Malaysia
Wildlife of Borneo
14 nights from £5,450 pp
Includes: flights, accommodation, transfers, guides & experiences
Overview & Highlights
Asia’s largest island is a wild and exciting place full of lush green rainforests, meandering rivers, rare mammals, exotic birds and beautiful beaches. It is east of ‘peninsula’ Malaysia and north of Java.
The island of Borneo is an extraordinary place for a holiday. It is home to the world’s oldest rainforest, with the richest biodiversity in Asia and countless incredible species, making it a fascinating place to visit.
However, with Borneo’s unique forest environment increasingly under threat, we believe that low-impact, responsible tourism is vital. That’s why we design Borneo trips with sustainability at their core – which actually makes a better experience for the traveller too.
We all know Borneo for its iconic Orang Utan, but there are many other exotic creatures to discover: Proboscis monkeys and Pygmy elephants, Sun bears and Sunda leopards, Hornbills (alongside stunning birdlife) and the world’s largest flower, to name just a few.
Beyond the wildlife, you’ll find vibrant culture, staggering landscapes, and beautiful beaches (some of the most underrated in Asia).
As with all holidays, this itinerary can be tailored to individual requirements. This option offers an immersive holiday suggestion, ideal for travellers who want to get away from the everyday tourist trail, without missing any of Borneo’s more well-known highlights.
Explore the tribal traditions of the Murut people, get off the beaten track to discover incredible wildlife, and relax on unspoiled beaches.
Highlights:
- Discovering exceptional wildlife and incredible scenery while staying deep in Danum Valley
- Getting away from modern life as you travel to the most remote part of Sabah, homeland to the indigenous Murut people and the remarkable Batu Punggul
- Boat down the Kinabatangan River keeping watch for pygmy elephants, rare bird species and primates
- Relaxing away from the crowds (and the wifi) on the unspoiled sandy beaches of the Kudat peninsula
“March to October is considered the dry season and so the best time to visit Borneo. It’s also the best time for spotting wildlife, including orangutans. If travelling with families, Easter or Summer holidays are ideal. September, with its clear skies, is a good month for trekking Mount Kinabalu.”
For more than 100 million years, the rainforest in Borneo has provided a home to countless incredible species of animals and plants. Infamous for being one of just two places in the world to spot Orang utans in their natural habitat, the varied ecosystems also support 15,000 plant species, over 200 mammals, over 100 amphibian species and 10 primate species. The unique conditions and thousands of years of separation from all other land masses have allowed entirely endemic species to exist, meaning a look into the wildlife here is an experience like no other.
Many of Borneo’s animals and plants are critically endangered species, due to the impact of deforestation on the island, making rare sightings that bit more special.
Your holiday will include private transport and guides throughout (including an expert nature guide in Sepilok, Kinabatangan and Danum). Having a private guide will allow you a level of flexibility and spontaneity, and a nature guide will ensure you have the absolute best viewings of the fantastic wildlife.
- Day 1: Depart the UK on a flight via Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu.
- Day 2 & 3: On arrival, your guide will meet you for the transfer to your hotel. There will be time to relax and recover from your flight and perhaps explore the local markets.
- Day 4: On your journey from Kota Kinabalu, by 4-wheel drive and boat, you will travel deep into one of the most remote parts of Sabah state. You’ll travel through the homeland of the Murut people towards Batu Punggul, an 800 ft forest-clad limestone pinnacle that is home to a labyrinth of caves. On the first day, you’ll explore caves via underground streams and sleep overnight under the stars in a comfortable hammock camp.
- Day 5: Explore Batu Punggul itself, spend the night in a longhouse and enjoy an evening of Murut hospitality. While accommodation is basic for a couple of nights, the experience and hospitality on offer during these three days is fantastic.
- Day 6: Enjoy a morning of light trekking and swimming in multi-levelled waterfalls, before journeying back to your Kota Kinabalu hotel for the evening.
- Day 7 & 8: Depart Kota Kinabalu on a short flight to Sandakan. On arrival you’ll transfer to Kabili-Sepilok Forest, renowned for its orchids, ancient trees, and of course, its orangutan community. Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary where a highlight is the daily feeding of the orangutans. In the afternoon you’ll begin the river journey along the Lower Kinabatangan River Sanctuary towards your accommodation. En route, you’ll pass mangroves, wetlands and lush rainforests with plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting. The Lodge has boardwalks extending into the jungle interior, offering a great way to explore this fantastic part of the world with ease. During your stay you can enjoy guided night walks and boating to Pita’s oxbow lake, looking out for pygmy elephants on the journey upstream.
- Days 9 & 10: Travel onward to Danum Valley Conservation Area, one of the world’s most complex ecosystems covering more than 400 square kilometres. You’ll enjoy a great program of trekking, night drives and night walks and one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in Borneo. With your dedicated guide on hand, keep watch for wild orangutan, slow loris, gibbons, red leaf langurs, western tarsiers, Bornean bearded pigs, deers, civet cats, hornbills, flying squirrels and – if you are super lucky – maybe even the elusive clouded leopard.
- Days 11 – 14: After an early morning transfer and quick flight back to Kota Kinabalu, you’ll head towards the sleepy beaches of Kudat. Relax and rejuvenate here for the next two days, and explore this beautiful part of the region dotted with stilted building and fishing boats.
- Day 15: Transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport for your journey home.
Most itineraries focus on Malaysian Borneo, the most accessible part of the island, which comprises the states of Sarawak and Sabah. However, intrepid travellers may wish to explore Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), where we can organise fantastic experiences too.
Contact me to start planning your adventure to Borneo!
A few impressions…
“Jules, your planning and organisation was excellent again!
On the trip up the Kinabantagan River we saw what I have always wanted to see, Proboscis monkeys as well as Orang Utans in the wild. We also spent a happy couple of hours having lunch at a local village and planting trees.
The guides were very knowledgeable and the Malayan people absolutely delightful. The best bit of the couple of days at the beach was the Bornean Culinary Experience.”
Ian Furbank
Let us begin the journey that will create memories to last a lifetime.
