Wildlife of Borneo

DAY 1 – LONDON TO KOTA KINABALU

Overnight flight from London Heathrow to Kota Kinabalu, arriving the next day.

DAY 2 – KOTA KINABALU

Upon arrival, transfer to the Novotel Borneo for two nights. After an introductory meeting the rest of the day is at leisure.

DAY 3 – KOTA KINABALU

In the afternoon, enjoy an introductory tour of Kota Kinabalu, the State Capital of Sabah, visiting the Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village. Enjoy a drive around the city viewing landmarks such as Tun Mustapha Tower – a unique towering, circular, steel and glass building, the city and state mosques, and Tanjung Aru Beach. Spend some time at leisure before browsing colourful stalls at the handicraft market.

DAY 4 – KOTA KINABALU TO KINABALU NATIONAL PARK

Depart Kota Kinabalu and travel along Sabah’s Crocker Range to Poring Hot Springs at the Southern end of Kinabalu National Park. Lowland dipterocarp forest makes up most of the vegetation at Poring, and it is an excellent place to view lowland birds.

Cross a canopy walkway to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the tropical rainforest. In the event that the walkway is closed, you will visit the Tropical Garden which is home to a number of colourful exotic birds, deer and the elusive mouse deer. Spend two nights at the Kinabalu Pine Resort.

DAY 5 – KINABALU NATIONAL PARK

Explore Kinabalu National Park, a botanist’s paradise with over 1,000 species of orchids, numerous different rhododendrons and pitcher plants. Explore one of the many trails that lead through tropical Montane Oak and Chestnut Forest.

DAY 6 – KINABALU NATIONAL PARK TO SANDAKAN

After breakfast, proceed to the moving Kundasang War Memorial, which was built in 1962 in memory of the Australians and British POWs who died on the Sandakan Death Marches. Visit the memorial’s four beautiful gardens which represent the different nationalities of those that lost their lives.

Continue to the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Founded in 1964, the centre helps once-captive orangutans learn to climb and fend for themselves in the wild. Observe these delightful creatures from the free roaming area feeding platform. The semi-wild orangutans may return to the platform provided by the centre for milk and bananas twice a day during the process of returning to the forest.

Take a walk through the tropical lowland dipterocarp forest which is rich in biodiversity and home to a plethora of plant species, birds and mammals including the pygmy squirrel. Stay overnight at Sabah Hotel.

DAY 7 – SANDAKAN TO SUKAU RAINFOREST

Continue overland through scenic countryside to Sandakan jetty and proceed by boat to the village of Sukau by the Kinabatangan River. The area is rich in wildlife including orangutans, Bornean gibbons, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, hornbills and much more. After lunch at a jungle lodge take a boat trip to view the wildlife, looking out for the curious proboscis monkeys that gather by the river bank. Stay at Kinabatangan River Lodge or similar for the next 2 nights.

DAY 8 – SUKAU RAINFOREST

Rise early and travel by boat to the nearby Oxbow Lake. The lake is home to freshwater fish and otters – and you might even spot wild elephants. After lunch embark on another river cruise in search of wildlife.

DAY 9 – SUKAU RAINFOREST TO KOTA KINABALU

After breakfast, depart by boat to Sandakan. Following lunch transfer to the airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. Spend one night at the Novotel Borneo.

DAY 10 – KOTA KINABALU TO LONDON

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to London Heathrow.

NB: Please note that the itinerary may operate in a different order.

BORNEO BEACH

• DAY 9 – SUKAU RAINFOREST TO KOTA KINABALU
  Fly Malaysia Airlines to Kota Kinabalu and transfer to the Shangri-La Rasa Ria for a three night stay in a Superior rainforest room. Spend your time at leisure making the most of the fantastic opportunities this sublime resort has to offer. Explore the wilderness that envelopes the Rasa Ria, meet the Orang-utans that live in the resort’s nature reserve, try your hand at a round of golf, get out on the water with a range of watersports or just relax and unwind at the Spa at Dalit Bay (extra costs may apply for some activities).

• DAY 12 – KOTA KINABALU TO LONDON
  Transfer to the airport for you return flight to London Heathrow.

TURTLE ISLAND

• DAY 9 – SUKAU RAINFOREST TO TURTLE ISLAND
  Travel north by boat from Sandakan jetty to Turtle Island which lies in the Sulu Sea. Spend one night on this beautiful island at a chalet with basic facilities and swim or snorkel to explore the clear waters. In the evening observe an incredible natural spectacle as giant green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

• DAY 10 – TURTLE ISLAND TO SANDAKAN
  Return to Sandakan by boat and fly to Kota Kinabalu for a final night at the Novotel Borneo.

• DAY 11 – KOTA KINABALU TO LONDON
  Transfer to the airport for your return flight to London Heathrow.

TURTLE ISLAND & BORNEO BEACH

•  DAY 9 – SUKAU RAINFOREST TO TURTLE ISLAND
  Travel by boat to Turtle Island and the enchanting Turtle Island Resort for one night in a chalet.

• DAY 10 – TURTLE ISLAND TO KOTA KINABALU
  Return by boat and onto Sandakan airport for your Malaysia Airlines flight to Kota Kinabalu. Transfer to the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort for a three night stay. Spend your time here at leisure.

• DAY 13 – KOTA KINABALU
  Arrive at the airport for your return flight to London Heathrow.