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All Borneo Discovery
19 days/18 nights - Gateway: Kuching
Standard Tour from: £1445pp
Prices valid to 31 Dec 08
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| Borneo evokes images of primeval forest, jungle rivers and headhunters. Travelling by plane, bus, longtail boat and on foot, we explore this fascinating and varied land. We journey through both Sarawak and Sabah - the provinces that make up Malaysian Borneo. |
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Day 1: Join tour Kuching
Arrive Kuching and transfer to hotel.
Overnight hotel H+ |
Day 2: In Kuching; drive to Bako
National Park
Kuching (which means ‘cat’ in Malay) is the capital of Sarawak, a green, spacious city which carries the strong imprint of ‘Rajah Brooke’ and his dynasty. This morning we plan a city tour of the main sites. We’ll see the Astana (Palace); fort Margherita, which once protected the town from invaders and is now a police museum; the main bazaar; the Masjid Bandaraya Mosque and Sarawak Museum, which holds some fascinating Archeological and Natural History exhibits. This afternoon we drive and take a boat to Bako National Park, situated on the beautiful Muara Tebas Peninsula. There is a wide variety of flora and fauna to be seen in the National Park; animals include proboscis and silver leaf monkeys, macaque, monitor lizards and wild boars. There are many marked trails we can follow to search for these animals.
2 nights chalet H |
Day 3: In Bako National Park
This morning is spent exploring Bako Park further on foot. You may choose to walk along the magnificent coast line, which also offers some secluded bathing. The streaked and patterned sandstone cliffs have been eroded to form arches, sea stacks and wave-cut platforms. The most distinctive feature is a 100m high sandstone plateau, known as the ‘Tanjung Sapi’. This afternoon there is the possibility, for those who wish, to take a boat trip around the park’s peninsula and possibly one of the more remote beaches (optional). |
Day 4: Transfer to Kuching Airport; Fly
to Mukah
This morning we take a boat along Bako River and then drive to Kuching Airport for our flight to Mukah. (Note: you are restricted to max 15kg for checked-in luggage on this flight. On arrival we transfer to our longhouse accommodation in the small and picturesque village of Telilan. This afternoon we’ll take a river cruise that will take us through different villages and we’ll marvel at the trees glowing with a myriad of fireflies. |
Day 5: In Mukah
Mukah is the ‘capital’ of the Melanau heartland and is famous for its delicious spicy food and the Sago industry. Staying at Telilan Village allows you to immerse yourself in the Melanau culture and spend time with the friendly and hospitable locals. This morning is left free for you to discover the area at your own pace. You may choose to visit the fish market or to witness the locals playing in the ‘tibou’, a traditional game which involves a giant swing on which participants defy danger as they swing in clusters high above the ground. This afternoon we’ll take a plank walk along a pristine mangrove area, ideal to spot Mukahs colourful birdlife. |
Day 6: In Mukah; fly to Miri
After a free morning in Mukah, we’ll take a flight to Miri. (Note: you are restricted to max 15kg for checked-in luggage on this flight. This is a relatively prosperous town which relies very much on the offshore oil fields. It also attracts many ex-pat oil workers from nearby Bandar Seri Begawan, in Brunei, who travel across the border for the nightlife!
Overnight hotel H+ |
Day 7: Drive to Tenyok Rimba; via Long
Bedian Kayan Village
Today we drive to the Tenyok Rimba river area stopping at the Kayan village of Long Bedian along the way. Once known as fearsome warriors, the Kayan today are peaceful agriculturalist, although they retain many other interesting cultural traditions. Once in Tenyok Rymba, there are many options for short strolls or longer hikes of up to several hours. On one of our evenings here we’ll also to take a night trek with a Kayan guide for the different experiences and sounds of the jungle at night.
2 nights chalet H |
Day 8: Tenyok Rimba
After breakfast we take trek in Tenyok rainforest during which our guide will show us the different plants in the jungle that have been used as remedies by the local tribes’ for generations. Also within walking distance from our accommodation is the Butterfly saltlick, a rock whose saltwater attracts butterflies by the hundred. For those who do not wish to trek, other optional activities can be organised such as rafting along the Tenyok river or rubber tubing down its small rapids (river conditions permitting). |
Day 9: Drive to Mulu National Park
We continue our four wheel drive journey today to Mulu National Park. At Kuala Melinau we catch the boat to our accommodation in the Park. Mulu is famous for its wealth of botanical interest, having both hill and swamp forest. There are many species of wildlife here, including over 200 species of birds and glorious butterflies. Arriving early afternoon, we have time to take a plank walk through the rainforest to explore a couple of the limestone caves of Mulu such as Deer cave, (one of the biggest in southern Asia) and Lang cave. There is a good chance of seeing millions of bats flying out of Deer cave in the late afternoon.
Overnight chalet H |
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Day 10: In Mulu National Park; Fly
Kota Kinabalu
We have time to explore the Wind cave and Clearwater Cave. Wind cave has the most impressive stalactite and stalagmite that we’ll see and Clearwater has one of the longest underground rivers (108kms upstream). We then take a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu is a burgeoning city with a blend of Malays, Europeans and Chinese: the result is a unique mixture of architecture, culture, high technology and ancient traditions. The afternoon is left free for personal exploration around the city.
Overnight hotel H+ |
Day 11: Drive to Kinabalu National Park; via
Poring Hot Springs
Leaving Kota Kinabalu we make our way 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. At 450m we are in tropical lowland forest, dense with vegetation and thick bamboo, with a humid misty atmosphere. You can cross a tree top walkway 60m above the forest floor or perhaps you prefer to take a relaxing soak in a hot spring bath, looking out for hornbills, mynah birds and monkeys.
Overnight hotel H+ |
Day 12: In Kinabalu National Park; walk to
Laban Rata (base camp)
This morning we make an early start 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 day packs, 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.
Overnight hostel L |
Day 13: 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 confident about their level of fitness. We rise at 03.00 and trek to the summit for sunrise (about 05.45). The view from the top of Mt Kinabalu (4095m) is exceptionally as we watch the sun rising over the misty jungle lowlands. For those who do not make the summit ascent, the views from around basecamp will keep you and your camera occupied until we make the descent back to the Park Headquarters. From here we will drive through jungle and palm oil plantations to Sepilok.
Overnight lodge H+ |
Day 14: Visit Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary; drive to Sukau
We spend our morning at Sepilok, the largest of the three Orang Utan rehabilitation centres in the world. Covering over 4000 hectare of forest, the centre was established in 1964 to rehabilitate captured, injured or abandoned apes. 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. After lunch we drive to Sukau. The freshwater swamp forest around Sukau is home to myriad wildlife such as tree snake and birds such as frogmouth, bulbul and hornbill.
2 nights chalet H |
Day 15: In Sukau; visit ox-bow lake
Unlike other areas in Sabah, the Kinabatangan river has remained relatively unaffected by the rapacious logging unfortunately so prevalent elsewhere, as there are few commercially valuable trees there. The river meanders through a flood plain and creates many ox-bow lakes making an ideal environment for wildlife viewing. On our cruise this morning, we may see crocodile warming themselves in the morning sun and some of the other birdlife such as egret, storm’s stork, oriental darter and oriole. This afternoon we make a wildlife walk into the jungle. Then, later, as the sun starts to go down, we hope to spot the long nosed proboscis monkeys which converge on tree tops by the river banks to settle for the night. |
Day 16: Bus to Sandakan; fly Kota Kinabalu;
boat to Pulau Tiga
This morning we drive to the port of Sandakan. Once the capital of Sabah, Sandakan today is a busy trading centre for timber rattan, palm oil and copra. We fly back to the west coast and Kota Kinabalu. A short transfer south takes us to Kuala Penyu from where we travel by boat to the small island of Pulau Tiga. Formed after a volcanic eruption just over one hundred years ago, the island, which has magnificent coral reefs and a wide variety of terrestrial flora and fauna, is now part of a state marine park.
2 nights chalet H+ |
Day 17: On Pulau Tiga
This paradise island is the ideal place to relax at the end of your tour although there is also plenty on offer for the more active traveller. The snorkelling and diving opportunities are excellent and other activities such as sea-kayaking and fishing are also on offer. A network of marked trails provide the chance to discover the island’s wildlife from macaques and monitor lizards to rare birds such as the curious megapodes, hornbills and sea eagles. One trekking trail leads to the mud volcanoes on the island which are famed for their mineral enriched mud, said to have healing properties. |
Day 18: Boat and drive Kota Kinabalu
Today we return to Kota Kinabalu with time for some last minute shopping or further personal exploration.
Overnight hotel H+ |
| Day 19: Tour ends Kota Kinabalu |
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Price includes accomodation based on twin share, meals as specified, tour leader, domestic flights, riverboat, long tail boat and ferry. A good level of fitness is required but it is also possible to opt out of the walks. Excludes international flights and transfers.
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