for tours departing before 31st Dec 2026
Departures & Good To Know
The practical details — pick-up times, drop-off, children and what to bring.
Daily departures — pick up from Sandakan hotels between 12 - 12.15pm, Sandakan airport or the Sepilok area between 12.30pm and 1pm. If you are planning to fly in on the same day your tour starts, please book a flight landing no later than 12pm
Drop off back in Sepilok between 10.30 - 11am and Sandakan between 11 - 11.30am. Suitable for flights departing from 1pm onwards. If you need to catch an earlier flight, private transfers are available at an additional cost.
Child 4 - 12 years old: 25% off from adult rate if sharing a private room with parents (no child rate is available for dormitory beds); 0 - 3 years old are free of charge based on using existing beds
River cruises are not physically demanding, but night and jungle walks require the ability to walk for an hour or longer over uneven ground
There is no step-free access at the lodge: the closest rooms are 10 - 20 steps from the restaurant, the furthest around 85
We only have 16 rooms so advance reservations are essential. Easter holidays and European summer holidays fill up especially quickly, book at least 6 months in advance if you can.
Phone reception is limited; Starlink wifi is available in the main restaurant area but it can be slow at times
Hornbill Lodge has 24 hour electricity as well as a back-up generator; power outages may still occur but should be short-lived
- Light raincoat/poncho
- Sun hat & sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Refillable water bottle
- Binoculars (not essential but good to have, available to rent at Hornbill Lodge)
- Torchlight/Flashlight/Headlamp for night walks & power cuts
- Comfortable shoes with good grip (sports or hiking shoes are best, rubber boots are available to borrow at Hornbill Lodge if needed)
- Lightweight long sleeve shirt and trousers for night & jungle walks (Shorts, T-shirts & sandals are fine for river cruises)
- Basic first aid kit
- Leech socks (optional, can also be purchased from the lodge) or long socks
Tipping is not mandatory nor expected, but a small token of appreciation is always gratefully received.
There is a communal tip box at reception for our lodge staff and you may choose to tip your driver or guide directly should you wish to do so. An appropriate amount is RM10 - RM20 per person per day for your guide or driver and/or RM50-100 in the communal box.
Yes, you can pay for any drinks, Tourism Tax or optional activities by credit card.
