3D2N Sepilok & Kinabatangan River Safari
Sepilok’s orang-utan nursery and sun bears, then two nights of river cruises on the Kinabatangan. From RM1590 per person.
Your Itinerary Day By Day
Day 1 · Sepilok sanctuaries to the Kinabatangan
Your Kinabatangan river safari will start with pick up from Sandakan hotels or airport between 8am – 8.30am, or hotels in Sepilok from 08.45 – 9am. Head first to the orang-utan sanctuary to watch the younger, playful orang-utans in the nursery before catching the 10am feeding.
Around 11am your guide will take you to the sun bear sanctuary to watch the sun bears (the world’s smallest species of bear!) from raised walkways. From there you will travel 2 hours overland to Hornbill Lodge and have lunch on arrival.
Check into your room and take a moment to relax before heading out 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: lunch and dinner
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
Day 3 · Final dawn cruise and check out
Wake up early and join your guide for a final dawn river cruise then return to the lodge for breakfast.
Your transfer back to Sandakan will depart from the lodge at 8.30am and is suitable for flights leaving from 1pm onwards, or we can drop you at hotels around Sepilok and Sandakan between 10.30 – 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.
Everything That's Included
Sepilok’s orang-utan and sun bear sanctuaries with entry fees, then two nights of river cruises and walks — one seamless itinerary.
Not included: Drinks other than tea, coffee & water; Tourism Tax RM10 per private room per night; Flights; Tips (optional).
In the price :
- Guided sanctuary visits & entry fees
- 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
Pricing
Dormitory
Quad-share, fan-cooled
RM1590
/ per person*
- Shared bathroom
- Same guides, cruises and meals
- Best value for solo travellers
River Chalet
Twin or triple share, ensuite
RM1890
/ 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
- 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.
Pick-ups start with hotels around Sandakan between 8 - 8.15am followed by Sandakan airport and then hotels in Sepilok between 8.45 - 9am. If you are flying in the same day your tour starts, please book a flight landing before 8am. We recommend flying in the day before your tour starts to avoid the stress of delayed flights
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.
4.9 on TripAdvisor
73 reviews · #5 of 17 in Kinabatangan District
Verified guest reviews on TripAdvisor.
Sepilok plus two nights on the river
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