Ready to discover Borneo's wildlife?
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Hornbill Lodge is located in the wildlife-rich Lower Kinabatangan region of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo, approximately 2 hours drive from Sandakan airport (SDK). The majority of our guests will arrive in Sandakan by plane from either Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur and will take our scheduled van transfer from Sandakan to Hornbill Lodge.
There are plenty of other options to get here though, including public buses, pre-booked transfers, and even an overland shuttle from Kota Kinabalu via Mount Kinabalu & Poring hot springs! We will be happy to discuss your itinerary with you and recommend the best way to get here based on your plans. |
Travelling to Hornbill Lodge
flying to sandakan
There are multiple daily direct flights to Sandakan airport (SDK) from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) with Air Asia and Firefly (subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines). If you are planning to travel to Hornbill Lodge on the day you land, please check with our reservations team or consult your itinerary to make sure you will be landing in time for our scheduled transfer, times vary according to which package you have booked.
If you are coming from Singapore then you can reach Sandakan with a connection in either Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.
There is one direct flight from Tawau to Sandakan each day but if you are coming from one of the islands off Semporna then we recommend taking an overland transfer directly to Hornbill Lodge instead. See the "travelling between Hornbill Lodge and Semporna" section for more details.
If you are coming from Singapore then you can reach Sandakan with a connection in either Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.
There is one direct flight from Tawau to Sandakan each day but if you are coming from one of the islands off Semporna then we recommend taking an overland transfer directly to Hornbill Lodge instead. See the "travelling between Hornbill Lodge and Semporna" section for more details.
travelling overland from kota kinabalu
West to East Shuttle
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Looking to travel overland from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan and see a few sights along the way? River Junkie's West to East Shuttle departs daily from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan at 6.30am with stop offs at Kinabalu Park, Poring hot springs and Sabah Tea Plantation. Transport, a friendly English speaking driver and complete information about the activities on offer along the way are provided and the rest is up to you!
The shuttle will drop you at your choice of hotel in Sandakan or Sepilok around 7pm and you can then catch our scheduled transfer to Hornbill Lodge the following day. |
Public bus
There are multiple daily buses running between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, these are operate out of Inanam Bus Terminal in Kota Kinabalu and take approximately 7 - 8 hours to reach Sandakan. Tickets can be prebooked via Easybook.com and you will need to take a bus to Sandakan at least 1 day before your tour starts.
travelling between hornbill lodge and lahad datu or semporna
Pre-booked overland transfer (recommended)
Hornbill Lodge is approximately 2 hours drive from Lahad Datu or 4.5 hours drive from Semporna and and we will be happy to arrange an overland transfer for you on request. As the first afternoon river cruise leaves by 4pm, you will need to leave Semporna no later than 11am or Lahad Datu no later than 1.30pm to arrive in time.
If you are going to Lahad Datu or Semporna after your stay at Hornbill Lodge then we can prebook a transfer for you departing at 8.30am (other times available on request), this will have you in Lahad Datu by 10.30am and Semporna by 1pm, linking you up with Scuba Junkie's 2.30pm boat to Mabul island.
Overland transfers to other destinations are available on request.
If you are going to Lahad Datu or Semporna after your stay at Hornbill Lodge then we can prebook a transfer for you departing at 8.30am (other times available on request), this will have you in Lahad Datu by 10.30am and Semporna by 1pm, linking you up with Scuba Junkie's 2.30pm boat to Mabul island.
Overland transfers to other destinations are available on request.
Public bus
Please note that the public bus service in Sabah is not always reliable, buses run late, occasionally break-down or on major public holiday dates they may not run at all and this can result in a long wait or missing your pre-booked activities. Whilst our reception staff will be happy to help you contact the bus companies during your stay, we will not be held responsible for any bus issues or subsequent disruption to your travel plans. Make sure you allow additional time to complete any journeys you plan to do via public transport.
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Semporna to Kota Kinabatangan: Take the 7.30am bus from Semporna towards Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan and ask the driver to let you off at “Medan Selera”, this is a roadside restaurant in Kota Kinabatangan and we will pick you up from there around 2.30pm (you will need to wait around 2 hours after drop off). Head to the bus station in Semporna 1 day before to buy your ticket and then be sure to arrive before 7.30am on the day.
Kota Kinabatangan to Semporna: The Sandakan to Semporna bus leaves Sandakan at 8am, you can catch this bus at the main road junction to the Kinabatangan around 9.30am and should arrive in Semporna between 1.30 - 2.30pm. Our driver can drop you off at the main road so that you can meet the bus, please speak to our receptionist one day before to check whether the bus is running and whether tickets are available. |
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Exploring the rest of Sabah
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Your adventure doesn't have to stop at Hornbill Lodge!
Start your trip with a night at Turtle Island to watch baby hatchlings take their first steps towards the ocean or immerse yourself in the wildlife sanctuaries of Sepilok before heading to the mighty Kinabatangan river. Continue your journey South to discover the rich biodiversity of Danum Valley Conservation Area, Tabin Wildlife Reserve or the underwater world at the islands off Semporna including the world famous Sipadan Island! You can book a stay at Hornbill Lodge together with one or more of these incredible destinations through River Junkie and they will take care of all the transfer arrangements for you! |
