- Borneo
- Borneos Jungles and Orangutans with Kuala Lumpur City Stay
From the tops of towering Menggaris trees to the depths of its vibrant coral reefs, the island of Borneo is a hotbed of bio-diversity exploding with a multitude of wildlife. On this 9-day adventure, meet the hospitable Bornean Orangutans, sail alongside majestic pygmy elephants and immerse yourself within the enchanting forest that surrounds the dramatic spectacle of Borneo's highest mountain.
Situated within Malaysia's mainland, the vibrant capital of Kuala Lumpur's high-rise skyscrapers and Mogul domes overlook a canopy of banyan trees and aromatic food stalls, which infuse the air with the unmistakable scent of Malaysian spices.
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Borneo.
On arrival you will be met by your guide and will do a short tour of Sandakan before heading to your hotel for the evening.
Breakfast & Lunch
This morning meet Borneo's most famous residents at the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where these endangered creatures are rescued and returned to the ancient lowland forest. Wander wooden walkways to observe these cerebral primates glide between trees. Visit the Sun Bear Conservation Centre to meet the world's smallest bears, before reaching the Rainforest Discovery Centre; exhibiting native flora and fauna, its highlight is undoubtedly a spectacular 80ft canopy walkway allowing a unique perspective of Borneo's diverse avian inhabitants.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, you will visit Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. Labuk Bay mangrove forest covers about 400 acres and offers a safe haven for indigenous wildlife. After visiting the sanctuary begin your journey to Sukau. After lunch, you will embark upon a relaxing late afternoon motorboat cruise to witness the drooped nose proboscis monkeys you enjoy leaping from great heights into the Main River with an amusing belly flop. After dinner, you will take a join a night cruise to see the nocturnal wildlife of the river.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Awake to the atmospheric melody of the surrounding jungle for a motorboat journey along Malaysia's second longest river and centrepiece for Bornean wildlife, the Kinabatangan. Spot prehistoric monitor lizards, wandering pygmy elephants and leopard-like civet cats before reaching the tranquil Kelenanap river bend to spot Rhinoceros Hornbill, extraordinary birds famed for their peculiar beaks. Explore the jungle by foot in search of enchanting wildlife under the watch of macaque colonies. Spend the afternoon at leisure within the sleepy village of Sukau before heading back out onto the river for another chance to observe Borneo's biodiversity.
Breakfast & Lunch
Travel back to Sandakan and visit the spectacular Puu Jih Shih Temple, a Buddhist place of worship with a striking Oriental design. Situated within the town's mountainous surroundings, it boasts stunning panoramic views of Sandakan bay; illuminated by an explosion of red and gold, the temple's magnificent collection of opulent Buddha statues are surrounded by towering pillars and ornate Chinese dragons. After lunch fly to Kota Kinabalu, a bustling city whose Chinese, Kadazan and Malaysian influences are displayed through its architecture and tasted in its night markets.
Breakfast & Lunch
Journey to Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia's highest mountain. Enjoy a guided nature trek of Borneo's dynamic bio-diversity including the unusual Nepenthes rajah, a carnivorous plant that attracts birds and small mammals into its deadly urn shaped trap. Continue to the nearby Poring Hot Springs to relax in the warm baths before traversing a 134ft Menggaris tree canopy walkway, which provides a breathtaking view across one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
Breakfast & Lunch
This morning, discover the home of five tribes at the Mari Mari Cultural Village to gain a fascinating insight into Borneo's indigenous people. Witness the sculpting of blowpipes, learn traditional bamboo cooking, sample the curiously shaped Jala 'net' cake and encounter the Murut people who were the last tribe to renounce headhunting. Following lunch explore Kota Kinabalu; study the captivating exhibits of Sabah Museum, and head to the grand Imago Mall for a unique South East Asian shopping experience. In the evening, wander aromatic night markets to enjoy delicious street eats.
Breakfast
Transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport for your flight to Kuala Lumpur. Upon arrival transfer to your chosen hotel.
Breakfast
Relax and explore the capital of Malaysia at leisure.
Breakfast
Transfer from your chosen hotel to Kuala Lumpur International Airport for your flight back to the UK.
Sorry we cannot book this tour online at the moment.
T Kennard
22 Oct 19The tour guide Vincent very knowledgeable, polite, informative and good fun. Thoroughly enjoyable thank you.
Kim Drury
23 Jun 19All hotels good standard
H Brockhurst
07 Jun 19Our tour guide James was excellent throughout, his experience and knowledge had shined through and made this holiday more special.
C Williams
03 Jun 19James your rep was marvelous, very informative/ knowledgeable about plants, wildlife and local culture. The tour has exceeded my expectations. The lodge was brilliant and the staff superb.
H Probert
03 Jun 19Good tour and the tour guide James was very knowledgeable he was excellent.
M Edwards
03 Jun 19Very good guide very friendly and excellent knowledge a great tour.
Thank you.
G Henderson
23 Apr 19The guide based in Sandakan was exceptional.
J Reynolds
25 Oct 18Douglas our guide in Sandakan was excellent. The whole experience was great from start to finish.
Colette Suzanne Roberts
07 Nov 16The Mari Mari tour and Kinabalu National Park were both very interesting. The botanical gardens were lovely and very interesting. Both were incredibly well organised.
Adriana Defreitas
03 Nov 16Great value for money.
Jayne & Paul Putland
03 Nov 16We enjoyed the holiday very much.
Ann & Peter Macdonald
03 Nov 16We had a good holiday and the trip was good value for money.
The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times or sailing conditions. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however order of events and sightseeing may vary according to the local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
To enter Borneo/Malaysia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least six months after the date you arrive, have at least one blank page, be undamaged and have no pages missing.
A visa is not required for your trip to Borneo. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
Declaration form
You must fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) - to enter Malaysia. You should complete this within 3 days prior to your arrival. The forms need to be filled in, and the registration email/letter should be printed for presentation at the customs gate. See the Malaysian Immigration website including exemption details.
Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your e-ticket and final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves moderate days of walking and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in Borneo is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM). We recommend that you exchange you currency before you leave the UK, however cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in the local currency and credit/debit cards are widely accepted.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card and passport details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card you may be asked for a cash deposit. American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals where these are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £200-£300 per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour.
Tipping
It is at your discretion to tip both your driver and guide. We recommend approximately MYR 6 – MYR 12 (approximately £1 - £2) for your driver and guide each per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency.
Tourist Tax
The government of Malaysia has introduced a compulsory tourism tax of MYR10 (approximately £2) per room per night which will need to be paid locally to your hotel upon checkout.
This is an escorted tour, meaning you will have the services of an English speaking guide throughout your tour ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.
Your stay in Kuala Lumpur is not escorted by a tour guide. You will have a driver for your airport transfers.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to Lodges. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Borneo. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs. If you have booked a triple share, please note that your room will be a twin room with a rollaway bed or sofa bed added. This may limit the floor space in the room.
Asian style food is served on this tour. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours. V
egetarian and Vegan options available, please request prior to departure. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels.
On your arrival, you will be met by a representative from our local agent, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Borneo Trails and Tour: 060138503285 (Mr. Alex) / 060138513285 (Mr. Billy) / 060177021002 (Ms. Wil)
Kuala Lumpur extension - Asia experience travel:
Contact number: 060122039546