THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view
Photograph coastal and ocean scenery on boat trips; daily islands, routes and landing conditions await operator confirmation. Plan to visit nearby Bajau communities and photograph daily life with residents' agreement; visit details await confirmation. Plan one night in a water chalet and photography around Semporna's fishing harbour; hotels and sea conditions await confirmation.
Island landscapes
Photograph coastal and ocean scenery on boat trips; daily islands, routes and landing conditions await operator confirmation.
Coastal village life
Plan to visit nearby Bajau communities and photograph daily life with residents' agreement; visit details await confirmation.
Water chalet and fishing harbour
Plan one night in a water chalet and photography around Semporna's fishing harbour; hotels and sea conditions await confirmation.
The journey in pictures
Photographers linked to this route: Jiawei Jiang →
Itinerary images · Select a photo to enlarge
PHOTOGRAPHY LEADERS
A different way of seeing

Jiawei Jiang
Specializes in landscape and drone aerial photography. He has traveled independently to more than 200 cities and regions across China to create photographic work. These include Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Chongqing, Guangxi, Hunan, Anhui, Hubei, Shandong, Heilongjiang, Beijing, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hong Kong and Macao. His overseas destinations include Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam.
THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light
DAY 01Apr 6 · Asia/KuchingDay 1: China–Tawau
Fly to Tawau and transfer by road and boat to the planned water chalet. Flights, transfers and hotel await operator confirmation.
Accommodation:Lelebang Water Chalet Resort or equivalent
DAY 02Apr 7 · Asia/KuchingDay 2: Bajau community and island photography (islands to be confirmed)
After breakfast, attend the photography briefing and receive boat-trip equipment and life jackets. Visits to nearby Bajau communities and islands are planned, respecting residents' wishes. Islands, routes and visits await operator confirmation; return to the hotel after photography.
Accommodation:Seafest Hotel or equivalent
DAY 03Apr 8 · Asia/KuchingDay 3: Fishing harbour and island photography (islands to be confirmed)
Photograph near the hotel, fishing harbour and market in the morning. After breakfast, a boat trip for island landscapes and local life is planned; the two islands and route await operator confirmation. Return to the hotel afterward.
Accommodation:Seafest Hotel or equivalent
DAY 04Apr 9 · Asia/KuchingDay 4: Coastal community and island photography (islands to be confirmed)
After breakfast, a boat trip for coastal communities and island scenery is planned. The two islands, route and visits await operator confirmation. Return to the hotel afterward.
Accommodation:Seafest Hotel or equivalent
DAY 05Apr 10 · Asia/KuchingDay 5: Tawau–China
Transfer to Tawau Airport at the designated time and fly back to your welcoming home in China.
Trip staff
- Photography leader · Jiawei Jiang
Transport
- IncludedAll local transportation (boats);
- ExcludedRound-trip transport between your departure city and the destination;
Travel details and reference schedules
[Reference services] Reference services for this trip: Outbound: April 6: Guangzhou–Tawau AK1617/03:30–07:10 Return: April 10: Tawau–Guangzhou AK1618/22:00–01:30+1 Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website. Services are for reference only. Final transport and meeting times await operator confirmation.
Photography
- Island landscapes
- Coastal village life
- Water chalet and fishing harbour
Photography details
Island landscapes Photograph coastal and ocean scenery on boat trips; daily islands, routes and landing conditions await operator confirmation. Coastal village life Plan to visit nearby Bajau communities and photograph daily life with residents' agreement; visit details await confirmation. Water chalet and fishing harbour Plan one night in a water chalet and photography around Semporna's fishing harbour; hotels and sea conditions await confirmation. Island landscapes Coastal village life Water chalet and fishing harbour Included · Photography instruction and services from the photography instructor throughout the trip.
Accommodation
- 4 nights
- IncludedAccommodation throughout (one night in an overwater bungalow);
Accommodation details
Day 1: Lelebang Water Chalet Resort or equivalent Day 2: Seafest Hotel or equivalent Day 3: Seafest Hotel or equivalent Day 4: Seafest Hotel or equivalent Hotels and final stays await operator confirmation. Day 1 · 2027-04-06 Lelebang Water Chalet Resort or equivalent Day 2 · 2027-04-07 Seafest Hotel or equivalent Day 3 · 2027-04-08 Seafest Hotel or equivalent Day 4 · 2027-04-09 Seafest Hotel or equivalent
Meals
- Cost detailsItinerary meals (dinner at the overwater bungalow and all lunches included; 3 dinners excluded, with seafood available to buy at the market and have cooked);
- ExcludedThree dinners during the trip;
Visa
- To be confirmed by the operator
A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included
Deposit in the operator’s published information
per personThis amount reflects the payment terms in the operator’s published information. When booking through this platform, follow the payment schedule shown at checkout.
Public prices may change. Checkout quotes expire at a stated time; your confirmed order records its price and payment deadlines.
Included
Photography instruction and services from the photography instructor throughout the trip.
All local transportation (boats);
Accommodation throughout (one night in an overwater bungalow);
Itinerary meals (dinner at the overwater bungalow and all lunches included; 3 dinners excluded, with seafood available to buy at the market and have cooked);
Insurance for the trip;
Not included
Round-trip transport between your departure city and the destination;
Three dinners during the trip;
In exceptional circumstances caused by force majeure, such as natural disasters, war, strikes, or airline delays or cancellations, the organizing team may cancel or alter the itinerary. We may charge additional expenses based on the actual additional expenditure incurred, including extended overseas accommodation, meals, transport, and national airfare adjustments, while doing our best to minimise everyone's losses;
amounts above exclude tax. An additional invoice tax charge applies if an invoice is required.
Personal expenses;
Additional attractions or activities outside the itinerary;
Other unspecified additional service charges and personal expenses.
Single-room supplements, additional local expenses and the final total must be confirmed in writing.
BEFORE YOU GO
What to know before you go
Availability and booking
Let us know if you’re interested in this trip. Availability is not updated in real time, so please contact us to check whether the trip is confirmed, how many places are available, and the final total and booking terms.
Trip information
[Transport] 1. Flights arranged by the organizing team use economy-class group tickets. Before tickets are issued, check the airline's rules for changes and refunds. 2. Flight, road and boat journey times may vary with conditions on the day. 3. The airlines and flight times listed are for guidance only. Flight changes may require minor adjustments to the itinerary. Please follow the final trip details sent before departure. [Accommodation] The total is based on two people sharing a room. We'll try to match solo travelers with a roommate of the same gender. If you prefer not to share, or no roommate is available, you must pay a single supplement for your own room. [Group meals] We aim to serve meals suited to Chinese tastes. We make sure everyone has enough to eat. [Photography] 1. Photography sessions follow the itinerary, but conditions on the day may affect how long we spend at each location. 2. Read the itinerary carefully and choose a trip that suits your health and circumstances. Skipping part of the itinerary for health or other personal reasons, or choosing not to use the arranged accommodation or transport, counts as voluntary withdrawal from those arrangements. You are responsible for your own safety while not taking part in the itinerary. 3. Stay with the group during photography sessions unless you have permission to leave. This does not apply during free time. The organizing team is not responsible for accidents that occur while you are away from the group. 4. Typhoons, blizzards or other events beyond our control may require changes to the itinerary. [Fuel surcharges] The organizing team reserves the right to adjust the amount payable if fluctuations in global oil markets lead to a substantial rise in fuel surcharges. If the team can absorb the increase, the amount payable will remain unchanged. [Before departure] 1. We'll send your final trip details no later than the day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed sooner, we'll let you know as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the final trip details sent before departure, the final trip details take precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from arranging optional paid activities, please contact the provider directly for details, charges and bookings if you wish to take part. If you need language assistance from a guide or tour leader, any help is provided in a personal capacity, whether paid or unpaid. It is not provided on behalf of the organizing team or the local tour operator. The organizing team is not involved in the payments, transactions or service standards for activities during free time. You are responsible for the outcome of those arrangements.
Additional shared expenses
Meals, staged photography, supplies and instructor expenses that are not included may need to be shared separately. Before booking, ask the operator to confirm which items are included and which you would need to contribute towards.
Itinerary notes
Photography locations, accommodations and transportation are subject to final confirmation before departure. Weather and local conditions may affect the itinerary.
Daily islands, landing conditions, sea conditions, boat trips and underwater activities await operator confirmation; no named island is currently confirmed.
Itinerary dates use Asia/Kuching. Flight, transfer and other times follow the time zone stated for each location. Please confirm any time without a stated time zone before departure.
