Family holiday to Borneo, Land of the Orang Utan

COUNTRY:: Borneo, Malaysia
LOCATION:: Sabah & Sarawak
DEPARTURES:: CHECK AVAILABILITY2013: 21 Jul, 28 Jul, 18 Aug
PRICE:: From £2057 - £2710 (13 days) including UK flights
MORE INFO:: From £1737 - £2355 per child. From £1199 - £1479 excluding flights.
VOUCHERS:: Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

Family holiday to Borneo, Land of the Orang Utan

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Family holiday to Borneo, Land of the Orang Utan

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. Please check with the operator to confirm the minimum age for this trip

How Family holiday to Borneo, Land of the Orang Utan makes a difference

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.

Family holiday to Borneo, Land of the Orang Utan

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The story of the provider of Family holiday to Borneo, Land of the Orang Utan

This small group operator is just celebrating its 30th year and was originally set up to enrich people’s lives through adventure travel. They find the family travel experience is very popular and groups gel together quickly. Taking your children to local communities creates an instant fascination and can be a natural ice-breaker. Family adventure holidays can offer an opportunity to learn about other lifestyles and break down barriers. There is great advantage to spending time together, doing things you would never normally consider, as opposed to taking a package holiday where your children are separated and sent off to their own area.

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Holiday provider no: 276

Family holiday to Borneo, Land of the Orang Utan

Reviewed 26 Aug 2007 by Janet Preston

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

River cruises at Bilet lodge; watching the proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques, elephants, monitor lizards, crocodiles and many different birds. We also enjoyed Tiga Island, especially Pagong-Pagong beach. All the people we met were friendly and wanted to make our stay memorable.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

If you are not climbing Mount Kinabalu, you have to be prepared to organise your own activities whilst the rest of the group are climbing Mount Kinabalu. The guide was very good and organised for us to be moved to a hotel near the Kinabalu National Park at our request as there was a limited amount to do at Mesilau - not sure why we were put there as it was not on the itinerary. However, the walk up a busy road from the alternative accommodation was not ideal and took almost 30 minutes to the Park entrance. Also, the itinerary was changed and all the island trips were at the end of the holiday and our visit to Poring Hot Springs was rushed as it was fitted in on the way to Mesilau.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

The guides were locals and the places we stayed at employed local people.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

The guide worked hard to organise things, especially as there were 17 of us and not the advertised maximum of 16. We encountered a problem of over-booking at Bilet Lodge which was resolved for the second night, but meant that all 4 of us shared 1 room the first night. These instances and the unscheduled rearrangement of the itinerary left a lingering doubt as to whether the tour was organised for the convenience of the customers or to maximise profit.

Reviewed 04 Nov 2006 by Nick Silcock

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Tour guide fab, accommodation better than expected. Good range of activities.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Pack warm clothes and waterproof.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes

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