Discover Borneo: Rainforest, Wildlife & Indigenous Culture

Arrive in Kuching, the State capital of Sarawak. Meet and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free at leisure to discover historic Kuching. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

We’ll pick you up from the hotel in Kuching around 7:50 to 8:10 am. Bako National Park is situated on a peninsula on the coast, and the departure point for trips to the park is Bako village, 35 35-minute drive from Kuching. From the village, proceed by boat for approximately 25 minutes to the park headquarters. En route, there is a chance to see crocodiles, sea eagles and other shore birds. Arrive at the park HQ and begin exploring the trails and searching for wildlife. Return to Kuching mid-afternoon. Please note that the schedule may depend on the tide. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

8 am pick up from the hotel in Kuching and drive to the Batang Ai reservoir. Along the way, stop at Lachau Bazaar. Stroll around the shops and the small native market and have an early lunch in a local coffee shop. Then continue your journey, arriving at Batang Ai Lake between 1:30 /2 pm. Board a longboat and travel upriver to Nanga Sumpa, arriving at approx. 3:30pm, although the exact time will depend on river conditions. Settle in at our lodge and have dinner. After dinner, visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse. Relax on the ruai (common verandah) and spend time with the Iban people. Interact with the community, learn about their culture, and enjoy some local rice wine. Overnight at Nanga Sumpa lodge.

Following breakfast, we'll hike the jungle trails along the river and continue upriver by longboat. Our destination is the scenic Enseluai waterfall. Arrive at the waterfall and have time to relax, swim and enjoy the rainforest surroundings. Enjoy a riverside BBQ lunch prepared by your Iban hosts. Return to the lodge. After dinner visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse. Overnight at Nanga Sumpa lodge.

Breakfast in the lodge. At 9am, we'll travel downriver to the Batang Ai Lake jetty, arriving around 10:30/11 am. Then we'll travel overland back to Kuching with lunch enroute. Arrive in Kuching at c.4:30pm. We'll drop you off at your hotel. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Transfer to Kuching airport to fly to Sandakan in Sabah via Kota Kinabalu.Upon arrival in Sandakan, meet and transfer to MY Nature Resort at Sepilok for check in. The reminder of the day is free at leisure. MY Nature Resort is set in 25 acres of rainforest bordering the Sepilok forest reserve, a protected area rich in wildlife. Relax, swim in the pool or go for a walk on the resort’s own 1,050 metre long boardwalk. Dinner will be served at MY Nature Resort. Overnight at MY Nature Resort.

Free at leisure in the morning. After lunch, pick up from MY Nature Resort and proceed to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. This privately run sanctuary is located within an oil palm estate and offers a unique chance to see proboscis monkeys. These monkeys are wild but habituated and often get very close to visitors. The proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay live in a fragmented habitat surrounded by an oil palm plantation. As there is insufficient food, the monkeys receive a supplementary diet. The afternoon feeding time at Platform B commences at 4:30 pm when groups of proboscis monkeys from the nearby forest and mangroves head to the wooden platform for a free meal. Labuk Bay offers a unique opportunity to observe these normally shy creatures. A group of silver leaf monkeys are often seen at the shelter, as well as Hornbills. From there, proceed to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), an educational centre located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The focus is to experience the rainforest from high elevations and to observe red giant flying squirrels, which emerge from their nests at dusk. The centre’s long canopy walkway is 147 metres in length, and up to 28 metres above the forest floor. The walkway and towers offer a unique way to see Sabah’s rainforest and are an excellent place for birdwatching. The squirrels at the RDC usually emerge between 6/7 pm. Dinner and overnight at MY Nature Resort.

Pick up from MY Nature Resort and visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild. You will be able to observe them at their feeding stations in the rainforest and at the nursery (if open). Watch the feeding session at 10am, then proceed to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). This centre rescues captured sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare rehabilitation and education. Over 30 sun bears live at the centre in the bear house and outdoor enclosures. At 11.30am, we'll depart Sepilok and proceed overland to Sukau for lunch and check-in. In the afternoon, go on a river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to the Menanggul River in search proboscis monkeys, birds, orangutans, pygmy elephants, reptiles and other wildlife. Overnight stay at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.

At 6:30 am take a boat trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Ox Bow Lake. Then return to the lodge for breakfast. Free at leisure to relax. At 4:30 am, venture on another river cruise down the Menanggul River in search of wildlife. Return to the lodge at dusk. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside lodge.

After breakfast, depart overland for Sandakan. Proceed to Sandakan airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu, meet and transfer to Hotel Grandis (or equivalent) for check-in and overnight.

7 am pickup from the hotel in the city and depart on a 3-hour drive to Poring Hot Spring. En route, stop at Nabalu village to savour local fruits and shop for local handicrafts. Upon arrival, observe wildlife on the canopy walkway 30m above the forest floor and take a dip in one of the soothing, hot mineral springs set in beautifully landscaped gardens. Proceed to the World Heritage site of Kinabalu Park. Explore the mountain gardens – home to many species of orchids, pitcher plants, birds, insects and butterflies – with your guide before returning to Kota Kinabalu in the late afternoon. Overnight at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort.

Today is a free day for you to explore the extensive area around your resort, relax at the beach or take up other optional activities at your choice, overnight at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort.

Have breakfast at your resort. Check out before noon. All things come to an end - we'll transfer you to Kota Kinabalu airport for your departure flight.