fbpx

Borneo Family Holiday

Sale!

Borneo Family Holiday

Was From $ 2,270 AUD
Now From $ 1,985 AUD
Sale!

Description

Travel to Borneo on an 9-day family adventure and discover the curious wildlife and spectacular landscapes of the region. Learn how orphaned orangutans are rehabilitated back into the wild, swim among colourful fish, watch baby green turtles take wobbly steps towards the waterfront and relax on sandy beaches. Along the way you’ll make friends, try some delicious cuisine and forge some incredible memories. With all of the essentials included, and plenty of free time to explore at your own pace, you and your family will fall in love with the unique animals, lush ecosystem and sandy islands of Borneo.

Trip Name
Borneo Family Holiday
Last Updated
2024-08-07
Days
9
Capacity
16
Highlights
  • Take a leisurely walk along the scenic canopy walkway at Poring Hot Springs.
  • Stay overnight among the birds and beasts of the jungle, right next to an oxbow lake, at Kinabatangan Eco Camp.
  • Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and, if you're lucky, watch baby orangutans learn to swing in a special enclosure.
  • Enjoy a special opportunity to watch protected turtle hatchlings scatter across the beach to the water under the cover of night.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Kota Kinabalu
Selamat datang! Welcome to Malaysia. Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is an intriguing city located between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Having survived WWII bombings, KK (as it's commonly known) has a charm unique to the frontier town. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm at your hotel. Here you will meet your leader and fellow family travellers. Following the meeting, perhaps head out with your fellow families to the waterfront market. Here you’ll find smoky stalls serving up grilled meat and fish and heaps of local delicacies. If you arrive with significant time before the welcome meeting, you can immerse yourself in history at the Sabah State Museum or explore the islands off Kota Kinabalu which are excellent for swimming or snorkelling.
Day 2 - Poring Hot Springs
Head to the Poring Hot Springs to enjoy a scenic canopy walk and relaxing swim in the springs themselves, which the kids will love. The entrance to the hot pools themselves is optional as there are a few pools to choose from. Parents and older children may enjoy the hot pools while younger children will prefer the slide pool. You get to choose on the day. Tonight you will spend the night in a reconstructed longhouse on the tea plantation. Rooms are twin/triple-share and have fans and shared bathrooms.
Day 3 - Kinabatangan River
This morning we visit a Sabah Tea Factory and learn the process of tea leaves before saying goodbye to the mountain and heading into the jungle. Travel by private bus to Batu Puteh, a small village on the banks of the Kinabatangan River (approximately 5 hours). Your hosts for the night are the local community-run conservation organization KOPEL whose aim is to provide villagers with the means of making a sustainable living from the forest. KOPEL are responsible for a reforestation project in which the community are actively involved in growing seedlings and replanting back degraded forested areas. Arrive in the afternoon meet your hosts and learn a little more about KOPELs work, before jumping in a boat and heading upriver to your accommodation in the jungle (approximately 30 minutes). This afternoon, you’ll head out on a sunset cruise up the river in search of wildlife, including macaques, wild orangutan and proboscis monkeys. Be prepared for an adventure! Return to your jungle camp by an oxbow lake, freshen up for dinner and afterwards, let the cicadas sing you to sleep.
Day 4 - Kinabatangan River
Wake up to the sounds of the jungle ready for a busy day. After breakfast you’ll head upriver to the village where you take a walk around the village to learn more about the life of the local people. For lunch, it’s all hands-on deck as you partake in a fun traditional cooking class, eating the fruits of your labour for lunch! The afternoon is free to relax, enjoy some boardgames or keep spotting wildlife, before heading back on the boat for another trip on the river. After dinner tonight, you’ll don headtorches and head out into the jungle for a night walk in search of insects and nocturnal animals. See what happens to the jungle at night, and what creatures come out to play!
Day 5 - Sandakan
Say goodbye to your Eco Camp and take a drive to Sandakan. On arrival, you will notice the strong Cantonese influence, seen in the lively harborside market, the many Chinese temples and the local cuisine. Here there is free time to catch up on your essentials, like laundry and banking, as well as to explore the city. Otherwise, just spend some time relaxing by the pool!
Day 6 - Sandakan/Sepilok
Today is an exciting day and a favourite with the kids – here come the orangutans! It’s a 45-minute drive by minibus to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre was set up to help re-introduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. From the viewing platform, you can see these charming creatures as they swing into view and eat a supplementary balanced diet of fruit, vegetables or milk, 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, but you are free to snap plenty of photographs. You will also have the privilege of viewing a 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 not to disturb the animals. Heading back to Sandakan you will have the afternoon free.
Day 7 - Turtle Island
Leave your large bags at the hotel and transfer to a nearby jetty, then board a speedboat bound for Turtle Island. Travel past small fishing villages and bamboo fish traps, arriving at Turtle Island Marine Park after about an hour. The rest of the day is free for you to soak up the island life. Relax on the beach and take a swim or perhaps hire some snorkelling gear and investigate the underwater world. Under the cover of darkness, watch as giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs under the moonlight. Witness the island researchers release protected hatchlings and guide them in their frantic dash to the ocean. It's a moving experience that is bound to be rewarding for you and your family, but please be aware that this is a very delicate environment and you must follow instructions from your leader and the local rangers to ensure minimal impact on the turtles. Spend the night on this beautiful island – even though the accommodation is quite basic, this will be a memorable experience.
Day 8 - Kota Kinabalu
Today you will transfer back to the mainland. Once back in Sandakan the group will have the opportunity to visit the War Memorial before heading to the airport and for your flight back to Kota Kinabalu (approximately 1 hour). Keep in mind that the luggage allowance for this flight is only 15 kg, and any excess baggage may incur a further charge. Back at your hotel in Kota Kinabalu you will have time to relax before heading out for a last night optional dinner.
Day 9 - Kota Kinabalu
With no activities planned for today, you and your family are free to depart the accommodation at any time following check-out.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
23-12-202431-12-2024AUD $ 2,282-
26-12-202403-01-2025AUD $ 1,985-
29-12-202406-01-2025AUD $ 2,380-
04-01-202512-01-2025AUD $ 2,655-
11-01-202519-01-2025AUD $ 2,413-
21-03-202529-03-2025AUD $ 2,156-
23-03-202531-03-2025AUD $ 2,156-
03-04-202511-04-2025AUD $ 2,156-
05-04-202513-04-2025AUD $ 2,480-
07-04-202515-04-2025AUD $ 2,480-
09-04-202517-04-2025AUD $ 2,308-
11-04-202519-04-2025AUD $ 2,156-
13-04-202521-04-2025AUD $ 2,285-
15-04-202523-04-2025AUD $ 2,285-
17-04-202525-04-2025AUD $ 2,199-
19-04-202527-04-2025AUD $ 2,156-
21-04-202529-04-2025AUD $ 2,156-
24-05-202501-06-2025AUD $ 2,156-
26-06-202504-07-2025AUD $ 2,156-
28-06-202506-07-2025AUD $ 2,156-
30-06-202508-07-2025AUD $ 2,242-
02-07-202510-07-2025AUD $ 2,375-
04-07-202512-07-2025AUD $ 2,242-
06-07-202514-07-2025AUD $ 2,532-
08-07-202516-07-2025AUD $ 2,465-
10-07-202518-07-2025AUD $ 2,579-
12-07-202520-07-2025AUD $ 2,285-
14-07-202522-07-2025AUD $ 2,242-
16-07-202524-07-2025AUD $ 2,242-
18-07-202526-07-2025AUD $ 2,242-
20-07-202528-07-2025AUD $ 2,242-
22-07-202530-07-2025AUD $ 2,242-
24-07-202501-08-2025AUD $ 2,242-
26-07-202503-08-2025AUD $ 2,242-
28-07-202505-08-2025AUD $ 2,242-
30-07-202507-08-2025AUD $ 2,156-
02-08-202510-08-2025AUD $ 2,156-
05-08-202513-08-2025AUD $ 2,156-
08-08-202516-08-2025AUD $ 2,156-
11-08-202519-08-2025AUD $ 2,480-
14-08-202522-08-2025AUD $ 2,199-
17-08-202525-08-2025AUD $ 2,156-
19-08-202527-08-2025AUD $ 2,156-
21-08-202529-08-2025AUD $ 2,156-
23-08-202531-08-2025AUD $ 2,156-
18-09-202526-09-2025AUD $ 2,156-
20-09-202528-09-2025AUD $ 2,156-
22-09-202530-09-2025AUD $ 2,156-
24-09-202502-10-2025AUD $ 2,156-
26-09-202504-10-2025AUD $ 2,156-
28-09-202506-10-2025AUD $ 2,156-
30-09-202508-10-2025AUD $ 2,156-
02-10-202510-10-2025AUD $ 2,156-
04-10-202512-10-2025AUD $ 2,156-
25-10-202502-11-2025AUD $ 2,156-
19-12-202527-12-2025AUD $ 2,270-
21-12-202529-12-2025AUD $ 2,270-
24-12-202501-01-2026AUD $ 2,270-
26-12-202503-01-2026AUD $ 2,270-
28-12-202505-01-2026AUD $ 2,270-
03-01-202611-01-2026AUD $ 2,385-
07-01-202615-01-2026AUD $ 2,385-
10-01-202618-01-2026AUD $ 2,385-
26-03-202603-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
28-03-202605-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
30-03-202607-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
02-04-202610-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
04-04-202612-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
06-04-202614-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
08-04-202616-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
10-04-202618-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
12-04-202620-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
14-04-202622-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
16-04-202624-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
18-04-202626-04-2026AUD $ 2,385-
23-05-202631-05-2026AUD $ 2,385-
25-06-202603-07-2026AUD $ 2,385-
27-06-202605-07-2026AUD $ 2,385-
29-06-202607-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
01-07-202609-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
03-07-202611-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
05-07-202613-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
07-07-202615-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
09-07-202617-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
11-07-202619-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
13-07-202621-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
15-07-202623-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
17-07-202625-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
19-07-202627-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
21-07-202629-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
23-07-202631-07-2026AUD $ 2,480-
25-07-202602-08-2026AUD $ 2,480-
27-07-202604-08-2026AUD $ 2,480-
29-07-202606-08-2026AUD $ 2,480-
01-08-202609-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
03-08-202611-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
05-08-202613-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
07-08-202615-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
09-08-202617-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
11-08-202619-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
13-08-202621-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
15-08-202623-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
17-08-202625-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
19-08-202627-08-2026AUD $ 2,385-
17-09-202625-09-2026AUD $ 2,385-
19-09-202627-09-2026AUD $ 2,385-
21-09-202629-09-2026AUD $ 2,385-
23-09-202601-10-2026AUD $ 2,385-
25-09-202603-10-2026AUD $ 2,385-
27-09-202605-10-2026AUD $ 2,385-
29-09-202607-10-2026AUD $ 2,385-
01-10-202609-10-2026AUD $ 2,385-
03-10-202611-10-2026AUD $ 2,385-
05-10-202613-10-2026AUD $ 2,385-
19-12-202627-12-2026AUD $ 2,385-
21-12-202629-12-2026AUD $ 2,385-
24-12-202601-01-2027AUD $ 2,385-
26-12-202603-01-2027AUD $ 2,385-
28-12-202605-01-2027AUD $ 2,385-

Accommodation

Hotel (4 nights),Longhouse (1 night),Jungle Camp (2 nights) Chalet (1 night)

Transport

Bus,Minibus,Plane

Map