BORNEO HIGHLIGHTS
- Small group guided adventure of Borneo, Malaysia
- 3 internal airfares avoiding long distance road travel
- Visit the Mari-Mari Cultural Village - teleport back to the time of ancient Borneo
- Kota Kinabalu city sightseeing and food tour
- Sandakan city touring including a visit to a water village
- Visit the Sandakan war memorial, a site dedicated to the memory of the prisoners of war who died during the Sandakan Death Marches of World War II
- Visit the impressive Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre
- Enjoy the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn about conservation of the world's smallest bear
- An amazing speed boat journey to your rainforest lodge stay along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan - just making your way to the lodge is a discovery of its own
- The best of river safaris along the Kinabatangan to spot wildlife including the proboscis monkey, birds and if lucky the elusive Orang Utan, and also the pygmy elephant with a safari specialist guide
- Visit Mulu Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage area in the state of Sarawak
- Guided cave visits of the four incredible Mulu Caves
- Experience a spectacular 5 star stay at Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa
- Take a local longboat up the Melinau River to visit a local Penan settlement, less visited than other nearby villages
- A boat tour for dolphin spotting the unusual Irrawaddy dolphin
- Visit the capital of Sarawak with local sightseeing
DAY 1
Arrival in Kota Kinabalu
Welcome to Borneo!
Arrive on your chosen flight and be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel with the day at leisure. At the end of the day join with your local guide for a tour briefing then onto a group welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Group briefing
- Group welcome dinner @ 7PM
DAY 2
Kota Kinabalu & Mari-Mari Cultural Village
This morning we visit the Mari-Mari Cultural Village - teleport back to the time of ancient Borneo through the display of ingenious architectures, simulated lives and ritualistic ceremonies. Each of the tribal homes are built by their descendants and offer a genuine experience of living amongst the ingenious tribes of Sabah. A simulation of the traditional Sabahan life comes alive at Mari-Mari Cultural Village and enjoy a a cultural performance by the members of the tribes. A traditional meal for lunch is included with your visit.
After the cultural tour, it’s a short driver back to Kota Kinabalu to explore the city with some highlight food experiences, with the chance to try some of the best delicacies that Sabah can offer. We include a visit to the Sabah State Museum that offers historical and cultural insights of the indigenous people. Afterwards, enjoy your tea break with local delicacies in a local restaurant around Gaya Street.
Take in a stop at Signal Hill for an awesome bird’s eye view of the city skyline and nearby islands, plus there’s a short visit to the Puh Tze Temple – the largest temple in Kota Kinabalu, a visit of the City Mosque also known Floating Mosque. You’ll also have the chance to stop at handicraft market if time permits.
Dinner tonight is a local traditional menu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Hotel breakfast
- Escorted day touring with your group guide
- Transfer from hotel to Mari Mari Cultural Village
- Entry to Marimari Cultural Village
- Kota Kinabalu sightseeing and food tour
- Local restaurant for dinner
DAY 3
Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
Today, we make our way to the jungle. We are picked up from the hotel and transferred to nearby Kota Kinabalu International Airport for departure to Sandakan.
Upon arrival at Sandakan Airport we begin our tour with a visit to one of the major town markets; there you will see the locals trading a wide array of food items such as fish, snacks, fruits, and other consumer products. Next, we will visit the Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple which is located on the hilltop and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Sandakan Bay. Then we will proceed to visit the St. Michael's and All Angels Church for a brief history of one the oldest buildings in Sandakan. Our next stop will be the historical Agnes Keith House, formerly home to the famous American author who penned the book ‘Land below the Wind’.
Afterwards, we take you to explore Sim Sim Water Village, a unique floating village with houses built on stilts with a short walk inside the water village. Finally, our tour also includes a visit to the Sandakan War Memorial; created to commemorate the World War II events that took place in Sandakan and North Borneo.
Tonight, choose to dine in us or explore the city for a local dining spot.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Hotel breakfast
- Airport transfers
- Flight Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
- Escorted day touring with your group guide
- Sandakan city touring including a visit to a water village
- Sandakan War Memorial
DAY 4
Sandakan to Rainforest
This morning we visit Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. You will have the opportunity to watch the orangutans up close in their natural habitat. Take a boardwalk through the rainforest to the feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas at 10am. Then, visit the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn about conservation of the world's smallest bear.
After lunch, we depart for an approximately 1.5 hours boat transfer along Sabah's longest river – The Kinabatangan to Abai Village. From our lodge take an afternoon river cruise in search of wildlife and birds.
After dinner, we shall take a night stroll along the boardwalk on a lookout for nocturnal animals and other wildlife. Overnight at Kinabatangan Wetland Resort.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Hotel breakfast
- Escorted day touring with your group guide
- Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre
- Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Boat transfer to rainforest (about 90 minutes fast boat)
- Afternoon river cruising safari
DAY 5
River Safari
Take an early morning cruise to observe more wildlife and birdlife. We shall cruise to the nearby oxbow lake, Danau Pitas, to explore the area. Enjoy your packed breakfast while admiring the natural surroundings. We continue on to visit the local fishing village, Kampung Abai. Interact with local Orang sungai river people and observe the daily activities in this tiny fishing village.
We will have another afternoon river cruise for more wildlife watching opportunity. After dinner, we take the night river safari on a lookout for our target species. We will remain calmly at the river after that to witness the fireflies lighting up the mangrove trees. Return to the lodge for overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Hotel breakfast
- Escorted touring with your group guide
- River cruise safari
DAY 6
Rainforest to Kota Kinabalu
After breakfast, we make our way back to Sandakan. We take a quick lunch before we proceed to the airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu International Airport, we are met and transferred back to our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Hotel breakfast
- Casual lunch
- Airport Transfers
DAY 7
Kota Kinabalu / Mulu
Today we travel from Sabah to Sarawak state. We transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport for a short flight to Mulu. Upon arrival in Mulu Airport, we are picked up by the hotel transfer to reach our stunning jungle resort. In the afternoon, we take a longboat up the river to visit a local settlement. Enjoy the scenery as your ride up the river by long boat arriving to a Penan Settlement, less visited than other near villages.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Hotel breakfast
- Meet and greet with our local guide, Sarawak
- Airport transfer
- Return Boat to visit the Local Settlement
DAY 8
Mulu Caves Tour
You’re staying at a beautiful five star jungle resort and you have the morning to enjoy the resort, the facilities and surrounds. In the afternoon, you will take your first tour to the incredible Mulu Caves. You will start on a three-kilometre plank walk through the rainforest to reach the biggest caves system in the world: Deer Cave and Lang cave. At the end of the afternoon, you take the plank walk to back to the park headquarters and transfer back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Hotel breakfast
- Guided cave visit with our group guide
- National Park entry fees
- Mulu Caves visit
- Airport transfer
- Return Boat to visit the Local Settlement
DAY 9
Mulu Caves Tour
Transfer by longboat to Batu Bungan – a Penan Settlement. The journey by longboat to the Wind Cave, with its slender stalagmites and then onto the Clearwater Cave and see the underground river before ending the day with a swim in the clear water springs. After lunch return to your accommodation and the rest of the day is free.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Hotel breakfast
- Longboat transfer to a Penan Settlement
- Guided cave visit with our group guide
- National Park entry fees
- Mulu Caves visit
DAY 10:
Mulu to Kuching
Today we depart Mulu for a short flight to Kuching, the capital of Sarawak Borneo. Greeted at the airport, proceed to Telang Usan Hotel, where a professional chef will share some traditional Sarawakian recipes with you. A typical local meal usually consists of rice served with meat or fish and vegetable. The chef will choose according to season and availability of ingredients which local delicacies you will prepare. Observe the local cooking techniques of the chef and listen to his explanations, while you try your own cooking skills hands-on. Learning from a professional chef is the perfect opportunity to get advice on how to improvise and substitute certain ingredients, which might not be available in your home country.
After this interesting cooking class, you get to enjoy the meal you prepared. Selamat Makan! Enjoy your meal!
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Airport transfers
- Culinary tour
DAY 11:
Kuching
Santubong Dolphin Tour
This morning, depart your hotel and drive to the Santubong Boat Club where you board a boat and start your cruise towards the mouth of the Santubong & Salak Rivers. This estuary is the home of the elusive and rare Irrawaddy dolphin. The Irrawaddy dolphin lives in rivers, estuaries and shallow coastal waters and Santubong is one of the best places in Sarawak to see this unusual looking dolphin. Return to the boat club around noon and transfer by road back to your hotel in Kuching.
Kuching city tour
In the afternoon, proceed Kuching city tour. In the exciting buzz of Chinatown, proceed to Tua Pek Kong Temple, one of the oldest temples in Sarawak. Also, spot the Margherita Fort; it’s hard to miss such a stunning structure. En route, you’ll see the traditional Malay houses built on stilts, winding through the heart of the city see the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak, the Clock Tower and a granite obelisk built in memory of Rajah Brooke. The tour comes to a close with a visit to the Sarawak Museum, one of finest museum in Malaysia.
Farewell dinner
Pick up form your hotel in the evening for a farewell dinner in local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Transportation
- Dolphin Tour
- Kuching City Tour
- English speaking guide
- Entrance fees
- Farewell dinner
Day 12:
Depart Kuching
Check-out and transfer to the International Airport for departure flight back home, or extension to Penang, Malaysia.
Meals: Breakfast
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance, we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
