Birding and Wildlife Tour Sarawak Borneo Malaysia

If you are interested in the Birding and Wildlife Tour Sarawak Borneo Malaysia, come and join us at Kaiyote Tours!

The Birds of Sarawak, Sabah, Borneo, and Beyond

We are offering a very special trip that visits the island of Borneo and includes several smaller islands in Indonesia. This is definitely a trip of a lifetime!

The island of Borneo is about the size of Texas. The island is home to three separate countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Sarawak is located on the northern part of Borneo and is a state of Malaysia. Sarawak is rich in tropical rainforest, mountains and stunning coastal areas. Sarawak is slightly larger than the state of Florida and maintains 30 national Parks to protect distinct habitats and life zones for 185 species of mammals, 530 species of birds, 166 species of snakes, 104 species of lizards, and 113 species of amphibians including coral reefs and marine life. Sarawak in an excellent place to view Orangutans in the wild and the Rhinoceros Hornbill is the national bird.

Printable Bird List
(Checklist of birds that we have seen on this trip)

This tour has two parts:

Part one is a 10-day tour of Sarawak, Malaysia, specifically in the area of Sabah

Part two is a 10-day tour in Indonesia, visiting the islands of Java, West Papua, and Waigeo.

Travel Dates

Part one: June 13 - 22, 2026

Part two: June 23 - July 2, 2026

Group Size: 6 travelers plus guides
Trip Length: 10 or 20 days
Rates: per person = $4,920 - $8,780 (based on double occupancy)
Rates include: Domestic transportation within each region, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner, scheduled group tours, park entrance fees and basic travel insurance.
Not included: International airfare, customs & immigration fees and visas, alcohol, trip cancellation insurance.
Adventure level: Moderate, please check "Welcome" page for definition

Special offer: Included with your trip (one per room) is a copy of the field guide “Birds of Borneo: Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan” (Princeton Field Guides) by Susan Myers. You will receive this when you reserve your trip so you will have time to study and know the beautiful birds of Sarawak.

Map of the travel route here: Sarawak Map (opens a new page)

Basic Itinerary

This tour has two parts:

Part one is a 10-day tour of Sarawak, Malaysia, specifically in the area of Sabah

Part two is a 10-day tour in Indonesia, visiting several island in the area.

Part One

Day 1: Arrival in Kuala Lumpur

You will be met at the Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL), and shuttle to a hotel close to the airport.

Day 2: Flight to Sabah

From Kuala Lumpur, we will fly to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport located in Sabah, Sarawak, Malaysia and start our Borneo birding adventure.

Days 3 - 8: Birding Sabah, Sarawak, Malaysia

There will be 5 full days of birding in Sabah. We are still working on the details of this part of the itinerary. Sabah is a small area, but has nearly 700 species of birds and 67 species are endemic to Borneo. The birding in Sabah is easy, there are birds everywhere and are easy to find and see and/or photograph.

Day 9: Flight to Kuala Lumpur

After a morning of birding, we will fly back to Kuala Lumpur and stay at a hotel close to the KUL airport.

Day 10: Departure or stay for Indonesia Tour

If you are only staying for the Sabah Tour, you will have a shuttle to the airport for your flight home. If you decide to stay for "Part Two", you will fly to Jakarta on this day and spend one night at a hotel close to the airport.

Part Two

Day 1 – Arrival day in Jakarta

You will be met at the Jakarta Airport (CGK) for transfer to the hotel. Activities for the day depend on your arrival time.

Day 2 - Jakarta Bay and beyond

Kick off the Indonesian experience with a 4-hour boat tour at Jakarta Bay to target our first endemics including the Javan Plover, Sunda Teal, Cerulean Kingfisher, Bar-winged Prinia, Javan Coucal and other specialties such as Javan Pond-heron, Christmas Island Frigatebird, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird, Milky Stork, Whiskered Tern etc. Afternoon birding at local parks and wetlands.

Day 3 – Very early flight to Sorong (Raja Ampat)

Arrive early morning at Sorong City and transfer to Swiss-Bell Hotel for breakfast. After breakfast a ferry ride to Waigeo Island (part of the Raja Ampat islands). Upon arrival at Waigeo, a short drive to the resort where we will check in & stay for 3-nights. Lunch, afternoon swim, and birding around the resort complex. After dinner, a hunt for evening birds.

Day 4 - Waigeo Island

Full day to explore Waigeo forest. Two of the highlights on this island are Wilson’s Bird of Paradise and Red Bird of Paradise. Other species we have good opportunities to see include Glossy-mantled Monucode (another “BOP”), Raja Ampat Pitohui, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Papua Common Paradise Kingfisher, Beach Kingfisher, Palm Cockatoo, Papua Red- bellied Pitta, Sulphur– crested Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Hooded Butcherbird, Western Crowned Pigeon, Blyth’s hornbill, Mimic Honeyeater, Pinon’s Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-faced Myna, Papua Starling, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker and more.

Day 5 – Waigeo Island

A full day to continue to explore the island and repeat birds and just relaxed pace.

Day 6 - Waigeo – Sorong

Full morning birding to cover any missed birds on the previous day. After lunch, we will return to Sorong via ferry where we will spend 2-nights at the Sorong Hotel.

Day 7 – Sorong – Malagafuk Village

Early 4x4 drive to Malagafuk village (2-hour). Here we will target King Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Magnificent Riflebird (a “BOP”), Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra and Wompoo Fruit Dove, Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Hooded Pitta, Red-bellied Pitta, Red-billed Brush Turkey, Black-sided Robin, Black-thicket Fantail, Northern-Fantail, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Little shrike Thrush, Helmeted Friarbird, Puff-back Meliphaga (honeyeater) and Rusty Pitohui.

Day 8 – Sorong – Malagafuk Village – Sorong Airport

Early 4x4 again for half a morning to target missed birds. Return to the hotel for lunch. Transfer to Sorong airport for an afternoon flight to Jakarta. Arrive Jakarta airport around 7pm. 1-night at the hotel in Jakarta

Day 9 - Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta departure

From Jakarta, we will fly to Kula Lumpur for one night at a hotel near the airport. Or if you only signed up for "Part Two", you will spend one night in Jakarta and fly home on "Day 10".

Day 10 – Departure day

You will be shuttled to the Kuala Lumpur (KUL) airport for your flight home.

Kaiyote Tours