<p><strong>Operation</strong></p><p>Business Hours: 8am - 6pm (GMT+8)</p><p>Hotline: (+60) 111 660 7009 (English)</p><p>Hotline: (+60) 111 660 7009 (Bahasa)</p><p>Hotline: (+60) 12 870 8009 (中文)</p><p>Email: hello@sabahtravel.com</p><p><br></p><p><strong>SabahTravel</strong></p><p>DBKK Account No. 0000153496T</p><p>MOTAC License No. KPL/LN 5746 (M'sia)</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Headquarter</strong></p><p>L1.33A, 1st Floor, Kompleks Asia City,</p><p>Jalan Asia City, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.</p>

Kinabatangan

Kinabatangan River Cruise

Sandakan

<h3>Tour Highlights</h3><ul><li>Cruise through the Kinabatangan River loaded with diverse endemic wildlife, including the Proboscis Monkey, Pygmy Elephant, crocodiles and more.</li><li>Trek through the jungle accompanied by the local nature guide.</li><li>Get a deeper insights on the vegetation of <a href="https://www.sabahtravel.com/sandakan" target="_blank">Sandakan</a>'s riverine forest.</li><li>Overnight stay in a jungle lodge at Bilit Adventure Lodge.</li></ul>

Sandakan City

The Kinabatangan River (Malay: Sungai Kinabatangan) is a river in Sandakan Division, northeastern Sabah of Malaysia. It is the second longest river in Malaysia with a length of 560 km (350 mi) from its headwaters in the mountains of southwest Sabah, to its outlet at the Sulu Sea, east of Sandakan. The area is known for its remarkable wildlife and fascinating habitats including its limestone caves at Gomantong hill, dryland dipterocarp forests, riverine forest, freshwater swamp forest, oxbow lakes and salty mangrove swamps near the coast.

With the early Chinese traders settlement around the river mouth area, the name "Kina Batañgan" has been used by indigenous people with the word "Kina" itself is a reference by indigenous Dusun for the Chinese people. The Orang Sungai traditionally lived along the river banks and of mixed ancestry including Dusun, Suluk, Bugis, Bajau as well the Chinese. The earliest Chinese traders settlement on the banks of Kinabatangan River has been established since the 7th century where they trade in edible-nest swiftlet, beeswax, rattan and ivory. In the 15th century, a sister of the Chinese Kinabatangan settlement leader married with the Sultan of Brunei. During the era of British North Borneo, the river serves as the route for goods and timber exports, navigable for steam launches as well for smaller boats. William Burgess Pryer did attempt to establish a market at one location called Domingol in the river coast but the plan did not flourish.

The river area including Labang and Kuamut are form since the Early and Middle Miocene period while large parts of its river system from the Maliau Basin is form during the Early and Late Miocene. Towards the river mouth, the area is made of Middle Miocene chaotic deposits. The ecology of the upper reaches of the river has been severely disrupted by excessive logging and clearing of land for plantations although the original lowland forests and mangrove swamps near the coast have largely survived, provide sanctuary for a population of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) and contain some of Borneo's highest concentrations of wildlife. In many villages along the river, the demand for freshwater fish always high where the livehood of the villagers greatly depend on the income from their catches. Each year, the lashing rains of the northeast monsoon cause the river to swell rapidly. Unable to disgorge into the sea quickly enough, the river frequently overflows its banks and spreads across the flat land of its lower reaches, creating a huge floodplain.

In 1997, 270 km2 (104 sq mi) of the lower Kinabatangan floodplain were declared a protected area. Much of the deeper river area are protected under the Lower Kinabatangan Sanctuary, a 28,000 hectares (69,190 acres) reserve established in 1999 which provides a variety of habitats for flora especially freshwater swamp forest, mangrove, palms and bamboo as well fauna such as hose's langur, proboscis monkey, orangutan, pig-tailed macaque, gibbon, slow loris, elephant and rhinoceros. In 2001, the lower Kinabatangan floodplain was upgraded into bird sanctuary area through the efforts of non-governmental organisation (NGOs). Following media attention after a decapitated elephant's head was found floating down the river in 2006, the protected area been gazetted as the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary through the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment of 1997 under the purview of the Sabah Wildlife Department in 2009. 

The river can be visited all year round, though it is often flooded during the wettest part of the year in December and January. From April to October during the main flowering and fruiting season, the climate is generally fairly dry and a good time to spot many birds and animals. During the northeast monsoon from November to March, there are often heavy showers during the afternoons which usually extended until December and January. Through the rainy season, it is possible to negotiate many of the river channels leading into the oxbow lakes, where there is a greater concentration of wildlife.

Nice place.close to the nature.make sure pick the right package.

Even though this strip of river is being seriously threatened by palm trees and the subsequent palm oil from plantations as far as the eye can see, it still holds amazing wildlife. The highlights were definitely Sumatran elephants, Probiscus monkeys, and one wild male orangutan.

<h4>Hotel Pick Up</h4><p>Pick up from Sandakan airport or city hotel and start your Kinabatangan wildlife adventure.</p><p><br></p><h4>Boat Transfer</h4><p>Arrive at Bilit jetty, proceed to take a boat ride to Bilit Adventure Lodge while cruising along Kinabatangan River.</p><p><br></p><h4>Bilit Adventure Lodge</h4><p>Check in to your jungle resort at Bilit Adventure Lodge.</p><p><br></p><h4>Briefing</h4><p>Short briefing will be conducted by the local guide, followed by an afternoon tea and taste some local snacks.</p><p><br></p><h4>Kinabatangan River Cruise</h4><p>Board onto the Kinabatangan River in search of Bornean wildlife, such as Proboscis Monkey, Silver Langur, Orangutans, crocodiles and more. Make sure to peel your eyes open to spot these shy animals.</p><h4>Dinner</h4><p><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);">Head back to the lodge and your dinner will be served at the lodge's restaurant.</span></p><p><br></p><h4>Overnight</h4><p>Overnight at Bilit Adventure Lodge</p><p><br></p><p><strong>*Add-on night activities (payable upon request at Bilit Adventure Lodge)</strong></p><p>Night guided walk: MYR10 per person/hour</p><p>Tree planting: MYR10 per tree</p>

Bilit Adventure Lodge / Kinabatangan River Cruise

<h4>Morning River Cruise</h4><p><span style="color: inherit;">At around 6am, shine early to start the day with an early river cruise. Spot the early-riser wildlife such as orangutans and rare birds. </span></p><p><br></p><h4><span style="color: inherit;">Breakfast</span></h4><p><span style="color: inherit;">After an hour of river cruise, head back to the lodge for breakfast.</span></p><p><br></p><h4><span style="color: inherit;">Guided Jungle Walk</span></h4><p><span style="color: inherit;">Join a trekking session to experience the riverine forest loaded with endemic flora and fauna.</span></p><p><br></p><h4><span style="color: inherit;">Lunch</span></h4><p><span style="color: inherit;">Walk back to the lodge and enjoy your well-deserved lunch in the restaurant.</span></p><p><br></p><h4><span style="color: inherit;">Kinabatangan River Cruise</span></h4><p><span style="color: inherit;">Embark on a river cruise session along the Kinabatangan River, a home to numerous wildlife including the Proboscis Monkey, Orangutans, Pygmy Elephant, Rare Silver Langur, crocodiles and many more.</span></p><p><br></p><h4><span style="color: inherit;">﻿Dinner</span></h4><p><span style="color: inherit;">After a cruising session, head back to the lodge for your dinner.</span></p><p><br></p><h4><span style="color: inherit;">Overnight</span></h4><p><span style="color: inherit;">Rest for the night at&nbsp;Bilit&nbsp;Adventure&nbsp;Lodge.</span></p>

Morning River Cruise / Guided Jungle Walk / Kinabatangan River Cruise

<h4>Breakfast</h4><p>Enjoy your breakfast before checking out from the lodge. </p><p>Note: For 2D1N package travellers, one session of morning cruise will be conducted before your breakfast.</p><p><br></p><h4>Hotel Check Out</h4><p>Check out from the lodge and make sure to check your belongings before leaving.</p><p><br></p><h4>Return Transfer</h4><p>You will be transferred back to Sandakan Airport or Sandakan city hotel.</p><p><br></p><h4>End of Tour</h4>

Bilit Adventure Lodge Check Out

Stay in the business-friendly Bilit Adventure lodge situated along Kinabatangan River. Enjoy free breakfast, meals, jungle walk and wildlife river cruise activity.

2D1N / 3D2N Bilit Adventure Lodge

<p>Includes 1-night stay in Bilit Adventure Lodge, fullboard meals, English-speaking guide, and 2 river cruise sessions. (See itinerary Day 1 and 3 only)</p>

<p>Includes 1-night stay in Bilit Adventure Lodge, fullboard meals, English-speaking guide, 2 river cruise sessions and Sandakan airport pick up / drop off. (See itinerary Day 1 and 3 only)</p>

<p>Includes 2-night stay in Bilit Adventure Lodge, fullboard meals, English-speaking guide, and 3 river cruise sessions.</p>

<p>Includes 2-night stay in Bilit Adventure Lodge, fullboard meals, English-speaking guide, 3 river cruise sessions and Sandakan airport pick up / drop off.</p>

2D1N / 3D2N Bilit Adventure Lodge

Kinabatangan River Stay & Wildlife Adventure

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5.06 reviews

Limited Offer!

2D1N / 3D2N Bilit Adventure Lodge

Kinabatangan River Stay & Wildlife Adventure

Tour Highlights

Choose Your Activity

≻≻≻Step 1. Package Options

Step 2. Select Local Operator

Step 3. Quantity

What's Included

What's Excluded

What To Wear

What To Bring

Important Notes

Additional Information

Need Assistance ?

5.06 reviews

Limited Offer!

≻
≻
≻
Step 1. Package Options