Reviews

Four of us did the 5 day 4 nts (2 nts at Sauka lodge and 2 nts at Utan lodge) Both lodges were fantastic , total luxury in the jungle . Guides were so good , wanting to show us everything. We saw the big 5 at Sauku lodge . At Utan saw the Irrawaddi dolphins and flying foxes , estuary cruise was unbelievable. Night drive marble cat, leopard cat , palm civit , loads of amazing birds including the Borneo ground cuckoo.

Four of us did the 5 day 4 nts (2 nts at Sauka lodge and 2 nts at Utan lodge) Both lodges were fantastic , total luxury in the jungle . Guides were so good , wanting to show us everything. We saw the big 5 at Sauku lodge . At Utan saw the Irrawaddi dolphins and flying foxes , estuary cruise was unbelievable. Night drive marble cat, leopard cat , palm civit , loads of amazing birds including the Borneo ground cuckoo.

We booked a 4D/3N tour with turtle island and Sukau rainforest lodge with Borneo Eco Tours. We had Lau (not sure how to spell his name) as our guide for the entire tour. We were greeted with a tote bag, which included a magnet and an animal spotting guide to tick off during our trip, which was really fun to use once we got into the jungle.

We first went to Selingan, turtle island, which was absolutely amazing - there were 9 tourists in total on the island but we were the only ones with our own guide. The ride out can be choppy so be prepared - you arrive early and have a few hours to spare so we went snorkelling in the beach, which we had all to ourselves. It was beautiful and there were lots of fish to see. There are huge monitor lizards around the island as well. In the evening, we were lucky and called early around 8pm to watch a turtle lay it's eggs, an amazing experience, then we went to the hatchery to see them buried before returning to the beach to release baby turtles into the ocean. Apparently they can come any time overnight so be prepared to wait until the early hours! Although the accommodation was described as basic, the only thing really lacking was some mosquito barriers, so we did get lots of bites - so I would recommend this is improved, but otherwise we had no issue with the accommodation.

We left turtle island early on Day 2, went to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and the Sunbear Sanctuary (optional) and then headed via boat into the jungle. The lodge itself is lovely and they have an on site boardwalk, which was eventually where we saw a wild orangutan high up in the tree. They have 5 resident orangutans in the area. I appreciated that unlike some other lodges, they do not feed the animals or try to interfere in their natural activities, although it does mean that you may not see them close up. We saw the rest of the big 5 from the boat, and generally really enjoyed the included morning and afternoon cruises. There was one cruise where there were loads of boats on the river watching elephants and the police actually came to disperse them - this was the only time I really felt overcrowding, and our boat actively decided to go in a different direction to all the other boats shortly afterwards, which I think was a good decision as we were on our own afterwards even if we weren't necessarily seeing the most exciting wildlife.

We also did a night cruise - shout out to "John" - I think his actual name is something -jan, who was absolutely incredible at spotting tiny animals from a distance in the dark whilst also driving the boat, I have no idea how. We saw loads on the hour night cruise, the highlight being a couple of civets and an owl. The rest of our group didn't do the night cruise on the first night and then it rained on the second so they didn't get to go, so I would suggest doing this at the first opportunity. John also did a orangutan/monkey talk which was really entertaining and gave us lots of information.

We had a guided boardwalk on Day 3 and after that we could explore the boardwalk independently. The only thing I would recommend to improve is perhaps doing a guided night boardwalk on the first night (before/after the optional night cruise) - that way we can explore the boardwalk by ourselves from the second day, and also it may be easier to find wildlife. We did try to go out at night by ourselves on Day 3, the second rainy night, after we had the introductory boardwalk, but got put off by bats flying into us, however explored independently twice in the day when no one else was around and spotted red langurs. We did appreciate the boardwalk at the lodge as this is the only real opportunity to see wildlife which isn't from the boat.

On the final day, after the boat ride back to Sandakan, we did a rainforest canopy walk in virgin jungle. We mainly saw birds but I really enjoyed this and it felt very different to the other activities, so I would definitely recommend booking a late flight to ensure you don't miss out (some people who booked earlier flights missed this). Overall, it was an incredible experience and I already want to go back and maybe explore some of the other lodges and areas of the jungle on offer. Lau was really organised and knowledgeable, and took some fantastic photos that he shared with all of us.

We booked a 4D/3N tour with turtle island and Sukau rainforest lodge with Borneo Eco Tours. We had Lau (not sure how to spell his name) as our guide for the entire tour. We were greeted with a tote bag, which included a magnet and an animal spotting guide to tick off during our trip, which was really fun to use once we got into the jungle.

We first went to Selingan, turtle island, which was absolutely amazing - there were 9 tourists in total on the island but we were the only ones with our own guide. The ride out can be choppy so be prepared - you arrive early and have a few hours to spare so we went snorkelling in the beach, which we had all to ourselves. It was beautiful and there were lots of fish to see. There are huge monitor lizards around the island as well. In the evening, we were lucky and called early around 8pm to watch a turtle lay it's eggs, an amazing experience, then we went to the hatchery to see them buried before returning to the beach to release baby turtles into the ocean. Apparently they can come any time overnight so be prepared to wait until the early hours! Although the accommodation was described as basic, the only thing really lacking was some mosquito barriers, so we did get lots of bites - so I would recommend this is improved, but otherwise we had no issue with the accommodation.

We left turtle island early on Day 2, went to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and the Sunbear Sanctuary (optional) and then headed via boat into the jungle. The lodge itself is lovely and they have an on site boardwalk, which was eventually where we saw a wild orangutan high up in the tree. They have 5 resident orangutans in the area. I appreciated that unlike some other lodges, they do not feed the animals or try to interfere in their natural activities, although it does mean that you may not see them close up. We saw the rest of the big 5 from the boat, and generally really enjoyed the included morning and afternoon cruises. There was one cruise where there were loads of boats on the river watching elephants and the police actually came to disperse them - this was the only time I really felt overcrowding, and our boat actively decided to go in a different direction to all the other boats shortly afterwards, which I think was a good decision as we were on our own afterwards even if we weren't necessarily seeing the most exciting wildlife.

We also did a night cruise - shout out to "John" - I think his actual name is something -jan, who was absolutely incredible at spotting tiny animals from a distance in the dark whilst also driving the boat, I have no idea how. We saw loads on the hour night cruise, the highlight being a couple of civets and an owl. The rest of our group didn't do the night cruise on the first night and then it rained on the second so they didn't get to go, so I would suggest doing this at the first opportunity. John also did a orangutan/monkey talk which was really entertaining and gave us lots of information.

We had a guided boardwalk on Day 3 and after that we could explore the boardwalk independently. The only thing I would recommend to improve is perhaps doing a guided night boardwalk on the first night (before/after the optional night cruise) - that way we can explore the boardwalk by ourselves from the second day, and also it may be easier to find wildlife. We did try to go out at night by ourselves on Day 3, the second rainy night, after we had the introductory boardwalk, but got put off by bats flying into us, however explored independently twice in the day when no one else was around and spotted red langurs. We did appreciate the boardwalk at the lodge as this is the only real opportunity to see wildlife which isn't from the boat.

On the final day, after the boat ride back to Sandakan, we did a rainforest canopy walk in virgin jungle. We mainly saw birds but I really enjoyed this and it felt very different to the other activities, so I would definitely recommend booking a late flight to ensure you don't miss out (some people who booked earlier flights missed this). Overall, it was an incredible experience and I already want to go back and maybe explore some of the other lodges and areas of the jungle on offer. Lau was really organised and knowledgeable, and took some fantastic photos that he shared with all of us.

We loved our experience at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge. The lodge is beautiful and the tours are amazing. We were taken on boat cruises up the Kinabatangan River and its tributaries multiple times per day and the guides helped us find orangutans, proboscis monkeys, rhinoceros hornbill birds, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, and many other types of monkeys and birds. The lodge is set on a boardwalk on the river, right in the middle of nature, so we were surrounded by gorgeous trees, plants, monkeys (who keep to themselves and don’t bother you), and even an occasional orangutan! The staff is kind and gracious and will do everything to make you feel welcome. They also give you round trip boat service from Sandakan and take you to an orangutan and sun bear preserve. You get to know some of the other tourists which is also fun. The cabins are lovely and the bar is also nice, plus we were well fed! This is very special experience!

We loved our experience at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge. The lodge is beautiful and the tours are amazing. We were taken on boat cruises up the Kinabatangan River and its tributaries multiple times per day and the guides helped us find orangutans, proboscis monkeys, rhinoceros hornbill birds, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, and many other types of monkeys and birds. The lodge is set on a boardwalk on the river, right in the middle of nature, so we were surrounded by gorgeous trees, plants, monkeys (who keep to themselves and don’t bother you), and even an occasional orangutan! The staff is kind and gracious and will do everything to make you feel welcome. They also give you round trip boat service from Sandakan and take you to an orangutan and sun bear preserve. You get to know some of the other tourists which is also fun. The cabins are lovely and the bar is also nice, plus we were well fed! This is very special experience!

We booked Borneo Eco tours as part of our package and we were blown away by absolutely everything! Our guide, Yunus, was incredible and really made our honeymoon extra special. The knowledge Yunus had with the wildlife and even plants surrounding the Kinabatangan river was vast- there wasn’t any question he did not know the answer to!

To make things even better, Yunus’s animal spotting skills are second to none- we were lucky enough to see all the Borneo big 5 and other incredible animals during our stay.

The accommodation was also fantastic- incredibly to stay in such beautiful rooms in the middle of the jungle! The food is incredible too for lunch, dinner and breakfast. The staff at the Sakau rainforest lodge are all really lovely and truly make you feel at home in the jungle.

From the booking process to the actual tour, Borneo Eco Tours was just perfect. Myself and my husband are certainly going to come back again and we will be recommending this company to all friends and family who wish to have the experience of a lifetime!

We booked Borneo Eco tours as part of our package and we were blown away by absolutely everything! Our guide, Yunus, was incredible and really made our honeymoon extra special. The knowledge Yunus had with the wildlife and even plants surrounding the Kinabatangan river was vast- there wasn’t any question he did not know the answer to!

To make things even better, Yunus’s animal spotting skills are second to none- we were lucky enough to see all the Borneo big 5 and other incredible animals during our stay.

The accommodation was also fantastic- incredibly to stay in such beautiful rooms in the middle of the jungle! The food is incredible too for lunch, dinner and breakfast. The staff at the Sakau rainforest lodge are all really lovely and truly make you feel at home in the jungle.

From the booking process to the actual tour, Borneo Eco Tours was just perfect. Myself and my husband are certainly going to come back again and we will be recommending this company to all friends and family who wish to have the experience of a lifetime!

Borneo Eco Tours are a great company and we're so happy we booked our trip to Sabah with them. We booked a 5D4N bespoke trip for our honeymoon which was arranged by Clareassah. Clareassah was super helpful, well organised and really quick to respond to our queries and happy to tailor the trip to suit our needs. Clareassah also arranged a really special dinner for us at Sukau lodge for our honeymoon which was a lovely surprise, and created such a wonderful memory for us! Yunus was our tour guide for our time along the Kingabatangan river and he was so friendly, helpful and gave us such a great experience seeing the Borneo big 5. Adrian was our guide for the next leg of the trip and he was also very friendly and knowledgable about everything. Would definitely recommend Borneo Eco Tours, thank you for everything! <3

Borneo Eco Tours are a great company and we're so happy we booked our trip to Sabah with them. We booked a 5D4N bespoke trip for our honeymoon which was arranged by Clareassah. Clareassah was super helpful, well organised and really quick to respond to our queries and happy to tailor the trip to suit our needs. Clareassah also arranged a really special dinner for us at Sukau lodge for our honeymoon which was a lovely surprise, and created such a wonderful memory for us! Yunus was our tour guide for our time along the Kingabatangan river and he was so friendly, helpful and gave us such a great experience seeing the Borneo big 5. Adrian was our guide for the next leg of the trip and he was also very friendly and knowledgable about everything. Would definitely recommend Borneo Eco Tours, thank you for everything! <3

Borneo Eco Tours does an excellent job with all aspects of their services. From pre-visit communications to onsite customer focus, quality accommodations, engaging employees, and knowledgeable tour guides the experience is unique and memorable.
Tour guides are well trained and skilled at locating wildlife as well as insuring that their passengers get the time they need for pictures and views from the best angles.
In our case, my booking contact, Oviera was not only efficient and professional, she was very attentive to our questions and concerns. She even arranged a memorable dinner for my wife and I as we were celebrating our anniversary complete with a cake!
As for improvements, I would suggest that some provision be made for folks
that arrive late for breakfast or dinner due to tours running long by having some reduced meal options and by leaving a small staff available to assist with late comers.
Another nit picky thing, I don’t think the lodges should charge guests for leech socks and rubber shoes. These products are used only during the time we are in the forest and in our case we donated them back to the lodge. Based on price paid for the experience these items should be free.
Considering the logistics of providing a a first class experience in such a remote and challenging environment
I applaud the company for the outstanding services and experiences they provided

Borneo Eco Tours does an excellent job with all aspects of their services. From pre-visit communications to onsite customer focus, quality accommodations, engaging employees, and knowledgeable tour guides the experience is unique and memorable.
Tour guides are well trained and skilled at locating wildlife as well as insuring that their passengers get the time they need for pictures and views from the best angles.
In our case, my booking contact, Oviera was not only efficient and professional, she was very attentive to our questions and concerns. She even arranged a memorable dinner for my wife and I as we were celebrating our anniversary complete with a cake!
As for improvements, I would suggest that some provision be made for folks
that arrive late for breakfast or dinner due to tours running long by having some reduced meal options and by leaving a small staff available to assist with late comers.
Another nit picky thing, I don’t think the lodges should charge guests for leech socks and rubber shoes. These products are used only during the time we are in the forest and in our case we donated them back to the lodge. Based on price paid for the experience these items should be free.
Considering the logistics of providing a a first class experience in such a remote and challenging environment
I applaud the company for the outstanding services and experiences they provided

We saw all the big five wildlife and more on several boat trips over our two night stay. Don't hesitate to book and stay at Sukau Rainforest Lodge

We saw all the big five wildlife and more on several boat trips over our two night stay. Don't hesitate to book and stay at Sukau Rainforest Lodge

This 3D2N journey at Borneo rainforest is amazing. It is really a unique and wonderful experience to my son and I to live deep in the rainforest. It is nice to do trekking in the rainforest especially after the rain, tree frog, snake and other mammals, like orangutan and monkey, can frequently been spot on the trail. Be sure to wear anti-leech socks, they are everywhere. The travel is carefully planned by Borneo Eco Tour and thank them a lot for taking care of us.

This 3D2N journey at Borneo rainforest is amazing. It is really a unique and wonderful experience to my son and I to live deep in the rainforest. It is nice to do trekking in the rainforest especially after the rain, tree frog, snake and other mammals, like orangutan and monkey, can frequently been spot on the trail. Be sure to wear anti-leech socks, they are everywhere. The travel is carefully planned by Borneo Eco Tour and thank them a lot for taking care of us.

Our Borneo trip with Borneo Eco Tours was incredible! Across 3 days, we managed to see the Borneo Big 5 as well as countless monkeys, birds, squirrels and other animals.

Our guide Mason was thoroughly professional and was able to spot and identify species in an instant. Morning and evening boat tours were in groups of 10-12 people and the boats are roomy and comfortable.

Sukau Lodge went all out with food, accommodation and educational seminars.

If you're considering a trip to Borneo, do it!

Our Borneo trip with Borneo Eco Tours was incredible! Across 3 days, we managed to see the Borneo Big 5 as well as countless monkeys, birds, squirrels and other animals.

Our guide Mason was thoroughly professional and was able to spot and identify species in an instant. Morning and evening boat tours were in groups of 10-12 people and the boats are roomy and comfortable.

Sukau Lodge went all out with food, accommodation and educational seminars.

If you're considering a trip to Borneo, do it!