5D4N Borneo Rainforest Lodge & Blue Rings Reef – Danum Valley Immersion

08:30 Hrs: Begin your adventure with a smooth pick-up from Lahad Datu Airport or your hotel. A short stop at the tour office allows for easy registration and a briefing before setting off. 

09:00 Hrs: Enjoy a hearty breakfast at a local eatery in town, surrounded by the bustle of Lahad Datu’s morning life. 

10:20 Hrs: Transfer 40 minutes to the Silam Coast Conservation Area (SCCA), a protected marine reserve under Sabah Parks. Climb the 30-metre Menara Kayangan (Tower of Heaven) for sweeping views of the lush coastline and sapphire waters. 

11:00 Hrs: Continue to Tumunong Hallu Jetty and board a boat to Blue Rings Reef, a sanctuary of corals and reef fish. Slip on a mask and snorkel in the clear waters, where schools of colourful fish dart among the reef and sea turtles occasionally glide past. 

12:00 Hrs: Sail onwards to Pulau Tabun, a small volcanic island and nesting site for the rare Philippine Megapode bird. 

12:300 Hrs: Head to Pulau Baik, where a Japanese shipwreck known as Maiden Oasis has transformed into a living reef teeming with marine life — a fascinating snorkelling site. 

13:00 Hrs: Break for lunch at Payang Beach Restaurant, savouring Sabah’s flavours with freshly prepared seafood dishes and local delicacies served against a backdrop of sea breezes. 

14:30 Hrs: Unwind at Tumunong Hallu Beach, a quiet paradise of golden sand and turquoise waters. Relax with hi-tea by the sea, with shower and changing facilities available for comfort. 

16:00 Hrs: Begin the 2.5-hour scenic drive inland to the world-renowned Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL) in Danum Valley. 

19:00 Hrs: Dinner at the lodge followed by check-in to your luxurious rainforest accommodation. 

20:30 Hrs: After dark, join a guided night drive in an open-top vehicle. Keep your eyes peeled for nocturnal animals such as civets, flying squirrels, and perhaps a leopard cat. (Weather permitting.) 

07:00 Hrs: Breakfast at the lodge, often accompanied by the sights and sounds of hornbills, gibbons, and other rainforest residents. 

09:00 Hrs: Set out on a trek to the Kadazandusun Burial Site (Coffin Cliff), where ancient wooden coffins rest in a cliffside crevice. Continue upwards to the View Point for sweeping vistas of the Danum Valley rainforest. Descend to the natural Jacuzzi Pool, a refreshing rock pool fed by clear forest streams. 

12:30 Hrs: Lunch at the lodge. 

15:00 Hrs: Choose between a guided rainforest trek or a tubing adventure along the Danum River, floating past towering trees and listening to the symphony of jungle life. 

19:00 Hrs: Dinner at the lodge. 

20:30 Hrs: Join your guide on a night walk along the lodge’s trails. With torches in hand, spot nocturnal creatures like frogs, insects, tarantulas, and perhaps the elusive slow loris. 

07:00 Hrs: Breakfast at the lodge. 

09:00 Hrs: Trek through pristine rainforest to discover Fairy Falls, a waterfall hidden within the jungle. The trails leading here are alive with bird calls, insects, and, with luck, wildlife sightings along the way. 

12:00 Hrs : Return to the lodge for lunch. 

15:00 Hrs: Embark on another guided trek in search of Danum Valley’s wildlife. With expert guides, look out for orangutans, red leaf monkeys, hornbills, or even pygmy elephants roaming near the riverbanks. 

19:00 Hrs: Dinner at the lodge. 

20:30 Hrs: Optional night activity –  head out on a night drive or walk to discover the rainforest after dark. 

This day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Below is only a suggestion of how you may wish to spend your final full day in Danum Valley. 

07:00 Hrs: Begin with an optional early morning walk along nearby trails, when the forest is alive with bird activity and the crisp air carries the calls of gibbons. Or simply sleep in and enjoy a slow breakfast at the lodge. 

12:30 Hrs: Lunch at the lodge. 

Afternoon: Venture deeper into the rainforest on a guided trail of your choice, or take time to relax and soak in the atmosphere of BRL. The lodge’s deck overlooking the river is a favourite spot to watch hornbills soaring past or macaques playing by the water’s edge. 

19:00 Hrs: Dinner at the lodge. 

20:30 Hrs: After dinner, take an optional night walk with your guide or relax at leisure, enjoying the serenity of your rainforest surroundings. 

08:00 Hrs: Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before a final stroll through the rainforest or time at leisure. 

11:30 Hrs: Check out and enjoy lunch before your 2.5-hour transfer back to Lahad Datu Airport. Your reef-and-rainforest immersion comes to an end with memories of both Sabah’s marine and jungle wonders.