Best of Borneo

📍 Kuching Airport to Hotel Transfer (22 km): 30 mins

Discover Kuching, a veritable treasure trove of historical buildings and remarkable stories concentrated around the south bank of the waterfront.

At 15:00 meet the guide and wander the streets of this quaint town learning about history and traditions.

Start your walk by exploring India Street, flanked by colourful century-old shop houses. Follow a narrow passageway and discover a hidden small Indian Mosque. 

Next stop is the Old Kuching Courthouse, the first Brooke-era administrative building, The Pavilion, originally used as a medical headquarters.  Take a photo at the Square Tower, which served as a maximum-security detention centre and later a dancing hall used by the Brookes’ officers.

Take a short walk along Main Bazaar, one of the oldest streets, and observe the antique and handicraft outlets found here.

Make an offering at a 175-year-old temple, Tua Pek Kong Temple, a singular Chinese temple and its dominant dragon. Continue with the Old Chinese Court, used by the Chinese community, today a Chinese History Museum. 

The history of modern Sarawak began when the English adventurer James Brooke sailed up the Sarawak River in his schooner in 1839. Retrace this historic route with a sampan (traditional boat) ride down this same river which still bustles with its charm and enjoy some local snacks during the cruise.

Across the river enjoy 360’ panoramic views of Kuching and the historical landmarks. See the Astana, a romantic structure built by Rajah Charles Brooke as a gift to his beloved wife, the Ranee Margaret and Fort Margherita, the ideal entry point for the settlement. All set against a background of picturesque Malay Villages and distant mountains.

Your experience ends after sunset. Return to your hotel or continue independently exploring Kuching.

Overnight Kuching.

Inclusions:

This morning at 08.00, meet with the guide at the hotel lobby and depart for the 45-minute transfer to Semenggoh Orangutan Wildlife Centre. Established in 1975 and just outside Kuching, Semenggoh Nature Reserve is home to many Orangutans. For over 20 years, the wardens here trained young Orangutans, who had been orphaned or rescued from captivity, how to survive in the wild.  It is now a centre for the study of Orangutan biology and behaviour and this is the primary reason that people visit this centre. However, the rangers also do work with other species including crocodiles and hornbills.

At 09:00, arrive at Semenggoh for the first feeding of the day. Take a short 15-minute walk through the rainforest to the feeding platform where the rangers will put fruits out for the semi-wild Orangutans. They spend most of their time roaming the forest but frequently come back to the centre for a free meal.
 
At 10:30, leave for a scenic drive passing through rice fields, rubber, cocoa and pepper plantations, luxuriant tropical forest and river and mountain ranges to explore Annah Rais, a Bidayuh tribe longhouse home of over 80 families. Located in an isolated valley guarded by four mountains, a strategic position which helped the villagers ward off head-hunting attacks in the past. Discover the old bamboo longhouse with the guide, learn about the Bidayuh culture and observe the leisure-pace lifestyle of the natives. Have a tea break with a native Bidayuh family. Among the interesting relics, get to see the Cannon of Peace and several human skulls which are about 100 years old kept at the Head House called Baruk. 
 
Enjoy a traditional Bidayuh lunch followed by a jungle walk to visit the village farm. Return to Kuching. 
 
The estimated arrival time at the hotel is 15:00.

Overnight Kuching.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

At 08:00, depart Kuching for a 45-minute drive to Bako Fishing Village.  Continue by motorised boat for a 30-minute cruise along the beautiful coast to reach Bako National Park.  

The oldest of Sarawak’s national parks, Bako offers the perfect introduction to Sarawak’s forests and wildlife. Bako is also home to 275 rare proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo. Observe the fabulous proboscis monkeys, silvered langurs, bearded pigs and monitor lizards. Despite its seemingly small size, Bako contains a wide range of vegetation – swamp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, mangrove forest, dipterocarp forest, delicate cliff vegetation and beautiful sandy beaches.  

Explore the rainforest on a variety of walking trails from mighty 80-metre dipterocarps to dense mangrove forests.  For bird enthusiasts, Bako is home to many species such as the rufous-backed kingfisher, stork-billed kingfisher, red-crowned barbet, white-bellied woodpecker and many more.  During low tide, observe the mudskippers and blue-fiddler crabs coming out from their hideout to feed on the beaches. 

Take a simple lunch at the park café before returning to Bako Village by boat and onward transfer to Kuching.

Note: Depending on the tides the boats will pull up at the jetty or onto the beach for arrival and departure.

Overnight Kuching.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Kuching Hotel to Kuching Airport Transfer (22 km): 30 mins / Mulu Airport to Mulu NP Transfer (1 km): 5 mins

Recommended Flight Schedule: MH3752 KCH MZV 09:45 11:25

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and a morning at leisure before being transferred to the airport for a flight to the tropical paradise of Mulu. Arrive at Mulu Airport and meet with the guide and driver for a join-in transfer to the hotel for the next two nights. 

Depending on the arrival time, there are a variety of free options to undertake prior to meeting back up with the guide in the afternoon. These include a wander to the Tree Top Tower for views across the roof of the national park, a stroll along the boardwalk to Pukau Waterfall or taking the Nature Heritage Trail for 1.5km. 

14.00 depart for Mulu National Park Headquarters, for a 3.5 km elevated plank walk to Lang Cave -the longest cave passage in the world (2,161 metres long) – which adjoins Deer Cave. Explore Lang Cave with its magnificent stalactites and stalagmites before proceeding to Deer Cave, where the biggest attraction is a colony of thousands of free-tailed bats. At dusk, witness an amazing spectacle of nature as thousands of these bats emerge from the cave in formation to forage for insects in the rainforest. 

Experience night trekking through the jungle to the park headquarters. From luminescent fungi to blinking fireflies, the jungle comes alive at night time and this is a fabulous opportunity to view creatures not visible in daylight

17.00 Return to the hotel for dinner.

Note: Should your stay be at Mulu Marriott, kindly note that check-in time is at 3:00 PM. Therefore, upon arrival, you might proceed directly to Mulu National Park to commence the day’s activities before room access. Please ensure you have a packed day bag and appropriate walking attire ready for the day upon arrival.

Overnight in Mulu.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

After breakfast, which is accompanied by the sound of the jungle’s morning chorus, take a 15-minute longboat ride up the Melanau River to experience two more of Mulu’s ‘must-see’ limestone caves: Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave. These form part of the Sarawak Chamber — the largest connected cave system in the world. If water levels are low, it’s also possible to get there along a beautiful 4 km hike. Explore the “King’s Room” before proceeding to Clearwater Cave. Walk on plank walkways that were built on the sides of limestone cliffs leading to Clearwater Cave. Then, climb up steep steps that were carved into the side of the hill to get to the entrance of Clearwater Cave. Inside the cave, check out the details of its various features and limestone formations. 

Return to Mulu HQ by boat and this afternoon take to the treetops on a canopy walkway. 

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, or head out on some self-guided walking trails in Mulu National Park. 

Return to the accommodation, dinner included.

Note: Children must be 6 years and above for the Canopy Walkway. 
Canopy Walkway timings: 7:00; 8:30; 10:00; 10:30; 13:00; 14:00 
(Note: 7 am and 8:30 am are not available on Friday).

Overnight in Mulu.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Mulu NP to Mulu Airport Transfer (1 km): 5 mins / Kota Kinabalu Airport to Kota Kinabalu Hotel (9 km): 20 mins

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the resort and relax until departing to the airport for a flight to Kota Kinabalu. 

Recommended Flight Schedule: MH3252 MZV BKI 11:50 12:45 / MH3252 MZV BKI 12:10 13:05 (effective 22 Mar 2025–31 Oct 2025)

Upon arrival at the airport, meet with the local guide and be transferred to the hotel for the evening. 
Today’s tour starts at 17:00. Meet the guide at the hotel and discover Kota Kinabalu’s rich history while strolling along its streets tasting delicious local food.

Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital city of Sabah. Strategically situated on the Northwest Coast of Borneo Island, this city has one of the most amazing views. With the South China Sea and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park on one side, and set against the backdrop of Mount Kinabalu, this beautiful ‘Nature Resort City’ stretches for miles along the coast.

Your walk starts at Gaya Street, known as Bond Street during the British colonial era, and established in 1902 it was considered the heart of Jesselton. All the major business activities were conducted there. As you stroll down the street observe the generations-old family businesses that are still thriving.

Pause for a few minutes at Keng Wan Hing, a traditional coffee shop. Famous for its delicious pineapple buns, also known as Polo Buns, and a cup of kopi, this shop is well-frequented by locals.

The next stop is Kedai Kopi Yuit Cheong. Yuit Cheong is one of the oldest coffee shops in Kota Kinabalu established in 1896. This coffee shop is popular for its satay. Enjoy a Roti Kahwin or Roti Kosong and taste a beef or chicken satay. We also recommend having a refreshing pandan coconut drink, which contains a pandan leaf aroma and the smooth, sweet, milky taste of its juice. 

Continue your walk towards the seaside. Stop at Jalan Segama to taste the challenging ‘kings of fruits’ the durian, depending on the season, there are dozens of durian stalls. In case the fruit is not available, taste a treat of chocolate durian.

Having satisfied your taste buds, walk down to the waterfront bar area and enjoy the best sunset views the city Kota Kinabalu has to offer, with a cocktail in hand. After sunset and a drink, walk a short distance to taste the delicious butter prawns, a local favourite.  

Return to your hotel.

Overnight Kota Kinabalu 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Kinabalu Park (90 km): 2.5 hours / Kinabalu Park to Poring (38 km): 1 hour

07:00 Today, head out to the cooler climates of Kinabalu Park, home to between 5000-6000 species of plants and 430 different birds and mammals. An hour into the drive, stop at a small Dusun town of Tamparuli for a short walk across a hanging bridge to the local square where you can pick up a quick snack. Continue a further hour up the mountain road to Mount Kinabalu National Park. Take a walk in the Botanical Gardens and learn about the vast array of flora found in this lush park. Admire views of Mt Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest peak before lunch in the park.

After lunch, drive to Poring Hot Springs and take a walk around this beautiful compound which takes its name from the giant bamboo that surrounds it. See Japanese-style outdoor hot tubs which are filled from natural hot springs believed to possess therapeutic effects. 

Continue to the nearby Kipungit Waterfall to admire this spectacular natural wonder. Alternatively, opt for a trek to the canopy walk, a suspension bridge that soars 40 metres above the forest floor. For thrill-seekers, this swaying, man-made bridge is an ideal place to enjoy views of the rainforest, tree canopies and distant rolling hills.

Overnight in Poring Hot Springs

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Poring Hot Springs to Sabah Tea Factory (20 km): 35 mins / Sabah Tea to Sepilok (188 km): 3 hours / Sepilok to Labuk Bay (22 km): 30mins

08:00 After breakfast, a short 30-minute drive to Sabah Tea to take a fascinating guided tour of the tea factory and learn how raw tea leaves are processed and packed for export.

Note: The Tea Factory is closed on Sundays & Public Holidays.

Depart for a 3.5-hour drive en route to Labuk Bay. 

This is one of the best places to encounter Borneo’s unique and endemic monkey species. Also known by locals as the Orang Belanda, this monkey hilariously was nicknamed Belanda after the Dutch colonisers at the time, who were said to bear an uncanny resemblance with their large noses and red cheeks. It primarily eats fruit and leaves and lives in groups of up to 19 individuals. 

As you wait at the feeding platform, you have the opportunity to see several other species that come in to see what food has been offered to them that day. Amongst these, you’ll likely see squirrels, silver leaf monkeys, and oriental pied hornbills. Note that the feeding time is at 16:30, so it is important to start the tour on time.

Having spotted enough bizarre and interesting creatures, return to the hotel in Sepilok.

Check-in at the hotel.

Overnight in Sepilok.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Standard & Superior Option: Sepilok to Sukau by land (110km): 2.5 hours (Join in Basis) / Deluxe Option: Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty to Sukau Rainforest Lodge by boat: 2 hours (Join in Basis) / Cruise time: PM 16:00 (join-in basis). Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours

Today’s tour starts at 08:30. Have your luggage ready for the vehicle and depart for the Sun Bear Conservation Centre nearby. This centre aims to increase awareness of this endearing, but little-known bear species, named after the crescent-shaped patch of fur on their chests that resembles the rising sun. From here walk to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in time for the morning feeding session at 10:00. 

Note: Sun Bear & Orangutan activities are on a join-in basis.

Depart to Sukau by land transfer (standard & superior option) or by boat (deluxe option). Join in basis.

On arrival take a river cruise using an electric motor in search of wildlife and birds. 

Overnight at Sukau

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Cruise times: AM – 06:30, PM – 16:00. (Join in Basis). Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours

Rise early in the morning at 06:30 along with the birds and other animals of the jungle for an unforgettable river cruise to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake, a crescent-shaped lake that formed when the river’s meander became so wide that it cut itself off. The stillness of the lake and relative protection provide a haven for animals and plants making for an ecosystem that’s completely distinct from that of the active river.

Return to the resort for breakfast and spend the rest of the day is at leisure before heading out in the late afternoon to watch the river activities of many primate species that become active during this time. The afternoon is a particularly advantageous time to spot wildlife and the light is perfect for photography.

Overnight at Sukau

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Sukau to Sandakan land (Join in Basis) (110km): 2 hours / Kota Kinabalu to Jesselton / Sutera Jetty (8km): 20 mins / Boat from Jesselton Pier to Gaya Island: 20 mins / Boat from Sutera Harbour Pier to Manukan Island: 20 mins

After breakfast, return to Sandakan by land (standard & superior option) or boat (deluxe option). After lunch, we will proceed to the airport for the 1430hrs flight to Kota Kinabalu 

Recommended Flight Schedule: AK6495 SDK BKI 15:00 15:50

On arrival transfer to the jetty to leave for Manukan (Standard option) or Gaya Island (Superior & Deluxe Option)

Leave by boat to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. Enjoy the tropical ambience of one of Sabah’s most idyllic islands. Covered in tropical forest, enjoy its hiking trails, marine life, crystal blue waters and the sound of nature. 
 
Note: Please schedule onward flights for 14:00 onwards.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Enjoy a leisurely day at the beach, swimming in the clear blue waters. You can snorkel and explore the marine life or simply relax by the pool.

Overnight at Gaya or Manukan Island

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Boat from Gaya Island to Jesselton Pier: 20 mins / Boat from Manukan Island to Jesselton Pier: 20 mins / Transfer from Jesselton / Sutera Pier to Kota Kinabalu Airport (10 km) 20 mins

Depart Pulau Gaya and take a 20-minute boat transfer back to Kota Kinabalu for check-out.

Note: Private boat transfers are required for departures earlier than 09:00.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast