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Exploring Borneo

Borneo in Luxury

Set out on a luxury Borneo holiday with stays in some of Sabah’s most delightful hotels, lodges, and a boutique island resort. After a brief stop in Kota Kinabalu for a taste of small-city life, you’ll have plenty of time for wildlife viewing, rainforest treks, and days on the beach.

We’ve handpicked some delightful places to stay to ensure you receive great service, excellent guides, and a bit of decadent R&R before heading home. Of course, this itinerary is here to inspire you as all of our holidays are tailor-made. We’re happy to add or subtract days, change hotels, and adjust as you see fit. To plan your luxury Borneo holiday, give us a call at UK 020 7112 0019 or email borneo@fleewinter.com.

Your Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Kota Kinabalu

Touchdown in Borneo and meet your driver for transfer to your hotel on the edge of town with one of the best sunset spots in Sabah. Put your feet in the sand at the edge of the South China Sea, go for a walk to the outdoor restaurants frequented by locals, or simply take it easy today.

Accommodation

Day 2 - Walking Tour & Mangrove Cruise

Start your day with a walking tour through the old town, the city’s handicraft market, and spice bazaar, tasting a few classic treats such as teh tarek and roti canai. In the afternoon, set out for the Klias Wetlands and Mangrove Forest Reserve where you’ll cruise along the river in search of wildlife. Watch the trees light up with fireflies and enjoy dinner along the river.

Day 3 - Kota Kinabalu to the Kinabatangan River

Fly early this morning to Sandakan and set out for the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in time for the morning feeding. After your visit and time to see the sun bears, board a boat for the ride along the Kinabatangan River to your beautiful lodge in Sukau. Join an afternoon cruise by electric boat to look for proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, orangutans, and more.

Accommodation

Day 4 - Wildlife Safaris

Share river cruises with other guests to look for wildlife along the river. In between, stroll the lodge’s boardwalk, attend an ape talk with a resident naturalist, cool off in the pool, or simply relax with the sounds of the jungle around you. An optional night cruise to look for nocturnal wildlife such as tarsiers and clouded leopards can be added.

luxury-Borneo-proboscis-monkey

Day 5 - Sukau to Danum Valley

Depart overland today for Lahad Datu and a bumpy ride into ancient rainforest. The journey will be worth it when you reach your luxurious lodge in the heart of Danum Valley. If time allows, take a privately guided introductory trek on the nature trail & canopy walkway. In the evening, join other guests for a night drive using electric buggy to look for wildlife.

Accommodation

Day 6 - Explore the Rainforest

Wake to the calls of gibbons and start your day with a trek to some of the rainforest’s most mysterious spots including an ancient burial site. In the afternoon, choose jungle trekking, tubing down the river, or taking in the symphony of rainforest sounds from the lodge. At night, your guide will take you on a walk to look for wildlife along the trail.

Day 7 - Waterfalls & Wildlife

Spend the morning walking to Fairy and Serpent waterfalls and use the afternoon to enjoy the activity you didn’t the day before. In the evening, you’ll have the option to join a night drive or walk to look for nocturnal animals around the lodge. This virgin rainforest is full of wildlife so use every chance you get to see what’s hiding in the trees.

luxury-borneo

Day 8 - Danum Valley to Pulau Tiga

Enjoy a leisurely morning before returning to Lahad Datu and your flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival, meet your driver for transfer through the countryside and small villages of Sabah en route to Kuala Penyu. Your boutique island resort’s boat will ferry you across to Pulau Tiga and your villa with sea views. Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail as the sun drops.

Accommodation

Days 9, 10 & 11 - Rest and Relaxation

You have a full three days to enjoy the resort’s amenities and the island’s beauty. Snorkel, swim, dive, kayak, hike to volcanic mud pools, arrange for spa treatments, and soak up the sun. This is your time to reflect on all you’ve seen during this luxury Borneo holiday, curl up with a good book, or perhaps begin thinking about where your next holiday will take you.

Day 12 - Farewell Borneo

Check out today and take the resort’s boat across to Kuala Penyu for the two-hour drive to Kota Kinabalu airport where you can catch your homeward bound flight.

Safe travels!

DETAILS -

This itinerary costs from £5,740 per person and is based on two people sharing excluding peak seasons such as July-August, Christmas and New Year, and Chinese New Year. Certain dates at Borneo Rainforest Lodge incur a surcharge so do enquire about your specific travel plans for an accurate quotation. The price includes all transfers and domestic travel but not international flights.

International flights tend to cost between £700 and £900 per person return – do ask us for advice. Alternatively we can book the flights for you but a booking fee may apply.

What's included?

INCLUDED:
  • Prices start from £5,740 per person
  • Accommodation on B&B basis in Kota Kinabalu
  • Accommodation with Full Board on days 3-11
  • Dinner on day 2
  • Transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle or by boat
  • Local taxes except Malaysia Tourism Tax collected locally
  • Entrance fees
  • All excursions and activities mentioned in the itinerary
  • Internal flights
  • All trips are ATOL protected or ABTA bonded to ensure you are fully covered
  • Prices are correct at time publication and subject to change
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Kota Kinabalu
An easy city to see on foot, Kota Kinabalu is the gateway to Sabah. Hop a ferry to the islands, relax by the beach north of the city, tuck into a meal at the night market, and settle into the easy pace of Sabahan life. More
Tip of Borneo
Empty beaches, clear water, and fantastic villas perfect for those looking to get away from it all. The Tip of Borneo is a quiet place for a self-drive holiday from Kota Kinabalu. A longhouse homestay, traditional villages, and a jungle home to proboscis monkeys are easy day visits. Snorkel, dive, kayak, trek, bicycle, or simply sit by the water. More
Mount Kinabalu
The highest mountain in Southeast Asia offers more than an incredible hike. With multiple mountain environments and climate zones, Kinabalu Park hosts more than 300 bird species and 5,000 flowering plants including the large rafflesia. For those up for the challenge, climbing Mount Kinabalu is an unforgettable overnight hike to see the sunrise at 4,095 meters. More
Sipadan
Considered by many one of the top dive sites in the world, Sipadan Island has coral-covered walls dropping well below recreational limits. Sharks, turtles, and schools of fish that number in the thousands are routinely seen by divers and snorkelers. Only 120 visitors are allowed per day so we recommend staying on nearby Mabul and diving its macro-rich waters on your non-Sipadan days. More
Danum Valley
The largest piece of preserved virgin rainforest in Malaysia sits within the Danum Valley Conservation Area. This remote jungle hosts a magnificent array of wildlife from the largest in the region to some of the smallest. Sun bears, orangutans, clouded leopards, wild cattle, Sumatran rhino, horned frogs, flying frogs, flying squirrels, the list goes on. Previously only accessible to researchers, campers, and those with a very high budget, we've found a lodge that gets you close to the action without the hefty price tag. More
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Bornean gibbons, pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, and a few of the nearly extinct Sumatran rhinoceros are protected within the Tabin Wildlife Reserve. A stay here will have you trekking to a mud volcano and a waterfall, looking for birds and nocturnal creatures on night walks and drives, and if you're lucky, getting a peek at some of Borneo's incredible wildlife. More
Kinabatangan River
A trip down the Kinabatangan River to Sukau is an almost guaranteed way to see proboscis monkeys in the wild. These unique monkeys are endemic to Borneo and line the protected river corridor. Wild orangutans, pygmy elephants, silver leaf langurs, macaques, crocodiles, kingfishers, hornbills, owls, civets, and an array of other wildlife can be spotted in the region. Fireflies light up near Abai and the Gomantong Caves boast a bat population in the millions. Nearby Sepilok is the home to an Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and Sun Bear Conservation Centre, both worth a visit. More
Brunei
The nation of Brunei Darussalam sits between the two states of Malaysian Borneo. Its capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan, reveals the country's wealth with lavish mosques, gold towers, and carefully groomed outdoor spaces. People are friendly and when the sun sets the country's name, abode of peace, makes perfect sense. More
Kuching
Built along the Sarawak River, Kuching makes a lovely base for exploring western Borneo. Architecturally interesting with Malay, Chinese, Indian, Muslim, British, and other influences apparent, the city is pleasant to walk around and easy to navigate. Nearby Bako National Park and Semenggoh Nature Reserve are great places to see wild proboscis monkeys and semi-wild orangutans. Each can be visited on a day trip from Kuching although spending a night in Bako is well worth it. More
Mulu National Park
The caves of Mulu are some of the largest in the world and the only ways to get there are on foot or by plane. This remote rainforest is full of walking trails and caves, the latter of which can only be visited with a guide for safety reasons. For the adventurous, serious trekking options exist and for the comfort-seekers, a lovely little resort sits just outside the National Park. More
Batang Ai
Traditional culture is alive and well in Batang Ai where the Iban people still live in communal longhouses. No longer feared headhunters, the Iban have incorporated touches of modernity into their traditional way of life. Trek through the park in search of wild orangutans, walk through the canopy looking for birds, sit down with an Iban chief to learn about their culture, or just look out over the many waters for which the region is named.
Caves of Niah
With evidence of human habitation dating back more than 40,000 years, the Niah caves are a fascinating and beautiful area that can be explored on a day visit from Miri. See etchings on the wall of Painted Cave, traditional ladders for those collecting the nests of swiftlets, and huge caverns as you walk the boards and visit the small museum.
Maliau Basin
The "lost world" of Sabah, the Maliau Basin is a naturally enclosed basin drained by tributaries of the Maliau River. A multi-day trek in this dense rainforest is a challenging and rewarding way to get up close and personal with an extremely wide array of plants and animals. More

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