Luxury Sabah

📍 Sandakan Airport to Sepilok (17km) 20 min

To kick off this 10-day adventure, rendezvous with the guide and driver at the local Sandakan Airport. From the airport, check out in your hotel located in Sepilok area.

17.45h  leave from a night walk at the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

The jungle comes alive at night and this tour is a great opportunity to explore the often missed nocturnal animals that inhabit these lush jungles. A local guide will point out a variety of insects and wildlife that hide under the cover of darkness, and then appear literally right before your eyes!

Aside from the Plant Discovery Walk, which features information about the medicinal and traditional use of herbs and leaves, there is a 347-meter-long 87-meter-high canopy walkway. Nestled high amongst the rainforest tree line, this provides a great opportunity to spot on the 250-300 bird species and maybe even a wild orang-utan. It’s the best outdoor classroom to learn about the rainforest biodiversity. Enjoy the anticipation to watch the Red Giant flying squirrel coming out around dusk time.

20.00 Return to your hotel.

Overnight in Sandakan at Sepilok Forest Edge  

Inclusions:

Today’s tour starts at 10:30. Pick up at your hotel or airport and transfer 45 minutes with an air-conditioned vehicle to visit the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in time for the 11:30 feeding. The proboscis monkey is one of the most unusual looking monkeys in the world. The remarkable males sport big dangling noses, reddish flat-top hairstyles, white tails and markings, and pot bellies. The females on the other hand, are much smaller and have up-turned noses.

Transfer to Sandakan.

Enjoy an exclusive private visit of the Agnes Keith House. Now a museum, this former British colonial government quarters, Newlands, was once occupied by the famous American writer, Agnes Newton Keith, who wrote ‘Land Below The Wind’ in 1939. The house became home to Agnes and her husband, Henry George Keith, along with their son, George Today their home has been turned into a heritage house, providing interesting insight to life during British North Borneo A gallery on the first floor tells the story of this remarkable woman, her books and her family.  Enjoy a walk through the garden and proceed to the English Tea House where you’ll be served lunch.

They offer fine teas from around the world, scones and fresh cream, delicious cakes and pastries and a wide selection of traditional English specialties and Asian favorites. Have fun with a traditional game of Croquet, often referred as ‘chess on grass’, hit some balls through the wickets and test your strategies and skills. Your lunch will be served in a romantic setting under the backyard gazebo.

After lunch leave for Sepilok in time for the afternoon feeding at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre that takes place at 15:00. Watch a short video documentary of the rehabilitation activities before taking a stroll on the boardwalk through the lowland rainforest to witness the feeding of the Orangutans. This program includes an orang-utan adoption. For example, one of the characters up for adoption is Canyon, a very pretty and gentle orang-utan that was kept illegally as a pet until was rescued and brought to Sepilok.

Take a short 2-minute stroll over to 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. There are currently 44 rescued ex-captive sun bears residing at the BSBCC. The facility includes large forest enclosures to provide a natural environment suited to the needs and welfare of the sun bears and facilitate their rehabilitation back into the wild.

Meet with Dr. (Hon) Wong Siew Te, who founded the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation. Listen to a 45-minute private presentation on the Sun Bears before a personal tour around the facility from the founder himself. Your program includes a sun bear Adoption. One of the bears up for adoption is the adorable Noah, who was rescued in 2016. Your support will contribute to a successful rehabilitation allowing him to return to the wild, where he belongs.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Sandakan at Sepilok Forest Edge  

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Sepilok Hotel to Sandakan Jetty 30min Sandakan Jetty to Sukau Rainforest Lodge by boat: 2hrsCruise times: PM – 16:00 (Join in Basis) Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours

Morning is free at leisure

Transfer to Sandakan and meet and greet at Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty to check in and departure at 13:30 to Sukau.

On arrival take a river cruise using electric motor in search of wildlife and birds. Enjoy candle light dinner overlooking the riverbank followed by slide presentation and interpretation by naturalist guide.

Overnight in Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

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

06:00 Rise early in the morning along with the birds and other animals of the river for a cruise to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake, a crescent shaped lake that formed when the river’s meander became so wide that it cut itself off.

After breakfast, proceed for an educational tour along the lodge’s Hornbill Boardwalk with our in-house naturalist. After lunch, join our in-house Orang Utan Talk activity. In the afternoon, proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife.

Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Sukau Jetty to Lahad Datu : up to 3hrs Lahad Datu to Borneo Rainforest Lodge by 4WD (100km): 3hrs (bumpy unsealed road)

Breakfast.

Transfer by boat ride 50min to Sukau Jetty to pick up your overland transportation to Lahad Datu. From Lahad Datu depart for a private overland transfer into the thick virgin rainforest area of Danum Valley – one of the world’s most complex ecosystems. Around 30km of this 85km journey is on sealed roads, and the last two hours are along a gravel road – so expect a bumpy but interesting ride!

12:00 On arrival at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, check in late afternoon prepare yourself for an introduction to our nature activity for the day. Nature activities introduction includes guided nature trails, Canopy Walkway - 360m in length and 27m, high up in the 130-million-year-old rainforest which is literally humming with jungle sounds.

After dinner, board one of the open-top 4WD vehicles for an exhilarating night spotlighting tour. Accompanied by a local guide who shines a light into the jungle looking for nocturnal animals, spot a range of nocturnal animals that inhabit reserve, from samba deer to civet cats, leopards, and a stunning array of insects and frogs.

Afterwards, return to the chalet.

Overnight in Danum Valley at Borneo Rainforest Lodge    

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

At 09:00, the morning chorus of the jungle is a cacophony of sounds ranging from birds to primates, such as the gibbon. Taking a packed breakfast, travel to a 200-year-old Kadazandusun Burial Site, known as “Coffin Cliff”, along the 2.6km Viewpoint Trail. The end of this trail results in spectacular views over an ocean-like million-year-old jungle – a truly spectacular sight. The return journey includes a trip to waterfalls!

Return to the resort for lunch.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure; however, there is a range of optional activities available, such as private trekking, tubing on the Danum River and specialised guided tours. There is also a series of tracks leading around the Canopy Walk are free to discover at will.

This evening, venture into the jungle on foot with a local guide. Quietly entering the jungle reveals a stunning array of wildlife, not to mention the variety and size of the many insects that flourish in the evening hours.

Overnight at Borneo Rainforest Lodge.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Danum Valley to Lahad Datu Airport (96km) 3 hours Kota Kinabalu Airport to Shangri La Rasa Ria (39km): 1hour

After a leisurely morning, lunch is served at 13:30, followed by check out and transfer to Lahad Datu Airport for an onward flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Once in Kota Kinabalu, transfer to Shangri La Rasa Ria, arriving in the late afternoon. Enjoy the sunset and watch as the sky fills with the explosive colours of a glorious sunset surrounded by jungle. 

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at Shangri La Rasa Ria 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast.

Day free at leisure

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: MT KINABALU AERIAL

Awake early for an unforgettable half-day tour of Kota Kinabalu. Climb into a helicopter and take off for a scenic flight over Mount Kinabalu. With the captain acting as the guide, soar over the highest peak in Southeast Asia. Learn about the myths and legends of Mount Kinabalu and hear how the locals make offerings to the spirits who are believed to still live there.

Enjoy seemingly endless views of emerald-green rainforest fading into the distance like waves on the ocean. FWhile flying over Crocker Range, see ancient rainforests and serpentine rivers snaking through the jungle like muddy dragons. Swoop down and see charming rustic villages in the shadows of majestic Mount Kinabalu. The verdant, lush tropical greenery slowly gives way to vast paddy fields as the helicopter loops around to the city.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at Shangri La Rasa Ria 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

A day of leisure to enjoy the beach, its stunning scenery and the resort Pool, spending the night Shangri La Rasa Ria.

Enjoy a welcome drink before a meet-and- greet with the personal host for the evening, and make food and wine selections for later in the evening. Wander over to the white sand beaches for a light stroll before sipping a cocktail to the backdrop of Borneo’s breath-taking sunset. As the sun sets, take a seat in a personal beachfront gazebo to be served a delicious five course meal.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at Shangri La Rasa Ria 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

Transfer to the airport for an onward flight.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast