14 Day Tour - The Best of Borneo
Tour Code: BTS 14Day 1
Take your flight to South-East Asia and on to Kuching in magical, mystical Borneo. Kuching, the capital of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak, can be accessed by flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other towns and cities in Borneo. Flights to Kuching from Kuala Lumpur arrive throughout the day.
You will be met at the airport and transferred to Kuching Hilton Hotel - depending on arrival time, have the remainder of the day at leisure or get some rest.
Day 2
Your first full day in Borneo. Morning tour of the sights of Kuching City - purported to be the cleanest city in Malaysia. Discover the charms of the city, as well as spending some time uncovering the past and pondering the future at the world famous Sarawak Museum, completed in 1891, which is definitely one of the best museums in the whole of South-East Asia. In the city centre, see buildings dating back to the time of the white Rajahs, ancient Chinese temples and colourful markets displaying the produce which first brought the traders to Borneo.
Overnight at Kuching Hilton. (includes breakfast)
Day 3
Travel from Kuching, about an hour's journey by coach/mini bus, to Anah Rais, located in the heart of the Padawan District (about 40 km from Kuching). Anah Rais is the largest Bidayuh longhouse which exists in Sarawak. Explore this peaceful Bidayuh village and learn about the culture of the Land Dayaks who were once headhunters. Visit the baruk (headhouse) where skulls can be seen.
Return to Kuching and spend the afternoon at leisure. Overnight at Kuching Hilton. (includes breakfast and lunch)
Day 4
Spend the day visiting Sarawak's oldest National Park at Bako. Travel about 35 km out of Kuching to Bako village. From Bako village, it is a 25 minute boat trip to the park situated in a peninsula. Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in a natural surrounding. It is home to a variety of wildlife including long tail Macaques, Proboscis monkeys, wild boars, monitor lizards, and numerous species of birds.
Return to Kuching mid-afternoon. Overnight at Kuching Hilton. (Breakfast, and Lunch included)
Day 5
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Mulu Caves. Flight schedules vary depending on the day of the week - you may fly direct or via the oil town of Miri. You will be met on arrival and transferred to Royal Mulu Resort. Gunung Mulu, as it is known locally, is the gem of Sarawak's national parks and contains the largest limestone cave system in the world. The park is now a recognised World Heritage listed area.
Mulu's system of caves is truly spectacular. The world's largest natural chamber (Sarawak Chamber), the world's largest cave passage (Deer Cave) and the longest cave in South-East Asia (Clearwater Cave) are all found at Mulu. Tour the Deer and Lang's Caves on your first afternoon and evening in Mulu National Park. (Breakfast and Dinner included)
Day 6
Morning tour the Wind and Clearwater Caves and enjoy a picnic lunch and perhaps a swim in the mountain stream. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent at your leisure. There is plenty to see and do above ground, without having to venture into the caves.
The park contains 15 different types of forest - including mixed dipterocarp, heath, peat swamp, moss forest and montane vegetation - and thousands of species of ferns, fungi, mosses and flowering plants, including 170 species of wild orchid and 10 species of pitcher plant. Mulu's wildlife is as rich as its flora, and is inhabited by an impressive variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and other invertebrates. Spend the night at Royal Mulu Resort (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
Day 7
Transfer to Kota Kinabalu. Depending on flight schedules, you may fly direct from Mulu to KK, or alternatively, via the oil town of Miri on the coast. This will depend on flight schedules which vary from day to day. You will be met at the airport on arrival in KK, and transferred to Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort. After checking into your hotel in KK, spend the remainder of the day at leisure. (Breakfast included)
Day 8
A full day trip to Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs. Enjoy the vista of the jungle covered mountains and valleys as you proceed up to the base of South-East Asia's highest mountain. Near the base of Mt Kinabalu, you will find a local Tamu or market, where you will be able to stop to look at the variety of goods on sale.
You will proceed on to the Springs where you will be able to take a "canopy walk" through the canopy of a rainforest, (the canopy walk is generally closed for a few weeks in April for maintenance - check at time of booking) before returning to the hot baths which were built by the Japanese. If time permits, you may be able to enjoy a soak in one of the hot baths. At Kinabalu National Park World Heritage Site, visit the Education Centre and Mountain Garden, home to various species of the flowering rhododendrons, carnivorous pitcher plants and orchids. You will be taken on a guided walk through the botanical gardens at the park.
Return to Kota Kinabalu, arriving at Tanjung Aru Resort in the late afternoon. (Breakfast and Lunch included)
Day 9
from Tenom to Beaufort
Note that due to railway maintenance, this part of the the tour will be done by road until further notice. We have not been provided with a date for resumption of service at this stage. We believe that the train should begin running later this year (2010)
Lunch at Tenom before visiting
the Agricultural Park (closed on Mondays) at Lagud Sebrang, showcasing gardens, tropical fruits, beverage plants (eg
coffee, cocoa etc.)and spices
at Lagud Sebrang. Continue by road 46km to the town of Keningau where you will check in to the Perkasa Hotel Keningau for
the night. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
Day 10
After breakfast, continue to Tambunan before crossing the Crocker Range. Visit the Rafflesia Centre (located at an altitude of 1,200 m). At the Rafflesia Centre you will have one of the best opportunities to see the largest flower in the world in bloom. Even if no flowers are open, you will certainly find some Rafflesia buds. From Tambunan, return by road over the ridges of the Croker Range to Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu. (Breakfast and Lunch included)
Day 11
Morning transfer the airport for your flight to Sandakan. You will be met at the airport and driven to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre for for an audio visual presentation in the theatrette. Then walk ten minutes through the rainforest on timber boardwalks to witness the feeding of the orang-utans at 10.00hrs. You will have plenty of time to watch the orang-utans until they disappear back into the jungle. Return to Sandakan for lunch, then on to Sandakan jetty for a 2 hour boat trip to Sukau Rainforest Lodge, along Sabah's longest river, the Kinabatangan River, with opportunity to view birds and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. Check into the lodge on arrival. In the late afternoon, you will be taken on a jungle river tour along a tributary of the Kinabatangan River to see the Proboscis Monkeys readying themselves for the night. If you are lucky, you may even see a herd of elephant, together with a whole range of other animals - including wild orang-utans, and birds.
Return to Sukau Rainforest Lodge for the night. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
Please note that Sukau Rainforest Lodge will be undergoing extensive renovations to upgrade all its facilities from 01 January 2010 through to 31 March 2010. During this period, only half the rooms at Sukau will be operational, while all other sectors of operations will run as usual. We ask for your understanding during this period. Disturbance to guests will be limited as most building material will be prefabricated at the factory for easy assembly on site.
The new Sukau Rainforest Lodge will offer guests added facilities which will enhance their jungle experience
Day 12
A morning departure to return to Sandakan by boat. Arrive in Sandakan in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon Sandakan city tour, including the water village, The Agnes Keith House and The Australian War Memorial located in the World War II POW Camp. Sandakan was the capital city of North Borneo until the Second World War. Sandakan was also the starting point for the Death March to Ranau, near Mt Kinabalu, towards the end of the War, in which 6 men out of a total 2400 survived. (Refer to Australians in Borneo During WW II for further information).
Return to the airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. You will be met on arrival and transferred to Tanjung Aru Resort
for the night. (Breakfast and Lunch included)
Day 13
Transfer across to Manukan Island for a picnic lunch. Relax, snorkel and free at leisure before returning to KK around mid-afternoon.
Return to your hotel for the night. (Breakfast and Lunch included)
Day 14
At leisure until your transfer to the airport for your flight to your next destination (home???) (Breakfast included)
Prices:
| Tour Code | Itinerary | Duration | Inclusions | Joining Point | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTS14 | The Best of Borneo | 14 days/13 nights | Transfers, Accommodation, internal flights, meals indicated | Kuching | $5685 | $3180 | $3020 |
Accommodation is based on hotels, resorts and lodges indicated in itinerary.
Tour prices based on twin share or triple share (in the case of three people). Single supplement will apply if separate rooms are required.
High Season Rates apply to some accommodation during Easter, July/August, December/January and Chinese New Year - please contact us for details.
Photographs on this page are courtesy of Phil Youdale, Sarawak Tourism, and Albert Teo