8 Day Tour - Borneo Sampler

Tour Code: BTS 8

Day 1

Take your flight to South-East Asia and on to Kuching in magical, mystical Borneo. Kuching, the capital of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak, can be accessed by flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other towns and cities in Borneo. Flights to Kuching from Kuala Lumpur arrive throughout the day.

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Kuching Hilton Hotel which lies close to the Sarawak River in the middle of the town - depending on arrival time, have the remainder of the day at leisure or get some rest.

Day 2

Your first full day in Borneo. Morning tour of the sights of Kuching City - reputedly the cleanest city in Malaysia. Afternoon at your leisure to look for local handicrafts and artefacts in the traders' street known as Main Bazaar near the Sarawak River waterfront.

Overnight at the Kuching Hilton Hotel (Breakfast included)

Day 3

Travel from Kuching, about a one hour journey by coach/mini bus, to Anah Rais, located in the heart of the Padawan District (about 40 km from Kuching). Anah Rais is the largest Bidayuh longhouse which exists in Sarawak. Explore this peaceful Bidayuh village and learn about the culture of the Land Dayaks who were once headhunters. Visit the baruk (headhouse) where skulls can be seen.

Return to Kuching. Remainder of day at leisure. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Day 4

Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. You will be met at the airport an transferred to Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort. After arrival at your hotel, grab a bite to eat, then take in the local sights which the modern city of Kota Kinabalu has to offer.

The KK highlights tour includes a trip to the Signal Hill lookout for a picturesque view of the city, off-shore islands and surrounding areas, Kampung Likas, Likas Bay and the Tun Mustapha Tower (former Sabah Foundation Building), Po Toh Tze Buddhist Temple, the Sabah Museum, the State Mosque, and Tanjung Aru Beach and hawker stalls. Return to the Tanjung Aru Resort. (Breakfast included)

Day 5

A full day trip to Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs. Enjoy the vista of the jungle covered mountains and valleys as you proceed up to the base of South-East Asia's highest mountain and on to the Springs where you will be able to take a "canopy walk" through the canopy of a rainforest, (the canopy walk is generally closed for a few weeks in April for maintenance - check at time of booking) and if time permits, enjoy a soak in one of the hot baths built by the Japanese during World War II. At Kinabalu National Park World Heritage Site, visit the Education Centre and Mountain Garden, home to various species of the flowering rhododendrons, carnivorous pitcher plants and orchids. You will be taken on a guided walk through the botanical gardens at the park.

Return to Kota Kinabalu, arriving at Tanjung Aru Resort in the late afternoon. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Day 6

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Sandakan. You will be met at Sandakan airport by your guide and firstly visit the renown Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, before proceeding to Sandakan for lunch, followed by a 2 hour boat trip along Sabah's longest river, the Kinabatangan River, with plenty of opportunity to view birds and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats, to the award winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge where you will spend the night.

In the late afternoon, you will be taken on a jungle river tour along a tributary of the Kinabatangan River to see the Proboscis Monkeys readying themselves for the night. If you are lucky, you may even see a herd of elephant, together with a diverse range of other animals and birds.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Sukau Rainforest Lodge underwent extensive renovations and rebuilding to upgrade all its facilities in 2010. There are no longer any of the old rooms left.

The new Sukau Rainforest Lodge offers guests added facilities which will enhance their jungle experience

Day 7

Transfer back along the river to Sandakan where you will be taken on a tour of the City, including the water village, The Agnes Keith House and The Australian War Memorial located in the World War II POW Camp. Sandakan was the capital city of North Borneo until the Second World War. The city was also the starting point for the Australian Death March to Ranau, near Mt Kinabalu, towards the end of the War, in which 6 men out of a total 2400 survived. (Refer to Australians in Borneo During WW II for further information). There is little left of the city as it was prior to the war, as the town was heavily bombed.

In the late afternoon, board a flight to Kota Kinabalu, where you will be met at the airport and transfer to Tanjung Aru Resort for your last night in Borneo. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Day 8

At leisure until departure to your next destination. Flights depart KK for Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brunei, Manilla, Hong Kong and other ports in China. (Breakfast included)

Prices:

Tour Code	Itinerary	Duration	Inclusions	Joining Point	1 person	2 people	3 people
BTS8	Borneo Sampler	8 days / 7 nights	Transfers, Accommodation, internal flights, meals indicated	Kuching	$3056	$1696	$1651

Prices per person in Australian Dollars and valid 01 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 (E.O.E.) Accommodation is based on hotels, resorts and lodges indicated in itinerary.

Tour prices based on twin share or triple share (in the case of three people). Single supplement will apply if separate rooms are required.

High Season Rates apply to some accommodation during Easter, July/August, December/January and Chinese New Year - please contact us for details. Additional photographs on this page are courtesy of Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation (orang-utans, Mt Kinabalu and proboscis monkey), Penny Favilla, Katie Seeger and Phil Youdale.