Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, many meals, touring and more!
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On sale prices include savings of up to $800 per couple if you reserve before April 7, 2010!
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Borneo Adventure
Kuching, Batang Ai, Mulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, plus Penang Island Extension
Colorful Hornbills © Tourism Malaysia
Join us on a fascinating journey to the island of Borneo, Malaysia, where a mosaic of indigenous tribes, intriguing history, beautiful, ancient rain forests, rivers and diversified wildlife await. In addition, you'll visit one of the most dynamic and fascinating Asian cities, Kuala Lumpur. Here you'll explore exotic markets, lantern-lit streets, temples and other remnants of Malaysia's unique and colorful heritage tucked among the skyscrapers, shopping malls, restaurants, exciting nightlife and other icons of modern life. All of this is yours in one, fantastic journey of discovery for a price that is as amazing as the destination itself.
Our Touring Program
Day 1: Depart USA. Your fascinating journey begins tonight as you check-in for your flight bound for Malaysia.
Day 2: En route. Cross the International Date Line and lose one day en route.
Day 3: Arrive Kuching. Arrive Kuching, the gateway to the legendary island of Borneo. After customs formalities, you'll be escorted to your river-front luxury hotel to check in and rest from your flight. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner with your travel companions at the hotel restaurant. Hilton Kuching or similar. (D)
Orangutan in Kuching
Day 4: Kuching. Today's half day of touring begins with a short scenic drive to the Semenggoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. Established in 1975, this 1800-acre virgin forest provides sanctuary to some of Malaysia's most protected wildlife, including hornbills, monkeys, and especially, orphaned or rescued orangutans. At the center, the orangutans are carefully nurtured and rehabilitated for eventual release into the jungle, their natural habitat. You will have the opportunity to learn about the rehabilitation process and to observe and photograph the orangutans from a distance.
Kuching skyline at sunset
Later, return to Kuching to discover the romance and charm of the city built during the White Rajah era. Your panoramic city tour includes, among other sites, the bustling Kuching Waterfront; Chinatown, where you'll find the oldest street in the city and the heart of old Kuching; the Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple; and the Civic Centre Viewing Platform, where you can take in the best panoramic views of Kuching. Continue to St. Joseph Cathedral, the Syariah (Muslim) Court, the Satok Suspension Bridge, and traditional Malay stilt-houses built along the riverbank.
Sarawak Museum, Kuching Photo by Aron Paul
As you wind through the heart of the city, look out for the imposing Fort Margherita and the Sarawak Governor's majestic Astana, the former palace of the White Rajah. Complete the tour with a visit to the Sarawak State Museum, established in 1888 and acknowledged as one of the finest archeological and cultural museums in Southeast Asia.
Sarawak Cultural Village performers © Sarawak Cultural Village
After lunch, return to the hotel, or enjoy an optional tour to the Sarawak Cultural Village. At the foot of the legendary Mount Santubong just 20 miles outside Kuching, this award winning site portrays the cultures and traditional lifestyles of the seven major ethnic groups of Sarawak. Learn about the native arts and crafts, food, music, and dance ($35 per person).
Tonight, join your travel companions for dinner at a local restaurant renowned for its variety of seafood specialties. (B,L,D)
Bako National Park, Sarawak
Day 5: Kuching. Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Kuching your own, or take advantage of an exciting optional excursion to Bako National Park, one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in its natural surroundings. After arrival at Bako, a Malay fishing village built on stilts over the river, enjoy a 30-minute cruise on the South China Sea to reach this remote coastal park.
Jungle Trekking, Malaysia © Tourism Malaysia
Millions of years of erosion have sculpted a coastline of steep cliffs, rocky headlands, fantastically shaped arches and seastacks, and stretches of beautiful white, sandy beaches.
The park is a unique botanical treasure housing 25 distinct types of vegetation that form seven complete ecosystems. Your local guide will help you to explore these ecosystems on the well-marked jungle trails.
Endangered Proboscis Monkey
Keep an eye out for some of the park's most famous residents: the rare, long-nosed Proboscis monkeys, macaque monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, sambar deer, Borneo bearded pigs, mousedeer, otter, and monitor lizards. After lunch, trek through the lush forest for more bird watching and wildlife viewing ($69 per person). (B)
Sarawak rainforest, Borneo
Day 6: Kuching & Batang Ai. Breakfast served in the resort. This morning, depart Kuching for Lemanak Jetty. En route, stop at Serian, a Dayak trading town with a colorful local market. Continue to a Chinese farmhouse to see how pepper and cocoa are cultivated. After lunch at Lachau, sit back and enjoy the rest of the drive through the scenic countryside of rice fields, cocoa and rubber plantations, luxuriant tropical rainforest, wild orchids, and mountain ranges. Travel by boat across the Batang Ai Reservoir to your hotel.
Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort (B,L,D)
Iban dancers © Tourism Malaysia
Day 7: Batang Ai & Longhouse Excursion. A special treat awaits you today as you sail by longboat down the river to an authentic Iban longhouse, an entire village under one roof. Experience the legendary hospitality and charm of the locals as you learn about their fascinating culture. Join in their traditional dance and music as they welcome you with their famous "tuak" rice wine, followed by a tour of the longhouse. Enjoy lunch in the longhouse or a picnic lunch by the riverbank, depending on water conditions. Return to Batang Ai. (B,L,D)
Central Market © Tourism Malaysia
Day 8: Batang Ai & Kuching. Depart for Kuching via the same route as your arrival. Stop for lunch at a charming roadside town before continuing your journey to Kuching. Enjoy a full day to explore fascinating Kuching at your leisure. Your hotel is ideally located for independent exploration. Wander through the narrow bustling streets lined with shops and observe local craftsmen at work. Hilton Kuching. (B,L)
© Tourism Malaysia
Day 9: Kuching & Mulu. Depart to Kuching Airport for flight to Mulu. Upon arrival, transfer to your deluxe hotel, the Royal Mulu Resort, and spend the rest of the day enjoying the many resort facilities.
Royal Mulu Resort or similar. (B,D)
Day 10: Mulu. Set sail on the Melinau River. Stop at the Penan settlement of Batu Bungan, renowned for its intricate handmade handicrafts, such as rattan baskets, mats and ornaments.
Then on to explore the incredible cave formations within Mulu park. Sarawak chamber, in Gua Nasib Bagus (Good Luck Cave), is the world's biggest natural enclosed space, rumored to be big enough to fit St. Peter's Basilica. You'll visit Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave, which exposes parts of a long underground river. After exploring the caves, enjoy lunch at Clearwater resthouse and a leisurely swim at the natural pool outside the cave.
Limestone Pinnacles at Mulu National Park
This afternoon, take a short ride to the Gunung Mulu National Park, a treasure trove of biological diversity. Walk down the Mulu Canopy Skywalk, the longest tree-based walkway in the world, for unique views of the rain forest. Walk through ancient rainforest to the Deer and Lang Caves to tour limestone formations. Wait at Deer Cave Bat Observatory, where you will have the opportunity to watch the spectacular exodus of millions of bats (weather permitting). (B,L,D)
Day 11: Mulu & Kota Kinabalu. Today, enjoy leisure time at the resort, or join an optional excursion to the semi-nomadic Penan Settlement of Long Iman for jungle trekking and cultural immersion.
Kota Kinabalu © Tourism Malaysia
This afternoon, depart for Kota Kinabalu, one of the most beautiful and relaxed cities in the world. You'll find sandy white beaches everywhere, and a water-temperature that is always pleasing. After check-in at your hotel, enjoy leisure time to explore your new surroundings.
Pacific Sutera Harbor (B)
Day 12: Kota Kinabalu. Today is yours to explore Kota Kinabalu. Or, take advantage of one of two exciting optional tours. The first takes you to Poring Hot Springs
†, where you will be taken on guided canopy walk 100-200 ft above the forest floor.
After your trek, enjoy an invigorating mineral bath in the outdoor tubs before having lunch in a local restaurant.
Mt. Kinabulu, Borneo
Then head on to Kinabalu Park, located at the base of Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia at 13,435 ft. Its foothills and surroundings have an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, and Kinabalu Park, which covers an area of 291 square miles, is a favorite among nature lovers. At the Park, visit the Exhibit Center and Mountain Garden to learn more about the natural wonders of the Park. On your way back to Kota Kinabalu, stop for a quick visit at the Nabalu native market ($75 per person).
Monsopiad dancers performing a warrior dance © Monsopiad Cultural Village
The second optional tour takes you to Monsopiad Village, a culture and history-lover's delight. Pass through farming villages of rice fields and houses on stilts en route to this village named for the legendary Kadaz warrior and headhunter, Monsopiad. The village is a living museum that gives you insight into the lives of one of Sabah's largest ethnic groups—the Kadazandusun. Visit the House of Skull, where a local narrator will explain the culture and tradition of the Kadazandusun and why head hunting occured in this village some 300 years ago. Enjoy opportunities to experience cultural dances and handicraft making ($67 per person).
Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
† The Canopy Walkway in Poring Hot Springs will be partialy closed for maintenance from July 1 to August 31, 2009.
Mosque Masjid Bandaraya, Kota Kinabalu
Day 13: Kota Kinabalu & Kuala Lumpur. Enjoy a morning city tour that takes you to the State Mosque, the local market, and Signal Hill for a bird's eye view of the city and islands. After lunch at a local restaurant, take a short flight to Kuala Lumpur, bustling capital of Malaysia. Your guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel, where you'll have the evening at leisure to rest and relax.
Prince Hotel & Residence or Grand Millenium (B,L)
Petronas Towers © Tourism Malaysia
Day 14: Kuala Lumpur. A city of contrasts, Kuala Lumpur blends modern skyscrapers with impressive historic buildings to create a unique cityscape. Today, enjoy a panoramic city tour including visits to the King's Palace, the National Museum, the National Monument, the Moorish-style railway station, and the superb buildings at the Independence Square, where you can observe the contrast between historical architecture and modern skyscrapers in an abundant setting of greenery. Conclude the tour at a local handicraft center and a photo stop at the magnificent Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest buildings until 2004.
© Tourism Malaysia
Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, or join an optional half-day tour of the countryside. The area surrounding Kuala Lumpur abounds with cottage industries and nature reserves. See how beautiful pewter products are manufactured at the world famous Royal Selangor factory, and observe how local batik is made.
Batu Caves © Tourism Malaysia
Visit the Batu Caves, the famous site of the annual Thaipusam festival in January and February, where almost a million devotees congregate. You'll pass a 140 ft statue of the Hindu god Lord Murugan, the world's largest, as you climb the 272-steps to the top of a natural limestone cavern which houses a Hindu shrine. ($15 per person)
Tonight, proceed to a local restaurant for a typical Malay buffet dinner and a vibrant cultural performance. (B,D)
Local girls, Kuching © Tourism Malaysia
Day 15: Kuala Lumpur/USA. Enjoy your final morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight to the US. Or, take advantage of your already included international airfare and join our Penang Island Extension (see below).
Penang Island Extension
Extend your Borneo Adventure by adding Penang Island, a tropical paradise off the western coast of Malaysia, famous for its sandy beaches and luxuriant vegetation. Extension includes airfare, 3 nights at the deluxe beach-front Grand Plaza Parkroyal Penang (or similar), buffet breakfast daily, a half day guided sightseeing tour and all transfers. Extension begins on the evening of Day 15 and returns to the USA on Day 18.
A beach in Penang
Day 15: Kuala Lumpur/Penang Island. Depart Kuala Lumpur for beautiful Penang Island. Transfer to your deluxe beachfront hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Grand Plaza Parkroyal Penang or similar. (B)
Day 16: Penang Island. This morning, set out on a half day tour of Georgetown, the largest city on Penang Island. With its narrow streets and prewar shop houses, the town still maintains its colonial charm, while its diverse Chinese, Indian, and Malay population gives the island unique local flavor. Your tour will bring you to some of the city's most important sites: Fort Cornwallis, the Penang Museum, Little India, and Chinatown. (B)
Penang
Day 17: Penang Island. Enjoy a full day at leisure to rest and unwind from your busy vacation. Your resort hotel is nestled amidst tropical gardens with swaying palms. Enjoy beautiful pool or ocean swimming, a first-class spa, and other facilities. (B)
Day 18: Penang, Kuala Lumpur & USA. After breakfast this morning, bid farewell to Penang Island as you transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.
Destination FAQs
For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Borneo, click here.
I have raved to all my friends about your Borneo Adventure tour ever since returning last April. A highlight was celebrating my birthday at your great jungle hotel in Miri. The staff entertainers surprised me with a cake and celebration. Oh yes, instead of blowing out the candles I got to burst balloons with a blow-gun! I look forward to another trip with you. An 84-year old fan.
— Dr. Nancy Cooper, Meadow Vista, CA
I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our "Borneo Adventure". The hotels were way more then we expected as was the food. And our tour guide, Thomas, was absolutely fabulous! I'd recommend this tour to anyone.
— Kathleen Wulff, Bensalem, PA
Day 1: Depart USA. Your fascinating journey begins tonight as you check-in for your flight bound for Malaysia.
Day 16: Penang Island. This morning, set out on a half day tour of Georgetown, the largest city on Penang Island. With its narrow streets and prewar shop houses, the town still maintains its colonial charm, while its diverse Chinese, Indian, and Malay population gives the island unique local flavor. Your tour will bring you to some of the city's most important sites: Fort Cornwallis, the Penang Museum, Little India, and Chinatown. (B)
