14 day Escorted Eco Tour to Borneo’s
SARAWAK & SABAH
01 – 14 September
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SEPTEMBER 2012
Sat 01
Depart Auckland on Malaysian Airlines for our night flight to Kuala Lumpur and immediate connection to Kuching. On arrival we are met by our guide and transferred to our hotel. After a quick lunch we proceed on a city tour. Our city tour will take us past the main attractions such as the Chinatown, Cat Monument, City Tower for a bird’s eye view of Kuching city, the Malay Houses on stilts, Old State Mosque, Main Bazaar, India Street, Gambier Road, Wet Market, Colonial Centre, Textile Museum, Chinese Museum, Sarawak Museum, Kuching Waterfront to view the new ultramodern State Legislative Assembly building, alongside the historical Astana and Fort Margherita. Overnight at Merdeka Place Hotel – Deluxe Room. (L)
Sun 02
Our tour will take you by road and boat to the Bako National Park, located 38 km from Kuching City. Our experienced guide will lead you through selected trails to explore the oldest and smallest National Park in Sarawak. Observe an amazing array of diverse tropical vegetation and wild-life, including such species as Dipterocarp trees, pitcher plants, mangrove forests and ‘Padang’ or bush type vegetation. Along the trail, a chance to see silver leaf langurs, long tailed macaques, monitor lizards, wild boar, hornbills and many other species of birds, but the star attractions of the park are the rare Proboscis monkeys, found exclusively in Borneo.
For lunch, you may opt for Malay or local food in the park canteen before heading back to Kuching. Overnight at Merdeka Palace Hotel. [BL]
**Please bring along comfortable light clothing, sandal, drinking water bottle, a sun hat, sun block lotion, poncho and some insect repellent.
Mon 03
Close to Kuching and set in lush tropical forest, is the only rehabilitation centre in Sarawak. The Centre allows visitors to have a close up view of the Orangutan. The purpose of the Centre is to train formerly captive young orangutans to return to the wild and fend for themselves. The highlight of the visit is to observe the not yet fully independent youngsters come down from the tree canopy for their scheduled feeding times. Although physical contact is not allowed, pictures can be taken from a short distance.
From the Centre we continue past scenic greenery of rainforest and fields of rubber and pepper plantations. Stop at Serian town to visit an excellent farmer’s market, look for wild orchids and pitcher plants and visit a pepper farm to see how black & white pepper is processed from the berries. Continue to the Lemanak River where a delightful longboat ride takes us to an Iban longhouse. On arrival we pay a courtesy visit to the Headman of the longhouse before exploring the surrounding forest with guides. A fun-filled evening begins with the traditional ceremonial dances of the tribe and sharing of their locally made rice wine, Arak. Overnight in the longhouse with the local people. [BLD]
Tue 04
After breakfast, we have opportunity to observe and participate in a blowpipe demonstration. A guided nature walk gives us an opportunity to learn about some medicinal plants, edible fruits and fern leaves, the agricultural activities of the community and look at some game traps. A backwoods style picnic lunch will be served by the riverbank. After lunch we travel by longboat to visit another longhouse located further upriver. We return to our longhouse where dinner Iban style will be served in one of the houses, followed by more dancing, rice wine tasting and cross-cultural exchange giving us a unique opportunity to discuss and compare lifestyles, religions and political attitudes
(B,L,D)
Wed 05
After breakfast, proceed down river and by road for your return journey to Kuching. Transfer to the airport for late afternoon fight to Kota Kinabalu. Arrive Kota Kinabalu where we meet our next guide we proceed for a night market tour to bargain for the wide array of local spices, souvenirs, fruits and vegetables. Proceed to a restaurant for dinner before we proceed to our hotel. Overnight at Promenade Hotel. [BL]
Thu 06
Spend a day of sun, sea and sand on an offshore coral island. Transfer to jetty for a 20-minutes boat ride to Manukan Island for a day of relaxation and explore jungle trails on your own. Snorkel in crystal clear water among coral reefs and rainbow-coloured fishes before returning at 1500 hours. Overnight at Promenade Hotel. [B/ Pack Lunch]
**Snorkeling gear is available for hire at a surcharge. Only packed lunch and transfers provided. Please bring along towel, hat, swimwear and sun block lotion.
Fri 07
After breakfast we drive 2 hours overland through paddy-fields and Dusun villages over the ridges of the Crocker Range to the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu. We make a short stop at some roadside stalls at Nabalu Market to savour local fruit in season. At Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site (5000m) we visit the Education Centre and Mountain Garden, home to various species of the flowering rhododendrons, carnivorous pitcher plants, orchids, ferns, oak trees and birds. Night temperature at the park can be cool. If time and weather permits we will take a guided walk on one of the many trails in the cool surrounding to observe the montane forest. Overnight in Celyn Resort Kundasang. [BLD
Sat 08
After breakfast, continue 40 km overland journey to Poring east of Kinabalu Park. Here we explore the tropical lowland rainforest and the jungle trail leading up to the treetop canopy walkways suspended 41 meters above the forest floor across giant Mengaris trees (excludes camera/video fee). Visit Kipungit Waterfall and soak in hot sulphur pools.
After lunch we continue on an approximately 4-hour overland journey to the east coast of Sandakan and overnight at Sepilok Jungle Resort. [BL]
Sun 09
This morning we visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Set up in the forest reserve of Sepilok-Kabili, the centre is ideal for wildlife and bird watching. Be prepared for a walk within the rainforest to include a 28 metre high canopy walkway to observe the breathtaking environs. Have lunch before we proceed for a short tour of Sandakan town including the market, Agnes Keith Museum and an Australian War Memorial. Overnight at Sepilok Jungle Resort. [bl]
Mon 10
Pick up from your lodge and transfer to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre for a video show. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on a wooden plank-walk system to witness the feeding of the orang utans at 1000. After we continue to Sandakan jetty for a 2½ hour boat journey to the multi award winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge along Sabah’s longest river, the Kinabatangan. Along the way we will have opportunity to view birds and other wildlife in this virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitat. After checking in to our accommodation we take a late afternoon river cruise in search of some of the 10 primate species found in the region. Sukau is also home to Borneo pygmy elephants, orang utans, proboscis monkeys and all eight species of the Borneo hornbill.
Return for a solar heated hot shower, candle light dinner overlooking the riverbank and slide show conducted by a naturalist guide. After dinner an optional night safari cruise (at a surcharge) spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds. Overnight at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, named by National Geographic Adventure magazine in 2009 as one of the top 50 jungle lodges in the world. [BL
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Tue 11
Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. A 0600 we take a morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake to view more birds and wildlife. After breakfast, proceed for an educational tour on the Hornbill Boardwalk located behind the lodge with our in-house naturalist. We also have the option to participate in our Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Program (KWICORP) by planting trees on our 65 acres adopted land. In the afternoon we proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife viewing. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. [BLD]
Wed 12
After breakfast we return to Sandakan by boat. Have lunch before your transfer to the airport for a afternoon flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Arrive Kota Kinabalu and transfer to Beringgis Beach Resort for our overnight accommodation. [BL]
Thu 13
Day free at leisure. Later afternoon we transfer to the airport for our flight to Kuala Lumpur. On arrival we transfer to the Concorde Hotel for our overnight accommodation
Fri 14
Early morning breakfast and transfer back to the Airport for our Malaysia Airlines daylight flight to Auckland where we land 2245 [B]
COST PER PERSON: 5250.00 share twin
** single room cost on application**
Cost Includes:
- Economy class airfares throughout
- All Tours and transfers
- Meals as indicated: B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
- Accommodation as specified,
- All entrance fees
- Services of English speaking guides
- Tour escort from Auckland
- All airline & airport taxes
Costs Excludes:
- Travel insurance, compulsory
- Camera/Video fees in some locations (budget USD6.00)
- Meals and beverage not already stipulated
- Items of a personal nature such as toll charges & laundry etc
Please bring along sun block lotion, personal toiletries, torch light insect repellent, drinking water bottle, walking shoes, binoculars, camera, hat & raincoat.