Borneo Highlights and Langkawi beach Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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This suggested holiday takes in eight days in Malaysian Borneo staying in simple lodges in jungles and national parks. The Borneo adventure is followed by five days in Langkawi off the west coast of "Peninsular" Malaysia where you'll stay in a lovely boutique-style beach hotel. An itinerary along these lines is a great way to ensure good beach weather at the certain times of the year as Langkawi has totally opposite seasons to those on the islands off Borneo. This holiday is also an excellent way to take in the highlights of two contrasting parts of Malaysia.

Highlights include

Get up close to orangutans in Sepilok.
Marvel at the incredible scenery and spot monkeys at Bako National Park.
Look for pygmy elephants, 300 bird species and 10 species of primate along the Kinabatangan.
Take guided noctural jungle tours and listen to the hum of the jungle after dark.
Explore the majestic Mulu caves - the longest cave chamber in the world.
Take in the diverse culture, cuisine and architecture of Kuching.
Explore the jungle and spot wildlife along the Kinabatangan river.
Relax on the sandy beaches of beautiful Langkawi.

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

Day 1 Depart the UK

Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Sandakan in Malaysia (usually via Kuala Lumpur).

Days 2 & 3 Sepilok

On arrival you’ll transfer straight into the Bornean jungle for a two night stay at Sepilok Nature Resort. The Kabili-Sepilok Forest is renowned for its orchids, ancient trees, and of course, its orangutan population and there will be plenty of time for exploration.

During your time here there will be a chance to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

Days 4 & 5 Kinabatangan River

From Sepilok you’ll depart on a two-hour journey to the Kinabatangan River, passing local villages. On arrival, after lunch there will be time to cruise up the river searching for wildlife; the area is known for elephants, hornbills, gibbons and many species of bird.

Enjoy a night-time guided nature walk and the following day there will be an exciting river-boat cruise to take in the scenery of Pitas oxbow lake, looking out for pygmy elephants on the journey upstream.

Days 6 & 7 Mulu National Park

A short flight will take you to Mulu National Park (there is an option to break the journey for a night or two in Kota Kinabalu which can be discussed with your travel expert). The park HQ is really close to the airport so you can check in and get involved in some of the nearby activities straight away, visit the treetop tower for views across the canopy or take a short stroll along the trails.

Prepare to be blown away by the sheer size of the cave chambers in Mulu, they are the largest in the world. During your stay there will be the chance to take a guided walk (around 3km) to Lang Cave where you can explore the splendid stalactites and stalagmites before continuing to Deer Cave. Deer Cave is famous for its bat colony who depart the cave on mass as dusk. In fact the evening brings the chance to take a guided night-time trek keeping watch for nocturnal animals.

The second day in Mulu will include a longboat ride along the Melinau River to Wind Cave, and a trip to Asia’s longest cave, Clearwater Cave. Here you’ll be transported along its subterranean river by boat.

Days 8-10 Kuching

Another quick hop will bring you to the city of Kuching where your local driver will meet you for the short transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax in your hotel

During your time in Kuching your guide will take you on a city stroll to learn about local history and to try some of the delicious regional food. Highlights of the day include viewing the Mughal-style pink State mosque and taking a sunset cruise along the Sarawak River.

The next day you can opt to explore either Bako National Park or the Kuching Wetlands (alternatively, you could add an extra day here and explore both). Bako is a pristine rainforest just an hour away from the city with wildlife, diverse plant life, waterfalls, beaches and hiking trails. The Kuching Wetlands offers the chance to look for Irrawaddy dolphins in their natural habitat. The wetlands are also home to a variety of birds, fish and crocodile.

Days 11-14 Langkawi

Today you fly from Kuching to Langkawi (either via Penang or Kuala Lumpur where a stop can be added if you wish). With turquoise seas and pristine beaches against a verdant rainforest backdrop, the island of Langkawi is the ideal place for an island escape. Your time here is free to flop on the beach but if you’d prefer more to do then there are rainforest and marine adventures we can arrange. You could even take a day or overnight trip to idyllic Koh Lipe in Thailand (1 hour away by speedboat).

Day 15 Fly Home

Depart Langkawi for your flight back to UK.

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, two-week holidays range from roughly £2,500 to £8,000 per adult, with an average price of £3,300. We also offer substantial child and seasonal discounts.

Fill in our Quote Request form to get your quick, no-obligations proposal.

As every holiday is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 for an inclusive, personalised quotation for your preferred dates or use the quote request form below...

Inclusions

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include.

International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
Accommodation as described
Privately guided tours and transfers
Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding).
Meals as described,
24 hour in-country backup whilst away
Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

Abai Jungle Lodge, Kinabatangan River

A fantastic jungle experience. Stay in wooden chalets on stilts and experience wildlife aside the Kinabatangan River. Just 1.5 hours from Sandakan.

Casa Del Mar , Langkawi

A relaxed and homely beach resort on the north-west coastline of Langkawi, within walking distance to nearby restaurants.

Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge, Kinabatangan River

Simple, sustainable accommodation perfectly located as a base for exploring the wildlife of the Kinabatangan.

Mulu Park HQ, Gunung Mulu National Park

A comfortable complex of long houses and bungalows in Mulu National Park. A relaxing place to stay whilst experiencing Borneoâs natural riches.

Ranee Kuching, Kuching

A boutique hotel situated in the heart of old town, Kuching, The Ranee is a renovated 19th century shop converted into a modern and stylish hotel.

Sepilok Nature Resort, Kabili-Sepilok Forest , Sepilok

In the Kabili-Sepilok Jungle, lodge style accommodation, good food, and a very special atmosphere.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...

Bako National Park, Bako National Park

A must-see if you wish to experience the wildlife of Borneo without venturing too far from civilisation.

Bako National Park Birdwatching, Bako National Park

Spot exotic bird species at one of Borneo's oldest National Parks. From hornbills to large-billed flycatchers – there's so many to see.

Explore Gomantong Caves, Kinabatangan River

Whilst Mulu's great caves may be more famous, Sabah's Gomantong Caves offer an alternative; with huge chasms and wildlife inside.

Explore Mulu's Deer and Lang Caves, Gunung Mulu National Park

Explore one of the world' biggest famous caves first-hand on a walk through the Deer and Lang Caves.

Gunung Mulu National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park

Sarawaks largest national park with excellent wildlife and geology.

Irrawaddy Dolphin Cruise, Kuching

A boat cruise from the Damai Peninsula that will take you in search of the Irrawaddy (or snub fin) Dolphins.

Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari, Kinabatangan River

One of South East Asia's best wildlife viewing locations, a great place to see Orangutans in the wild.

Kuching City Tour, Kuching

A chance to explore the highlights of Sarawak state's capital city: the Sarawak Museum, and colonial icons of the British occupation.

Orang Utan and Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Sepilok

See Orang Utans and Sun Bears close up at Sepilok's rehabilitation and conservation centre.

Pitas Oxbow Lake, Kinabatangan River

Journey through the Pitas Oxbow Lake and absorb Borneo's natural wealth by boat.

Wind and Clearwater Caves, Gunung Mulu National Park

Cruising by longboat, discover the gigantic rock passages of the underworld in the famous Gurung Mulu National Park.

Stop in Penang en route from Kuching to Langkawi and experience Georgetown's fascinating heritage. Taste delicious street-food and marvel at the varied architecture alongside people plying old-time crafts.

23 Love Lane, Penang

An old historic family residence offering comfortable accommodation imbued with local culture.

Call in at Kota Kinabalu, either as the first call on your holiday or between Kinabatangan and Mulu. Explore the city itself and the flora and fauna of Mount Kinabalu National Park and if you're feeling super fit you could even climb Mount Kinabalu!

Kinabalu Park , Kota Kinabalu

Visit Kinabalu Park - Malaysia's first World Heritage Site.

Customer Feedback

We all remarked on how well tourism blended in to the local community in a positive way. At no point did we ever feel exploited or taken advantage of. We felt privileged to visit the Penan tribe in Mulu and enjoyed the market there without any pressure to spend money. Visiting Abai village and planting the trees was also a great experience for all ages of our party. Again, a privilege.

- Kay Lambert, Malaysia, Aug 14

About: Family Borneo Highlights

Customer Protection

The air holiday packages shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9324. Please see our booking conditions for more information.

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