Borneo & Northern Sumatra Discovery

Borneo and Northern Sumatra Discovery - A 22 day safari - From £2,800 per person

Day 1
Fly at 2200hrs from London Heathrow to Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur.

Day 2
Arrive Kuala Lumpur and connect to Kota Kinabalu in Borneo. Met on arrival by your personal driver and guide and transfer to Nexus Borneo Villas.

Day 3
Free at Nexus to relax and recuperate after your flight. The Nexus Karambunai is literally a world unto itself. Located in forty five acres of tranquil, natural beauty on the Karambunai Peninsular and thirty kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu. Nexus has over 6 kilometres of private white sandy beach and an exotic Borneo Spa. Breakfast is included and lunch and dinner you are free to arrange as you wish.
Overnight: Nexus

Day 4
A day free to relax in the surroundings of this tropical peninsular, take advantage of the facilities, or just recuperate on your private beach before you set off on your adventure into wild Borneo! Breakfast is included and lunch and dinner you are free to arrange as you wish.
Overnight: Nexus

Day 5
In the morning you transfer to the airport where you fly to Sandakan, Eastern Borneo. Upon arrival you are met by your private vehicle and guide and transfer to Sukau where you take a 10 minute boat ride to Sukau Lodge. As dusk falls take a river cruise using silent electric motor in search of wild Proboscis monkeys as they settle down on treetops along the Kinabatangan River. Return for solar heated hot shower and candle lit dinner.
Overnight: Sukau Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 6
Today you spend the day exploring Sukau! In the morning proceed for a jungle trek at the Ox-bow lake in search of a variety of wildlife. Sukau is one of two places in the world where four colobines inhabit the same place - namely proboscis monkey, silvered langur, maroon langur and Hose's or grey langur. It has the highest concentration of proboscis monkeys and orangutans in Malaysia. Other wildlife include long-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque, Bornean gibbon, two nocturnal primates namely western tarsier and slow loris and other mammals including Asian elephant and Sumatran rhinoceros. Birdlife is also plentiful in this region with over 200 species of which there are 8 species of hornbill (rhinoceros, helmeted, black, pied, wreathed, wrinkled, white crowned and bushy crested). As dusk falls take a river cruise using silent electric motor in search of wild Proboscis monkeys as they settle down on treetops along the Kinabatangan River. Return for solar heated hot shower and a candle lit dinner.
Overnight: Sukau Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 7
After breakfast, transfer by boat to Sandakan and Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary . Upon arrival have a break for a bit of lunch. In the afternoon either go on a guided tour to Sandakan town, Water Village & Chinese Temple or trek 10 minutes on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the Orang-utans in the sanctuary. This is a great experience as previously captive Orang-utans (through deforestation, poaching, etc) are being re-habituated to their natural surroundings for release when they are once again capable of supporting themselves.
Overnight: Sepilok Nature Resort (B/L/D)

Day 8
Early start for a morning jungle walk as you watch the jungle come to life. Return to the lodge for breakfast and then witness the morning and afternoon feeding of the Orang-utans. A visit to the Sanctuary will allow you to come in close contact with the remarkable "man of the forest". It is interesting and exciting to watch as these large red apes are astonishingly gentle, highly intelligent and will gaze at you with almost disconcerting frankness. In the evening set off into the jungle in search of the nocturnal jungle wildlife.
Overnight: Sepilok Nature Resort B/L/D

Day 9
Early start to transfer by road to the jetty and then transfer by boat (approx 2hrs) to Lankayan Island. You will arrive in time for a delicious lunch on the island and then have the afternoon at your leisure and plan how you want to spend the next couple of days on this idyllic island.
Overnight: Lankayan in private chalets located on the beach B/L/D

Day 10
Spend your day relaxing on Lankayan. For those that wish to, Lankayan is excellent for diving. There is the added bonus that you have the opportunity to dive with the whale sharks that migrate through here during the months of March, April and May (sightings cannot be guaranteed); an unforgettable experience! Alternatively one can relax on the beach, go snorkelling, swimming, hire sea kayaks or go windsurfing.
Overnight: Lankayan in private chalets located on the beach B/L/D

Day 11
Today you leave the idyllic island of Lankayan and transfer to Danum Valley. Once you arrive back on the mainland it is a 3hr drive through palm oil plantations and logging fields to Danum Valley. This is an eye opening drive as you see the effects of these industries on the local environment and populations. On arrival at your lodge in the middle of the rainforest, you will have time to sit back and relax and enjoy the surroundings. Danum Valley is one of the best remaining examples of how Borneo's forests used to be, with a thick tropical canopy and a variety of wildlife.
Overnight: Borneo Rainforest Lodge - locally crafted bungalows connected by a walkway and perched along the bank of the river with views into the rainforest B/L/D

Day 12
Set up to protect the area from logging, Danum Valley encompasses 43 kilometres squared of pristine rainforest. Aside from this the conservation area has a variety of wildlife including, orang-utans, a variety of birdlife, clouded leopard, elephant and if one is very lucky the Sumatran rhino. With both a canopy walkway and a viewpoint which looks out over the jungle canopy and the dramatic mountains this conservation area is definitely worth dropping in on.
Overnight: Borneo Rainforest Lodge - locally crafted bungalows connected by a walkway and perched along the bank of the river with views into the rainforest (B/L/D)

Day 13
Activities are as Day 8. Danum Valley is renowned for its excellent birding and counts 275 species of birds and 109 species of mammals among its residents. Danum Valley is a world renowned birding destination.
Overnight: Borneo Rainforest Lodge - locally crafted bungalows connected by a walkway and perched along the bank of the river with views into the rainforest (B/L/D)

Day 14
Today you depart Danum and start your journey southwards to Northern Sumatra. Your connection is via Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu where you will catch your connection to Kuala Lumpur. We have taken the liberty of booking you into the Pan Pacific, a luxury hotel in the airport.
Overnight: Pan Pacific Hotel B

Day 15
Today you have an early flight to Medan (Northern Sumatra) and then a forward transfer by road to Bukit Lawang. The village of Bukit Lawang is the main access point for the rainforests of the Gunung Leuser National Park. Visitors come here to see Orangutans at the nearby rehabilitation centre and for jungle treks. Bukit Lawang is situated 86 km by road to the north-west of Medan and nestles on the banks of the Bohorok River.
Overnight: Bukit Lawang Cottages - Cosy and spacious ensuite cottages L/D

Day 16
Today is spent with the Orang-utans of Gunung Leuser Park. It is a day of gentle trekking in some of the most pristine forest of Northern Sumatra. The park's extensive range of wildlife includes Orang-utans, gibbons, tapirs, elephants, tigers, and rhinos. The park contains over 380 species of birds, notably the hornbills, the largest flower in the world, the rafflesia, and the tallest flower in the world. The Orang-utan rehabilitation centre is where young orangutans are taught to live in the wild; twice daily at 0800hrs and 1500hrs they are fed a ration of bananas and milk whilst they adapt to their forest environment; at these times you are permitted to come and visit them.
Overnight: Bukit Lawang Cottages - Cosy and spacious ensuite cottages B/L/D

Day 17
Another day to explore the forest and spend time with the Orang-utans of Gunung Leuser Park. It is a day of gentle trekking in some of the most pristine forest of Northern Sumatra. The park's extensive range of wildlife includes Orang-utans, gibbons, tapirs, elephants, tigers, and rhinos. The park contains over 380 species of birds, notably the hornbills, the largest flower in the world, the rafflesia, and the tallest flower in the world. The Orang-utan rehabilitation centre is where young orangutans are taught to live in the wild; twice daily at 0800hrs and 1500hrs they are fed a ration of bananas and milk whilst they adapt to their forest environment; at these times you are permitted to come and visit them.
Overnight: Bukit Lawang Cottages - Cosy and spacious ensuite cottages B/L/D

Day 18
Today you have a 3hr drive through the rainforest, local villages and oil palm plantations to Tangkahan. Upon arrival you have the rare opportunity to ride elephants bareback on a choice of treks through the jungle; steep slopes and dense vegetation bring you the excitement of the jungle. At the end of the trek you can bathe with the elephants as they spray water to cool off! Alternatively have a very nice swim in the unspoiled jungle river, sit on a small beach full off butterflies and take a shower under a jungle waterfall..
Overnight: Tangkahan in simple but comfortable accommodation B/L/D

Day 19
Today you transfer back to Medan where you will have time to relax and recuperate after your jungle adventure.
Overnight: Medan B

Day 20
An early morning transfer to the airport and then a flight to Kuala Lumpur where you overnight in the luxurious Manderin Oriental Hotel. In this instance it is more cost efficient for you to book your own transfer/taxi from the airport to your hotel. Taxis are easily booked on exiting the airport.
Overnight: Manderin Oriental Hotel B

Day 21
Today you have time to relax and enjoy Kuala Lumpur with the chance to explore the city and go shopping. In the evening you transfer for your flight back to the UK at 2350 hrs. In this instance it is more cost efficient for you to book your own transfer/taxi from your hotel to the airport.

Day 22
Arrive London 0550