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Breathtaking Borneo boasts ancient rainforests, lazy rivers, beautiful beaches and some of the planet’s most rare and biodiverse animal and plant species. On this tailor-made Borneo tour, stay in five dreamy destinations and learn more about the fantastic flora and fauna that call the island home through engaging lectures, guided jungle treks, boat trips along the Kinabatangan River, and visits to wonderful wildlife sanctuaries.
Take a fascinating field trip to Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, learning a range of skills that are vital in the conservation of marine species here
Cruise by boat along the world-famous and wildlife-dense Kinabatangan River, perhaps even spotting the elusive pygmy elephant
Trek into one of the oldest rainforests on the planet with a knowledgeable guide, crossing suspension bridges and passing striking waterfalls
Unwind on the beautiful beaches of the Gaya Island Resort or explore the underwater kingdom by scuba-diving
A true highlight of your tailor-made travels to Borneo; visit the spectacular Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in the morning, arriving in time to help feed these cheeky creatures their breakfast. Learn more about the conservation efforts in place to help these injured or orphaned animals, with the aim to return them to the wild when possible.
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From your base within the 64-acre Rasa Ria Reserve - home to over 100 species of endemic flora and fauna - get ready for an array of activities that focus on the area’s wondrous wildlife. Learn more about coral reefs and their threats, as well as the conservation of endangered sea turtles, with engaging lectures at the Marine Research Foundation’s office. Visit a biodiverse mangrove habitat, alongside a fascinating trip to the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, where a practical field session will include instruction on standard reef survey techniques, quadrant sampling, fish identification, and trophic level assessments.
Take a private car transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport for your flight to Sandakan. From here take a private car transfer to My Nature Resort, Sepilok.
Stay for one night on the edge of the tropical rainforest, heading out on an evening walk in search of the nocturnal wildlife. Possible sightings include civert cats, moon rats, Malay badgers, sleeping birds, owls, bearded pigs, flying lemurs and much more! The next day, visit the famed Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, an undeniable highlight on any visit to Borneo. Meet and feed the orphan orangutans that are cared for here, while learning more about the centre’s important conservation work since it was founded in 1964. You will also visit the adjacent Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre.
Take a private car and shared boat transfer to Abai Jungle Lodge, Kinabatangan River.
Your lodge here is only accessible by boat along the Kinabatangan River, highlighting just how wonderfully remote the area is. The calls of nature will wake you for an early morning boat ride to the Pitas oxbow lake, where wildlife you may spot includes proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and crocodiles. While here, you can also participate in Abai Jungle Lodge’s terrific tree planting project.
Take a shared boat and private car transfer to Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley.
After settling into your lodge and enjoying lunch with some pretty spectacular surroundings, get ready for a trek into one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Head along trails, traverse suspension bridges and take a dip in crystal-clear rock pools, while keeping your eyes peeled for a range of fantastic flora and fauna. Enjoy an informative presentation from the lodge’s dedicated staff, before an evening excursion in search of the area’s larger mammals. Birds are the stars of the show on the next morning’s guided walk, while you’ll also uncover striking waterfalls and ancient burial sites.
Take a private car transfer to Lahad Datu Airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. From here, take a private car and shared boat transfer to Gaya Island Resort.
Backed by an ancient rainforest and with views of the UNESCO-listed Mountain Kinabalu on the horizon, this beautiful beachfront hideaway is where your Borneo itinerary comes to an end. Time at your leisure allows you to choose what you do here – whether you want to simply relax on the sand, indulge in a treatment at the spa nestled within the mangroves, or scuba-dive from the Gaya Island Resort Marine Centre, where a range of conservation programmes are in place.
Take a shared boat and private car transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport for your flight to the UK.
Enjoy an engaging and truly fascinating interactive lecture on coral reef ecology, biology and conservation, as well as learning more about the inhabitant tropical fish and invertebrates. The expert lecturer will join you to look at the varied coral species, how corals grow and reproduce, and their sensitivities to pollution and other stressors.
Just down the coast from Shangri La’s Rasa Ria Resort, head to the Karambunai Peninsula to learn more about the wildlife-rich mangroves here. Join an expert as you cruise the habitat, identifying various species that call it home, as well as learning more about the extensive research that goes on and how the mangroves are studied.
At the Marine Research Foundation headquarters, join a leading expert to learn all about the biology and ecology of endangered sea turtles, and discuss conservation approaches and challenges. You will also look at other marine environments such as sea grasses and mangroves, discussing the practical field assessments that you’ve enjoyed previously.
Take a scenic boat ride for a field trip to the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, comprised of five beautiful islands renowned for their marine delights. Teaching you the conservation work that is underway to conserve this precious environment and its marine species, this field session will include instruction on standard reef survey techniques, quadrant sampling, fish identification, and trophic level assessments.
From the dedicated Rainforest Discovery Centre in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, head out for a group night walk in search of the nocturnal wildlife. You may not see a lot of wildlife during the day, but a night walk often offers some pleasant surprises. Depending on your luck, you might encounter civet cats, moon rats, the Malay badger, sleeping birds, owls, bearded pigs, flying lemur and many more spectacular species!
Visit the spectacular Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, home to a number of these incredible creatures, many of which were injured or orphaned when rescued. Visiting in the morning, you will be just in time to see these cheeky animals are they fed their breakfast. After meeting the orangutans, staff and learning more about the species, head to the adjacent Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Here, rescued sun bears unwind in the forest, with the aim to release them back into the wild when possible.
Take an early morning cruise (the best time to spot the wealth of animals) along the wildlife rich Kinabatangan River to the Pitas Oxbow Lake, observing the unique surroundings, learning more about the mangroves and spotting the wildlife that call it home - including proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques, orangutans, pygmy elephants and crocodiles.
From your base in the Danum Valley – a paradise for wildlife lovers - join a guide as you trek in Borneo's prime rainforest. This is one of the oldest rainforests in the world and the sheer magnificence of it will keep you in awe as you trek along its trails, swim in its rock pools and get a bird's eye view of the forest from the canopied suspension bridge. Wildlife to spot might include orangutans, pygmy elephants, sun bears, clouded leopards, five species of deer and ten primate species.
The Danum Valley is rich with birdlife and over 300 species have been recorded here, many endemic to the region. Join an expert guide as you explore the rainforest trails in search of various birds, with possible highlights including the Borneo bristlehead, Bulwer’s pheasant, seven species of pittas and eight species of hornbill. This route will also take you past striking waterfalls and fascinating ancient burial sites.
From March to October is the dry season and generally the best time to visit, but it's best to expect the possibility of rain at any time.
12 NIGHTS FROM £5,300 per person
Price based upon economy flights from London, transfers, UK airport lounge passes and meals and excursions as specified.
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