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Join our exclusive annual small group nature tour to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, with NatureArt Lab in 2026 with award-winning wildlife photographer and scientist Dr Damien Esquerre. Experience the wildlife immersion, nature photography and nature journaling trip of a lifetime - especially designed for bird and nature lovers!

Internationally renowned for its animal and plant attractions, Sabah is famous for its amazing birdlife. There are over 600 species with around 59 endemic bird species on Borneo. Sabah is one of Malaysia's wildlife hotspots, encompassing mountain ranges, lowland rainforest, swamps and coastline. 

Target mammals include pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, marbled cats, maroon langur, Sunbears, Orangutans, North Bornean gibbons, Proboscis monkeys, Stink badgers, Tarsier, Saltwater crocodiles and otters. 

Birds are a highlight for this nature tour! There are 10 species of giant hornbill, nine species of pitta (truly the jewels of the rainforest) and the amazing Bristlehead. Target species for our nature tour include the Bornean leafbird, Bulwer's Pheasant, Whitehead's Trogon, Barbets, Bulbuls, Whistlers, Kingfishers, Thick-billed Spider hunter and many more.

Sabah’s unique vegetation features pitcher plants, sprays of ferns and colourful orchids sprouting from towering rainforest trees. Insect life is prolific and includes the spectacular Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing among hundreds of other butterfly species; the giant Moon Moth and thousands of fascinating beetles, praying mantids and katydids.

Our tour will focus on Sabah’s best bird and mammal viewing locations including: 

• the Sepilok region with an opportunity to learn about crucial efforts to conserve orangutans, hear the inspirational story about rescuing sun bears from the edge of extinction, and visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre
• Deramakot Forest Reserve, home to 75% of Sabah's mammals including some of the most elusive and endangered species such as the Clouded Leopard and Bornean Pygmy Elephant
• Kinabatangan River cruises and walks to see orangutans, hornbills and rare species including Storm's stork
• Tabin Nature Resort, with opportunities to see and hear gibbons and many other mammals, cats, reptiles, birds and insects. 

Optional Extension: 26 - 30 October, Kota Kinabalu - Mount Kinabalu World Heritage Park

Extend your nature tour with a visit to Kota Kinabalu, and the UNESCO World Heritage Kinabalu Park and Botanic Gardens. This trip includes a stay in the capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, and includes a visit to the Wetlands, before a day of bird-watching at Trusmadi. We will have a chance for early morning bird walks, a visit to the famous Mount Kinabalu Botanical Gardens to see orchids and other indigenous plants of the area, and nocturnal walks for frogs and insects. 

Nature tour inclusions: 

• 11 days of unsurpassed nature and science immersion experiences, including opportunities to sight rare and elusive wildlife
• 10 nights comfortable accommodation (couples/twin share), including at:
  • Sepilok Nature Resort with night walks, visits to conservation centres for orangutan and sunbears, and the world class Rainforest Discovery Centre
  • Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort with riverboat birdwatching and wildlife trips both day and night
  • Deramakot Forest Reserve with 4WD wildlife safaris day and night
  • Tabin Wildlife Resort with night safaris and forest walks 
• Entry fees to all locations including a world-class rainforest centre, and wildlife rehabilitation centres for sunbears and orangutans
• All in-country transport
• All meals, and drinking water
• Expert local nature guides for all day walks, evening spotlight walks and early morning bird walks
• Photography mentoring and tuition with award-winning nature photographer Dr Damien Esquerre. 
• Entomology expertise with Alan Landford
• Nature journaling guidance and workshops with NatureArt Lab Director Julia Landford. 
• Opportunities to contribute to wildlife conservation. 

Exclusions: 

• Airfares are not included (international and internal fare from Lahad Datu - Kota Kinabalu); these can be arranged separately through your travel agent. 
  
• Tips for guides and drivers

Tour Details: 

• Dates: 16 - 26 October (11 days/10 nights)
• Total cost: $10,850.00 
• Extension dates: 26 - 30 October (5 days/4 nights)
• Total cost: $1,950.00 
• Total for both trip components is $12,800 (15 days/14 nights)
• A non-refundable Deposit (25% of total cost) is due on booking; Final payments will be arranged by invoice prior to due date of 30 June 2026. 
• Twin share accommodation (minimum of two people per booking)
• Single accommodation (not sharing) is available on request 
• Travel with a certified Safety Management company
• Travel insurance is required by all participants - see details below
  

Fitness levels: 

• Most trails are short walks, downhill trails and our pace is slow and considered as we are spotting for wildlife at all times. Most trails are not challenging though there is some uneven terrain in the forests. Moderate levels of fitness are recommended for our tours. We include boat travel for segments of the tour, and participants will be boarding from jetties. 

Our expert nature tour art and science team:

Julia and Alan Landford:

Travel with naturalists Julia and Alan Landford who have designed and led many Australian expeditions over the past eight years including to Heron Island, Montague Island, Cape York and the Atherton Tablelands, Tasmania, Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands. Both Julia and Alan have also led international nature tours to Borneo, Costa Rica, The Galapagos Islands, Amazonian Ecuador and Peru.

Julia Landford is the team leader and Founding Director of NatureArt Lab and brings substantial experience with natural history, nature journalling and tour management.

Alan Landford has a scientific background in zoology, specializing in entomology from the Australian National University. Alan was also employed at the CSIRO Division of Entomology for five years as a research project officer, assisting with field expeditions for entomology teams. He has substantial knowledge and field experience from Australian and Papua New Guinean regions, and other places around the world.

Dr Damien Esquerre: 

Dr. Damien Esquerré is a professional wildlife photographer and evolutionary biologist, currently employed as a permanent academic staff (lecturer and researcher) at the University of Wollongong. He has 20 years of experience as a wildlife photographer (initially professionally trained by Chile’s top nature photographer), and has been teaching this course and an introduction for macro photography course for 8 years at NatureArt Lab, also joining as a wildlife photography instructor to tours in Borneo, Western Australia, Cape York, Costa Rica, Ecuador (Galapagos and Amazon) and Peru.

Damien won a finalist award at the Australasian Nature Photographer of the Year in 2023 and in 2025. Damien's photographs have won multiple awards and have been published in number of books (including Damien’s authored book on the reptiles of Chile), magazines, calendars, websites and expos.

His main profession is a university biology researcher and lecturer, working to understand how biodiversity evolves, with a special interest in snakes, lizards and frogs and teaching evolution and ecology. The combination of Damien’s science, art and teaching experience means he knows how to make complex topics simple and accessible.

Nature Tour Cancellation policy:

Participants are required to take out comprehensive travel insurance against injury, illness, emergency medical evacuation, loss and damage to personal belongings, not being able to travel on a confirmed date of departure or tour cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

Any cancellations after the deposit is paid will incur loss of the full deposit, which helps to cover our costs for design and management of the tour program and early supplier costs incurred. 

For cancellations 120 to 60 days before departure 50% of the cost of the tour will be forfeited. If cancellation takes place 59 days or less before the start date 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited.

If NatureArt Lab has to cancel a nature tour due to undersubscription, you will receive a refund of all payments made for that tour.

Pre-Departure Briefing: 

• NatureArt Lab will host an information session for participants prior to departure.

Any questions:

• Please contact us at [email protected]  

NatureArt Lab Awards

2022, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and National Finalist Award

2024, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Building Communities, ACT; and National Finalist Award

2025, Telstra Best of Business Award Finalist for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and Finalist for Accelerating Women, ACT

2025, Awards Australia Semi-Finalist for Connecting Communities, NSW and ACT; and Semi-Finalist for Small Business Award NSW and ACT. 

Images: Dr Damien Esquerre; Julia and Alan Landford