Borneo & Brunei
Borneo - By Land and Air
Departure Dates:
- Sep 11, 2009 - Sep 26, 2009
Departure Dates
- September 11, 2009
Trip Summary
Embark on a discovery of Borneo's rich biodiversity and cultures. Meet the Iban, one of many distinct tribes, and stay in an authentic longhouse as the chief's guest. Accompanied by an expert naturalist you'll roam coastal reserves, highlands and tropical rainforests where excursions on foot and by boat will reveal orangutans, macaques, flying squirrels, hundreds of orchid varieties and perhaps the fabled clouded leopard. Enjoy comfortable accomodations throughout, and marvel at those of the Sultan of Brunei's when you visit his opulent home city of Bandar Seri Begawan.
Itinerary: 16 Days / 15 Nights
Day 1
Kuching, Sarawak
Arrive in Kuching, capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, and transfer to your hotel. Meet for a welcome dinner in the evening.
Lodging:Hilton Hotel (B,L,D)
Day 2
Iban Longhouse
This morning travel inland, and visit a local market to pick up supplies for a visit to a traditional Iban longhouse. Journey through rice fields and pepper plantations to the Lemanak River, close to the border with Kalimantan. From here board dug-out canoes for a beautiful cruise upriver. The Iban are one of the many distinct tribes living in Borneo, and their longhouses are villages under one roof. Each family lives in its own room with sleeping and cooking areas, but all members of the longhouse share in the farming, fishing, and communal work for the community. On arrival meet the chief of the longhouse and the other inhabitants, and explore the longhouse and its surroundings. Dine in the chief's room, sample rice wine, and enjoy some traditional dances.
Lodging:Longhouse (B, L, D)
Day 3
Iban Longhouse and Kuching
After breakfast explore the forest around the longhouse with your hosts who will introduce you to medicinal and food plants, before a demonstration of blow-pipe hunting. Bidding farewell to this authentic way of life, return to Kuching and your luxurious hotel.
Lodging:Hilton Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 4
Gunung Mulu National Park
This morning fly north to Gunung Mulu National Park, a spectacular massif comprising both sandstone and limestone peaks, and only accessible by air or dug-out canoe. Proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 2000, Mulu is a "lost world," with towering rainforest trees, jagged limestone pinnacles, and sheer cliffs topped by swirling mist. This afternoon explore two of the caves, Lang Cave, with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, and Deer Cave, the largest cave passage on Earth and home to several million free-tailed bats. Wait at dusk to watch them emerge en masse from their roost, forming swirling patterns across the sky.
Lodging:Royal Mulu Resort (B, L, D)
Day 5
Gunung Mulu National Park and Mount Kinabalu National Park
Today continue exploring this beautiful national park with visits to two more caves. Wind Cave is home to breath-taking stalactites and stalagmites, while Clearwater Cave conceals an underground river, which comes rushing out of the mountain crystal clear and cold to form a pool ready for a refreshing swim after your hike. After lunch fly to Kota Kinabalu, capital of Sabah state, and drive to Mount Kinabalu National Park. At 12,000 feet, Mount Kinabalu is the highest point between the Himalayas and New Guinea, and its granite dome is a spectacular sight peaking through the clouds.
Lodging:Perkasa Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 6
Mount Kinabalu National Park
This morning head to Mount Kinabalu National Park headquarters to explore the trails, looking for some of the more than 1,000 orchid species that make the mountain their home, as well as some of the many squirrel species that are found here, including the strikingly patterned Prevost's squirrel. Birds are also abundant at this altitude, including laughing-thrushes, trogons, and short-tailed magpies. After lunch drive downhill into the humid lowlands to explore the lower part of the park at Poring where you'll discover a different suite of animals and plants, and then take to the tree tops on a 100-foot high canopy walkway.
Lodging:Perkasa Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 7
Sandakan and Sepilok Forest Reserve
Drive across the island to the thriving port city of Sandakan. Leaving the city behind, continue to Sepilok Forest Reserve and to your lodge situated on the edge of the Reserve. The Reserve is home to the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre, which was established in 1964 to provide a sanctuary and rehabilitation facilities for orphaned Bornean orangutans. Sadly, the Centre is busier today than ever, as the orangutans' forest home is cleared by logging companies to make way for oil palm plantations. This afternoon visit the Rehabilitation Centre and watch the orang-utans being fed bananas, sugar cane, and milk. The aim of the Centre is to make the orangutans fully independent so they can be returned to the wild, and so it is generally the young orangutans or mothers with babies that come to the feeding.
Lodging:Sepilok Nature Resort (B, L, D)
Day 8
Sepilok Forest Reserve and Kinabatangan River
Return to the Rehabilitation Centre to watch the morning feeding. Different individual orangutans are often seen at the different feedings, and it is always a privilege to watch these incredible creatures at close quarters. After lunch transfer by speed boat along the Kinabatangan River to your home for the next three nights. Your comfortable lodge is set on the bank of the river, and its gardens play host to silvered langurs and long-tailed macaques.
Lodging:Sukau Rainforest Lodge (B, L, D)
Days 9 - 10
Lower Kinabatangan River
Explore the Lower Kinabatangan River, home to the greatest diversity of wildlife in the whole of Malaysia. Your excursions are mainly by boat, exploring ox-bow lakes and narrow tributaries in search of wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pig-tailed macaques, and bearded pigs. Take cruises in the early morning and late afternoon, as well as at night when you may spot flat-headed cats, buffy fish-owls and the reticulated python, the world's longest snake measuring over 30 feet.
Lodging:Sukau Rainforest Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 11
Danum Valley Conservation Area
Transfer to Sukau village and board a bus to the coastal town of Lahad Datu and from there on to Danum Valley Conservation Area, a protected area of rainforest set in the heart of the largest contiguous piece of rainforest left in Southeast Asia. Your lodge is set on the banks of the Danum River, surrounded by forest and with a towering cliff to one side. After settling into your bungalow, relax on the veranda and watch out for rhinoceros hornbills coming in to roost or walk one of the many forest trails in search of Bornean gibbon or maroon langur.
Lodging:Borneo Rainforest Lodge (B, L, D)
Days 12 - 13
Danum Valley Conservation Area
Danum Valley is a wildlife-viewing paradise. In the early morning awake to the ethereal singing of family groups of Bornean gibbon. After breakfast take to the trails looking for long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques and Sunda giant squirrel, among the 100 species of mammal recorded here. You may encounter the endemic Bornean pygmy elephant along the road, and there are more than 300 bird species to look for, including great argus and crested fireback pheasants. Danum Valley is home to a healthy population of orangutans, of which you may get prolonged views. Night brings the thrill of spot-lighting excursions, looking for the fabled clouded leopard, marbled and leopard cats, different species of palm civet, as well as flying squirrels, slow loris, and the bizarre colugo.
Lodging:Borneo Rainforest Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 14
Kota Kinabalu
Depart Danum Valley and drive back to Lahad Datu to catch a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Your hotel is set on a beautiful beach, with views of the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
Lodging:Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 15
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
After a leisurely morning, fly to Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei. The Sultan of Brunei was, until recently, the richest man in the world. The nation's oil wealth is declining somewhat, but Brunei is still an incredibly wealthy country. This afternoon explore the opulent city: take a boat trip around the famous water-village, visit the spectacular mosque and the Brunei museum, and enjoy a photo stop outside the Sultan's spectacular palace.
Lodging:Empire Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 16
International Flights Home
Transfer to the airport for international flights home.
Dates, budget, and number of travelers at your discretion. Call us at 1-800-995-8689 to craft a private journey for you.
Preparing For Your Adventure
At Bushtracks, we believe that being prepared for your adventure makes a world of difference in your ability to savor your travels.
Our experienced team knows just what kind of information you'll find most valuable in your final preparations for the exciting adventure ahead. We'll include much of this in your Expedition Planner and Preparation Package, sent to you before departure. Our knowledgeable staff is on hand to answer any additional questions. So you can know before you go, you'll receive:
Detailed itinerary and typical day on safari. Learn what a "typical day" might look like, even though we all know each day holds a new adventure.
Etiquette and customs highlights. As a guest in any country it is best to be aware of local customs and expected behavior. You'll be privy to critical insights into tactful behavior and overall cultural sensitivities.
Health and insurance information. Bushtracks Expeditions automatically covers you with International Medical Evacuation Insurance and Accident/Sickness Medical Coverage. We'll also send you information on supplemental insurance and a listing of immunization requirements.
Travel tips. Keeping you safe and healthy is our number one priority. We'll help you determine food and water safety, how to avoid sun over-exposure, clothing and packing lists, tips for avoiding motion sickness, local currency exchange suggestions and much more.
Reading lists. To help you prepare for this expedition, we'll send you specially selected field guides and a comprehensive reading list.
Documents. Passport requirements and visa kits with full instructions.
Voucher wallet. Just before departure, you will receive an attractive voucher wallet holding all relevant air tickets and travel vouchers to submit to ground operators for prepaid flights, tours and accommodations.
Contact information. An extensive list of contact information so those at home can be informed on how to reach you.