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Highlights: Borneo evokes images of explorers in rafts and natives lurking in the shadows. Today, things have progressed but the feeling of adventure is still present. This tour starts off at Sarawak, where we get a brief orientation of the history and culture of Borneo.  Viewing the panoramic scenery of the forests, we will take a delightful longboat ride to an Iban longhouse. Discover the ancestral ways of living, enjoy dance performances and view and participate in the blow pipe demonstration. Proceed to Kota Kinabalu, take a boat ride to Gaya Island, and explore the jungle trail. Then transfer to Manukan island and experience snorkelling, and scuba diving. Visit the Kinabalu Park World Heritage site. Spend the last two days at Sukau Rainforest Lodge voted as one of the best eco-tourist destination in the world.

ITINERARY:

Tour Code: 11N BOR BET15

Ref No.: BB17

Day 1: Kuching
Arrive Kuching in the morning. Meet and transfer to hotel for check in.

Day 2: Kuching - City Tour (B)
Our city tour will take visitors past the main attractions such as the Chinatown, Cat monument, City Tower for a bird”s eye view of Kuching city, the Malay Houses on stilts, Old State Mosque, Main Bazaar, India Street, Gambier Road, Wet Market, Colonial Centre, Textile Museum, Chinese Museum, Kuching Waterfront to view Astana and Fort Margherita and Sarawak Museums. Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 3: Kuching - Lemanak River (BLD)
We depart from Kuching for a 4-hour drive through the scenic greenery of rainforest, fields of pepper and rubber. The first stop will be at Serian town where you will be taken to visit an excellent farmers” market. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant en route. Continue to drive to the Lemanak River where a delightful longboat ride takes you to the longhouse. Pay a courtesy visit to the headman of the longhouse before visiting the pepper garden and a brief exploration of the surrounding forest. In the evening a traditional style dinner sitting on the mat, will be served at the Headman”s room, followed by a night of traditional ceremonial dances and merry making. Overnight in the longhouse.

Day 4: Lemanak River - Kuching (BL)
After breakfast, witness and participate in the blow pipe demonstration. Then followed by a guided nature walk which give you an opportunity to learn about some medicinal plants, edible fruits and leaves, the agricultural activities of the community and some game traps used in the past for trapping animals. We will stop by the river beach for a backwoods style picnic lunch where our foods are cooked in bamboo. After lunch, depart by longboat down river and continue overland for your return journey to Kuching. Arrive Kuching in the evening for hotel check in and overnight.

Day 5: Kota Kinabalu (B)
Transfer from Kuching to airport for flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for overnight.

Day 6: Gaya - Manukan Island (B, Packed Lunch)
After breakfast, transfer to jetty for a half hour boat ride to Gaya Island. Put on your walking shoes and explore one of the jungle trails (45 minutes) among lowland rainforest, mangrove swamp and identify some unique floras and faunas. Transfer five minutes to Manukan Island for picnic lunch. Free at leisure to swim, snorkel or scuba dive before we transfer back to mainland and hotel.

Day 7: Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site (BLD)
Drive 2 hours overland (88 km) through paddy-fields and Dusun villages over the ridges of the Crocker Range to the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu at 5,000ft, to arrive at the park headquarters at Kundasang. Short stop at roadside stall to savour the taste of local fruits. Visit the Visitor Centre and Mountain Garden; home to some of the various species of flowering rhododendrons, carnivorous pitcher plants, orchids, ferns, oak trees and birds. Temperature at the park is around 14 - 25° C. Take a guided walk on one of the trails in the cool surrounding to observe the montane forest. Overnight in twin share room at Kundasang. 

Day 8: Poring - Sandakan (BLD)
Continue 40 km journey to Poring. Explore tropical rainforest among the jungle trail leading to the treetop canopy walkways suspended 41 meters above the forest floor (excludes camera/video fee). Proceed to Sabah Tea Garden to see tea plantation and lunch before we drive for about 4 hours to Sandakan on the east coast. Check in and overnight in hotel.

Day 9: Selingan Island (BLD)
Transfer to jetty for approximately 1 hour boat ride by speedboat to Selingan Island (40km). Check into chalet.  Free at leisure to explore island, swim and snorkel.  After dinner, wait for signal from the Park Ranger before we proceed in small groups to watch Green Turtle lay eggs on the beach, transplanting of eggs to hatchery and release of baby turtles to the sea.  This island is a park conservation area since 1977 and turtles have been nesting here every night throughout the year. Overnight in twin share room. Note:Photographing turtles are strictly prohibited between 6pm - 6am.

Day 10: Sepilok - Sukau (BLD)
Return to Sandakan by boat. Proceed to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre for video show. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the orang utans at 1000hrs. Continue to Sandakan jetty for boat journey to Sukau Rainforest Lodge along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan with opportunity to view birds and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. Late afternoon take a river cruise using electric motor in search of some of the 10 primate species including Proboscis monkeys as they settle down on treetops along the Kinabatangan River. Return for solar heated hot shower, candle light dinner and slide show conducted by naturalist guide. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. 

Sukau Rainforest Lodge
The 20 rooms lodge was built in 1995 in traditional Malaysian architecture using several Borneo hardwood species. It is built on stilts with a lounge, gift shop, education centre, Hornbill Boardwalk with two elephant passes, three open deck for wildlife viewing, an enclosed garden, a riverside Melapi restaurant, open sun-deck, river jetty. Electricity is supplied by acoustic generator, and hot water by solar heaters. All rooms are twin bedded, with ceiling fan, mosquito netting, attached bathroom, hot shower and toilets. River tours are conducted by boats powered by electric motors and four stoke outboard engines. Birdlife is especially rich here including eight species of hornbills, kingfishers, egrets, darters, owls, kites, eagles, broadbills, doves, storm storks, herons, hawks, ospreys, falcon, pheasants, parakeets, bee eaters, woodpeckers, pittas, bulbuls, forktails, babblers, warblers, flycatchers, orioles, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters, among others.

Day 11: Sukau (BLD)
Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. A 0600hrs 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). Experience the wilderness of Borneo. You have the option to visit our 64 acres Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Program (KWICORP) site to learn about reforestation of degraded riverine reserve. In the afternoon, we proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife. After dinner an optional (at a surcharge) night safari cruise spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Day 12: Departure (BL)
After breakfast, return to Sandakan by boat journey. Have lunch before we proceed for a short tour of Sandakan town including the Australian War Memorial. Transfer to airport for late afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Tour Cost: RM (Ringgit) 4815.00 per person. Minimum 2 persons. Single Supplement @ RM 1253.00 per person

Valid till 31st March 2009.

2-8 pax will be on joining basis. 9pax plus will be a private group.

Single traveller is charged at a minimum of 2 person.

Private tour for 2-8 person could be arranged at 100% surcharge.

A surcharge of 100% will be imposed for airport/hotel transfer between 2300hrs - 0600hrs.

Includes:
Tours and transfers
Accommodations and meals specified
Entrance fees
English speaking guide

Excludes:
Domestic airfare
Camera fee
Items not mentioned above

Introduction     Top Attractions     Other Attractions     Borneo

Itineraries:

5 Days Sukau-Tabin wildlife experience