4D3N Kinabatangan river safari
with Gomantong caves bat exodus
Spend 3 nights at the Kinabatangan river and maximise your chances of spotting Borneo's Big Five! Enjoy river cruises at dawn, dusk and night as well as guided walks into the forest with your experienced guide. Explore the boardwalk at the Gomantong caves then, as the sun sets, witness an incredible exodus of over 1 million bats exiting the caves in search of food, followed closely by bat hawks looking for a meal of their own. Keep an eye out for orangutans at Gomantong caves as it is not uncommon to see them in the area.
This tour normally departs on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and can be combined with a guided visit to Sepilok orangutan and sunbear sanctuaries (additional charges apply). Alternative departures dates may be available on request, please contact us for more details.
This tour normally departs on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and can be combined with a guided visit to Sepilok orangutan and sunbear sanctuaries (additional charges apply). Alternative departures dates may be available on request, please contact us for more details.
Itinerary
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DAY 1
Your day will start with pick up Sandakan hotels, Sandakan airport or 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. *If you would like to add-on a guided tour of Sepilok orangutan & sun bear sanctuaries before pick up, please let us know * 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 - D |
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DAY 2
As day dawns, join your second river cruise and watch as the river comes to life. Keep an eye out for bird life including the Kinabatangan river's 8 species of 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 and orang-utans themselves if you are lucky! Enjoy lunch overlooking the river and a chance to rest before joining an afternoon river cruise in search of more of the area's unique wildlife. After dinner, join your guide for a night walk or add-on a night cruise in search of nocturnal wildlife along the river bank. Meals - B, L, D Optional add-on: night cruise: RM100 per person |
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DAY 3
Wake up early and join your guide for a dawn river cruise then return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, set out our jungle trail for another chance to spot wild orangutans in the forest and learn more about the flora & fauna of the Kinabatangan river. In the mid-afternoon, head to Gomantong caves to explore Simud Hitam (pictured here) via a wooden boardwalk and learn more about the process of swiftlet nest harvesting, orangutans are often spotted in the vicinity of the caves too. As the sun lowers over the horizon, climb a steep staircase* to the top of the limestone outcrop and settle in for a chance to witness over a million bats, exiting from the caves below, pursued by bat hawks looking for their evening meal. Return to the lodge for dinner and enjoy a complimentary night cruise (min 2 pax per night cruise). Meals - B, L, D |
There are around 500 steps to climb to reach the view point above Gomantong caves and a reasonable level of physical fitness is required, the exodus is also usually visible at ground level from the car park. Please note that the bat exodus is weather dependent and, as with all wildlife sightings, cannot be guaranteed.
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DAY 4
Enjoy a final dawn river cruise or opt for a well-deserved lie-in before breakfast then catch your transfer back to Sandakan airport in time for flights departing at 1pm or later or hotels in Sandakan and Sepilok. Meals - B 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.
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Pricing
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4D3N Kinabatangan river safari with Gomantong caves bat exodus
Stays from 1st Jan until 31st Dec 2026
Optional add-on: Guided visit of Sepilok orangutan sanctuary and the Borneo Sun bear conservation Centre with lunch on day 1: RM300 per person based on min 2 pax, solo travellers are welcome to join our exisiting departures. |
Notes
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Inclusions & exclusions
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Included
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Excluded
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Optional extras
- Night cruise RM100 per person (min 2 pax)
- Extended river cruise (up to 2 hours extra) RM180 per person based on min 4 adults.
- Children aged 4 to 12 years old are entitled to a 25% discount on the above rates
Additional info
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Who is this tour suitable for? Guests of all ages are welcome to stay at Hornbill Lodge and our rooms can accommodate up to 2 adults & 2 children. River cruises are not physically demanding but night and jungle walks require the ability to walk for an hour or longer over uneven ground. The viewpoint at the Gomantong caves requires climbing 500 steps.
Staying connected: Phone reception is limited at the lodge, we have Starlink wifi available in our main restaurant area but it can be slow at times. You will be able to check messages but should not rely on it for work or video calls. Electricity: Hornbill Lodge has 24 hour electricity as well as a back-up generator, power outages may still occur but should be short-lived. |
Recommended packing list
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Book now! |
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