Fabulous Borneo Rainforest Tour
The location was just perfect. Down the Kinabatangan River deep in the Borneo Rainforest, where we had gone to spot wildlife. The Borneo Eco Tour staff were amongst the best we have come across. They were knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and so well organised. All the details of the trip, especially the transfers (and there were a few in our itinerary) were seamless.
Great experience
We did the 2-night tour. It was a great experience. Well-prepared guides and lodge with excellent conditions. The breakfast is the only thing I suggest to improve.
Unforgettable Borneo experiance
Fantastic 6 day/7night tour with BET. We were a group of x10 (mostly over 65's) and had a a wonderful time. We have one night in Sandakan followed by 3 nights in the amazing Sukau Rainforest Lodge (which was exceptional) All of the lodge staff were amazing - special thanks to Melaine, Azliena and Maisarah for all your friendly smiles and assistance with the group. The rooms were beautiful, and the meals were great - we even celebrated a birthday there with the staff arranging a delicious cake and singing! We were very lucky and saw the Big 5 in the WILD!! thanks to our guide Jimmy and captain Raihan. The rainforest was an unforgettable experience :) We then went to Sepilok and visited the Orangutan Sanctuary, Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Sandakan Memorial and Rainforest Discovery Centre. It was all so wonderful - and I highly recommend the RDC Nocturnal tour for those who are able. Thank you to Brandon and the entire team at Borneo Eco Tours. See you all again in 2026.
The trip of a lifetime
When we booked our "Wonders of Sandakan" Tour with Borneo Eco Tours, we had high hopes, but tried to keep our expectations low. Our trip was absolutely amazing from start to finish, mostly thanks to the amazing crew of BET and their dedication. The days we spent at Sukau were the absolute best part and I will remember them for the rest of my life. The area around the lodge is truly beautiful and each boat tour was another adventure in this amazing region. Our guide Jad was an absolute gem and we could have not asked for a better one. He had eagle eyes, a great sense of humor and such a vast knowledge of nature. The lodge was beautiful as well and we were really sad to leave. Back in Sandakan we had another great excursion with Lao, who is also extremely knowledgable and funny. The entire team, the lodge and Borneo itself were absolutely amazing and I can't recommend it enough.
Recommend!
Excellent tour. Great wildlife viewing and knowledgable guides. Yayah in Sukau and Helen in Borneo Rainforest Lodge were both amazing. Great buffet food and easy transportation as well.
Borneo Eco Tours was brilliant!
This trip was amazing!!! We stayed at Sukau Rainforest Lodge which was stunning! I made the booking through Borneo Eco Tours and Hanif was our contact and was fantastic. He was very responsive to my enquiries and gave me the greatest confidence that everything would go as planned - and it did! Sukau was a brilliant place to stay for three nights. The food was incredible, the staff brilliant and we saw Pygmy Elephants, Orangutans, Proboscis monkeys , Hornbills and huge crocs! I can’t thank Hanif enough for helping us to have this once in a life time adventure. 😊
Unforgettable adventure in Malaysia, Borneo (in the state of Sabah)
I very rarely write reviews, however my husband and myself have just returned from a trip that should be shared. We are both fit seniors, experienced travelers with an adventurous spirit. First trip to Borneo, and I contacted several travel agencies before deciding on Borneo Eco Tours. Our agent (Brendon) impressed me with his enthusiasm and willingness to answer all my questions. We corresponded through WhatsApp and he promptly responded (allowing for the time difference). Communication is very important to me when traveling, and his English was outstanding. Now for the trip itself. We flew into Kota Kinabalu airport ( from a few days in Singapore) and were transferred to a lovely resort (close by) called Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort. Jaw dropping sunsets here. We had chosen a private tour as opposed to a group, with shared transport. I'm very glad that our experience was just my husband and myself, with an experienced guide at all locations. Would highly recommend this, if affordable. Next day flew to Sandakan. We stayed 2 nights at Sepilok Nature Resort. This is within walking distance of Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and Bornean Sun Bear Conversation Center. A must, if in Borneo! Get there early to avoid crowds. Then transferred by boat to Sukau Rainforest Lodge. All activities were on the Kinabatangan River aboard a boat. No trekking. Beautiful, well kept lodge with buffet meals and comfortable rooms. Highly recommend this lodge for cleanliness and location. We had the same amazing guide for the first two lodges. His name is Lau. Good birding, animals sightings and saw the pigmy elephants. Traveled by car next to Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Our cabin with a river view. This area is right against the palm groves, which now account for about 23% of Sabah, sadly. However, we had amazing night drives watching the animals cross the road from jungle to palms. Another guide (Alister) who spoke great English and many years of experience in the area. Saw the Bornean Gibbons here among many others animals. Lots of monkeys everywhere! Our last lodge was Borneo Rainforest Lodge. We had a deluxe river view and this lodge is as close to luxery as probably possible in Borneo. Again buffet style meals with more selections to meet every need and even an ice cream bar. This lodge is very popular and books over a year out, but if possible, a must experience. It's located in the Danum Valley and in a real primary forest jungle. Orangutans, monkeys, birds, and smaller creepers including leeches. Yes, take your leech socks! Lots of trekking here. Our fantastic guide (AK) was like an encyclopedia when it comes to history of the area, names and origins of anything that moves in that jungle, and full of stories about tribal customs, etc. I asked him if we had just been lucky to get such wonderful guides at each of our stops, and he said that there are over 100 agencies that send clients to Borneo, but Borneo Eco Tours has a close relationship with these lodges and their clients are well taken care of. It was not luck, we chose the right agency. Also, our drivers were always on time and helpful with luggage, and we found it is really a team effort to meet our needs. We fully support ecotourism, exploration and support of the wildlife. This immersive itinerary and hospitality of all the staff we encountered, was the best of Sabah in Borneo. This review is lengthy, but I could have gone on forever about this unbelievable experience. Enjoy what this earth has to offer and safe travels!
Awesome Experience at The Sakau Rainforest Lodge
My wife and I spent 3D2N at the lodge and had a wonderful time. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful for our entire stay. We stayed at one of the Villas on the property and it was beautiful. One slight invonvenince in the room was the fact that the walls and ceiling must not have been fully sealed, and so a few bugs got in, but not a big issue and I think that's just a part of staying in the rainforest! Otherwise the room was great. The food was also very good. All buffet style with enough options for everyone. Even though we did not have a lot of time outside of the activities, we did take advantage of the pool for an afternoon and loved it. Very nice to cool off for a bit. As far as the actual tours, they were excellent and we saw a ton of wildlife. Even got to see a pair of wild Orangutans from a distance on our boatride to the lodge. On our final day we managed to find a pack of elephants crossing the river which was an unforgettable experience. We ended up paying for the guided night tour, and saw tons of wildlife their as well. This was definitely a cool experience to see nocturnal wildlife you woukdnt otherwise know existed there. Our tour guide and one of the main hosts of the lodge, Jumaidi, was excellent. Had great knowledge to share during the tours, and was incredibly helpful for all other inquiries we had during our trip. He really made the stay enjoyable. We were able to see all of Borneo's "Big 5" during our trip, and as an ecologist myself, this was awesome to experience. I would absolutely reccomend this trip to anyone looking to see Borneo's wildlife while also staying at an excellent lodge.
Borneo Big 10: trustworthy, friendly and expert.
Just returned from a Borneo Big 10 trip to Sabah, staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Borneo Eco Tours were impressive - well organised, responsive and punctual, with great guides, drivers and vehicles. Everything ran smoothly and safely. They know their stuff and are a serious outfit you can depend on. Claressah was brilliant before and during the trip: thank you for your fantastic help in preparing the itinerary. and dealing with our queries. We were always well-informed and looked-after.
Paradise in my backyard.
Had an amazing trip to Selingan Turtle Island and then to the Kinabatangan Nature reserve for 2 nights at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Booking was quick and efficient, and the trip was well organised, all connections were well organised and seamless, and the food and sightseeing were all amazing. Great effort by our Guide, Mason, who made us all feel well taken care of, entertained and educated with his great knowledge of wildlife, and a great, positive vibe. We saw a greenback turtle laying eggs, Pygmy Elephants, proboscis monkeys, Orang Utans, swiftlets, various hornbills, raptors, crocodiles and many other great spots. Food was good, with buffet style for almost all meals. Most of the guests were from far afield like Europe and Australia, and it’s puzzling why other South East Asian guests from Singapore, Malaysia or nearby give this gem of natural beauty a pass when considering holiday destinations. The thrill of spotting one of the Borneo Big 5, watching the river and world lazily pass you by made this an unforgettable and relatively affordable break from modern world to spend more time in nature. There is so much to do and see from a short flight away from Singapore, that there’s no reason to miss the wonders of Sandakan and Borneo.
