Day 1  Kuching (D)
Arrival Kuching, check in to hotel. Those joining in Borneo will be met at the hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner to meet your fellow travellers and try some of the wonderful local dishes you will be eating along the way.

Day 2  Kuching (B)
Take a sleep-in to recover from your journey. We take today at a slower pace while you acclimatise. Later in the morning we take a walking orientation of one of the most beautiful of South East Asia’s cities. Kuching has a magnificent waterfront. Time to acclimatise and explore.

Day 3  Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, bako national park (B)
Depart for the Semenggoh Orang Utan Centre. Here wild orphaned or injured Orang Utan are treated and taught the skills needed to return to the wild. Transfer to Bako Bazzar where we board our longboat that will take us along the coast and up into the mangrove swamps to Bako National Park. Bako National Park is situated on the coast overlooking the South China Sea, with maginificent views of Mt Santubong. It is home to the Proboscis monkey, the ‘long nose of Borneo’. This highly endangered species is believed to number only about 1,000, making it one of the most rare monkeys in the world and found only in Borneo. We check into our accommodation and take a walk to try to spot this rare monkey as they come down into the mangroves to feed. Accommodation is only two minutes from the beach where you can sit and watch the magnificent sunsets. Overnight cabins.

Day 4  Bako National Park
We take an optional trek to explore the park. There are several trails, but we recommend joining your guide on the waterfall trail. On the way, we will stop to see numerous varieties of pitcher plants and wild orchids (depending on time of year). After a relaxing swim at the waterfall there is a further 20-minute walk to the beach and a boat journey along the coast. We stop off at a secluded beach to swim before returning to the park headquarters. In the evening, we take a night walk into the jungle to see the phosphorous forest: trees and undergrowth which illuminate, especially after rain. Overnight cabins.

Day 5  Bako National Park, flight to Miri
Another opportunity to see the monkeys before retuning to Bako Bazaar, then transferring to Kuching airport for the flight to Miri near the Brunei border. This large town serves as a supply town to the oil industry and many of Brunei’s oil workers choose to reside here because of the more relaxed lifestyle. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon orientation and visit to the Tamu (ethnic market).

Day 6  Freedom day Miri (B)
An opportunity to stock up on necessities for your jungle excursion, and to catch up on laundry, emails and any extra bits you need before we head into the jungle. Overnight hotel.

Day 7  Mulu National Park (B)
Transfer to the airport for the short flight over the jungle to Mulu National Park. Transfer to our accommodation. Accommodation here is air-conditioned with en-suites and very comfortable. In the afternoon we visit the Deer and Lang Caves, which is a 3 km comfortable plank walk to the caves. After visiting the caves those who wish may wait for the bat exodus from the observation point outside the cave and return to the cabins late evening. Overnight Mulu.

Day 8  Mulu to Camp 5 (BLD)
Our boat meets us and takes us up-river, stopping at Clearwater and Wind Cave along the way. Our journey can take one hour or three, depending on the level of the water and how much pushing of the longboat we must do! At the end of the boat ride, we walk on a well-maintained three-hour flat trail to Camp 5. Remember, you must carry all your luggage or be prepared to hire a porter (in advance).
Overnight Camp 5.

Day 9  Mt Api optional climb (BLD)
An option today for those who wish to climb the Pinnacles of Mt Api, which is a steep and strenuous climb to the limestone pinnacles. Those who prefer can spend the afternoon resting and enjoying the magnificent Melinau Gorge, bird and wildlife watching and local walks. Overnight camp 5.

Day 10  headhunter trail, longhouse experience BLD)
A four-hour trek over a track that is a little rough and lined with tree roots, but otherwise flat. (Again, you must carry your own gear or hire a porter in advance). We then travel by longboat down river through the National Park to Camp Mentowai, where we check out of the park, continuing down river to the longhouse. Arrival at longhouse. Explore the longhouse and gain an introduction to and understanding of traditional longhouse life. Overnight longhouse.

Day 11  Limbang (B)
Transfer by longboat to Limbang, about an hour ride from Medamit Longhouse. Limbang is a small but significant village situated between the ‘M’-shaped bits of land that make up Brunei. It services local longhouses, logging camp communities and shoppers from nearby Brunei. Check in to hotel, orientation. Rest of day free.

Day 12  Freedom day Limbang (B)
Freedom day to visit the markets and museum and catch up on laundry.

Day 13  Into the heart of Borneo: visit the semi-nomadic Penan (BLD)
Today we board a 4WD vehicle for a 3- to 4-hour drive on somewhat rough and muddy logging tracks (depending on weather) until we come to Long Napir. Long Napir is home to two longhouse communities: the Kelabit, and 40-minutes walk further into the jungle the Penan. This longhouse community is made up of the once nomadic people. If you have done much reading about the plight of the Penan, you will have some knowledge of a wonderful gentle people who are at one with the forest. In the recent past they have been nomadic, living off the fruits of the jungle; they are not rice eaters their staple diet is the sago palm. They are traditionally known for their elongated earlobes. This afternoon, we explore the village and meet some of the locals. We are sponsoring a couple of projects here and part of your payment will go toward these. (Current projects are water pipes for clean drinking water and fire extinguishers.) Overnight in government guesthouse.

Day 14  Picnic with the Penan: Traditions, Myths and legends (BLD)
An opportunity to learn about the Penan weaving, crafts and local jungle produce used for food and medicine. They say cutting down the Borneo rainforest is like burning a library without reading the books; these people are the librarians. Take a walk to a nearby river where we picnic with our hosts, hear stories of local Penan, their traditions, myths and legends, have a try with their blow pipes. Overnight in government guesthouse.

Day 15 farewell the penan, return to limbang (B)
We say goodbye to our hosts, always an emotional experience, and head back to the city. Culture shock always hits people more when they return to so-called ‘civilisation’, but tonight we spend in Limbang Village in a more comfortable bed in air-conditioning and with hot showers.

Day 16  Limbang to Kuala Penyu (BD)
We travel by boat to Labuan Island. This is a duty free port for the locals. We then travel by ferry to Menombok and on to Kuala Penyu. At Kuala Penyu we stay at the beach chalets of local people, giving us a chance to relax, swim and take a rest from your jungle excursions. We take the short trip into town for an evening of local food at an outdoor restaurant. Overnight Kuala Penyu.

Day 17  Kuala Penyu (BLD)
A freedom day to relax and swim at the chalets of Kuala Penyu.

Day 18  kota Kinabalu (BD)
Transfer to Kota Kinabalu to our overnight homestay. An opportunity to catch up on laundry and explore the city. Tonight a wonderful Malay dinner with our hosts.

Day 19  Kota Kinabalu (B)
Freedom day in Kota Kinabalu for any last minute shopping and a chance to wind down before your journey home, or onward travel to Mt Kinabalu or Turtle Islands and Kinabatangan River.

Day 20  Departure to airport or onward travel (B)
Transfer to the airport for outbound flights or onward travel.

LOCATION
Kuching, Sarawak to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

DATES:
Fully Escorted:
01 October 2011

DURATION:
20 days / 19 nights
Small Group Fully Escorted
NZ$5995.00 (Minimum 6 Travellers)
Single Supplement NZ$567.00

INCLUDED

• 19 x Breakfast
• 13 x Lunch
• 13 x Dinner
• Transport by vehicle, plane, longboats and 4WD
• All entrances fees
• Accommodation in hotels, park chalets and camps, simple guest houses, longhouses and government rest house
• Meals as indicated

Key terms and conditions
This fully escorted tour is based on twin share accommodation but group share is necessary at longhouses and some National Parks. Single Supplement is available in limited areas. Because of the nature of the tour and its remote locations, the itinerary may be subject to change without notice. While every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided, our company reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as indicated by circumstances and conditions beyond our control.



Join this trip with

• Mount Kinabalu summit climb (subject to availability)
• Turtle Islands tours
• Sepilock Orang Utan Centre
• Kinabatangan River Safari
• Diving tours
• Beach breaks
• Penisular Malaysia tours or beach breaks