Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of the Maritime Southeast Asia. This island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
Nevertheless, for people outside of Indonesia, “Kalimantan” refers to the area which is occupied by Indonesia on the island of Borneo. Malaysia’s region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. The independent nation of Brunei occupies the remainder of the island, being the wealthiest of the rest.
Once known as North Borneo, Sabah was under the British colony during the late 19th century till the early 20th century. Sabah gained self-government on the 31st of August, 1963. Sabah, together with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak formed the Federation of Malaysia on the 16th of September 1963.
| Day 01 | Meet on arrival / Transfer to Hotel |
| Meet upon arrival and transfer to outskirt hotel | |
| Overnight at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort |
| Day 02 | Kota Kinabalu / Kudat / Bavanggazo Longhouse (B/L/D) |
| Proceed to scenic countryside to the North of Kudat, passing views of paddy fields, villages, oil palm plantation, local stalls selling handicraft and food items. En-route visit Sumangkap Village, well know for its "Gong" making skill by its local artisan and finally Gombizau Honey Bee Farm. You will be able to observe how a bee farm is managed a change to get a taste of raw honey straight from the honeycomb! Proceed to the Bavanggazo Village for your check in to the Longhouse. Built entirely using local materials, it is a home to the Rungus people community, a sub-tribe of the indigenous kadazandusun. Lunch at the longhouse. | |
| After dinner, you will be entertained with the cultural performance by the Rungus people. You may also join in the "tapai" (rice wine) drinking session with the host. | |
| Overnight in twin bedded local style room at the longhouse. |
| Day 03 | Kudat / Nabalu Market / Kinabalu Park (B/L/D) |
| After breakfast proceed to the Northern tip of Borneo and collect shells on the pristine white beaches. Perhaps a chance in your lifetime, upon reaching here, one must now that you are now standing right at the tip of Borneo, hence its popular name "The Northern Tip of Borneo". In addition to its fascinating scenery of long stretch white sandy beach, its beautiful northern tip sea, the breeze of wind blowingm this tip was blessed with a wide publicity especially in Borneo, through popular mass media and the latest 2003 book edition entitling 'Kudat', with the northern tip photo as a full front cover. Continue drive to Kinabalu Park passing by villages and paddy fields along mountainous roads that wind along the Crocker range. Along the way, make a brief stop at Nabalu Market. Nabalu is a place where the local natives gather to sell local produce, fruits, home grown vegetables and handicraft souvenirs. It is also here where you can get lucky to capture unforgettable moments of Mount Kinabalu stunning views. | |
| Enjoy the refreshing and cooling air as you proceed for an educational walk along the nature trails in the Botanical Garden. | |
| Overnight at Hill Lodge, Kinabalu Park |
| Day 04 | Kinabalu Park / Poring / Sandakan (B/L/-) |
| Wake up as early as 0600 hrs to catch the sunrise. Appreciate the imposing beauty of Mount Kinabalu before your very eyes as it is slowly surrounded by the clouds. After breakfast, proceed for about 1.5 hour drive to Poring Hot Springs a must visit is the | |
| Canopy Walkway which 20 minutes hike is needed. Experience the height of 41 metres above the ground and length of 157 metres. | |
| After lunch, transfer overland passing through local villages to Sandakan. Upon arrival at Sandakan, transfer to hotel. | |
| Overnight at Four Points By Sheraton |
| Day 05 | Sandakan / Sepilok / Sukau (B/L/D) |
| Meet and greet at the hotel and drive for about half an hour to Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre where orphaned and injured Orang-Utan brought to Sepilok to be rehabilitated to return and fend for themselves back to the wild. Sepilok is a primary lowland forest; a fine showcase of Borneo's remaining rainforest. Witness the feeding of Orang-Utan from a platform in the forest and later watch 25 minutes scheduled video documentary show. Drive for about 2.5hours drive through rustic countryside studded with villages. Take a short boat transfer to Borneo Nature Lodge. Time for orientation, have lunch and check in. Relax by the river before embarking by boat up-river at 4:00 PM along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan with opportunity to view wildlife and birds in its virgin rainforest habitat. Search for some of the primates species including the endemic Proboscis Monkeys as they settle down on treetops. Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary is on the best places in Southeast Asia to observe wildlife. Overnight at Borneo Nature Lodge. | |
| Overnight at Borneo Nature Lodge |
| Day 06 | Ox-Bow Lake / Sukau (B/L/D) |
| Wake up to the calls of birds, insects and animals. At 6:00 AM take a morning cruise up to The Kinabatangan River and onto Kelenanap Ox-Bow Lake for bird watching and in search of other wildlife. Take a short jungle walk (if weather permits) and experience the wilderness of Borneo before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Free at leisure to explore the surrounding areas or nearby village. In the late afternoon at 4:00 PM, boat cruise along the river to see many species of flora and fauna of the rainforest and overnight stay at Borneo Natura Lodge. | |
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Note Optional tours e.g. Night Cruise, Night Walk & Tree Planting can be arranged at the lodge with minimal rates depends on the weather condition (Optional night activity starts at 8:00 PM) |
| Day 07 | Sukau / Lahad Datu / Danum Valley (B/L/D) |
| Wake up early and depart overland to Lahad Datu and proceed to Borneo Nature Tours office for registration & briefing. | |
| Depart for 2 and a half hours overland journey on gravel road to Danum Valley Borneo Rainforest Lodge. This is the largest protected area of lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Sabah, covering 43800 hectares. | |
| Arrive & Check In at the Lodge. After lunch, slide presentation held in Conference Room. | |
| And proceed to afternoon Trek: Introduction to the forest through "Nature Trails" and tree top "Canopy Walkway" 300m in length and 26m at the highest point, for a close-up observation of the rainforest. | |
| Dinner at the Lodge. | |
| Night Drive in an open-top vehicle in search of nocturnal animals. | |
| Overnight at Borneo Rainforest Lodge. |
| Day 08 | Danum Valley (B/L/D) |
| Breakfast at the lodge. | |
| 0830 | Guided jungle activities: |
| Trek to the Kadazandusun burial trail - "Coffin Cliff" and proceed for your journey up to the "View Point" and descend through the "Jacuzzi Pools" for refreshing dip in pool. | |
| Return to lodge for lunch. | |
| In the afternoon jungle activity: Riverside trekking | |
| Dinner and proceed for another night walk on the quest to search for nocturnal animals. | |
| Overnight at Borneo Rainforest Lodge. |
| Day 09 | Departure (B/L) |
| Breakfast. Morning optional activity: Water Tubing at the Danum River | |
| 1200 | Lunch and Check out. Depart for a 2 1/2 hours journey to Lahad Datu |
| 1600 | Drop off at Lahad Datu Airport for flight back to Kota Kinabalu - MH3023 / ETD: 1725hrs |
