Borneo Highlights & Kuala Lumpur

8-Day Independent Tour

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:
*   7 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 2 Dinners
*   All private transfers & SIC tours are with local English-speaking guide/driver
*   Sightseeing tours in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Sarawak Museum, Batang Ai,
    boat ride up the Lemanak River, Borneo countryside, visit entire village
    under one roof, Kota Kinabalu Mountain Garden, Sandakan, Sepilok Orang
    Utan Rehabilitation Center, Kinabatagan river cruise
*   All entrance fees to the places visited, per program

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Kuala Lumpur – The capital city
Kuching
Batang Ai
Kota Kinabalu
Sandakan

Your Journey Begins

DAY 1:  ARRIVE KUALA LUMPUR
Arrive Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLlA), You will be met on arrival and transferred to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to relax and acclimatise.

DAY 2:  KUALA LUMPUR
Today explore the city with our local guide covering the major historical landmarks - King's Palace, National Monument, National Mosque and Merdeka (Independence) Square. Much of the history of the city is depicted here as well as the tradition and cultural heritage of the major communities, Included in this tour is a stop at the Petronas Twin Tower plus an opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view of the city from the observation deck of the KL Tower. Rest of the day free to explore this metropolitan city on your own.

Public transport is easy especially traveling on the monorail - an excellent vantage point to view the city. Modern shopping complexes are in profusion plus traditional old shop houses where the business has been passed through generations. In the evening, you may want to visit to the night bazaar in Chinatown to shop & browse -, you will find some good bargains on clothes, shoes, watches and other interesting items. (Breakfast)

DAY 3: KUALA LUMPUR - KUCHING
Arrive Kuching by flight MH 2564 (1005/1150). Meet & transfer to Hotel.
Afternoon City Tour - the start of the Borneo Adventure covering the Sarawak Museum - (closed on Fridays), Market Place, State Mosque and Historical Chinese Temple. Join a pontoon river cruise for a scenic view of the Astana - Residence of the former White Rajah and the surrounding area.
Evening at leisure, Overnight at Crowne Plaza Riverside I Holiday Inn Kuching.

DAY 4: KUCHING - LEMANAK RIVER - BATANG AI
A 225-km car/coach journey takes you through lush green countryside dotted with padi fields, pepper gardens and rubber plantations, and flanked by rugged jungle-clad mountains. Along the way, stop off at the Serian farmer's market, visit a pepper garden and view carnivorous pitcher plants. Stop for lunch at a roadside bazaar deep in Iban country. Arrive at Lemanak jetty mid-afternoon for a longboat ride up the Lemanak River, passing through typical Borneo countryside with an ancient longhouse tucked behind almost every bend in the river. Arrive at either Serubah or Nanga Kesit Longhouse and visit the "entire village under one roof," Tour the longhouse and enjoy a demonstration of blowpipe shooting, Return down river for transfer to Batang Ai jetty. After a 20 minutes boat ride across the 24sq km Batang Ai Hydro Lake, arrive at the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort, (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

DAY 5:  BATANG AI - KUCHING KOTA KINABALU
Breakfast at the resort, Breakfast at the resort. Enjoy the view of the lake - it is sometimes shrouded in mist which makes it quite breathtaking. Depart for Kuching via the same route. Lunch is served en route, Drop off at the Kuching airport for flight MH 638 (1550/1715) to Kota Kinabalu. On arrival, meet & transfer to Shangrila's Tanjung Aru Resort I Hyatt Regency. (Breakfast/Lunch)

DAY 6:  IN KOTA KINABALU
Full Day Kinabalu National Park.
Drive 2 hours overland (88 km) through padi-fields and Dusun villages over the ridges of the Crocker Range to the park headquarters of Kinabalu National Park, Nominated by UNESCO as a World Heritage, Kinabalu Park is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Here, Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia towers majestically at 4095 m (13431 feet). Visit the Mountain Garden - home to many species of flowering rhododendrons, pitcher plants, ferns & plants. Enjoy a marked nature trail in the mountain forest. (Breakfast/Lunch)

DAY 7:  KOTA KINABALU - SANDAKAN
Depart Kola Kinabalu by flight MH 2042 (0730)/0810 to Sandakan.
Arrive Sandakan airport, meet & transfer to the world's largest - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. The orphaned orangutans from logging sites, plantations and illegal hunting are rehabilitated before being released into the wild. See the primates being fed by the park wardens plus a video show. After lunch, embark on a 2­-hour boat journey to Sukarno Rainforest Lodge along Sabbath's longest river, Tanganyika. The journey takes you through the mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats with a good chance of wildlife sightings.

In the late afternoon, take a two-hour river cruise to see the Proboscis monkeys as they settle down on treetops along the tributary of Tanganyika River. Evening dinner & slide show conducted by in-house naturalist guide. Overnight at Sukarno Rainforest Lodge. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Note: Accommodation at Sukarno Rainforest Lodge is simple yet comfortable with modern amenities in room with electric fan & solar heated water.

DAY 8:  SANDAKAN TO KOTA KINABALU
After breakfast, return to Sandal by boat journey. Lunch at Sandal.
Transfer to airport for flight MH2709 (1415 hrs) - daily flight to Kuala Lumpur International Airport via Kota Kinabalu.

Note: Visit the Sandakan War Memorial - The Memo Sukaurk is on the site of the Sabah's prisoner of war camp is included only for flight MH 2047 (ETD1640( hrs) - available on Wed/Thu/Fri/Sun only (Breakfast/Lunch)

Recommended Personal Gear:
Insect Repellent, Raincoat, Good Walking Shoes, Sun Screen (sweat proof), Sun Hat, Binocular, Torchlight, Swim Wear, Tevas (sandals), Personal Toiletries and Extra Light Cotton Clothing.

Note: Airfares are subject to change by the airlines without notice. Departure taxes and fuel surcharges are additional.