Orangutans and Ibans tour to Borneo
| country: | Borneo |
| location: | Sabah & Sarawak |
| departures: | 2009: 10 Jun |
| price: | From £2550 (15 days) including flights from the UK. Single supplement £355. This trip can also be booked without flights |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The vast jungles of Sabah and Sarawak are some of the last wildlife havens in Southeast Asia, and also home to unique tribes with ancient cultures and an intrinsic understanding of the forest.
This tour provides the opportunity to experience the highlights of both states, staying in a range of accommodation from traditional longhouses to hotels of international standard.
In Sarawak we will explore the colonial riverside city of Kuching and sample some of the local delicacies. Kuching is a charming river side city with colonial palaces next to atmospheric temples and traditional markets.
A short distance away is Bako National Park where mangrove forests, abundant wildlife, waterfalls and secluded beaches never fail to delight. No visit to Sarawak is complete without a trip to the longhouses of the legendary Iban Headhunters and here we spend a day or two with the families of the longhouse. Everyone is encouraged to share the tuak (rice wine) and authentic Iban barbeque, a wonderfully tasty meal. Traditional dancing, hunting and fishing demonstrations take place and participation is rarely optional! Depending on your preference for accommodation you can stay in a basic longhouse or more comfort at the beautiful Batang Ai Hilton.
In Sabah the Kinabatangan River and the Danum Valley Conservation Area provide unrivalled opportunities for wildlife watching. Many species of primates, amazing birdlife and wild cats abound and wild orang-utans can be spotted making nests at dusk or rising with the sun at dawn. Cruising along the Kinabatangan River and its tributaries in small, local boats you have little choice but to wait for the wildlife to come to you, and inevitably it does. Proboscis monkeys position themselves in the trees along the riverbank for their night's rest and kingfishers roost in their shadows. A little more energy is required for the walking trails and canopy walkway in the Danum Valley but the views and anticipation of seeing a herd of wild pygmy elephants just around the corner keep everyone going.
This tour provides the opportunity to experience the highlights of both states, staying in a range of accommodation from traditional longhouses to hotels of international standard.
In Sarawak we will explore the colonial riverside city of Kuching and sample some of the local delicacies. Kuching is a charming river side city with colonial palaces next to atmospheric temples and traditional markets.
A short distance away is Bako National Park where mangrove forests, abundant wildlife, waterfalls and secluded beaches never fail to delight. No visit to Sarawak is complete without a trip to the longhouses of the legendary Iban Headhunters and here we spend a day or two with the families of the longhouse. Everyone is encouraged to share the tuak (rice wine) and authentic Iban barbeque, a wonderfully tasty meal. Traditional dancing, hunting and fishing demonstrations take place and participation is rarely optional! Depending on your preference for accommodation you can stay in a basic longhouse or more comfort at the beautiful Batang Ai Hilton.
In Sabah the Kinabatangan River and the Danum Valley Conservation Area provide unrivalled opportunities for wildlife watching. Many species of primates, amazing birdlife and wild cats abound and wild orang-utans can be spotted making nests at dusk or rising with the sun at dawn. Cruising along the Kinabatangan River and its tributaries in small, local boats you have little choice but to wait for the wildlife to come to you, and inevitably it does. Proboscis monkeys position themselves in the trees along the riverbank for their night's rest and kingfishers roost in their shadows. A little more energy is required for the walking trails and canopy walkway in the Danum Valley but the views and anticipation of seeing a herd of wild pygmy elephants just around the corner keep everyone going.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Evening departure from London Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur, with Malaysian Airlines, overnight on the aircraft. |
| Day 2: | Morning arrival into Kuching, afternoon city tour and evening introduction meal |
| Day 3: | Full day exploring the numerous wildlife trails in Bako National Park, overnight park |
| Day 4: | Morning trek in the park, depart after lunch to visit the Sarawak Cultural Village on return to Kuching, overnight Hilton Kuching |
| Day 5: | Travel to Batang Ai, via Semenggok Orang-utan Sanctuary, overnight in Ngemah Longhouse or Batang Ai Hilton Longhouse Resort. |
| Day 6: | Full day exploring Batang Ai and the Iban Longhouses, overnight Batang Ai Hilton |
| Day 7: | Travel back to Kuching for onward flight to Sandakan, overnight Sepilok Nature Resort |
| Day 8: | Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary for the morning feeding session before continuing to the Kinabatangan River by boat, overnight Melapi Lodge |
| Day 9: | Full day exploring the Kinabatangan River area, including tree planting in the conservation reserve, overnight Melapi Lodge |
| Day 10: | Travel to the Danum Valley, evening night safari, overnight Borneo Rainforest Lodge |
| Day 11: | Full day exploring the Danum Valley Conservation Reserve, overnight Borneo Rainforest Lodge |
| Day 12: | Fly from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu, overnight Shangri-La Rasa Ria |
| Day 13: | Full day at leisure, overnight Shangri-La Rasa Ria |
| Day 14: | Full final day at leisure before flight back to London, via Kuala Lumpur, overnight on the aircraft |
| Day 15: | Early morning arrival into London Heathrow. |
small group cultural tours
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.how this holiday makes a difference
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Bako National Park is a small, coastal, mangrove forest well known for its conservation and education work and is one of the best places in the state to see proboscis and other rare monkeys as well as an array of colourful birdlife.
The itinerary includes a visit to the Iban Headhunter tribe who live in their traditional longhouse homes and here you experience their age-old culture. You can stay for a night or two with one of the Iban families or at the Hilton Resort. Do not be put off by the fact that this is a Hilton: as one of the international chain’s most remote properties it is built in the style of a wooden longhouse. The resort employs and trains local staff and demonstrates a refreshing awareness of the natural environment and local culture. Through your visit to the resort and Iban longhouses you contribute financially to the medical and educational needs of the Iban people. The Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary is the leading orang-utan conservation and rehabilitation centre in the world. Here you are virtually guaranteed some impressive sightings of one of man’s closest relatives at the twice-daily feeding sessions. The orang-utans at the sanctuary are orphaned youngsters and adults who have lost their jungle homes due to deforestation. Whilst they are fed and protected by rangers at the sanctuary they are free to venture into the forest. There are no cages or bars: when the orang-utans are ready to return fully to the wild they can simply disappear into the forest. The lodges in Kinabatangan River area are making a conscious effort to minimise the impact of tourism on the environment whilst using the income to support local projects and preserve the forest. Villagers are paid to collect seeds, become involved in tree-planting programmes and grow their produce using organic techniques. Most of your wildlife viewing is done from small boats supplied by locals and many are moving towards electric motors which are more environmentally friendly. The lodges use solar-power where possible; recycle as much of their waste as possible and employ staff and guides from local villages. In this way the people are encouraged to preserve the forest and avoid hunting the diverse wildlife of the area. Here you will have the opportunity to be involved in a local tree planting initiative to restore areas affected by logging. After your stay in the rainforest you might like to have a few days of luxury enjoying one of Sabah’s beautiful beaches. North of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah’s capital city, the 5* Rasa Ria Resort might appear to be a surprising choice. However, this large resort has its own nature reserve and plenty of conservation programmes that you can be involved in. You can foster one of its animals or plant a tree as well as learn about the amazing flora and fauna of the two main types of rainforest in the country (dipterocarp and mangrove). |
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