Wild BorneoEscorted Tour, Borneo

Experience a wild adventure to the rivers and rainforests of Borneo where you’ll discover the cultures that have influenced two of the island’s cities, breathe in the thick, humid forests and spy a variety of wildlife. Explore gardens of exotic flowers and climb into ancient tree canopies. Search for proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants as you leisurely cruise remote rivers. And discover how centres are caring for the orang-utan and the world’s smallest bear.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

10 nights in hotels and 2 in flight (accommodation as specified or similar)

International and internal flights as detailed. Prices are based on return flights with Singapore Airlines or Malaysia Airlines from London Heathrow via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Supplements may apply from other airports

23 meals: 10 breakfasts (days 3-12) 7 lunches (days 4-10) 6 dinners (days 3-7 and 11)

VIP door-to-door travel service

Local tour manager

Travel in destination by coach

Porterage

14 excursions and visits

City tours of Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan

Visit Kinabalu National Park

Visit Canopy Walk & Butterfly Farm at Poring Hot Springs, and Kundasang Market

3 cruises on Kinabatangan River

Visit Gomantong Caves and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Visit Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & the Rainforest Discovery Centre

ITINERARY

Day 1 UK - In flight

VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Day 2 Kota Kinabalu

On arrival you’ll transfer to the Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel (5-star) and the rest of the day is free to enjoy the South China Sea coast.

Day 3 Kota Kinabalu

A tour takes you through a city of old-world charm and modern hopes, friendly locals and a fine food scene ranging from street food to a revolving restaurant. The city mosque is a resplendent masterpiece large enough to hold 12,000 worshippers. The Sabah State Museum offers insight into the city’s rich history and modern art that represents its changing character, while a stop at a handicraft market and bazaar shows the working life of the city.

Day 4 Kinabalu National Park

You’ll drive along the ridges of the Crocker Range to Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO-protected area of tropical lowland and hillside rainforest dominated by Mount Kinabalu. It has an exceptionally rich variety of plants including over a thousand species of orchid, and the majority of Borneo’s mammals, birds, amphibians and invertebrates (many threatened and vulnerable) can be found here. You’ll make your way along the mountain’s garden trails, which showcase the diversity of plant life on the mountain. You’ll also visit a handicraft market. You’ll stay for two nights, in the heart of the action within the national park at Nepenthes Lodge (3-star).

Day 5 Kinabalu National Park

The Poring Hot Springs are an excellent place to view lowland birds and some mammals. Those with a head for heights and nature will love the Canopy Walkway, taking you 43m up into the treetops. Around 75% of rainforest animals spend their time in the forest canopy. You’ll then stroll around the Butterfly Garden, an excellent place to watch for beautifully coloured butterflies, birds, and maybe even a flying lizard! You’ll proceed to the Kundasang War Memorial Park, dedicated to the British and Australian prisoners of war who perished on the Sandakan Marches during World War II, and complete your day at Kundasang Market, where local farms sell their produce, including fruits unknown to the British table.

Day 6 Kinabatangan River

Travel overland to the tiny village of Sukau on the Kinabatangan River, where you’’ spend two nights in an authentic, basic lodge located deep in the Borneo jungle - Bukit Melapi Lodge (2-star). The greatest concentration of wildlife in Malaysia is found in this area, including rare orang-utans, proboscis monkeys and endangered birds, pygmy elephants, Sumatran rhinos and saltwater crocodiles. You’ll take a cruise along Menanggol River to see what you can spot.

Day 7 Kinabatangan River

You’ll have more opportunities to spot Borneo’s incredible array of wildlife as you cruise to a nearby oxbow lake this morning and along the river this afternoon. Maybe a gibbon, red or silvered leaf monkey, hornbill or Oriental darter will be on the cards today.

Day 8 Gomantong Caves - Sandakan

The Gomantong Caves support swiftlets and a million bats within the cathedral-like chamber, while serpent eagles, bat hawks and kingfishers can be seen lingering on the outer walls. The caves are harvested for the bizarre edible bird’s nest. Next, you’ll visit Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, the perfect place to watch a pendulous nosed proboscis monkey leaping amongst the trees or dining on young leaves. You’ll stay in Sandakan, amidst tropical rainforest, at the Sabah Hotel (4-star).

Day 9 Sandakan

See orang-utans in their natural habitat at Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre was founded in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned, injured or displaced orang-utans and return them to the wild. Today nearly 80 are observed while they roam freely in the reserve, while others are cared for in nurseries. Next is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which rehabilitates the world’s smallest bear. These bears continue to be threatened by forest degradation and poaching. Large forest enclosures provide a natural environment while the bears prepare for the wild. Your last visit is to the Rainforest Discovery Centre to learn of the tropical flora and fauna which attracts an astounding 300 species of bird to the reserve, plus unique forest mammals such as flying squirrels.

Day 10 Sandakan - Kota Kinabalu

Return to civilisation for a tour of Sandakan. Religious relics, colonial mansions and reminders of World War II dot the city which has grown on trade. You’ll visit the market, a social focal point of the city, and see the colourful interior of the magnificent Chinese Temple, before heading to Sim, where the stilt houses of local tribes sit above the water. You’ll then transfer to the airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu and the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Hotel (5-star), a luxury property close to the tropical forest.

Day 11 Kota Kinabalu

A day to relax in your luxurious resort or on the beautiful two-mile crescent beach of pale sand.

Day 12 Kota Kinabalu - In flight

Enjoy a free morning before you transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight to the UK.

Day 13 UK

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

Wild Borneo is located in Escorted Tour, Borneo. Accommodation rating is the operators own rating and may not be the official rating. Hotel details correct at 25/03/2020