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What to expect

Bako National Park

Bako National Park

Explore Borneo's ancient rainforests

Sepilok Sanctuaries

Sepilok Sanctuaries

Meet rescued orangutans & sun bears

Kinabatangan Cruise

Kinabatangan Cruise

Spot orangutans, crocodiles & fireflies

Shangri-La Rasa Ria

Shangri-La Rasa Ria

Unwind with a rainforest beach finale

About this trip...

Embark on a thrilling journey through the lush wilds of Borneo, a destination like no other. This incredible island — shared by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei — is a treasure trove of ancient rainforests, rich cultures, and rare wildlife. On this expertly guided tour, we’ll explore Malaysia’s Borneo highlights, from the vibrant cities of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu to the iconic national parks of Bako and Kinabalu.

This adventure offers the chance to witness Borneo’s famed biodiversity first-hand — including encounters with endangered orangutans and elusive sun bears at leading conservation centres. We’ll cruise along the Kinabatangan River at dawn and dusk, keeping watch for proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, hornbills, and even fireflies lighting up the night sky.

Along the way, immerse yourself in local heritage, taste Sarawak’s unique cuisine, and marvel at landscapes shaped over millions of years. The journey ends in style with time to relax at a five-star rainforest resort where the jungle meets the South China Sea — the perfect setting to unwind or explore even more.

Activity Level: Activity Level Rating
What's this?

What's Included

  • Return flights & transfers
  • Internal flights
  • Airport taxes & charges
  • Twin or double room for sole use with private facilities
  • Solos Board - Breakfast daily, seven lunches and eight dinners
  • Explore Kuching and Sandakan on guided tours
  • Visit the National Parks of Bako and Kinabalu
  • Safari river cruises in search of wildlife
  • Orangutan and Sunbear Conservation Centres
  • Relax in resort on the final day to wind down or explore more
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
  • Fully financially protected

What's extra:

  • National Tourism Tax, MYR 10 per room per night to be paid at the hotel directly.
  • Penang Tourism Tax, MYR 3 per room per night to be paid at the hotel directly.
  • Pahang Sustainability Tourism Tax, MYR 3 per room per night to be paid at the hotel directly.
  • Insurance click here

Itinerary

  • Arrival in Kuching
  • Kuching
  • Bako National Park
  • Kuching to Kota Kinabalu
  • Kinabalu National Park
  • Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
  • Orangutan and Sun Bear Centres with boat cruise
  • River cruise
  • Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu
  • Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort
  • Departure day

What you'll be doing

Day One: Arrival in Kuching

Day One: Arrival in Kuching

Today we arrive into Borneo and transfer to our hotel in Kuching.
 
  • Dinner included
Day Two: Kuching

Day Two: Kuching

Today we start the tour by exploring Kuching. We meet our guide and head to the Chinese History Museum. Chinese pioneers first came to Sarawak as explorers and traders along ancient trade routes as early as the 6th century and now the Chinese make up for the second largest ethnic group in Sarawak. In Kuching’s Chinatown, many of them still pursue their old trades. We stroll along Ewe Hai Street with its traditional Chinese shop houses, many of which have been occupied by the same family for generations. We also visit a Sinseh, a Chinese traditional medicine man, a Pak Tik, and learn how the Chinese tin smiths handcraft all sorts of tin products such as coffee jugs, mailboxes, serving trays and lamps.
 

After this we embark on a culinary tour through Kuching and we will be introduced to Sarawak’s signature dishes. Nothing reflects Sarawak’s unique mixture of cultures better than the great variety of its cuisine. The guide will bring you to a typical coffee shop, tasting some local dishes of our choice, such as famous Sarawak noodles “Kolo Mee”, “Sarawak Laksa” or Malaysian Indian “Roti Canai”. 

Finally, we walk down to Kuching’s Waterfront to board a traditional sampan - a small gable-roofed wooden boat which serves as water taxi, and cross the river to visit a Malay village. We can marvel at the striking contrast of the bustling modern city centre on one side of the river, and the serenity of the typical Malay villages on the other side.

This evening we will gather for our welcome dinner. 

  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Day Three: Bako National Park

Day Three: Bako National Park

After breakfast, we depart Kuching and head to the small Malay village of Bako, where we will venture on a 20 minute boat ride to reach the national park. This is a day with plenty of opportunities to trek through the beautiful park and explore flora and fauna at its best. We get to see various animals, such as wild boars, silver leaf monkeys, macaques or monitor lizards. If we are lucky, we may also spot the odd-nosed proboscis monkeys that can only be found on the island of Borneo.

  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Four: Kuching to Kota Kinabalu

Day Four: Kuching to Kota Kinabalu

Following breakfast this morning, we depart the hotel and head to the airport to catch our flight to Kota Kinabalu, a vibrant coastal city facing the South China Sea, backed by lush rainforests and the majestic Mount Kinabalu—Malaysia's highest peak. Once we arrive, we transfer to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. 

  • Breakfast included

Day Five: Kinabalu National Park

Day Five: Kinabalu National Park

This morning after breakfast, we head to Kinabalu National Park. Kinabalu National Park (also known as Taman Kinabalu) is Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, with over 5,000 plant species. We enjoy a guided walk along one of the forest trails to get a first-hand impression of the Park and its unique flora before visiting the Mountain Garden with its collection of orchids and plants that are unique to Kinabalu.

  • Breakfast & lunch included

Day Six: Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

Day Six: Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan

Today we start a little earlier as we head to the airport for our flight to Sandakan. Once we arrive into Sandakan, we transfer to the Sandakan Memorial Park, which is adjacent to the site of the original Sandakan Prisoner of War (POW) Camp. The park commemorates the sacrifice and suffering endured by both Australian and British soldiers who were held by the Japanese as Prisoners of War between 1942 and 1945. We will then continue on towards Sandakan Town for a tour to learn more about what was once known as Little Hong Kong. Passing by the William Pryer Monument and the Sandakan Liberation Monument. We will then head towards a nearby English Tea House for lunch. 

 
We then journey to the lodge in Sepilok, check-in and have free time.  

  • Breakfast included

Day Seven: Orangutan and Sun Bear Centres with boat cruise

Day Seven: Orangutan and Sun Bear Centres with boat cruise

Today we head to the Sepilok Orangutan Centre which is a pioneering sanctuary dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orphaned and injured orangutans. Established in 1964, it was the first official orangutan rehabilitation project and remains one of the most respected wildlife conservation centres in Southeast Asia. Here the centre has feeding sessions at schedule times and an outdoor nursery for the younger orangutans to develop climbing and social skills in a controlled environment. Located adjacent to the centre is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a sanctuary dedicated to the endangered smallest bear species, the Malayan sun bear. The centre offers a natural forest environment where sun bears can roam, forage, and climb, aiding in their rehabilitation process. We can observe these bears from elevated walkways and viewing platforms, providing a unique opportunity to learn about their behaviour and ecology.
 
After, we will take a boat cruise up to the Lower Kinabatangan River Sanctuary, a wonderful journey of discovery which starts from the waters of Sulu Sea of Sandakan Town through a magnificent scenery of the Mangrove Forest. Late in the afternoon, we experience a cruise to search for wildlife until the sunsets, while enjoying a cup of coffee, and by nightfall, continue the night cruise to witness the fireflies light up the sky. We return to the lodge for dinner and after dinner, again experience the “Jungle at night” at our nature boardwalk to search for birds, snakes, insects and other wildlife with our nature guide.
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Eight: Kinabatangan River Cruise

Day Eight: Kinabatangan River Cruise

Early this morning, we head to the Ox-Bow Lake in search of wildlife, in search of proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, orangutans, crocodiles, hornbills, and experience the early morning river ambience of the longest river of Sabah. These rivers flow through rainforests, floodplains, mangroves, and coastal wetlands, supporting incredible biodiversity and local indigenous communities.

 
We return to the lodge and have the rest of the day to enjoy the natural surroundings before late afternoon, head out on another river cruise to search for even further wildlife. 
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner included

Day Nine: Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu

Day Nine: Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu

Enjoy some free time to relax at the hotel this morning, or explore the surroundings further. We will then take a boat ride to Sandakan and then continue onto the airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu. Once we arrive, we will transfer to our resort where we will spend the next couple of nights at the beach. 

  • Breakfast & lunch included

Day Ten: Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort

Day Ten: Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort

Today we have a free day to spend how we wish in the area where the sea meets the rainforest. The resort is located in acres of untouched natural beauty from a wide sandy beach to the tropocal rainforest. While there, we can relax in resort, on the beach, or head out on one of the many walks, in addition to bird watching or water sports. We could even book onto an experience in Mari Mari Cultural Village.

  • Breakfast & dinner included

Day Eleven: Departure day

Day Eleven: Departure day

This morning we will gather one final time for breakfast before transferring to Kota Kinabalu Airport for our flight home. 

  • Breakfast included

Accommodation

  • Kuching: The Waterfront Four Star
  • Kota Kinabalu: The Luma Four Star
  • Sepilok: My Nature Reserve Three Star
  • Abai: Abai Jungle Lodge
  • Dalit Bay: Shangri - La Risa Ria Resort & Spa Five Star

Dates & Prices

Departure Return Nights Price from Other Info Regional flights
5 Oct 2026 16 Oct 2026 11
£4295
   Please call for regional flights

Essential Information

Transfer time
On day one, from Kuching Airport to the hotel, it is approximately 25 minutes. 
On the final day, the transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport is approximately 1 hour.  
Dress code
In keeping with many Muslim countries,you will find that people in the capital city and other major towns are used to foreigners, and are therefore likely to be more tolerant and more liberal. However, away from the tourist areas, the population is more traditional and rigid so please be sure to cover your shoulders, stomach, hips and bare legs. 
 
It is hot and humid so we suggest that lightweight clothes in natural fibres (linen, silk or cotton) will be most comfortable. T-shirts and shorts are perfectly acceptable, but avoid skimpy or revealing clothes or you will get unwanted attention. Smart casual evening wear is recommended and comfortable shoes for sightseeing. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
Gratuities
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday of $5-7 per day to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.
Passport, Visa & Entry Requirements

Passport validity

If you are visiting Malaysia, your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive. If it is not, you may be refused entry and detained. You may also be refused entry and detained if your passport has any damage or has pages missing.

Visas

British nationals do not need a visa to visit Malaysia. You will normally be given permission to stay for 3 months on arrival. Visas for longer stays or for non-tourist purposes must be obtained from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission before you travel.

Entry

You must fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card to enter Malaysia. You should complete this before you travel as it may be requested at check-in and/or arrival to Malaysia.
Health Requirements
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website. General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad. Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever occur all year round. 
 
There has been an increase in the number of cases of dengue fever, including in Kuala Lumpur. You should take appropriate precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes The states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Sarawak have been declared as rabies infected. You should take precautions to protect yourself if you’re travelling in these areas. UK health authorities have classified Malaysia as having a risk of Zika virus transmission. 
 
For more information and advice visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre website. In recent years, between June and October, there has been a greater incidence of haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia. Haze can cause disruption to local travel, regional air travel, and to government and private schools. Monitor the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) updates and health advisories issued by the Malaysian Department of Environment.
Currency
The Malaysian Ringgit is the currency unit of the Malaysia.
Important Information
You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to take part in the included activities. There are walks on this tour, these will be suited to the group by the local guide and will be done at a leisurely pace. 
 
Note on camera use at Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center: For any camera with zoom lens from 100 to 400mm, video camera or other video recording equipment for personal use are chargeable at RM10.00 per unit. For any camera (fixed-lens-400mm and above) or any film-making equipment are chargeable at RM1,000.00 per unit. Mode of payment is cash only.
Local tourist taxes
  • National Tourism Tax, MYR 10 per room per night to be paid at the hotel directly.
  • Penang Tourism Tax, MYR 3 per room per night to be paid at the hotel directly.
  • Pahang Sustainability Tourism Tax, MYR 3 per room per night to be paid at the hotel directly.

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