River Junkie – fuel the addiction
River Junkie – fuel the addiction

River Junkie Tours Sdn. Bhd. — licensed Kota Kinabalu tour operator (KPL/LN5696), MATTA member, running wildlife safaris, Mount Kinabalu climbs and cave trips across Sabah and Sarawak since 2008.

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Kinabatangan River

2D1N Kinabatangan River Experience (Hornbill Lodge)

2 days
1 nights
Departs Sandakan
Mid-range
Price fromRM 900
dormitory, per person
Duration2 days
1 night on the road
DepartsSandakan
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About this trip

Short on time? This quick one night trip to Hornbill Lodge on the banks of the Kinabatangan river will bring you face to face with some of Borneo’s incredible wildlife including the iconic proboscis monkey. If time allows, we recommend spending 2 or 3 nights at the river to have the best chance of spotting Borneo’s Big Five: The pygmy elephant, orangutan, proboscis monkey, rhinoceros hornbill and saltwater crocodile.

You will reach the river around 3pm and your transfer out will leave at 8.30am the following morning, this can feel quite rushed but our experienced guides will do their best to maximise your wildlife spotting opportunities.

Highlights

  • Dusk river cruise for proboscis monkeys & macaques
  • Dawn cruise for birds and primates at sunrise
  • Guided night walk from Hornbill Lodge
  • Optional add-ons: Guided Sepilok visit, Gomantong caves & canopy walk
  • Dorm or river chalet accommodation at Hornbill Lodge

    • Trip facts

    Kinabatangan River
    Night Walk, River Cruise, Wildlife
    2 days of travel
    Physical difficulty 2 / 5
    Departs from Sandakan
    Rates: Stays from 1st Jan till 31st Dec 2026 (excluding high season supplement)
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    Day by day

    Day 1

    Transfer to Hornbill Lodge & first cruise

    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. Upon arrival, check-into your room at Hornbill Lodge 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 experienced guide will be on the lookout for proboscis monkeys, long-tail & pig-tail macaques, silver leaf monkeys, orangutans, 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 Optional add-on: Night cruise RM100 (min 2 pax)

    Day 2

    Dawn cruise & transfer to Sandakan

    Wake up early and join your guide for a dawn river cruise in search of a multitude of birds and primates as they begin their day over the river. Return to the lodge for breakfast then catch your transfer back to Sandakan / Sepilok. Drop off time at Sandakan airport and hotels in Sepilok and Sandakan is between 11 - 11.30am Meals - B Transfers to other overland destinations such as Lahad Datu, Semporna or Tawau are available on request and subject to additional charges.

    Add-on?

    Have extra time on your last day?

    Stop off for a guided tour of Gomantong caves on your way back to Sandakan, enjoy lunch in Sepilok then visit Sabah's longest canopy walk at the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre with us after check-out! This add-on costs RM300 per adult and is suitable for guests staying overnight in Sepilok or Sandakan or taking a flight leaving Sandakan airport from 5.30pm onwards. Just ask for more details at the time of booking!

    Where you'll stay

    Hornbill Lodge

    Hornbill Lodge

    Kinabatangan River, Sabah
    A small riverside lodge on the lower Kinabatangan at Bilit, wholly owned and run by River Junkie Tours. Guests stay in river-facing chalets with private balconies, air-conditioning, ceiling fans and ensuite hot-water rain showers. The lodge manages 30 acres of private riverfront for wildlife, replanting forest, maintaining salt licks and restoring elephant grassland. In addition to daily river cruises, guests also have the opportunity to explore the rainforest on foot on a network of jungle trails only accessible from Hornbill lodge.
  • DormitoryShared dormitory beds, available until 5 November 2026. After that date dormitories are replaced by Family River Chalets and only private rooms are offered.
  • River ChaletPrivate chalet on the riverfront with 1 King size bed & 1 single bed in each room. Sleeps up to 4 people with an extra bed.
  • Family River ChaletPrivate chalet on the riverfront with 1 King size bed & 1 set of bunk beds in each room. Sleeps up to 5 people with an extra bed.
    • FacilitiesLicensed bar and restaurant with river views. Private jetty for river cruises. Jungle trails with complimentary rubber boots. Information corner on local flora and fauna. Free onsite parking.
    Good to knowStarlink wifi in communal areas only, and there is no mobile phone signal. The lodge is built into a hillside, so there is no step-free access to the rooms: the nearest are 10 to 20 steps up and the furthest around 85. Tell us at booking if you need a room close to the restaurant. No plastic bottled water is sold, so bring a refillable bottle. No seafood is served, as there is no sustainable local supply.
    A closer look

    What's included

  • Scheduled return road transfer from Sandakan, Sepilok or Medan Selera (Kota Kinabatangan)
  • 1 breakfast & 1 dinner
  • 1 night accommodation: dorm or river chalet at Hornbill Lodge
  • River Junkie nature guide
  • river cruises (1 morning & 1 afternoon)
  • 1 guided night walk
  • coffee, tea & water refills

    • Not included

  • Tourism tax (private rooms only- RM10/room per night)
  • tips (optional)

    • Prices

    2D1N Dorm (per bed)RM 900per person
    2D1N River Chalet (twin / triple share)RM 1050per person
    Pricing notesSingle supplement for chalet — RM250 High season supplement (all room types), per person per night, all nights in April, July, August & September — RM100 Tourism tax (private rooms only) per room per night — RM10 Optional add-ons (min 2 pax) Night cruise (1 hour) - RM100 per adult Sepilok orangutan sanctuary, sunbear conservation centre and lunch on day 1 - RM300 per adult Gomantong caves + lunch in Sepilok + Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walk after check-out RM - 300 per adult Land transfers (min 2 pax) Transfer per person per way: Semporna town or Tawau airport — RM375 Transfer per person per way: Lahad Datu town or airport — RM250
    ChildrenChildren 0 to 3 years old: free of charge. Child 4 - 12 years old: 25% off from adult rate if sharing a private room with parents (no child rate is available for dormitory beds).
    Rate validityStays from 1st Jan till 31st Dec 2026 (excluding high season supplement)

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I get to the lodge, and what time will I be picked up?
    A scheduled return road transfer from Sandakan, Sepilok or Medan Selera (Kota Kinabatangan) is included in the price. Pick-up from Sandakan hotels, Sandakan airport or the Sepilok area is between 12pm and 1pm, and the drive to the Kinabatangan River takes around 2 to 2.5 hours. On day 2 you are dropped off at Sandakan airport or at hotels in Sepilok and Sandakan between 11 and 11.30am.
    Can you collect me from, or drop me at, Semporna, Tawau or Lahad Datu?
    Yes, transfers to other overland destinations such as Lahad Datu, Semporna or Tawau are available on request for an additional charge (see rates above). There are also public bus options, please contact us for further info.
    Is one night on the river long enough?
    The 2D1N itinerary can feel a little rushed, as you reach the river around 3pm and your transfer out leaves at 8.30am the following morning. That still gives you time for 2 river cruises and a night walk, but we recommend booking a 3D2N stay to maximise your wildlife spotting opportunities and allow you some time to relax at the river.
    What are the rooms like at Hornbill Lodge?
    Our private River Chalets are spacious and have either 1 king size bed and 1 single bed or 1 king size bed and 1 set of bunk beds (Family River Chalets). Two units of four-bed dormitory are available until 5th November 2026, after this they will be converted into Family River Chalets and the dormitory option will no longer be available. All rooms, including the dormitories, have river-facing balconies, air conditioning, ceiling fans and ensuite bathrooms with hot-water showers.
    Is this tour suitable for children?
    Yes, as long as your child can remain safely seated and relatively quiet for a 2 hour river cruise then they can join this tour. Child life jackets & rubber boots are available to borrow. Discounts are available for children 12 & below. Please see the pricing section above or email us for a quotation for your family.
    Can I book a private tour at Hornbill Lodge?
    Yes, all our Kinabatangan river safaris at Hornbill Lodge are available to book on a fully private basis and we recommend this option for families with very young children, wildlife photographers, avid bird watchers and anyone who would like the freedom of their own boat & guide. Surcharges apply, please contact us for a quotation.
    Can I do anything on the way back if I have time on my last day?
    Yes. For RM300 per adult you can stop for a guided tour of Gomantong caves on the way back to Sandakan, have lunch in Sepilok, then visit Sabah's longest canopy walk at the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre after check-out. This add-on suits guests staying overnight in Sepilok or Sandakan, or taking a flight leaving Sandakan airport from 5.30pm onwards.
    Can I add a guided visit of Sepilok sanctuaries to this tour?
    Yes. For RM300 per adult you can join us for a guided visit of Sepilok orangutan sanctuary and sunbear conservation centre before transferring to the lodge on day 1. Your tour will then also include lunch on arrival at Hornbill Lodge

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    Ready to book, or still deciding?

    Tell us your dates and we will come back with availability, the total cost and honest advice — including when a different trip would suit you better.

    Getting between destinations: we also run private van and 4X4 transfers across Sabah and a daily Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan shuttle — ask us to add either to your trip.

    WhatsApp / phone: +60 11 1265 8581
    Email: info@river-junkie.com
    Hours: 8am–5pm, Monday to Sunday
    Office: Wisma Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

    ★ 4.7 / 5 from 288 traveller reviews on TripAdvisor