Amazing Borneo Tours & Events Sdn Bhd (Malaysia HQ) — Local services in Borneo

We did the North Borneo Express & Sunset Dinner Cruise (7 Days, 6 nights). The tour was well-structured and efficient. Pick-ups for transport were always on-time and our guide (Joel) was friendly, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to know.

We started in Kota Kinabalu with the sunset cruise, which was a pleasant, relaxing evening on the water. The next day, we checked out of our hotel (The Luma - excellent) and drove to Mount Kinabalu National Park, with some stops at villages along the way. We enjoyed the rainforest canopy walk and a visit to the hot springs before settling down for the night at the Kinabalu Pine Resort - a rather plain room by western standards but clean and in good condition.

The next day, we stopped at the Sabah Tea Plantation where we had a tour of the farm and factory. After that, we left Joel and were transported to the east side of Sabah along a 220 km stretch of narrow road filled with potholes, unpaved sections, and large commercial trucks - this trip took four hours and was the lowlight of the week. As we approached Bilit, we stopped in at the Gomantong Cave for a tour before arriving at the Bilit Rainforest Lodge - this accommodation is categorized as 1-star which hints at the bare bones conditions of the cottages. There is no luxury here but the rooms have air conditioning, which is their saving grace.

Over the next two days, we took a number of cruises on the Kinabantang River to see wildlife. We would have gone on one of the jungle walks but the rains over the past month had flooded the rainforest so the hiking trails were under water. On one of our cruises, we actually travelled to the oxbow lake by boat on what would have been our walking route.

We left the Bilit Rainforest Lodge on Day 5 and stopped in at the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Both of these places gave us a close-up view of these animals. We stopped for lunch at the English Tea House & Restaurant in Sandakan before heading to the airport to fly back to Kota Kinabalu (so much better than driving!).

We spend the next two nights in Kota Kinabalu back at the Luma Hotel. On the morning of Day 6, we reconnected with Joel and drove to the Mari Mari Cultural Centre, which was a detailed look at the indigenous culture of Borneo. The evening was designated as free time so we walked to the main business area downtown to see the night market and grab some dinner at the Welcome Seafood Restaurant (excellent).

On the morning of Day 7, we were picked up at our hotel to head back to Kota Konabalu airport.

Overall, we had a great experience with Amazing Borneo. The itinerary was interesting, provided a good variety of experiences, and was well-paced. We never felt rushed or bored at any stage. This was our first time to Malaysia and it was nice to have to assurance that all of our transportation and accommodation were taken care of before we got there, and that we were being taken to all these different placed by knowledgeable guides. If you want a stress-free vacation in Borneo, have a look at...

We recently did the 6 day 5 night Canopy to coast tour with Amazing Borneo tours organised via Anthony in Australia prior to arrival in Sandakan .

Although booked via Amazing Borneo Tours a lot of the land content and travel arrangements were via Borneo Eco tours buses and guides which was a little confusing initially as we were of the impression that it was a group of travellers organised by Amazing Borneo Tours together for the whole time with one guide only.

In fact it was quite different with people possibly referred via other travel agencies also joining different aspects of the tour and multiple guides over the course of the 5 days.

This did not prevent us however from very much enjoying the trip and everything ran seamlessly.

The highlights for us were the

1 The Orang Utan rehabilitation sanctuary and seeing these amazing animals and learning about them and how they are re introduced back to the wild

2 Sukau Rainforest Lodge. This is a beautiful and well appointed lodge in the rain forest with included boating trips and guided wildlife spotting . The guides were brilliant and super helpful and went out of there way to facilitate photography and we spotted a couple of orang utans in the canopies.

3 Lankayan Island

This is a beautiful small island 70 km off the coast of Sabah. It is tiny and can be walked around in about 15 minutes. Nonetheless it was peaceful and relaxing and and a lovely place to chill, swim and snorkel.

The disappointment for us was probably day 3.

This involved transfer from Sukau to accommodation in Sepilok (where we had visited the orang utans on the first day).

The only activity offered was a rainforest canopy walk which although lovely was rushed by the guide.

We were then dropped off to accommodation early in the afternoon. The accommodation was different from the original itinerary and definitely substandard to that on the rest of the tour and from the promised Sepilok Nature Resort where other guests we had met on the tour stayed.

Overall however 4 of the 5 whole days were brilliant and we really enjoyed them. The final day was essentially coordinated to transport everyone from Lankyan Island back to Sandakan and the airport and there was no option to go to the airport later if you so wanted.

We decided that we would and organised a Grab later so we could look around Sandakan as we had a later flight.

Finally a special thank you to Anthony who co ordinated the tour and was our point of contact before and during the tour. He was super helpful and responsive. The tour was really well co-ordianted on the ground from beginning to end.

The all inclusive meals at Sukau and Lankayan...

I have recently completed a 3D2N Mount Kinabalu hike from 1st to 3rd September 2024, and I am incredibly grateful to Amazing Borneo for such a well-organized and memorable experience. This was my second time booking with Amazing Borneo, and the service was exceptional throughout. From the smooth booking process with Mr. Lewis on the WhatsApp helpline to the seamless logistics from the airport to Kinabalu Park HQ, everything was handled flawlessly. Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed by Ms. Julie from the Amazing Borneo operation team, setting the perfect tone for the hike.

I would like to especially highlight my mountain guide, Mr. Joel Sanan, whose professionalism and passion truly enhanced the experience. My mountain guide’s calm and reassuring presence made all the difference, especially during the more challenging parts of the climb. His support wasn’t just physical—offering a helping hand when needed—but also motivational, as he constantly encouraged me when I felt fatigued or discouraged. His frequent reminder, “Cuba dulu, kalau tak boleh, kita patah balik” (Try first, if it’s not possible, we’ll turn back), was incredibly comforting. It was reassuring to know he had my back without ever pressuring me. His attentiveness to my well-being, checking for signs of altitude sickness and helping with my gear, was invaluable.

Additionally, I had asked my mountain guide to take several pictures and videos at the Submit. Despite the cold, windy conditions and the difficulty of handling equipment with gloves on, he took out his gloves and helped without hesitation or complaint. His willingness to go the extra mile ensured I leave with beautiful memories captured on camera, for which I am truly grateful.

For anyone considering the Mount Kinabalu trek, I found this mountain guide, Mr Joel Sanan’s professionalism and passion to be invaluable, and I’m confident others will find him just as exceptional.

With regards to accommodation - I stayed at Pendant Hut at base camp. There was a fellow hiker who became ill and vomited, but the staff at Pendant Hut immediately cleaned up the area without any complaint and later checked on the hiker’s condition to ensure he was recovering well. Their compassion and attentiveness in this situation truly impressed me and reflected the care they extend to all their guests.

To me, it was truly an Amazing Borneo. I highly recommend to all my friends and family members. Thank you for the...