Essence of Borneo: Rivers, Rainforest & Relaxation
Experience the true essence of Malaysian Borneo on this 11-day journey that weaves together wildlife, wilderness, and coastal calm. Begin in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s buzzing capital, before flying east to Borneo’s dense jungles and slow-moving rivers.
Cruise along the Kinabatangan River, one of Southeast Asia’s richest ecosystems, in search of proboscis monkeys, wild orangutans, and pygmy elephants. Walk the boardwalks of Sepilok’s famous Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and meet the smallest bear in the world at the Sun Bear Sanctuary.
Next, head into the highlands to explore Kinabalu National Park and take on the exhilarating climb to Mount Kinabalu’s summit. Your adventure ends on the golden shores near Kota Kinabalu, where you’ll have time to rest and reflect at a luxurious beach resort.
This journey blends soft adventure with comfort, ideal for nature lovers looking to explore Borneo’s natural wonders without sacrificing relaxation.
Tour Highlights
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Discover the dynamic capital of Kuala Lumpur, known for its vibrant street food and striking blend of modern and colonial architecture.
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Venture deep into Borneo’s jungles and stay at a remote river lodge, spotting proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and orangutans on daily boat safaris.
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Visit Sepilok’s renowned conservation centers for orangutans and sun bears while enjoying a peaceful forest retreat.
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Trek to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia’s tallest peak, for panoramic sunrise views.
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Unwind at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria, a luxury beachfront resort near Kota Kinabalu, perfect for post-adventure relaxation.
Whats Included:
Whats Excluded:
Itinerary ideas
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Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, consider visiting the iconic Petronas Towers for a panoramic view of the city skyline.
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Today, enjoy a privately guided tour of Kuala Lumpur. Explore the city’s unique architecture, from colonial buildings to gleaming skyscrapers, and learn about its rich cultural blend of Malay, Chinese, and Indian heritage.
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Take an early morning flight to Sandakan, where you’ll transfer by boat to a remote riverside lodge along the Kinabatangan River. In the afternoon, set out on your first river safari in search of proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, orangutans, and exotic birdlife.
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Rise early for a boat ride to the oxbow lake and enjoy breakfast back at the lodge. Spend your day relaxing at the lodge or exploring the surrounding wildlife boardwalks. Enjoy another river safari this afternoon before a final dinner at the lodge.
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Travel back to Sandakan and check in to Sepilok Nature Resort. In the afternoon, visit the renowned Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Sun Bear Sanctuary. Evening at leisure in this peaceful jungle setting.
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Fly to Kota Kinabalu and transfer to Kinabalu National Park. Spend the afternoon exploring the park’s trails, flora, and fauna before an overnight stay near the park.
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Start your trek up Malaysia’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu. Hike through lush rainforest and ascend into cooler alpine zones. Arrive at Laban Rata resthouse in the afternoon for an overnight stay on the mountain.
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Begin your final ascent in the pre-dawn hours to reach the summit for a breathtaking sunrise over Borneo. Descend back to park HQ, then transfer to Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort for some well-earned beachside relaxation.
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Enjoy a full day at leisure. Relax by the pool or on the resort’s 3 km stretch of private beach. Optional spa treatments and gentle walks are available.
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Today is yours to explore. Visit the town of Kota Kinabalu or book activities through the resort. Don’t miss the hotel’s signature sunrise viewpoint experience.
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Accommodation options
What our clients say about us

Peter
20 March 2025 ★★★★★We had a wonderful 12-day trip across Thailand, beautifully arranged by Mr. Stephen from Absolute Asia. Every detail was taken care of, from comfortable stays to fully organized vegetarian meals throughout the journey. Our itinerary covered Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, then we spent five blissful days in Koh Samui. There, we relaxed on palm-fringed beaches, explored Ang Thong Marine Park by boat, and savored fresh tropical fruits at sunset. A big shoutout to our lovely guide, Mr Krit who made the experience even more special with him warmth and knowledge. We’re heading home with unforgettable memories of Thailand’s hospitality and charm. Thank you, Absolute Asia Tours.

Gari
22 May 2024 ★★★★★Our recent trip to China and Mongolia was a great success. Overall we found Absolute Asia Tours services to be excellent throughout the two weeks we were in Asia. For us, Mongolia was definitely the highlight. We thoroughly enjoyed or local guides and drives and they were unfailingly knowledgeable, helpful and amusing. Their languages skills were excellent and we felt that we recieved real insight into this fascinating country. We were intinially drawn to the idea of this trip by the reports of the world class fihing and we were absolutely not disappointed. The fishing guide was first rate and we caught more fish than we could have hoped for - more than 25 each day - with the added bonus of being the only other people in sight for miles arround. AAT created a private ger camp for us on the Onon River and we enjoyed delicious food prepared by our chef in a beautiful unspoled atmosphere. They alo arranged for us to visit a nomadic family and spend time with them at home and organized a dinner with an anthropologist with expert knowledge of the region. AAT fullfilled their promise to tkae us to us to one of the world's best fishing destinations in comfort and style. We would be happy to travel with AAT again and will definitely recommend them to our friends.

Cherry
16 May 2024 ★★★★★We've had two "A+" experience with Absolute Asia Tours. It is a pleasure to work with an organization where I feel confident that what you say will happen, happens. This was true with our complicated China itinerary six years ago, and was true with our recent itinerary in Vietnam. your on the ground guides and logistics were top - notch, and I would recommend you to anyone to visit Asia.

James
17 January 2024 ★★★★★Absolute Asia tours gave us a wonderful tour of Southeast Asia (working with sister-agency My Way Travel based in Vietnam). For our Siem Reap/Angkor Wat journey, our party of two had a private driver and guide named Jak, who was a cheerful and knowledgeable companion, explaining the history, culture, architecture and religious significance of the sites while keeping it always fun. We moved efficiently from site to site, and finished with a boat tour of the fishing village on stilts at Kampong Pluk on the Tonle Sap Lake. During most of our trip we stayed at top-notch locally-owned hotels, but in Siem Reap we were at the excellent local Hyatt hotel. Absolute Asia and My Way Travel our outstanding local providers, less expensive than name-brand group tours, and customized to our interests and schedule.

Hope
2 January 2024 ★★★★★We had an awesome time on cycling tour with AAT! It was incredible, filled with good vibes, laughs & a fantastic way to explore Vietnam & Cambodia. Tony our guide made it special by introducing us to locals and showing us the real charm of these countries. The whole tour was well-organized & the way they took care of us awesome. It's an unforgettable trip and I'll definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Southeast Asia.

Nas
1 January 2024 ★★★★★My group of six completed a 30 day cycling tour in Asia with AAT. We traveled form Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Saigon to Siem Reap. Every day we pedaled through stunning countryside views, passing villages, fields & limestone karsts. Our guide Tony was fantastic-interesting, friendly & personable. This experience stood out as the highlight of our Asia trip.