5D4N Gems of Sandakan Kinabatangan River Cruise, Jungle Trekking

• Camera
• Personal Gear
• Insert Repellent
• Raincoat
• Binocular
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable shoes
• Cotton T-Shirts
• Long Sleeve
• Shirt Long & Short Pant
• Hat
• Torchlight

DAY 1

0800hrs / 0830hrs – SDK AIRPORT
Meet and greet with our friendly guide and captain of the day from hotel within Sandakan/Sepilok or Sandakan Airport (Please book flight arrival before 0900hrs).. Transfer to jetty for registration and our guide will give a briefing on your activities. The boat will depart at 1000hrs to Selingan Turtle Islands Park. The island lied 40km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea and will take 45 minutes to 1 hour to arrive there.

1120hrs
Upon arrival, guide will do registration at Sabah Park HQ office in the island, then take your room key. Before check in, you will be brief on the facilities and safety procedures in the Island by our guide.

1200hrs
Lunch is served at the restaurant. You are free at leisure time during this time. May take a dip into the green-blue waters for swim or snorkeling around the nearby reefs. Then go for walk along the soft-white sandy beach to see the beautiful sunset.

1800hrs
Before dinner is served, meet at the AV room to watch short video presentation. The presentation will provide you with the information on the turtle program under taken by Sabah Park.

1930hrs
After dinner, wait for signal call by park ranger when turtles are seen coming ashore to lay eggs (The waiting may take a few hours as it is nature based). Once the turtles are started to lay eggs, followed the park ranger to nesting site and witness the egg laying process, collecting of eggs and tagging of the mother turtle. After that, observe the process of eggs being transferred to the hatchery site. Then, get the chance to see the baby turtles release to the open sea. Later overnight in room. (Common or Attached Bathroom). (L/D)

DAY 2

0600hrs
Rise and shine or wake up at dawn and take the opportunity to watch the sunrise. Pack up your belongings and breakfast await in the restaurant. Then embark for departure from the island to Sandakan.

0830hrs
Arrived to mainland then transfer for Sandakan City Tour visit. First stop at Puh Jih Shih Buddhist Temple which situated on a hilltop that offer a panoramic views of Sandakan Bay. Stop by at St Michael and All Angels Church which was the first stone building erected in Sandakan, and remains one of the very few stone buildings in whole Sabah.

1000hrs
Then drive to Agnes Keith House. The house that has been transformed into heritage site, which provide interesting insight to life during British North Borneo. This is also the house where the book Land Below the Wind and White Man Returns were written. After that to War Memorial Park, it is site of notorious WWII prisoner of war camp which thousands of Australian and British lost their live during the time. Then proceed for lunch.

1230hrs
Enjoy your lunch at Mango Garden Restaurant, Sepilok.

1300hrs
Check in to room at Nature Lodge Sepilok (Twin or Double Bed)

1400hrs
Proceed for visit at Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), it is a center for environmental education which is the gateway to getting know the uniqueness and importance of Borneo rainforest. Take a bird view of the center from the canopy walk and hanging bridge, explore the botanical garden, home to various species of flora

1600hrs
Back to Nature Lodge Sepilok.

1900hrs
Dinner in Mango Garden Restaurant, Sepilok. We also offered variety of drinks from soft drink, fresh fruit juices, smoothies, and hot & cold drinks. Canned beers and wines are also offered. Have a good rest, overnight. (B/L/D)

DAY 3

0800hrs
Wake up and get ready for an exciting day ahead. It’s time to check out from room. While waiting for our Guide and Captain, your breakfast is served in lodge restaurant.

0900hrs
Proceed to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, to have the opportunity to watch the Orang Utan up close in their natural habitat. It is a rehabilitation project dedicated to orphaned Orang Utan that were rescued and injured. Walk along the boardwalk to the feeding platform and witness as the Orang Utans being fed by wildlife ranger. The feeding time is at 1000hrs. Later watch a short video documentary show that will aware you what goes on within the centre.

1100hrs
Then to world first Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn about this very unique species of bears, called Sun Bear. The bear is the smallest bear in the world and can only be found in Southeast Asia. Keep close eye on the trees, they are very good climber!

1200hrs
Lunch at Mango Garden Restaurant, Sepilok.

1230hrs
Depart Mango Garden Restaurant, Sepilok on a country road with secondary forest, plantations, small villages and occasional local shops on either side of the road. Your driver will make a stop at Medan Selera Kota Kinabatangan. Toilet is available at this stop for a fee. You are now more than half way through the journey and this is your last toilet stop before we reached Bilit village, Kinabatangan which is about one hour journey on road

1500hrs
Drive through the narrows winding road of Bilit village and arrived at Bilit jetty. Get off the bus/van and make sure all your belongings are with you. Our friendly boat captain will arrange your bags in the boat, assist you with your safety jacket and transfer you across the River where you will begin your wildlife adventure starting at Nature Lodge Kinabatangan. The Lodge is located across the Kinabatangan river, opposite the Bilit jetty.Feel welcome by a refreshing drink at the reception area and our friendly staff with conduct an orientation. You will be briefed on our Lodge, safety procedures and activities during your stay. Collect your room keys and settle in to your room. The adventurous boat cruise will start at 1600hrs and be ready at the jetty 10 minutes before the river cruise.

1600hrs
Embark on an evening boat cruise in search of wildlife and birdlife along the mighty Kinabatangan River. The River is the longest in Sabah (560km) and is known for its remarkable wildlife and fascinating habitat.Proboscis monkeys, Macaques, Silver Langurs, various species of hornbills, Kingfisher birds, Oriental Darters and snakes are commonly spotted along Kinabatangan River. The area is also known for the sighting of the endemic Borneo Pygmy Elephants (the smallest elephant in the world) and Orang Utan (The Wild Men of Borneo). As with nature, sighting of all the mentioned wildlife is not guaranteed as they are roaming about the place.

1800hrs
Return to the Lodge to freshen up. Enjoy your dinner at Café Haji Awang, named after the village head who first suggested us to operate a tourism Lodge in Bilit village. This is so that the locals at the village can enjoy the economy benefits of tourism activities. Buffet style dinner.

2000hrs
After that, proceed to join a night walk at the back of the Lodge in search of nocturnal creatures. Your walk will lead you to a large insect screen. The light, set-up directly onto the screen attracts night-flying insects such as beetles, moths and others. Learn more about the insects from our nature guide.

2100hrs
Return to the lodge to rest. Overnight. (D)

DAY 4

0530hrs
Wake up to the sound of birds and get ready for the morning river cruise. Meet your guide at the jetty.

0600hrs
Enjoy the morning breeze while you search for wildlife along river bank. Most of them have stayed there over night and they will look for foods before moving into the forest, away from predators and hot sun. The wildlife is most active during early morning and in the evening. You then have bit of time in the middle of the day to catch up on a book, take a nap or sign-up for other activities.

0730hrs
Back to lodge. Breakfast is served at Haji Awang restaurant.

0900hrs
Meet your guide for a walk along Kinabatangan River. Be on time for the meet up as your guide will provide a briefing before the trek starts. Take a leisure walk along Kinabatangan River and see the different species of trees and plants along the trail. While some parts of the forested areas in Kinabatangan remained preserved, many parts of it have gone through trees re-planting project as part of forest restoration or being converted to plantation. You will be able to spot the traditional fish trap set-up by the local villagers, using bottles. The locals catch their fishes using a unique method: They collect 10 or so plastic water bottles and attach about a foot of fishing line to them. Along the line, are sub lines with a hook and a piece of fruit which they toss into the water and let them float down stream. If and when a fish takes the bait, it will drag the bottle down with it, but the buoyancy brings the bottle back to the top and the fish fights back until it is too tired to continue. The locals look for the bottles that are bobbing up and down in the water and simply go over with their boat and reel the fish in.On the way back to the Lodge, stop by at our composting area. As part of our ‘Go Green’ project, we have adapted this concept of composing organic waste such as foods and plants materials and growing our own organic vegetables to serve our guests.

1200hrs
Lunch is at Haji Awang Cafe. Thereafter, you have a free and easy afternoon until the next river cruise.Meanwhile, you can opt to participate in our tree planting activity which is part of our efforts to support the forest restoration at Kinabatangan area or sign-up for batik silk painting featuring the wildlife of Kinabatangan and bring it home as a remembrance of your trip. Both optional activities are not within your standard package.

1600hrs
After well deserve rest, we’ll make 20 minutes journey to Gomantong Cave. It’s situated in a Sabah Forestry Department forest reserve, the caves is surrounded by primary rainforest and are a protected area for wildlife, which make it ideally place to spot other wildlife. The cave is also one of the largest limestone caves and most important source of edible bird nest in Sabah. We’ll spent our time there until sunset, where you be able to witness the magnificent view of millions bats flying out for the night.

1800hrs
Return to the Lodge, freshen up and have dinner.

2000hrs
Take the opportunity to learn the steps of our local dance with our talented staff before night trek.

2030hrs
Enjoy the night trekking to watch sleeping birds and nocturnal creatures of the jungle.

2130hrs
Return to your room. Overnight. (B/L/D)

DAY 5

0530hrs
Get ready for the last river cruise along Kinabatangan River.

0730hrs
Back to the Lodge for breakfast and then returning to your room to pack.

0830hrs
Bid your farewell to Nature Lodge Kinabatagan staff before travelling back to your drop off point. (B)