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

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Kinabatangan River

5D4N Kinabatangan river & Tabin Wildlife Safari

5 days
4 nights
Departs Sandakan
Varied
Price fromRM 5,540
From RM5540 per person, twin share, based on min 2 pax
Duration5 days
4 nights on the road
DepartsSandakan
Groupmin 2 pax
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About this trip

Stay 2 nights at a riverside lodge on the banks of the Kinabatangan river and 2 nights at Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Malaysia's largest nature reserve. Visit Sepilok sanctuaries, join river cruises in search of the Kinabatangan's abundant wildlife, trek to Tabin's famous mud volcano, visit Lipad waterfall, join your guide for dawn, dusk and night walks as well as 4X4 safaris and take your time to relax surrounded by nature. This trip is perfect for visitors on a mid-range budget looking to explore nature in comfort. Both lodges offer air-conditioned rooms with ensuite bathrooms and a good level of service. Wildlife spotting is done via a mixture of boat cruises, 4X4 safaris and short walks making the trip suitable for most fitness levels as well as families.

Highlights

  • Sepilok orangutan sanctuary & sunbear sanctuary
  • Dawn & dusk river cruises for proboscis monkeys, orangutans and more
  • Lipad Waterfall & Lipad mud volcano
  • 4x4 sunset & night safaris at Tabin Wildlife Reserve
  • 2 nights Hornbill Lodge, 2 nights Tabin Wildlife Reserve

    • Trip facts

    Kinabatangan River, Sepilok, Tabin Wildlife Reserve
    Birding, Jungle walks, Night Drive, Night Walk, River Cruise, Wildlife
    5 days of travel
    Physical difficulty 2 / 5
    Departs from Sandakan
    Minimum 2 pax per departure
    Rates: Pricing valid until 31st Dec 2026
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    Day by day

    Day 1

    Sandakan - Sepilok - Kinabatangan River

    Your 5 day adventure will start with pick up from Sandakan hotels or airport between 8am - 8.30am or hotels in Sepilok from 08.45 - 9am. Head first to the orangutan sanctuary to watch the younger, playful orangutans in the nursery before catching the 10am feeding. Around 11am your guide will take you to the sunbear sanctuary to watch the sunbears (the world’s smallest species of bear!) from raised walkways. From there you will travel 2 hours overland to Hornbill Lodge and have lunch on arrival. Check-into your room and take a moment to relax before heading out 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 - L, D * Highly recommended: Night River Cruises can be added at the lodge.

    Day 2

    Kinabatangan River

    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 your afternoon river cruise in search of this 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

    Day 3

    Kinabatangan River - Lahad Datu - Tabin Wildlife Reserve

    Wake up early and join your guide for a final dawn river cruise then return to the lodge and enjoy breakfast overlooking the river before departing at 9.30am to Lahad Datu, estimated arrival time at Tabin office in Lahad Datu: 11.30am. Your transfer into Tabin will depart at 12pm, giving you a chance to stretch your legs in between. Upon arrival check into your Tabin Wildlife Resort Chalet and take a walk to explore the local Lipad River area, home to a surprising variety of birds, insects and small mammals. Discover the rich variety of jungle herbs, some endemic, used for generations by local folks for the treatment of various ailments. In the afternoon, trek with your guide from the Elephant trail to the active Lipad mud volcano which provides a mineral salt lick for wildlife, arrive at the elevated bare area of the mud volcano which is frequented by wildlife and birds. Try to identify the multitude of animal footprints here. The adventurous can try the effects of the volcanic mud, said to be responsible for a fine complexion. Trek from the mud volcano back to the main road. After dinner join the 4X4 night safari drive looking for nocturnal animals (L,D)

    Day 4

    Tabin Wildlife Reserve

    Start with an optional early morning bird walk to discover some of Tabin’s rich collection of almost 300 bird species. After breakfast, trek through the lush green rainforest known for its rich diversity of plants and animal species to visit Lipad Waterfall. Take a dip in the natural pool and enjoy a natural and refreshing shower under the waterfall. Alternatively explore the surrounding vegetation or simply relax. Enjoy some free time at the lodge in the afternoon then, as the sun sets, go on a dusk drive to look for nocturnal wildlife coming before returning to the lodge for dinner and an after dinner night walk on the nature trail nearby the resort (B,L,D)

    Day 5

    Tabin Wildlife Reserve - Lahad Datu

    After breakfast, free and easy until check out. You may opt to take up a dawn drive or jungle walk to look out for wildlife that is active at this time of the day. (Optional activity not included in package: Dawn Drive and Jungle Walk). Transfer out is at 1.30pm after lunch. You will be back in Lahad Datu by 3pm - 3.30pm for your onward journey. (B, L)

    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
    River Lodge chalets at night, Tabin Wildlife Resort

    Tabin Wildlife Resort

    Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah
    Tabin Wildlife Resort sits on Sabah's east coast, about an hour along an unsealed road from Lahad Datu. Guests stay in either River Lodges facing the Lipad river or Hill Lodges on the forested slope, each with air-conditioning, a ceiling fan, an ensuite hot-water bathroom and a private balcony, linked by boardwalks to the Sunbird Cafe. It is the only accommodation within the reserve.
  • River Lodge2 single beds per room, 1 extra bed can be added. Surcharge of RM250 per person applies for River Lodge.
  • Hill Lodge Double1 double bed, 1 extra bed can be added
  • Hill Lodge TripleFurthest from the restaurant with most steps to climb. 3 single beds in each room.
    • FacilitiesSunbird Cafe serving buffet meals with complimentary coffee. Exhibition gallery. Timber boardwalks connecting the chalets. Air-conditioning and ceiling fans, ensuite hot-water shower and private balcony in every chalet.
    Good to knowWifi is available in the restaurant area but can be slow at times and phone reception is limited. Activities centre on night safaris and dusk drives, jungle trekking, the Lipad Mud Volcano, Lipad Waterfall, a rainforest foot soak and birdwatching. Some Hill Lodge Triple are towards the top of the hill and require climbing quite a few steps. River Lodge's have the least steps and connect to the restaurant via a flat boardwalk.
    A closer look

    What's included

  • Transfers: Sandakan/Sepilok - Sepilok - Kinabatangan river - Lahad Datu - Tabin Wildlife Reserve - Lahad Datu
  • 2 nights River Chalet at Hornbill Lodge (Kinabatangan)
  • 2 nights private ensuite AC room at Tabin Wildlife Reserve
  • Meals & activities as per itinerary
  • Entrance fees to Sepilok sanctuaries

    • Not included

  • Tourism tax: RM10 per private room per night (payable in cash at check-in)
  • Flights / transfers other than stated
  • Drinks (water, tea & coffee are provided at the lodges)
  • Meals other than stated
  • Optional activities

    • Prices

    5D4N Kinabatangan & Tabin Wildlife SafariRM 5540From RM5540 - per person, twin share, based on min 2 pax
    Pricing notesPricing based on a minimum of 2 pax, solo travellers please contact us for a quotation High season supplement, per person, stays at Hornbill Lodge in April, July, August and September 2026 — RM 200 Upgrade to River Lodge at Tabin - RM250 per person Additional dawn, dusk or night 4X4 drive at Tabin, per person — RM 100 Tourism tax per private room per night (payable in cash at check-in) — RM 10
    ChildrenChildren are welcome to join this tour.
    Rate validityPricing valid until 31st Dec 2026

    Frequently asked questions

    Where will I stay on this safari?
    Your first two nights are at Hornbill Lodge, River Junkie's newly renovated Kinabatangan river lodge, which offers 16 spacious River Chalets with extra large beds, air-conditioning, modern ensuite bathrooms and private balconies with sweeping river views. You then spend two nights at Tabin Wildlife Resort, a well-established jungle lodge overlooking a small river in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, with 10 ground-level River Lodges overlooking the river and 6 Hill Lodges on the hillside connected to the main building by a wooden boardwalk. All rooms at both lodges have air-conditioning, ensuite bathrooms and private balconies.
    Are the rooms easy to reach on foot?
    Both Hornbill Lodge and Tabin Wildlife Resort have rooms built on a hill that require climbing a number of steps. If you require a room with less steps, please let us know at the time of booking. River Lodges at Tabin are built on the ground-level but incur a surcharge.
    How does the transfer between the Kinabatangan and Tabin work?
    After a final dawn river cruise and breakfast you leave Hornbill Lodge at 9.30am and drive to Lahad Datu, with an estimated arrival at the Tabin office around 11.30am. Your transfer into Tabin then departs at 12pm, giving you a chance to stretch your legs in between.
    Where does the tour start and finish?
    Pick-up is provided between 7.45 and 8.30am on the first day from any hotel in Sandakan or Sepilok, or from Sandakan airport. Drop-off can be at any hotel in Lahad Datu, Lahad Datu airport or the bus station at around 2.30 to 3pm on the last day. Earlier airport transfers and transfers to or from other locations can be arranged on request, with costs varying by location.
    What extra costs might there be?
    Tourism Tax RM10 per room per night, drinks other than tea, coffee & water and optional activities such as a night cruise or dawn drive.
    How fit do I need to be, and can children come along?
    Jungle walks at the Kinabatangan river and Tabin Wildlife Reserve require a moderate level of fitness and you should be prepared for hot and humid weather conditions. Children are welcome to join this tour.
    Will I be able to stay in touch?
    Charging points are available at all lodges and use 3-pin UK style plugs. Both lodges on this tour offer 24-hour electricity, although power cuts do happen. There is no or very limited phone signal at Hornbill Lodge but there is Starlink wifi in communal areas, while Tabin has limited phone reception and slow wifi in communal areas.

    Photos from this trip

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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