Schools trip to Borneo

country:	Borneo
departures:	This trip can be tailormade for schools with departures throughout the year
price:	From £1995 (17 days) including flights from the UK. This trip can also be booked without flights

Borneo holidays

School trips abroad

the amazing things you'll be doing

A true expedition combining challenging physical activity with in-depth exploration of the jungle and the people and wildlife that make it their home.

Starting in Mulu National Park, we visit the stunning limestone caves and try out some adventure caving.

We trek through dense jungle, then build rafts to float downstream to a traditional Iban longhouse - at 300m long it is literally a village under one roof!

Travelling out again by longboat, we move on to the biggest challenge of our trip - the pre-dawn ascent of Mount Kinabalu (4101m). Finally we drive to the largest Orang Utan rehabilitation centre in the world at Sepilok where we can learn about the habits and conservation of the 'orange man of the jungle'.

Highlights include:

Mulu National Park, explore the impressive cave systems

Jungle trek along the ancient Headhunter's Trail

River rafting, gentle rafting through the jungle

Stay in traditional longhouse

Mount Kinabalu, climb South East Asia's highest peak

Orangutan conservation centre at Sepilok

For a gentler pace it's easy to take out the caving and the Kinabalu trek and instead see the oxbow lakes at Sukau. It may be possible to add a visit to the Sultanate of Brunei.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Fly from the UK to Miri via Kuala Lumpur.
Day 2:	Arrive Miri. Arrive Miri and check into our hotel.
Day 3:	Fly to Mulu National Park. We spend the morning in Miri. After lunch we catch our flight across the jungle to Mulu. There are many species of wildlife here, including over 200 species of birds and glorious butterflies. Arriving in the afternoon, we have time to take an introductory plank walk through the rainforest to explore a couple of the limestone caves. There is a good chance of seeing millions of bats flying out of Deer cave as the sun starts to set in the late afternoon.
Day 4-5:	In Mulu National Park. We aim not only to visit some of the better-known caves with their stunning stalagmites, stalactites and underground rivers, but also to explore some of the more inaccessible corridors and underground caverns. Qualified guides will train us on the fundamentals of adventure caving. For those that are ready for the challenge, there will be the opportunity on the second day to do a full day of caving. Although mostly nontechnical, there are sections which involve the use of ropes, this is closely supervised by our guides and should not present a problem for anyone of reasonable fitness with a sense of adventure. If you prefer not to include adventure caving in your itinerary, there are plenty of other excursions that can be taken in the national park and we can discuss this with you when you book.We also aim to spend some time visiting the school at Batu Bungan.
Day 6:	Trek to Mount Api Base Camp. We travel by longboat this morning to Long Lutut. Depending on the river level this may require pushing the boat several times. From here we trek into the jungle, carrying all our personal belongings we need for the next 7 days (our main luggage is transferred to Limbang and we next have access to it on day 12). The trek today is relatively easy through lowland jungle and our destination is the base camp (known as Camp 5) at the base of Mount Api. In the late afternoon you may like to walk to the beautiful Melinau Gorge for a spot of swimming or fishing. Total 2-3 hrs walking.
Day 7:	Trek to Buda National Park – overnight in jungle shelters. We trek the ancient Headhunter’s Trail to Lubung Cina and then take a diversion and continue through thick jungle to Buda National Park, a truly ‘authentic’ jungle walk! There is a wonderful setting for a camp on the banks of the Buda River, but rather than staying under canvas we stay in jungle shelters made mostly from local materials. Local guides have created our temporary homes out of bamboo and rattan. After dinner this evening there is the option of taking a guided night trek into the jungle, a real night out in the wilds! Total walking 6-7hrs.
Day 8:	Drive, trek and raft to Mentawai. We wake to the sound of the jungle dawn chorus and later drive out of Buda National Park along logging tracks via Assam Camp to Mentawai. The last section to the camp is on foot and we hope to spot the carnivorous pitcher plant. This afternoon we will take a longboat upstream for some tubing,(floating downstream on rubber tubes!) This is very gentle-paced and gives an excellent and very different view of the stunning natural surroundings (lifejackets provided).
Day 9:	In Mentawai. The adventure continues today as we take bamboo rafts for the journey through the rapids of the Terikan River to Mentawai. We punt and raft back down to Mentawai camp and have the afternoon free to relax in the tranquil surroundings.
Day 10:	Longboat to Rumah Bala Lasong. We take to the river again this morning and head north by longboat to the Iban village of Rumah Bala Lasong, where we will be guests of the headman and stay overnight in a traditional Iban longhouse. We leave the afternoon free to explore the village and to relax in this facsinating environment. In the afternoon we hope to be able to assist with work at the longhouse.
Day 11:	Boat and drive to Limbang. Leaving the longhouse, we continue by boat to Medamit, then drive to the small, prosperous town of Limbang, our first taste of civilisation for 10 days. Having checked into our hotel and met up with our bags again, we have the afternoon free to explore the town and reflect on our experiences in the jungle.
Day 12:	Ferry to Kota Kinabalu. We catch a ferry from the wharf in Limbang to the wealthy offshore island of Labuan. Here we change boats and travel east along the coast to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah.
Day 13:	Drive to Kinabalu National Park via Poring Hot Springs. Leaving Kota Kinabalu we may get fine views of Mt Kinabalu in the distance as we make our way through the wild highlands to Kinabalu National Park. Having checked into our hotel, which is just outside the park, we make an excursion to Poring Hot Springs, a popular spot with locals who enjoy the hot springs found here. You can cross a tree top walkway 60m above the forest floor or perhaps you prefer to take a refreshing dip in one of the cool waterfalls, before a relaxing soak in a natural hot pool, looking out for hornbills, mynah birds and monkeys. The rafflesia grows in the forest – the largest flower in the world, it produces an orange bloom over one metre wide for a short time between August and December.
Day 14:	In Kinabalu National Park; walk to Laban Rata (base camp). This morning we make an early start. We hope to get a good view of Mt Kinabalu which towers over the jungle below before driving to the park entrance and the starting point of the trail at about 1900m. From now on, leaving our main baggage behind at the hotel but carrying our daypacks, we trek, climbing upwards for 5-6 hours to reach a mountain hostel situated at around 3272m. The lower part of the trek is through dense tropical vegetation and mist shrouded rainforest with giant ferns and luxuriant mosses. Rare orchids and pitcher plants abound. The hostel at base camp has common facilities, and there is a canteen where you can buy a simple meal.
Day 15:	Summit of Mount Kinabalu; return to Park HQ and drive to Sepilok. The trip to the summit is a hard trek and should only be attempted by those people who are very confident about their level of fitness. We rise at 03.00 and trek to the summit for sunrise (about 05.45). We have to walk in the dark and it is necessary to wear warm clothes and gloves and to carry a torch. The view from the top of Mt Kinabalu (4095m) is exceptionally fine as we watch the sun rising over the misty jungle lowlands. For those who do not make the summit ascent, the views from around base-camp will keep you and your camera occupied until we make the descent on foot and then by truck back to the Park Headquarters. From here we will drive through jungle and palm oil plantations to Sepilok.
Day 16:	Visit Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary; fly to Kota Kinabalu. We spend most of the day at Sepilok, the largest of the three Orang Utan rehabilitation centres in the world. The animals are taught how to make nests and how to survive in their natural habitat. We plan to visit the centre in time for feeding when, along with the permanent members, pregnant mothers who otherwise live in the jungle, often come to supplement their diet and return after the birth of their young. There will be free time for taking walks in the jungle. Then, later in the afternoon we drive to Sandakan and take the flight back to Kota Kinabalu.
Day 17:	Fly to the UK. Transfer to the airport and fly via Kuala Lumpur to the UK.

award winner

This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

In Borneo we 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. 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.

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. Most fascinating of all is our stay at a traditional Iban longhouse which gives us a unique opportunity to meet local people, experience their daily life at close quarters and give them an income.

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.

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