Today, you take the first step on your adventure to Borneo. Departure is from your chosen airport, and the flights include connecting flights along the way.

You will land in the Malaysian part of Borneo, in the north-western state of Sarawak. Your driver will be ready to take you to your hotel in Sarawak’s capital, Kuching. Check in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. You can choose to explore the city or relax with a refreshing dip in the hotel’s pool – the choice is yours.

Kuching will be your base for a multitude of experiences waiting for you in the coming days. Interestingly, Kuching, which means cat in Malay, has a special affinity for cats, reflected in its numerous cat statues around the city. The city is a charming melting pot of cultures, showcased through its architecture that ranges from colonial buildings adorned with colourful murals to traditional Malaysian houses.

Beautifully located along the Sarawak River, Kuching offers an almost mile-long promenade that invites you to immerse yourself in local life with all sorts of shops and restaurants. In the evening, it’s ideal to make yourself comfortable at one of the many eateries in the old town, offering everything from international favourites to local specialities such as the flavourful laksa soup and the noodle dish kolo mee. Afterwards, you can stroll along the promenade and be captivated by Kuching’s water and light show, which takes place every evening at 8 p.m. in front of the Sarawak Government Building.

Whilst savouring your breakfast, look forward to an exciting day beginning with a cultural city tour of Kuching.

Your guide will first take you to the lively streets of Chinatown, where you can be tempted by the enticing aromas from a wide array of charming restaurants and visit the colourful Tua Pek Kong Temple. One of the city’s great attractions awaits at the golden domed city mosque, a symbol of Kuching’s religious diversity. You will then continue to Little India, offering sensory experiences with its colourful houses filled with textile shops and spice traders.

The tour concludes at the riverfront, where Kuching’s history comes to life through the majestic buildings, such as the Pavilion and the Old Courthouse, from the era of the White Rajahs who ruled the state of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946.

The rest of the day is at your leisure. You can further explore Kuching on your own or relax by the hotel pool with a good book or a refreshing dip. In the evening, it’s easy to find one of the city’s cosy restaurants for your evening meal.

Today offers your first encounter with Borneo’s captivating nature and wildlife. You’ll be going on a full-day excursion to Sarawak’s oldest national park, Bako National Park, which, despite being one of Sarawak’s smallest, is remarkable for its seven distinct ecosystems, along with a wealth of wildlife, waterfalls, and untouched beaches.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up and drive you to Bako Fishing Village, where you’ll take a traditional longboat along the river to the national park. Along the way, you might be lucky enough to spot estuarine crocodiles and sea eagles before you arrive at the park itself. On your journey, which involves some ups and downs, it’s important to keep your eyes peeled, as the national park’s unique wildlife includes silvered langurs, long-tailed macaques, bearded pigs, monitor lizards, snakes, and a host of bird species. Upon arrival, you’ll set off on the extensive trail system through the rainforest, where you can explore the park’s diverse vegetation, ranging from mangrove to tropical swamp, rocky, and beach vegetation.

In Bako’s rainforest, you might also be fortunate enough to witness Borneo’s red proboscis monkeys showing off their noses – after all, the larger the nose, the more attractive a proboscis monkey male is considered among females.

The fascinating thing about wildlife is that there’s never a guarantee of what you’ll encounter. However, with the expert help of your skilled guide, who knows the rainforest and animals’ movements inside and out, your chances of finding the many creatures are significantly enhanced. And you’re really in for a treat, as the feeling of discovering an animal in its natural habitat deep in the rainforest is nearly indescribable.

After a few eventful hours, you’ll sail back along the river and then be driven to your hotel in Kuching – now with memories of Sarawak’s unique nature and wildlife in your luggage.

No excursions are planned for today, giving you the perfect opportunity to reflect on what you need.

You can let the impressions of the past few days settle by relaxing at the hotel and spicing up the day with exquisite meals from one of the nearby restaurants. Alternatively, if you’re still craving experiences, you can embark on one of our optional tours, which you can read much more about below.

You will now leave Sarawak and fly north to Borneo’s northernmost state, Sabah, where its magical rainforests await.

Upon arrival, your driver will be ready to take you to your lodge in the town of Sepilok. Here, you can refresh yourself with a dip in the pool as you settle at the edge of the rainforest before dinner is served with views of the lush surroundings.

Afterwards, it’s time to awaken your sense of adventure, as the first chapter in Borneo’s unrivalled nature begins. You will visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre to experience and learn about the rainforest’s impressive biodiversity. Here, you are guided through the well-maintained trail system in the Kabili-Sepilok Reserve by the centre’s naturalist, who, with a torch and extensive experience, is able to spot the nocturnal animals of the rainforest quietly rustling about. If luck is on your side, you may admire fascinating wildlife up close, such as flying squirrels, slow lorises, and adorable tarsiers.

After an exciting walk in the dark, it’s time to return to the lodge for a good night’s sleep.

Today, the journey continues to the rainforest along the Kinabatangan River, home to incredible biodiversity. The rainforest here is considered one of the world’s richest ecosystems, greatly supported by the flowing river.

But, you will first make a stop at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, to which your driver will take you after breakfast. Here lies one of the tour’s major highlights, as you come face to face with Borneo’s perhaps most-famous residents, the orangutans. These great apes, also known as ‘forest people,’ are one of the many reasons to visit Borneo – and for good reason. Few experiences are more fascinating than observing a species that, in many ways, resembles a primitive version of ourselves.

During your visit, you will be introduced to the centre’s admirable work in rescuing, rehabilitating, and preparing orangutans for re-release into their natural environment. You’ll have the opportunity to observe orangutans returning to the centre in the rainforest reserve during feeding sessions, providing a rare insight into the orangutans’ social hierarchy.

From the world of orangutans, you’ll move to the neighbouring centre, the Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where you’ll encounter the sun bear. This species is the world’s smallest bear, characterised by its short black fur and a light, crescent-shaped mark on its chest – resembling a sunrise, hence the name sun bear. The centre plays a central role in efforts to ensure that the sun bear has a future in its natural habitat in Borneo’s rainforests.

Post visit, you will be driven to the Kinabatangan River, where you’ll settle into your lodge on the riverbank. Here, anticipate the day’s lunch before having a bit of time on your own.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll embark on a safari along the river to acquaint yourself with your new surroundings. Surrounded by the rainforest’s lush canopy, it’s essential to keep your ears and eyes open in the fading daylight, as an impressive array of wildlife hides here, including playful proboscis monkeys, wild orangutans, and the world’s smallest elephant, the pygmy elephant.

As night falls, it’s time to sail back to the lodge, where you can reflect on the day’s many adventures while dinner is served.

You’ll wake early to the enchanting sounds of the rainforest to prepare for a morning boat ride that will take you along the winding paths of the Kinabatangan River to Oxbow Lake.

As you embark on the small boat, you can sit back and enjoy the serene atmosphere of the rainforest as you sail away at sunrise. The landscape around you seems straight out of a fairytale with scenes that could take anyone’s breath away. The river winds through both open and dense rainforest, where roaring monkeys and singing birds create a unique soundscape.

Upon reaching Kelenanap Oxbow Lake, the serene waters offer a peaceful moment for you to truly immerse yourself in the lush surroundings, almost indistinguishable from one another. The lake is home to an impressive array of birdlife, including colourful species like hornbills and kingfishers, so keep a sharp eye out.

As your appetite begins to make its presence felt, the journey back to the lodge begins along the same route. With the daylight now more robust, you might spot animals and plants that you missed earlier in the morning.

At the lodge, it’s time for a well-prepared breakfast that you can enjoy at your leisure in the restaurant’s scenic surroundings. Afterwards, a few peaceful hours of free time await.

Late in the afternoon, you’ll be invited for another boat trip before day turns into night. As the boat glides onward, your guide shares insights about the rainforest and helps you spot its flora and fauna surrounding you. Once again, you might be fortunate enough to witness the rainforest’s remarkable wildlife, such as the saltwater crocodile surfacing in the water or the silvered langur swinging from branch to branch in the treetops.

After an eventful day, you will sail back to the lodge. Here, you can look forward to another authentic meal before your hut calls for the night.

Leisurely enjoy your last morning in the magical rainforest by the Kinabatangan River before it’s time to say goodbye. After breakfast, you’ll be driven towards Sandakan, from where you will fly to Sabah’s capital, Kota Kinabalu.

Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu, your driver will be ready to take you to your hotel. Here, you will check in and have the rest of the day at your leisure. You can explore the city or relax at the hotel, perhaps with a dip in the hotel’s pool.

In the evening, Kota Kinabalu transforms into a culinary hotspot, which you can explore further as the city comes alive with restaurants and street food stalls, offering everything from freshly caught fish and seafood to authentic Malaysian dishes.

Today, no excursions are planned, providing you with a perfect opportunity to reflect on what you might need before your travel adventure draws to a close.

You can let the impressions of the journey sink in while relaxing by the hotel’s inviting pool, or set out on new adventures on your own or as a guest on one of our thrilling optional tours.

You’re staying in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, giving you the perfect opportunity to experience the city’s modern urban life, with its excellent shopping centres and cultural landmarks like the beautiful city mosque. Venture beyond the city limits, where unforgettable experiences await in the Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, or in the marine national park, Tunku Abdul Rahman, where you can snorkel in crystal-clear waters.

Before bed, you can settle down at one of the cosy restaurants at the Anjung Samudera Waterfront. Here, you can dine overlooking the water and watch the sun’s rays set over the sea, reflecting on the many experiences of your tour.

Now it’s time to bid farewell to Borneo, but you can carry the memories of your tour with you forever.

In good time before your flight, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport, where you will fly towards Europe with connecting flights along the way.

After a memorable tour, you will land at your chosen airport.