Family holiday to Borneo, Land of the Orang Utan
| country: | Malaysia, Borneo |
| location: | Sabah & Sarawak |
| departures: | 2009: 20 Jul, 3 Aug, 10 Aug, 17 Aug |
| price: | From £1649 - £1935 (13 days) per adult and £1504 - £1760 per child including flights from UK, from £895 - £959 excluding flights. Teenage departures: 10 Aug 2008, 09 Aug 2009 |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Discover Borneo's magical combination of unique wildlife, stunning scenery and beautiful beaches. We include the opportunity to either scale mighty Mount Kinabalu or spend extra time exploring Kinabalu National Park - a less challenging but equally thrilling option in this equatorial paradise.
MOUNT KINABALU
After a visit to the idyllic island of Manukan, we head into the Gunung Kinabalu National Park. Here we have our first chance to explore the rainforest and experience its diversity of animal and plant life - pitcher plants abound and the birdlife at dusk and dawn has to be seen (and heard) to be believed.
Alternatively, keen walkers can take a mountain trail up through the forest, eventually reaching the mountain guesthouse which affords spectacular views across the forest and up to the peaks above. Next morning, the more energetic also have the option to make a dawn ascent to South East Asia's highest peak: the summit of Mount Kinabalu.
ORANG UTANS & HOT SPRINGS
Moving on to Poring Hot Springs, there is the chance to relax and swim beneath the nearby waterfalls. A thrilling experience is the ascent into the rainforest canopy and walking along the 100-foot-high walkway which snakes through the treetops: brimming with wildlife, many are unique to this part of Asia. One of the highlights is our stay in a jungle lodge at Sepilok, our base for jungle walks and Orang Utan tracking.
MONKEYS, CAVES & TURTLES
Cruising down the Kinabatangan River around Sukau, we hope to see unusual proboscis monkeys and, later on, to witness some of the hundreds of thousands of bats which live in Gomantong Caves. Finally, we plan to visit Selingan Island where giant sea turtles arrive at night to lay their eggs. Our last days are spent relaxing around Kota Kinabalu, with the opportunity of enjoying neighbouring beaches or taking a train on the famous Trans-Borneo railway.
MOUNT KINABALU
After a visit to the idyllic island of Manukan, we head into the Gunung Kinabalu National Park. Here we have our first chance to explore the rainforest and experience its diversity of animal and plant life - pitcher plants abound and the birdlife at dusk and dawn has to be seen (and heard) to be believed.
Alternatively, keen walkers can take a mountain trail up through the forest, eventually reaching the mountain guesthouse which affords spectacular views across the forest and up to the peaks above. Next morning, the more energetic also have the option to make a dawn ascent to South East Asia's highest peak: the summit of Mount Kinabalu.
ORANG UTANS & HOT SPRINGS
Moving on to Poring Hot Springs, there is the chance to relax and swim beneath the nearby waterfalls. A thrilling experience is the ascent into the rainforest canopy and walking along the 100-foot-high walkway which snakes through the treetops: brimming with wildlife, many are unique to this part of Asia. One of the highlights is our stay in a jungle lodge at Sepilok, our base for jungle walks and Orang Utan tracking.
MONKEYS, CAVES & TURTLES
Cruising down the Kinabatangan River around Sukau, we hope to see unusual proboscis monkeys and, later on, to witness some of the hundreds of thousands of bats which live in Gomantong Caves. Finally, we plan to visit Selingan Island where giant sea turtles arrive at night to lay their eggs. Our last days are spent relaxing around Kota Kinabalu, with the opportunity of enjoying neighbouring beaches or taking a train on the famous Trans-Borneo railway.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Kota Kinabalu |
| Day 2: | Arrive Kota Kinabalu |
| Day 3: | In Kota Kinabalu, visit Manukan Island. |
| Day 4: | Bus to Kinabalu NP |
| Day 5: | In Kinabalu NP; walk to Laban Rata. |
| Day 6: | Optional ascent of Mt Kinabalu (4101m). |
| Day 7: | Visit Poring hot springs; drive Sepilok. |
| Day 8: | Visit Orang Utan Sanctuary; drive to Sukau. |
| Day 9: | In Sukau; visit Oxbow Lake and Gomantong Caves. |
| Day 10: | Drive to Sandakan; fly Kota Kinabalu; drive Kuala Penyu; boat to Pulau Tiga. |
| Day 11: | On Pulau Tiga. |
| Day 12: | Boat to Kuala Penyu; drive Kota Kinabalu. |
| Day 13: | Fly London. |
travellers' tales
Tour guide fab, accommodation better than expected. Good range of activities.
(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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Our small family groups in Borneo employ a totally Malaysian crew, from tour leaders, local guides and drivers to all other support staff, ensuring a genuine insight into the local culture, a depth of knowledge of the flora, fauna and geology of the region and ensuring a direct financial contribution to the local economy.
By visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation project, a highlight of the tour, we are helping to support the invaluable local work it does in rehabilitating and protecting this endangered species and also its wider aim of stimulating a greater international awareness of the protection laws for other species. Work carried out by the centre has resulted in an increase in detection and confiscation of illegally held captive animals. Wherever possible we stay in small locally owned guesthouses and hotels and support the National Park authorities by staying at their lodges, assisting to minimise our impact on the local environment. Our Tour Leaders are all trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference. This then percolates down through those they deal with. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |