Mist & Mystery: A Borneo Wildlife Adventure

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  Think rainforest and Borneo might be amongst the first places that comes to your mind. The third largest island in the world has rainforests, wetlands and mountains that are home to a wide range of biodiversity. No wonder this place inspired Alfred Russell Wallace to come up with the theory of evolution in parallel with his contemporary, a certain Charles Darwin.

  On this tour, we explore the northern part of the island with the goal of uncovering equatorial rainforests and their wide variety of denizens. We’ll walk, both by day and by night, through lowland rainforests and highlands. We’ll cruise on the Kinabatangan River looking for mammals and birds. From orangutans to pygmy elephants, from pit vipers to vibrant frogs, from pitcher plants to stunning hornbills, we hope to encounter enigmatic and colourful species, many endemic to the island.
  
  Join Darter Photography on our equatorial island adventure in Borneo this August. With a wildlife biologist and a professional wildlife photographer as your mentors, this tour offers an exciting, unmatched experience for anyone interested in wildlife and wildlife photography in one of the most biodiverse island of the world.

  Jump to ◆ Tour Highlights ◆ Itinerary ◆ FAQs ◆ Tour Price ◆ Tour Mentor ◆ Sign Up

• Tour Dates

  Aug 09-17, 2025

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  Tour Price

  INR 340,000

  (Taxes extra as applicable)

  Shared Occupancy

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  Join Now

Tour Highlights

• • Journey through Borneos’s diverse habitats from mangroves to rainforests across lowlands and highlands, observing incredible endemic biodiversity of the world’s third largest island
  • Capture macro masterpieces of Borneo’s spectacular reptiles and amphibians – from iridescent pit vipers coiled on branches to Wallace’s flying frogs in their natural habitats
  • A unique and captivating opportunity to witness endangered orangutans in their natural habitat
  • Photograph incredible river scenes along the Kinabatangan – from herds of pygmy elephants at the water’s edge to eight species of hornbills perched against dramatic rainforest backdrops
  • Journey through Bako’s diverse habitats from mangroves to kerangas forests, observing proboscis monkeys, silver langurs, and bearded pigs in their natural habitat
  • Witness the world’s largest flower – the Rafflesia – in Bako National Park, while searching for endemic keeled pit vipers and bronze-back tree snakes
  • Explore Sandakan’s lowland rainforests at night to find endemic pit vipers, cat geckos (Aeluroscalabotes), flying frogs (Rhacophorus), and various species of gliding mammals
  • Experience the swamp forests near Sandakan where specialized reptiles like mangrove snakes and water monitors thrive alongside unique primates
  • Visit the Semenggoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, combining wildlife observation with conservation insights into Borneo’s most iconic species
  • Learn more about Borneo’s wildlife under the guidance of an evolutionary biologist who takes special interest in island biogeography
  • Learn and explore wildlife photography in one of the world’s top wildlife destinations under the mentorship of Darter’s Wildlife Photography Expert
  • Get your photographs reviewed periodically on the tour to understand your photography strengths and what you could improve upon

Tour Itinerary

• Tour Starts at Kuching 
• Tour Ends at Kuala Lumpur

Day 01. Arrive in Kuching. Overnight in Apar Village 

Arrive in Kuching. Transfer to the hotel. A round of introductions followed by an orientation session.

Day 02. Bako National Park & Samajaya Nature Reserve. Overnight in Kuching.

After breakfast, we will drive to Bako National Park, arrive at Bako Jetty & take boat ride to enter Bako National Park. Spend rest of the morning looking for wildlife in the park. Post lunch in the park we return to hotel to rest and refresh, have early dinner and depart to Samajaya Nature Reserve for a night walk.

Day 03. Kubah National Park. Overnight in Kuching

After an early breakfast, we head to Kubah National Park for birding. Spend the day in and around at the park. After dinner, we head will head out for herping till late night and return to hotel.

Day 04. Semenggoh Wildlife Center & Borneo Highland. Overnight at Borneo Highland

Check-out of the hotel after breakfast and depart to Semenggoh Wildlife Center for Orangutan watching. And then drive at Borneo Highland & Check-in to Homestay. Head out for Birding post lunch. Highland Night Walk after dinner.

Day 05. Borneo Highland. Overnight at Borneo Highland

Start the day early with birding activities and then head for breakfast. Continue birding for the rest of the day. Call it a day after the Highland Night Walk.

Day 06. Santubong. Overnight in Santubong

Start the day early with birding. Check out of the homestay after breakfast. Drive to Santubong. Check-in to the hotel. Head out for an evening cruise. Call it day after dinner.

Day 07.Fly to Sandakan . Overnight at River Junkie Lodge

We will do a early check-out and head to Kuching airport fly to Sandakan. Arrive at Sandakan Airport and check-in to lodge post lunch. We head to river cruise up the Kinabatangan River in search proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, a dazzling array of bird species birds, reptiles and other wildlife.

Day 08. Kinabatangan. Overnight at River Junkie Lodge

We will start the day early and take a boat trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing. Then return to the lodge for breakfast. Free at leisure to relax till late afternoon and venture on another river cruise in search of wildlife. Head for a night walk post dinner before ending the day.

Day 09. Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Tour Ends

After breakfast, we check out of lodge and head to Sepilok to visit Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Post lunch, transfer to Sundakan Airport to Kuala Lumpur. Tour ends.

FAQs

How do we reach Kuching?

Kuching International Airport(KCH) is well connected from most international airports. Do let know if you need any help with flight booking. Please note that flights to Kuching is not part of the tour price.

I am not a keen photographer. But I want to visit Borneo with your group. Can I still join?

Yes. If you are interested to explore wildlife, you are welcome to join this tour. You’ll have a great time in Borneo, with tons of memories and exciting experiences to take back with you. Please note that we do not offer a separate non-photographer pricing.

Can I bring my non-photographer partner with me?

Yes, you can. We visit one of the most awesome wildlife destinations in the world on this photography tour. Your partner will enjoy the journey with the group, with tons of memories and exciting experiences to take back from the Borneo wilderness. Please note that we do not offer a separate non-photographer pricing.

What photography equipment is needed for the tour?

We recommend
– Macro lenses to capture the reptiles and amphibians.
– Wide-angle lenses/Kit lenses for landscapes.
– Telephoto lenses reaching up to at least 300 mm focal length to photograph wildlife at a distance. Please talk to us to decide on the photography equipment that you need to carry for the tour.

Also refer to our tours faq for more information.

Tour Price

Tour Price: INR 340,000 per person (taxes extra as applicable)

The tour price includes

• Accommodation through the tour on twin-sharing basis
• Meals on all days except lunch on Day 1
• Airport group pickup and drop-off
• Park entrance fees and guide fees
• Travel and Transport that is part of itinerary
• Domestic flights – Kuching to Sandakan and Sandakan to Kuala Lumpur
• Services of photography mentor and wildlife guide through the tour

The tour price does not include

• 5% GST is applicable on tour fees.
• Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for Indian nationals only. The Govt of India mandates TCS to be collected on all international travel bookings. The TCS amount will be remitted to your PAN account at the end of the financial quarter.
• Travel from your location to tour start and from end point to your location
• Visa Fees and Vaccination
• Travel Insurance
• Additional water bottles, food or beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic
• All expenses of personal nature (laundry, telephone calls, etc.)
• Tips and Gratuities

Cancellation Policy:

-50% of tour fee is charged as cancellation fees for cancellation upto 90 days before the start of tour.
-75% of tour fee is charged as cancellation fees for cancellation between 89 days and 60 days before the start of tour.
-No refund for cancellation within 59 days of the tour start date or for no-show.

Please note:

• The itinerary mentioned in this page is subject to favourable weather and road conditions. In case of bad weather and inaccessibility to a destination, we will do our best to make alternate plans. The tour price or any part of it will not be refunded in the event of unfavourable conditions anytime during the tour days.
• Wildlife sightings depend on various factors, including weather, availability of food and the animal showing up in our vicinity.
• No refunds will be made if a participant is unable to complete the tour owing to medical conditions or any other reasons, after starting the tour.
• All participants would have to sign a Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk & Arbitration Agreement before joining the tour.

Wildlife Photography Mentor – Shreeram M V

Shreeram M V is a professional photographer, photography mentor and naturalist. What started off as a fascination for birds in a lake behind his house turned into a journey across the natural world. For this IIM Bangalore graduate, the passion for travel and wildlife enabled him to charter his own course outside the corporate world.

He has explored and photographed places across the world as diverse as the savannahs of Africa, the ice continent of Antarctica, the islands of New Zealand, the rainforests of the Western Ghats, the salt marshes of Kutch, the grasslands of Tal Chapar, the deciduous forests of South and Central India, the high-altitude plateau of Ladakh, the coasts of peninsular India, the forests of North-east India and the islands of Andaman. His approach to wildlife photography has evolved into telling stories about the place and its habitats, biodiversity and human interactions with nature.

He is a well-published and awarded photographer. His articles and photographs have been published in diverse print and digital magazines such as National Geographic Traveller, Sanctuary Asia, Saevus, Lonely Planet India, Terrascape, Nature inFocus and JLR Explore. As a naturalist, he has been associated with Jungle Lodges and Resorts and Karnataka Eco-tourism Development Board in training and certifying naturalists from across the state.

His passion for photographing the varied life-forms in the rainforest as well as learning more about their natural history has earned him a lot of appreciation from the hundreds of participants on our wildlife photography tours over the past 15 years. See some of his work at Shreeram M V Photography

Herpetologist and Evolutionary Biologist – Achyuthan Srikanthan

Achyuthan is a multifaceted herpetologist and evolutionary biologist with a deep understanding of reptilian taxonomy and evolution. His field experience spans over 20 years across more than 30 countries, from the biodiversity hotspots of Madagascar to the remote forests of Honduras. He has published over 50 scientific papers in reputed journals and 2 monographs, including the first ever book on Skinks of India.

His expertise in reptilian taxonomy, particularly in geckos, skinks, and vine snakes of the Western Ghats, allows him to work on entire evolutionary narratives. He is working on his PhD which reveals the intricate details of scale microstructures and morphological adaptations that will broaden our understanding of biogeographic history and species diversification.

As an ecotourism naturalist and guide, he excels at making complex scientific concepts accessible. His experience in working with snakes and a deep understanding of reptilian behavior is invaluable to his guided experiences. His artistic work spans multiple media – from professional wildlife photography to detailed scientific illustrations in watercolor and digital media. This combination of scientific knowledge and artistic skill enables him to offer unique insights into herpetofaunal diversity and behavior. See some of his work here

Sign Up

Contact us at the email/number below to book the tour.

email: photography@darter.in

Tel/WhatsApp: +91-97400 83260 (Shreeram)
Alternately, fill in the following form to get in touch with us regarding the tour.