Highlights: Embark on a speedboat journey from Bandar Seri Begawan to Bangar on winding river route. Snorkel in Manukan island off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. Visit the “tip of Borneo” to witness the picturesque view of the meeting of South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Stay in a longhouse in Sabah. Walk to a rubber estate and test your skills at rubber tapping.Witness the feeding of the orang utans at the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Cruise up the Kinabatangan River using electric motor in search of some of the 10 primate species including Proboscis monkeys. Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills at the Sukau rainforest eco lodge! More..

ITINERARY:
Tour Code: 11N BOR BET15
Ref No.: BB18

Day 1: Bandar Seri Begawan
Meet upon your arrival at Bandar Seri Begawan Airport. Transfer to hotel for check in.

Day 2: Bandar Seri Begawan - City Tour (B)
Unfolds part of Brunei's history, heritage, religion, culture and daily living of the local people via a city tour. Tour includes a photo stop outside the Royal Palace, Istana Nurul Iman "Palace of Light", which is the biggest residential palace in the world. Also visit the most magnificently built, "The Jame 'Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque" before we take a boat ride through the famous Water Village with a chance to stop of and walk around. Then, we move on to the Brunei Museum, and learn about the birth of Brunei, and see the Borneo ethnographic display, natural history collection, treasures of ceramic, glassware and carpets before heading back to your hotel. Note: For Mosque visits, visitors are requested to dress appropriately, and i.e. Non-revealing clothing”s or shorts above the knees. For Royal Regalia, it is recommended to wear socks as you have to take off your shoes and the marbled floors are very cold.

Day 3: Ulu Temburong National Park (BL)
Embark on a speedboat journey from Bandar Seri Begawan to Bangar on winding river route. Observe the scenic view of the water village, nipah lined rivers and mangrove forests before arriving at Bangar. Take the “temuai” (Iban longboat) and pushes through numerous rapids before getting to the National Park to see a wide variety of insects, flora and fauna. Climb and walk across hanging bridges that are approximately 50 metres off the ground with 360° surround view of the green lush rainforest. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the river before returning to the city and hotel. Please bring rucksack, a change of clothes, sun block lotion, hat, raincoat , camera, binoculars, small towel for the walk, swimsuit, Insect repellent, Some snacks and drinks in case you get hungry and thirsty en-route.

Day 4: Bandar Seri Begawan - Kota Kinabalu  (B)
Transfer to Bandar Seri Begawan Airport for flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu airport, we will transfer you to hotel for overnight.

Day 5: Gaya - Manukan Island (B, Packed Lunch)
After breakfast, transfer to jetty for a half hour boat ride to Gaya Island. Put on your walking shoes and explore one of the jungle trails (45 minutes) among lowland rainforest, mangrove swamp and identify some unique floras and faunas. Transfer five minutes to Manukan Island for picnic lunch. Free at leisure to swim, snorkel or scuba dive before we transfer back to mainland and hotel.

Day 6: Tip of Borneo  (BLD)
Depart from your hotel early morning for a 2 ½ hours journey to Kudat, the land of the last longhouses in Sabah. After lunch, we set off our journey to the “Tip of Borneo’. Witness the picturesque view of South China Sea meeting Sulu Sea, an exceptionally breathtaking scene you would ever come across. Proceed to our overnight guesthouse for check in. If weather permits, cycle (optional) through scenic villages, oil palm estates and farms to Mompilis Village Longhouse. Enjoy fresh coconut drink and witness cultural activities while mingling with the friendly local folks and children. Return to longhouse homestay for shower. Enjoy a traditional-style dinner followed by colourful cultural performance by the local Rungus community. Overnight in twin share room. Mattress and mosquito net are provided.

Day 7: Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site (BLD)
Wake up to the calls of roosters and enjoy the tranquility of the village. Take your breakfast before we trek to the nearby rubber estate. Test your skill at rubber tapping. Drive to Kinabalu Park with lunch en route. Visit the Visitor Centre and Mountain Garden, home to various species of the flowering rhododendrons, carnivorous pitcher plants, orchids, ferns, oak trees and birds. Temperature at the park is around 14 - 25° C. Overnight at twin bedded room.

Day 8: Poring - Sandakan (BLD)
Continue 40 km journey to Poring. Explore tropical rainforest among the jungle trail leading to the treetop canopy walkways suspended 41 meters above the forest floor. Drive for about 4 hours to Sandakan on the east coast. Overnight at Sepilok Nature Resort.

Day 9: Sepilok - Sukau (BLD)
Proceed to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre for video show. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the orang utans at 1000hrs. Continue to Sandakan jetty for boat journey to Sukau Rainforest Lodge along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan with opportunity to view birds and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. Late afternoon take a river cruise using electric motor in search of some of the 10 primate species including Proboscis monkeys as they settle down on treetops along the Kinabatangan River. Return for solar heated hot shower, candle light dinner and slide show conducted by naturalist guide. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. 
Sukau Rainforest Lodge
The 20 rooms lodge was built in 1995 in traditional Malaysian architecture using several Borneo hardwood species. It is built on stilts with a lounge, gift shop, education centre, Hornbill Boardwalk with two elephant passes, three open deck for wildlife viewing, an enclosed garden, a riverside Melapi restaurant, open sun-deck, river jetty. Electricity is supplied by acoustic generator, and hot water by solar heaters. All rooms are twin bedded, with ceiling fan, mosquito netting, attached bathroom, hot shower and toilets. River tours are conducted by boats powered by electric motors and four stoke outboard engines.
Birdlife is especially rich here including eight species of hornbills, kingfishers, egrets, darters, owls, kites, eagles, broadbills, doves, storm storks, herons, hawks, ospreys, falcon, pheasants, parakeets, bee eaters, woodpeckers, pittas, bulbuls, forktails, babblers, warblers, flycatchers, orioles, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters, among others.

Day 10: Sukau (BLD)
Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. A 0600hrs morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to view more birds and wildlife. Proceed to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake for a short jungle walk (if weather permits). Experience the wilderness of Borneo. You have the option to visit our 64 acres Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Program (KWICORP) site to learn about reforestation of degraded riverine reserve. In the afternoon, we proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife. After dinner an optional (at a surcharge) night safari cruise spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Day 11: Sandakan - Kota Kinabalu (BL)
After breakfast, return to Sandakan by boat journey. Have lunch before we proceed for a short tour of Sandakan town including the Australian War Memorial. Transfer to airport for late afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu. On arrival, transfer to hotel for check in.

Day 12: Departure (B)
Departure transfer to airport

Tour Cost:

USD 1700/-per person on double

USD 1300/-per child

USD 1640/-per person on triple

USD 515/-Single room supplement

Rates valid till 31st March'2011

Includes:
Tours and transfers, accommodation and meals as specified, entrance fees and English speaking guide.

Itineraries:

5 Days River and Rainforest Experience

7 Days Sabah Wildlife Safari

8 Days Explore Sabah

9 Days Botanical and Wildlife Tour

12 Days Borneo Ultimate Experience

12 Days Borneo Magic