Compare Borneo Wildlife Family Holiday by Exodus Travels vs Borneo's Rivers, Mountains and Beaches tour by Audley Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 12 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 2,700 | $ 3,960 |
| Price Per Day | $ 225 | $ 360 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | N/A | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included. Malaysia is renowned for its culinary excellence; however, food can often be relatively unexciting and limited in the lodges and for hotel breakfasts. Meals will be more varied for everyone in cities and seafood is widely available on the coast. Most meals are basic, based around rice and noodles although most accommodation does offer a Western breakfast of beans, toast and eggs. In the bigger hotels and cities, the full range of Western and local foods are available. You can generally avoid the spicier food if you wish. Allow at least 70-140 ringgits (US$15-US$30) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in Borneo, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Vegetarians can be catered for but will find the food choice limited. Please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, in Borneo the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent, for example wheat- or dairy-free, please be prepared for this, you may need to bring such items from home. | N/A |
| Description |
Borneo is a tropical paradise fit for the whole family. Get up close to the island’s ‘wild men’ at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and to the big-nosed proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay Sanctuary. Enjoy idyllic island beaches and snorkel among colourful fish and sea turtles. From a jungle lodge, we head out by longboat and on foot in search of wild macaques and crocodiles. There’s time, too, for exploring the trails in Kinabalu National Park and for relaxing in the thermal pools of Poring Hot Springs.Enjoy a tropical family adventure combining jungles, wildlife and beaches |
Rich equatorial rainforest, wild orangutan and the Kinabatangan River... On a tailor-made vacation to Borneo with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our Borneo specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook. Savor sunrise atop Mount Kinabalu, the island’s highest peak. Be a guest of the Iban tribe with a night in a traditional longhouse. Trek beneath some of the world’s tallest trees, while a symphony of insects click and hum in the background. Leave a positive impact on the island by seeking out its rare leopards and proboscis monkeys responsibly. Snorkel around offshore islands and relax on a stretch of powder-soft sand. The great bat exodus at Gunung Mulu National Park, freshly cooked street food, a rhinoceros hornbill in flight… What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options, wherever you go. |
Day 1 Start Kota Kinabalu
The adventure starts at our hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Today is a free day but there is a welcome meeting in the evening with your tour leader; details of where and when this will take place will have been left at the hotel reception. Check-in is from 2pm. Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is an intriguing city born between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Having recovered from Second World War bombings, KK now possesses a gateway charm only found in frontier towns. If you have enough free time, immerse yourself in local history at the Sabah State Museum or visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village for a fun, interactive learning experience. Accommodation: Dreamtel Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Hike through rubber and fruit plantation; spend the night in a homestay in Tanak Nabalu village
Leaving the city, we head towards Mount Kinabalu. After two hours to 2hr 30min, we arrive at the Dusun village of Tanak Nabalu (please note, the roads to the village are quite bad so we may have to use smaller minibuses for this journey). The Dusun people are the largest ethnic group in Sabah, the province of Borneo where we find ourselves. In the village, we are separated into different homestays and spend the rest of the day hiking through orchards and rubber plantations, going for a swim in the river, exploring the village and, possibly, if anyone is feeling energetic, playing football on the village pitch. This evening, we gather for a cultural show, which helps the Dusun people preserve their ancient, traditional dances. As not all families speak English, our tour leader hands out language sheets and assists with communication. Accommodation: Tanak Nabalu homestay
Day 3 To Kinabalu National Park, exploring the lower trails and botanical gardens; overnight in local resort lodge
Following breakfast, this morning we transfer to Kinabalu National Park (approximately 30 minutes). Here we go for a one to two-hour hike along some of the lower trails and the Mountain Botanical Gardens, which has an excellent showcase of the mountain’s diverse plant life. There is the option to visit the Kundasang War Memorial, which commemorates prisoners of war who died during the infamous death marches of the Second World War. The memorial is formed of four gardens: the Australian, English, Malaysian and the Contemplation Garden that represent the different nationalities. We then take a short transfer to the Zen Garden Resort, where we spend the night. Accommodation: Zen Garden Resort (or similar)
Day 4 Transfer to Sabah Tea Gardens; soak in Poring Hot Springs and take to the trees with a canopy walk
This morning, we transfer (one hour) to the Poring Hot Spring, where we have plenty of time to enjoy the cool pools and hot tubs (into which the steaming hot water is piped) plus the well-maintained, self-guided walking trails to a nearby waterfall. The hot springs can get quite busy, especially during school and public holidays, so you may wish to pay the additional charge to enjoy a private bath if you want a good soak. We later take to the trees as we head on a canopy walkway, which follows a trail including several suspension bridges hanging from the trees at canopy level, some up to 130ft (40m) above the ground. There is also a butterfly and orchid garden within the complex. We later take a short transfer to the Sabah Tea Gardens, where we spend the night in a traditional reconstructed longhouse with shared bathrooms. Accommodation: Sabah Tea Longhouse
Day 5 - 6 Visit tea factory; onto Kinabatangan; enjoy morning and afternoon river cruises; explore the jungle on foot
Waking to spectacular views over the mountain, we start with an early morning visit to the tea plantation, learning about tea production, before driving to Kinabatangan (approximately five to six hours). The Kinabatangan River is the longest in Sabah and the lower reaches are recognised as one of the best places in Southeast Asia for wildlife viewing. The forests are home to 10 primate species, including orangutans, proboscis monkeys and gibbons, plus hornbills, crocodiles and the elusive pygmy elephants, which drink at the river. We spend the next day and a half exploring the jungle. We go on river cruises, jungle hikes, a night walk and plant trees. Accommodation: Bilit Adventure Lodge (or similar)
Day 7 - 8 Visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and optional visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
The next two days are spent in and around Sepilok. The drive to Labuk Bay and the proboscis monkey sanctuary takes about three to four hours. These monkeys, only found in Borneo, are very distinctive with their large noses and can often be seen jumping between trees with tremendous leaps through the air. After visiting the sanctuary, we continue to Sepilok (about 40 minutes’ away) where we stay in a guesthouse with a pool just five minutes from the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The Kabili Sepilok Reserve, established in the 1960s, is home to between 60 and 80 rehabilitated orangutans, which roam freely in the forest. Additionally, the rehabilitation centre was established to care for the apes and is home to a further 25 young, orphaned orangutans who live in a nursery. The rehabilitation centre provides medical care for the orphaned and confiscated apes plus various other wild animals. While the semi-wild orangutans roam free in the reserve and forage for food, their diet is supplemented by milk and banana. There are two feedings a day, at 10am and 3pm, and we have the opportunity to witness both. There is also the opportunity to visit the nearby Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre. The smallest of all bears, sun bears were once widely found across much of Asia but have drastically decreased in numbers. The centre aims to protect and promote conservation to return these bears to the forest. The nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre is a centre for environmental education within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Its primary function is to create public awareness and appreciation of the importance of conserving forests, as well as the sustainable use of forest resources. The 482ft (147m) long, 92ft (28m) high steel canopy walkway gives spectacular views of beautiful rainforest giants, such as the mengaris tree, and there are 250 bird species to spot. Accommodation: Sepilok Jungle Resort (or similar)
Day 9 Fly back to Kota Kinabalu; free time to relax or explore Kota Kinabalu
Later this morning we head to Sandakan Airport (about 25 minutes) for our flight back to Kota Kinabalu (40 minutes). Please note, there is a 33lb (15kg) restriction on checked baggage for the domestic flight, but it is possible to pay for excess luggage at the airport or your leader can arrange this at the start of the tour. Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu, we transfer to the Grandis Hotel & Resort, where we spend the last three nights of the trip. The hotel’s prime location near the waterfront provides easy access to the markets and restaurants as well as the city jetty. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the hotel swimming pool or wander through the markets at leisure. Accommodation: Grandis Hotel & Resort (or similar)
Day 10 Spend the day snorkelling and swimming in Tunku Abdul Marine Park
Today we explore Tunku Abdul Marine Park on a snorkelling trip to some of the best sites with vibrant coral and colourful fish! There will also be time for swimming and relaxing on white sand beaches on one on the islands within the marine park. Accommodation: Grandis Hotel & Resort (or similar)
Day 11 Free day and optional final group dinner
Today is a free day for last-minute shopping, sightseeing or to enjoy optional activities on offer, including participating in a traditional cooking class or join a half day kayak on the Tembara river. Your leader can advise during the trip (additional cost, payable locally). There is also the option for families to take a short boat ride and go island hopping from the city jetty (located by the hotel) to the nearby islands for a day at the beach and snorkelling. Alternatively, you may wish to relax by the pool before our final evening together. Accommodation: Grandis Hotel & Resort (or similar)
Day 12 End Kota Kinabalu
The trip ends after breakfast in Kota Kinabalu. Of course, if you’d like to explore a little longer, speak to your sales representative about booking post-tour nights.
Day 1 Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
On arrival into Kuala Lumpur you will be met and taken to your hotel, with the rest of the day to relax and start exploring the capital. This evening you might like to visit the Petronas Towers for views right across the city.
Day 2 Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Today is free to explore the city. Take a walk through Chinatown for some delicious street-food or visit the extensive Islamic Art Museum. You might like to head outside the city to visit the Batu Caves, a limestone cave complex dotted with Hindu Shrines.
Day 3 Kinabatangan River
Kuala Lumpur , Sandakan , Kinabatangan River
An early morning flight this morning to Sandakan, where you're met and taken to the jetty for the start of your exploration of the Kinabatangan River. Here you will have two days on the river, with the chance to see some amazing wildlife. Having arrived at the lodge you will have lunch before heading back out on the water, with the chance to see a huge amount of wildlife. Proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and nesting orangutan are all regularly seen, as well as a whole host of magnificent bird life.
Day 4 Kinabatangan River
Kinabatangan River
Rise early for a second trip on the river and the chance to visit the nearby ox-bow lake. Breakfast is served back at the lodge. You have free time back at the lodge to catch up on some sleep or look for wildlife on the boardwalks and bird towers around the lodge. Lunch will be served at the lodge. Enjoy a final trip on the river this afternoon and try to tick some more animals off your list before a final dinner at your lodge.
Day 5 Sandakan
Kinabatangan River , Sandakan
After breakfast you will travel back to Sandakan by boat where you will then transferred to the Sepilok Nature Resort. In the afternoon you can stroll over to the world famous sanctuary, and have the chance to explore the Sun bear Sanctuary and Orangutan Nursery as well. Evening at leisure.
Day 6 Kinabalu National Park
Sandakan , Kota Kinabalu , Kinabalu National Park
Early morning flight to Kota Kinabalu. You will be met at the airport by a representative from Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (who operate the climb packages) and transferred to Kinabalu National Park for an afternoon exploring the park followed by an overnight stay.
Day 7 Kinabalu National Park
Kinabalu National Park
This morning you start the trek up Southeast Asia's highest peak. The walk starts in lush temperate rainforest which surrounds the park HQ. As you ascend you will see the environment dramatically change due to the altitude. In the afternoon you will reach Laban Rata where you stay for the evening.
Day 8 Kota Kinabalu
Kinabalu National Park , Kota Kinabalu
You will set off in the early hours while it is still dark for a final push to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu where you can enjoy a spectacular Borneo sunrise. You will then trek back to the park HQ, a challenge in itself as this part can be tough on the legs. On arrival you will be met and transferred back to Kota Kinabalu for a well earned rest at the Rasa Ria beach resort.
Day 9 Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Enjoy the day resting your weary legs. The hotel has 3 km (1.9 miles) of private beach and a meandering pool. The spa offers an extensive selection of treatments.
Day 10 Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
You can visit the local town of Kota Kinabalu or book an activity locally with the resort. Horse ride along the beach or trek into the jungle behind the hotel.
Day 11 Return home
Kota Kinabalu
Today you'll be driven to Kota Kinabalu airport by private transfer to catch your onwards flight.
