How to Get to Kinabatangan River Sabah: Best Travel Tips & My Experience in 2025

Kinabatangan River, located deep in the rainforests of Sabah (that’s Malaysian Borneo, in East Asia if you’re still figuring out the geography), was definitely one of the best places I’ve ever visited for seeing wildlife. Orangutans swinging through the trees, proboscis monkeys doing their weird little nose thing, hornbills flying overhead, and if you’re lucky, pygmy elephants casually hanging out by the riverbank. It’s  absolutely incredible.

I literally just left Borneo, and to be honest, when I was planning my trip, I found it weirdly hard to get clear info on how things actually work, especially when it came to the Kinabatangan River Sabah. Where do you stay? How do you even get there? Is it a town? A tour? A national park? I had so many questions, and the answers weren’t exactly jumping out at me.

So that’s why I’m writing this. To walk you through how to get to Kinabatangan River, what your options are, and what it’s actually like once you’re there. I’ll share what I did, plus a few other ways you can get there depending on your style (and budget). And don’t worry, I’ll quickly explain how it all works, because trust me, it’s not super obvious if you haven’t been.

Kinabatangan River Borneo: A Quick Explanation

Let’s clear a few things up, because if you’ve never been, Kinabatangan River can be a bit confusing. It was for sure my favorite experience in Borneo, but when I first looked into it, I had no idea how it actually worked, where to stay, how to get there, what it even is.

So here’s my little breakdown: The Kinabatangan River is a protected stretch of rainforest and river about 2.5 hours from Sandakan, on the east coast of Sabah. It’s one of the top places in Borneo to spot wildlife in the wild like orangutans, proboscis monkeys, rhinoceros hornbills, crocodiles, and pygmy elephants. These five are often referred to as the “Big Five” of Borneo, and Kinabatangan is one of your best places to see the big 5 Borneo.

There are a couple of ways to visit. Most people book full tours from Sandakan, usually through one of the riverside lodges based in the small villages of Sukau or Bilit. There are loads of options, from backpacker-friendly to fancy eco-resorts. I actually found Google Maps to be more useful than Booking.com, most of the good lodges just aren’t listed on traditional booking sites so it’s easier to spot them on Google Maps.

Typically, you book a full package directly with the lodge, accommodation, meals, river safaris, and transfers from Sandakan or Sepilok all bundled together. This is by far the easiest (and most popular) option.

That said, if you want more flexibility, you can book your own stay in Sukau or Bilit and organize transport separately. It takes a bit more effort, but it’s doable.

If you want a full breakdown of where to stay in Kinabatangan River, I’ve got a separate guide with more details and recommendations based on my own trip. But for now, let’s focus on how to actually get there.

How to get Kinabatangan River: My Experience 

We decided not to go with one of the all-inclusive packages. Instead, we booked a super budget-friendly stay right in Sukau, a small village located on the edge of the Kinabatangan River. The place was called Sukau Village Viewstay which we found on Booking.com and they offer everything à la carte: river cruises, jungle treks, and transport to and from the river. So basically, you just book the room and then pick and choose what activities you want once you’re there. Nice and flexible.

Originally, we thought about renting a scooter and driving ourselves. A 2.5-hour ride through the rainforest sounded like a bit of an adventure, and we’ve done longer scooter drives before. But when we asked the hostel in Sandakan, they told us the roads were too rough and it wasn’t a good idea. Spoiler: that was a lie. The road is fully paved all the way to Sukau, with a few potholes here and there but nothing dramatic. Still, we ended up scrapping that plan.

Instead, we booked transport through Sukau Village Viewstay. It was super easy, they picked us up directly from our hostel in Sandakan in a comfortable, air-conditioned van and dropped us right at the doorstep of our guesthouse in Sukau. Same deal on the way back. It was smooth, a little more expensive, but a lot less stressful than trying to sort things out ourselves.

Do a Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip

If you’re on a tighter schedule or just want to keep things simple, doing a day trip to the Kinabatangan River is definitely an option. It’s way easier than staying overnight, and there are loads of river tours that offer this. Most of them include a stop at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in the morning for the feeding, and then you’ll head down to the river for an afternoon cruise, hopefully spotting more orangutans, elephants and more. These guided tours usually include meals and roundtrip transport from Sandakan, so it’s all super easy and taken care of.

Book Here: Guided Day Trip to Kinabatangan River

How to Get to Kinabatangan River – All the Options

1. Get Picked up by Your Lodge in Sukau or Bilit (This Is What I Recommend!)

This is the most common (and easiest) option, which I’ve kind of already explained above, but here’s a quick breakdown. When you book your Kinabatangan River accommodation, 99% of the time they’ll offer a pickup service from either Sandakan or Sepilok.

Some of the more popular lodges that do this are Tanini Kinabatangan, Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Sukau Greenview Lodge, and of course, our budget spot: Sukau Village Viewstay. All of them offer private transfers from Sandakan to the river—either as a separate add-on (in case you’re renting a car or sorting your own way) or bundled into one of their 2D1N or 3D2N river cruise packages.

It’s definitely the most cost-effective and convenient way to get there. Prices vary depending on how many people are in your group, but expect to pay around 150 MYR if you’re going solo, or as low as 85 MYR per person if you’re sharing with a few others.

2. Take a Shared Minivan to Kinabatangan River (Mr. Choy)

This one’s a great option for solo travellers, especially since there’s no actual public transport running to the Kinabatangan River. I only found out about it after digging around online, and I’m glad I did. There’s a local guy named Mr. Choy from Sukau who runs shared minivan transfers from Sandakan and Sepilok to the river lodges.

He’ll pick you up directly from your hotel and drop you off at your accommodation by the river, and you’ll be sharing the van with other travellers heading the same way. I messaged him myself to confirm everything: he usually picks people up in Sandakan around 12:00 noon and in Sepilok around 12:45 PM.

The cost is 85 MYR from Sandakan or 75 MYR from Sepilok, and he can also take you back after your river stay. This is a super convenient, legit option, especially if you’re travelling solo and trying to keep things affordable.

Here’s Mr. Choy’s number so you can sort out your transport directly with him:
+60 19-536-1889

3. Take a Grab to Kinabtangan River Sabah

It might sound a little too easy, but yep, taking a Grab is totally doable, and people actually do it. A group of travellers at our lodge arrived this way, so it’s definitely a real option. In case you haven’t used it before, Grab is basically the Southeast Asian version of Uber.

A Grab ride from Sandakan to Kinabatangan River will cost you around 250–300 MYR, so if you’re a group of three, it’s honestly not that bad. Obviously, this is one of the most comfortable and straightforward options, but keep in mind, Grab cars in Borneo aren’t exactly like the ones in Kuala Lumpur. Expect a more basic ride, but still totally fine for the journey.

4. Take a Bus from Sandakan to Sukau Junction

Another way of doing it is by taking a bus to Sukau Junction. You can book a regular bus from Sandakan heading towards Lahad Datu or Semporna and just tell the driver to drop you off at Sukau Junction, that’s where the main road splits off, with one way continuing to Semporna and the other heading down to Sukau by the Kinabatangan River.

From there, your lodge can usually pick you up (just let them know in advance). This is a good option if you’re on a tighter budget because lodges tend to charge less for a pickup from Sukau Junction compared to a full transfer from Sandakan.

It also works well if you’re doing a little loop. You can go from Sandakan (or Sepilok), do your Kinabatangan River stay, and then ask your lodge to drop you back off at Sukau Junction so you can hop on the bus to Semporna. Super easy and saves you a bit of cash.

5. Rent a Car and Drive to Kinabatangan River Sabah

One thing I’d definitely consider when traveling in Borneo is renting a car, it actually makes a lot of things way easier. I met quite a few people (mostly families) doing full road trips from Sandakan to Kinabatangan River and then on to Semporna, all by rental car.

You can rent cars in Sandakan starting from around 100 MYR per day. Most of the rentals are through local companies, which are totally legit, but I’d recommend having your own car insurance just in case, it’s always good to be covered.

Other than that, driving in Borneo is surprisingly chill. The roads aren’t crazy or packed like in Vietnam or Thailand. Just remember to drive on the left, and you’re good to go.

6. Rent a Scooter and Drive to Kinabatangan River

The same idea goes for renting a scooter as it does for renting a car. There are a few local scooter rental shops in Sandakan, even though scooter rentals aren’t nearly as common in Borneo as they are in Bali or the Philippines, so don’t expect tons of options.

Scooters usually go for around 50 MYR per day, which makes this the cheapest way to get to Kinabatangan River. If you’re a diehard budget backpacker, this is your move. Rent a scooter for two days (maybe even share it with a buddy), ride down to Sukau, stay one night, go on a few river cruises, and head back to Sandakan. Easy, cheap, and with a little bit of adventure thrown in.

FAQs About How to Get to Kinabatangan River

How do you get to Kinabatangan River from Sandakan?

Honestly, getting picked up by your lodge or tour company is the easiest and most stress-free option. That’s what I did and yes, it was a little more expensive, but worth it for the convenience. You can also rent a scooter or a car if you’re trying to save a bit of money and don’t mind the drive.

What is the best travel insurance for Malaysia?

I honestly think SafetyWing is the best travel insurance out there, especially if you’re a long-term traveller. They’re affordable, super flexible, and I’ve used them multiple times. Every time I’ve had to make a claim or needed help, they were actually helpful (which is rare) and never gave me any hassle.

How do you get from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabatangan River?

I actually have a whole article on this if you want to check out my other Borneo posts. But the quick answer: take a domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan, then get picked up by your lodge from the airport. You can also take a 7-hour bus to Sandakan and continue from there to Kinabatangan River.

What’s the best Kinabatangan River cruise?

To be honest, they’re all pretty similar. From what I’ve seen, the guides and boats are all connected, so if one guide spots an orangutan or elephant, they let the others know. The boats are also quite similar across the board, and the guides we had were super knowledgeable. So no matter where you book, the river cruise experience itself is likely to be just as good.

Where to Stay Kinabatangan River?

There’s a wide range of lodges along the river, from budget to quite fancy. Sukau Greenview Lodge is one of the most popular Kinabatangan River Lodge, but there are other great options too like Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort. I personally stayed at Sukau Village Viewstay, a budget-friendly spot that I’d recommend if you’re keeping it more budget friendly.

Final Thoughts on How to Get to Kinabatangan River from Sandakan

I’ve probably said this in every one of my Borneo articles, but the Kinabatangan River cruise was hands down the highlight of my trip. Seeing wild orangutans—like truly wild, no sanctuaries, just swinging through the trees is something you can barely do anywhere else in the world.

As for how to get there, I’d recommend just booking a stay with a lodge that includes transport. It’s the easiest option, and honestly, not that much more expensive. For us, we spent around $120 USD per person for two nights and three river cruises, and I’d do it the same way again in a heartbeat.

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