Geckos Classic Borneo

• During two days on glorious Manukan Island, there's plenty of time to soak up the relaxed beach vibe, and to get close to marine life on an included snorkelling trip.
• Experience life in a Dusun village while enjoying a delicious home-cooked lunch of local specialties.
• Explore the unspoiled wilderness of the Kinabalu National Park by walking the trails at the base of this much-admired mountain.
• One of the wildest places on earth, Borneo offers rare treats for the nature lover – see orangutans in Sepilok and proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay.
• Search for wildlife when you’re cruising the Kinabatangan River on a water safari and while you’re in the depths of the wilderness on a jungle walk.

Meals

9 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners

Transport

Boat , Plane , Private mini van

Accommodation

Lodge (3 night), Hotel (4 nights), Resort (2 nights)

Included Activities

• Complimentary Arrival Transfer
• Kampung Kiau - Coffee production house tour
• Kampung Kiau - Community-based pineapple project
• Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise
• Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise
• Kinabatangan River - Morning wildlife spotting cruise
• Manukan Island - Boat trip & snorkelling
• Sandakan - War Memorial
• Sepilok - Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
• Sepilok - Rainforest Discovery Centre
• Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
• Sepilok - Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Day - 1

Location: Kota Kinabalu - Selamat datang! Welcome to Malaysia. Your adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you have any free time beforehand, why not get out and explore this intriguing city that was born between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Modern-day 'KK' is a vibrant modern metropolis, having recovered from World War II bombings – the Sabah State Museum is a great place to immerse yourself in its backstory.

Day - 2

Location: Dusun Village - Mt Kinabalu National Park - Kundasang - Start your morning with a delicious breakfast of nasi lemak, noodles or perhaps a steamed bun at a local cafeteria. Washed down with tea or coffee, this is sure to set you up for the day's activities. Leaving Kota Kinabalu behind, you'll head for the hills and travel towards the unspoiled wilderness of the World Heritage-listed Mt Kinabalu National Park (approximately 3 hours). You will stop off en route at a local home in a  Dusun Village. Sample the local foods with a home cooked lunch to get some insight into what it’s like to live in a rural village. Later you can stretch your legs and soak up the mountain scenery with a stroll through Mt Kinabalu National Park. There are many walking trails from which you can bird watch. The Mt Kinabalu Botanical Garden is an excellent showcase of the diverse plant life on the mountain, as flora from all over the park has been replanted here. Spend the night in a mountain lodge close by to the park in Kundasang.

Day - 3

Location: Kinabatangan River - After breakfast, head to Kinabatangan River in private minivan – a trip of approximately 5 hours. Your jungle lodge, located beside the river, is ideal for taking in the lush surrounds. At 560 kilometres, the Kinabatangan River is the second longest in Malaysia. It's also a protected forest reserve, containing some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo. Later in the afternoon you will take a river cruise, hopefully spotting some of the more exotic local creatures. Wild elephants seldom reveal themselves, but crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutan, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and kingfishers are more easily seen. After this short adventure, head back to your lodge and enjoy dinner with the group.

Day - 4

Location: Kinabatangan River - You might wake to the call of a Bornean gibbon, or perhaps a hornbill. Enjoy an early morning cruise down the river, searching for more birds and wildlife. Keep an eye out for Long Tail Macaques and Pig Tail Macaques – your expert leader can tell you the difference. Enjoy free time to relax and enjoy your surroundings before another afternoon river cruise to see wildlife along the riverbank. This final river cruise will be your last chance to photograph or simply marvel at your surrounds. Spend one more night in your lovely accommodation right in the heart of the jungle.

Day - 5

Location: Sandakan - This morning you'll head out to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary (2.5 hours). The sanctuary has been a safe haven for proboscis monkeys for over 20 years. Enjoy viewing these big-nosed primates from viewing platforms over the mangroves and forested areas of the centre. Travel onwards to Sandakan (1 hour) and visit the Sandakan War Memorial. Here you will learn about the city's past as you stand on the same ground of the former Japanese Prisoners of War camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches, on which 2400 POWs were forced to walk through the jungles of Borneo. By the end of the march, only 6 Australians survived, and only because they had escaped. The evening is free for you to explore Sandakan. Be sure to ask your leader for their recommendations for dinner.

Day - 6

Location: Sandakan - This morning, take a private transfer to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary (1 hour). The centre was set up to help reintroduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. From the viewing platform, you can watch and photograph these charming creatures as they swing into view and eat the supplementary diet of bananas and milk that is laid out for them twice a day. Human contact must be kept to a minimum and it's essential that you follow the instructions of the park, as directed by your leader. Also included is a new nursery where you can view young orangutans as they learn how to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym. The viewing area is behind one-way glass so as to not disturb the animals. You will also visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre, where you can roam about the treetop walkways, learning more about the flora and birdlife of Borneo. Return to Sandakan for the evening.

Day - 7

Location: Manukan Island - Fly to Kota Kinabalu this morning (1 hour). On arrival at Kota Kinabalu, a short boat ride (around 20 minutes) takes you to Manukan Island, just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. This is one of the larger islands found in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. The first of two days on this island will be free for you to explore the island at your leisure – perhaps swimming or local activities. The 1.5-kilometre beach is lovely to stroll along at low tide.

Day - 8

Location: Manukan Island - Enjoy a snorkelling trip today, where an array of coral and brightly coloured marine life reveals itself, conditions depending. An optional scuba dive trip from Manukan Island is also on offer for those interested in a more immersive experience. If you are interested, let your leader know and it can be arranged. After snorkelling, the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Soak up the turquoise vistas for another few hours as you stroll or swim about in this stunning slice of paradise.

Day - 9

Location: Kota Kinabalu - Head back to Kota Kinabalu today by boat and minivan. This will take around 40 minutes. Optional activities include a visit the intriguing Mari Mari Cultural Village, nestled deep in the countryside. Here you will see how indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live. Or a visit to the Sabah Museum to learn about Sabah’s past or do some last-minute souvenir shopping at the Filipino market. Tonight, perhaps head out for a meal with your group to celebrate your Borneo adventure.

Day - 10

Location: Kota Kinabalu - There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.