21 Days Ultimate Borneo Bird Photography Expedition – Sabah Rainforest & Wildlife

Arrive at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and meet your local guide. Begin a scenic 1.5-hour journey into the Crocker Range to Tambunan, surrounded by rolling hills and paddy fields. After check-in, enjoy a relaxing evening in the cool highlands.

Overnight: Padi View Homestay, Tambunan
Meals: Dinner
Bird to watch: Mountain Black-eye, Bornean Bulbul, Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush

Early morning transfer to Trusmadi Bird Hide for a full day of hide-based bird photography. Enjoy quiet sessions throughout the day with breaks in between for meals and rest.

Overnight: Padi View Homestay, Tambunan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Red-breasted Partridge, Crimson-headed Partridge, Bulwer’s Pheasant, Dayak Blue Flycatcher, White-crowned Shama

Travel early morning to Gunung Alab for a full day photography session at Alab Bird Station and Alab Sub-station. Explore the cool montane forest filled with moss-covered trees, orchids, and ferns.

Overnight: Padi View Homestay, Tambunan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Mountain Wren-Babbler, Golden-naped Barbet, Bornean Shortwing, Chestnut-crested Yuhina

Enjoy early morning roadside bird photography at Trusmadi Forest Reserve before continuing the journey to Kundasang. Stop for lunch along the way before checking in to the resort.

Overnight: Kinabalu Pine Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Whitehead’s Broadbill, Whitehead’s Spiderhunter, Black-sided Flowerpecker, Bornean Whistler

Spend the full day photographing birds in Kinabalu National Park across different elevations and forest habitats within this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight: Kinabalu Pine Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Whitehead’s Trogon, Bornean Green-Magpie, Bornean Stubtail, Bornean Forktail

Enjoy early morning birding around Kinabalu Park before descending toward Telupid town. After check-in, relax and prepare for the next day bird hide session.

Overnight: City Hotel, Telupid
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, Temminck’s Sunbird, Mountain Barbet

After breakfast, travel to Telupid Bird Hide and enjoy a short forest hike to the hide location. Spend time photographing shy forest birds before continuing the journey to Deramakot Forest Reserve in the afternoon.

Overnight: Deramakot Forest Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Bornean Peacock-Pheasant, Ferruginous Babbler, Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Short-tailed Babbler

Begin early morning wildlife safari searching for birds and mammals. Relax during midday before joining another safari in the late afternoon and evening.

Overnight: Deramakot Forest Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Dusky Broadbill, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, White-fronted Falconet, Asian Leopard Cat

Continue exploring Deramakot’s rich lowland forest habitats with morning and evening safaris for more wildlife photography opportunities.

Overnight: Deramakot Forest Reserve
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Bornean Orangutan, Malay Civet, Island Palm Civet, Lesser Mouse Deer

Join one final morning safari before departing for Sepilok after lunch. Upon arrival, check in and enjoy a relaxing evening surrounded by rainforest.

Overnight: Tanini Sepilok
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Rhinoceros Hornbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Brown Barbet

Spend the full day photographing birds at RDC canopy walkway and forest trails. In the evening, join a private night walk for nocturnal wildlife photography.

Overnight: Tanini Sepilok
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Bornean Bristlehead, Black-crowned Pitta, Sabah Partridge, Diard’s Trogon

Enjoy early morning photography at RDC or nearby forest edge before travelling to Gomantong Forest Reserve. Continue birding around the forest before heading to Kinabatangan River in the evening.

Overnight: Sukau Greenview Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Bat Hawk, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Red-naped Trogon, Black Hornbill

Enjoy dawn and dusk river cruises along the Kinabatangan River for wildlife photography. Optional night cruise available.

Overnight: Sukau Greenview Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Storm’s Stork, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Blue-eared Kingfisher, White-chested Babbler

Continue exploring Kinabatangan’s river system and rainforest habitats in search of birds, primates, and other wildlife.

Overnight: Sukau Greenview Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Proboscis Monkey, Silvered Leaf Monkey, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Stork-billed Kingfisher

Travel to Lahad Datu before continuing to Tabin Wildlife Resort, located within Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Enjoy late afternoon bird photography around the lodge area.

Overnight: Tabin Wildlife Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Blue-headed Pitta, Bornean Ground-Cuckoo, Eastern Grey Gibbon

Spend the day exploring Tabin’s regenerating rainforest habitats with bird-hide and forest photography sessions.

Overnight: Tabin Wildlife Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Western Hooded Pitta, Oriental Bay Owl, Sunda Scops Owl, Sabah Langur

Continue bird and wildlife photography around Tabin Wildlife Reserve with opportunities to photograph mammals and rainforest birds.

Overnight: Tabin Wildlife Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Red Leaf Monkey, Bornean Pygmy Squirrel, Blue-headed Pitta

Return to Lahad Datu before travelling deep into Danum Valley Conservation Area. Upon arrival at Borneo Rainforest Lodge, enjoy afternoon photography around the lodge compound.

Overnight: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Scarlet-rumped Trogon

Spend the day photographing birds and wildlife along forest trails, canopy walkways, and roadside habitats. Night drive included.

Overnight: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Bornean Bristlehead, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Bornean Spiderhunter, Whiskered Treeswift

Continue exploring Danum Valley’s untouched primary rainforest for more photography opportunities and wildlife encounters.

Overnight: Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Bird to watch: Black-throated Wren-Babbler, Bornean Blue Flycatcher, Bornean Crested Fireback, Finsch’s Bulbul

Enjoy one final morning photography session around the lodge compound before transferring to Lahad Datu Airport for your flight to Kuala Lumpur via Kota Kinabalu.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Bird to watch: Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Bornean Wren-Babbler, Striped Wren-Babbler