Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour

What it is

Departing Kota Kinabalu in the early afternoon, this full-day tour (typically around 9 hours round-trip) travels roughly 130 km by air-conditioned van to the Klias Wetlands — a protected expanse of lowland freshwater and mangrove forest in Beaufort Division, Sabah. On arrival you're welcomed with hi-tea (local snacks, coffee, and tea) before boarding an open river boat for the late-afternoon wildlife cruise. The star attraction is the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), a large, pot-bellied primate endemic to Borneo, famous for its outsized bulbous nose. Long-tailed macaques and silver langurs are frequently spotted in the same riparian trees. After the wildlife cruise, a village-style dinner is served at the riverside lodge — typically grilled meats, rice, and local vegetables. As full darkness falls, guests re-board the boats for the firefly cruise, drifting silently past trees that pulse with thousands of synchronized Pteroptyx fireflies. The return drive to Kota Kinabalu arrives late evening, making this an afternoon-to-night adventure perfectly structured around the animals' natural rhythms.

Highlights

• Proboscis monkey sightings at dusk — Borneo's endemic, big-nosed primates gather in riverside trees at sunset to roost, giving you a reliable viewing window from the boat
• Silver langur and long-tailed macaque spotting — the same mangrove corridors often host these additional primate species, visible from the open river boat
• Synchronized firefly display — Pteroptyx fireflies in the Klias mangroves flash in coordinated pulses across entire trees, creating an effect locals call 'nature's Christmas lights'
• Klias Wetlands mangrove ecosystem — a protected lowland river system in Beaufort Division, one of Sabah's most accessible intact mangrove habitats
• Traditional Malay riverside dinner — a sit-down meal at the river lodge between cruises, typically featuring grilled meats, rice, and local-style vegetables
• Sunset river cruise on the Klias River — the late-afternoon light over the wetlands is photogenic in its own right, with the chance to photograph wildlife in golden-hour conditions

Good to know

• Total duration is typically around 9 hours door-to-door from Kota Kinabalu, including roughly 2 hours of driving each way (approx. 130 km); most tours depart around 1–2 pm and return by 10–11 pm
• Wildlife sightings — including proboscis monkeys and fireflies — are common in this natural habitat but are never guaranteed; dry-season visits (March–October) generally offer better weather and more reliable wildlife activity