Tour details
Main tour (14 nights): $7,861. $985 in single room.
Starting date: November 2, 2023.
Group size: 4–8 people. 4 spots left
Reviews: 5/5 (3 reviews)
| Start | a. Kuching |
| Nights 1–2 | b. Bako and Kubah |
| Nights 3–5 | c. Mulu |
| Nights 6–8 | d. Tabin |
| Nights 9–11 | e. Kinabatangan |
| Nights 12–14 | f. Sepilok |
| End | g. Kota Kinabalu |
or call +1-312-436-0087
How to reserve your spot?
1. Read our cancellation policy below.
2. Complete our contact form in the next step to let us know about your interests and so we can check availability and give you further information about the tour.
3. Review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability form we will send you.
4. Make payment to confirm your booking.
Cancellation policy If you are unable to attend the tour, you are welcome to send someone in your place, apply to another Tropical Herping event, or request a refund less a handling fee of 5% or $100, whichever is more. However, because we pre-pay all local services we can only accept credit or refund requests no less than 60 business days prior to the start of the event.
Important! Read the rules and recommendations.
What to bring? Check out our suggested packing list.
What is included?
Package based on two people sharing a room.
All meals and accommodation.
All river and road transfers.
Guides and tour leaders.
Park entrance fees.
What is not included?
Additional nights due to flight cancellations.
Alcoholic beverages, bottled water and snacks.
Health insurance.
International and domestic airfares.
Laundry.
Phone calls or messages.
Photo equipment.
Visa fees.
or call +1-786-753-7899
Booking form
Experts on this tour
Lucas Bustamante
Tour leader, conservation photojournalist
Frank Pichardo
Tour leader, photographer
Why join?
Where you’ll be |
Tour description
The tour will start in the western side of Borneo Island, where you will visit Bako and Kubah national parks located in a coastal region which is rather low-lying and flat with large areas of swamp and other wet environments. Also, the World Heritage Site of Gunung Mulu contains one of the world's largest underground chambers. Sabah state is the location of the second part. You will photograph wildlife in a safari style in Tabin Nature Reserve, on boat along the Kinabatangan River, and explore the canopy in Sepilok, home of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. As in most Tropical Herping tours, there will be night walks in each location where we the target will be nocturnal mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Where you’ll stay |
Lucas and Frank have boundless enthusiasm, knowledge and expertise, which made this a very special trip. I returned home with some very different and unusual photographs. A wonderful experience. Moira Gardner, Scotland |
Discovering the island of Borneo with Tropical Herping was fantastic. The photographic opportunities were excellent: we observed a great diversity of animals, including great apes (the orangutan), endemic monkeys (the proboscis monkey), many different insects (some of which had only recently been described), and of course many reptiles, amphibians and birds. Chien Lee, who is also a renowned photographer, was our local guide. He had an incredible naturalistic knowledge about the local flora and fauna and was always enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge of the forest and its inhabitants with us. I learned a lot on this trip, about nature in general and about photography thanks to Lucas, Frank, and Chien’s guidance. Nicolas Devos, Belgium |
My Borneo trip is among my best nature travels. We had many exciting sightings of unique animals and plants, from flying squirrels to hornbills over to glowing mushrooms, and so many more…. I do recommend taking along both a long lens as well as your gear for macro in order not to miss any opportunity to shoot pictures of all what this wonderful and most special rainforest has to offer. There is almost something interesting coming around the corner at almost any time of the day. Enjoy hearing the cicada “concert” every day at sunset. It is such a magic moment to put you in the rainforest mood. The trip was very well organized and guided by very attentive and very competent guides. Overall, it was a fantastic and unforgettable experience. Ulrike Fischer, Switzerland |
Frequently asked questions |
Am I supposed to pay the tour price at once? You can confirm your booking by making a 50% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure. |
Can I make a reservation for this tour but on 2024? Yes, you can confirm your booking now by making a 20% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure. |
Does the tour take place during the nights? The tour includes both diurnal and nocturnal activities. |
How do I book my spot? The first thing you need to do to reserve your spot in this tour is contact us using our booking form. Second, you will need to review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability we will send you. Finally, you will have to make a deposit to confirm your booking. |
Can you get rubber boots for me? No, we cannot get rubber boots for you in Borneo. We suggest you purchase them before the tour begins. |
Is there any chance to rent a snake hook? We suggest you bring a collapsible snake hook, since there will be inland flights between some of the localities. |
Is there a chance to arrange a private tour? Yes, most of the tours we offer are private. |
Will the tour be cancelled if one or more participants are unable to join? This tour will run with no less than four participants. If one of two participants makes a reservation and then cancels, it would affect the tour if no payment has been made to lodges, transports, and guides (which usually cannot be refunded). |
Which domestic flights should I purchase? You will receive specific instructions about which domestic flights to buy and how. This information is included in the detailed itinerary we will send you. |
What herping gear do you recommend? We recommend that you bring a durable waterproof headlamp, a rain poncho, and a DSLR camera, ideally one with a macro lens and off-camera flash. |
What if there is no other participant willing to share a room? If you are willing to share the room, you do not have to pay the single supplement fee, regardless of whether you end up sharing the room or not. |
What is the meeting point on the starting day? Our team will pick you up at Hilton hotel in Kuching. |
What kind of trouser is needed? You can bring any durable but lightweight trousers that are easy to dry. |
Which vaccination certificates do I need? No vaccinations are required by law to enter Malaysia, though health inspections may be required for travelers having recently visited a country where Yellow Fever is present. The following vaccinations are usually recommended: hepatitis B, typhoid fever, diphtheria/tetanus/polio, rabies. |
Is there malaria in Borneo? Malaria is present in some areas of Borneo, although not particularly abundant in the sites we will be visiting during this tour. The decision to take anti-malaria prophylaxis is left to each participant. Please consult your physician regarding which tablets will be most suitable for you. |
Will the guides catch the animals for the participants to take close-up pictures? Whenever possible, all photography by participants will be done in-situ. Animals will only be handled if they are the focus of a research or conservation project. |
Will there be laundry service, electricity, and wifi at all sites? Usually there is electricity at all of the lodges we will visit. Wifi is available only around the reception area at some. Laundry service is usually available. |
Will you pick us up at the airport upon arrival? Yes, a member of our team will pick you up at the airport. |