Escape the ordinary and delve into the pulsating heart of Borneo's rainforest. Abai Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort is your gateway to a world where ancient trees brush the clouds, the mighty Kinabatangan River whispers secrets to the shore, and wildlife reigns supreme. Here, immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness, witness the ballet of proboscis monkeys, and listen to the orchestra of the jungle. Located in a secluded area of Lower Kinabatangan, away from the main tourist hotspots, our resort is not just a destination, it's a sensory awakening, a call to the adventurer within, and an invitation to rediscover the soul of the rainforest.

How to get here

Nestled within the serene Abai Village, Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort lies on the banks of the Lower Kinabatangan River, approximately 50 kilometers from Sandakan city. Embrace the adventure and choose your journey:

🚌 Buses can be taken from Kota Kinabalu, Semporna, Lahad Datu and Tawau to Sandakan.

✈️ Daily flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan are available via the regional airline MASWings.

🚤 Abai Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort is accessible by boat from the Sandakan Yacht Club jetty. The journey takes around 1.5 hours.

🚗 The 15km drive from Sandakan Airport to Sandakan Yacht Club takes about 20 minutes.

For a more comfortable and personalised travel experience, consider requesting a private tour with a private guide and vehicle.

Highlights

Exclusive Wildlife Spotting: Embark on personalised boat cruises designed to maximise your chances of encountering rare and elusive species like Bornean gibbons swinging through the canopy, sun bears lumbering along the riverbanks, and the majestic hornbills soaring overhead.

Immersive Nature Walks: Trek through ancient oxbow lakes brimming with birdlife, explore hidden jungle trails teeming with insects and reptiles, and discover the secrets of medicinal plants used by local communities for generations.

Romantic River Escapes: Float down the Kinabatangan at sunset, sharing a glass of wine on your private balcony as the rainforest paints the sky with mesmeriaing hues. Enjoy candlelit dinners in the open air, listening to the symphony of cicadas and frogs.

Thrilling Night Safaris: Embark on an off-the-beaten-path adventure after dark, spotting nocturnal creatures like civets, owls, and even the elusive pangolin with the help of powerful spotlights and your expert guide.

Cultural Immersion: Delve into the vibrant traditions of Abai's Orang Sungai (River People) through guided visits and opportunities to learn about their language and customs.

Background / History

Held in the embrace of a secondary forest reserve, Abai Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort offers a quieter, more secluded retreat compared to the more high traffic tourist hotspots of Kinabatangan River. The resort sits within the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands, a RAMSAR conservation site and the largest continuous mangrove, coastal, and estuarine ecosystem in the country. The Nipah and Mangrove greenery that surrounds the resort keeps flooding at bay all year round.