Sandakan: 4D3N Imbak Canyon Tour Wild Expeditions

5(5 reviews)
SandakanMalaysia
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Overview

  • Duration:4 days 3 nights
  • Travelers:1 - 8 guests
  • Tour Type:Group tour, Package tour
  • Language:English, Malay
  • Start from:Sandakan, Airport, Sepilok Area
  • End at:Sandakan, Airport, Sepilok Area
  • Payments:Pay Advance
  • Cancellation:Non-refundable
Imbak Canyon, an unspoiled sanctuary in Borneo's active region, is often referred to as the "Lost World" because of its ancient rainforest, which has remained mostly unspoiled for millions of years, creating a breathtaking display of rich biodiversity. It provides a unique chance to travel back in time and experience the Earth in its original form. This 30,000-hectare remote valley is a verdant haven encircled by massive sandstone cliffs that have protected this special environment for millions of years. Enjoy the sounds of nature, hornbills, animals, and magnificent dipterocarp trees that form a verdant cathedral overhead as you go through the verdant forest. No camera can portray the unspoiled splendour of the stunning Imbak cascade, a multi-tiered cascade that plunges into a pristine pool. Visits contribute to the preservation of this crucial wildlife corridor for clouded leopards, pygmy elephants, and orangutans.

Highlights

  • Discover a unique and undiscovered valley that spans over 30,000 hectares within a protected forest reserve preserved by the Malaysian government
  • Explore a magnificent old rainforest that has flourished for more than 100 million years
  • Chance to experience extraordinary animals in their native habitats
  • Take a dip in the cool, inviting waters of the 30-metre-wide Imbak Waterfall
  • Everything you need is covered in the package—meals, transportation, accommodation, airport transfers, and tour guides

Includes/Excludes

  • Pickup and drop-off of round-trip transfers from any Sandakan or Sepilok
  • A guided tour was led by a forest ranger using a VHF radio.
  • Government-approved permit
  • All national park admission fees
  • 3 breakfasts, 2 lunch and 3 dinners (4D3N) or,
  • 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners (3D2N)
  • Accommodation, coffee, tea, and drinking water
  • Local government fees and taxes
  • Personal itinerary
  • DSLR camera users must fill out the photography registration form and pay a fee of 100 MYR per unit, if any.

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Deepest of Borneo

Your tour begins with a pickup at your hotel either at sandakan, sepilok or airport, the journey which takes half a day to get from Sandakan to Telupid and then into the bush, is a taste of the wild.. After extending a warm greeting to the visitors, we will briefly review the history and customs of Kinabatangan. Enter the Imbak Canyon conservation area by driving along logging roads in a tough four-wheel drive vehicle. When it's rainy, the gravel road leading to the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre can be a little slick and uneven, and when it's dry, it can be quite dusty. At the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre (ICSC), relax in your eco-friendly lodge or tent and learn about the sights. After the midday heat subsides, go about the headquarters to see the magnificent birds and possibly some local critters. Check in and rest. Dinner will be served buffet-style in the Bambangan Dining Hall. once dinner's done, swing by the conference rooms for a video from the ICCA team.Visitors can take in breathtaking views at the Bornean Majestic Refugium. Time to turn off the lights, Overnight at Imbak Canyon Studies Centre.

Day 2 : Trekking Into Untouched Wilderness

Prepare for a guided morning stroll around the area to spot gibbons. Breakfast will be served at the Bambangan Dining Hall and enjoy the soothing atmosphere of the woodland while eating breakfast "Al-Fresco" style. Forest adventure (packed lunch), Trekking: Start from the Suspension Ara Bridge and proceed 1.3 kilometres on the Ara (previously Phenology) path to Kapur Bridge. Walk nearly 1 km to the beautiful Big Belian Tree. Pause by the Big Belian Tree to snap a photo against the ancient woods. Several hornbill species live here, so listen for their booming calls. Hike to the 39-foot-wide, 700-meter-high Imbak Falls. Relax and have lunch while listening to the waterfalls. Take the main road back to camp and enjoy the rainforest views on your left and right as you drive to the center, stopping to swim in the Imbak River. After dinner at the Bambangan Dining Hall, if the weather permits, continue your two-hour night drive to witness Malay civet cats, flying squirrels, and deer beside the road. Imbak Canyon Studies Centre darkens at 11 am. Overnight at Imbak Canyon.

Day 3 : Conservation and Night Safari

Start your day with a substantial breakfast at Bambangan dining hall and dig into local culture. Explore the gallery and get ready to be delighted by the sight of traditional instruments being played in the morning light. After lunch, swing by the UMS-funded fertigation and composting spot, where families pitch in to keep agriculture thriving and turn trash into treasure. Take a leisurely stroll around Giant Tree Park to enjoy the tall ancient trees. Take a tea break at the Bambangan dining hall before driving from Centre to Imbak Falls, the excellent site to see the sunset. Another two-hour night stroll for nocturnal species in the outdoors if weather permits is another excellent chance to see wildlife. Overnight at Imbak Canyon Studies Centre.

Day 4 : A Dawn Chorus

Morning munchies, end the adventures with a fun group photo in front of the receiving facility, followed by some closing thoughts to capture the sights, sounds, and scents of Borneo's incredible wilderness. Check out, head back to Sandakan for the grand finale.

Customer reviews

jwdmeow
jwdmeow
On August 1, 2026

There is a beautiful new research complex (it had to have cost millions). There are great jungle trails leaving right from the rooms. There's a lovely dining area with a viewing platform that heads down toward the river and we saw long-tailed macaques in the trees across the river during breakfast one day. The food was great (buffet-style), and the room was really spacious and nice. The ranger who accompanied us on our treks was really knowledgeable.

Most importantly, there was great wildlife spotting here! In addition to the macaques, there were buffy fish owls, lots of birds (including a rare migrant siberian blue robin), flying squirrels - Thomas' and giant red, malay civets, and, most excitingly, a binturong!!

I spent two nights here, but I'd stay another night easily.

petersjsim
petersjsim
On July 28, 2026

Apart from the last 37 KM gravel road that took almost two hours, the rest of it is simply superb and beautiful! The facilities here is beyond words to describe; the only setback is probably the inadequate information given when you do the reservation. There are six different types of accommodations here, ranging from super luxury to backpackers. They are clean, almost brand new and comfortable. The staff, ranging from reception, kitchen to rangers are very helpful and friendly. Needless to say that the jungle trekking are superb and interesting. It is recommended to stay at least three days to get to know the place.

Nalafoodlover
Nalafoodlover
On July 20, 2026

It was a great experience, I will report many details so that they are useful to future travelers.
To reach the structure it is ‘mandatory’ to buy the transport offered by the tour for the last stretch, as the road is rough and it takes 2 hours by jeep and a lot of patience to travel it.
The lodges are extremely basic but clean, surely you could expect something more.
The food is pretty good and there are several opinions to choose from.
We come to the experience: you are entrusted to a dedicated ranger who will be available for the entire period of stay (point in favor): in this way you have the opportunity to organize activities in complete freedom.
In this area you can definitely see the real Borneo forest, untouched by man, with a more reasonable price than that offered by the nearby Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife. The falls are not worth the trip. Unfortunately sighting the animals is very difficult, as they do not populate the area in a capillary way (we have not warned anything).

Aidil A
Aidil A
On July 11, 2026

From Sandakan go to near small town Telupid which is Take tour around 2 hour and to enter complex center around 70km from main road. Need permission from ICCA Yayasan Sabah if you dun want to charge toll in private bridge. The charge around RM 106 after you across Kampung Imbak. The facilities estimated 67 million cost.

Aini R
Aini R
On June 8, 2026

Imbak Canyon Conservation Area in Sabah, Malaysia. An awesome place for those who love nature! It will take about 7 hours drive including 2 hours off road drive from Kota Kinabalu to Imbak Canyon. There an Imbak Canyon Science Centre for scientists to do research and also hostels for those who wish to rent for their adventure trip in Imbak Canyon.

from1,300 $ 850 $ /person
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Frequently asked questions

What should i know before booking?

The start time of the tour may be delayed due to bad weather, rivers, traffic, or changes in the way the government operates the tour. Additionally, because animal environments are so unpredictable, it is difficult to guarantee that you will encounter specific species. Our guide, however, will make every effort to do so. Additionally, there aren't any luxury trips for this tours, so it's a good idea to be prepared and have expectations.

Where is the stay located?

The stay at Imbak Canyon is mainly centred around the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre (ICSC), which is the go-to spot for travellers, researchers, and eco-tourists. It has chalets, a rest-house, and a hostel for everyone to chill out in, but there are no resort stay here.

How big is the tour size?

Typically, there are about 1 to 8 travellers per guide, but during the low season, it might just be you and the guide, and there’s no extra charge for that.

Will the tour itinerary change due to weather or management's discretion?

That's just how it goes, but it doesn't happen all the time. If needed, the management in charge of Imbak Canyon may change up the route, especially if the weather's not looking great or there's a chance of running into high risk wild animals.

Are the pick-up time flexible?

Sorry, but we can't switch up the arrival date at the last minute. Since it's quite out of the way, you'll want to plan everything ahead of time, and it takes more than half a day to reach it.

Can you arrange for a vegan or vegetarian option?

Absolutely, it's completely free and there are no hidden fees at all. Just send us a quick reminder when you make your reservation or the day before you check in, so our team can have everything prepped for you.

Why is there only a dorm to reduce the cost?

Sorry about that but we don’t have dorms available. We have just private rooms for comfort, but it is not a luxury stay as we are smack dab in the rainforest and quite a long ways from anywhere else.

What do we need to bring for this trip?

Don't forget to pick up any supplies you might need before you head over to ICCA! Consider grabbing some locally made rubber hiking shoes (like "Adidas Kampung"), a charger, insect repellent, medicine, snacks, and all those handy essentials! You can grab these things in Telupid town before you head over to Imbak Canyon, just in case you left them behind.

Will we definitely see any specific wildlife on this experience?

We can't really promise that any particular wildlife sighting or preference will happen, especially when it comes to protecting those animals.

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