About Trip

Borneo is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet! Bet you can’t guess how many different types of plants Borneo has? If you thought 15,000, then you’re obviously physic because that’s the correct answer (or estimate at least, cos that’s a lot of counting)! Borneo is also home to 222 mammals, 44 of which are only native to Borneo! Pretty impressive, right? Sooo I think you get the picture of how diverse Borneo is! You’ll be getting up close to Orangutans in their natural habitat, exploring local villages and trekking (or shall we say chasing) some unreal waterfalls. To top it off the trip ends with an open water PADI diving course, you’ll be a pro! If you’re looking for adventure and wildlife, well, you were BORN for this Borneo adventure (sorry, not sorry)!

Travel Style

classic

We’ve perfected the balance between culture, adventure, beaches and parties. A high level of inclusions at a low cost. Think of a Ferrari for the price of a Ford. Highlights, hotspots & hidden gems are crafted into each itinerary with our own TruExclusives. We stay in a variety of different accommodations such as hotels, hostels, homestays, beach huts & even boats. Maximum adventure, minimum hassle.

What's Included

  • Activities
  • Airport Pickup
  • Travel Ninja
  • Transport
  • Accommodation
  • Tru Exclusives
  • Meals Included

Activities All Activities Included!
Mari Mari Cultural Village Trip
Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Langanan Waterfall Trek
Snorkel Safari / Try Dive
Rainforest Centre
Sun Bear Rehabilitation Centre
X2 Kinabatangan River Safari
Gomantong Caves
Kundasang War Memorial
Hot Springs
Canopy Walkway - Mount Kinabalu’s Tree Tops
Mari Mari Cultural Village Trip Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Langanan Waterfall Trek Snorkel Safari / Try Dive Rainforest Centre Sun Bear Rehabilitation Centre X2 Kinabatangan River Safari Gomantong Caves Kundasang War Memorial Hot Springs Canopy Walkway - Mount Kinabalu’s Tree Tops

Airport Pickup
(up to two days before as long as you are booked into the start hotel)
(up to two days before as long as you are booked into the start hotel)

Travel Ninja
Your Guide! Like travelling with your best mates and one of them happens to know where they're going!
Your Guide! Like travelling with your best mates and one of them happens to know where they're going!

Transport
All Transport Included
Private Van
Speedboat to Gaya Island
All Transport Included Private Van Speedboat to Gaya Island

Accommodation
8 Nights Accommodation
Eco Lodge Dorm
Sepilok Jungle Resort
Mountainside Bungalows
8 Nights Accommodation Eco Lodge Dorm Sepilok Jungle Resort Mountainside Bungalows

Tru Exclusives Tru Exclusives
Kinabatangan River Safari
You’re in Borneo, that’s a TruExclusive in itself! CAN I GET A HELL YEAH! We feast on a delicious breakfast before we hit up Sabah’s longest river, the Kinabatangan. On the way we stop off at the Gomantong Caves. An intricate cave system inside the Gomantong Hill.. Don’t get lost because we’ve got an epic afternoon ahead. Are you ready to have your socks blown off? (We don’t condone socks and sandals anyway kids) We’re off on River Safari! Grab that GoPro! We’re on the search for Borneo’s famous wildlife and birds. Watch out, as we’re looking to spot pygmy elephants, orangutans, crocodiles, proboscis monkeys and the myriad of birds living in the region. If you’re a fan of wildlife. YOU’RE GOING TO BE IN HEAVEN. Happy tears at the ready. Settle into our riverside lodge overlooking beautiful mountains. Paradise.
Kinabatangan River Safari You’re in Borneo, that’s a TruExclusive in itself! CAN I GET A HELL YEAH! We feast on a delicious breakfast before we hit up Sabah’s longest river, the Kinabatangan. On the way we stop off at the Gomantong Caves. An intricate cave system inside the Gomantong Hill.. Don’t get lost because we’ve got an epic afternoon ahead. Are you ready to have your socks blown off? (We don’t condone socks and sandals anyway kids) We’re off on River Safari! Grab that GoPro! We’re on the search for Borneo’s famous wildlife and birds. Watch out, as we’re looking to spot pygmy elephants, orangutans, crocodiles, proboscis monkeys and the myriad of birds living in the region. If you’re a fan of wildlife. YOU’RE GOING TO BE IN HEAVEN. Happy tears at the ready. Settle into our riverside lodge overlooking beautiful mountains. Paradise.

Meals Included
2 X Breakfast
3 X Lunch
1 x Dinner
2 X Breakfast 3 X Lunch 1 x Dinner

Your Trip Planner

Borneo Adventure
9 Days

Location Route Iconkota kinabalu - gaya island

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Map

Bucket List

See Wild orangutans
River Safari Cruise
Try Dive
Tru
Flexibility
Low Deposit
Stupidly low deposits so you won't have to raid the piggy bank to lock in your trip.
Free date change
If your plans change, no stress. We allow one free date change up to 60 days before you travel.
Payment Plans
Have something to look forward to & pay us when you can.
Unrivalled Support
The best 1 on 1 support before, during and after your trip.

Itinerary

Day 1

airport pick up

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Tru
Exclusives

Welcome to Borneo, the third-largest island in the world! Once you arrive, our legendary TruNinjas (a tour guide but cooler) will meet you at arrivals, and off you go to our awesome eco-lodge, where we will be staying! Your Borneo adventure has officially started! You’ll meet your TruFam for your welcome dinner in Kota Kinabalu city, followed by some sunset drinks by the waterfront. Can’t get much more of a dreamier first night in Borneo!

Airport Pick Up
Kota Kinabalu
Day 2

mari mari cultural village trip

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Tru
Exclusives

When in Borneo, immersing yourself in the culture is a MUST (Obvi). So that’s why next on the list is learning about history and culture through visiting the Mari Mari village. The village is set in the forest, away from all the hustle & bustle of Kota Kinabalu. You’ll meet members of the five main tribes of Sabah while learning all about their daily life and traditions. The REAL life perspective, you’ll hear all about the head hunters of Borneo, their ancestors as well as the stories of the high priestess of a tribe, also known as the Bobohizan. We told you we would immerse ourselves in the culture! For the evening, we have some time to relax until it’s sunset o’clock. This time though it’s not just any ordinary sunset, it’s one that’s been voted number one in the world! And yes, you can go tell all your friends and make them jealous, we give you permission.

Kota Kinabalu
Mari Mari Village
1 X Lunch
Day 3

orangutan & sun bear rehabilitation centre

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Tru
Exclusives

Today is the day we have all been waiting for! We leave Kota Kinabalu in the morning and set off to Sepilok, the journey has a scenic view of the lush greenery as well as the small local villages before we arrive at our jungle resort. Before we go meet our orangutan friends at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre you can freshen up, have a little nap, or take a dip in the pool and chill, you do you boo! Just make sure you are ready to meet the 80 orangutans that live freely in the centre *cue awwww’s*. At the centre, they focus on rehabilitating orangutans so that they can be released back into the wild eventually. Don’t think it can get much cuter? Hold that thought because there are 25 baby orangutans in the centre, so see if you can spot any little ones! If you weren’t already, we can guarantee that you will have fallen in love with these incredible animals! The love does not stop there though, as we go over to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre next door, to see some of the world’s smallest species of bear. Who are also cared for just like the orangutans and then released back into the wild. We then head back to the jungle resort where you can chill with your TruFam and gush over the wonderful friends we made earlier today.

Sepilok
Orangutan Rehab Centre
1x Breakfast
Day 4

kinabatangan river safari

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Tru
Exclusives

Did someone say Tru Exclusive? Hell yeah, we did! You will not find this activity anywhere else, trust us when we say this is a TRUly exclusive experience! Yup, we’re going on a safari, but not just any safari, a river safari! Kinabatangan River is Sabah’s longest river (fun fact for ya!) Along the way we'll stop off at a Rainforest Centre too. Get those cameras all charged up and ready to go because you're in for a treat! During the river safari, see what beautiful wildlife Borneo has to offer and try spotting any orangutans, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, probosci's monkeys and the myriads of birds. We call this wildlife, HEAVEN! After becoming one with nature, we head back to our riverside lodge overlooking stunning mountains for the evening, dreamy stuff!

Kinabatangan River
River Safari & Rainforest Centre
1 X Breakfast, 1 X Lunch,1 X Dinner
Kinabatangan River Safari
Day 5

morning river safari & kundasang war memorial

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Tru
Exclusives

Rise and shine! Bet you’ve never had a wake-up call from gibbons or hornbills before, but that changes today! We are off to the Kinabatangan river once again to see what wildlife we can spot as some are more active in the morning! After spending our morning on the river, it’s time to head to Kundasang, Ranau. Ranau is home to the Kundasang war memorial and gardens, which is one of the first memorials to commemorate the brave Australian and British prisoners of war who died during the infamous Sandakan-Ranu Death march. Once we have immersed ourselves in Borneo’s history, it’s time to sample some local rice wines and feast at the nearby market to experience the real, local way of life! After we’ve filled our stomachs with too much rice wine & food from the market, it’s time to catch our beauty sleep for an early start tomorrow!

Kundasang
River Safari & War Memorial
1 X Breakfast
Day 6

langanan waterfall trek & hot springs

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Tru
Exclusives

We’re going hiking so grab yo’ boots and lets gooo! To start the day off, we’ll explore Mount Kinabalu’s treetops, pretty amazing start we’d say. The view is incredible from the Canopy Tree Top Walk, no need to imagine what a hundred million-year-old rainforest would look like because it’s right in front of you! Definitely a memory you will cherish forever so make sure you really take in all that is around you as it’s not every day you get to see a rainforest, let alone from birds-eye view! Next up is the highest waterfall in Sabah, the Langanan waterfall stands 100m high (just a tad tall no biggie). Hope your feeling up for a challenge as we are going to go on a 3.5km trek, but trust us, it’s so worth it. Our stomachs are sure to be grumbling, so it’s time for a well-deserved lunch. You should be proud of yourself as you’ve completed the trek, high-fives all around (or elbow bumps, ya know 2020 & all)! Now, it’s time for the ultimate relaxation session at the mineral-infused hot springs, your muscles can thank you later! Ahhh, sounds dreamy right.

Kundasang
Waterfall Hike & Hot Springs
Day 7

relaxing day

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Tru
Exclusives

Wow, what a jam-packed (but epic) week we’ve had, which means it’s only right for us to have a day to relax. So the ball is in your court, you choose what you want to do today. Whether it be checking out the local markets to get those taste buds tingling, treating yourself to a massage or just taking in your gorgeous surroundings of Kota Kinabalu, maybe even catching the sunset! Whatever you fancy doing, the choice is yours (just make sure you do it in TRU style).

 

Kota Kinabalu
Relaxation
Day 8

scuba diving & snorkel safari

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Tru
Exclusives

Divers paradise is calling! *cue under the sea - the little mermaid* Borneo is known for its unique and unforgettable marine life, as well as some 10/10 scuba diving, need some more convincing? Here’s why you need to go diving in Borneo. We’ll head to Gaya island by speed boat, where we will spend our day either snorkelling or trying out diving for the first time, take yo’ pick! However, suppose you are a bit of a pro, and you're already a qualified diver (we get it, you're cool). In that case, you can get up close and personal with the amazing marine life straight away! From reef sharks to clownfish, and fingers crossed maybe even some turtles! What a fin-tastic day (see what we did there!).

Kota Kinabalu
Diving
1 X Lunch
Day 9

chilled check out

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Tru
Exclusives

All good things must come to an end, which means it’s time to love and leave Borneo after an epic 9 days! You won’t just be going home with unforgettable memories to cherish forever but also your TruFam, it’s been real. Enjoy your last breakfast in Borneo and reminisce over the amazing sights you’ve seen. If your adventure is continuing, then our TruNinjas will be happy to help you with further travel plans! Until we meet again, Stay Tru!

 

*Please note, as you will be diving on the last day of your tour, you are required to allow at least 24 hours before flying to comply with PADI guidelines and for your own safety.*

 

HELP & SUPPORT WITH ONWARD TRAVEL

Accommodation

kota kinabalu city

Our first stop is in Kota Kinabalu City and we will be staying in an Eco Lodge! We are located only 5 minutes away from the marina and super close to the hotspot for diving in Kota Kinabalu. For those of you that enjoy retail therapy we are near the Imago Shopping Centre. It's the perfect base to meet the TruFam and get our Borneo adventure started!

sepilok

Nestled within the lush greenery of Sepilok-Kabili Forest Reserve is our second accommodation. You wanted to immerse yourself in nature - well this is the ultimate accommodation for that!

kinabatangan

Next up we are staying in some cool jungle chalets within the jungle along Kinabatangan River. From here we will go on an epic river safari so get those cameras all charged up and ready to go because you're in for a treat!

kundasang

Nestled in the hills of Kundasang with stunning views of Mount Kinabalu is our next accommodation! Here we will do so much, from waterfall treks to hot springs and tree top walks. Are you ready? Of course you are!

FAQs

Where does the trip start & Finish?

The trip starts and finishes in Kota Kinabalu.

Which airport do I need to fly into?

You will need to fly into Kota Kinabalu International Airport, airport code BKI.

What's the closest airport to the end destination?

The same as the start, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, airport code BKI.
*Please make sure you don't book your return flight for at least 24 hours after your last day of your tour to make sure you are fit to fly after diving*

How do I get back to the start destination and how much will it cost?

The trip finishes in the same place as where it starts - Kota Kinabalu.

What kind of accommodation is included on this trip?

The accommodation a mixture of dormitories, twin and triple share rooms.

How much is pre-night accommodation?

Pre-night accommodation costs £25 per night.

What is the currency?

The currency used in Borneo is Malaysian Ringgit.

What Visa do I need?

You do not need a visa to enter Borneo for the duration of this trip. You are given permission to stay for 3 months upon arrival.

Are there any COVID precautions in place for my trip?

Yes! We’re doing everything we can to make your trip as safe and stress- free as possible. All trips are run with enhanced safety and hygiene protocols advised by the FCO (Foreign Commonwealth Office) & WHO (World Health Organisation) including only working with partners who uphold the same standard and are taking the maximum amount of precautions. From switching to private transport where possible to offering private room upgrades, we’ve got all areas covered to ensure your trip is an amazing one! You can read more here.

What happens If I can’t travel due to COVID?

We’re only operating in countries that are open without quarantine and are safe and easy to travel in. That being said if you could no longer travel due to COVID or if something were to arise, we’re offering complete flexibility for our TruTravellers. From free date changes to lifetime deposits. The TruCrew are always here to give you some TLC and to go through your options. Think of us as ya BFF’s, the fun auntie/uncle of the family who loves a drink or your travel guardian angels. Were not fussed.

Is my money protected?

Yep! You will never lose your money. You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe. We’re offering free date changes or to keep your deposit on file for as and when you’re ready to travel, 2 months, 2 years or even 20!

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