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Borneo - The Mystical Jungle
April 7 - 22, 2008

Tour Highlights:

  • City Tour of Kuching
  • Visit to Semenggok Orangutan Sanctuary
  • Evening of Traditional Dance
  • Tours of both Lang's Cave & Deer Cave
  • A jungle walk in Knabalu National park
  • ... Plus much, much more!

Includes a Donation to THE ORANGUTAN Foundation INTERNATIONAL!

The Itinerary

April 7th : Departure from Toronto on Cathay Pacific for our flights to Malaysia.

April 9th : Welcome to Malaysia! On arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport, we'll be met and assisted to connect with our flight to Kuching. Transfer from Kuching airport to our hotel for overnight. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Kuching, the capital of Sarawak is a riverine town. Located on the banks of the Sarawak River, it is approximately 32 kilometers from the sea. The town has beautifully landscaped parks and gardens, historic buildings, colourful markets, an interesting waterfront, a state mosque as well as Christian churches and Chinese temples. It has one of Asia's finest museums with an excellent collection of Borneo ethnological and archaeological material.

April 10th : Depart our hotel for a half day city tour of Kuching. Visit Kuching's Chinatown, the Cat Statue, the colourful Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple, and the world famous Sarawak Museum. Pass by the heritage buildings of the White Rajah era, the Square Tower, the Court House, the Charles Brooke Monument and the Post Office. Your last stop is at Sarakraft Pavilion, a Chinese-colonial style mansion which houses a wide range of crafts. The remainder of the day is free for individual exploration. (B)

April 11th : Today, a 225 km car/coach journey takes us through lush green countryside dotted with padi fields, pepper gardens and rubber plantations, and flanked by rugged jungle-clad mountains. Along the way, stop off at the Serian farmer's market, visit a pepper garden and view carnivorous pitcher plants. Arrive at Lemanak jetty for a longboat ride up the Lemanak River, passing through typical Borneo countryside with a longhouse tucked behind almost every bend in the river. Arrive at Serubah Longhouse and visit the "entire village under one roof." Tour the longhouse and enjoy a demonstration of blowpipe shooting. Return downriver for transfer to Batang Ai Jetty. After a 20 minute boat ride across the 24 sq km Batang Ai Hydro Lake, arrive at the luxurious Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort. (B, L)

April 12th : Enjoy a Dawn Walk with the Hotel Recreation Staff before breakfast. Afterwards, travel back to Kuching via the same route. We will visit the Semonggok Rehabilitation Center before arriving into Kuching. (B, L)

April 13th :Transfer to the airport for the flight to Miri where we will connect with our flight to Mulu. On arrival, transfer to the Royal Mulu on seat-in-coach basis. This afternoon, join our guide and take a scenie 3 km plankwalk through primary rainforest to the entrance of Deer Cave, the world's largest cave entrance and single cave passage - about 120 - 150 m in diameter. Next, proceed to Land Cave, which houses the very best limestone formations in Mulu National Park. Trek back to the resort late this afternoon. (B, L)

April 14th : This morning depart our resort by longboat and travel upriver to visit Batu Bungan, Penan Settlement, Winde and Clear Caves. Afterwards, you are transferred to the airport for the flight to Kota Kinabalu. Transfer to the resort on arrival. (B, L)

The state capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu has a population of 300,000. The original town was razed during the Second World War and so a new carefully planned town was built. The city takes particular pride in its gold-domed State Mosque which is centrally positioned and overlooks most of the town. Blessed with seemingly perpetual blue skies, a seaside studded with coral islands and wooded mountains in the back-ground, Kota Kinabalu is still as welcoming as it was to the wind-blown mariners of old.

April 15th : Depart our resort for a full day excursion of Kota Kinabalu. Nominated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Kinabalu Park is a natural wonder that offers day visitors a glimpse into the fascinating and often unique world of plant and animal life within the park. Enjoy a guided nature trail walk to explore the nature of Mt Kinabalu home to many species of orchids, pitcher plants, birds, insects and butterflies. Visit the Exhibit centre where you will watch a video about the park. (B, L)

April 16th : Transfer to the airport for the flight to Kuala Lumpur where we will connect with our flight to Jakarta. On arrival, join our local guide for an informative city tour, including a visit to Merdeka Square, National Monument, Presidential Palace and National Museum. (B)

April 17th : Transfer to the airport for the flight to Semarang, where we will connect with our flight to Bangkalanbun. On arrival, we will be met and travel to Kumai to board a traditional Klotok wonder river boat, which is 6m by 2m with a roof which forms the upper viewing deck. Afterwards, travel to Tanjun Harapan for feeding time. Tanjung Harapan was the original site of the Sekonyer Village, which was moved across the Sekonyer River. The area surrounding is designated as utilization zone. In this area, several facilities for park management as well as for visitors have been constructed. Tanjung Harapan is also an alternate orangutan center. Transfer to Kumai River Rimba Lodge for overnight. Dinner at leisure at Rimba Lodge/Eco lodge (personal account), OR free of charge at Klotok boat upon request. (B)

April 18th: After breakfast board the klotok and travel up river for about 2 hours for Camp Leakey, where the older orangutans are reintroduced into the rain forest. At Camp Leakey, we will have opportunity to trek into the rain forest with our expert guide and the forestry rangers to appreciate the flora as well as perhaps sighting wild orangutans, gibbons, macaques, and birds. Lunch provided on boat. Afternoon visit the feeding station to see rehabilitate orangutans are given additional foods. We will then sail back down the river for overnight on the boat. (B,L,D)

April 19th : After breakfast at the lodge, sail down to Pesalat area. The forest here is the home of the re-introduced Orangutan. Enjoy some flat and easy trekking along the ranger trail while observing the rich diversity of flora and faunal life of Tanjung Puting National Park. The Gibbon and the long tailed maccaques can be found near the river bank. There are also some small rivers on the trail where we could find some water creatures. A box lunch is included today. (B, L, D)

April 20th : This morning enjoy another sail back to Pondok Tanguy and observe the morning feeding site at 0900. Afterwards, take a 2.5 hrs upriver to Camp Leakey. After lunch, together with the park ranger, head to the feeding site. The feeding time here is at 1400 - 1500 hrs. Back to the boat in the afternoon, then dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

April 21st: After breakfast on the boat, sail to Kumai. On arrival, we will be transferred by road to the airport for the flight Semarang, where we will connect with our flight to Jakarta. Transfer to the hotel on arrival at Jakarta airport. (B)

April 22nd : Transfer to the airport for our flight home. (B)

COST: $5989.00 Canadian Funds
(approx. $ 5589.000 USD)
~ per person sharing twin/double accommodation ~
Single supplement: Please inquire

All Taxes: $247.00 CAD (appox. $207.000 USD)
Deposit required: $750.00 CAD per person ($650.00 USD)
Balance due by February 1st, 2008

Inclusions for tour

  • All transfers as listed in the itinerary
  • All international and domestic airfares
  • (Departing from Toronto)
  • Hotel accommodations as per double occupancy
  • Entrance fees for excursions listed in tour
  • English speaking tour guide
  • Baggage handling, where available
  • Meals as indicated in itinerary:
  • (B - Breakfast)
  • (L - Lunch)
  • (D - Dinner)
  • Lunch and dinner will be local restaurants
  • Fully escorted by Gail Matier of The Travel Broker
  • Donation to the Organ tang Foundation International

Excursions

  • Personal items
  • Meals other than listed in itinerary
  • Tips & Gratuities
  • Insurance
  • Visa/passport handling fee

Cancellation Penalties:

More than 6 weeks prior to departure     loss of non-refundable deposit
Between 42 -21 days prior to departure     75% of net tour price non-refundable
Less than 21 days prior     100% of net tour price non-refundable