Sensational Borneo

Arrive in Kota Kinabalu the capital of Sabah, Borneo and check-in to your hotel for the next two nights. Your resort is set in 25 acres of beautifully-landscaped gardens with coastal views.

Discover the rich cultural diversity of Borneo’s ethnic groups and their traditional lifestyle. Witness tribes cooking with bamboo, making ropes from tree bark and using local plants to create refreshing drinks.

Walk through the cultural village and discover the unique architecture of each tribal house, set against the serene jungle environment. A traditional music and dance performance provides a complete cultural immersion. Lunch included today.

Followed by an orientation drive around the city, taking in key sights and landmarks. Our Welcome Dinner at our resort tonight with traditional dishes, dances and a fire show.

This morning travel across the scenic Crocker Range to the quaint town of Keningau, offering a glimpse into the region’s rural charm and natural beauty. Visit the Keningau Handicraft Centre and try your hand at Batik painting and rattan weaving .

Then check-in to your hotel in Keningau for two nights. Dinner included tonight.

In Tenom, Sabah Agricultural Park is a paradise for plant lovers filled with all the heliconias, gingers, bougainvillea and exotic trees you could dream about.

There are 21 gardens including the Native Orchid Centre with 350 species of orchids, many rare and endangered. The ‘living crop’ museum has 400 species of plants and an Evolution Garden where you can see the South American giant water lily. Carnivorous Pitcher plants flourish here too. It serves as both a conservation centre and an educational hub for agricultural studies. Lunch included today. Dinner included tonight.

Travel from Keningau to the scenic town of Kundasang, famously known as the ‘New Zealand of Borneo’, due to its rolling green pastures, cool mist, and the dramatic backdrop.

Then we head to the Perkasa Mt Kinabalu, with stunning views of the surrounding nature and the highest mountain in Malaysia at 4095m (13431 feet).

Check-in to your hotel for the next three nights. Dinner included tonight.

Travel to UNESCO World Heritage site Kinabalu Park this morning, known as a hot spot of plant biodiversity and stunning landscapes. There are 711 species of orchids, 27 species of rhododendrons, 9 species of carnivorous Nepenthes, 45 species of wild gingers just to name a few.

Kinabalu is also home to over half of Borneo’s 518 bird species, including the Rhinoceros Hornbills and Mountain Blackbird.

Afternoon visit to the Kundasang War Memorial, a poignant site set up in honour of the Australian and British prisoners of war who died during the infamous death marches from Sandakan to Ranau during World War II, as well as the local people who suffered during the war.

Wander through the four beautifully landscaped gardens, each representing the different nationalities involved, and reflect on the historical significance of this serene place. Dinner included tonight.

You will travel to Poring this morning, a renowned destination for nature enthusiasts. Explore the Lowland Dipterocarp Forest, a lush, tropical rainforest home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal species. Take a leisurely walk through the forest, enjoying the sights and sounds of this vibrant ecosystem.

Then we are on the hunt to find a Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, in bloom. The Rafflesia is a rare and fascinating plant, known for its enormous size and unique lifecycle. Dinner included tonight.

We’re leaving Kundasang today for the coastal city of Sandakan. Continue your journey to the Kinabatangan River is one of the most biodiverse areas in Sabah, offering a unique opportunity to spot a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitat.

Kinabatangan is one of two places in the world where you may encounter up to 10 different primate species. Lunch included today.

Check-in to our lodge on the riverbank with dinner included tonight. Head out for an evening boat cruise in search of nocturnal wildlife.

Early morning cruise on the Kinabatangan River. The river’s morning ambiance is magical, with mist rising over the water and animals stirring in the dawn light.

Keep your eyes open for proboscis monkeys, orangutans, pygmy elephants and an array of bird species. Kinabatangan is home to 198 species of birds notably 8 species of hornbills. Lunch included today.

Return to the Kinabatangan River in the evening for the opportunity to see more nocturnal wildlife.

Visit the beautifully landscaped Sandakan Memorial Park, built on the site of the notorious POW camp where thousands of Australian and British POW’s died in WWII. Reflect on the history and the resilience of those who endured this hardship.

Continue to Agnes Keith’s House, a museum dedicated to the life and works of the famous American author who lived in Sandakan.

Early morning visit to the world famous Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, where you’ll have the chance to meet orphaned orangutans in their natural habitat. Watch these magnificent creatures during feeding times and learn about the sanctuary’s rehabilitation efforts.

Then, see rescued sun bears at the wonderful Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre, dedicated to the protection and conservation of the world’s smallest bear species. Observe the sun bears foraging, climbing and sunning themselves in the forest.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. Check-in to your resort by the ocean for the next two nights.

The day is yours to explore the luxury Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort where the rainforest meets the sea.

Enjoy the resort facilities, take a walk along the white sandy beach or join an optional hike with a resident Naturalist in the Dalit Nature Reserve.

Share memories and pictures at our Farewell Dinner tonight.

Late check-out has been arranged today.