Kaleidoscope of Borneo’s Parks

Meet at Kuching airport or hotel and proceed for half day City Tour and Kuching River cruise.
The highlights are Kuching’s Chinatown, the Cat Statue (Kuching means “Cat” in Malay), the colourful Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple, the Civic Centre Viewing Platform and the world famous Sarawak Museum.

Return via the golden -domed City Mosque and passing through Old Kuching, crammed with spice dealers and textile shops. Pass by the heritage buildings of the White Rajah era, the Pavilion, the Square Tower, the Court House, the Charles Brooke Monument and the Post Office.

After the city tour, proceed for a 1-hour pontoon river cruise. Admire the passing scenery that unfolds along the banks and discover the daily life of the colorful Malay villages along the river. See the City Mosque, the Astana, Fort Margherita and the Kuching Waterfront.

Overnight in Kuching at the Pullman Hotel

This morning you will be driven for about 1.5 hours to Bako Village where you will board the boat to Bako National Park. The cruise takes approximately 30 minutes (depending on the tide).

Bako offers a mix of coastal scenery, teeming rainforest and abundant wildlife. Sarawak’s premier wildlife location is one of the best places in Borneo to see proboscis monkeys. Other wildlife seen include leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, wild boars, flying squirrels, monitor lizards and several species of birds.

The park’s flora is rich and diverse and includes mangroves, strangling figs, carnivorous pitcher plants and symbiotic ant plants. Unique geological features mark the coastline, whilst well-marked trails lead to rugged jungle-covered hilltops and secluded beaches.

Overnight in Kuching at the Pullman Hotel.

BREAKFAST | LUNCH

Travel for about 4.5 hours through a lush and green countryside dotted with padi fields, pepper gardens and rubber plantations, and flanked by rugged jungle-clad mountains. Enroute stop at the Serian farmer’s market and visit a pepper garden. Lunch at Lachau village and then venture deep into the Iban land by longboat.

Arrive at the longhouse and visit the “entire village under one roof.”
Enjoy a tribal dinner made with fresh jungle produce and witness the traditional Iban dances.

Overnight at the Iban Longhouse
You will be spending your night at the ruai (the longhouse common room). As for the washroom/toilet facilities you will be sharing with the Ibans.

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After breakfast, enjoy a demonstration of the native activities such as blowpipe for hunting, followed by a short nature walk to learn about some local medicinal plants. Afterward, travel by longboat downriver and catch the coach back to Kuching.

Enroute visit Semenggoh Nature Reserve to see orangutans at their feeding time. This nature reserve provides a safe haven for rehabilitated orangutans who have been rescued from captivity.

Arrive Kuching in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Kuching at the Pullman Hotel.

BREAKFAST |LUNCH

Transfer to Kuching airport for your flight to Mulu.

Upon arrival at Mulu Airport by your guide and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon, proceed to Mulu National Park HQ for a visit to Deer and Lang’s Cave. Walk along the plant walk through the rainforest for about 3 km. Explore the largest cave passage in the world – Deer Cave and Lang’s Cave. Relax at the open air observatory for an opportunity witness the phenomenon exodus of bats out of the caves, spiraling high overhead and ascend to the sky where they will search for food.

Return to the Park HQ and transfer to your accommodation.

Overnight at the Mulu Marriott Resort.

BREAKFAST

After breakfast takes a morning longtail boat ride to visit the Cave of the Winds with is tall, slender stalagmites, then on to the source of the Clearwater River, see the underground river and visit the dry passage of the Lady’s Cave. Swim at the Clearwater Spring.

After lunch return to your accommodation. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight at the Mulu Marriott Resort.

BREAKFAST |LUNCH

Transfer to Mulu Airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for your own leisure.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at the Horizon Hotel.

BREAKFAST

Today visit the most beautiful islands in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Gaya Island with its lush rainforest, and Mamutik Island, well known for the dazzling white sand beach and crystal clear waters.

Transfer to Sutera Harbour’s Marina jetty and board the boat to Gaya Island (about 10-15-minute boar ride). Upon arrival at Gaya, trek for about 1½-hour through coastal vegetation, mangrove swamp, and lowland dipterocarp forest.

After Gaya, head to Mamutik, one of the smaller among the five islands; nevertheless, it is endowed with rich coral life that surrounds the island. Spend the rest of the day at leisure for swimming or snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters.

Return to Kota Kinabalu and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at the Horizon Hotel.

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Take a scenic 2-hour drive to Kinabalu Park along mountainous roads that wind along the Crocker range. Along the way, make a brief stop at Nabalu Market. Nabalu is a place where the local natives gather to sell local produce, fruits, home grown vegetables and handicraft souvenirs.
On arrival at Kinabalu Park proceed for a walk along the nature trails in the Botanical Garden. If the day is clear, you may even spot a majestic view of Mount Kinabalu.

Proceed for another 1 hour drive to Poring Hot Spring. At this natural hot spring, there are Japanese baths where visitors can soak themselves and let the invigorating sulphurous water stimulate the body.

Visitors can also try the Canopy Walkway, where suspension bridges are suspended at the top of the tropical jungle.
Experience the height of 41 metres above the ground and length of 157 metres. A 20 minutes hike is needed to reach the Canopy Walkway.

If you’re lucky, you may also get the chance to see a Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower; in bloom. (Entrance fee/ticket to enter the private farm is not included and will be paid in the farm if there is a Rafflesia in bloom)

Return to Kota Kinabalu for an approximately 3 hours’ journey and drop off at your hotel.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at the Horizon Hotel.

BREAKFAST | LUNCH

Transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport for a short flight to Sandakan.

Upon arrival in Sandakan transfer to Sim Sim jetty to board the boat to Selingan Turtle Island. Selingan has been designated a national park to protect the newly laid eggs and vulnerable hatchlings from predators. The journey to the island will take approximately one hour.

On arrival check into at the lodge and spend the rest of the day at leisure. You can relax on the beach or explore the tropical island’s surrounding.

After dinner, standby at the Cafeteria. Wait for Park Ranger’s signal before proceed in a small group to witness a marine turtle laying the eggs on the beach and the release of the baby turtle into the sea (turtle sightings can never be guaranteed).

Overnight in Turtle island at the park chalets.

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Early morning head back to the mainland and proceed to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for up-close orangutan encounter.
Walk 10 minutes through the rainforest on wooden boardwalk to witness the feeding of orangutans from the platform in the forest.
Continue to the outdoor nursery where the juvenile and baby orangutans are taught the skills they need to survive in the forest.
Proceed to Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre where the world’s smallest bears are kept and rehabilitated.

After Sepilok venture on a 2-day wildlife safari on the Kinabatangan River. First, you will be taken to Sim Sim jetty to board the boat to Abai Jungle Lodge. Enjoy a relaxing 1-hour cruise, journeying up the river. Upon arrival check into your lodge on the riverbank and then enjoy lunch.

Late afternoon head out on a safari cruise on the Kinabatangan River. At dusk, you may have the chance to see proboscis monkey and other wildlife than the area is famed for.
Before dinner you will experience a night cruise to witness the glittering fireflies on the mangrove trees.

Overnight at the Abai Jungle Lodge.

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Wake up early and embark on a river cruise to the Pitas Lake in search of wildlife species that are significantly active during pre-dawn or early morning hours.

The rest of the morning is at your leisure to explore the rainforest on a boardwalk located behind the lodge or visit the village of the native “orang sungai” people and take part in a tree planting project.

After lunch head further up the river to Sukau. Switching lodges gives you a great chance to see more wildlife.
Upon arrival at the lodge head out on another safari cruise on the Menanggul River, a tributary of the Kinabatangan River.

Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.

BREAKFAST | LUNCH| DINNER

Early morning transfer to Danum Valley Conservation Area office in Lahad Datu (about 2-hour drive). Then after registration continue to Borneo Rainforest Lodge (about 2.5-hour drive).

Enjoy the changing landscape of the regenerated forest to virgin rainforest of a million years old.
Borneo Rainforest Lodge is nestled in the heart of Sabah’s largest protected forest, alongside the Danum River.
The entire Danum Valley Conservation Area is a primary rainforest, which means it has never been logged before and is completely untouched.

After a brief orientation and lunch, proceed for a guided walk along the Nature Trail for an introduction to the rainforest ecosystem.

In the evening see a slide presentation on Danum Valley Conservation Area, then join a night safari on an open-air truck. Using a powerful spot light the guide will point out nocturnal species.

Overnight at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge.

BREAKFAST| LUNCH | DINNER

Rise early this morning and enjoy a whole day in the beautiful Danum Valley. Start your day with the Canopy Walkway, a rope-style bridge built 26 meters above the forest floor. The view is magical. In the early mornings, mist hangs over the rainforest, forming a white veil from which only the tallest treetops emerge.

After breakfast hike to View Point Trail and Kadazandusun Burial Site. Stop along the trail to admire the variety of flora and fauna and spectacular views.
On the way down, enjoy a refreshing dip in the natural Jacuzzi pool.

After lunch (if weather permits) enjoy an extended hike to look for orangutan, birds and other wildlife along nature trails or go for a relaxing Water Tubing session down the Danum River.

As darkens falls, proceed for a guided night jungle walk in search of nocturnal species.

Overnight at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge.

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This morning enjoy a short jungle walk. After lunch, check out and transfer to Lahad Datu airport.

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