JUNGLES OF BORNEO
A cultural tour of Borneo

Borneo: Land of caves, rivers, mountains and jungles that are over a million years old. The tribal culture has evolved itself as the independent people of both Sabah and Sarawak continue revering their rainforests, eco systems, longhouses, traditions, culture and hospitality, even today. This 12-day soft eco adventure has a lot of interaction with the people, flora, fauna and the many gifts that mother nature has given to Borneo.

Day 01 Monday: Arrive Kuching  
Meet and transfer upon arrival at Kuching Airport for an afternoon tour of Kuching, which includes Tua Pek Kong temple, Fort Margarita, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the Syariah (Muslim) Court, Astana and the Sarawak Museum.
Overnight: Hilton Hotel (1 night)
 
Day 02 Tuesday: Kuching / Lemanak
In the morning transfer to Lemanak River with a few stops along the way: the first one at Serian Town; the other stops include a visit to the pepper farm; the last stop will be at “Lachau” a small upcountry Chinese Village (lunch stop). Afternoon the program continues reaching the “Lubok Subong” Jetty where we board a boat to the “Ngemah Ili” Longhouse.   On arrival at the longhouse, coffee and tea will be served by the local families.  After dinner, the Ibans will sound their gongs and perform their traditional warrior and maiden dance in full ceremonial regalia with the longhouse chief and folk. Rice Wine “Tuak” will also be served.
Overnight: Longhouse (2 nights) (B, L, D)
 
Day 03 Wednesday: Lemanak
After breakfast, the Iban people will give us a presentation of their traditional weapon, the blowpipe.  Then along with our guide, we head out to explore the surrounding forest, where he will be showing us which of the jungle plants and trees that are being used by the natives as medicine. Board a boat for a native picnic lunch at one of the lemanak river triburies prepare by the Ibans in their traditional way by cooking in the bamboos on an open fire.  After lunch return to the Longhouse. (B, L, D)
 
Day 04 Thursday: Lemanak / Kuching
After breakfast, travel down river by longboat and car/van to Kuching. Stop at Ranchang Pool for lunch before continue o Kuching.
Overnight: Hilton Hotel (1 night) (B, L)

Day 05 Friday: Kuching / Mulu Caves National Park (Flight)
Transfer to airport for our flight to Mulu National Park.  Meet and greet upon arrival at Mulu Airport and transfer to the hotel.  Afternoon we will proceed to the Mulu National Park Headquarters for registration before proceeding on 3 km plank walk to explore Langs Cave and the Deer Cave.  If time and weather permits, stay back to witness the exits of millions of bats flying out of the Deer Cave on their nightly feeding forays.
Proceed back to your hotel.  Tonight, you will have dinner with cultural show at your hotel.
Overnight: Royal Mulu Resort (1 night) (B, D)

Day 06 Saturday: Penan Settlement / Camp 5
This morning you will be taken on a river boat ride to visit a Penan Settlement where you can observe the present lifestyle of this nomadic tribe of Borneo. You can buy some of their handmade handicraft items as souvenir.  Proceed by boat to explore the Wind cave and Clearwater Cave where we will have lunch.  Continue by boat to Long Litut where we will start our 8.8 km nature trek through lowland forest to our camp.
Overnight: Camp 5 (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 07 Sunday: The Pinnacles
Today we ascend Mt. Apoi to an elevation of 1200m to view the pinnacles (4-6 hrs depends on your fitness level). Packed lunch at the viewpoint before we descend to Camp 5 for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 08 Monday: Mulu / Kota Kinabalu (Flight) / Sandakan (Flight)
This morning we trek back to Long Litut and take a boat to Clearwater Cave where we will have lunch.  Transfer to Mulu airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu and connecting to another flight to Sandakan.  Meet & greet upon arrival at Sandakan airport and transfer to hotel.
Overnight: Sabah Hotel (1 night) (B, L)

Day 09 Tuesday: Sandakan / Sepilok
A guided tour of Sandakan including the Central Market, the Chinese Temple located on a hill, St. Michael's Church. Then head for Sim Sim where you can see houses on stilt above the water occupied by local tribes.   Reach Sepilok Nature Resort for an lunch stop. In the afternoon proceed to the Rainforest Discovery Center where you can see more than 250 species of orchids, pitcher plants and aquatic plants.  Return back to Sepilok Nature Resort in the afternoon.
Overnight: Sepilok Nature Resort (1 night) (B)

Day 10 Wednesday:  Sepilok / Abai
We will be picked up from the resort and proceed to the free roaming area feeding platform where you can see feeding of the Orang Utans. The center helps once captive orang utans learn to climb and fend for themselves in the wild with the hope that one day they may return to the forest.  At 1100 hrs depart from Sepilok and transfer to the Jetty for an hour cruise up to the Lower Kinabatangan River where lunch will be served at Abai Jungle Restaurant.  This is a wonderful journey of discovery, which starts from the Sulu Sea of Sandakan through magnificent scenery of the mangrove forest. After dinner a night cruise leads us to witness the nature of fireflies.
Overnight: Abai Jungle Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 11 Thursday: Abai / Sukau
Early morning take a river trip to Pitas Lake to observe wildlife. After lunch cruise upriver looking for the Proboscis Monkeys, birds and other wildlife. Check in at the lodge. Late afternoon river cruise to Menanggul River, a small tributary of the Kinabatangan to view wildlife.
Overnight: Kinabatangan River Lodge (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 12 Friday: Sukau / Sandakan
After breakfast return back downriver to Sandakan to catch your flight out.  check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)

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Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Every Monday
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned (or similar) International airfares & Departure taxes Meals as mentioned (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner) Domestic airfares (from USD 315.00 for all 3 flights) All ground & boat transfers Visa / Insurance Services of local English speaking guides Tips / Gratuities Entrance fees to the sites included in the itinerary
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 US $ 2295 US $ 260
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1300 USA - West Coast US $ 1200 Canada - East Coast US $ 1300 USA - East Coast US $ 1200
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 10 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.