|
Borneo all the way
This holiday to Borneo is all about the tropical rainforest and it takes you to several incredibly beautiful parks. For three weeks you'll be submerged in a world of murky rivers, primates and colourful natural surroundings. Awaken each morning to the natural sounds of the rainforest and monkeys swinging through trees. You'll sleep in the heart of Borneo's jungle. Your trip will begin in Kuching with its historic buildings, small spices stalls and mosques. Afterwards, you'll escape the crowds visit several National Parks in Sarawak before getting to know the indigenous people of this area, the Iban tribe. Afterwards, you'll travel north and visit the caves in Mulu National Park. |
| Duration |
20 days / 19 nights Departs daily |
Accommodation |
Basic hotels and jungle lodges. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
£2232 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
Transport, accommodation with breakfast, English speaking guide, entrance fees for national parks on Borneo, all meals during Borneo tours, B&B accommodation during city hotel stays |
|
Transport |
Minibus, boat and plane |
Excludes |
International Flights, Domestic Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur, Other meals |
Day 1 and 2 - Kuala Lumpur - KuchingAfter quite a long flight and a layover in Kuala Lumpur, you'll arrive in Kuching to begin this holiday to Borneo. A driver will be waiting for you in the arrival hall and he will be carrying a sign with your name on it for easy identification. He and your guide will bring you to the hotel you'll be staying at and they will also provide you with a travel information pack which will provide you with everything you need to know and vouchers for your trip. As you enter this seemingly new world, you'll notice a scattering of modern buildings as well as traditional architecture on the way to your hotel. The stifling heat and the scents of local spices will surely give you that holiday feeling.Kuching, which literally means 'cat' in Bahasa Malayu, is also known as 'Cat City'. It is quite a charming city with a great atmosphere and we truly enjoyed ourselves while we were here. You'll find that there are plenty of wonderful places to eat along the riverfront and behind your hotel. We also recommend crossing the river to visit colonial buildings on the other side. After the long journey, you'll probably call it an early night... |
|
|
Day 3 - Kuching - Bako National ParkToday you'll start the day with an early breakfast. Your guide and driver for this holiday to Borneo will be waiting in the hotel lobby to pick you up around 9am. You'll only need to bring along the basics, so don't worry about lugging around too much with you. After about 40 minutes you'll arrive at a small village of stilted houses named Kampung Bako. This village's name carries the name of the park you'll eventually reach: Bako National Park. One of the first things you'll notice when you reach the park is the presence of bizarre rock formations standing proudly in the surf. You'll sail past these odd rock creations and then you'll continue on a 30 minute boat ride to the mangrove forest.After you've checked in and settled into your room, lunch will be waiting for you. Be sure to eat plenty; in the afternoon you'll head off on quite a rigorous walk. During your hike to several deserted beaches, make sure you keep your eye out for the monkeys hiding in the canopy above. After dinner on this holiday to Borneo, you can choose to go on an optional night hike, after which your bed will be waiting for a peaceful night's rest. |
Day 4 - Bako National Park - KuchingIf you would like to see a lot of monkeys and other animals during this holiday to Borneo, it's best to wake up early. After breakfast you can choose which route you would like to follow and head out to explore the jungle. Some of the paths can be a bit slippery, so you'll want to wear proper shoes for your hike through the jungle. All around you you'll see extraordinary trees and plants, such as Venus Fly Traps. Your journey will take you to a deserted beach where you can go for a quick refreshing swim before returning to the jungle. From the beach you will head back to the park headquarters in time for lunch. After you've finished lunch, a boat will take you through the mangrove forest and back to the village of Kampung Bako. A bus will be waiting to take you back to civilisation in Kuching. Once you reach Kuching, you'll check into your hotel before heading out for a bite to eat before going to bed. |
|
|
Day 5 - Kuching - Batang Ai National ParkIt's day five of this holiday to Borneo and after an early breakfast, you'll head out deeper into the jungle with your guide. You'll travel in a small group for approximately 4 hours until you reach one of the more remote locations in Sarawak known as Batang Ai National Park. In an area made up of dense jungle, you'll drive past rubber, cocoa and pepper plantations... each of which you'll get to visit as well. Along the way you'll stop off at a colourful market in the town Serian where you can purchase all types of products with origins in the jungle. This is the perfect place to buy a few small gifts, such as cigarettes and fruit, for the chief of the longhouse you're going to visit. Around noon, you'll have lunch in one of the local restaurants.After lunch, you'll leave the mainland behind and you'll board a motorised 'perahu', a wooden jungle boat. During the boat ride past wooded shores, you'll hear monkeys screeching from time to time, and see local life as it plays out before you. You'll see women washing clothes and children splashing around in the water. You'll sail straight through the tropical rainforest beneath an enormous roof of leaves for about an hour, until you eventually reach Iban territory. |
Day 6 - Batang Ai National ParkOn the sixth day of this holiday to Borneo, you and your guide will head out after breakfast to explore the area surrounding the longhouse. Your guide will give you a glimpse of life in the area and tell you more about it. In the afternoon you can either go for a walk through the jungle or perhaps you may even want to try your hand at fishing 'The Iban way' using a fishing net. It may look like a piece of cake; however you'll see that it will take quite some practice to catch more than a few floating branches. Eventually you'll walk back through the rainforest to the jungle lodge. Walking through the humid forest is sure to create an appetite. No worries though, our cooks will prepare a delicious meal for you including all kinds of local delicacies. This meal is sure to please your taste buds... In the evening you'll visit the Iban once again and as always these gracious people will greet you with a smile. You'll spend the night in a jungle lodge. |
|
|
Day 7 - Batang Ai National Park - KuchingAfter waking up to a tasty breakfast on day seven of your holiday to Borneo, you'll say goodbye to the friendly Iban tribe. A wooden boat will take you on a relaxing trip across the river where a mini-bus will be waiting for you. You'll spend the next four hours or so driving through the green landscape. Along the way you'll take a rest break to freshen up for your return to civilisation in Kuching. Eventually you'll be dropped off at your hotel. This evening you'll delight at the meals served at the many food stalls at the Main Bazaar or have a bite at the riverfront; this is a great place to try local delicacies. At the end of the day, your hotel room will be waiting for you and you can let the impressions of today slowly sink in. |
Day 8 - Kuching - Miri - Mulu National ParkOn day eight of your holiday to Borneo you'll fly from Kuching to Miri and on to Mulu National Park. A window seat in the plane will give you an incredible view of the tropical rainforest below you. Once you've landed, your guide will be waiting for you. A 'longboat' will then take you to your charming wooden jungle lodge.After check-in you'll head into the park for a 3km hike through the jungle across a wooden walkway. Soon, you'll reach the 'Lang Cave', which is filled with stalagmites and stalactites. The roof leaks groundwater, so bring along a raincoat. The cave is lit up by large lamps and is easily accessible by walking across the walkways. 'Deer Cave' is nearby and is home to millions of bats. The cave is dark and can be slippery so bring along a flashlight. As the sun goes down, you'll walk back towards the cave entrance (the largest in the world). You'll hear a whirring and fluttering noise as the mass exodus of thousands of bats head out of the cave and into the nocturnal jungle in search of insects. After this incredible experience, you'll return to your lodge at around 7/8pm for a meal at the restaurant. After that, you'll doze off in your spacious, comfortable room. |
|
|
Day 9 - Mulu National ParkAt around 8:30am, after a hearty breakfast, you'll continue with this holiday to Borneo as you set out in a long, wooden jungle boat. Along the way you'll pass Penan tribe villages. The first cave you'll come across is the 'Wind Cave', an enormous cave with bizarre natural pillars. Your boat ride will then continue on towards 'Clearwater Cave', which was created by an enormous network of underground rivers. A long staircase will take you through this fascinating cave network. It can get quite warm in the caves, so it's best to wear light clothing. After visiting the caves, you can go for a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters of the pools to cool off. While enjoying a picnic lunch, you might see some 'Rajah Brooke' butterflies fluttering above the water; making your holiday to Borneo seem like part of a fairytale. Eventually your boat will take you back to your lodge. You'll arrive in the late afternoon and will be able to sit back and relax until dinner. At the end of the day you'll fall asleep in your lodge to the sounds of the jungle. |
Day 10 - Mulu National Park - Kota KinabaluOn the tenth day of your holiday to Borneo, you'll wake up to the sounds of the jungle. A very appealing breakfast will be waiting for you, after which you'll be taken to Mulu airport where a turbo prop plane will be waiting to take you on to the next destination on your holiday to Borneo, Kota Kinabalu. Your plane will fly low over the tops of the trees and you'll have one last glimpse of the impressive Mulu National Park before flying away. No planes are allowed to fly into Mulu after 4pm so that they do not disturb the bats leaving their caves.Upon your arrival in Kota Kinabalu you'll have entered an entirely different world. You'll collect your baggage and travel to your hotel. You'll notice that Kota Kinabalu is a much more modern city than Kuching. There are many tall buildings, advanced infrastructure and you'll see many examples of modern architecture all around you. The hotel where you'll spend the night is located just outside the city centre. In the evening you may enjoy taking a taxi cab to the waterfront to visit a local market offering all types of local produce. At the end of the evening you'll head back to a large, comfortable bed in your hotel. |
|
|
Day 11 - Kota Kinabalu - Kinabalu National Park - Gunung KinabaluToday is the eleventh day of your holiday to Borneo and you'll begin with another early start. The hotel you'll be staying in offers a very large breakfast buffet with a wide assortment of breads, cereals and fresh fruit to choose from. After breakfast you'll be picked up at your hotel and taken on a two hour drive through breathtaking scenery with Kota Kinabalu National Park as your destination. You'll stop off en-route so that you can purchase some local fruit and if you like some handmade items. When you arrive at the national park, you'll be asked to fill out a form with your personal details. An enthusiastic English speaking guide will gladly guide you through the park. He will tell you more about the extraordinary animals and plants that inhabit the park and you'll show the most beautiful locations in the park as well. Don't forget to visit the 'Mountain Garden' which is open between 3pm - 4pm. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. In the evening a lovely dinner will be prepared for you and afterwards you can either sit back and relax or head to bed early in preparation of tomorrow's strenuous climb. |
Day 12 - Kinabalu National ParkAfter breakfast on day twelve of your holiday to Borneo, you'll be picked up at your hotel and you'll drive for less than 30 minutes until you reach the 'power station' at 1830m. Here, you and your guide will start out on the first segment of your journey to the highest point of South East Asia; Mount Kinabalu's peak at 4102m. A winding path up the mountain will allow you to slowly adjust to the altitude. As you climb, your surroundings will begin to change, the air will also become thinner and you'll notice that the climb will become more exerting. The mountain cabins you encounter as you climb are a perfect place to rest up for a bit. As you enjoy the beautiful surroundings, you may want to have a bite to eat from the lunch bag you received. Depending on your speed, you can reach the Laban Rata guest house at 3550m within 4 to 6 hours. The guest house is actually an enormous ski hut which also offers a delicious buffet starting at 5pm. If the weather is clear, you may even want to eat your dessert while watching the most spectacular sunset outside. It won't be long until you fall into a deep, yet short sleep in the dormitory filled with other climbers in the sleeping bag provided for you. |
|
|
Day 13 - Kinabalu National Park - Kota KinabaluBe prepared for a 2:00 - 2:30am wake-up call from your guide. This may seem quite early; however the excitement for the last day of your climb will definitely act as an instant rejuvenator. Before heading out we suggest dressing up for cool temperatures. Wearing a warm (fleece) sweater and a gore-tex coat should keep you nice and warm. The wind at the top of the mountain keeps temperatures low and if it rains you'll be happy you brought along a sturdy raincoat. Soon you'll meet up with other climbers just waiting to climb the last leg up the mountain. Iron stairs and ropes have been attached to the mountain to make the more difficult areas easier to climb. The thin air will make this last part of your climb more difficult than the rest of the climb. No worries though, you won't have to rush and can finish the climb at your own pace. After about two hours you'll reach the cold, dark summit and will have front row seats for the most spectacular sunset. A feeling of pride, freedom and accomplishment will surely sink in when you reach the top and take in the views- this is sure to be a real highlight of your holiday to Borneo.As you can imagine, it won't take you quite as much time to go down the mountain. You'll arrive at park headquarters around noon and a bus will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Once you arrive, you can either take power nap or head straight into town. |
Day 14 - Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan - SukauToday is sure to be a memorable part of your holiday to Borneo, and after an early breakfast, you'll take a transfer to the airport for the first flight to Sandakan where a guide will be waiting for you on your arrival and will accompany you into Sukau. Your first visit is to the world famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre prepares mostly young, orangutans that have been orphaned by deforestation for an independent life in the wild. At 10am its feeding time and you'll be able to see the adorable primates come out of the jungle to eat as much fresh fruit and nuts as they want. You'll also see several older 'ladies' who actually quite enjoy the centre and aren’t in no hurry to leave; they love meeting people and posing for pictures. There are also Sumatra rhinos and elephants in the park.From here, you'll reach Sandakan harbour and leave the mainland behind you as you sail across the Kinabatangan River, Sabah's longest river. This area is teeming with (proboscis) monkeys and you may even see orangutans, elephants and colourful, tropical birds at the water's edge in search of food. After stopping for lunch in a small Abai village, you'll sail to Sukau where you'll check into your charming, wooden jungle lodge. Later, you'll go on a cruise on the Menangul River; as the sun goes down, you'll see the animals coming to life. Enjoy a breathtaking sunset from on the water and in the evening you'll be treated to a delicious dinner at your lodge. |
|
|
Day 15 - SukauToday you might be awakened by screeching gibbon monkeys and the typical sounds made by hornbills. Early in the morning, you'll continue your holiday to Borneo as you sail towards nearby lakes where the animals on the shores will slowly come to life. You'll see otters, large lizards, crocodiles and of course very many monkeys. Later on in the morning you'll sail back to your lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon you can for instance go for a walk in the area or maybe sit back and relax with a book on the porch. Late afternoon you'll sail off in search of wild animals. Once the sun begins to set you'll sail back to the lodge for dinner and you'll spend your last night in the jungle lodge. |
Day 16 - Sukau - Sandakan - Kota KinabaluAfter a relaxing start of your day and breakfast, you'll sail for about 2.5 hours until you reach Sandakan. If you look up high and the trees, you'll see the monkeys looking down on you as they scurry about. Once you arrive in Sandakan you'll visit a traditional village of houses built on poles where the Kadazan tribe lives. You'll then continue on to the lively Sandakan market where practically every single thing you could ever want is sold. After lunch in a local restaurant you may want to look around before driving on to the elevated Chinese Puu Jih Syh temple. The temple offers an incredible view of Sandakan Bay. Late in the afternoon you'll be taken to the airport for your flight back to Kota Kinabalu. You'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel at the edge of the city. |
|
|
Day 17 - Kota Kinabalu - Pulau TigaOn day seventeen of your holiday to Borneo, you'll have somewhat of an early start as you're picked up at your hotel at 7am. Driving across a winding coastal road, you'll have a spectacular view of the mangrove and tropical sandy beaches. After a two hour drive, you'll reach the ferry at Penyu River and head out on a 40 minute boat ride to Pulau Tiga. This small island was the tropical setting for the American version of 'Survivors'. Don't worry though, you won't have to build your own hut or search for food yourself. All meals are included during your stay here and you'll sleep in your own cosy chalet by the beach at a charming beach resort. After lunch, take a plunge into the crystal clear sea before heading into the jungle and on to the other side of the island. Here, you'll find warm mud bubbling up to the surface of the earth; ideal for a nice warm, relaxing mud bath. Once you've finished relaxing, you can clean off nearby in the sea. Once you return to the resort you can spend time on the beach or go snorkelling at a nearby reef. Rather go diving? No problem, you can rent diving equipment at the dive shop. As the sun goes down, dinner will be served and you can enjoy the last rays of sun before heading off to bed. |
Day 18 and 19 - Pulau TigaSoon, your holiday to Borneo will come to an end, so after breakfast, you can soak up a few sunrays on the beach or cool off in the tropical waters of the sea. Naturally you can also choose to explore the wonders beneath the surface of the sea. From time to time you may come across a ranger on the island who will take you to nearby Snake Island for a small fee. The name of this island gives you a clue as to what you'll find there... During the afternoon you can lay back and relax, or pick up your snorkelling equipment and spend some more time under water. In the evening you'll find a delicious supper waiting for you. After dinner you can watch the sun set while you enjoy the feeling of the sand between your toes. |
|
|
Day 20 - Pulau Tiga - Kota Kinabalu - Kuala LumpurWaking up this morning in your wooden chalet, you'll have one last chance to enjoy the sound of the surf and swaying palm trees before your holiday to Borneo comes to an end. After breakfast you'll board a boat back to the mainland and you'll be taken to the airport. You'll fly from Kota Kinabalu back to Kuala Lumpur and from here you'll catch a flight back to the UK. Unfortunately, this is where you will have to say goodbye to emerald green Malaysia as it's the last day on your holiday to Borneo. In the evening, you'll fly back to the UK and you'll be able to look back upon an unforgettable, adventurous journey through Borneo. |
Click here for the quote request form
Build your trip using our bite-sized Borneo tours
Follow Rickshaw Travel and be inspired...
