A Birdwatcher’s Paradise

Mount Kinabalu Extension

May 16 to 19, 2025
Cost: $1,785
Leader: Charlie Ryan
Group Size: 8
Days: 3

Safari Overview

Extend your Borneo wildlife adventure with a birdwatching and nature expedition to Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Southeast Asia’s most biodiverse regions. Rising to 4,095 meters (13,435 feet), Mount Kinabalu is home to over 5,000 plant species, 326 bird species, and 100 mammal species, including 18 endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Trek through lowland rainforests, montane woodlands, and sub-alpine zones, experiencing stunning landscapes shaped by ancient tectonic forces. Stay in cozy hillside lodges, explore the park’s scenic trails, and enjoy expert-led birding walks in search of rare and endemic birds such as the Whitehead’s Trogon, Bornean Treepie, and Everett’s Thrush.

WHY CHOOSE THIS EXPEDITION?

  • Explore Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hike through one of the most ecologically diverse national parks in Southeast Asia, from lush tropical forests to alpine meadows.
  • World-Class Birdwatching: Spot over 326 bird species, including Bornean endemics like the Kinabalu Serpent Eagle, Mountain Blackbird, and Whitehead’s Spiderhunter, making this a bucket-list location for birders.
  • Expert-Guided Nature & Wildlife Hikes: Trek along well-maintained forest trails, discovering Kinabalu’s unique ecosystems, rare flora, and diverse fauna, with insights from an experienced naturalist.
  • Spectacular Mountain Scenery: Enjoy panoramic views of Kinabalu’s towering granite peaks, shaped by millions of years of tectonic activity.
  • Comfortable Stay in Kinabalu Park: Relax in cozy hillside bungalows, offering easy access to prime hiking trails, panoramic viewpoints, and incredible wildlife encounters right outside your door.

SAFARI OPTIONS

  • This is extension to our Borneo trip from May 3 to 17, 2025.

NOTABLE EXPERIENCES

Updated: March 2025



Print Trip
Date Description Lodge Meals
May 16–17 Kinabalu National Park. Travel from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu National Park, stopping for scenic viewpoints along the way. Explore Kinabalu National Park’s rich biodiversity on a full-day hike through diverse forest zones, spotting rare montane birds like the Mountain Blackbird, Everett’s Thrush, and Bornean Whistler. Discover exotic orchids, pitcher plants, and moss-covered trees, while enjoying panoramic views of Mount Kinabalu and additional birdwatching for species like the Whitehead’s Spiderhunter and Bornean Forktail. Hill Lodge, Kinabalu National Park B, L, D
May 18 Final Morning Birding & Return to Kota Kinabalu. Enjoy one last sunrise birdwatching session before transferring back to Kota Kinabalu for flights home B, L
May 19 Arrive home.

Our Trip Leaders

Charlie Ryan

After signing up for a volunteer program in Indonesia in 2008, Charlie was re-routed to Sabah, Borneo where he helped set up community initiative programs for the Abai village. He has resided in Sabah ever since. Charlie guides for the National Geographic Adventure groups in Borneo and helps train nature guides, providing them with first-hand knowledge and experience. He is also an avid photographer, which compliments his passion for wildlife, culture, and travel.

Detailed Itinerary

A glimpse into our journey

Kinabalu National Park

May 16–17

Jambu Fruit Dove
© Charlie Ryan

Depart from Kota Kinabalu, embarking on a scenic drive through Borneo’s mountainous interior en route to Kinabalu National Park. Along the way, stop at panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Crocker Range, taking in the misty peaks and lush valleys. Arrive at the Hill Lodge in Kinabalu Park, your base for exploring this UNESCO-listed biodiversity hotspot.

In the afternoon, begin your first guided birdwatching walk, traversing montane forest trails in search of some of Borneo’s most sought-after birds. Keep an eye out for Mountain Leaf Warblers, Bornean Treepies, and Indigo Flycatchers, as well as the elusive Whitehead’s Trogon and Kinabalu Serpent Eagle. As the sun sets, return to the lodge for a relaxing evening surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest. 

Enjoy a full day exploring the various trails at the base of the park while birding. This park is a birdwatcher’s paradise with about 326 species recorded, representing over half the bird species in Borneo (18 are Bornean endemics). On the second day explore Kinabalu National Park’s rich biodiversity, hiking through a variety of altitudinal forest zones. Start the morning with high-elevation birding, where you’ll have the chance to spot some of the endemics (found only in Borneo) which include the Mountain Black Eye, the Mountain Blackbird, the Bornean Treepie, the Kinabalu Friendly Warbler, the Kinabalu Serpent Eagle, the Bornean Mountain Whistler, the Everett’s Thrush. The park’s forests are also home to exotic orchids, carnivorous pitcher plants, and unique moss-covered trees, making every step an opportunity for discovery.

After lunch, continue trekking along well-maintained trails, stopping at botanical gardens and observation decks to admire the towering granite peaks of Mount Kinabalu. In the late afternoon, enjoy another birdwatching session, searching for Whitehead’s trio. Return to the lodge for a farewell dinner, reflecting on the day’s incredible wildlife encounters.

Fly home

May 18

Enjoy a final morning of birdwatching, with the opportunity to spot early rising species. After breakfast, begin your journey back to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival, transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport for your flight home.

Arrive home

May 19

Arrive home with unforgettable memories of Mount Kinabalu’s pristine landscapes, diverse wildlife, and spectacular birdlife.

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  • Cost & Payments
  • Included
  • Not Included
  • Climate
  • Fitness Level
  • Flights
  • Conservation
  • Conditions

Cost & Payments

Costs (in US$)

Type Cost Per Person
Trip Cost, double occupancy $1,785
Single Supplement $230

Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare, singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.

If you are a single traveler, we will find a roommate for you, but if we cannot find you a roommate, we may charge you a single supplement. Single rooms cost extra and are subject to availability.


Payment Schedule

Payment Due Date Amount Per Person
Payment is due with your main trip’s final payment; see its trip itinerary for details.

Payment is due with your main trip’s final payment; see its trip itinerary for details at LINK.


Cancellations

Cancellations are non-transferrable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date.

Included

  • Carbon offsets for the duration of this trip.
  • All leaders, transport, camera fees, park entry fees, and permits for all activities unless described as optional.
  • Accommodations for the nights of May 16 through May 17.
  • Meals from breakfast on May 16 through lunch on May 18.
  • Transfers to Kota Kinabalu Airport on May 18.
  • Non-alcoholic bottled beverages throughout the trip.
  • Snacks during travel between locations.
  • Trip Planning Materials – information about flights, packing, entry and departure requirements, airport transfers, gratuities, etc.

Not Included

  • Carbon offsets for your flights to/from this trip.
  • Passport and visa fees.
  • COVID tests.
  • Divergent airport transfers (arranged by us) and extra hotel nights.
  • Gratuities – tipping is always discretionary. However, we suggest budgeting about $225 total per participant for the extension.
  • Emergency evacuation insurance and trip cancellation insurance.
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, alcoholic beverages, items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Reservation Form.

Climate

Temperatures vary greatly. The lower altitudes are often hot, while the forests and higher altitudes can be surprisingly cool. In May, the average daytime temperature in Borneo is in the mid 80s°F (28°C), with highs in the low 90s°F (33°C); the evenings get down into the mid 70s°F (24°C). There is very high humidity in the lowlands, and it will feel much warmer. Temperatures in the forest and at higher altitudes are only slightly cooler, averaging 60 to 80°F (16 to 26°C). Although May is considered the dry season, rain is still possible.

Fitness Level

Treks in the morning and afternoon will last for about three hours walking slowly while searching for birds. The walking is easy and mostly on paved roads, but some parts of the road has inclines.

Flights

Detailed logistical information is included in the Trip Planning Materials we will send you.

Flights you book

  • Arrive in Arrive in Sandakan, Malaysia (SDK) by 3:00pm on May 5
  • Depart from Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (BKI) after 4:00pm on May 18.

FAQ

Accommodations

Seasickness

Transportation

Conservation

Our company ethos has always regarded conservation as inseparable from responsible tourism. We struggle with the dilemma that traveling worldwide expends climate-changing carbon. However, we wholeheartedly believe that traveling with us will cultivate your passion for conserving our beautiful world while stimulating each destination’s local economy. We encourage you to explore the various ways in which Cheesemans’ operates within this context:

  • Ecotourism and Conservation for Borneo.
  • Cheesemans’ Trips are Carbon Neutral.
  • Offsetting your Travel to/from our Trip: We ask you to pledge to offset the carbon emissions for your travel to and from our trips. You can purchase offsets with most airlines (Delta includes them automatically), use our handy carbon calculator and donate to Sustainable Travel International, or contribute to your favorite offsetting organization.

Conditions

Read our current Terms and Conditions.