Highlights Of Borneo

The tour starts this evening in Kuching. Kuching (which means ‘cat’ in Malay) is the capital of Sarawak and carries the strong imprint of ‘Rajah Brooke’ and his dynasty. Should you arrive early, it's a green and spacious city in which to wander.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we take a tour of the main sights including the Astana Palace (the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak); fort Margherita, which once protected the town from invaders and is now a police museum; the main bazaar; the Masjid Bandaraya Mosque and Sarawak Museum, which holds some fascinating Archeological and Natural History exhibits.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we journey by bus and then riverboat along the Bako river to the Bako National Park, situated on the beautiful Muara Tebas Peninsula. There is a wide variety of flora and fauna to be seen in the National Park; animals include proboscis and silver leaf monkeys, macaque, monitor lizards and wild boars. We plan to take a walk along one of the park's many trails to Telok beach, a great spot for a picnic lunch and swimming. At the end of the day we return to Kuching by boat and bus.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today morning we drive to Semenggoh orang-utan rehabilitation centre. Most of the orang-utans have been rescued from the illegal captivity of loggers and poachers and taken to the centre where they are slowly rehabilitated to go back to their natural habitat. After our visit we continue to Kampung Mongkos where we stay with local families of the Bidayuh tribe. Depending on the group size and other visitors to the village, we will stay either in a traditional 24 room Bidayuh longhouse or in individual family homes. The community is ruled by a headman and a council of elders and most villagers are cultivators of hill rice. In the evening we hope to enjoy a performance of native song and dances, sometimes accompanied by a copious supply of rice wine! The dancers wear colourful costumes and may perform the traditional ‘Mering’ Ceremony dance, accompanied by Gong musicians. 

Overnight Basic Homestay Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We’ve got a full day to enjoy time with our hosts in this wonderful setting and explore the surrounding pepper gardens, rubber plantation and paddy fields. You should also get the option to see the preparation of various local delicacies . Fishing enthusiasts may even get  the chance to try fishing by traditional methods!

Overnight Basic Homestay Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we’ll drive back to Kuching and then take a flight to Miri. (Note: you are restricted to max 15kg for checked-in luggage on this flight). This is a relatively prosperous town which relies very much on the offshore oil fields. It also attracts many ex-pat oil workers from nearby Bandar Seri Begawan, in Brunei, who travel across the border for the nightlife! 

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning is left free to explore this city at your own will.  And later we take a flight to Mulu National Park. Mulu is famous for its wealth of botanical interest, having both hill and swamp forest. There are many species of wildlife here, including over 200 species of birds and glorious butterflies. We should enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the National Park. You may have the option to do a night walk into the jungle (optional). 

Overnight Simple Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We have two days to explore the Mulu National Park. In this time we plan to see Wind cave and Clearwater cave. Wind cave has the most impressive stalactites and stalagmites that we see and Clearwater has one of the longest underground rivers (now been tracked 108kms upstream). There will be the opportunity for those who wish to swim in the river near the cave. We are also able to visit the Penan people who live in this region. Once nomadic hunters and gatherers living on wild sago, fruit and game, they have now settled to grow rice, which forms a large part of their diet. They still live in balance with their surroundings, hunting and gathering in the area around their village. We’ll also have time to take a plank walk through the rainforest to explore a couple of the limestone caves of Mulu such as Deer cave, (one of the biggest in southern Asia) and Lang cave. There is a good chance of seeing millions of bats flying out of Deer cave in the late afternoon. 

Overnight Simple Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We have time to take a canopy walk through the rainforest this morning (optional). We then take a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu is a burgeoning city with a blend of Malays, Europeans and Chinese: the result is a unique mixture of architecture, culture, high technology and ancient traditions. The afternoon is left free for personal exploration around the city. 

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive to the airport and fly to Sandakan. From here we make the short drive to Sepilok and the Orang Utan sanctuary before continuing onto our jungle resort. Sepilok is home to the largest of the three Orang Utan rehabilitation centres in the world. Covering over 4000 hectares of forest, the centre was established in 1964 to rehabilitate captured, injured or abandoned apes. So far about 100 ‘wild men of the forest’ have been brought to the centre, and there has been a remarkable success with up to 75% having returned to the jungle. The animals are taught how to make nests and how to survive in their natural habitat. About twenty regularly come to feed though not always at the same time. We plan to visit the centre in time for feeding when, along with the permanent members, pregnant mothers who otherwise live in the jungle, often come to supplement their diet and return after the birth of their young. 

Overnight Standard Lodge Included meals: Breakfast

This morning you can choose to either re-visit the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre for a second feeding time or alternatively enjoy a visit to the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre, where you can gain a fascinating insight to the conservation of the rainforest and the myriad of animals and plants that rely on this incredible habitat.  From the canopy walkway you'll be able to see the beautiful rain forest of Sepilok from up to 28 m above the forest floor!  You might even catch a glimpse of the Bornean bristlehead bird, one of the rarest birds in Sabah! Apart from that, there are another 250 species of birds to lookout for, including hornbills, pittas, kingfishers and broadbills  Later we'll continue our journey to Sukau.  The freshwater swamp forest around Sukau is home to myriad wildlife such as tree snake and birds such as frogmouth, bulbul and hornbill. Later we continue to Bilit village, a tiny village along the Kinabatangan river where we will spend our night in a home stay.

Overnight Basic Homestay Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Unlike other areas in Sabah, the Kinabatangan river has remained relatively unaffected by the rapacious logging unfortunately so prevalent elsewhere, mainly because the land is permanently waterlogged and there are few commercially valuable trees there. The river meanders through a flood plain and creates many ox-bow lakes making an ideal environment for wildlife viewing. On our cruise this morning, we may see crocodiles warming themselves in the morning sun and some of the other birdlife such as egret, storm’s stork, oriental darter and oriole. Later in the afternoon as the sun starts to go down on our second boat cruise, we hope to spot the long nosed proboscis monkeys which converge on tree tops by the river banks to settle for the night. 

Overnight Basic Homestay Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we head to Kinabalu National Park stopping off at the famous Poring Hot Springs. This is a popular spot with locals who enjoy the hot springs found here. At 450m we are in tropical lowland forest, dense with vegetation and thick bamboo, with a humid misty atmosphere. You can cross a tree top walkway 60m above the forest floor or perhaps you prefer to take a relaxing soak in a hot spring bath, looking out for hornbills, mynah birds and monkeys. The rafflesia grows in the forest – the largest flower in the world, it produces a red bloom over one metre wide which lasts for just one week. Nearby is a butterfly and orchid farm. 

Overnight Simple Chalet Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we make an early start and drive to park HQ. We hope to get a good view of Mt Kinabalu which towers over the jungle below before driving to the park entrance and the starting point of the trail at about 1900m. (Please note our main luggage will be left behind in the hotel, and we will not see it agian until tomorrow afternoon). Carrying our daypacks, we walk or trek, climbing upwards for 5-6 hours to reach a mountain hostel situated at around 3272m, surrounded by magnificent scenery. The lower part of the trek is through dense tropical vegetation and mist shrouded rainforest with giant ferns and luxuriant mosses, a botanist’s paradise. Rare orchids and pitcher plants abound. Brightly coloured butterflies are everywhere. The hostel at base camp has common facilities, and there is a canteen where you can buy a simple meal. It is possible to opt out of the trek to Laban Rata base camp. Those opting out will be charged an extra night’s accommodation. (Please ask your tour leader for details at the start of the tour.) 

Overnight Basic Hostel Included meals: Breakfast

The trip to the summit is a hard trek and should only be attempted by those people who are very confident about their level of fitness. We rise at 03.00 and trek to the summit for sunrise (about 05.45). We have to walk in the dark and it is necessary to wear warm clothes and gloves and to carry a torch. The view from the top of Mt Kinabalu (4095m) is exceptionally fine as we watch the sun rising over the misty jungle lowlands. For those who do not make the summit ascent, the views from around base-camp will keep you and your camera occupied until we make the descent on foot and then by bus back to the Park Headquarters. We then drive from the park to Berringis Beach our base for the following few days. 

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Manukan Island is the second largest of the beautiful islands making up the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. This paradise island is the ideal place to relax for the day although there is also plenty on offer for the more active traveller. The snorkelling and diving opportunities are excellent. Or perhaps take a boat excursion to some of the other islands in the National Park, such as Gaya or Sapi. 

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today is left free for personal exploration. Many optional trips are possible including white water rafting, visits to Kudat at the tip of Borneo including the Rungus tribal village and of course last minute shopping in the nearby Kota Kinabalu. 

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The tour ends this morning after breakfast. Passengers travelling on the group flight back to London usually depart early morning and breakfast is not included at the hotel before departure.

Included meals: Breakfast