Best of Borneo: Rainforests, Wildlife & Traditions

Fly overnight from London to Kuala Lumpur.

On arrival, transfer to the 4-star Melia Kuala Lumpur for a two-night stay.

Guided tour of Kuala Lumpur including the Masjid Negara, one of the country’s largest and most distinguished mosques before proceeding for a short stop by the Petronas Twin Towers and capture unforgettable moments on camera. Drive past the Moorish-style Federal Court; the old Railway station, which is a striking piece of Mohammedan architecture; the Tudor-style Cricket Club and the King’s Palace. The tour concludes at Thean Hou Temple situated in Robson Heights. This shrine is home to the patron Goddess Thean Hou of the Hainanese community. This striking six-tiered temple is regarded as one of the biggest Chinese temples in South-East Asia. In the afternoon observe how Malaysia’s most distinctive crafts are produced at the world’s largest Royal Selangor Pewter factory and discover the mystery of the Batu caves. One of Malaysia’s most popular Hindu shrines, 272 colourful steps lead up to the site which comprises fives caves and various temples, the main attraction being the Temple Cave. (B, L)

Fly to Kuching. Upon arrival, experience the bustle of Sarawak’s historic capital as we explore Kuching, one of Borneo’s most interesting and pleasant cities, by foot. This walkabout tour commences at Kuching waterfront visiting the Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple and the Chinese Historical Museum where Fort Margherita can be viewed from the other side of the Sarawak River. From the temple, we walk past the old shop houses of Carpenter Street passing the General Post Office, the Round Tower, the Pavilion, the Brooke Memorial Monument, the Square Tower and the Old Court House. We proceed to India Street through a narrow passageway to Masjid India with very low walls to Gambier Street before continuing to Brooke Dockyard and Dockyard Lane passing the Old Fire Brigade Station (known now as the open-air market) and Merdeka Square to reach St Thomas’s Cathedral for a short visit. The tour finishes at the Borneo Cultures Museum. Spend two nights at the 4-star The Waterfront Hotel Kuching. (B)

Catch a glimpse of the Irrawaddy dolphins on a cruise on the Santubong River and the Salak River Delta which flow into the South China Sea. The heavily silted mangrove swamp is a haven for inhabitants, ranging from reptilians to crustaceans and fishes, crocodiles, water monitor lizards, otters, mud skippers, mangrove crabs, prawns, edible jellyfish and shellfish. Afternoon transfer to Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, the best place in Sarawak to view semi-wild orangutans who have been rescued from captivity and trained to survive in the surrounding forest reserve. The rehabilitated animals roam freely in the rainforest and return at feeding times and thanks to its successful breeding programme, there is a good possibility of experiencing one of the most heart-warming sights in Borneo of an orangutan mother with a young baby. (B)

Fly to Mulu in Northern Sarawak. Two nights at the 5-star Mulu Marriott. Plank walk in the rainforest to Lang’s Cave, the world's largest cave passage. At Deer Cave witness the sunset exodus of thousands of bats (weather permitting). (B, D)

Travel by longboat to Wind Cave. Explore the ‘King’s Room’, continue to Clearwater Cave. Enjoy a picnic lunch and swim in the clear waters of the pool. In the afternoon walk in the lush treetops on the Mulu Canopy Skywalk, one of the longest tree-based canopy walks in the world. (B, L, D)

Morning at leisure. Fly to Kota Kinabalu for overnight at the 4-star Le Meridien Hotel. Enjoy a Mari Mari cultural village tour to learn more about the different ethnic groups in Sabah. (B, L, D)

Morning flight to Sandakan. Start your day with a half day city tour of Sabah's second largest city passes its religious relics, colonial mansions and reminders of World War II. Stops are made to browse the colourful Central Market, Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple on the hilltop of Tanah Merah to soak up the view over Sandakan Bay. You will be visiting also St. Michael's and All Angels Church which is one of the oldest buildings that survives through World War II in the 1940s and to see one of the few stone buildings that still remains in Sabah. Stop at the city’s colonial era at a historic house belonging to Agnes Keith, an American author, that is now a museum. Later, visit Sandakan Rotary Observatory Pavillion to get an eagle’s perspective of Sandakan’s panoramic view. Transfer to Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort for overnight. (B, L, D)

Morning visit to visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Afternoon boat cruise (3 hrs) through the mangroves to Bilit. Two nights at Bilit Adventure Lodge. (B, L, D)

Early morning cruise to spot wildlife. Morning guided jungle walk to explore the vegetation of the riverine forest. In the afternoon there is a second river cruise to spot more wildlife along the Kinabatangan River. (B, L, D)

Transfer to Sandakan airport for the return flight via Kuala Lumpur to London. A room has been booked for freshen up for you. (B)

Arrive London in the early morning.