The Discovery Journey to
Malaysia & Borneo
Journey to Southeast Asia and discover the hidden delights of Borneo on hikes and river cruises. Explore Kinabalu National Park, renowned for its huge range of exotic plants and birdlife. On Selingan Island, swim and snorkel in the South China Sea and observe green and hawksbill turtle's nest and hatch. Search for wild orangutans at Danum Valley and proboscis monkeys at Sukau River. Discover an incredible diversity of flora and fauna within a culture that is so unlike our own, yet so endearing.
Days 1/2 - Los Angeles/Kuala Lumpur
Fly from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur, crossing the International Date Line and losing one calendar day. (Meals Aloft)
Day 3 - Kuala Lumpur/Kota Kinabalu
Arrive in Kuala Lumpur and connect to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysia’s second largest state. Mountainous with lush tropical forests, Sabah is known as the ‘Land Below the Wind,’ because it lies below the typhoon belt. Check into your magnificent resort and tonight enjoy a welcome dinner. TANJUNG ARU BEACH HOTEL. (B Aloft, D)
Day 4 - Kinabalu National Park
Explore Kinabalu National Park, where Mt. Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia towers above the mysterious tropical rainforests of North Borneo in Sabah. A botanical paradise, the park contains 26 rhododendron, 400 fern, 1,200 orchid and 10 pitcher plant varieties. Birdlife is prolific and numerous small mammals inhabit Mt. Kinabalu, as well as elusive larger animals that keep to the forest such as three species of deer, bearded pig, proboscis and maroon-leaf monkey, gibbon, honey bear and orang utan. Stroll through the botanical reserve to see many of the Park’s orchid species and take a moderate hike on a trail that winds up and across a ridge for 2 1/2 miles with many trees and plants labeled. Your home tonight is situated atop a hill 5,000 feet above sea level and has commanding view of the majestic Mt. Kinabalu. For the adventurous, you will have an option to climb Mt. Kinabalu. LABAN RATA GUEST HOUSE. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Kinabalu National Park
The climbers will awaken in the middle of the night, to have a quick breakfast and commence to the summit by torchlight, arriving three hours later to witness the beautiful sunrise. The non-climbers will be wakened and entertained by the sound of the early ‘morning music’ of the montane species of birds found on Mt. Kinabalu. Both groups join up again for lunch and an afternoon excursion. PERKASA HOTEL. (B,L,D)
Days 6/7 - Sandakan/Sepilok
Drive to Sandakan, the capital of British North Borneo (now Sabah) until 1947. Enjoy lunch en route to your hotel, nestled amidst one of the world’s last unspoiled rainforests. Next morning visit Sepilok. Endangered orangutans are found only in Borneo and northern Sumatra, and is the only representative of the great apes outside central Africa. They live in forests where they build a new nest out of twigs and small branches daily. Sepilok prides itself on returning orphaned and captive orangs to the wild, after they undergo a three-step process to learn to integrate socially and independently with the wild population of the forest. Other protected animals brought to Sepilok include Malay sun bears, baby elephants, wild cats and even crocodiles. You’ll have a chance to observe the orang utans as they playfully interact with each other and their environment during feeding and take a trek with a park naturalist through the forest where you might come face-to-face with semi-wild orangs. This afternoon, visit Sim Sim Water Village or the Sandakan Central Market. SABAH HOTEL. (B,L)
Day 8 - Selingan Island
Take a boat ride to Selingan Island surrounded by magnificent coral and filled with a fascinating variety of plant life. Swim or snorkel in the South China Sea and in the evening join the rangers to observe green and hawksbill turtles nest and hatch on its sandy shores. Your chalet tonight is rustic with common or attached facilities. TURTLE ISLAND’S CHALET.(Rustic with common or attached facilities). (B,L,D)
Days 9/10 - Sukau River
Return to Sandakan and continue overland to Gomantong Birdnest Caves, home to millions of swiftlets who make their nests here. Then, on to Sukau and your home set within a tropical wetland forest. Your cruises here take you up to the Kinabatangan River to search for proboscis monkey, endemic to this part of the world. In the mornings you will be awakened by the calls of gibbons and hornbills. Take a short walk along Ox Bow Lake to observe wildlife and experience the early morning river ambience of the longest river of Sabah. OLD BEN KINABATANGAN RIVERSIDE LODGE. (B,L,D)
Days 11/12 - Danum Valley
Drive to Sabah’s largest protected lowland forest, Danum Valley Conservation Area, comprised of 108,230 acres of pristine virgin rainforest. The Dipterocarp forest found in Borneo is considered to be the world’s tallest and oldest, existing for over 100 million years. Within this paradise is a lodge designed by naturalists, with magnificent views of forest mountains and the Danum River just below. Although very difficult to spot, the area shelters more than 270 species of birds and 109 species of mammals, including Asian elephant, five species of deer and Bornean rarities such as Sumatran rhinoceros. One of the largest remaining populations of wild orang utans is here, which you will have good chances of seeing under the guidance of the lodge’s expert trackers. BORNEO RAINFOREST LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Day 12 - Lahad Datu/Kota Kinabalu/Los Angeles
Bid farewell to the wilds of Borneo as you begin your journey home. En route, cross the International Date Line and regain your lost day, arriving in Los Angeles on the same day as you left Malaysia. (B, Meals Aloft)
Optional Post-Extension to Sarawak
Fly to Kuching and see buildings dating back to the days of the White Rajahs, ancient Chinese temples and colorful markets displaying produce that first brought traders to Borneo. Enjoy the cultural interaction as you depart on your four-hour journey through rural Sarawak – passing pepper gardens, cocoa and rubber plantations. Then, by longboat take a one-hour journey upriver to the longhouse, home of the Iban tribe who are eager to share their culture. They still spin cotton, weave pua (traditional cloth), hunt with blowpipes, dance to the music of thetraditional gongs and drink tuak. Overnight in the longhouse and the next day enjoy rare insights into the surrounding rainforest through the eyes and wisdom of your Iban guides. Return to Kuching and explore Bako National Park’s lush mangroves, soaring rainforest and short desert-like scrubs dotted by carnivorous pitcher plants - home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Your Journey Includes:
- Superior or rustic accommodations throughout as indicated or similar.
- Breakfast daily and other meals as specified in itinerary.
- Sightseeing in National parks, Wildlife Reserves and points of interest as indicated, escorted by professional naturalist in private coaches.
- All applicable hotel/lodge taxes and gratuities for baggage handling.
- All entry fees.
- Complimentary backpack, baggage tags and passport wallet.
2008
|
Price Main Trip |
Single Supplement Price/Main |
Price Extension |
Single Supplement Price/Ext |
Mar 26 - Apr 7 |
$3,295 |
$595 |
$895 |
$395 |
Apr 27 - May 9 |
$3,295 |
$595 |
$895 |
$395 |
Jul
|
$3,395 |
$595 |
$895 |
$395 |
Aug 24 - Sep 5 |
$3,395 |
$595 |
$895 |
$395 |
Oct
|
$3,295 |
$595 |
$895 |
$395 |
*Prices do not reflect applicable taxes.