$1,395 per adult. $695 per child $360 single supplement – “EXCLUSIVE 6 Day / 5 Night Tour”
Rates are in AUD and per person. Valid for departures to 31Mar13
HIGHLIGHTS: Kinabalu National Park, Kinabatangan River, Sepilok Orang Utan Centre, Death March sites, Sandakan War Memorial, Wildlife spotting, Kudat Gong making centre, Rungus Longhouse.
THIS TOUR DEPARTS DAILY WHEN REQUIRED.
To make an enquiry, click HERE to go to the Contact Us page and just complete a few details or ring 1300 882 803
DAY 1 Kota Kinabalu / Kinabalu Park (Lunch/Dinner included)
Depart Kota Kinabalu and travel 2 hours along the ridges of the Crocker Range to Kinabalu Park. Enjoy superb mountain views as you travel to the Park at 1524 meters. Explore one of the many trails that lead through tropical Montane Oak and Chestnut Forest.
Kinabalu is a botanist’s paradise with over a thousand species of orchids, numerous different rhododendrons and pitcher plants. The bird life is equally fascinating with most species being montane, including a number of endemics. Stay overnight at Mountain Lodge.
DAY 2 Sukau / Kinabatangan River (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Drive overland easterly to the district of Sandakan. The drive will take 4 hours passing through scenic countryside to the village of Sukau by the Kinabatangan River where the greatest concentration of wildlife in Malaysia and possibly all of Borneo can be found.
In the late afternoon, take a boat trip to watch the curious proboscis monkeys gather by the river bank. A good chance to see numerous species of birds and other wildlife until nightfall. Overnight at the riverside traditional style Sukau River Lodge.
DAY 3 Sukau / Kinabatangan River (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
After breakfast, take another boat trip, this time to the ox-bow lakes. Birds abound in all shapes and forms. The lakes are the abode of freshwater fish, otters and sometime – wild elephants may be sighted. Trek in the riverine rainforest and return to the Lodge. After lunch, follow our nature trails to see more wildlife. Overnight at Sukau River Lodge
DAY 4 Sepilok Orang Utan Centre /Rainforest Discovery Centre (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
After breakfast, drive overland to the famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Founded in 1964 the Centre helps once captive orang utans learn to climb and fend for themselves in the wild with the hope that one day they may return to the forest. The semi-wild orang utans may return to the platform provided by the Centre for milk and bananas twice a day during the process of returning to the forest. Visitors will get a close up view of these orang utans and have the chance to photograph them at close range.
Visit the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre. Experience the spectacular view of Borneo’s tropical rainforest as you walk among giant dipterocarp trees. You may be able to spot forest life such as the resident Bornean Bristleheads, hornbills, pittas, kingfishers, broadbills, flying squirrels, giant tail squirrel and large geckoes. Learn about some of Borneo’s most interesting plants such as the rare slipper orchids and the bizarre carnivorous pitcher-plants.
Overnight at Sabah Hotel.
DAY 5 Death March / Poring Hot Spring (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included)
Depart Sandakan overland along parts of the infamous ‘Death March’ route to Ranau. Along this route, over 1800 Australians lost their lives (only six escaped) during WWII. Your journey will take you through the Sandakan War Memorial, scenic countrysides and villages – many of which supplied food and shelter for some of the Australian Soldiers who escaped from the Japanese.
Proceed to Poring Hot Springs at the Southern end of Kinabalu Park. Lowland dipterocarp forest makes up most of the vegetation at Poring and it is an excellent place to view lowland birds and some mammals. Take a short trek into the forest to the Canopy Walkway for a bird’s eye view of the tropical rainforest. The Canopy Walkway is suspended between trees at the height of 40 meters and offers an excellent opportunity to observe wildlife in the canopy.
Visit the Kundasang market where varieties of local produces from the hinterland are sold. The market is also the focal point for socialising among the locals. Proceed to Kundasang War Memorial. This memorial is the end of the Death March, built as tribute to the memory of the Australians and British POWs who died in Sandakan, Ranau or during the Death Marches and as a tribute to those local who rendered assistance to these POWs. This war memorial is made of four gardens – the Australian Garden, the English Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden and Pool. Spend some time in quiet reflection.
Transfer to Mountain Lodge for overnight.
DAY 6 Kundasang/Kudat/Kota Kinabalu (Breakfast/Lunch included)
Early morning, proceed north to Kudat. Villages, rice fields and nice scenery can be seen along the way. Visit the Gong making cottage industry. The gong is the most important ethnic Rungus musical instrument played during festivities such as weddings. Stop by the honey bee farm and observe how a bee farm is managed. Visit a traditional Rungus longhouse in a village just outside Kudat. Observe the way of life, the dress and the living quarters of the Rungus tribe. The Rungus tribe are renowned as highly skilled artisans, whose make colourful beaded necklaces with motifs of ancient designs, usually signifying old fables and legends. They are also highly skilled at basketry and cloth weaving.
After your tour, transfer to your hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
