Rainforest and Reef

Begin in Sepilok, where the rainforest feels close at hand from the moment you arrive. Walk canopy trails at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, watch orangutans feed at the rehabilitation centre, and meet the world’s smallest bear at the Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Evenings bring guided night walks — the forest alive with fireflies, civets, and the calls of owls.

From there, continue for three nights along the Kinabatangan River, dividing your stay between Abai (Kinabatangan Wetlands resort) and Sukau (Sukau Rainforest Lodge). This stretch of water is famed for its wildlife-rich banks, best explored by boat in the soft light of dawn and dusk. Proboscis monkeys gather in the trees, hornbills cross the river overhead, and with luck you might glimpse a herd of pygmy elephants slipping through the undergrowth. Between cruises there’s time for guided walks and quiet hours spent watching the forest from your lodge’s boardwalks, allowing the atmosphere of the river to take hold.

Travel deeper inland for two nights in the Danum Valley, one of the last remaining pockets of untouched primary rainforest in Southeast Asia. This is Borneo at its most wild — towering dipterocarp trees, thick jungle trails, and a wealth of wildlife that feels almost prehistoric. Guided treks bring you to hidden waterfalls and ancient burial sites, while the canopy walkway opens a window into the high forest where orangutans, gibbons, and red leaf monkeys thrive. As night falls, the forest transforms again, with guided drives and walks revealing nocturnal creatures few ever get to see.

Your journey concludes with three nights on Gaya Island, a short boat ride from Kota Kinabalu but a world away from its busy streets. Here, the pace slows to match the sea. Days can be filled with snorkelling over coral reefs, kayaking through calm waters, or walking forest trails alive with birdlife. Equally, it’s a place to stop and reflect, enjoying the comfort of the resort and the rhythm of the tide before returning home.