The Ultimate 7 Day Borneo Itinerary

Borneo had always been at the top of my travel bucket list, and finally exploring this incredible island did not disappoint. Over seven days, we went from spotting orangutans and sun bears to cruising along jungle rivers in search of the Borneo Big 5, to visiting pristine islands like Turtle Island and Gaya Island. Planning a Borneo itinerary can feel overwhelming with so many wildlife adventures, river cruises, and jungle treks to choose from, so I’ve put together this full 7-day guide to help you make the most of your trip. I’ll share exactly what we did, what to pack, where to stay, and the unforgettable moments that made Borneo one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited.

Day 1 – Arrival in Sandakan

We flew into Sandakan Airport (SDK) in Borneo ready to start our wildlife adventure. We had booked a combination tour: two days and one night on Turtle Island, followed by three days and two nights in the jungle. It included visits to the orangutan and sun bear rehabilitation centers, river cruises, and jungle walks. Honestly, the itinerary worked perfectly, and I was really happy with the order everything was planned in.

Because the Turtle Island tour starts at 9am, most flights won’t get you there in time, so you’ll likely need to overnight in Sandakan. We decided to fly in the night before and took the last flight of the day, which gave us almost a full day in Kuala Lumpur to explore before heading to Borneo (read my post on the must visit bars of Kuala Lumpur here).

Finding accommodation close to the airport was a little tricky, but we stumbled across a total gem of a homestay just four minutes away. It was simple, two stories with seven beds, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a TV, and a full kitchen. No frills, but exactly what we needed for a good night’s sleep before the adventure began.

The highlight though was sitting next to a local on the plane who offered us a ride to our homestay. We had planned to take a taxi or Grab, Southeast Asia’s version of Uber, but his generosity saved us the hassle, and we’re still in touch to this day.

Accommodation: 98 Homestay

Day 2 – Turtle Island

This was one of my favourite parts of our entire Malaysia trip. When we were planning it, I couldn’t really find much online about what to expect, what to pack, or how the day would go, so I’ve put together a full guide here covering every detail.

Pick up was at 9am from our homestay, and we took a short 30-minute bus ride to the boat port where we checked in and waited for the speedboat, which leaves daily at 10am. The key here is to pack light – the essentials are mosquito repellent, sunscreen, a spare set of clothes, toiletries, and a beach towel. All meals are provided on the island, free drinking water is available, and there are a couple of vending machines with snacks and beer in the cafeteria.

The speedboat ride takes about an hour, and once we arrived, we were shown to our room and had a little time to settle in before buffet lunch was served. The next few hours are free to enjoy the island however you like, whether that’s swimming in the crystal-clear waters, snorkelling, or relaxing on the white sand beaches. Later, you’ll be invited to watch the sunset on the beach, followed by a documentary about the parks and the turtle conservation project.

Dinner is served at 7:30pm, and then it’s time to wait for the turtles to start coming ashore to lay their eggs. Rangers patrol the beach and send the message “Turtle Time!” when it’s ready, and then you follow the guides quickly to see them. Videography isn’t allowed, and you must keep a safe distance, no flash or torches, but photos are fine. The rangers carefully gather the eggs to transplant them to a hatchery on the island to protect them from predators. They also measure the turtles and clean any barnacles from their shells.

We were lucky enough to watch them replant the eggs and even witness the release of a clutch of baby turtles back into the ocean – such a magical moment. We were called to watch the turtles at 8:15pm, but they can come ashore at any time during the night. Since it was early, we still managed a decent night’s sleep afterward.

Accommodation: Turtle Island

Day 3 – Orangutans, Sun Bears and River Cruising

We woke up early and had a hearty breakfast at the buffet starting at 6:30am before leaving paradise and taking a 45-minute speedboat back to the main island of Borneo. Once back at the boat port, we picked up any baggage we had stored at the office and hopped on the arranged shuttle to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, an amazing ethical wildlife experience dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing orangutans back into the wild.

The centre is only open for a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the afternoon, and you can’t bring any bags inside. There are lockers, but it’s easiest to just put on sunscreen and mosquito repellent before you arrive and leave everything else on the bus. Cameras require an extra 10MYR fee, though phones are fine. We arrived at 9am when they opened for the first feeding, and I highly recommend going to the air-conditioned viewing platform (on the left hand side when you walk in). It not only keeps you cool but gives a better perspective of both platforms, whereas the fan room lets you reliably see only one. You have to be quiet in the viewing rooms to avoid disturbing the orangutans. We saw a number of orangutans, including the alpha male, which is a rare sighting, and a mother with her baby enjoying fresh fruit delivered by the staff. It’s a hands-off experience, and the orangutans aren’t forced to appear, but from what our guide said, there are almost always a few visitors.

After the first platform, there is an outdoor nursery platform with a feeding about half an hour later, so it works well to visit both one after the other. The second platform is exposed to the elements, so it gets hot (try and get there fast and nab a spot in the shade if possible). Outside the centre, there’s a gift shop and cafeteria, but everything is cash only, so plan accordingly. If you book a tour package like we did, it likely includes entrance to both the orangutan and sunbear centres.

Next on our agenda was the Sunbear Conservation Centre, which follows a similar ethical approach, aiming to rehabilitate as many sun bears as possible. I even had the chance to meet Dr. Wong, the founder of the sanctuary. The centre is literally across from the orangutan centre, making it easy to do both in the same morning. You can bring a bag here, and there are a couple of platforms to see the sun bears, as well as a gift shop at the end. They are smaller than I imagined but just as adorable, each with unique chest markings that look like little bibs.

After visiting both centres, we were driven to Borneo Sepilok Rainfoorest Lodge, a beautiful property with a great buffet, pool, and lush grounds. Lunch was included in our package, and any additional drinks were extra. The staff were very attentive with my gluten-free dietary needs, although the language barrier meant I ended up with just a plain omelette for lunch. After lunch, we picked up a few fellow guests and took a two-hour drive to our next stop on the river, Sukau Greenview Lodge.

On arrival at the lodge, we checked in and got a brief induction into how the next few days would go. I was pleasantly surprised by our deluxe room. Being in the jungle on the river, I expected it to be very rustic, but it was the complete opposite. The room was modern, with electricity, air conditioning, a mini fridge, coffee making facilities, and a hot and cold shower. The lodge also offers comfort rooms and dorms for budget travelers.

Our first sunset river cruise started shortly after arrival from 4 to 6pm in search of the Borneo Big Five: orangutans, saltwater crocodiles, proboscis monkeys, rhinoceros hornbills, and pygmy elephants. Rain is always a possibility in the jungle, and we actually got soaked during every cruise, so plan for that. If a thunderstorm hits, the cruise will return to the lodge. Life jackets are provided, and guides usually have binoculars you can share with others. Despite getting drenched, we managed to see proboscis monkeys and a rhinoceros hornbill on the first cruise.

Meals at the lodge are buffet style and served at set times. There’s a good mix of local and western dishes, and they can make special dietary meals if needed. Drinks are available in a small fridge in the dining room, but there’s no alcohol for sale. Dinner starts at 6pm, followed by a night cruise from 7 to 8:30pm. Unfortunately, our night cruise was cancelled due to bad weather, but it’s a great opportunity to see nocturnal wildlife if you can go.

Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Sunbear Conservation Centre
What to wear: comfortable, casual, lightweight clothing, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, hat
What to bring: as little as possible, just your phone or camera, and cash for souvenirs and refreshments

Sunset River Cruise
What to wear: casual clothes you don’t mind getting wet, such as shorts and t-shirts, sunscreen, sunglasses, flip-flops, sandals, or water shoes, and mosquito repellent
What to bring: phone or camera for pictures, dry bag for electronics, raincoat or poncho (ESSENTIAL!!)

Accommodation: Sukau Greenview Lodge

Day 4 – River Cruises and Jungle Walks

On the fourth day, we woke up bright and early around 5:30am to get ready for the sunrise river cruise, which started at 6am and returned in time for breakfast at 8:30am. We were lucky enough to spot the third of the Borneo Big Five on this morning cruise, the saltwater crocodile. It was about three metres long, although our guide said that was on the smaller side! We also saw more proboscis and macaque monkeys, and our guide showed us the “orangutan bridges” that the parks had built. These are essentially a series of ropes across the rivers that allow orangutans to access and repopulate all areas of land surrounding the rivers, without being limited by tributaries. It was incredible to see other wildlife taking advantage of these bridges too, including monkeys who would perch on them or use them to cross the rivers.

After returning from the cruise, we had a hearty breakfast buffet with a mix of western and local dishes, plus coffee, tea, water, and juice. Then it was time for the morning jungle hike. The hike was about an hour long, but the jungle is hot and humid, and full of mosquitoes, so dress accordingly. You’ll be given a pair of rubber boots, which I highly recommend, as the trails are often wet and muddy. We took a boat to the starting point, and the hike focused more on the vegetation than the animals, although we did spot some fascinating insects and learned a lot about the rainforest ecosystem. Our guides warned us that if it started raining heavily or if there were fresh tracks from a bull elephant (!), we’d head back immediately. They also cautioned us about leeches, especially after recent rain. One girl in our group actually got one down her trousers, but after a quick spray with mosquito repellent, it dropped off. Definitely not pleasant, but something to expect in jungle conditions.

We returned in time for lunch, with a little extra time to rinse off and change. After lunch, there was a break until 4pm to nap, rest, or hang out at the cafeteria before heading out for the next sunset river cruise. Of course, we got rained on again, but while watching a few birds, our guide got word that pygmy elephants were on the riverbank at the far end. We turned straight into the storm to track them and were lucky enough to see a family of five right by the riverbank. There were a lot of boats when we arrived, but they thinned out soon enough, giving us a great viewpoint. On the way back, we even spotted an orangutan arm swinging through the trees. I’m counting it, which meant we had now seen all of the Borneo Big Five!

Dinner that evening had a different menu from the previous day, and there was also an optional Night Hike from 7 to 8:30pm. We chose to skip it since it had been raining and we had a flight the next day (and didn’t fancy bringing a set of wet clothes with us!), but I’ve heard it’s a great way to see sleeping birds and nocturnal insects. The night hike starts right at the lodge, so no boat transfer is needed. You’ll need to borrow a pair of rubber boots again, and be sure to wash and hang them upside down afterward so they dry for the next group.

Sunrise River Cruise
What to wear: lightweight casual clothing, mosquito repellent, flip-flops, sandals, or water shoes (anything you don’t mind getting wet; you can even go barefoot on this one because the deck isn’t too hot early in the morning)
What to bring: sunglasses, sunscreen, phone or camera for pictures, dry bag for electronics, raincoat or poncho

Jungle Hike
What to wear: long hiking trousers, long sleeve shirt (I wore a lightweight, loose swim shirt with UPF50, which worked perfectly), long hiking socks (or even better – permethrin infused socks or actual anti leech socks), sunglasses, hat, plenty of sunscreen, and mosquito repellent
What to bring: mosquito repellent (also handy to detach leeches – THIS ONE is the strongest I’ve found), phone or camera for pictures, optional raincoat or poncho, dry bag for electronics

Night Hike
What to wear: long trousers (hiking trousers are best), long hiking socks, long sleeve shirt, plenty of mosquito repellent
What to bring: phone or camera for pictures, dry bag for electronics, mosquito repellent, raincoat or poncho

Accommodation: Sukau Greenview Lodge

Day 5 – Transfer to Gaya Island

On Day 5, there’s actually an option to add an extra sunrise jungle cruise if you want. You need to sign up ahead of time, ideally before reception closes at 6:30pm the night before. It all depends on availability and costs 65 MYR per person. Since we had already seen all of the Borneo Big Five, we skipped it and enjoyed a couple more hours of sleep before breakfast at 8am and checkout by 8:30am.

Everyone checks out at the same time, so all the buses arrive together to take people to various destinations across Borneo, leaving promptly before 9am. From there, you’ll take a two-hour transfer to Sandakan Airport and then a short 30-minute flight to Kota Kinabalu. We flew with AirAsia for about $40, which even included a meal! I couldn’t get over this — domestic flights in the U.S. sometimes don’t even include drinks for an hour-long flight, let alone a full meal for a half-hour flight. We picked a lunchtime flight, which actually worked out perfectly given the early transfer from the lodge.

Once we arrived in Kota Kinabalu, we oordered a Grab to Jesselton Pier for the boat to Gaya Island. On Gaya, we split our stay between two resorts: Gayana Marine Resort and Gaya Island Resort. Both are very different experiences, which you can read more about in my reviews of each. The resorts offer several scheduled boat transfers throughout the day. At Gayana, these are included in your room rate, but at Gaya Island Resort, it’s 80 MYR per person each way.

Gayana Marine Resort, while smaller and with fewer activities, felt intimate and personal. It quickly became my favourite hotel of the entire Malaysia trip. Every room is an overwater bungalow, and the service was exemplary — I really had to dig to find anything negative, and the only thing I noticed was a spotty Wi-Fi connection in the room. The infinity pool by the restaurant is incredible, and the happy hour in the bar above the spa is fabulous. The restaurant staff went above and beyond to accommodate my gluten-free diet, and the food was fantastic. I especially loved the breakfast setup, which was a la carte with an additional buffet, and my favorite part? A fresh orange juicer — some of the best orange juice I’ve ever tasted. I would fly back there just for that OJ!

Optional Activities
Gayana Marine Resort – grab a couple of cocktails during happy hour at the bar and watch the sky change colors over the waters.
Gaya Island Resort – sign up for the Sunset Cruise, where the staff take a maximum of eight people around the bay to watch the sunset. They’ll even help you get some amazing sunset photos while you enjoy free-flowing wine, beer, soft drinks, and a selection of canapés.

Accommodation: Gayana Marine Resort / Gaya Island Resort

Day 6 – Gaya Island

Gayana Marine Resort – start your day waking up to a beautiful sunrise right in front of your overwater villa. Grab one of the included life jackets and float around in the crystal-clear waters before heading to the restaurant for breakfast, then spend some time relaxing by the pool. If you’re feeling a little more active, you can take a quick paddle around the bay in one of the resort’s kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, or treat yourself to a massage at the spa — honestly, you can’t go wrong either way.

Gaya Island Resort – take the short five-minute boat ride to Tavujan Bay, the resort’s private beach. The round-trip boat costs 80 MYR per person. There’s a restaurant right on the beach where you can have lunch, which is 100 MYR each. It’s a set menu with a choice of salad or ceviche to start, a selection of meat, seafood, or veggie skewers with rice and corn on the cob for the main, and ice cream for dessert. Drinks include wine, beer, soft drinks, and even coconut water served straight from the coconut!

For something a little different, there’s a marine center at Tavujan Bay where you can sign up for a coral restoration class, which is a really fun and hands-on way to learn about the local ecosystem. In the afternoon, I highly recommend the guided mangrove kayaking tour. You’ll explore deep into the mangroves and learn about their importance to Gaya Island while navigating the various canals. It costs 80 MYR per person and you’ll be in a tandem kayak, so definitely bring a dry bag for your electronics — we got a little wet, but it was all part of the fun.

For the adventurous, the Night Hike is a unique experience. You might spot giant red flying squirrels, reptiles, and various amphibians that only come out after dark. It’s a great way to experience a completely different side of the island.

Accommodation: Gayana Marine Resort / Gaya Island Resort

Day 7 – Transfer Back to Kuala Lumpur

Enjoy your last morning in Borneo with a hearty breakfast at the hotel before taking one of the boat transfers back to Kota Kinabalu. Both Gayana Marine Resort and Gaya Island Resort offer taxi services from the pier to the airport, but we found them wildly expensive — easily over ten times the price of a Grab driver, which we were able to hail right at the pier entrance. The drive to the airport takes about 20 minutes, and from there you can catch a flight back to Kuala Lumpur or continue your travels elsewhere. Kota Kinabalu is actually an international airport, so it’s a surprisingly convenient hub if you’re planning to visit other countries in the region.

You can find out more about my stay on my “Malaysia” Highlights on Instagram @chase.the.rainbows.

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