Borneo Sampler 8 Day Tour

BORNEO SAMPLER 8 DAY TOUR

SARAWAK AND SABAH

Tour Code: BTS 8

Day 1Take 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 the Kuching Hilton Hotel which lies close to the Sarawak River in the middle of the town – depending on arrival time, have the remainder of the day at leisure or get some rest.

Day 2Your first full day in Borneo. Morning tour of the sights of Kuching City – reputedly the cleanest city in Malaysia. 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 the Kuching Hilton Hotel (Breakfast included)

Day 3Travel from Kuching, about a one hour 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. Remainder of day at leisure. (Breakfast and Lunch included) Day 4 Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. You will be met at the airport an transferred to Shangri-la’s Tanjung Aru Resort. After arrival at your hotel, perhaps you might like to grab a bite to eat, then take in the local sights which the modern city of Kota Kinabalu has to offer. The KK highlights tour includes 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. Return to the Tanjung Aru Resort. (Breakfast included)

Day 5A 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 and 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) and if time permits, enjoy a soak in one of the hot baths built by the Japanese during World War II. 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 6Early morning transfer to the airport from your hotel for flight to Sandakan. On arrival at Sandakan Airport around 08.00 hrs, you will be met and transferred to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre for an audio visual presentation (25 mins.) in the theatrette. Walk ten minutes through the rainforest on timber boardwalks to witness the feeding of the orang-utans which takes place at 10.00hrs. You will have plenty of time to watch the orang-utans until they disappear back into the jungle.

Next on your itinerary is a visit to see the world’s most smallest bear! The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is located next to the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre. The mission of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) is to rescue sun bears from deforestation, commercial hunting and the pet trade, and promote their conservation to return sun bears to the forest. There are currently 37 rescued bears living at the BSBCC. The centre is equipped with key facilities including an observation platform, boardwalk and a visitor centre.After lunch, transfer by road to Bilit Lodge, located on the Sabah’s longest river, the Kinabatangan River – 560 km in length. This area is home to the 10 species of primates namely Proboscis monkeys, langurs, macaques, orang-utan, slow loris, western tarsier, all 8 species of hornbills found in Borneo, such as Rhinoceros Hornbill, Pied Hornbill, Black Hornbill, Helmeted Hornbill (50kg, 120cm), kingfishers, bubuls, trogons, flycatchers, sunbirds, broadbills, herons, mangrove snakes, vipers, estuarine crocodile, Borneo pygmy elephants and much more wildlife. Arrive at Bilit around 15.00 hrs, check into your accommodation.

You will have time for afternoon tea and some local nibbles, prior to a short briefing by the nature guide. Around 16.00 hrs, you will head off on a river cruise along the Kinabatangan River in search of some of the 10 primate species, including Proboscis monkeys, as they settle down on treetops for the night along the banks of the River.Return to the lodge for dinner and the night After dinner an optional night walk can be arranged – pay at the lodge – spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds. [includes Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner]

Day 7Wake up to the calls of gibbons and birds and start the day with an early river cruise at about 06.00 hrs. After the 1 hour boat cruise, proceed back to Bilit Lodge for breakfast. After breakfast – about 08.30 hrs, depart Bilit for Gomantong Cave to explore the largest limestone and bird nests cave in Sabah, where millions of swiftlets make the cave their home. After the tour to the cave, return to Sandakan by road for lunch. Sandakan was the capital city of North Borneo until the Second World War. The city was also the starting point for the Australian 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). There is little left of the city as it was, as the town was heavily bombed during the war.

After lunch (around 13.00 hrs) you will transfer to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (about 30 minutes from Sandakan). Proceed to the canopy walk for a spot of bird watching – you may catch sight of the Hornbill. You will also be taken on a short walk along a constructed trail through the jungle – about 45 minutes; and then on to the botanical garden.From the Rainforest Discovery Centre, you will be transferred to the Australian war memorial at the World War II Japanese Prisoner of War camp. You will be able to visit the information gallery and also walk the loop trail. Transfer to your accommodation for the night – Sandakan Four Points by Sheraton, where you will check in to a Deluxe Sea View room.

[Breakfast and Lunch included]Day 8 A half day tour to visit Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a perfect observation spot for anyone who would like to have a closer look at these very unique primates. The sanctuary is located at the centre of a mangrove forest along the coastal land near Samawang Village at Labuk Bay, near Sandakan. If you like taking close up pictures of the Proboscis Monkey, this is one of the best places for it. Currently there are 3 family groups and 1 bachelor group in the sanctuary. You will also have a chance to see Silver Leaf Monkey, Pig tailed Macaque, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Otter, White-bellied Woodpecker and Kingfishers too. Return to Sandakan and head to the airport for your flight to your next destination. Flights depart Sandakan, usually via Kota Kinabalu for Kuala Lumpur throughout the day. [Breakfast included] Note that it may also be possible to spend your final night in Kota Kinabalu if you wish, so that your final day would be in KK. Ask your consultant for a revised quotation if this option is of interest to you. 
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