Borneo, the world's third largest island, is a land of immense tropical jungles, wildlife, and fascinating tribal peoples with enduring, ancient customs. It is a nature playground and an ideal place to take children of all ages for a learning adventure.
Discover the historic, British colonial-era town of Kuching (Kucing), once the seat of Asia's only White Rajah and capital of Malaysia's Sarawak State, before heading upriver for an encounter with the Iban tribe.
The Iban traditionally live in a longhouse - like a block of flats laid on its side and measured by the number of doors that lead off from the communal gallery. Each door represents a family home, while the gallery is the whole village's playground and work place where children play, men repair their fishing nets, and ceremonies are held.
After spending some days sharing the life of the Iban at one of their longhouses, expelling the forests and farmlands that surround them, and going fishing on the rivers to learn traditional net fishing techniques, return to Kuching and fly to Malaysia's other Borneo state of Sabah, renowned for its rich wildlife. Visit an orang-utan rehabilitation project to meet the charismatic wild man of the forest, be serenaded by proboscis monkeys and they crash through the branches above your head, and listen for the whooping noise of hornbills in flight. You can also climb high into the rainforest canopy to experience life at the top of the trees. Many species that live here never touch the ground. Peeling back you eyes and ears, find extraordinary insects and colourful amphibians as they camouflage themselves against the dense foliage.
Throughout you tome in Sabah there will chances to see all kinds of exotic and colourful birds, so don't forget to pack binoculars… and, perhaps, a book on how to recognise the birds. It can be great fun ticking off the different species as you spot them.
Finally, head for the sea to one of Sabah's stunning white sand beaches, fringed by one the world's richest marine environments. Snorkel over kaleidoscopic coral reefs and see the abundant fish life - a living aquarium where everyone present is free!
Borneo is a great natural classroom for children and adults together!
3 Weeks Sarawak & Sabah
Tribes, Reefs & Rainforests of Borneo
3 week adventure holiday with your children in Malaysian Borneo - Sample itinerary
Day 01 Singapore ~ Kuching
Arrive Kuching and make your way to the Singgahsana Lodge, located at no. 1 Temple Street in the old part of town and very close to the riverfront.
Day 02 Kuching [B]
Day free to explore the sights of Kuching. Visiti the historiclal old town and the Fort Margherita, overlooking the Kuching River. In the evening you could also make a boat cruise along the river as the sun goes down.
Day 03 Kuching ~ Santubong [B]
In your own time, make your way to north of Kuching to Santubong, a 25 minute drive, and check in to the Permai Rainforest Resort, an eco-resort surrounded by rainforest on the South China Sea coast, and at the foot of Mount Santubong. There are minibuses departing from the Holiday Inn hotel or you could jump in a taxi or try your hand to see if there are any public buses. Afternoon on the beach.
Day 04 Santubong ~ Menyang Tais [B, L, D]
In the morning you will be picked up from the Permai at 0730 ready to depart by road for the Batang Ai reservoir, a 5 hour journey through rural Sarawak. En route you will pass pepper gardens, cocoa and rubber plantations, and there will be a chance to stop to visit some of the more interesting spots, such as the colourful native market in Serian town where a variety of jungle produce such as edible ferns, bamboo shoots and unusual tropical fruits are on display, a pepper garden and a place to see wild orchids and several species of pitcher plants. Lunch en route.
Upon arrival at the Batang Ai reservoir, proceed by longboat (40 minutes) to the longhouse jetty. From here it is a 30-minute walk to the longhouse through forest and Iban farmland. At Menyang Tais Longhouse you will be the guests of the village chief (Tuai Rumah). Join with the Iban community for dinner and Iban style evening entertainment. Stay overnight in the longhouse.
Day 05 Menyang Tais: Tinting Empeliau & Kara [B. L. D]
Following breakfast, hike the jungle trails to the river and continue upriver by longboat to Tinting Empeliau. Our destination, Tinting Kara, is the lush forest where wild Orang Utans are often found. Explore the rainforest and have lunch en-route. Return to the longhouse by mid-afternoon. Dinner & overnight in the longhouse.
Day 06 Menyang Tais ~ Santubong [B, L]
Following breakfast, depart via boat downriver to the Batang Ai reservoir and from there overland to Kuching. Stop for lunch en-route. From Kuching, continue to Santubong, and check back in to the Permai Rainforest Resort.
Day 07 Santubong [B]
Full day to relax on the beach, explore the forest & mangroves, kayak along the coast or go dolphin watching. Overnight Permai Rainforest Resort.
Day 08 Santubong ~ Kota Kinabalu [B]
Morning free on the beach. Mid afternoon flight, Kuching to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival, take a taxi (own arrangement) into town to the Jesselton Hotel.
Day 09 Kota Kinabalu [B]
Free to explore KK, its markets and environs. If you wish, you could take a boat trip out to the Tunkku Abdul Rahman National Park, a group of islands offshore in front of the town. Overnight at the Jesselton Hotel.
Day 10 KK ~ GK National Park [B, L, D]
Depart in the early morning by bus (own arrangements) to the Gunung Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage site and home to the South East Asia's tallest - and the world's fastest growing - mountain. Check into the Kinabalu Rose Cabin, a local family style chalet guesthouse just outside the park boundary and then head to the Park HQ. You can then choose to hire a park ranger to talk you for an educational nature walk, if you so wish, or just entertain yourselves on some of the Park trails. After lunch you could drive up to the Timpohon Gate at 1524m above sea level and trek up to the second shelter along the mountain trail. This particular trail provides good opportunities for bird watching. Overnight at the Kinabalu Rose Cabin.
Day 11 Gunung Kinabalu ~ Poring ~ Sepilok [B]
After breakfast catch local bus on the main road for the 39 km to Poring Hot Springs. Here you can climb up to the canopy walkway, a network of rope bridges suspended between trees 100 feet above the forest floor. This is a great opportunity to try to spot wildlife that lives in the rainforest canopy, such as tarsiers, slow loris, many types of birds and butterflies and much more. It takes experienced eyes too see what may only be a few feet away from you, so look for a ranger to help you.
Then take a dip in one of the soothing, steaming hot mineral springs set in landscaped gardens. After lunch catch the afternoon bus to Sandakan which takes around 3 1⁄2 hours (own arrangement). Disembark at Kilometre 14, the same distance before reaching the city, from where it is just 4km to the Sepilok Nature Resort, located just outside the Orang Utan Rehabilitation centre. Dinner and overnight here.
Day 12 Sepilok ~ Kinabatangan Nature Lodge [L, D]
This Sepilok Sanctuary is the only place where you are guaranteed to come in close contact with the Orang Utan, which means "man of the forest" in Malay. Here young orphaned or captive Orang Utans are taught survival skills so that they may return to their natural habitat. After such time, they are released into the forest.
The Centre was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned baby Orang Utan. Situated in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Centre comes under the administration of the Wildlife Department of Sabah and it attracts tourists and researchers alike, giving them the opportunity to watch the Orang Utans up close in their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day at 10.00am and 3.00pm by rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area.
While Orang Utans rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok, it also focuses on public education on conservation, research and assistance on other endangered species such as the rhinoceros.
Visitors are restricted to walkways. Some Orang Utans have become familiar with people but to avoid the spread of disease, touching them is strongly discouraged. The Sanctuary also houses a couple of highly endangered Sumatran rhinos. There is an Information Nature Education Centre, and a mini-theater where a documentary video about the work of the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary is shown. Visitors are advised to arrive about one hour in advance to register and enjoy activities prior to the feeding.
Witness the morning feeding time. At around 1215, set off for the Kinabatangan River, Sabah's longest river, and to the small village of Kampung Bilit. Here there is a simple lodge on the riverside which is a great place for enjoying the nature and spotting, in particular, proboscis monkeys called Kinabatangan Nature Lodge. Afternoon free or make boat trips on the river, kayak or go bird watching.
Day 13 Kinabatangan Nature Lodge [B, L, D]
Day free to explore the forest trails, make boat trips on the river in search of wildlife, kayak just or chill. Any other guests here will be more from the backpacker set rather than packaged tourists.
Day 14 Sandakan ~ Kota Kinabalu ~ Kinarut [B]
After breakfast, your driver will return to the Lodge to pick you up at around 0830 for the drive to Sandakan airport, ready to catch the short flight back to Kota Kinabalu, departing 1400, arriving 1445. On arrival, catch a taxi for the short drive a few kilometres south down the coast to Kinarut and the Seaside Travellers' Inn, located on a coastal mud flat with spectacular sunset views out to the South China Sea. At low tide it is possible to walk out to a small island, and villagers come down to search for crabs and shellfish along the beach. Day free to enjoy the scenery, swim in the swimming pool or stroll along the beach.
Day 15 Kinarut ~ Tempurung Seaside Lodge [B]
After breakfast at around 10am, a car will arrive ready to drive you down the coast to the Klias Peninsular and to Tempurung and check in to Tempurung Seaside Lodge for the final days on the beach.
Day 16 – 20 Sep Tempurung Seaside Lodge [B, L, D]
5 full days to chill out on the beach. You can rent bicycles to explore local villages and countryside. If you wish, you can also visit Proboscis River Lodge and make a boat safari up the Garama River in search of proboscis monkeys and other wildlife.
Day 21 Tempurung ~ KK ~ Depart [B]
After lunch, make you own way back to Kota Kinabalu in time to board your flight home.
