ITINERARY Borneo 14 Day Wonders of Sabah Tour Day 1: Arrival in Sandakan, Sabah Upon arrival at Sandakan airport you will be met by your local tour guide and transferred to the Sepilok Nature Resort. Located in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Sepilok Nature Resort is a great place to start your Borneo adventure. Enjoy this protected stretch of lowland tropical forest and the incredible wonder of nature on offer. Overnight: Sepilok Nature Resort or Sepilok Forest Edge Resort Day 2: A day at leisure in Sepilok Enjoy your day relaxing in Sepilok. The forest reserve surrounding Sepilok is home to orangutans, sun bears, macaques and many other species. Spend the day as you please enjoying the forest atmosphere. You can visit the nearby Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre (SORC). The SORC is one of the best places on Earth to see the "people of the forest" the literal translation of orang-utan. It has a dedicated team who nurse and teach orphaned and abandoned orang-utans all they need so that they can once again survive in the wild. Across the road is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where you can see the small tropical bears in their natural habitat (entrance fees not included). You can visit these places at your leisure or simply kick back and enjoy the tropical gardens and bungalows at the resort. Overnight: Sepilok Nature Resort or Sepilok Forest Edge Resort Day 3: Take part in a turtle breeding program on Selingan Island After breakfast you will be taken to the Sandakan jetty for a boat ride to Selingan Island (around 1 hour) home to the Turtle Islands National Marine park and one of the world's most successful breeding programs for turtles. Turtles come ashore year round, the island is well protected and the turtles are loved and cared for. Spend the day at your leisure swimming, snorkelling and enjoying the small island. After dinner the turtle activities begin and you will have the opportunity to witness the magical experience of the green turtle coming ashore to lay her eggs. You will also get the chance to see the eggs being transferred to the hatchery from the nesting site and the release of the baby turtles onto the shore. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and turtles come ashore year round. 1 of 5
Please note: The focus of Selingan Island is conservation. The island is open to a limited number of tourists each day. Early bookings are recommended. During July and August, bookings fill up very quickly. The accommodation provided is basic but comfortable, consisting of simple chalets with ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning. Please bring an overnight bag with you, because you may not be able to take all of your luggage with you on the boat to Selingan Island. There would not be enough room to accommodate everyone s luggage gracefully. Your luggage will be stored securely in the offices of the tour operator and you can collect the following morning when you return to Sandakan. Flash photography is strictly prohibited from 6 pm onwards. Overnight on Selingan Island: Selingan Island Chalet Day 4: Orang-utans, Sun Bears and travel to Sukau After breakfast return to Sandakan where you can explore the town on your own. You will be collected for lunch then transferred overland to the multi-award winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge. In 2011 David Attenborough and his BBC crew stayed at the lodge and in his honour room no.17 has been named after him. The lodge was named as one of the top 50 jungle lodges in the world in 2009 by National Geographic Adventure magazine and is set on the Kinabatangan River, the second longest river in Sabah. Cruise the river and keep a watchful eye for wildlife: baby crocodiles basking on logs, big crocodiles awaiting prey on the river bank, families of monkeys and macaques swarming in the trees. The proboscis monkey escapes the heat and comes to the rivers edge in the evening, and don't forget to look up you may see the unmistakable orang-utan. Enjoy a candlelit dinner overlooking the river followed by a slideshow and talk by the local guide. Overnight in Sukau: Sukau Rainforest Lodge (* to upgrade to the Deluxe Villa and a return transfer by boat between Sandakan and Sukau please contact us for prices or see the TERMS). Day 5: River cruising on the Kinabatangan River and jungle exploration Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills and hot Sabah tea. Before breakfast take an early morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake and view more wildlife in their natural habitat. Oxbow lakes are horseshoe bends that were once part of the river but got cut off when the winding path changed direction. They are home to a multitude of birdlife and other wildlife. 2 of 5
After returning to the lodge for breakfast take a stroll on the Hornbill Boardwalk located behind the lodge with your in-house naturalist and guide - a wonderful resource with plenty of information on the local flora and fauna. Later in the afternoon you will get another opportunity to cruise the Kinabatangan River, sit back, relax and keep a lookout for the river's many inhabitants. Overnight in Sukau: Sukau Rainforest Lodge Day 6: Return to Sandakan and visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre After breakfast return overland to Sandakan. Visit the Australian War Memorial - a fascinating insight into Australian soldiers in Borneo during WWII. Then visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre where you will literally get a bird's eye view of the centre from the stunning canopy walk and hanging bridge before exploring the botanical garden which is home to various species of flora. Overnight in Sandakan: Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Lunch Day 7: Fisherman Village and fireflies' tour Enjoy your day at leisure in Sandakan. In the afternoon you will be collected from your hotel and taken to the jetty for a ride to Tanjung Aru Island. Take a stroll in the village and have a tea break in one of the locals house. Take a cruise up the river looking for wildlife and then when it's dark (around 7 pm) watch the fireflies light up the mangrove trees. Finish the day by returning to Sandakan where you will have dinner at a local restaurant before heading back to your hotel. Overnight in Sandakan: Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Dinner Day 8: Fly to Kota Kinabalu Today you are free at your own leisure until you are picked up from the Four Point Sheraton Hotel and transferred to Sandakan Airport to catch your departure flight to Kota Kinabalu (around 50 minutes). Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. 3 of 5
Day 9: Bunga Raya Island Tour - private beach, snorkelling and kayaking Make your own way to Jesselton Jetty (a ten minute walk from the hotel) and check in at Bunga Raya Island Resort s Lounge. You will then be taken by boat to Gaya Island (20 minute boat ride) for a relaxing island trip on a secluded area of the Island, with its own private beach, owned by the 5-Star island resort, Bunga Raya. Enjoy snorkelling or kayaking or simply spending the day under the sun relaxing. In the afternoon you will return to Jesselton Jetty (around 4.00 pm) to make your way back to your hotel., Lunch Day 10: Kudat and a traditional evening with the Rungus people You will be collected from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu and transferred overland to Kudat (around 2.5 hours). Upon arrival at Kudat you will set off to the dramatic headland of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, the picturesque northernmost tip of Borneo for swimming. After a day at Tanjung Simpang Mengayau check into the Rungus Longhouse accommodation in Tinangol Village where you will enjoy a traditional-style dinner followed by a colourful cultural performance by the Rungus community. *Please note: A Rungus Longhouse is a basic but traditional bamboo house on stilts designed to house the community of the Rungus people. While the accommodation is basic it is often considered one of the highlights of any Borneo tour and you get a real chance to experience traditional local life and the warmth of the Rungus people. There are fans but there is no air conditioning. You will only be here at night time when it is cooler but if you would prefer to stay elsewhere, please let us know and this can be arranged. Overnight in Kudat: Rungus Longhouse Day 11: Explore the rich flora of Kinabalu Park In the morning enjoy a local breakfast with the Rungus people before trying your hand at rubber tapping. Continue on to Poring Hot Springs. Walk amidst tropical lowland rainforests leading up to the treetop canopy walkways. Enjoy your time at leisure or soak yourself in one of the open air sulphur spring bathtubs (remember to pack your swimmers). Visit Sabah Tea where you can enjoy a cup of tea and learn all about the tea making process before visiting Quailey Hill. 4 of 5
Named after an Australian soldier who fell on this spot during the Sandakan-Ranau Death March, here you can learn a little history from World War II. If the weather permits, treat your feet to a delightful but very ticklish fish massage at the Moroli River in Luanti which will almost certainly leave you in giggles. Overnight in Kinabalu Park: Kinabalu Pine Resort. Day 12: Jungle canopy walkway and Poring Hot Springs After breakfast visit the Kundasang War Memorial Park which is also a great spot for photos of Mount Kinabalu (if the weather permits). Continue on to Kinabalu Park. Begin with a visit to the Educational Centre and Mountain Garden in the park headquarters. Then take a guided walk on one of the trails to explore the cool montane forest and explore the rich diversity of plant species. The park boasts more than 5,000 vascular plant species, an estimated 1,000 orchid species, 621 fern species, 9 Nepenthes species, 29 Rhododendron species and 2 Rafflesia species. After lunch return to Kota Kinabalu., Lunch Day 13: A day at leisure in Kota Kinabalu Today you have the entire day at your leisure to explore Kota Kinabalu or relax by the pool, perhaps even some last minute shopping - the choice is yours. Day 14: Time to say Goodbye to Borneo Time to say goodbye to Borneo or hello to your next adventure. Today you will be taken to the airport in time for either your flight home or on to your next adventure. 5 of 5