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Ultimate Borneo

Borneo

18 days from £3,485pp Inc. international flights

This comprehensive itinerary will take you through the best of Sarawak and Sabah, exploring tribal heartlands, jungle regions, and remote rivers, travelling by boat and exploring on foot. Highlights include Batang Ai with its headhunter tribes, Mulu’s underground cave systems, the orang-utan of Sepilok, and the hornbills of Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Finish all this with a relaxing stay on the tropical paradise of Gaya Island.

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At a Glance

Tailoring your trip

This itinerary is designed to give you a flavour of what is possible

  • We can tailor this trip to suit your specific requirements
  • Any aspect of the itinerary can be altered, from excursions to accommodation

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01993 838 120
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View Tailor-made Suggestions
Borneo Uncovered

Itinerary Route Map - 18 Days

Iban Headhunter with traditional blowpipe, Batang Ai, Malaysian BorneoWaterfront cafe in Kuching, SarawakProboscis monkey, Malaysian BorneoCity Mosque, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian BorneoAustralian War Memorial Park, Sandakan, Malaysian BorneoIban elder, Sarawak, Malaysian BorneoLeopard cat, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Malaysian BorneoDawn at Gunung Api, Mulu National Park, Sarawak

Our Tailor-made suggestions for this itinerary are:

  • Add on a city stopover in Peninsular Malaysia either in the capitol city of Kuala Lumpur or the equally easy to reach UNESCO city of Malacca.
  • For wildlife addicts you could add in a trip to the primary rainforest of Danum Valley
  • Divers or avid snorkellers may like to visit one of Borneo's topical islands of the east coast such as Lankayan, Mataking or Kapalai.

Highlights of this itinerary

  • Try a Sarawak laksa on the riverfront in Kuching
  • See orang-utan close up at both Semenggok and Sepilok
  • Spend the night with the Iban tribe in a longhouse in the middle of the jungle
  • Take your binoculars and look out for wildlife in the trees as you explore the Kinabatangan River by boat
  • Get your boots muddy as you trek through the rainforest of Tabin Wildlife Reserve
  • Snorkel in the warm waters off tropical Gaya Island

Day by Day

Day 1London

Overnight flight from the UK to Borneo.

Day 2Kuala Lumpur - Kuching

In Kuching you will be welcomed by your driver and guide and transferred to your hotel where you can rest up or head out to explore.

Day 3Kuching

Explore Kuching on a guided walking tour of the city.

Day 4Kuching

Your guide will take you over to Bako - Sarawak's oldest national park - for your first introduction to Borneo's flora and fauna.

Day 5Kuching - Lemanak River

You will be met by your driver and guide after breakfast and taken to the Lemanak River by road, stopping at Semenggok Orang-utan Sanctuary for a chance to see orang-utan at feeding time, a traditional market in Serian, a pepper farm and a local restaurant on the way. The final 40 minutes of your journey will be on the river, by longboat. On arrival at the Iban longhouse you will learn about the local customs, dine and dance with the families before bed.

Day 6Lemanak River - Batang Ai

After breakfast your guide will take you on a nature trail in the area surrounding the longhouse. You will also be given a blowpipe demonstration, which you are welcome to try for yourself. Weather permitting, lunch will be served on the riverbank where you also have the chance for a swim. Following lunch you will be transferred to the Batang Ai Hilton where you can relax and enjoy a hot shower. Your guide will take you on a nature walk in the area which includes a canopy walkway.

Day 7Batang Ai - Kuching

You will retrace your route back to Kuching where you have your final evening to enjoy the city.

Day 8Kuching - Mulu National Park

You will be taken to the airport for your short flight to Mulu. Once you are checked-in to your hotel your guide will take you in to the rainforest to explore the huge caves that the area is famous for.

Day 9Mulu National Park

Experience a jungle canopy walkway and get a different view of the rainforest. Head back to your hotel for lunch before visiting the remaining show caves and Batu Mulong village by boat in the afternoon.

Day 10Mulu National Park - Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan

You have this morning to spend as you wish at the resort without a guide. You may like to relax by the pool or visit the spa, or if you are still feeling active take further walks, cycle rides or kayaks through the national park independently. Fly on to Kota Kinabalu and then connect on to your flight to Sandakan for your first stop in Sabah. The transfer to your jungle lodge takes around 30 minutes.

Day 11Sandakan

Enjoy a full day to explore at your own time. The Rainforest Discovery Centre is a short distance from Sepilok and boasts an impressive collection of orchids as well as canopy walkways and jungle trails. Your lodge is just minutes away from Sepilok and you may like to go to the afternoon feed to try and spot some of the resident orang-utan. This evening you have a private guided tour around Sepilok at dusk where you may be lucky enough to see some of the nocturnal creatures.

Day 12Sandakan - Kinabatangan River

Take a trip to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Sanctuary before continuing on to the Kinabatangan River by boat. . Here you have an afternoon boat trip where you can hope to see some of Borneo's rarer species in a stunning setting. This evening you have an optional night cruise.

Day 13Kinabatangan River

Rise early for a second trip on the river and the chance to visit the nearby ox-bow lake. Breakfast is served back at the lodge. You have free time back at the lodge to catch up on some sleep or for the more energetic take the jungle trail behind the lodge. Lunch will be served at the lodge. Enjoy a final trip on the river this afternoon and try to tick some more animals off your list before a final dinner at your lodge.

Day 14Kinabatangan River - Lahad Datu - Tabin Wildlife Reserve

You will drive to the town of Lahad Datu today where you will meet up with a representative from Tabin Wildlife Resort who will take you on the bumpy journey in to the reserve. You have an afternoon exploring the rainforest with a guide travelling by 4WD.

Day 15Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Spend the full day exploring Tabin on the look out for the wildlife that often travels between the dirt track roads that criss cross the massive reserve.

Day 16Tabin Wildlife Reserve - Lahad Datu - Kota Kinabalu

Head back to Lahad Datu for the short flight to Kota Kinabalu where you will be taken to Gaya Island to end your trip in style on a tropical island.

Day 17Kota Kinabalu

Free time to wind down on a tropical island after your tour of the jungle.

Day 18Kota Kinabalu

Enjoy your final free day.

Day 19Kota Kinabalu - Kuala Lumpur

Overnight flight from Borneo to the UK.

Day 20London

Early morning arrival in the UK.

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