Orangutan tours, Borneo & Sumatra
| country: | Indonesia, Borneo |
| location: | Kalimantan, Sumatra |
| 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 times to visit are (Borneo) March to October and (Sumatra) May to September. |
| price: | From £3575 (22 days) including flights from the UK, depending on time of year. We can offer advice on flights from the UK |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
A 22 day safari combining the highlights of Borneo and Northern Sumatra.
Sukau, your first port of call, is one of two places in the world where four colobines inhabit the same place - namely proboscis monkey, silvered langur, maroon langur and Hose’s or grey langur. It has the highest concentration of proboscis monkeys and orangutans in Malaysia. Other wildlife includes long-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque, Bornean gibbon, two nocturnal primates namely western tarsier and slow loris and other mammals including Asian elephant and Sumatran rhinoceros. Birdlife is also plentiful in this region with over 200 species of which there are 8 species of hornbill (rhinoceros, helmeted, black, pied, wreathed, wrinkled, white crowned and bushy crested).
Your adventure continues to the largest Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in the world where you have the opportunity to see for yourself the 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. Having been deep in the forest for the last few days Lankayan Island is a welcome treat; with white sandy beaches and some of the best diving in the world, sit back and enjoy this tropical island before setting off back into the rainforest.
Set up to protect the area from logging, Danum Valley encompasses 43 kilometres squared of pristine rainforest. Aside from this the conservation area has a variety of wildlife including, orang-utans, a variety of birdlife, clouded leopard, elephant and if one is very lucky the Sumatran rhino. Last but definitely not least your adventure continues to Northern Sumatra. Opportunities to visit the Sumatran Orang-utan rehabilitation Centre of Gunung Leuser Park, shower in crystal clear jungle waterfalls and to ride elephants bareback through the jungle proves a climatic end to your safari!
Sukau, your first port of call, is one of two places in the world where four colobines inhabit the same place - namely proboscis monkey, silvered langur, maroon langur and Hose’s or grey langur. It has the highest concentration of proboscis monkeys and orangutans in Malaysia. Other wildlife includes long-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque, Bornean gibbon, two nocturnal primates namely western tarsier and slow loris and other mammals including Asian elephant and Sumatran rhinoceros. Birdlife is also plentiful in this region with over 200 species of which there are 8 species of hornbill (rhinoceros, helmeted, black, pied, wreathed, wrinkled, white crowned and bushy crested).
Your adventure continues to the largest Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in the world where you have the opportunity to see for yourself the 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. Having been deep in the forest for the last few days Lankayan Island is a welcome treat; with white sandy beaches and some of the best diving in the world, sit back and enjoy this tropical island before setting off back into the rainforest.
Set up to protect the area from logging, Danum Valley encompasses 43 kilometres squared of pristine rainforest. Aside from this the conservation area has a variety of wildlife including, orang-utans, a variety of birdlife, clouded leopard, elephant and if one is very lucky the Sumatran rhino. Last but definitely not least your adventure continues to Northern Sumatra. Opportunities to visit the Sumatran Orang-utan rehabilitation Centre of Gunung Leuser Park, shower in crystal clear jungle waterfalls and to ride elephants bareback through the jungle proves a climatic end to your safari!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly from London to Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur. |
| Day 2: | Met on arrival, transfer to Nexus Borneo Villas. |
| Day 3: | Relax and recuperate after your flight in 45 acres of tranquil, natural beauty on the Karambunai Peninsular. 6 kilometres of private white sandy beach and an exotic Borneo Spa. |
| Day 4: | Free to take advantage of the facilities or just recuperate on your private beach. |
| Day 5: | Fly to Sandakan, Eastern Borneo. As dusk falls take a river cruise in search of wild Proboscis monkeys as they settle down on treetops along the Kinabatangan River. Return for solar heated hot shower and candle lit dinner. |
| Day 6: | Jungle trek at the Ox-bow lake in search of a variety of wildlife. Sukau has the highest concentration of proboscis monkeys and orangutans in Malaysia, as well as long-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque, Bornean gibbon, Asian elephants and over 200 species of bird. |
| Day 7: | Transfer by boat to Sandakan and Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary. Take a guided tour to Sandakan town, Water Village & Chinese Temple or trek 10 minutes on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the Orang-utans in the sanctuary where previously captive Orang-utans are being re-habituated to their natural surroundings for release. |
| Day 8: | Morning walk to watch the jungle come to life. Witness the morning and afternoon feeding of the Orang-utans. Come in close contact with the remarkable "man of the forest". 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: | Transfer to Lankayan Island in time for a delicious lunch. Afternoon at your leisure to plan how you want to spend the next couple of days on this idyllic island. |
| Day 10: | Lankayan is excellent for diving; dive with the whale sharks that migrate through here during the months of March, April and May (sightings cannot be guaranteed); an unforgettable experience! Alternatively, relax on the beach, go snorkelling, swimming, hire sea kayaks or go windsurfing. |
| Day 11: | Transfer to Danum Valley, one of the best remaining examples of how Borneo’s forests used to be, with a thick tropical canopy and a variety of wildlife. Arrive at your lodge - locally crafted bungalows connected by a walkway and perched along the bank of the river with views into the rainforest. |
| Day 12: | Set up to protect the area from logging, Danum Valley encompasses 43 kilometres squared of pristine rainforest. The conservation area has a variety of wildlife including orang-utans, a variety of birdlife, clouded leopard, elephant and if one is very lucky the Sumatran rhino. |
| Day 13: | Jungle walks in Danum Valley, renowned for its excellent birding and counts 275 species of birds and 109 species of mammals among its residents. |
| Day 14: | Journey southwards to Northern Sumatra. We have taken the liberty of booking you into the Pan Pacific, a luxury hotel. |
| Day 15: | Fly to Medan then transfer to Bukit Lawang village, the main access point for the rainforests of the Gunung Leuser National Park. Overnight in cosy and spacious ensuite cottages. |
| Day 16: | This is a day of gentle trekking in some of the most pristine forest of Northern Sumatra. The park’s extensive range of wildlife includes Orang-utans, gibbons, tapirs, elephants, tigers, and rhinos, as well as over 380 species of birds and both the largest and tallest flowers in the world. We visit the Orang-utan rehabilitation centre where young orangutans are taught to live in the wild. |
| Day 17: | Explore the forest and spend time with the Orang-utans of Gunung Leuser Park. The rehabilitation centre is where young orangutans are taught to live in the wild; twice daily at 0800hrs and 1500hrs they are fed a ration of bananas and milk whilst they adapt to their forest environment; at these times you are permitted to come and visit them. |
| Day 18: | Drive through the rainforest, local villages and oil palm plantations to Tangkahan. You have the rare opportunity to ride elephants bareback on a choice of treks through the jungle, and at the end you can bathe with the elephants as they spray water to cool off! Alternatively, swim in the unspoiled jungle river, sit on a small beach full of butterflies and take a shower under a jungle waterfall... |
| Day 19: | Today you transfer back to Medan where you will have time to relax and recuperate after your jungle adventure. |
| Day 20: | Fly to Kuala Lumpur where you overnight in the luxurious Manderin Oriental Hotel. |
| Day 21: | Relax and enjoy Kuala Lumpur, with the chance to explore the city and go shopping. In the evening you transfer for your flight back to the UK. |
| Day 22: | Arrive London. |
travellers' tales
The whole holiday was worth every penny spent as I got to learn more as I spoke to the people from Borneo through my guide and had the time to stop and visit local people. (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 Borneo and Sumatra. All of our trips are conducted by local guides and drivers who specialise in the areas visited. Through the employment of local staff, money is fed directly back into individual families and villages that would otherwise not benefit from tourism.
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. The Sumatra section of this safari is a prime example where travellers stay in basic but comfortable accommodation all managed and run by the local community.  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 and the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre at Bukit Lawang in Sumatra which also promotes the conservation and rehabilitation of Orangutans. In summary the traveller benefits from this safari by being involved with and meeting local people and communities at the same time as promoting the protection and rehabilitation of Orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra. 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. |