7D6N SABAH BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY

Day 1 - AIRPORT/ALAB/TAMBUNAN

(L/D)

Pick up from Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Drive for 1 hour 30 minutes to Gunung Alab using 4WD vehicle.

On arrival, we proceed to the hide for birds photography session. We will spend the whole day in the area and see what birds will be seen. Lunch will be at the restaurant by the main road.

After lunch we could return to the Alab site or drive to the Rafflesia Centre to check out birds there. Afterwards, drive to Tambunan to check-in. Later in the evening, have dinner at the lodge or drive to the town to have dinner.

Overnight at Paddy view lodge/Tambunan Lodge.

Target birds:

Bornean treepie,

Chestnut-hooded laughing thrush,

Crimson-headed partridge

Red-breasted partridge,

Bornean bulbul,

Mountain black-eye,

Indigo flycatcher,

Fruithunter,

Day 2 - TRUSMADI (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we proceed to Trusmadi to photograph the partridges.

We will spend the whole day in the area and see what birds will cone to the hide.

After the completion of photography for the day, we will return to the Tambunan town to have dinner at the local restaurant.

Return to the lodge for rest.

Overnight at the lodge.

Target birds:

Bornean banded pitta,

Crimson-headed partridge,

Red-breasted partridge,

Bornean bulbul,

Bulwer's pheasant,

Mountain wren-babbler,

Whitehead's spiderhunter.

Day 3 - TAMBUNAN/KINABALU PARK (B/L/D)

Early morning, we drive to Kinabalu Park which will be a 2-hour drive through the Crocker Range hills.

Once we arrive, we will stop by at the Park Headquarters to apply for a permit to drive in.

After getting the permit, we will drive inside the park to the Power Station where the birds are most likely to be seen. We will spend our time in the area to photograph some of the rare birds.

We will also try our luck at the roadside for some rare birds. Afterwards, we can check-in at the lodge nearby.

Dinner at one of the local restaurants.

Return to the lodge and rest for the night.

Overnight at Kinabalu Lodge/Caesar's Place.

Target birds:

Whitehead's trogon,

Whitehead's broadbill,

Whitehead's spiderhunter,

Eyebrowed jungle flycatcher, Fruithunter,

DAY 4 - KUNDASANG/TELUPID (B/L/D)

Early in the morning, we drive into the park for one last time to get the rare birds in case we did not get to shoot them yesterday. We will spend until 9am before heading out of the park for good.

Return for breakfast.

After breakfast, we will drive to Telupid which is another location for bird photography. This time, we will be targeting for the Bornean Peacock Pheasant.

We will drive to Kampung Bestaria for a chance to shoot photos of the bird.

Trekking up the hill for approximately 1 hour, we will reach the hide for the bird. Since this species of bird is very shy, it might take the whole day just to wait for it to emerge from the forest.

Once we are satisfied with the shots taken, we then proceed to Telupid town for an overnight stay.

Overnight at Telupid

Target birds:

Bornean peacock pheasant,

Bornean crested fireback,

DAY 5 - TELUPID/KINABATANGAN (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we drive to Kinabatangan River. It takes 4 - 5 hours driving to the destination.

On arrival, check-in, lunch and relax for a short while.

At 3pm, we take a boat ride in search of birds along the Kinabatangan River.

We head back at sundown.

Dinner at the lodge .

After dinner, go for a night cruise to find the nocturnal birds and sleeping birds. Return back to the lodge.

Overnight at the lodge

Target birds:

Sabah partridge,

Blue-eared kingfisher,

Rhinoceros hornbills,

White-crowned hornbills,

Black hornbills,

Bornean bristlehead,

Bornean ground cuckoo,

DAY 6 - KINABATANGAN (B/L/D)

Wake up early in the morning. We head to the river at 6.30am when the light is bright enough for photography.. We cruise to one of the river tributaries to find more birds.

Return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, we could walk around the lodge surrounding for some garden birds.

At 3pm, we take another afternoon river cruise. This time it will be to a different direction from the previous cruise we had.

Return before 6pm and have dinner at the lodge.

Go for another night cruise after dinner.

Overnight at the lodge.

DAY 7 -

KINABATANGAN/RDC/SANDAKAN AIRPORT (B/L)

After breakfast, we drive to Sepilok and head to the Rainforest Discovery Centre to find the rare and elusive birds.

We will spend 2 hours roaming the area.

We will then head to the Sandakan airport for your flight home (two hours before the flight).

End of the tour.

Target birds:

Bornean bristlehead,

Sabah partridge,

Black-crowned pitta,

Black-and-yellow broadbill,

Tour price is per person for a minimum of 2 persons.

Included in the package:

1. Round trip transport (4WD) that can fit in 3 persons comfortably.

2. English Speaking Bird Guide.

3. All accommodations during the duration of the tour.

• Tambunan

• Kundasang

• Telupid

• Kinabatangan

4. Full board meals (B6,L7,D6)

5. Park entrance fees

• Tambunan Gunung Alab

• Kinabalu Park x 2

• Telupid Forestry

• RDC

6. Bird Hide entrance fees

• Alab - 500pp

• Trusmadi - 500pp

• Telupid - 1,000pp

7. River cruises

• PM cruise - 2

• AM cruise - 1

• Night cruise - 2

8. Boatman/spotter - 1

9. Vehicle park fee

Tambunan

Kinabalu Park

RDC

Excluded in the package:

1. Air flight tickets

2. Porters to carry cameras/tripods/bag/backpack etc when trekking at Telupid. This can be arranged with extra cost.

3. Tips for bird guide, boatman/spotter and the rest.

4. All that is not mentioned in the itinerary.