Borneo Adventure & Luxury Bali Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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This suggested holiday itinerary is a dream for nature lovers who want their holiday to take in some remarkable wildlife in its natural habitat followed by beach-time at a beautiful luxury resort.

The holiday brings together the astonishing wildlife of Malaysian Borneo with the glorious beaches and charming culture of Bali. Like Bali itself, a large part of Borneo falls within Indonesia but it is actually easier to combine Bali with Malaysian Borneo as there are direct flights from Kota Kinabalu.

This trip takes in The Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley Conservation Area in Borneo where you’ll find a diversity of mammals, birds and reptiles in an exceptionally beautiful natural setting. Explore jungle trails and canopy walkways while keeping watch for elephants, orangutans and maybe even the elusive Clouded Leopard. You’ll also have time to explore Kota Kinabalu and its national park before flying directly to Bali and the wonderful Belmond Jimbaran Bali resort.

Highlights include

Taking a unique guided walk through “KL”. Taste regional street-food like the locals and get a feel for the influences that have shaped this diverse and intriguing city.
Boating down the Kinabatangan River spotting elephants, orangutans and gibbons.
Listening to the hum of the jungle in one of Malaysia’s absolute best wildlife spots, Danum Valley Conservation Area.
Exploring the beautiful and varied flora and fauna in Mount Kinabalu National Park.
Sampling freshly caught seafood as the sun sets on Jimbaran Bay in Bali.

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 Kuala Lumpur.

Days 2&3 Kuala Lumpur

There will be plenty of time to rest and acclimatise in KL before your Borneo adventure. Your hotel, The Majestic, has a peaceful orchid conservatory where you can take afternoon tea; it also has a lovely swimming pool and a relaxing spa. Before you leave the city you can take a guided walking tour of its many highlights with chance to a sample some of the famous amazing street food.

Days 4&5 Kinabatangan River

There are several direct flights per day from KL to Sandakan and we recommend an early one so you can get straight to the heart of the rainforest today! In this region you'll explore the Kinabatangan River where the surrounding jungle is alive with primates and birds. During guided nocturnal treks, from the comfort of your hotel deck and whilst cruising along the river itself there are many opportunities to spot wildlife. We usually recommend splitting your stay in this region between Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge and Abai Jungle Lodge as the orangutans sometime congregate at one rather than the other and this will give you the best chance of seeing them. In addition to the famous Bornean orangutan, you're also likely to see proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants during your stay.

Days 6&7 Danum Valley

You’ll travel onward today to the Danum Valley Conservation Area, one of the world’s most complex ecosystems. This is a dense jungle packed with fascinating wildlife including mammals, reptiles and an array of amazing birds. Explore extensive canopy walkways and jungle trails with your guide via waterfalls and natural Jacuzzi pools, taking in amazing views and listening to the hum of wildlife. In the evening there's an exciting 4WD safari drive to try and spot nocturnal animals such as sambar deer and civet cats as well as insects and frogs.

Days 8 & 9 Kota Kinabalu

It’s just a short 50-minute flight from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu where there will be time to explore the city at your leisure and to take a guided tour of Kinabalu National Park.

Accommodation here is on the waterfront in the city itself, however if you would prefer to stay in one of the luxury beach resorts very close to the city your travel expert will be happy to tailor your itinerary accordingly.

An evening flight on day 9 takes you directly from Kota Kinabalu to Bali. On arrival you’ll transfer to Jimbaran Bay and check in at The Belmond Jimbaran Puri Bali.

Days 10-13 Jimbaran, Bali

Having arrived on the island late on day 9, you now have 4 full days to enjoy the beautiful location, the fine hotel and the great atmosphere that Bali exudes. There are activities on offer if you want to explore the island in-depth, including paddy-field cycle rides, sunset temple tours and Balinese cookery classes but this is also the perfect place to sit on the beach and read, enjoy famously delicious seafood and completely unwind. If time permits we recommend extending your time in Bali and incorporating a stay in cultural Ubud; your travel expert will plan your holiday according to your personal timeframe, style and interests.

Day 14 Fly Home

Depart Bali 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.

Belmond Jimbaran Puri, Jimbaran

Luxurious beach-side villas on the pristine sands of Jimbaran Bay

Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley Conservation Area

Located in one of the country's most bio diverse and unique areas with its own canopy walkway.

Hyatt Regency , Kota Kinabalu

Great quality accommodation with an enviable position on Kota Kinabalu's waterfront.

Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge, Kinabatangan River

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

The Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur

A grand old colonial style building with plenty of atmosphere, wonderful service and a fantastic location in the heart of KL.

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...

Cycling tours in Bali, Ubud

Explore Bali's mountains, paddy fields and rivers by pedal power.

Danum Valley Birdwatching, Danum Valley Conservation Area

Being a centre for conservation and ecological research, Danum Valley is one of the best places for bird-watching in Malaysian Borneo.

Danum Valley Coffin Cliff Trek, Danum Valley Conservation Area

Trekking through 130 million year old virgin rainforest, visit the recently discovered coffin cliff of the ancient tribes.

Danum Valley Elephants, Danum Valley Conservation Area

Families of elephants live in the Danum Valley and sometimes make an appearance – try to spot them during your stay.

Danum Valley Natural Jacuzzi , Danum Valley Conservation Area

Enjoy a refreshing dip in Danum's natural Jacuzzi pool.

Danum Valley Night Walk, Danum Valley Conservation Area

See the nocturnal wildlife of the Danum Valley including endangered species such as slow lorises and the clouded leopard.

Danum Valley Trekking, Danum Valley Conservation Area

Explore the 130 million year old virgin rainforest of Danum Valley, spot an array of wildlife and absorb the natural surroundings.

Danum Valley Tubing , Danum Valley Conservation Area

Tubing through the slow moving currents of Danum's river.

Explore the cultural capital of Bali, Ubud, Ubud

Explore Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali, with its famous markets, monkey forest, temples, great selection of restaurants and its traditional Balinese architecture.

Kinabalu Park , Kota Kinabalu

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

Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari, Kinabatangan River

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

Snorkelling and Diving in Bali, Jimbaran

Experience Bali's world-class diving and snorkelling spots from some truly beautiful beaches.

For a once-in-a-lifetime adventure consider adding a day or two to your holiday and climbing Mount Kinabalu. The climb takes you more than 4,000 metres above sea level to reach the summit and you’ll be assisted by a park ranger.

Laban Rata Guest House, Mount Kinabalu

Laban Rata offers lodgings with spectacular views and welcoming warm meals on your way up Mount Kinabalu.

If time permits, consider extending your holiday to include a stay in Ubud, Bali.

Komaneka at Bisma, Ubud

Beautiful resort with outstanding views of Ubud's Campuchan River Valley and its sloping rice paddy fields.

Customer Feedback

From the very first contact last autumn when my wife and I started to plan, we received prompt advice and answers to our many questions from Harriet. Our final itinerary was quite complex, but went without a hitch and we had a most enjoyable and interesting experience.

- Tony Mackersie

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.

Borneo Holiday Ideas