Day 1. ARRIVE KOTA KINABALU

Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport, you are met at the arrivals hall by a representative and transferred to your accommodation. Rest of the day at leisure. Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the state of Sabah, is a young city, where the zest of the locals creates a dynamic atmosphere. Maybe head to the night market, wander around the myriad stalls and catch a bite to eat – the range of scents and flavours is scintillating.  Overnight in hotel in Kota Kinabalu.

Day 2. KOTA KINABALU – SANDAKAN – GOMANTONG – SUKAU

Pick-up at the hotel after breakfast for an early flight to Sandakan (MH 3093 ETD 0745 hrs). On arrival, you are met at the arrivals hall by a representative and take an approximately 2.5 hrs journey though rustic countryside studded with villages En-route stop to visit the Gomantong Cave, the largest such system in Sabah. The caves are famed as being one of the most highly sought-after sources of the birds’ nests that are the vital – and very expensive – ingredient of bird’s nest soup, a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. A platform network allows for exploration of the cave system which features the vast 90-metre-high Black Cave and the White Cave, where the most valuable nests are harvested. Later, head deep into the rainforests of northern Borneo to Sukau. Take a short boat transfer to the lodge, have lunch on arrival and check-in. In the late afternoon, enjoy a cruise along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan, whose banks are sheer walls of mangroves echoing to the cries and honks of wildlife as we search for the elusive proboscis monkey. This endangered species stands out from other primates because of its long nose and swollen belly, and can seem almost human-like in appearance.  Overnight in hotel in Sukau. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 3. SUKAU – SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND (145 km – 3hr 15m)

After breakfast at the lodge, depart Sukau at 06:30 hrs to catch the scheduled boat for the one-hour journey to Selingan. Selingan is one of the three isles that make up the Turtle Islands National Park. Check in and enjoy a relaxing lunch in the resort. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. In the evening, when the turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, the park ranger accompanies you to the beach to witness this natural phenomenon. The eggs are then laid down in the hatchery and the hatchings from earlier that morning are then brought to the beach and released into the Sulu Sea.  Overnight in lodge in Selingan Island. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Day 4. SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND – SEPILOK – SANDAKAN – KOTA KINABALU

After breakfast at the resort, catch the 07:00 boat back to Sandakan and transfer on arrival to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre. This refuge had been protecting the endangered species of Bornean orang-utans for half a century. The apes in the shelter have been rescued from the threats of deforestation and are fed and trained to survive before being returned to the wild. A platform allows you to stroll through the centre and observe the primates as they are fed. An informative audiovisual presentation also provides fascinating insights into the lives and habits of these highly intelligent apes. Return to Sandakan for lunch and proceed for a visit to the Central Market, the ‘water village’ of Sim Sim – where houses are built on stilts over the sea – and the beautiful Chinese Buddhist temple of Puu Jih Syh, which sits atop a hill overlooking Sandakan Bay. After lunch, transfer to Sandakan airport for an evening flight (MH3094 ETD1810 hrs) to Kota Kinabalu. Meet and greet upon arrival and transfer to your accommodation.  Overnight in hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 5. KOTA KINABALU – KINABALU PARK – KOTA KINABALU

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading to the majestic Crocker Range to explore the stunning botanical diversity of Mount Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Drive for two hours to reach this natural reserve, passing through remote villages and verdant landscapes. On arrival at the park, join a guided nature walk along one of the many trails and learn about the park’s flora and fauna. A visit to the interpretative centre offers further information about the park. Return to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight in hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Breakfast and lunch included

Day 6. KOTA KINABALU – KUCHING

Transfer to Kota Kinabalu Airport after breakfast at the hotel to catch a flight to Kuching, the capital of the state of Sarawak. Upon arrival at Kuching Airport, you are met at the arrivals hall by a representative and transferred to your 4 Updated 6 Jan 2017 accommodation for check-in. Depart on a city tour of Kuching, popularly known as ‘Cat City’ as in Malay, ‘kucing’ means ‘cat’. Visit the bustling Chinatown, the iconic Cat statue, the colourful Tua Pek Kong Chinese Buddhist temple, the Kuching Civic Centre – where the viewing platform offers panoramic views of the city and surroundings – and visit the Sarawak Museum. Cross the River Sarawak to see the Cat Museum, the futuristic golden-domed State Mosque, the umbrellaroofed State Assembly and the Astana, the former palace of the ‘White Rajahs’ who ruled the Kingdom of Sarawak in the century before WWII. Continue the tour on foot through Old Kuching, visiting the colourful Central Market, where the aroma of spices wafts through the air, and admire relics of the of the White Rajah era, such as the Pavilion, the Square Tower, the Court House, the Charles Brooke Monument and the Post Office. Evening free at leisure. Perhaps head to the Esplanade for a sunset walk or visit the Top Spot Food Court for a taste of the authentic Kuching. Overnight in hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis in Kuching.

Day 7. KUCHING – LACHAU – LUBOK ANTU – BATANG AI (270km – 5.5 hrs)

Take to the road after breakfast for another jungle adventure en route to the Batang Ai Longhouse Resort on the edge of Batang Ai National Park. Drive through varied landscapes of dense virgin rainforests interspersed with isolated tribal villages, paddy fields and pepper and oil palm plantations. The winding road becomes ever more fascinating the deeper into the interior. Break for lunch at Lachau, a small village in the heart of the jungle. Arrive at the Lubok Antu on the banks of Batang Ai Reservoir and board a boat service for a scenic cruise to the resort on the southern shore. Overnight in hotel in Batang Ai. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 8. BATANG AI NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy breakfast at the resort before heading deep into the heart of the Batang Ai National Park ecosystem for a wondrous adventure to meet some of the native tribes that have inhabited since time immemorial this remote and long inaccessible part of the world. Cross the reservoir by motorised native longboat and leaving it through the River Engkari, one of the many tributaries flowing into the lake. Cruise for about an hour until reaching an Iban longhouse nestled on a hill overlooking the river. The Iban people have long lived in the western part of Borneo and had a fearsome reputation for headhunting well into the period of European colonisation. They have maintained their culture and language despite the onset of modernity and many still live in traditional longhouses called rumah panjang. Built with tropical timber, the longhouses usually consist of some 20 units of family dwellings. In the same way as their ancestors did, the residents of the longhouse still spin cotton, weave the pua (traditional cloth) and create intricate carvings from bamboo and wood. Enjoy a short cultural performance by the longhouse residents followed later on by a blowpipe demonstration. Lunch is in a longhouse. After eating, if weather permits, go for a brief jungle walk around the vicinity of the longhouse. Return to the resort via the same route in the late afternoon return. Overnight in hotel in Batang Ai. Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.

Day 9. BATANG AI – KUCHING – DEPARTURE (270km – 5.5 hrs)

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Kuching via the same route as in the outward leg. Stop for lunch at a small roadside town before continuing your journey to Kuching.  Breakfast included.

• Breakfast