Best of Borneo
Borneo is one of the world's greatest natural wonders, with an all encompassing biodiversity. It is a remarkable place where the great outdoors thrive with miracles and spectacles. Encounter a treasure trove of flora, wildlife, landscapes and indigenous customs. Borneo is also the home of the last wild orangutans, sadly under threat from habitat destruction.
Iban Longhouse - Be guests at a traditional Iban longhouse, where the tribespeople will perform a traditional war dance in full regalia and serve a traditionally prepared lunch.
Semenggoh Nature Reserve - Visit Borneo's best-known residents at Semenggoh Nature Reserve, a centre for rescued orangutans who, in the process of being rehabilitated, roam freely through the reserve's lush forest.
Kinabatangan River cruise - Float down the Kinabatangan River as the sun sets, keeping an eye on the jungle-filled river banks for a chance to spot hornbills, pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys.
Kuching (3N+1N) - Sri Aman (2N) - Kota Kinabalu (4N) - Sepilok (1N) - Kinabatangan River (2N)
- Return international economy flights (prices may vary depending on departure city)
- Taxes and current fuel surcharges (unless a land only option is selected)
- 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners
- Touring with Guides and entrance fees
- Domestic transportation
- 4 star accommodation and eco-lodge
- Max Group Size: 18
Days 1-2: Fly To Kuching
Fly overnight to the relaxed and charismatic city of Kuching.
Includes: Dinner
Day 3: Explore Kuching
Spend the day enjoying the diverse culture of Sarawak with a walking tour, starting at the Chinese History Museum on Kuching's waterfront. Stroll past the traditional Chinese shop houses of Ewe Hai Street and pay a visit to a 'sinseh', a Chinese medicine man. Next you'll be introduced to Sarawa's delicious food, with a tasting at a local coffee shop. Continue to the Sarawak Museum, before a sampan ride across Kuching's river to visit a Malay village.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Bako National Park
Travel out to Bako before boarding a boat to reach the national park. Explore the park on foot with a guide – one of Borneo's most bio-diverse areas, the diversity of flora and fauna here is incredible and easily accessible. Following trails along streams, past caves and across plateaus, keeping an eye out for wild boar, macaques, monitor lizards and, if you're lucky, a proboscis monkey. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Semenggoh Nature Reserve
This morning you have the opportunity to meet Borneo's most famous native; the orangutan! Semenggoh is a centre dedicated to the rehabilitation of rescued or orphaned young orangutans – here, they are taught how to survive in the wild. Visit the orangutan release area, where they live freely, in search of these beautiful but elusive creatures. After lunch, drive for approximately 4 hours to Sri Aman, where you will be checked into your hotel on arrival.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Iban Longhouse
Today you will discover more about Borneo's native Iban people, renowned for their former practice of headhunting. After breakfast, drive approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to the jetty, where you will board a traditional Iban longboat for a 45-minute river journey to a tribal longhouse. On arrival, enjoy a tour of the longhouse, meeting the tribe's families. Witness a performance of a traditional dance, in full regalia, and lunch on Iban cuisine.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Return To Kuching
Journey back to Kuching, stopping en route for lunch at a local café.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Fly To Kota Kinabalu
Transfer to the airport and fly over to Malaysian Borneo's other state, Sabah, and the vibrant city of Kota Kinabalu. On arrival, the rest of the day is at leisure.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Explore Kota Kinabalu
Begin your explorations at the Sabah State Museum where you can learn about the state's diverse cultural and natural heritage, before exploring some of the city's beautiful architecture, including the Blue Mosque and Chinese Temple. Browse the piles of wares at the handicraft market and spice bazaar, before strolling through the oldest part of the city. Lunch will be at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Tonight, dine on traditional Malay cuisine.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Kinabalu Park
Head out of the city to the foot of Mt Kinabalu, Borneo's highest mountain, where you will spend the day exploring Kinabalu Park, Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Embark on a guided walk along one of the many forest trails to discover some of the unique flora and fauna that calls the area home.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Fly To Sandakan
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Sandakan. Visit the Sandakan Memorial Park, which commemorates the suffering of British and Australian POWs held here during the WWII Japanese occupation. Continue into Sandakan itself, passing the William Pryer and Sandakan Liberation Monuments before a relaxing lunch at English Tea House. Later stop by the Agnes Keith Museum to learn about colonial life here during the pre-WWII British Administration. Head inland and check in to your hotel in Sepilok - an eco resort at the edge of the rainforest.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Sepilok Orangutan Centre
Sepilok offers another chance to see orangutans in their natural habitat – like Semenggoh, this is a centre for the rehabilitation of former captive and orphaned orangutans. Around 60 to 80 orangutans live free within the centre's forest and there may be young orangutans to visit in the nursery. Head across the road to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to visit the world's smallest bear and learn about the conservation efforts to protect them. Journey to Bilit and enjoy lunch at your lodge. Later, board a cruise along the Kinabatangan River to spot some of the abundant wildlife.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Kinabatangan River
Embark on an early morning cruise to the Oxbow Lake, where you can spot wildlife and soak up the peaceful ambience. Returning to the lodge, the rest of the day is at leisure until the late afternoon, when you'll head out for another cruise, searching for wildlife once more. You could spot anything from horn-bills to pygmy elephants!
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Sandakan To Kota Kinabalu
Return to Sandakan for lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to the airport to fly back to Kota Kinabalu. This evening, dine on local flavours and enjoy a cultural dance performance.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 15-16: Fly Kota Kinabalu To Australia
Fly to Australia, arriving home the following day.
Includes: Breakfast
* The above itinerary is subject to change.
- 14 Sep 2024 - 28 Sep 2024
from $7,980 pp twin share / $9,360 pp solo - 21 Sep 2024 - 05 Oct 2024
from$7,680$7,180 pp twin share /$9,060/ $8,560 pp solo - 29 Mar 2025 - 12 Apr 2025
from$8,880$8,080 pp twin share /$10,340/ $9,540 pp solo - 12 Apr 2025 - 26 Apr 2025
from$8,880$8,080 pp twin share /$10,340/ $9,540 pp solo - 03 May 2025 - 17 May 2025
from$8,880$8,080 pp twin share /$10,340/ $9,540 pp solo - 07 Jun 2025 - 21 Jun 2025
from$8,880$8,080 pp twin share /$10,340/ $9,540 pp solo - 19 Jul 2025 - 02 Aug 2025
from$8,580$7,780 pp twin share /$10,040/ $9,240 pp solo - 16 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025
from $8,580 pp twin share / $10,040 pp solo - 06 Sep 2025 - 20 Sep 2025
from $8,880 pp twin share / $10,340 pp solo - 13 Sep 2025 - 27 Sep 2025
from $8,880 pp twin share / $10,340 pp solo
Advertised pricing subject to departure date and availability. Please call 1300 414 198 to confirm up-to-the-moment availability and pricing.
Abai Jungle Lodge - Abai
In a quiet, wildlife-packed spot on the Kinabatangan River, the Abai is built entirely on stilts and connected together by boardwalks. This rustic lodge, only accessible by boat, is all about bringing guests closer to nature and has an open air communal restaurant, bird watching towers and a riverside deck. Spacious wooden rooms are simple and comfortable, with a shared veranda, ceiling fan and an en suite bathroom with shower.
Horizon Hotel - Kota Kinabalu
Set in the heart of the City of Kota Kinabalu within 10 minutes’ drive from the airport and on the doorstep of the famous Sunday Street Market. Boasting rooms with city and sea views, all featuring plasma TV’s, rain showers, comfortable beds & free high-speed internet.
The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching - Kuching, Borneo
Perfectly located for Plaza Merdeka Shopping Center, The Waterfront Kuching is a forward-thinking, art-themed hotel showcasing the work of local Bornean artists. Hotel facilities include an indoor infinity pool, evening lounge bar and in-room Wi-Fi access. Breakfast is served in the hotel's Café Via Mare, with sweeping views of the Sarawak River.
Fitness Level: This tour is rated as a physical level 2 tour. A reasonable level of fitness is required but it’s more about spending time on your feet rather than covering large distances. You’ll be getting on and off coaches and boats, walking around the sights and climbing some steps.
- On several days there will be sightseeing on foot for extended periods of time.
- At some of the sights visited there are a large number of steps to climb
- You will be required to get on and off varying sizes of boats often without assistance.
Tipping Policy: Local tipping is customary in Asia. However, this can often lead to awkwardness in knowing when it is appropriate to tip and how much, as well as ensuring you have a suitable amount of change available at the time. For your convenience, with years of experiences in providing the best customer service, a kitty system will be arranged by your National Escort who will look after this aspect of your trip for you. It also ensures that the amounts paid are reasonable for you but still fair for the local people. The amount is stated on each Group Tour page will be advised again on your final documentation.
Tipping is in US Dollars and will be collected by your National Escort on arrival and distributed throughout the tour on your behalf. Any additional tipping on any of our tours is welcomed at your discretion. Further guidance for tipping contributions will be outlined in your final documentation. We generally find that most customers appreciate the convenience of our tipping policy, but we do recognise that it may not suit everyone. However, as this is a group tour we ask that everyone follows the same protocol to be fair to other group members and to ensure smooth operation of your tour.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 June 2022. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
- Customary tipping amount of approximately MYR$560pp (AU$207pp) is paid locally in Borneo.
- Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.