June 27^th – Arrival to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.  Transfer to a four-star hotel near the airport and beach, arrival dinner

June 28^th – Early morning departure and transfer to a blind where the star species are Crimson-headed and Red-breasted Partridges.  In the afternoon we will head to the nearby town of Tambunan and stay in a simple hotel.

June 29^th – We will check out early and head to another hide for the day.  The star species here are Bulwer’s Pheasant, Bornean Banded Pitta and Crested Partridge although many other species are possible.  After spending the day in the hide we will transfer to our next hotel, a nice lodge in Ranau, near to Kota Kinabalu National Park.

June 30^th – We will have an early morning departure to a bird hide about two hours away which is the place to photograph the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant.  It’s certainly not guaranteed and it’s not the easiest of walks, but we have a good chance to be rewarded with close up photos of this amazing bird.   If anyone wants to stay back at the lodge near Kinabalu and rest that’s an option today. 

July 1^st – We will have a full day in Mount Kinabalu National Park today, in the morning our focus will be on finding and photographing the 3 endemic Whitehead’s, Whitehead’s Trogon, Broadbill and Spiderhunter.  After a lunch break, we will continue our bird photography with targets including Bornean Treepie, Kinabalu Serpent Eagle and Mountain Blackeye.   A nice lodge near the park in Rausu. 

July 2^nd – We will be up early photographing at Mount Kinabalu.  The building at the start of the Summit Trail has lights which attract Bornean Treepies, Bornean Whistling-Thrushes and other birds which feed on insects there.  We will return to the hotel check out and have a transfer back to Kota Kinabalu, then we will take an afternoon flight to Sandakan.  Then we will transfer to our lodge in Sepilok.  If we have time a bit of afternoon bird photography in the garden.  Sepilok Forest Edge Lodge. 

July 3^rd – We will do some early morning bird photography in the lodge’s garden.  This is a good spot for Crimson Sunbird.  Then after breakfast we will visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.  These are Orangutans which live freely in the forest but are fed to ease their return to the wild.  In the afternoon we will have our first visit to the Rainforest Discovery Center.  The center has an amazing canopy walkway and tower which gets you eye level with the birds and primates.  Black and Rhinoceros Hornbills are regularly seen and photographed here.   Forest Edge Resort

July 4^th – We will be up early today to get to the Discovery Center early.  Again, we will be on the canopy walkway looking our for the many species here including Diard’s Trogon, Rufous-winged Philentoma, Chestnut-breasted and Raffles Malkohas and many more.  We will return to the lodge for lunch.  In the afternoon we will visit the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey sanctuary.  Wild monkeys are fed here, as their habitat has become very fragmented in this area.  We get close ups of these amazing animals.  The Oriental Pied Hornbills take advantage of the free food and there are usually some Silvered Leaf Monkeys in the area also.  We will return to the Forest Edge Resort for dinner and accommodation. 

July 5^th – We will either photograph in the garden or go to the Discovery Center in the morning then we check out and take a speed boat down the Kinabatangan River to our next lodge.  We will check in and then in the afternoon have our first photography trip on the river.  These boat trips are excellent for getting close to a wide variety of birds and wildlife.  Kingfishers such as Stork-billed, Blue-eared, Black-backed Dwarf are well represented here.  These trips are also excellent for mammals with Bornean Pygmy Elephants possible.  Borneo Jungle Adventure Lodge

July 6^th and 7^th – We will have two full days with morning and afternoon boat trips to photograph the birds and wildlife of the Kinabatangan River.  We hope to catch up with wild Orangutans and we will certainly photograph troops of Proboscis Monkeys, 10 species of primates call this area home.  8 different species of hornbills are possible, Grey-headed and Lesser Fish Eagles, Brahminy Kites and other raptors are likely.  Green Imperial Pigeons are very common.  Rarities such as Storm’s Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork and White-fronted Falconet are possible.  We will take a night boat trip as well, Buffy Fish Owls are common in the area.  Borneo Jungle Adventure Lodge. 

July 8^th – We will have one more morning boat trip then we will head out to a blind for the afternoon.  This blind has some spectacular species which visit regularly including Bornean Crested Fireback and Black-crowned and Hooded Pittas.  In the late afternoon we will transfer to our next comfortable lodge in Kinabatangan town. 

July 9^th – Today we will have a full day at the blind.  Other likely species include White-crowned Shama and Black-capped Babbler.  They don’t visit as often but both Giant Pitta and Bornean Ground Cuckoo are possible here.  In the late afternoon we will return to our lodge in Kinabatangan town. 

July 10^th – We will have another morning boat trip on the Kinabatangan River, then check out and take the speed boat back to Sandakan and transfer to a nice lodge in Sepilok.  We will either visit the Rainforest Discovery Center or do a bit of bird photography around the lodge.