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 Hornbill Lodge aerial

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Kinabatangan River

3D2N Kinabatangan River Safari (Hornbill Lodge)

3 days
2 nights
Departs Sandakan
Mid-range
Price fromRM 1,300
dormitory, per person
Duration3 days
2 nights on the road
DepartsSandakan
daily departures
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About this trip

Experience one of Borneo’s most incredible wildlife destinations with a stay at Hornbill Lodge! Our 3D2N Kinabatangan river safari is perfect if you plan to explore Sepilok independently, want to skip the sanctuaries all together or are coming from destinations further South such as Lahad Datu or Semporna. Join one of our daily departures, relax at our newly renovated riverside lodge and enjoy wildlife-filled river cruises in search of Borneo’s much-loved proboscis monkeys, orangutans, pygmy elephants and more!

Unlike other Kinabatangan river lodges, Hornbill Lodge has direct access to forest trails which you can explore together with your experienced guide during your stay, as well as a wildilfe observation tower. If you are coming from Kota Kinabalu and looking to see a few sights on your way over to the East coast then hop aboard our West to East shuttle and explore Kinabalu Park, Poring hot springs and Sabah Tea Plantation before being dropped off in Sandakan or Sepilok.

Highlights

  • Dusk river cruise for proboscis monkeys, elephants & macaques
  • Dawn cruise for hornbills and multiple primate species
  • Guided jungle walk tracking signs of orangutans
  • Optional add-on: Gomantong caves & canopy walk
  • Dorm or private River Chalet accommodation

    • Trip facts

    Kinabatangan River
    Jungle walks, Night Walk, River Cruise, Wildlife
    3 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 accommodation 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 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

    Day 2

    Dawn cruise, jungle walk & afternoon cruise

    As day dawns, join your second river cruise and watch as the river comes to life. Keep an eye out for bird life including Borneo’s endemic 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 orangutans such as nests in the trees or even orangutans 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

    Day 3

    Final cruise & transfer to Sandakan

    Wake up early and join your guide for a final dawn river cruise, 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)
  • 2 breakfast, 1 lunch & 2 dinner
  • 2 nights accommodation in dorm or private River Chalet at Hornbill Lodge
  • River Junkie nature guide (join-in basis)
  • river cruises (2 morning & 2 afternoon)
  • 2 guided night walks
  • guided trekking
  • coffee, tea & water refills

    • Not included

  • Tourism tax (private rooms only- RM10/room per night)
  • tips (optional)
  • flights, drinks from our bar & optional extras

    • Prices

    3D2N Hornbill Lodge DormRM 1300per person
    3D2N Hornbill lodge River Chalet (twin/triple share)RM 1600per person
    Pricing notesSingle supplement for solo travellers in private River Chalet, per person per night — RM250 High season supplement (all room types), per person per night, all nights in April, July, August & September — RM100 Optional add-ons (min 2 pax) Night cruise (1 hour) - RM100 per adult Gomantong caves + lunch in Sepilok + Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walk after check-out RM - 300 per adult Optional 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
    ChildrenChild 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. Pick-up from Sandakan hotels, Sandakan airport or the Sepilok area is between 12pm and 1pm, and the journey to the Kinabatangan River takes around 2 to 2.5 hours. On day 3 you are dropped off at Sandakan airport or at hotels in Sepilok and Sandakan between 11 and 11.30am.
    Can I be transferred to Semporna or Lahad Datu afterwards?
    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 there step-free access to the rooms?
    No. Due to the lodge's hillside location there is no step-free access to the rooms at Hornbill Lodge; the furthest rooms require climbing around 85 steps and the closest 10 to 20 steps. If you need a closer room, please tell our team when you book and we will do our best to place you in one of the rooms nearest the restaurant and reception area.
    What are the room options, and what if I am travelling alone?
    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.
    What activities are included over the two nights?
    You will have 2 morning and 2 afternoon river cruises, 2 guided night walks and guided trekking, all with a River Junkie nature guide.
    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
    Does this tour include the Gomantong caves?
    No. If you would like to visit the Gomantong caves, this can be added as an optional extra after check-out (please see above). If you have enough time, we highly recommend staying 1 additional night at Hornbill Lodge and joining our afternoon visit to Gomantong Forest Reserve which includes the caves, bat exodus and is the best time to potentially see wild orangutans nearby the caves. Our 4D3N Kinabatangan river safari with Gomantong also includes a night cruise.

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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