Borneo – mountains, caves, beaches and rainforest.

Three week North Borneo Tour (BH3)     "The Best of Borneo"

This tour will take you from the dry sandy beaches of the South China Sea at Miri, into the interior at Mulu by light aircraft to see the caves and unspoilt primary jungle, and then across  into Sabah (North Borneo) to Kota Kinabalu with its beautiful coral islands and towering 14,000 ft mountain, beckoning you from the clouds. Then on to Poring Hot Springs where you can soothe your aching limbs and lastly a flight to Sandakan on the East Coast of Borneo to see the Orang Utan Sanctuary at Sepilok and cruise down the Kinabatangan River where there is the greatest concentration of bird and wild life in Borneo.

Itinerary

(not neccessarily in the order below, as some arrangements are dependent on flight schedules which vary, especially at weekends, and availability)

Day 1

International flight into Borneo via Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Miri or Kota Kinabalu.

Day 2

Arrive in Miri, meet your hosts and transfer to TreeTops Lodge. Afternoon visit to the beach and evening out at the hawker stalls for open-air dinner. Night life starts at 10 p.m. if you’re still game!

Day 3

Late morning departure by 4-wheel drive going inland via an Iban longhouse and across the Lambir foothills, passing through the Agricultural College and its beautifully kept lawns, trees and shrubs to the National Park.

Twenty minute walk through primary jungle beside a small stream to the main waterfall and rock pool at Lambir. Cool fresh water pool to bathe in and then a barbecue or picnic on the sandy spit. Further walks to the many minor waterfalls, the tree house or even the summit peaks (self-guided). Return in time for sundown.

Day 4

 Trip to Niah; visit caves and longhouse (self-guided). Overnight in Park H.Q. chalets.

Day 5

Return from Niah midday. City Tour of Miri; shopping and handicraft markets.

Day 6

Flight to Mulu and check in to your accommodation; afternoon visiting "show caves": you take your time to explore the deep rainforest and make your way slowly uphill to the caves in the mountain side. One of the caves is specially lit up by a generator to show the incredible stalagmites and –tites which have grown over millions of years, producing forms of castles, people, animals and other imaginary shapes. Nearby is Deer cave which is reputed to have the biggest single cave chamber in the world; you could literally park a fleet of Boeing 747s in there!

In the evening you can watch the sun go down and shortly afterwards witness the millions of bats take flight from the cave mouth.

Day 7

Visit Clearwater Cave by boat up the crystal clear Melinau River, picnic lunch and swim.  Return to Miri by air late afternoon.

Day 8 & 9  

TreeTops Lodge, Miri.

Day 10

Flight to Kota Kinabalu (BKI).

Transfer to Seaside Inn, Kinarut.

Day 11

Boat to the Coral Islands opposite the Seaside Inn or take a taxi into town and visit Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (self-guided). Snorkeling, swimming and water sports.

Day 12

By private transport to Mt. Kinabalu National Park. Overnight in Cecelia’s Lodge (below) near the Park H.Q. in Kundasang.

Day 13

Climb the Mountain! Start 0730 a.m. and reach Laban Rata mountain refuge early afternoon (6 hr climb). Plenty of hot soup, noodles and drinks to set you up for the final assault on the summit next morning. Non-climbers explore the lower slopes at 6000 feet.

Day 14

Summit at dawn! Then slowly back to Park H.Q. and on to Poring Hot Springs in the afternoon to soothe those tired limbs. Return to Kinabalu early evening.

Day 15  

Seaside Inn, Kinabalu.

Day 16

Early start by air to Sandakan and transfer to Turtle Island by boat. Overnight Turtle Island.

Day 17  Visit Orang Utan Sanctuary at Sepilok.

Day 17-18

 Visit to Sukau on the Kinabatangan River basin for wild life cruises (morning and evening) and stay overnight in the specially built wooden cabins on the river. All inclusive of meals, guide and boat trips.

Day 19-20

Back at Kinabalu and a chance to visit the State Museum and its ethnic village houses; further visits to the coral islands for diving or snorkeling and a chance to do some white water rafting on the Padas or Kiulu Rivers.

Day 21

Tour ends at Kota Kinabalu

Highlights:

Local wooden Lodges run on ethnic lines, longhouses, spicy local food, some of the world’s largest and least discovered caves, rainforest walking, the highest mountain in S.E.Asia. Turtle hatching. Walk with the Orang Utans at Sepilok.

Accommodation:

Local wooden Lodges, Park Hostels, Mountain and Riverside Cabins, Seaside Hotel.

Transport:

4-wheel drive, local boats and buses, minibuses, on foot.

Fitness:

Maximum trekking three hours, except Mt. Kinabalu climb (4000 meters/13,500 feet) which is a steep 6 hour walk, but can be completed by anyone under 50 of good fitness and health.

Tours will also operate the reverse itinerary above if necessary.

All tours are offered with or without flights.  

To include all accommodation  in Sarawak and Sabah (Miri, Mulu, Niah, Sandakan & Kinabalu) and return flights to Sandakan and Mulu. Some flexibility is planned into this itinerary to allow for individual preferences. Bario option is available for trekking instead of Mulu.

Not included are taxis, tips, drinks and incidental expenses. 

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