Borneo family holiday to see Orangutans
| country: | Malaysia, Borneo |
| location: | Sabah & Sarawak |
| departures: | 2009: 19 Dec 2010: 3 Apr, 24 Jul, 14 Aug, 18 Dec 2011: 9 Apr, 23 Jul, 13 Aug, 17 Dec |
| price: | From £1969 - £2519 (12 days) per adult and from £1799 - £2249 per child including flights from the UK. From £1199 - £1739 per adult and from £1199 - £1659 per child excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 3 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
A trip to grab the imagination; explore tropical forests, meet Iban tribespeople and come face to face with orang-utans - a real adventure in the heart of Borneo
Kuching
First stop is a city tour to discover the charms of this riverine city established by the first White Rajah of Sarawak. Old Chinese temples and colorful markets dot almost every corner.
Iban Headhunters
In Bako NP you walk trails and look for wild boar, monitor lizards and proboscis monkeys. Set off by road and longboat deep into Sarawak, where with your Iban hosts you'll hike jungle trails, try Iban-style fishing and swim at a waterfall, giving you a true picture of Iban lifestyle, culture and hospitality.
Jungle & Treehouses
Next, head for the shore of the South China Sea to a retreat at the foot of Santubong Mountain. Unique treehouse accommodation is a real winner with the kids.
Orang-utans & River Cruises
Travel to Sepilok - home of the orang-utan rehabilitation project where you'll learn about this endangered animal. The Kinabatangan river has a vast array of birdlife, wildlife and flora and fauna. You will cruise the river and have time to enjoy the best of this incredible location. End your adventure at Kota Kinabalu, where you can enjoy a snorkelling trip to beautiful coral islands or go white water rafting (both optional).
Kuching
First stop is a city tour to discover the charms of this riverine city established by the first White Rajah of Sarawak. Old Chinese temples and colorful markets dot almost every corner.
Iban Headhunters
In Bako NP you walk trails and look for wild boar, monitor lizards and proboscis monkeys. Set off by road and longboat deep into Sarawak, where with your Iban hosts you'll hike jungle trails, try Iban-style fishing and swim at a waterfall, giving you a true picture of Iban lifestyle, culture and hospitality.
Jungle & Treehouses
Next, head for the shore of the South China Sea to a retreat at the foot of Santubong Mountain. Unique treehouse accommodation is a real winner with the kids.
Orang-utans & River Cruises
Travel to Sepilok - home of the orang-utan rehabilitation project where you'll learn about this endangered animal. The Kinabatangan river has a vast array of birdlife, wildlife and flora and fauna. You will cruise the river and have time to enjoy the best of this incredible location. End your adventure at Kota Kinabalu, where you can enjoy a snorkelling trip to beautiful coral islands or go white water rafting (both optional).
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London Overnight flight to Kuching. |
| Day 2: | Arrive Kuching After your flight you’ll transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. Kuching is famous as the one-time home and capital of James Brooke, the so-called ‘white rajah’ whose family ruled Sarawak for 100 years. Escaping the ravages of WWII, Kuching’s charm lies largely in the fact that many of the city’s historic 19th century buildings survive. A city tour helps you to explore the main sights. The Sarawak Museum is arguably the city’s main attraction, both for its content and building itself (the largest colonial structure in Kuching). Artefacts include old Iban totems and woodcarvings. A highlight for the kids will surely be the mock Iban longhouse, which they can climb into and learn about the tribal way-of-life. You will also visit the Civic Centre viewing tower and learn about the feline world in the Cat Museum! Hotel - 1 night |
| Day 3: | Nanga Sumpa Heading out of the city and into the famous Borneo wilderness, you drive to Batang Ai Reservoir – heartland of the longhouse communities. The drive takes about 4 ½ hours. Journeying through the centre of rural Sarawak, you’ll pass pepper gardens, and cocoa and rubber plantations en route. You will hopefully also make a few stops along the way, and visit Serian where a variety of jungle produce is on display. Upon arrival at Batang Ai, you travel by longboat to Nanga Sumpa. Journeying by longboat in Borneo’s interior is an unforgettable experience - be prepared to get wet; it may even be necessary to do some wading if the river is low! After dinner, you’ll cross the river to the Iban longhouse. The Iban people live in isolated longhouses - a single longhouse may be home to as many as thirty families. Until fairly recently the Iban were feared as head-hunters, who killed their victims with blowpipes; these days they are far more hospitable – the only danger for the adults is sampling the local rice wine! Your Group Leader will brief you on how to behave while with the Iban so as not to cause any offence. Jungle lodge – 2 nights (multi-share accommodation) (BLD) |
| Day 4: | Nanga Sumpa Today you can enjoy walking on trails through the dense jungle. You’ll also get another chance to ride in a longboat to Enseluai Waterfall, where there’s time to swim, relax or maybe try Iban-style fishing. You return to the lodge this evening where you again stay overnight. (BLD) |
| Day 5: | Bako National Park This morning you make your final longboat journey, and then drive, via Kuching, to Bako village - a total journey time of about 4 ½ hours. From the village, it’s a further 25-minute boat ride to the park. Located on the lovely Muara Tebas Peninsula, the park comprises of a variety of wildlife habitats. The various types of animals that could be spotted include proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, long tail macaques, wild boars, monitor lizards and many birds. You’ll spend time exploring the jungle trails, which can be adapted so that you don’t get too tired - and, of course, so wildlife spotting opportunities are maximised. Tonight you will spot wildlife from your jungle lodge.Jungle lodge (multi-share accommodation) (BLD) |
| Day 6-7: | Damai Rainforest Returning this morning to Kuching by road and river, you then continue to the Santubong Peninsula, a journey of no more than 50 minutes. The peninsula is shadowed by the 810m peak of Gunung Santubong, which provides a magnificent backdrop to lovely Damai beach. With a full free day here there is plenty of time to relax and swim. However if you are looking to be a bit more active then why not hire a sea-kayak or explore the many waterfalls, streams and gently undulating hills on foot. Hotel – 2 nights (Bx2,Lx1) |
| Day 8: | Sepilok - Orang-utan Reserve Today it’s an early morning drive to the airport for your three-hour flight to Sandkan in Sabah. Your arrival will be in time for a visit to see the orang-utans when it’s feeding time. Sepilok reserve is one of only three of its kind in the world. This important retreat was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate these wonderful creatures and then reintroduce them into the wild after a careful programme of nurture. Today there are only about 10,000 orang-utans left in the wild, living in Borneo and Sumatra. Orang-utans can grow to more than 1.5m in height, living to be thirty years old. You’ll be able to watch these fascinating primates as they swing from the trees, whilst learning important lessons about wildlife protection; the sight of your first orang-utan is bound to be a real thrill. Lodge - 1 night (B) |
| Day 9: | Turtle Island Taking an early morning transfer to the jetty, you cross to Turtle Island by speedboat, past fishing villages and bamboo fish traps, heading out into the Sulu Sea. Virtually every night of the year giant green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs - an incredible sight! Waddling up the beach, they bury their eggs and then skedaddle back to the sea as quickly as they can. Rangers take the eggs for incubation to prevent hungry rats destroying them. This is a fascinating, but very delicate environment, so please follow your Group Leader's instructions to ensure minimal impact on the turtles. There is also time for swimming or relaxing on this idyllic tropical island; snorkelling gear is available to hire. Chalet – 1 night (BLD) |
| Day 10: | Kota Kinabalu Returning to the mainland by boat, you continue to Kota Kinabalu by plane. The modernity of the town comes as a bit of a shock after being in the wilderness for so long! ‘KK’, as it is known locally, is a sprawling, relaxed town on the west coast of Sabah. There may be some time to start exploring the city this afternoon – the hotel is located 30 minutes from town - or simply relax by the hotel’s pool. Hotel – 2 nights (Swimming Pool) (B) |
| Day 11: | Kota Kinabalu During your stay in Kota Kinabalu you’ll have the opportunity to visit the beautiful coral islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, just 15 minutes boat ride from the city, on an optional snorkelling excursion. Offering pristine white beaches, clear water and coral reefs, this is the ultimate city escape and an idyllic end to your jungle adventure! Or you could choose to explore on your own; there are many parks and colourful markets for you to discover, or if you’re in need of culture try the Sabah State Museum. This evening you can dine in one of Kota Kinabalu’s many restaurants, and reflect on the many highlights of the trip! (B) |
| Day 12: | Return flight to London Passengers travelling on our group flights transfer to the airport for the return flight to London. (B) |
| Day 13-15: | Optional Mount Kinabalu trek extension Day 1-10 As main itinerary. Day 11 Today you set off for the headquarters of Mt. Kinabalu National Park. Overlooking the whole of Sabah, the massif of Mt. Kinabalu (4,095 metres) - the highest mountain in Southeast Asia - stands partly hidden in swirling mist and cloud. You stay overnight at the park headquarters. Basic resthouse (multi-share with bunks) - 1 night (B) Day 12 You begin your ascent just after breakfast, carrying what you need for the night and the next day in your daypacks. Kinabalu provides the enthusiastic and fit trekker with a challenge; the ascent is not easy, as the majority of the trail is up steep, irregular steps (it’s not getting any easier either, as the mountain rises by approximately five centimetres each year!). You are well-guided up the mountain; the trek time obviously depends on the abilities of the adults and children in the group. As you climb, you leave the rainforest behind and enter a region of sub-alpine vegetation with an extraordinary diversity of plant life. Finally, after a trek of approximately 6km, you reach your night stop - 3,300m above sea level. Basic resthouse (multi-share accommodation with bunks) - 1 night (B) Day 13 Rising well before dawn, you make the steep ascent to the summit – aiming to arrive in time for sunrise. You start to feel the effect of altitude, so the pace is slow and steady. Stopping regularly to catch your breath gives you an opportunity to take in the magnificent views on all sides. From the granite summit, you are rewarded with a panorama of a wide expanse of undulating emerald jungle to one side and the glittering, azure blue of the South China Sea to the other. Don't underestimate the early morning cold at this height: a warm hat, thermal underwear and a warm fleece are essential, as are gloves! After returning to the lodge for breakfast, you continue back down to the base and to Kota Kinabalu. Hotel - 2 nights (Swimming Pool) Day 14 A final free day in Kota Kinabulu gives you the opportunity to explore or relax and reflect on a fantastic trip. (B) Day 15 Passengers taking our group flights transfer to the airport for the return flight to London. (B) |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
travellers' tales
It was a fantastic holiday and I felt that we were away for much longer than we actually were. We got to visit amazing places and it felt like an adventure but at all times it was stress-free and safe (which really helps when travelling with young children). (more)
small group family holiday
This is a 'small group family adventure' - typically you will join several other families and travel in a group of approx. 16 people. The trips are great value and a great way for you and your children to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of time to yourselves. Most adventure kids tend to be aged between 7 and 15, but some are younger (minimum age is usually 5) and some older (perhaps travelling as part of a larger family group). Please check with the operator to confirm the minimum age for this trip how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: Your stay near to Batang Ai, heartland of the longhouse communities, helps to create a mutual appreciation of cultures and an evening with the Iban people is very rewarding. There’s lots of opportunity to interact with the local people, plus to learn about the foods, wildlife and culture of Borneo. Our entrance fees to Mt. Kinabalu National Park, Sepilok and Turtle Island go towards important conservation – you can see this in action as the rangers collect the eggs.
Your stay at Ulu Ai, Nanga Sumpa, is a community project set up by our local ground agent and run by a village tourism committee. The Batang Ai area was where the Iban first settled approximately 400-500 years ago and, until relatively recently, was difficult to access. Your longhouse visit gives a true picture of the Iban lifestyle, culture and hospitality; the Iban people are boatmen, guides and helpers, and have been trained for accepting visitors alongside their normal farming life. Food - particularly fruit and vegetables - is bought from locals wherever possible. An educational fund for longhouse children has also been started through a scholarship fund and money is paid into it for every guest who stays there. Money from the accommodation payments is also being used for ongoing longhouse maintenance. Incentives are offered for protecting the orang-utans in a nearby nature reserve, and it is hoped that improved water supplies and health care projects will be possible soon. Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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