Mary Rose's 18 Day Best of Borneo Tour

Tour Code: BTS 14 -->

Day 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 Malaysian and Brunei 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.

Spend the afternoon at your leisure to look for local handicrafts and artefacts in the traders' street known as Main Bazaar near the Sarawak River waterfront.

Overnight at Kuching Hilton. (includes breakfast)

Day 3

Depart Kuching about 08.15 hrs, and drive for about an hour by coach/mini bus, to Anah Rais, which located in the heart of the Padawan District (about 40 km from Kuching). Along the way, stop at Semenggoh Wildlife Reserve to observe the feeding of the orang-utans. Continue your trip by road to Anah Rais, which is the largest Bidayuh longhouse in existence 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

Early 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 (Mount) 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 (mountain view room). 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, 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

The start of a two day trip which takes you across the Crocker Range. Drive about 2 hours overland to Beaufort which lies on the coast to the South of Kota Kinabalu. Board Borneo's last remaining commercial train for the two hour journey to Tenom via the scenic Padas Gorge, passing tropical lowland rainforest, rubber plantations and native villages. 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

Early morning transfer the airport for your flight to Sandakan. You will be met at the airport, and half of the group will transfer to Sandakan Jetty for the boat trip to Turtle Island, while the remainder of the group will transfer to Sabah Hotel, and then to Labuk Bay - you will be picked up from the hotel at approximately 10.00hrs and proceed overland to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, in time of the feeding at about 11.30 hrs. Return to Sandakan - arriving back at your hotel around 13.00 hrs. Remainder of day at leisure.

For the other group:
Turtle Island is about 40km out of Sandakan. On arrival, check into chalet. Free at leisure to explore island, swim and snorkel for the rest of the day.

After dinner, wait for the signal from the Park Ranger before proceeding in small groups to watch the Green Turtle lay eggs on the beach, the transplanting of eggs to the hatchery, and the release of baby turtles to the sea. The island has been part of a park conservation area since 1977, and turtles nest here every night throughout the year. Overnight in Twin Share room. (Lunch and Dinner included)

Photographing turtles is strictly prohibited between 18.00 hrs and 06.00 hrs.

Day 12

Return to Sandakan by boat. You will be met at the jetty and transferred to Sabah Hotel for your day at leisure.

Those who spent the day in Sandakan will transfer to the jetty for your day at Turtle Island - refer to itinerary for Day 11.

Day 13

Those on Turtle Island return to Sandakan by boat. Proceed together to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre for for an audio visual presentation in the theatrette (the presentation may also be done after the feeding - depending on schedules). 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)

Day 14

Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. A 06.00hrs morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to view more birds and wildlife. Proceed to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake for a short jungle walk (if weather permits). The area is known for its herd of Asian elephants. Experience the wilderness of Borneo. In the afternoon, proceed on another river cruise in search of more wildlife. Wild Orang-utan are often encountered on this cruise. After dinner, an optional (at a surcharge) night safari cruise spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds.

Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner inclulded)

Day 15

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, the English Tea 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 (the airstrip was originally built by the POWs for the Japanese) 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 16

Spend your last full day in Borneo visiting the Islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the main jetty in KK. Transfer about 20 minutes from the KK jetty to Gaya Island. Explore one of the 2 km jungle treks and learn about some of the unique medicinal plants, tropical hardwood trees, coastal vegetation, tropical dipterocarp rainforest and the ecology of the mangrove forest.

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 17

A day of leisure in Kota Kinabalu. (free morning city tour for those who are interested (minimum 2 people) - advise at time of booking).

The tour of the city includes the main city area as well as the Sembulan Water villages in the vicinity of the City. Tour highlights include a trip to the Signal Hill lookout for a picturesque view of the city, off-shore islands and surrounding areas, Kampung Likas, Likas Bay and the Tun Mustapha Tower (former Sabah Foundation Building), Po Toh Tze Buddhist Temple, the Sabah Museum, the State Mosque, and Tanjung Aru Beach and hawker stalls. Please note that the State Mosque and the State Museum are closed on Fridays.

Overnight at Tanjung Aru Resort (includes breakfast)

Day 18

At leisure until transfer to the airport for your flight home (Breakfast included)

Prices:

Itinerary	Duration	Inclusions	Joining Point	min 10 people	single supplement
The Best of Borneo	18 days/17 nights	Transfers, Accommodation, internal flights, meals indicated, tours	Kuching	$4115	$1300

Prices per person in Australian Dollars and valid to 31 December 2009
Accommodation is based on hotels, resorts and lodges indicated in itinerary.
Tour prices based on twin share accommodation (and minimum 10 people on tour).
Single supplement will apply if separate rooms are required.
Price based on all people arriving in Kuching together, and departing from KK together

Photographs on this page are courtesy of Phil Youdale, Sarawak Tourism, Sabah Tourism and Albert Teo