Tropical Herping’s Borneo herping and wildlife photography tour is the third such field trip offered by our team in Malaysian Borneo. It is open to a select group of 2–6 participants who want photograph the incredibly biodiversity of the world’s third largest island while learning side-by-side from our team of award-winning wildlife photographers.

Image showing tour leader Frank Pichardo walking on a beach

Frank Pichardo
Tour leader, photo instructor
Wildlife photographer with more than 10 years of experience leading Tropical Herping tours.

Image showing Lucas Bustamante photographing a giant tortoise

Lucas Bustamante
Photo instructor, tour leader
Award-winning wildlife photographer with more than 16 years of experience leading Tropical Herping tours.

Image showing photographer Chien Lee on a dugout canoe

Chien Lee
Tour leader, photo instructor
Award-winning wildlife photographer and most celebrated promoter of Bornean biodiversity.

Tour details

Description: A herping and wildlife photography tour open to a select group of 2–6 participants who want photograph the incredibly biodiversity of the world’s third largest island while learning from our team of award-winning wildlife photographers.

Main tour (14 nights): $8,947. $985 in single room.

Dates: September 9, 2026. November 6, 2027.

Group size: 2–6 people.

Day 1Kuching
Day 2Bako and Kubah
Days 3–5Mulu
Days 6–8Sepilok
Days 9–11Kinabatangan
Days 12–14Tabin
Day 15Departure flights

How to reserve your spot?

  1. Read our cancellation policy below.

  2. Complete the contact form in the next step to let us know about your interests and experience and so we can check availability and give you further information about the tour.

  3. Review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability form we will send you.

  4. Make payment to confirm your booking.

Cancellation policy: If you are unable to attend the tour, you are welcome to send someone in your place or apply to another Tropical Herping event. Given that we pre-pay all local services months in advance, credit or refund requests are not offered.

Important! Read the rules and recommendations.

What to bring? Check out our suggested packing list.

What is included?

Package based on two people sharing a room.

All meals and accommodation.

All river and road transfers.

Guides and tour leaders.

Domestic airfares.

National park entrance fees.

What is not included?

Additional nights due to flight cancellations.

Alcoholic beverages, bottled water, and snacks.

Health/travel insurance.

International airfares.

Laundry.

Photo equipment.

Visa processing fees.

Booking form

Tour description

The tour will start in the western side of Borneo Island, where you will visit Bako and Kubah national parks located in a coastal region which is rather low-lying and flat with large areas of swamp and other wet environments. The next stop is the World Heritage Site of Gunung Mulu, which contains one of the world’s largest underground chambers. Sabah state is the location of the second part. You will photograph wildlife in a safari style in Tabin Nature Reserve, on boat along the Kinabatangan River, and explore the canopy in Sepilok, home of the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. As in most Tropical Herping tours, there will be night walks in each location where we the target will be nocturnal mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Finally, this tour will not only count with the in-situ photographic teachings of Tropical Herping’s award-winning wildlife photographers, but also with Chien Lee’s, Borneo’s most famous wildlife photographer.

Image of a Maroon Leaf Monkey (Presbytis rubicunda)
Image of a Leaf Beetle (Trichochrysea hirta)
Image of an Horned Flying Lizard (Draco cornutus)
Image of a Bornean Keeled Pitviper (Tropidolaemus subannulatus)
Image of a Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros)
Image of a Rusty Millipede (Trigoniulus corallinus)
Image of a Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
Image of a Kuhl’s Flying Gecko (Gekko kuhli)
Image of a Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
Image of an Oriental Whipsnake (Ahaetulla prasina)
Image of a Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus)
Image of an Earless Monitor Lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis)
Image of a Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)
Image of a Black-headed Cat Snake (Boiga nigriceps)
Image of a Bornean Bearded Pig (Sus barbatus)
Image of a Lichen Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda boiei)
Image of a Horsfield’s Tarsier (Cephalopachus bancanus)
Image of a Wallace’s Flying Frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus)
Image of a Borneo Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla borneensis)
Image of a Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)
Image of a Sumatran Gliding Lizard (Draco sumatranus)
Image of a Whitehead’s Trogon (Harpactes whiteheadi)
Image of a Black-striped Coral Snake (Calliophis nigrotaeniatus)
Image of a Fairy Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis paripari)
Image of an Ornate Earless Agama (Aphaniotis ornata)
Image of a Blue-banded Pitta (Erythropitta arquata)
Image of a Müller’s Gibbon (Hylobates muelleri)
Image of a Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica)
Image of a Bornean Tree Hole Frog (Metaphrynella sundana)
Image of a Southern Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina)
Image of a Chung’s Walking Leaf Insect (Phyllium arthurchungi)
Image of a Black-and-Gold Huntsman Spider (Thelcticopis orichalcea)
Image of a Kinabalu Slender Toad (Ansonia hanitschi)
Image of a Rough Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus edwardinae)
Image of a Golden-legged Bush Frog (Philautus aurantium)
Image of a Kopstein’s Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis kopsteini)

Frequently asked questions

Am I supposed to pay the tour price at once?

You can confirm your booking by making a 50% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.

Can I make a reservation for this tour but on 2027?

Yes, you can confirm your booking now by making a 20% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.

Does the tour take place during the nights?

The tour includes both diurnal and nocturnal activities.

How do I book my spot?

The first thing you need to do to reserve your spot in this tour is contact us using our booking form. Second, you will need to review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability we will send you. Finally, you will have to make a deposit to confirm your booking.

Can you get rubber boots for me?

No, we cannot get rubber boots for you in Borneo. We suggest you purchase them before the tour begins.

Is there any chance to rent a snake hook?

We suggest you bring a collapsible snake hook, since there will be inland flights between some of the localities.

Is there a chance to arrange a private tour?

Yes, most of the tours we offer are private.

Will the tour be cancelled if one or more participants are unable to join?

This tour will run with no less than three participants. If one of two participants makes a reservation and then cancels, it would affect the tour if no payment has been made to lodges, transports, and guides (which usually cannot be refunded).

Which domestic flights should I purchase?

None. Domestic flights are included in the price of the tour.

What herping gear do you recommend?

We recommend that you bring a durable waterproof headlamp, a rain poncho, and a DSLR camera, ideally one with a macro lens and off-camera flash.

What if there is no other participant willing to share a room?

If you are willing to share the room, you do not have to pay the single supplement fee, regardless of whether you end up sharing the room or not.

What is the meeting point on the starting day?

Our team will pick you up at the Kuching International Airport (KCH).

What kind of trouser is needed?

You can bring any durable but lightweight trousers that are easy to dry.

Which vaccination certificates do I need?

No vaccinations are required by law to enter Malaysia, though health inspections may be required for travelers having recently visited a country where Yellow Fever is present. The following vaccinations are usually recommended: hepatitis B, typhoid fever, diphtheria/tetanus/polio, rabies.

Is there malaria in Borneo?

Malaria is present in some areas of Borneo, although not particularly abundant in the sites we will be visiting during this tour. The decision to take anti-malaria prophylaxis is left to each participant. Please consult your physician regarding which tablets will be most suitable for you.

Will the guides catch the animals for the participants to take close-up pictures?

Whenever possible, all photography by participants will be done in-situ. Animals will only be handled if they are the focus of a research or conservation project.

Will there be laundry service, electricity, and wifi at all sites?

Usually there is electricity at all of the lodges we will visit. Wifi is available only around the reception area at some. Laundry service is usually available.

Will you pick us up at the airport upon arrival?

Yes, a member of our team will pick you up at the airport.