Wildlife Discovery at Borneo

Depart London.

(N)

Arrive in Kuching. Then attend a group meeting at 6pm followed by a welcome dinner.

Spend 2 nights at the Hotel Lime Tree or similar.

(N)

Head to Bako National Park to see the native proboscis monkeys. To get there, you will need to travel by boat. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a wealth of wildlife, unique vegetation, lush waterfalls, and pleasant and calming jungle streams. Return to Kuching in the evening.

(B)

Fly to Mulu National Park. Check in and meet the park guides, and then head into the forest to explore the Deer Cave.

The cave is one of the most popular attractions in the park, as it is one of the world’s longest passage caves (that is available to the public), and it is home to between 2 to 3 million bats. Between 4pm and 6pm, the bats exit the cave in droves, creating an outstanding spectacle.

You’ll also visit Lang’s Cave, which has several unique rock formations and a beautiful surrounding forest. Due to flight schedules, there may not be time to have lunch before departing for Deer Cave, so consider eating at the airport.

Spend 2 nights at the Mulu National Park Garden Cottages or similar.

(B)

Spend a full day exploring Mulu National Park with the help of a local tour guide.

In the morning, you’ll visit the caves once more, and then enjoy a picnic lunch near the riverside. In the afternoon, you can relax in the park and enjoy free leisure.

There is also an optional canopy walkway. It measures 1,575 ft high and takes around 2 hours to complete. Plus, there’s an optional night walk.

(B)

Take an early morning flight to Kota Kinabalu. Depending on the timing of your flight there may be time to explore Mulu once more before departing. Enjoy free leisure in the evening, exploring the beautiful city and relishing in its urban delights such as street food and festivities.

Spend 2 nights at Hotel Dreamtel or similar.

(B)

Enjoy a free day of leisure in Kota Kinabalu. Visit one of the many nearby tropical islands. Or go on a 15-minute boat ride around the city, which includes snorkeling and diving. There are also birdwatching opportunities in the local wetlands not far from the city, including a traditional village in Mari Mari where you can learn about the Sabah culture.

(B)

Take a 2-hour transfer to Mount Kinabula National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site and home to the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia. On the way there, you’ll stop at Nabula market, where you can buy handicrafts and produce from local villagers.

In the afternoon, you can go on an optional tour of the Sabah Tea Plantation, where you can learn about their production methods and even sample some local produce.

Stay overnight at the Sabah Tea Gardens Longhouse.

(B)

Visit the tea factory once more, then proceed to your next destination: Sepilok, a famous rehabilitation centre for orangutans. The journey will take about 5 hours to complete and include a stop at the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you can get up close and personal with animals unique to Borneo. Upon arriving at Sepilok, head to the Rainforest Discovery Centre for birdwatching.

Spend 2 nights at the Sepilok Jungle Resort.

(B)

In the early morning, return to the Rainforest Discovery Centre for more bird and orangutan watching. Then proceed to the Sepilok Orangutan Centre, where you’ll see how the staff care for and, carefully, release rehabilitated orangutans back into the wild. You’ll get the chance to watch morning and afternoon feedings, too.

There is also an optional visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which conducts research, rescuing, and rehabilitation for captured bears and to educate the local community.

(B)

In the morning, take a 2-hour trip to the Kinabatangan River.

The Kinabatangan River is home to an astonishing amount of land and flying species, including proboscis monkeys, gibbon, sun bears, barking deer, and more than 200 bird species. In the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a pleasant river cruise.

Spend 2 nights at the Nature Lodge Kinabatangan or similar.

(B, L, D)

In the morning, enjoy a wildlife cruise and trek. Then in the afternoon, go on another river cruise in search of more wildlife.

(B, L, D)

Go for a 2-to-3-hour drive to Lahad Datu, where you will then change vehicles and go offroad to Danum Valley, which’ll take about 3 hours. The Valley is a prominent source of rainforest research and home to a wide range of endangered bird and mammal species. You will also get to see orangutans in their natural habitat.

In the afternoon, you’ll take a jungle trek in search of orangutan, followed by dinner and a night drive to search for more forest creatures.

Spend 2 nights at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge.

(B, L, D)

Spend a full day with an experienced tour guide exploring the many waterfalls, trails, and canopy walkways. Danum is home to around 110 mammal species and 275 bird species, 5 deer species, flying frogs, giant flying squirrels, and gibbons.

(B, L, D)

Go on a 5–6-hour journey to Sandakan. On the way there, visit the Sandakan War Memorial. Upon arriving at Sandakan, explore the town at your leisure, learning about its history as a famous logging centre and the waterfront for pleasant evening walks.

Stay overnight at the Sabah Hotel or similar.

(B)

Depending on your flight schedule there may be time to enjoy the hotel pool or explore Sandakan a bit more. Transfer to the airport to return to London.

(B)

Arrive in London.