Listen to the sounds of monkeys and orangutans making their way through the forests. Watch turtles lay their eggs on the beach, then release some of the new hatchlings into the wild. Delve into lush rainforest and mangrove swamps and travel like the locals aboard a traditional longboat. All these exciting adventures and more await you on the exotic island of Borneo.

• Travelling - 1 to 2
  

  Fly via Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, Borneo, arriving the next day. With their insider knowledge of this fascinating country, your Tour Guide will be an invaluable aide to your discoveries. They will introduce you to the various culinary delights, including various seafood and rice dishes, as well as pointing you in the direction of bazaars and the best places to find handicrafts. Overnight Kuching.

• From mangroves to monkeys - 3
  

  By stepping into the Bako National Park, you are stepping into the one place in Borneo you can see the widest variety of wildlife and the most impressive range of landscapes. Reachable only by boat, Bako is special in that unlike many other landlocked national parks, it boasts a coastline dotted with rocky outcrops and picture-perfect white sandy beaches, all sitting harmoniously against the backdrop of lush rainforest and mangrove swamps. For such a small national park, Bako is home to an impressive range of flora and fauna and as you venture into the heart of it, you’ll most likely come across some of the endangered proboscis monkeys that reside here, or maybe some long-tailed macaques, silvered langur monkeys, monitor lizards or plantain squirrels. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times and you’re sure to be rewarded with some wonderful sights, sounds and photo opportunities. This afternoon, we will be joined by a representative from the Kuching State Government Wildlife Department for an exclusive, informal talk. Overnight Kuching.

• Beautiful Batang Ai - 4
  

  Sometimes the journey can be just as thrilling as the destination, and that could certainly be said for the journey to Batang Ai. You’ll travel through stunning landscapes, passing cocoa and rubber plantations, stopping at a pepper garden and visiting a local market selling a variety of jungle produce before arriving at the reservoir. Although this is an artificial lake, created by flooding a valley back in the 1980s, you would be forgiven for thinking it had always been here, as its green waters tend to blend effortlessly into the dense jungle vegetation. Overnight Batang Ai.

• Travelling like the locals - 5
  

  One of the first things you’ll notice about Batang Ai Reservoir is the amount of traditional longboats that travel up and down it, taking both people and produce between the villages that line its shores. No visit is complete without a trip on one, so sit back as you are escorted across the reservoir and along the Engkari River to a local Iban community where you’ll have the opportunity to try the local rice wine or ‘tuak’. Overnight Batang Ai.

• Exploring the Cat City - 6
  

  Divided by the Sarawak River and a melting pot of Chinese and Malay culture, Kuching is a vibrant and fascinating city. Kuching means cat in Malay and you’ll see symbols of this throughout the city, there’s even a cat museum you can visit in your own time! Look out for the traditional kampong houses and don’t miss the charming waterfront, which is a hive of activity. Overnight Kuching.

• Travelling - 7
  

  Fly to Sandakan via Kota Kinabalu. Then kick back, relax and enjoy the hotel facilities, or maybe wander into the town. Overnight Sandakan.

• On the trail of turtles in Selingan - 8
  

  There are only seven species of turtle in the world, and all of them are endangered. Two of those seven, the green and hawksbill turtles, frequent the shores of Selingan Island – no wonder the island has become more commonly known as Turtle Island. Being one of the privileged visitors to stay overnight on the island, you will be able to witness the turtles laying their eggs on the beaches under the cover of darkness. Quietly watching these jurassic creatures without disturbing them, you will not only be invited to witness the turtles lay their eggs in the sand, but also to release some of the turtle hatchlings back into the wild. Stephen Fry visited the turtles of Selingan for his programme ‘Last Chance to See’ which was televised in 2009, and as he watched them speed across the sand towards the sea, he said: “I’ve never seen anything quite so magical in all my life.” The turtle lodge where you will be staying is simple yet comfortable and just adds to the experience. Overnight Selingan Island.

• Be amazed at the human likeness of orangutans - 9
  

  Think of Borneo and you’ll automatically think of orangutans. In fact, Borneo and Sumatra are the only places in the world that you find these amazing creatures in the wild. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is a sanctuary for orphaned and injured orangutans and a visit here gives you the opportunity to see them up close during one of their feeding times. You’ll be amazed by the intelligence and human-like qualities of these gentle red apes, and you’ll soon see why their name translates to ‘Man of the Forest.’ Originally set up to care for orphaned orangutans, the centre now rescues both adults and babies from logging sites, plantations and illegal hunting. And after being brought back to health and taught, or re-taught, basic skills such as foraging for food and climbing, they are released into the wild where they belong. The sanctuary is set amidst dense rainforest which gives the orangutans both a natural and a safe environment to live in and you are sure to come away with lasting memories from this special place and particularly of these loveable creatures. Your day ends with a relaxing river cruise through mangrove forests. Overnight Kinabatangan.

• Birds and crocodiles - 10
  

  Imagine drifting serenely along the Kinabatangan River, keeping your eyes peeled for crocodiles lurking just below the water’s surface, monkeys swinging high above or birds soaring overhead. This is one of Malaysia’s longest and most interesting rivers and as you cruise along it, you’ll come to the Ox Bow Lake. Once part of the river, it is now severed from the main flow forming a lake and a haven for wildlife. More amazing birdlife can also be found at the Gomantong limestone caves where millions of bats and swiflet birds nest. Look up and see if you can spot the nests. Overnight Kinabatangan.

• Kota Kinabalu and travelling - 11 to 12
  

  Before flying home, discover the colourful Puh Jih Syh Chinese Buddhist Temple, which sits some 300m above Sandakan Bay. The views from here are incredible. You will arrive back in the UK the following day.

Accommodation

• Kuching Hilton, Kuching (4-Star) – 3 Nights
• Batang Ai Longhouse Resort, Batang Ai (3.5-Star) – 2 Nights
• Sabah Hotel, Sandakan (3-Star) – 1 Night
• Park Chalets, Selingan (2-Star) – 1 Night
• Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge, Kinabatangan (3-Star) – 2 Nights

Occasionally it may be necessary to use alternative accommodation of the same standard.

• Flights are scheduled services of
• Flights depart at 12:00 am and return at 5:50 am

Includes

Not Included