Uncover the best of Borneo on this all-encompassing journey through the states of Sabah and Sarawak. You’ll experience a stay in a traditional longhouse, enjoying the company of tribal villagers and helping out in their daily lives, before moving on to witness orang-utans, proboscis monkeys and all sorts of butterflies, birds and bats amid dense Borneo jungle and rainforest.
Enriching tailormade journeys – for you
This bespoke journey features some of our favourite spots in Borneo. You can choose to take our destination experts’ recommendations and travel just as you see the itinerary here, or contact us to add your own special touches; maybe add a Mount Kinabalu climb or a few nights on an idyllic island at the end of your holiday. We’re here to design your perfect holiday. Call us on 0844 875 1897.
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Arrive in Kuching. In the afternoon, there’s a walking tour of Kuching visiting the Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple, the oldest in Sarawak, Sarawak Museum and the colourful local markets and spice shops.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)
in Hilton Kuching
Hilton Kuching
The Hilton Kuching offers a familiar name and a comfortable place to stay. Rooms are spacious and have river or city views from floor to ceiling windows. There are a selection of eateries to choose from, including an Asian restaurant, steakhouse and cocktail bar.
Day 3:
Bako National Park
Today, you visit Bako National Park, which covers 16 sq km of primary forest. There are 25 types of vegetation ranging from lush cliff and lowland forests to almost desert-like scrubs on the upper plateau. The mangrove forest provides a home for endemic proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques, silver-leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, deer and wild boars; take a jungle walk on the lookout for wildlife.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)
in Hilton Kuching Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hilton Kuching
The Hilton Kuching offers a familiar name and a comfortable place to stay. Rooms are spacious and have river or city views from floor to ceiling windows. There are a selection of eateries to choose from, including an Asian restaurant, steakhouse and cocktail bar.
Day 4:
Mulu National Park
Fly to Mulu National Park; Mulu is famous for its rich biodiversity, having both hill and swamp forest. There are many species of wildlife here, including over 200 species of birds and glorious butterflies.
BD
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
in Royal Mulu Resort Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Royal Mulu Resort
Designed in the style of ethnic longhouses, the resort stands on wooden stilts three metres above the ground with buildings linked by wooden walkways. It’s located in breathtaking scenery on the banks of the Melinau River. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with air-conditioning and each with its own verandah.
Day 5:
Mulu National Park
After breakfast, transfer by longboat to Wind and Clearwater Cave and enjoy a picnic lunch beside the beautiful Clearwater spring; swim and relax before returning downriver to Park Headquarters. Then, take a walk to Deer Cave, reputed to be the largest unmapped cave passage. At dusk, see millions of bats returning to their cave homes.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
in Royal Mulu Resort Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Royal Mulu Resort
Designed in the style of ethnic longhouses, the resort stands on wooden stilts three metres above the ground with buildings linked by wooden walkways. It’s located in breathtaking scenery on the banks of the Melinau River. Rooms are spacious and comfortable with air-conditioning and each with its own verandah.
Day 6:
Fly to Kota Kinabalu
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)
in Promenade Hotel Included meals: Breakfast
Promenade Hotel
Promenade Hotel benefits from a fantastic location in the heart of Kota Kinabalu close to the waterfront. The hotel has a restaurant and lobby lounge, deli, bar, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated.
Day 7:
Traditions and culture of Borneo
Today is a day exploring the traditions and culture of Borneo. Stay at a longhouse, where you will eat, and maybe dance, with the Rungus natives, who are famous for their beads and basket-weaving. End your day with a glass of wine at the northern tip of Borneo, overlooking the South China Sea, and in the company of Sabah’s most traditional tribal group.
Overnight Longhouse (H)
in Traditional longhouse Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Traditional longhouse
A fantastic way to experience the customs of the once fierce head-hunters of Borneo is to stay in a local longhouse. You will join the tribes in their daily chores, share some rice wine with the Headman and perhaps learn a traditional dance.
Day 8:
Village visit and back to Kota Kinabalu
Rise early to enjoy your last moments with your hosts – there’s also the opportunity to feed their chickens and other livestock. En-route back to Kota Kinabalu, visit a gong making village, which are the main musical instruments for the Rungus tribe and see how honey is made.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)
in Promenade Hotel Included meals: Breakfast
Promenade Hotel
Promenade Hotel benefits from a fantastic location in the heart of Kota Kinabalu close to the waterfront. The hotel has a restaurant and lobby lounge, deli, bar, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated.
Day 9:
Gaya Island
Take a speedboat ride to Gaya Island, where you will trek through mangrove forest and continue to Sapi Island. Enjoy a BBQ lunch, plus time for swimming and snorkelling in crystal clear waters.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)
in Promenade Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Promenade Hotel
Promenade Hotel benefits from a fantastic location in the heart of Kota Kinabalu close to the waterfront. The hotel has a restaurant and lobby lounge, deli, bar, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. Rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated.
Day 10:
Kinabalu National Park
Visit Kinabalu National Park; the park was one of Malaysia's first national parks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to South East Asia's highest mountain, Mt. Kinabalu, and has a great biological diversity. You’ll also take a dip at the famous Poring Hot Springs. At 450m, you are in tropical lowland forest, dense with vegetation and thick bamboo. 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.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
in Sabah Tea Plantation Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Sabah Tea Plantation
The Sabah Tea Plantation is a unique place to stay; your cottage is set on a working tea plantation. Surrounded by lush rainforest, cottages are tastefully decorated. The restaurant has lovely views across to Mount Kinabalu; this is a wonderful jungle retreat.
Day 11:
Kinabatangan River
See the famous rainforest tea plantations, before passing remote villages en-route to the Kinabatangan river area. Later this afternoon, there’s a boat cruise - as the sun starts to go down, you could spot long-nosed proboscis monkeys which converge on treetops by the river banks to settle for the night.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)
in Bilit Rainforest Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bilit Rainforest Lodge
Set on stilts on the banks of the Lower Kinabatangan River, this lodge is built from local materials. The wooden chalets are linked by walkways to a bar and restaurant, which have exceptional views over the water.
Day 12:
Kinabalu National Park
Walk jungle trails to Oxbow lakes, a great place for bird-watching. On your cruise this afternoon, you 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.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)
in Bilit Rainforest Lodge Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bilit Rainforest Lodge
Set on stilts on the banks of the Lower Kinabatangan River, this lodge is built from local materials. The wooden chalets are linked by walkways to a bar and restaurant, which have exceptional views over the water.
Day 13:
Sepilok Orang-utan Centre
Drive to Sepilok Orang-utan Centre and see the orang-utans being fed in one of the world’s largest rehabilitation centres. Covering over 4,000 hectares of forest, the centre was established in 1964 to rehabilitate captured, injured or abandoned apes. The animals are taught how to make nests and how to survive in their natural habitat.
Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++)
in Sabah Tea Plantation Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Sabah Tea Plantation
The Sabah Tea Plantation is a unique place to stay; your cottage is set on a working tea plantation. Surrounded by lush rainforest, cottages are tastefully decorated. The restaurant has lovely views across to Mount Kinabalu; this is a wonderful jungle retreat.
