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Macaques, jungle boats and snorkelling bays
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| Duration |
20 days / 19 nights Departs daily - March to mid October |
Accommodation |
Mid-class hotels, beach resorts and jungle lodges. Comfort levels 2, 3 and 4 (see accommodation). |
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Price |
£2214 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
Hire car, other transport, accommodation with breakfast in Malaysia and Borneo city stays, all meals during Borneo tours, guide, entrance fees for national parks on Borneo |
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Transport |
Hire car, minibus, boat and plane |
Excludes |
International Flights, Domestic Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur, Other meals |
Day 1 - Kuala Lumpur - Kota KinabaluAfter a flight with a short layover in Kuala Lumpur you'll arrive in the first destination of your Borneo travels, the modern city of Kota Kinabalu. Our friendly and helpful driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. You'll notice right away that Kota Kinabalu is home to modern buildings and architecture. The city itself has an exceptionally charming atmosphere and there's always plenty to do and see at the waterfront. We also recommend visiting the local market and its hawker stalls; this is the best place to try a wonderful local meal. |
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Day 2 - Kota KinabaluHopefully you'll have been able to catch up on some sleep and won't feel the effects of jetlag too much. This day will help you acclimatise before beginning your Borneo travel experience. A delicious breakfast buffet will be waiting for you in the morning. As Kota Kinabalu is a city with quite a modern character, you won't come across many ancient cultural attractions here. However, there are several places that you should visit while here such as the Tao Tua Pek Kong Temple, the famous catholic cathedral and the government mosque. We also suggest visiting the famous government museum, especially if you would like to learn more about local customs and specifically about the various Sabah tribes. There are also several scenic view areas looking out over the beautiful coastline and the city. Another must while in this city is a visit to one of the colourful markets; however you may also just want to lie down and relax at one of the beaches or visit one of the tropical islands off the coast... the choice is yours. |
Day 3 - Kota Kinabalu - Kinabalu National Park - Poring Hot SpringsToday your adventurous Borneo travels really begin and your guide will be waiting for you early in the morning. After breakfast you'll head towards Poring. Along the way you'll stop off at a local market where you can buy some fresh fruit and get a feel for the local atmosphere. Once you reach Poring you'll get to see the jungle from on top of the Canopy Walkway, which is suspended several metres from the ground. You'll see and hear a variety of colourful birds playing all around you and monkeys will be curious onlookers from their hiding places between the leafy trees. After this journey, you'll have time for a relaxing dip in the hot springs located in the centre of a very colourful garden area. Later in the afternoon you'll travel to Kinabalu National Park where you'll have the rest of the afternoon to spend as you wish. You'll spend the night in rustic wooden lodges in the national park. |
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Day 4 - Kinabalu National Park - Kota KinabaluAfter an early breakfast made up of local delicacies, your guide will take you towards Mount Kinabalu, a real highlight of the Borneo travel experience. A bus will take you up a part of the mountain. At an altitude of 1524m above sea level, you'll embark on your hike to the second shelter on the mountain. The view from the mountain is incredible and you'll see quite a number of animals during your climb. When you return to the national park you'll go on a fascinating hike through extraordinary gardens filled with the most exquisite flowers and plants. After lunch your guide will take you back to your hotel in Kota Kinabalu. |
Day 5 - Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan - Sepilok - SukauIt's day five of this Borneo travel package and after an early breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport where you'll board a 20-minute flight to Sandakan where your guide will be waiting to welcome you to your new destination. You'll board a bus and within 45 minutes you'll reach the world famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch apes swinging around from tree to tree before grabbing fruit from their care takers hands. After taking as many pictures as you can, you'll drive on to Sandakan's harbour where you'll set sail for Sukau. Along the way, you'll have lunch at a charming jungle lodge on the banks of the longest river in Sabah.You'll then continue on to the riverside lodge where you'll stay for the next two nights on your Borneo travels. Your resort is surrounded by hiking trails so you'll feel like you're deep in the jungle, far from civilisation and surrounded by the most amazing animals and plants. As the sun sets and evening draws near, you'll go on an unforgettable jungle boat ride. As you sail along, you'll see quite a few monkeys who come to the river banks in the evening for food and water. The monkeys screech playfully as they jump around on the branches above the water. After returning to the riverside lodge, you'll enjoy a lovely dinner buffet. As the day ends, you'll fall asleep in your wooden jungle lodge deep in the heart of the jungle. |
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Day 6 - SukauOn day six of your Borneo travel adventure, you might be awakened by screeching gibbon monkeys and hornbills. Early in the morning you'll 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 7 - Sukau - Sandakan - Kota KinabaluAfter breakfast today, you'll sail for about 2.5 hours until you reach Sandakan, the next destination on your Borneo travels. If you look up high in 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 or your hotel. |
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Day 8 - Kota Kinabalu - Mulu National ParkThis morning you'll trade in the busy, modern city of Kota Kinabalu for the green, dense vegetation of Mulu National Park. For this part of your Borneo travel experience, your guide will be waiting for you upon your arrival to take you to your resort's headquarters. You'll check in at the resort and have your own jungle lodge for the next two nights. After, you'll head into the park for a 3km hike straight into the jungle across a wooden walkway. You'll soon reach 'Lang Cave', an enormous cave filled with stalagmites and stalactites. Quite a bit of water drops down from the cracks in the limestone so bring along a raincoat. The cave is lit up by large lamps and it is easily accessible by walking across the walkways 'Deer Cave' is nearby and home to millions of bats. Don't forget to bring along a flashlight, the cave is dark and can be slippery. As the sun sets, you'll head towards the cave entrance (the largest cave entrance in the world) and you'll hear an immense noise. When you look around you'll see the mass exodus of thousands of bats heading out into the nocturnal jungle in search of insects. Being a part of this is truly an extraordinary experience and a real highlight of your Borneo travels. At around 7pm-8pm you'll be back at the lodge for a delightful meal at the restaurant before a night's sleep in your spacious, comfortable room. |
Day 9 - Mulu National ParkIt's day nine of your Borneo travel experience and at around 8:30am, after a hearty breakfast, you'll set out in a long, wooden jungle boat on a jungle adventure trip. Along the way you'll pass villages for Borneo's Penan tribe. 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 cool 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 may see dozens or perhaps even hundreds of 'Rajah Brooke' butterflies happily fluttering above the water- making it feel as if you're 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. |
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Day 10 and 11- Mulu National Park - Miri - Kuala LumpurYou'll undoubtedly be awoken this morning by those familiar jungle sounds. A chorus of birds singing and leaves crackling will be the background music during your breakfast. After breakfast, you'll continue your Borneo travels as your guide takes you to Mulu airport where you'll catch a flight to Miri and then on to Kuala Lumpur. |
Day 12 - Kuala Lumpur - Cameron HighlandsIt's day twelve of your Borneo travels and your hire car will be dropped off at your hotel in the morning. The representative will explain the in's and out's of the car and give you a map.From Kuala Lumpur it's a 180 miles drive north Tanah Rata, which takes about 3 to 4 hours. On the way to the Cameron Highlands you’ll notice the temperature gradually begins to drop the higher you get. You’ll stay on the edge of Tanah Rata, one of the three larger towns in the area and with a lot more local charm than nearby Brinchang. Once you’ve checked in, it’s a 20-minute walk to the town centre where you can wander round the little souvenir shops or grab a bite to eat in the evening. Make sure you try the ‘steamboat’ during your stay which is a kind of Cantonese fondue. |
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Day 13 - Cameron HighlandsAfter breakfast in the wonderfully kitsch dining room, you’ll be picked up at the hotel by our local guide, usually the jolly Subramaniam or Maniam or otherwise one of their colleagues. You'll continue this Borneo travel experience as you drive to the tea plantations (weather permitting) where Maniam will tell you all about the history of the plantations and the surrounding area.Afterwards, you'll reach a viewpoint where you can admire the views across the green, rolling hills – if the weather’s clear that is. On the way back you’ll go on a short walk through the jungle of Mossy Forest. The path can be slippery in places so make sure you wear sturdy shoes or boots. By this time you’ll probably fancy a cuppa, so following a winding road downhill you’ll head back to the tea plantations and the most famous tea factory in the area, the Boh Tea Estate (closed Mondays). You'll be given a tour of the estate and shown how the freshly picked tea leaves are processed into the more familiar brown brew. In the afternoon, you'll visit a butterfly farm (entrance fee to be paid locally) where you can watch the most exotic, colourful butterflies flutter. In the evening, you'll enjoy another lovely dinner in one of the many restaurants in Tanah Rata. |
Day 14 - Cameron Highlands - Kuala Besut - Pulau PerhentianAfter breakfast, you'll set off for Kuala Besut on Malaysia's east coast. On a beautiful drive past small villages and local tribes, you'll pass through mountainous areas where shrouds of clouds linger mysteriously. During your descent to lower altitudes, you'll notice that the temperature will start to climb once again and before long you'll need to turn the air conditioner back on. The entire drive should take around 6 hours, so be sure you leave enough time to get to your destination. Once you arrive in Kuala Besut, a representative will be waiting to take back your hire car.Upon arrival, you'll check in at the harbour office. The boats to Pulau Perhentian will depart until 4pm. As you journey towards the island of paradise, you'll notice that the beaches on the island are as white as pearls and the water so blue that it looks postcard picture perfect. After you've checked into your wooden resort, you can take a refreshing plunge into the sea or simply sit back on the beach with a delicious cocktail. Time for some R&R... |
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Day 15 and 16 - Pulau PerhentianIn the morning you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then wander over to the white beach in front of the resort to find a spot in the soft white sand. With the palm trees softly rustling in the wind, the soothing sound of the waves lapping on the beach and the warm sun tickling your skin, this is sure to be a real highlight of your Borneo travel experience. You could just lie here for the rest of the day, but if you want a little more activity, take an afternoon snorkelling trip. If you book a half-day trip you can pick up your snorkel, mask and flippers in the morning and snorkel around the reef in front of the resort to spot the most exotic brightly coloured fish swimming among the coral. At the resort reception you can also book a jungle tour, hire a canoe or a sea-fishing excursion. |
Day 17 to 19- Pulau Perhentian - Pulau Lang TengahAfter breakfast it's time to take the boat to your next tropical paradise. As you approach the island you’ll understand why it’s called the island for nature lovers; white sands, crystal clear blue sea and tall, waving palm trees. It’s almost too cheesy to be true, but probably exactly how you’d pictured your perfect tropical island getaway. You’ll be staying in a one of a row of four bungalows in the tasteful well-maintained resort. The Malaysian dishes, particularly the fresh fish are amazing which is just as well as there aren’t really any other restaurants on the island. |
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Day 20 - Pulau Lang Tengah - Kuala Lumpur - End of Borneo travel experienceAfter all of the tropical pampering, it's time to say goodbye to Malaysia. You'll catch the afternoon boat from Lang Tengah to Merang and from here you'll be transferred to Kuala Terengganu airport.If you decide to fly with Air Asia you'll change planes in Kuala Lumpur where you'll board your international flight. If you decide to fly with KLM or Malaysia Airlines then you'll have a short layover in Kuala Lumpur before flying back to London. As you lay back into your chair in the air plane you'll be able to pass one more glance on an illuminated Kuala Lumpur. |
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