From a naturalist's viewpoint, Borneo is one of the richest places on Earth. Its lowland rainforest is not only the oldest and among the most diverse, but the tallest as well. Towering to more than 13,000 feet above these ancient dipterocarp forests is majestic Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea and the upper tip of the largest batholith on Earth. Its montane forests support a mix of species of Himalayan, Australasian, and tropical affinities--oaks, eucalypts, magnolias, rhododendrons, figs, ferns, pitcher plants, and orchids of incredible diversity.
Borneo's fauna is equally diverse in form, from "flying" frogs, "flying" lizards, and "flying" squirrels to Proboscis Monkeys, Orangutans, and Bornean Pygmy Elephants. Its birds include a host of rare and little-known endemics, from the bizarre Bornean Bristlehead (a monotypic family) and the monotypic Fruit-hunter to shy pittas and wren-babblers and the dazzling Whitehead's Trogon. The forests ring with the calls of hornbills, barbets, broadbills, babblers, and bulbuls, sometimes joined by the haunting hollering of gibbons. The diversity of birds is surpassed only in lowland Amazonia; the beauty of the avifauna is unsurpassed!
Our tour will focus on three prime areas in the northeastern state of Sabah: Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley, the Kinabatangan River, and Kinabalu Park. We'll have time to enjoy not only a high proportion of the 48 endemic birds, but a plethora of more widespread birds and other wildlife of classic Asian affinities.
Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.
Client comment "I had been on a previous Field Guides trip and was impressed with the quality of the guide and the smoothness with which everything flowed. I anticipated a similar experience on the Borneo expedition and was not disappointed. It was excellent! Companies and organizations are judged by the people that make them up and Field Guides has some of the best. Everyone in your office was helpful and supportive. Thank you for a wonderful experience in a special corner of the world." W.G., BORNEO 2019
ITINERARIES • TOUR STATUS • DETAILS • SPACE REQUESTS
ITINERARIES • We issue a separate itinerary for each year, typically at least 9 months before that year's first departure. Most itineraries don't vary much year to year, but there may be small or rarely more substantive changes. A sample previous-year itinerary is usually available even if the one for your chosen departure is not. We do not require any deposit for provisional bookings until the itinerary for the departure is ready.
DEPARTURES • We have 4 departures currently scheduled through 2026, with details including limits, guides, fees, and space available listed below.
2025
Apr 1-18, 2025 Guided by: Doug Gochfeld & local guide Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 8 Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available - This tour is full, and all those booked have made deposits. Click below to be waitlisted for this tour with no obligation; if you are waitlisted, we will also notify you in case of an added departure of this tour. Tour Fee: $9950 Deposit: $1000 REQUEST WAITLIST OR MORE INFO
Jun 17 - Jul 4, 2025 Guided by: Megan Edwards Crewe & local guide Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 8 Status: One space available - This tour has enough participants registered to insure its operation, and there is one space still open. Click below to book that space. Tour Fee: $9950 Deposit: $1000 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
2026
Mar 24 - Apr 10, 2026 Guided by: Doug Gochfeld & local guide Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 8 Status: Open - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2025=$9950 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
Jun 16 - Jul 3, 2026 Guided by: Megan Edwards Crewe & local guide Tour Manager: Karen Turner Tour Limit: 8 Status: One space available - Space is still available on this tour, and we are accepting provisional bookings. No deposit is required until you receive the itinerary. Click below to book space. Tour Fee: Fee TBD / 2025=$9950 REQUEST SPACE OR MORE INFO
ABOUT OUR TRIPLISTS • After every tour we issue an annotated triplist of the birds recorded on the trip, illustrated with wonderful images (and sometimes video clips) from the tour's participants and guides.
Enjoy looking through the 8 most recent Field Guides triplists for this tour linked below!