ULTIMATE BORNEO

You will be met on your arrival in Kuching and be transferred to the Hilton, the perfect place to absorb the atmosphere of this remarkable riverside city.

Timeless Chinese temples, a colourful bazaar selling Bornean tribal wood carvings and authentic artefacts, plus myriad local markets and stalls, are all at your disposal. Likewise, the museums – especially Sarawak Museum – and the sampan river taxis that will take you across the river to visit small Malay villages.

Stay: Two nights in a Deluxe City View Room at the Hilton Kuching – breakfast included

Today you will depart for Batang Ai, passing through scenic countryside consisting of quaint little towns, villages and rice fields. You’ll stop by the charming market town of Serian, a pepper farm, and the Chinese village of Lachau for lunch, before arriving on the shores of beautiful Batang Ai Lake. You’ll take a traditional longboat across the lake to visit an authentic Iban longhouse, where you’ll be welcomed by the residents. Over the next two days enjoy everything from a blowpipe demonstration to a lesson in the traditional uses of plants in Iban culture.

Stay: Two nights in the longhouse common room at UKOM Longhouse – all meals included

After breakfast at the longhouse, a river and road journey takes you back to Kuching to prepare for the next stage of your trip.

Stay: One night in a Deluxe City View Room at Hilton Kuching – breakfast included

Prepare to be stunned. A flight from Kuching lands you in Mulu, close to the UNESCO-listed national park. Here you’ll ‘walk the plank’ – a wooden causeway that stretches through riverine and lowland limestone forests to Lang’s Cave, famous for its stalagmites and stalactites.

Next comes Deer Cave, featuring an arched gateway large enough to span St Paul’s Cathedral. The cave itself is vast with a moonscape interior that’s home to an estimated two million bats – all of whom come pouring out of the cave at sunset, on their way to their hunting grounds.

The next day your longboat lands you at Wind Cave with its King’s Chamber full of curious lace-like stalagmites. Nearby is Clearwater Cave featuring specially-adapted flora like orchids, carnivorous pitcher plants and photo-sensitive needle-pointed algae. You can also swim here in the shade of towering rainforest trees.

Stay: Two nights in a Deluxe Room at Mulu Marriott Resort – breakfast and lunch included

Time for a break. A short flight will take you to Kota Kinabula and on to Sandakan. Your luxury hotel overlooks the picturesque harbour and puts you in the heart of town, close to the waterfront and promenade.

Stay: One night in a Kinabalu Mountain View Room at the Shangri La Tanjung Aru – breakfast included

Now you have another chance to say hello to one of the relatives at the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Sanctuary. You can also stroll through the Tropical Lowland Dipterocarp Forest of Borneo and visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, before taking a wildlife-spotting voyage along Kinabatangan River to Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Here you’ll be surrounded by natural rainforest; the unspoiled habitat of orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, Borneo pygmy elephants and huge numbers of exotic birds. Safaris to the oxbow lake will reveal even more wildlife, whilst a night safari will show you nocturnal animals, including river crocodiles.

Stay: Two nights in a Borneo Villa at Sukau Rainforest Lodge – all meals and activities included

Your morning is spent on a fascinating overland trip to the Gomantong Caves – where the edible nests for Chinese bird’s nest soup are gathered – and on to Lahad Datu. Now you enter the Danum Valley and its huge area of virgin rainforest. For the next few days you’ll experience the thrills of tracking Borneo’s unique wildlife.

You’ll cross the forest canopy on a soaring suspension bridge and embark on night safaris to spot some of the country’s interesting nocturnal creatures. Knowledgeable guides will take you along secret jungle paths and show you the flora and fauna of the deep rainforest; you can go on night walk adventures, visit an ancient cliff face burial site and bathe in a crystal clear rock pool surrounded by jungle.

Stay: Three nights in a Deluxe River View Room at Borneo Rain Forest Lodge – all meals and activities included

After roaming through the rainforest in search of Borneo’s mammals, it’s time to discover the country’s marine creatures off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. A short boat ride from the Jesselton Marina Jetty will sail you over to Gaya Island Resort – a glamorous speck of complete perfection surrounded by the Tunky Abdul Rahman Marine Park.

As well as excellent diving, snorkelling, bathing and lazing on an immaculate beach, your resort will also offer you the opportunity for land adventures; it stands close to an ancient rainforest with Mount Kinabalu on the horizon.

Stay: Three nights in a Hillside Superior Villa at Bungaraya Island Resort – breakfast included

After a leisurely morning – time for a final swim and a stroll along the perfect beach – you’ll sail over to Kota Kinabalu to catch a plane to Kuala Lumpur and your connecting flight back home.