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Borneo's Orangutans and Rainforest Adventure

13days from
£2,657*per person

Overview

Black Friday Sale. Save up to 15% on every wish-list tour

This wonderful holiday lifts the lid on Sabah, Malaysian Borneo’s verdant jungle paradise, which is watched over by towering Mount Kinabalu and home to the endangered orangutan, proboscis monkey and the delightful sun bear, and fringed by pristine, white-sand beaches. With a host of included tours and experiences and the chance to rest and relax after the tour in an ocean-side spa resort, this is a perfect introduction to a stunning corner of the world.

Itinerary

  • Fly overnight to Sandakan in Borneo, via Kuala Lumpur.
  • You’ll arrive in Sandakan, where you’ll meet your local guide and transfer to the Sabah Hotel for a two-night stay. A welcome dinner is included at the hotel this evening.
  • Join your tour manager this morning for an included visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre, where you’ll be met by a sea of scents and colours. Enjoy a guided walk along raised platforms on the rainforest floor, past fragrant orchids and colourful tropical flora, then head up slowly into the canopy where you'll have a bird’s eye view of this wonderful environment. With luck, you may catch a glimpse of the rhinoceros hornbill or perhaps even a swinging orangutan looking for some wild fruit! The tour will then continue to the remote Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you’ll have the chance to observe the unique proboscis monkey. While walking across the hanging platforms, you'll get to to view the monkeys up close as they feed and play. Look out for the distinctive males, who have pot bellies and large dangling noses, as well as silver leaf monkeys and macaques. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant afterwards.  This evening, you may wish to join the once-in-a-lifetime optional night walk back at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in search of nocturnal wildlife. With an experienced park ranger and a 'spotter' at the helm, you'll be led through the darkness, seeking out rare species that you wouldn't normally get a chance to see during the day. Keep an eye out for flying squirrels, sleeping kingfishers and slow loris monkeys. 
  • Today an undoubted highlight awaits as you visit the world-renowned Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, dedicated to the protection of the species that is closest to our own. Watch the feeding of the primates and stroll through the forest on the marked trails, before visiting the equally fascinating Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where the smallest of the world’s ursine species live in protected open-air enclosures. You can observe these creatures from one of the viewing platforms before having lunch at a local restaurant.  You’ll then head further into the jungle for a two-night stay on the bank of the languid Kinabatangan River, at the Borneo Natural Bilit Resort, with its hardwood walkways and its riverside cabins. After arriving, you'll set off on on a two-hour boat river cruise with a guide, spotting wildlife like oranguatans, monkeys and birds as you go. 
  • Awaken early to the sounds of the jungle, and spend another day discovering its wonders. Cruise to Pitas Oxbow Lake to watch monkeys and pygmy elephants at play, and enjoy a second exciting afternoon cruise followed by a guided tour around the nearby village. The best chances to spot the Pygmy elephants are from March to October in the dry season.
  • Transfer to the Sabah Tea Resort, in Ranau, for a two-night stay amongst pristine nature, surrounded by unspoiled forest and a working tea plantation.
  • You’ll have the morning to explore the tea plantation and learn about the product of rainforest tea before journeying to the famous Poring Hot Springs. Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant, before spending an afternoon at the springs, where in addition to the chance to take a dip in the therapeutic waters you can explore the jungle trail of walkways through the rainforest canopy.
  • Journey deep into the UNESCO-listed Kinabalu National Park this morning, a forested paradise home to several unique species of orchid, 5,000 species of plants, over 300 types of resident and migratory birds, as well as 100 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Here you’ll enjoy a scenic hike through moderate elevation, of about 3kms, before pausing at the park’s headquarters, with its beautiful Mountain Garden Collection, then continue to the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure at the resort, perhaps spent lazing by the pools or on the beach, indulging in a spa treatment or two, enjoying the selection of water sports or perhaps a round on the championship golf-course (activities payable locally).
  • Enjoy a sumptuous day at leisure at the resort, or join the optional Mari Mari Cultural Village excursion. Those who join the optional excursion will get a fascinating glimpse and gain insights into the history, lifestyle and culture of the indigenous Borneo tribes with the help of a local guide. During the excursion, you'll sample traditional food and drink before watching a performance and enjoying an included lunch. Five ethnic tribes call this village home, and live, for the most part, as they did hundreds of years ago.
  • Spend another relaxing day at leisure, with a selection of dining options and the attractions of Kota Kinabalu.
  • Enjoy a final day at leisure, no doubt reflecting on a wonderful adventure.
  • Transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport for your flight to Kuala Lumpur, where you’ll catch your connecting overnight flight to the UK.
  • Early morning arrival in the UK.

What's Included

Holiday Highlights

  • Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Sun Bear Conservation Centre
  • Spend an unforgettable day at the Rainforest Discovery Centre
  • Re-visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre for an optional night walk in search of nocturnal wildlife
  • Get to know the unusual-looking proboscis monkey at a local sanctuary
  • Wildlife cruises on the Kinabatangan River and oxbow lakes and a stay in a jungle lodge
  • Discover beautiful Kinabalu Park and the therapeutic Poring Hot Springs
  • Stay at the Sabah Tea Plantation
  • Join an optional excursion to the Mari Mari Cultural Village and gain insight into the local culture
  • Journey to former British colonial capital Sandakan
  • End your trip with four days in a luxurious beach resort

Our Price Includes

  • 10 nights’ carefully chosen bed and breakfast accommodation, plus two nights on the aircraft
  • Outbound flight to Sandakan via Kuala Lumpur and returning from Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur
  • Fully air-conditioned coach travel and transfers throughout
  • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager (with the exception of the duration of your stay at the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort)
  • 20 meals, including ten breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners
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Dates and Prices

 
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Departure Airport:
London Heathrow (LHR)

Number of Passengers:

Price from:£2,657
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Accommodation

Borneo's Orangutans and Rainforest Adventure Touring Hotels -

You'll be staying in a series of air-conditioned comfortable hotels that are conveniently located for your tour itinerary. Due to the nature of the tour and destination, the hotels (with the exception of the Shangri La Rasa Ria), are of a good standard and are in keeping with the places visited.

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Other Information

Accommodation and accessibility

Accommodation during some parts of this tour can be basic, simple, and built in an authentic jungle lodge design. However, these types of properties ensure the incredibly unique experience of staying within the heart of a rainforest surrounded by local wildlife. The terrain can be steep and uneven in places, so good walking shoes are encouraged, and you should have a reasonable level of fitness. Be prepared for rainforest conditions, which are hot and humid, too.

Terms and conditions

Black Friday save up to 15% offer discount applies to long and short haul tours. 15% applies to all departure dates of specific tours only. This Black Friday offer applies to new bookings only booked between the 12th November and 9th December 2024, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. All other tours (including Andre Rieu tours) not in the 15% discount are 10% off. This offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing, and excludes other location tours, and Festive tours. This offer does not apply to child prices/child pricing. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have the discount applied. The discount applies to your final holiday price (excluding holiday insurance) at the time of booking. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Newmarket Holidays reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any tour. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays, are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02238316.

Holiday code

N2277

Holiday provided by Newmarket Holidays

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: This holiday is sold and operated by Newmarket Holidays (ABTOT 5509, ATOL 2325, ABTA V7812), you can be 100% sure that your money is safe.

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