East Sabah: Kinabatangan, Sepilok & Libaran Island

Arrive in Kota Kinabalu at any time. The city serves as the main gateway to Sabah and a logical place to acclimatize before pushing east into the jungle. Drop your bags and spend the afternoon exploring the waterfront or sampling street food at the night market. This is a day for settling in; the real travel starts tomorrow.

The first leg of the overland journey runs from Kota Kinabalu into the foothills surrounding Mount Kinabalu, ending at a community homestay in Tambatuon village. The afternoon is spent on foot, exploring the river and surrounding landscape. You'll visit local farms—like Kundasang Aquafarm, which uses fish waste for hydroponics, and a more traditional plot at Onis farm—to gather ingredients for dinner.

The day ends with a hands-on lesson in local cooking techniques, preparing the evening meal with your hosts. It's a direct line into the agricultural rhythms and daily life of the Dusun people who call this region home.

A long overland drive—between five and eight hours—pushes east from the mountains to the Kinabatangan River, Sabah's longest waterway. The destination is a remote jungle lodge near Kampung Bilit, deep inside the river basin. After checking in, the first exploration is by boat: an evening river cruise to spot shoreline wildlife as the jungle settles for the night. Proboscis monkeys, macaques, and crocodiles are common sights in the murky water. After dinner back at the lodge, there's often an option for a guided night walk into the surrounding forest.

The day is structured around the movements of wildlife along the river. It starts with an early morning river safari, when animals are most active. After breakfast, a guided walk leads to a nearby oxbow lake, a prime habitat for primate species like the proboscis monkey, as well as various macaques and gibbons. The afternoon brings a second river cruise, offering another chance to see whatever the morning trip missed. The light is different, and so are the animals. The day ends back at the lodge for dinner.

Travel from the Kinabatangan River to the conservation hub of Sepilok. The main event here is a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where orphaned or rescued apes are prepared for a return to the wild. Visitors can watch the orangutans from viewing platforms during feeding times. Adjacent to the sanctuary is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, dedicated to the world's smallest bear. It's a compact and powerful look at the region's conservation efforts for two of its most iconic species.

From Sepilok, a short drive connects to the port at Sandakan for the boat transfer to Libaran Island. The 45-minute crossing by speedboat lands you on an island known for its sea turtle nesting sites. A guide from the local hatchery explains the conservation program, which protects eggs from predators and poaching. Depending on the season, you might see turtles laying eggs, rangers relocating them to the hatchery, or the release of hatchlings into the sea. There's also time for a walk through the local village to see daily island life, with options for snorkelling or kayaking offshore.

The return journey begins with a morning speedboat ride from Libaran Island back to the jetty in Sandakan. From there, it's a transfer to the Sandakan airport for the short flight back west to Kota Kinabalu. After arriving and checking into a hotel, the rest of the afternoon is free. It's a good opportunity to explore the Jesselton Point waterfront, a busy district of shops and restaurants, or head to the well-known Filipino Market for souvenirs and street food before a final night in Sabah.

The trip concludes in Kota Kinabalu. There are no planned activities, leaving the day free for packing and heading to the airport. Depart at any time.