Borneo. Family Rainforest Adventure

Transcription

1 Borneo Family Rainforest Adventure

2 Itinerary 10 Days 9 Nights Malaysia Borneo Explorer Kuching Semenggoh Kuching Bako National Park Kampung Bengoh Kota Kinabalu Sandakan Kinabatangan River Sandakan Kuching HIGHLIGHTS TOUR ESSENTIALS Visit an Orangutan Conservation centre Explore pristine rainforests as well as city sights Enjoy white sandy beaches and mountain views Explore wildlife and trek Kinabatangan River Tour Style Tour Start Tour End Accommodation Included Meals Difficulty Level Family Adventure Kuching Kuching Hotel/Lodge style 9 Breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 Dinners Medium Malaysia is a beautiful multicultural melting pot. Geographically, Malaysia is as diverse as its culture. On this perfect family adventure, you will experience a city tour, markets, temples, the amazing Mount Santubong, an Orang utan conservation centre, amazing rainforests, in addition to the Coral Islands within the TAR marine park near Kota Kinabalu, amongst so much more of course! The opportunity to body raft is there, as well as simply relaxing this adventure is yours! You will certainly be spoilt with wildlife many birds, monkeys as well as Orang utans The Kinabatangan river offers all this and more!

3 Itinerary Borneo Family Rainforest Adventure DAY 1: ARRIVAL - KUCHING Meet & Greet at Kuching International Airport and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, depart for Kuching city tour. Visit the old White Rajah buildings, open markets, temples and mosques. Finally visit the Sarawak Musuem, with its ethnologic and fauna exhibits. After tour transfer back to your hotel. Overnight DAY 2: KUCHING/SARAWAK CULTURAL VILLAGE/SEMENGGOH/KUCHING (B) Today discover the local entics in Sarawak. Located about 34km from the city, the award winning Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) is a refreshing and unique living museum sitting on a sprawling 17 - acre site at the foothills of the legendary Mount Santubong. It has 7 representative ethnic houses - Bidayuh Longhouse, Iban Longhouse the Penan Hut, the Orang Ulu Longhouse, the Melanau House, the Malay House and Chinese Farm House. These houses are built according to authentic styles and replete with real, traditional artifacts. SCV is known as a living museum because natives live in its houses and make handicrafts. A trip here will enable you to gain a rather comprehensive insight into the colourful traditional and cultures of the various races in Sarawak. Watch how the womenfolk make intricate bead-necklaces and baskets, observe their traditional cooking methods, admire the refined skills of their male counterpart in handling the deadly blowpipe, making the Parang ilang (ceremonial sword) or casting their fishing nets into the man-made lake. Back to town for your own lunch.

4 At 02.00pm, depart for Semenggoh Orang Utan Conservation Center, located about 30 minutes drive south from Kuching. It s part of the larger Semenggoh Nature Reserve, Sarawak s oldest forest reserve which houses a botanical research centre, arboretum, gardens and trails. Unlike in a zoo, the Orang Utans are free to roam in this 653 hectare forest reserve. Here, young and adolescent Orang Utans used to be trained to survive in the wild. Spot their delicate nests, watch their skillful movements in the tree tops and their interesting behaviour during feeding time. The guide will also narrate to you the behaviour and characteristics of this special primate called Orang Utan or 'Man of the Forest' in the Malay language. Back to town and rest of the day free at leisure. DAY 3: KUCHING/BAKO NATIONAL PARK/KUCHING (B/L) Morning, depart Kuching for a 45 minutes drive which passes through mangrove forest with its unique nipah palms before arriving at the Bako Fishing Village. Continue by a motorized boat for a 30 minutes cruise along the coast facing the South China Sea to reach Bako National Park. After visiting the Park s information and exhibition center, proceed to the park s western end to walk along the plankwalk through the mangrove forest. During low tide, observe the mud skippers and blue-fiddler crabs coming out from their hideout for feeding. Proceed along Paku trail to look-out for Proboscis Monkey, climb to the plateau which is home to various botanical delights and several species of the carnivorous pitcher plants. Notice the changes of the vegetation (mangrove, rainforest, Kerangas and padang forest). After lunch, proceed by trekking through the forest which boasts monstrous rainforest trees, indulge in bird watching and observe other wildlife. Return to the jetty, then by boat to Bako Village and transfer by van to Kuching. Rest of the day free at leisure. DAY 4: KUCHING/KAMPUNG BENGOH/KUCHING (B/L) Morning, depart for about 60 minutes drive from Kuching to reach Kampung Bengoh. The journey passes through scenic countryside of rice fields, small, scale rubber, cocoa, pepper farms which intermingle with forest, rivers and mountain ranges. You will alight at Bengoh, a Bidayuh village and the staging point for your adventure. Here you ll be given paddling instructions and safety briefing before proceeding down some steps to a small stream to embark on the kayaking adventure. This shaded stream with overhanging jungle foliage, steep banks, a bridge, is the starting point for your kayaking which meanders for a short distance before entering the vista of Sg. Sarawak Kiri. A quarter of the way paddling down-river, we alight at Kampung Canu just after the pedestrian suspension bridge, visit this delightful Bidayuh village with picnic-lunch being served. We will continue our relaxing journey paddling down-river and making a stop by a sandy bank beneath soaring limestone hills. We will also experience an exciting Class 1 to 2 (depending on the water level) rapid and passing beneath a huge rock outcrop. The trip ends at Kampung Semadang before returning to Kuching.

5 DAY 5: KUCHING/KOTA KINABALU (B) Transfer to the airport in time to catch your next flight to Kota Kinabalu. Arrived in Kota Kinabalu, meet and greet with our assistant and proceed to your hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure to discover on your own the Capital of Sabah and its markets. DAY 6: KOTA KINABALU (B) From the hotel, depart for a visit to the Coral islands within the TAR Marine Park merely 15 minutes off Kota Kinabalu. Take a motorised boat to Mamutik Island and move in the afternoon to Manukan Island and continue to enjoy the white sandy beaches and pristine water of the TAR Marine Park for the rest of the day. Swim, sunbath or snorkel. The area is a gentle slope with hard coral gardens, sandy bottom and sporadic coral blocks. Ideal for observing macro marine life either in the day or at night with a shallow, calm sea and depths varying between 15 to 20 metres. Back to the hotel by boat in the afternoon. *Mask, snorkel, lifejacket provided. DAY 7: KOTA KINABALU/KIULU/KOTA KINABALU (B,L) 0830 hrs Pick up from the hotel in Kota Kinabalu, for Kiulu River in Tamparuli area. Kiulu White Water Rafting is an experience that all the family can enjoy. Kiulu River is graded as Class I / II river and provides an easier, and enjoyable, white water rafting trip. Journey will take approximately 1.5 hours. Arrive at Kiulu, receive the gear, and listen to a safety briefing from the guides. The adventure begins. The bamboo-fringed river provides for a pleasant respite from the tropical heat as the cool waters invigorate your senses. For the thrill seekers, try body rafting down the rapids before enjoying a relaxing swim along the calm stretches between rapids. Once arrived at the ending point, enjoy the BBQ lunch, not before a good shower and change of clothes. After lunch return to the hotel, around 16:00. Rest of the day free at leisure. DAY 8: KOTA KINABALU SANDAKAN KINABATANGAN RIVER (B,L,D) Packed breakfast at the hotel. Departure transfer to airport for flight to Sandakan. Suggested flight (not included) MALAYSIA AIRLINES MH2042 KOTA KINABALU SANDAKAN

6 Meet & Greet at Sandakan Airport or hotel lobby. The tour begins with a visit to the World s Largest Orang utan Rehabilitation Center, Sepilok. At the center, witness the Orang utan feeding by the rangers. Walk along the plank wood in the realms of the tropical lowland jungle. Followed by a visit to the outstanding brand new Sepilok RAINFOREST DISCOVERY CENTER, with its rich botanical garden and pristine jungle. Departure for KINABATANGAN River for a two hours journey passing by local villages and the green rainforest. Arrive at the Lodge, check in and lunch. Late afternoon cruise up to the Kinabatangan River to search for wildlife or notably the proboscis monkeys. Fauna of the Lower Kinabatangan Reserve includes elephants, hornbills, gibbons, and many birds. Late afternoon back to the lodge for dinner. Overnight in Standard Chalet - Bukit Melapi Lodge 3*. DAY 9: KINABATANGAN RIVER (B,L,D) Breakfast at the lodge. Wake up by the calls of hornbills and other exotic birds and in the early morning, proceed to the OX BOW Lake to observe wildlife and experience the early morning river ambience of the longest river of Sabah, looking for the many birds and monkeys that look for food in the early morning. Return to lodge for breakfast. After Breakfast proceed for trekking in the surrounding jungle in search of wildlife and to know more about the surrounding environment. Return to the resort for lunch. Late afternoon take another river cruise upstream of the Kinatabagan river to search for more wildlife and to explore more of this mystic river where most of the Borneo Fauna is located. Return to the resort in the evening and enjoy a dinner. After dinner proceed for the Kinabatangan River Night Cruise, one of the most exciting and adventurous trips you will take while staying here. This unique night cruise will allow you to see the nocturnal wildlife, here you will experience the spotting of birds perched on the branches with short distance of about three to four feet. Bird enthusiasts will indulge in this particularly unique moment of getting "up close and personal" to the Borneo birds. An absolutely amazing and memorable experience. Back to the hotel and overnight. DAY 10: KINABATANGAN RIVER/SANDAKAN/OTHER DESTINATIONS (B) Breakfast at the lodge. After Breakfast overland back to Sandakan and transfer to airport.

7 Important Information INCLUDED Accommodation in hotels/lodges/resorts as indicated in the itinerary Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, PB= Packed Breakfast L=Lunch, D=Dinner) All transfers by car/bus and boat as indicated in the itinerary Entrance Fees Additional Information NOT INCLUDED Meals other than mentioned Domestic and International Flights Personal Expenses and Travel Insurance Other tours and meals other than those mentioned in the program Optional Activities Quote for camera and video camera ACTIVITY DURATION SEASON BEST TIME TO GO GROUP SIZE EXPEDITION SCHEDULE DIFFICULTY LEVEL 10 days, 9 nights March through November The best time of year to visit is March to October as these are usually the driest and most settled times of the year. We are able to arrange tailor made trips for 2 or more people (the price quoted is based on a minimum of 4 people, and a supplement may apply if less). Tailor made departures through March through November Our grades have been designated based on our perception of the degree of physical activity you are likely to require to enjoy the adventure. These are only a guideline. This itinerary has a Medium level (2-5 hours per day). This means that you will need an average level of fitness.