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9 Day Wild Borneo Discovery incl. Mount Kinabalu Homestay, Orangutan Encounter, Turtle Island, Sun Bear Centre + more

9 Day Wild Borneo Discovery incl. Mount Kinabalu Homestay, Orangutan Encounter, Turtle Island, Sun Bear Centre + more

9 Days
Kota Kinabalu

Go wild in Borneo as you discover the protected, lush forests filled with jaw-dropping wildlife. Come face to face with Orangutans, help protect turtles, commune with sun bears & cruise down jungle rivers to spot it all in the wild. This is a natural history adventure in the heart of the Borneo wilderness.

 
 
  • 9-Day Unforgettable Wildlife tour of Borneo
  • 9 Nights in modern accommodations
  • 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, and 4 Dinners
  • Transportation throughout the trip
exploring

About This Trip

Borneo. Even the name evokes wild adventure. If you are imagining Indiana Jones-style scenes as you journey into the depths of the jungle, then you have come to the right place! Under severe threat, the forests of Borneo are incredibly rich biospheres, filled to the brim with an astonishing amount of wildlife. You will be submerged in this untamed environment, gazing at the treetops, trying to catch a glimpse of gibbons, charming proboscis monkeys and, of course, the majestic Orangutan. 

 

Because of the destruction of their habitats, spotting Orangutan in the wild has become more difficult, but don't worry, you are 100% guaranteed to see them on this trip as we pay a visit to the amazing Sepilok sanctuary. Now, this is no zoo, no wildlife park, this is a vast area of protected forest, where rehabilitated Orangutans are nursed back to health, then released to live untroubled. In such a vast space, how will you see them? Well, if there is one thing we all know about them, Orangutans are not stupid. There are set times where at particular points in the reserve, food is laid out and some of these wonderful creatures just can’t resist a free meal. However, standing, staring them in the eye, you will quickly realise how much more they have in common with humans than this!

 

You will also visit an ethical Sun Bear sanctuary and Turtle Island to learn how by simply visiting, you are contributing to the protection and revitalisation of these precious endangered animals. But, it is not just wildlife, human culture is also a fascinating side of Borneo that we simply cannot ignore. You will spend some time in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysian Borneo and we have arranged a sublime homestay in the foothills of Mt Kinabalu, South East Asia’s highest peak. Here you will have the run of a local house for the night, visit schools and workplaces and explore the rich biodiversity of the World Heritage park. 

 

Coming this close to such incredible wildlife, especially those on the fringes of survival, is an experience that will change you in the most positive of ways. As with all our tours, animal welfare is a core belief, so you can be assured that all the animal experiences are ethical and have been thoroughly vetted by us & our in-country partners.

 

What's Included
9-Day Unforgettable Wildlife tour of Borneo

Experience an untouched corner of this beautiful natural island paradise, exploring natural history first-hand and in dramatic fashion.

 
10 Incredible cultural & ethical wildlife experiences, celebrating the wonder of Sabah

Explore some of the most sought after experiences in Borneo, including:

  • Traditional Homestay and guided village experience
  • Kinabalu National Park
  • Poring Hot Springs
  • Canopy Treetop Walk
  • Turtle Island ecological experience
  • Sepilok Orang Utan park
  • Sun Bear Sanctuary
  • Boat safaris in the heart of Kinabatangan sanctuary
  • Gomantong Cave
  • Sandakan City tour
English-speaking guide throughout

Every experience will be with either your mainstay guide or a local specialist so you can get the very best out of every area and experience on your trip

9 Nights in modern accommodations

We have sourced the very best accommodation in Borneo and one very special homestay experience, to ensure you have a comfortable bed at the end of your day's adventure.

8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, and 4 Dinners

Your taste buds will come alive with the exceptional flavours of traditional Sabah cooking. A blend of spicy Malaysian treats and simple, home cooked Sabah treats.

Transportation throughout the trip

You will be taken everywhere throughout the trip, from coach rides between towns to boats over the glittering sea and up the chocolate-coloured jungle rivers.

Entrance Fees

On your guided days, you will not have to pay to enter any of the outstanding experiences we have set up for you.


Top Local Experiences

Included in your deal

Experience even more...

Optional

Trip Itinerary

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Where You'll Stay

Included in your deal

3 & 4-Star Accommodation

All hotels are subject to availability, a hotel list will be provided to you 2-4 weeks prior to your departure. In the event that any of the hotels are unavailable, we will accommodate you in a hotel of a similar or higher standard, in a similar location to ensure your itinerary is able to run smoothly.

 

  • 3* Hotel Shangri-la - Kota Kinabalu
  • Kiau Homestay (no rating) - Kiau Village
  • 3* Sabah Tea Resort - Ranau
  • 4* Sabah Hotel - Sandakan
  • Selingan Island Chalet (no rating) - Selingan
  • Borneo Nature Lodge (no rating) - Sukau

 

A general list of amenities across all of our hotels is as follows:

 

  • Private double/twin share room with ensuite
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • 24-hour reception
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Wellness Centre

 

Where accommodations have no rating beside them, they are different types of experience. All are in comfortable, safe accommodations, but the nature of their locations makes them unable to give a rating for their services. 

 
Single supplementNo
Max occupancy2 Adults
ShareableNot available
Bedding arrangementDouble/Twin Room
Other Info
highlights

There are highlights every day on this journey, and while we imagine you are all expecting us to say Orangutan here as the main highlight, that is only partially true. Don’t get us wrong, there is absolutely no sensation in the world like looking a great ape in the eye, knowing that it sees almost exactly what we see. There is a genuine connection, something that stirs deep inside you and it is a truly authentic moment, one that almost reduces you to tears. The visit to Sepilok is moving and important and definitely one of the highlights, but it in no way trumps the rest of the trip. 

 

Spending the night in the heart of the Kinabatangan Sanctuary, right beside the slow-flowing chocolate-coloured river is breathtaking. On one short boat trip, you might see an Orangutan in the wild, such a beautiful, inspiring site, but you will definitely see the wonderful Proboscis Monkeys, which will quickly become your favourite animals ever. The number of birds, the calls of the gibbons in the trees, the camaraderie with your fellow adventurers over a beer at night. It is wild wild heaven. 

 

And then there is Kinabalu. Wandering through this park of incredible biodiversity is amazing. You are right amongst it, on foot, in an area where there are more species of plant than Europe and North America put together, including rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world, though to see this, you would have to be unbelievably lucky as it never grows in the same place twice.


location

Your trip begins in the Malaysian Borneo capital of Kota Kinabalu. After a couple of days here you start the true adventure. You head out to the hidden, traditional village of Kiau for a night in a local home, then you are off to Kinabalu National Park to explore its wonders. From there you will head to Sandakan, the jumping-off point for several wild adventures. From here we head out to Turtle Island for a night, then finish off with two nights in the Borneo Nature Lodge in the heart of Kinabatangan Reserve. We finish off in Sandakan, where you can take a connecting flight back to Kota Kinabalu to meet your international connection.

 

facilities

The hotels included in our Wild Borneo Discovery feature the following facilities:

 

  • 24-Hour Reception Desk
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Air conditioning
  • Restaurant
  • Wellness Centre
  • & Many More!
 

important info

Exclusions

  • Any airfares (domestic & international)
  • Visas
  • Optional activities/tours, personal expenses/transfers not mentioned
  • Travel Insurance
  • Tips & gratuities

Age restrictions

  • The minimum age for this tour is 18
  • Child rates are available on a request basis

Occupancy

  • The minimum number for this tour to commence is two people
  • Double bed/twin share
  • Solo basis is available and a solo supplement will be applicable

Passport & visa requirements

  • All visitors require a passport with a minimum validity of 3 months beyond your return travel date is required for all passengers (including children and infants)
  • It is the visitor's responsibility to ensure they are holding the correct and current visa for the countries they are visiting
  • If the visitor is a non-Australian passport holder, a valid re-entry visa may be required
  • Important: Please start arranging your visa at least 6-8 weeks prior to departure to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours and processing times

Travel Insurance

  • We recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as possible after purchasing this package

Health & vaccination

  • As border restrictions for countries begin to ease, being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will maximise the number of locations you can visit. So whilst you are not legally required to be vaccinated, and it’s also not a requirement to travel with us, it will limit some of the countries that you can visit and may make it harder to travel for the next 12-18 months.
  • We highly recommend our travellers to look at the current travel restrictions of their destination, speak with a medical professional at least 30 days before departure or get in touch with our team for travel advice.
  • Health care such as a doctor’s surgery, dentist and optometrists may not always be accessible on this tour
  • It is advised that you ensure you have adequate health insurance cover as part of your travel insurance

Porterage

  • Porterage is available throughout this trip, and a tip is recommended

Tipping

  • Tipping and gratuities are not included in the package and are at your own discretion

Fitness requirements

  • Travellers should have a good level of physical fitness and mobility. They must be able to partake unaided in their chosen activities/package tours/cruise etc. as outlined in the itinerary

Dietary requirements

  • Any dietary requirements must be received by DealsAway at least 30 days prior to your scheduled departure date. Failure to provide these details by this date may result in an inability to cater for your requirements
  • In most cases DealsAway can cater for special dietary requirements but please note that on occasion, this may not be possible due to location, lack of availability of ingredients, and other extenuating circumstances. It is always advised to carry supplies with you

Transfers

  • You will be transferred throughout the tour, by coach and boat. Airport transfers are included at both ends.

Documentation

  • Any applicable pre-trip or tour documentation will be emailed to you prior to travelling. Should you have any queries regarding this please feel free to contact us directly via email at support@dealsaway.com

DealsAway savings

  • The value and comparative savings have been determined based on published rack rates and the value of inclusions. Please be advised that rack rates may not be reflective of actual rates being charged, dependent on the timing and manner of your booking and therefore are only indicative of the level of saving

Itinerary amendments & changes

  • Occasionally our itineraries are updated prior to departure to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers’ feedback as well as updates from our ground operators. Please note that while we operate successful tours in this region throughout the year, some changes may be necessary due to inclement weather, public holidays, common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes, and unforeseen circumstances. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities may also vary from time to time

Availability

  • All DealsAway trips are available on a request-only basis and are subject to availability. Once booked you should receive a payment confirmation and receipt via email, followed by a booking confirmation normally within 72hrs of making a booking, sometimes this can take a little longer subject to supplier delay
  • If you have not received your confirmation within 5 business days of payment confirmation please contact us immediately by email at support@dealsaway.com
  • In the event that your trip is unavailable on the dates you have chosen, we will contact you by telephone to advise the next available dates

Surcharges

  • Any prices quoted exclude specific costs/measures which may be introduced at a later stage as a result of Government changes due to COVID-19 health and safety restrictions. DealsAway will inform its guests of these changes as soon as possible, these additional charges will be passed on by DealsAway to the guest

AMENDMENTS & CHANGES

 

Name change or corrections

  • Name corrections may incur a fee
  • Name changes are not permitted
  • After bookings are fully paid, any amendment has to be requested in writing and incurs a $69 fee per person from our supplier, plus any additional costs and administrative expenses incurred in arranging the amendment

Date changes

  • Date changes are not permitted

Refunds

  • Please refer to our booking conditions for all information on refunds

DealsAway reserves the right to modify prices for marketing and commercial reasons. Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to the website's terms and conditions.

 

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