Borneo jungle, mountain and beach adventure
| country: | Malaysia, Borneo |
| location: | Sabah & Sarawak |
| departures: | This trip can be tailormade at a time to suit you and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary. The best time to visit is between March and October. |
| price: | From £1700 (15 days) excluding flights |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
A 15 day safari exploring the forests and beaches of Borneo. The adventure starts with a few days to relax at the 5 star Rasa Ria Resort located on pristine untouched beaches, the perfect start to the next 2 weeks.
For the adventurous the next few days are spent exploring the forests of Kinabalu with our eco-guide Miki, trekking through rice fields and primary forest, splashing through mountain streams and making camp out under the jungle canopy at night is an amazing experience (uniquely available to our clients!). On your return to civilisation you have a night to recover and rest before setting off up Mt Kinabalu! The highest peak in South East Asia at 4,101m this must not be missed. As you sit at the summit and the sun rises over the horizon all thoughts of fatigue disappear as Borneo opens up below...
Next, travellers visit the renowned Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, the worlds largest Orang Utan Sanctuary. This much documented and world renowned centre rehabilitates Orang Utans rescued from captivity and those orphaned and displaced by logging activities until they are fit to be released for independent life in their natural habitat. This is a perfect opportunity for travellers to see exactly what threats the Orang-utans are facing and the effort required to put a stop to these issues.
A visit to the Sanctuary will allow you to come in close contact with the remarkable "man of the forest". It is interesting and exciting to watch as these large red apes are astonishingly gentle, highly intelligent and will gaze at you with almost disconcerting frankness. In the evening set off into the jungle in search of the nocturnal jungle wildlife. Following this the next stop is BILIT. A haven for wildlife with one of the highest densities of wild orangutans in Borneo, proboscis monkeys, tree snakes, crocodiles, civets, monitor lizards macaques and much much more! Rhinos have also been spotted here and herds of wild elephant often pass through the park...
The final few days are spent relaxing on the pristine island of Lankayan. During the month of August the traveller has the opportunity to see hatching turtles as they have been nesting since the end of June/beginning of July. Lankayan is now widely respected as the preferred location to watch this spectacle. Alternatively one can relax on the beach, go snorkelling, diving, swimming, hire sea kayaks or go windsurfing. A perfect location to relax and soak up some sun after the adventures of the past few weeks!
Prices include airport transfers; accommodation; meals and drinks as stated; an English speaking driver / guide and a safari vehicle; porterage of two items of baggage per person on the trip; boat trips; park fees; and permits where appropriate.
Prices exclude all items of a personal nature: entry visas, international flights, tips, telephone calls, laundry and airport taxes.
For the adventurous the next few days are spent exploring the forests of Kinabalu with our eco-guide Miki, trekking through rice fields and primary forest, splashing through mountain streams and making camp out under the jungle canopy at night is an amazing experience (uniquely available to our clients!). On your return to civilisation you have a night to recover and rest before setting off up Mt Kinabalu! The highest peak in South East Asia at 4,101m this must not be missed. As you sit at the summit and the sun rises over the horizon all thoughts of fatigue disappear as Borneo opens up below...
Next, travellers visit the renowned Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, the worlds largest Orang Utan Sanctuary. This much documented and world renowned centre rehabilitates Orang Utans rescued from captivity and those orphaned and displaced by logging activities until they are fit to be released for independent life in their natural habitat. This is a perfect opportunity for travellers to see exactly what threats the Orang-utans are facing and the effort required to put a stop to these issues.
A visit to the Sanctuary will allow you to come in close contact with the remarkable "man of the forest". It is interesting and exciting to watch as these large red apes are astonishingly gentle, highly intelligent and will gaze at you with almost disconcerting frankness. In the evening set off into the jungle in search of the nocturnal jungle wildlife. Following this the next stop is BILIT. A haven for wildlife with one of the highest densities of wild orangutans in Borneo, proboscis monkeys, tree snakes, crocodiles, civets, monitor lizards macaques and much much more! Rhinos have also been spotted here and herds of wild elephant often pass through the park...
The final few days are spent relaxing on the pristine island of Lankayan. During the month of August the traveller has the opportunity to see hatching turtles as they have been nesting since the end of June/beginning of July. Lankayan is now widely respected as the preferred location to watch this spectacle. Alternatively one can relax on the beach, go snorkelling, diving, swimming, hire sea kayaks or go windsurfing. A perfect location to relax and soak up some sun after the adventures of the past few weeks!
Prices include airport transfers; accommodation; meals and drinks as stated; an English speaking driver / guide and a safari vehicle; porterage of two items of baggage per person on the trip; boat trips; park fees; and permits where appropriate.
Prices exclude all items of a personal nature: entry visas, international flights, tips, telephone calls, laundry and airport taxes.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Transfer to Rasa Ria [5 star]. They have orangs 'in-house' which provides a different view of "captive Orangutans". Meals etc are not included as there are a number of local restaurants that you may wish to try out! |
| Day 2: | In search of Orang Utans in and around Rasa Ria under your own steam. Imagine a private paradise cradled between forested hills and a long sweep of a 3 km long, untouched, pristine beach, washed by the South China Sea. You will meet Sabah's icon, the orangutan, amidst a remarkable array of indigenous flora and fauna. Surprising encounters with hornbills gliding right overhead, peacocks displaying during breakfast, a bear cat greeting you from a tree or the occasional iguana crossing your path are all part of the magic of this remarkable resort. |
| Day 3: | Today you have the privilege of visiting Miki's village. Miki and his people are working to preserve the environment and develop a sustainable tourism product run by and for the benefit of the indigenous people. Spend the day trekking across mountain ranges, through rice fields and primary forest with the locals, getting to know their culture, beliefs and the local environment. Help build your own camp in the jungle; waking up to the sounds of the forest is a truly unforgettable experience. |
| Day 4: | Jungle trek activities in the morning including spotting for wildlife and plants such as orchids, and pitcher plants etc. Spend the night at Miki's House or a local lodge. |
| Day 5: | Set off on the climb of Mt Kinabalu! No visit to Sabah is quite complete without climbing this famous mountain which at 4,101m. / 13,455 ft makes it South-East Asia's highest peak. The 5.25 mile trail takes you through Kinabalu National Park; tropical rain forest, montaine forest, cloud forest to sub alpine vegetation at the peak. Any reasonably fit and energetic person can climb Kinabalu. |
| Day 6: | Start trek for the summit at 0300 hours. Watch the spectacular sunrise from the highest point in South East Asia...! Spend the day relaxing at your accommodation or experience the Poring Hot Springs; these are hot sulphur springs providing a therapeutic bath from where marked trails lead off into small waterfalls and caves - an excellent way to wind down after the last 24 hrs. |
| Day 7: | Overnight transfer to Sepilok Nature Resort. Go on a cultural visit to the Water Village & Chinese Temple or trek 10 minutes on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the Orangutans in the sanctuary. This is a great experience as previously captive Orangutans (through deforestation, poaching, etc) are being re-habituated to their natural surroundings for release when they are once again capable of supporting themselves. |
| Day 8: | Early start for a morning walk as you watch the jungle come to life. Witness the morning and afternoon feeding of the Orangutans. A visit to the Sanctuary will allow you to come in close contact with the remarkable "man of the forest". It is interesting and exciting to watch as these large red apes are astonishingly gentle, highly intelligent and will gaze at you with almost disconcerting frankness. In the evening set off into the jungle in search of the nocturnal jungle wildlife. |
| Day 9: | Land transfer to BILIT at Ulu Kinabatangan. Track Orangutans in the wild; BILIT rests on the banks of the Kinabatangan river and has the second highest density of wild Orangutans in Borneo. Today and tomorrow are spent walking and tracking through this mixture of mangrove and rainforest in search of the wild Orangutan. |
| Day 10: | Today you can opt for the river safari which visits a variety of fauna and flora along the banks of the Kinabatangan River including orangutans, proboscis monkeys, tree snakes, crocodiles, civets, monitor lizards macaques and much much more! Sumatran Rhinos and herds of wild elephant have been spotted here. |
| Day 11: | A final day to explore the wonders of Kinabatangan before departing back to Sepilok in the evening. |
| Day 12: | Early start for transfer to Lankayan Island. Arrive in time for a delicious lunch then have the afternoon at your leisure to plan how you want to spend the next couple of days on this idyllic island. Overnight in private chalets located on the beach. |
| Day 13-14: | Spend your day relaxing. Lankayan is excellent for diving. August is also the optimum time for seeing hatching turtles as they have been nesting since the end of June/beginning of July. Alternatively, relax on the beach, go snorkelling, swimming, hire sea kayaks or go windsurfing. |
| Day 15: | Today you leave the idyllic island paradise and transfer by boat back to the mainland. With a short transfer to Sandakan you catch your return flight either directly to Kuala Lumpur and then home to the UK or via Kota Kinabalu. |
travellers' tales
Lots of it was exciting but seeing the Orangutans in the wild has to be the best bit. (more)
this holiday is operated by a primate specialist
Typically trips are expertly guided by a leading specialist with a good knowledge of the area to be visited. Primates are the main focus of attention however most safaris also incorporate other fauna and flora highlights of the destination as well. Primate specialist trips are conducted by local guides and drivers.how this holiday makes a difference
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A fantastic safari that combines the highlights of the state of Sabah, Borneo. All of our trips are conducted by local guides and drivers who specialise in this region of Borneo.
Through the employment of local staff, money is fed directly back into individual families and villages that would otherwise not benefit from tourism. A prime example of this is jungle trekking with Miki! Before we met Miki he was in the process of organising the clearance (deforestation) of the forest surrounding his village located at the foot of Mt Kinabalu and it was not until it was explained to him the possible benefits of keeping it that he was persuaded to look after it. As a result of this, jungle trekking, sleeping overnight in the jungle, and jungle survival skills are now all available to the adventure traveller and Miki ahs one of the busiest locally run businesses in the area!! Money from these activities now feeds directly back to Miki and the jungle guides that he now has to employ (as it is so popular!) and the surrounding villages, and some of the most pristine rainforest in Borneo is still there to be explored and appreciated. Throughout this safari we also wherever possible promote the use of eco-lodges, and locally built accommodation which results in the traveller having a minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Conservation is also high on our list of priorities and is reflected in the visitation of the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre which supports the protection and conservation of Orangutans throughout the state of Sabah.  In summary the traveller benefits from this safari by being involved with and meeting local people and communities (with the option of staying at Miki’s Village overnight) at the same time as promoting the protection and rehabilitation of Orangutans. If travellers would also like to contribute to the protection of primates throughout the world please request further details regarding our “Protect the Primates” wristbands from which all proceeds go to the conservation of endangered primates. |
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. |