Backcountry Journeys Presents
Borneo's Best: Orangutans & Rainforest Wildlife
June 2 - 14, 2025
August 21 - September 2, 2025
June 7 - 19, 2026
August 21 - September 2, 2025
June 7 - 19, 2026
Our Biggest Wildlife Release of the Year!
We connect passionate people to exceptional experiences.
Biggest Wildlife Release of the Year
Join Backcountry Journeys on our most anticipated wildlife trip of the year in the biodiverse wonderland of Borneo. Capture stunning images of rare and endangered species in their natural habitats. Explore lush rainforests and pristine rivers, photographing exotic animals such as orangutans, Bornean sun bears, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, a vibrant array of birdlife, and much more. This adventure promises unforgettable moments and spectacular shots for photographers of all levels!
A Hotspot of Biodiversity
Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, is renowned for its rich biodiversity. The island is a global biodiversity hotspot, featuring a variety of ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, mangroves, and highland forests. Borneo is home to numerous species of mammals, birds, and reptiles and amphibians, like the flying frog and the Bornean earless monitor lizard, and thousands of inspect species, many of which are yet to be scientifically described. The most famous mammals of the region include the orangutan and proboscis monkey, and this trip will allow you to capture them from perspectives a photographer could only dream of!
Amazing Fauna & Flora
Borneo is famous for its primates, but we will also have the opportunity to seek out rare mammals like the Bornean sun bear and the pygmy elephant. Over 600 bird species have been recorded on the island as well, including many endemics such as the Bornean Bristlehead and the Bornean Peacock-pheasant. Borneo's rainforests are among the oldest in the world, estimated to be over 130 million years old. The island is home to more than 15,000 plant species, 3,000 of which are trees, and it hosts the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia. This flower can grow up to a meter in diameter! Borneo's incredible biodiversity offers countless photography opportunities, including big fauna to macro shots.
Beautiful
Accomodations
Accomodations
Explore the massive ecosystem of Borneo all while staying in the best accomodations Borneo offers! The rainforest lodges we've partnered with include serene and tranquil guests rooms connected by boardwalks above the lush vegetation, and they feature trails where you'll be able to spot some of the rare species we've mentioned. Sightings of clouded leopards, Bornean sun bears, rare birds, monkeys, and orangutans have all been recorded at these resorts. Don't miss this chance to sleep only steps away from all these great photo opportunities!
Rainforest Conservation
One of the highlights of this trip will be the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, which is dedicated to the conservation of proboscis monkeys. The sanctuary also provides opportunities to see other wildlife, such as silver leaf monkeys and hornbills, offering a unique and intimate wildlife experience. We'll also visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre which features a 480-foot long canopy walkway up to 90 feet above the forest floor. Over 250 bird species have been recorded here! Finally, a trip to Borneo wouldn't be complete without seeing the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC).
Borneo Reservations Open Now
Don't Miss Our Wildlife Release of Year - Departures Almost Sold Out!
Available Departures
Act Fast! Limited Spots Remain!
June 2-14, 2025
ONLY 1 SPOT
Trip Leader(s)
Grant Ordelheide
Grant Ordelheide
Starting From
$9,995
$9,995
Single Supplement: +$1,195
Deposit: $3,000
Aug 21-Sep 2, 2025
SOLD OUT
Trip Leader(s)
Casey Mannes
Casey Mannes
Starting From
$9,995
$9,995
Single Supplement: +$1,195
Deposit: $3,000
June 7-19, 2026
ONLY 3 SPOTS
Trip Leader(s)
Casey Mannes
Casey Mannes
Starting From
$10,995
$10,995
Single Supplement: +$1,195
Deposit: $3,000
Start/End
Start: Kuching, Malaysia (KCH)
End: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (BKI)
End: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (BKI)
Dates
6/2/25 - 6/14/25
8/21/25 - 9/2/25
6/7/26 - 6/19/26
8/21/25 - 9/2/25
6/7/26 - 6/19/26
Fitness Level
Level 2 - What's This
Group Size
Limited to 8 guests
Highlights
- Bako National Park
- Kinabatangan River
- Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
- Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Borneo Elephant Sanctuary
This Special Trip Departure is valid for new trip reservations only (no transfers, trip credit, or discounts).
Trip Itinerary
Enter a World Of Rainforest Wildlife
Enter a World Of Rainforest Wildlife
Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fitness: This is a Level 2 trip. There are no long or strenuous hikes, but you should be prepared for some photo walks up to 2 miles round-trip with stops, in hot and humid conditions.
Day 1
Arrive to Kuching, Malaysia (KCH). You will be met at the airport and transferred to the arrival hotel. Our accommodations will be at the Pullman Kuching 5-star hotel. The rest of the evening will free for you to rest or to explore the area around the hotel.
Day 2 (B, D)
Our group will meet in the morning for breakfast and orientation to go over the details of our trip. We'll head to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre early in the afternoon to view semi-wild orangutans in a natural setting. This orangutan rehabilitation centre receives orphaned or rescued orangutans and trains them to survive in the wild. Over 20 orangutans live in the forest within the nature reserve and they often return to the centre to receive supplemental feeding. The rangers will teach us about the purpose of the centre and their conservation objectives.
Day 3 (B, L, D)
Our day will start early as we travel to the village of Bako and then to the Bako National Park, which is situated on a coastal peninsula. We'll take a half hour boat journey where we'll have a chance to see crocodiles, sea eagles, and other shore birds. After exploring the trails and searching for wildlife, we'll return to Kuching mid-afternoon.
Day 4 (B, D)
This morning we'll take an internal flight to Sandakan with a brief layover in Kuala Lumpur. After settling in at our resort in Sandakan, we'll proceed to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. This privately run sanctuary is located within an oil palm estate and offers a unique chance to see proboscis monkeys. As there is insufficient food from the oil palm plantation alone, the monkeys receive a supplementary diet. The afternoon feeding time commences at 4:00pm when groups of proboscis monkeys from the nearby forest and mangroves and head to the wooden platform for a meal.
Labuk Bay offers a unique opportunity to get close to these normally shy creatures. Silver leaf monkeys and hornbills are also sometimes seen at Labuk Bay. Before dinner, we'll go to the flying squirrel platform near our resort to see if the red giant flying squirrels are emerging from their nests. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at MY Nature Resort.
Day 5 (B, L, D)
Early in the morning, we'll venture to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), an education centre located within the Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve. The centre features a 480-foot long canopy walkway, which is up to 90 feet above the forest floor. The walkway and towers offer a unique way of seeing Sabah’s rainforest and are an excellent place for bird watching. We'll also visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild, and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). This centre houses over 30 sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare, rehabilitation, and education.
Around noon, we'll take a 1-hour boat cruise up the Lower Kinabatangan River, passing pristine mangrove forests and searching for wildlife. When we arrive at Abai Jungle Lodge, our accommodations for the night, we'll enjoy lunch, relax, and explore the surrounding area on the nature boardwalk. We'll take another in the afternoon to search for proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles, and other wildlife. As night falls, we'll witness the glittering of fireflies on the mangrove trees and return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 6 (B, L, D)
Our journey begins on another boat trip this morning for bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Pitas Lake. We'll cruise upriver to Sukau, check-in at our next hotel, and then we'll continue up the Kinabatangan River to the Menanggul River in search of proboscis monkeys, birds, and other wildlife. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.
Day 7 (B, L, D)
We'll enjoy some bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Ox Bow Lake this morning, and then we'll return to the lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon, we'll go on an excursion to the Gomantong Cave, the largest birds' nests cave in Sabah. Wild orangutans are also usually spotted around this area.
Day 8 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we'll depart for the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES). BES is Sabah’s natural-habitat refuge developed specifically to meet the needs of endangered elephants. It was developed and designed specifically for sick or injured elephants. We'll learn about the centre's conservation plan and how they manage their elephant population.
Day 9 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we'll drive to Lahad Datu and check-in at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge. After lunch, we'll attend a brief orientation about the activities we'll enjoy in the Danum Valley. We'll also have a guided walk on a nature trail (1/4 mile boardwalk) and a canopy walkway that stretches almost 1,000 feet. If weather allows, we'll be able to go for a night drive in search of nocturnal animals!
Day 10 (B, L, D)
Following breakfast, we'll depart for a trek along the “Coffin Trail” that leads to an ancient Kadazan-Dusun burial site. After returning to the lodge for lunch, we'll go on another jungle trek in search of wildlife or we'll opt for a relaxing session of tubing down the Danum River. After dinner, we'll take a night walk in search of more nocturnal creatures.
Day 11 (B, L, D)
Today, we'll do various walks in the vicinity of the Borneo Rainforest Lodge to search for and photograph wildlife. We may continue on to a nearby waterfall as well. After dinner, we'll have the option of taking another night walk or a night drive.
Day 12 (B, L)
This morning will feature a leisurely breakfast followed by time at own leisure. After lunch, we'll check-out of the hotel and head to the Lahad Datu airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu. Our overnight accommodation in Kota Kinabalu will be at the Grandis Hotel.
Day 13 (B)
We'll transfer to the airport (BKI) this morning and say our final farewells to the beautiful Bornean adventure we had! Flights home should be booked from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Malaysia (BKI).
Fitness: This is a Level 2 trip. There are no long or strenuous hikes, but you should be prepared for some photo walks up to 2 miles round-trip with stops, in hot and humid conditions.
Day 1
Arrive to Kuching, Malaysia (KCH). You will be met at the airport and transferred to the arrival hotel. Our accommodations will be at the Pullman Kuching 5-star hotel. The rest of the evening will free for you to rest or to explore the area around the hotel.
Day 2 (B, D)
Our group will meet in the morning for breakfast and orientation to go over the details of our trip. We'll head to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre early in the afternoon to view semi-wild orangutans in a natural setting. This orangutan rehabilitation centre receives orphaned or rescued orangutans and trains them to survive in the wild. Over 20 orangutans live in the forest within the nature reserve and they often return to the centre to receive supplemental feeding. The rangers will teach us about the purpose of the centre and their conservation objectives.
Day 3 (B, L, D)
Our day will start early as we travel to the village of Bako and then to the Bako National Park, which is situated on a coastal peninsula. We'll take a half hour boat journey where we'll have a chance to see crocodiles, sea eagles, and other shore birds. After exploring the trails and searching for wildlife, we'll return to Kuching mid-afternoon.
Day 4 (B, D)
This morning we'll take an internal flight to Sandakan with a brief layover in Kuala Lumpur. After settling in at our resort in Sandakan, we'll proceed to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. This privately run sanctuary is located within an oil palm estate and offers a unique chance to see proboscis monkeys. As there is insufficient food from the oil palm plantation alone, the monkeys receive a supplementary diet. The afternoon feeding time commences at 4:00pm when groups of proboscis monkeys from the nearby forest and mangroves and head to the wooden platform for a meal.
Labuk Bay offers a unique opportunity to get close to these normally shy creatures. Silver leaf monkeys and hornbills are also sometimes seen at Labuk Bay. Before dinner, we'll go to the flying squirrel platform near our resort to see if the red giant flying squirrels are emerging from their nests. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at MY Nature Resort.
Day 5 (B, L, D)
Early in the morning, we'll venture to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), an education centre located within the Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve. The centre features a 480-foot long canopy walkway, which is up to 90 feet above the forest floor. The walkway and towers offer a unique way of seeing Sabah’s rainforest and are an excellent place for bird watching. We'll also visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild, and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). This centre houses over 30 sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare, rehabilitation, and education.
Around noon, we'll take a 1-hour boat cruise up the Lower Kinabatangan River, passing pristine mangrove forests and searching for wildlife. When we arrive at Abai Jungle Lodge, our accommodations for the night, we'll enjoy lunch, relax, and explore the surrounding area on the nature boardwalk. We'll take another in the afternoon to search for proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles, and other wildlife. As night falls, we'll witness the glittering of fireflies on the mangrove trees and return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 6 (B, L, D)
Our journey begins on another boat trip this morning for bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Pitas Lake. We'll cruise upriver to Sukau, check-in at our next hotel, and then we'll continue up the Kinabatangan River to the Menanggul River in search of proboscis monkeys, birds, and other wildlife. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.
Day 7 (B, L, D)
We'll enjoy some bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Ox Bow Lake this morning, and then we'll return to the lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon, we'll go on an excursion to the Gomantong Cave, the largest birds' nests cave in Sabah. Wild orangutans are also usually spotted around this area.
Day 8 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we'll depart for the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES). BES is Sabah’s natural-habitat refuge developed specifically to meet the needs of endangered elephants. It was developed and designed specifically for sick or injured elephants. We'll learn about the centre's conservation plan and how they manage their elephant population.
Day 9 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we'll drive to Lahad Datu and check-in at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge. After lunch, we'll attend a brief orientation about the activities we'll enjoy in the Danum Valley. We'll also have a guided walk on a nature trail (1/4 mile boardwalk) and a canopy walkway that stretches almost 1,000 feet. If weather allows, we'll be able to go for a night drive in search of nocturnal animals!
Day 10 (B, L, D)
Following breakfast, we'll depart for a trek along the “Coffin Trail” that leads to an ancient Kadazan-Dusun burial site. After returning to the lodge for lunch, we'll go on another jungle trek in search of wildlife or we'll opt for a relaxing session of tubing down the Danum River. After dinner, we'll take a night walk in search of more nocturnal creatures.
Day 11 (B, L, D)
Today, we'll do various walks in the vicinity of the Borneo Rainforest Lodge to search for and photograph wildlife. We may continue on to a nearby waterfall as well. After dinner, we'll have the option of taking another night walk or a night drive.
Day 12 (B, L)
This morning will feature a leisurely breakfast followed by time at own leisure. After lunch, we'll check-out of the hotel and head to the Lahad Datu airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu. Our overnight accommodation in Kota Kinabalu will be at the Grandis Hotel.
Day 13 (B)
We'll transfer to the airport (BKI) this morning and say our final farewells to the beautiful Bornean adventure we had! Flights home should be booked from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Malaysia (BKI).
What's Included
All listed meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop
All lodging during the workshop
Internal flights
Airport transfers
All permits and park fees
Professional photography guiding and instruction
Gratuity for hotel, restaurant, and service staff
What's Not Included
International flights
Meals not listed as included on the itinerary
Lodging outside workshop dates
Alcoholic beverages
Souvenirs and personal items
Gratuity for photography guide(s)
Trip Insurance & Medical Evacuation Insurance - see plans here.
Worry Free Travel Guarantee!
HERE’S THE DEAL
We offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry - our worry free travel, peace of mind guarantee to you!We’re so confident that the Photography Trips we offer will not only meet but exceed the lofty expectations set forth on our website – if your trip experience does not 100% match the promises laid forth on our website we will gladly give you a credit toward a future trip.
Natural events such as wildlife & weather are certainly out of our control but every aspect of the trip including logistics, accommodations, vehicles, itinerary & your expert trip leaders will match the lofty promises we’ve made on the site – we guarantee it!
Julie K.
"I have traveled with Backcountry Journeys (BCJ) several times over the last 4 years to Glacier NP, Costa Rica (2x), Smoky Mountains NP, Joshua Tree, Zion and Bryce NPs, and most recently to Alaska.
Every trip with BCJ has been an outstanding experience. The guides are professional photographers who put the experience of the guests first. They are willing to provide as much hands on help as you need/want. The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and well trained in wilderness safety as well as the areas they guide.
BCJ trips are well run from the time of reservation through the entire trip. They will take you to great places and find great photographic opportunities."
Every trip with BCJ has been an outstanding experience. The guides are professional photographers who put the experience of the guests first. They are willing to provide as much hands on help as you need/want. The guides are also extremely knowledgeable and well trained in wilderness safety as well as the areas they guide.
BCJ trips are well run from the time of reservation through the entire trip. They will take you to great places and find great photographic opportunities."
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Scott S.
"BCJ provides an outstanding experience for photographers of all levels of experience/expertise. Each day's excursion is well planned-out and the guides always have a back-up plan if the weather is less than cooperative.
I have now been on 5 trips and each one seems better than the last. I find the guides to be very helpful and personable. The guides provide the level of hands-on assistance each participant wants.
The accommodations are always good, taking into consideration what each particular destination has to offer. I plan to continue doing these trips with BCJ and can't recommend them highly enough."
I have now been on 5 trips and each one seems better than the last. I find the guides to be very helpful and personable. The guides provide the level of hands-on assistance each participant wants.
The accommodations are always good, taking into consideration what each particular destination has to offer. I plan to continue doing these trips with BCJ and can't recommend them highly enough."
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Katherine P.
"I have now been on 8 trips with Backcountry Journeys. I love traveling with this company, as I am a woman traveling alone, and all I have to do is show up and they take care of everything else.
They have wonderful, caring, helpful, FUN, and knowledgeable guides who make the days fly by. They get us to the best photography sites possible and are always willing to help with anything and answer all questions.
We stay in great places and there is always too much wonderful food! I have met other travelers on their trips who will be friends for life, plus the guides are more than guides--they become friends too. I know I will be doing more traveling with them in the future."
They have wonderful, caring, helpful, FUN, and knowledgeable guides who make the days fly by. They get us to the best photography sites possible and are always willing to help with anything and answer all questions.
We stay in great places and there is always too much wonderful food! I have met other travelers on their trips who will be friends for life, plus the guides are more than guides--they become friends too. I know I will be doing more traveling with them in the future."
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