Itinerary

Day 1 Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is the current capital of the East Malaysian state of Sabah, and was originally known as Jesselton. It is located in the North-West of the island of Borneo. KK, as it is known locally, is a thriving city which is currently booming, to a large extent due to the investment by the Malaysian government in the region. The city itself is relatively new as the original town was destroyed during world War II.

Transfer between the airport and your hotel with private car and driver.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Located 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, just a 2 1/2-hour flight from Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa is a tranquil retreat offering 492 recently renovated rooms and suites, seven restaurants and bars, and a wealth of enjoyable recreational opportunities for families and leisure travellers. The resort is now home to CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, a luxurious private spa experience based on traditional Asian healing philosophies. Opened on 20 December 2007, the spa comprises 5 individual Island Villas, 3 Couples' Villas and an open Yoga Pavilion, all located on Pulau Bayu, the resort’s private island.

Overnight at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru.

Day 2 Kota Kinabalu

You will be picked up by private car and English speaking Driver today for a city tour of KK's highlights. Visit the Heritage Village & Museum for a closer view of Sabah's ethnic diversity highlighted by the unique local architectural styles of homes in North Borneo and the colourful costume display. Then, proceed for a city driving pass major landmarks such as the State & City Mosque, Tanjung Aru Beach and the highest building in Kota Kinabalu - Tun Mustapha Tower.

Overnight at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru.

Day 3 Sandakan

Sandakan is the second-largest city in Sabah, East Malaysia, on the north-eastern coast of Borneo. It is located on the east coast of the island and is known as the gateway for ecotourism destinations in Sabah, such as the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, Turtle Islands Park, Kinabatangan River and Gomantong Caves. The area is also infamous as the site of a World War II Japanese airfield, built by the forced labour of 6,000 Javanese civilians and Allied prisoners of war. In 1945 the surviving prisoners were sent on the Sandakan Death Marches; only 6 of them survived the war.

Transfer between the airport and your hotel with private car and driver.

Fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.

Transfer by boat between Sandakan airport and Turtle Island.

Transfer to Turtle Island (1 hour boat ride). Free at leisure in the afternoon. After dinner, learn more about turtles at the Exhibition centre while you wait for the Park Ranger to locate a Turtle coming ashore. Release little Turtle hatchlings to the sea.

Selingan Island has been developed to house the park's headquarters, a visitor's centre, basic tourist facilities and a turtle hatchery. The island has been developed carefully, and the facilities are neatly tucked away in the centre of the island, keeping the beach vegetation intact. Three fully-furnished chalets are available on Selingan for accommodating up to a total of 20 persons per night. There is a restaurant on Selingan where visitors can order hot meals.

Overnight at Selingan Island Chalet.

Day 4 Sandakan

Return back to Sandakan city for a visit to the World's largest Orang Utan rehabilitation sanctuary - Sepilok. Transfer by boat to Sukau with a stop at Abai village for lunch. In the evening, embark on a riverine cruise in search for the elusive long nose Proboscis Monkey, endemic to Borneo & other wildlife along the Kinabatangan.

Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge is nestled in the backwater village of Sukau, a 2.5 hour boat ride from Sandakan, amidst thick mangrove swamps and lush tropical rainforest. The Lodge offers comfortable lodging in modest twin sharing cabins. Each is tastefully designed in local ethnic splendor, with meals prepared by the warm and friendly staff.

Overnight at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.

Day 5 Kota Kinabalu

Visit Puh Jyh Shih, Sabah's biggest & most expensive Buddhist Temple.

Fly from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu.

Transfer by boat between Sandakan airport and Turtle Island.

Transfer between the airport and your hotel with private car and driver.

Feel the heartbeat of KK as you drive pass some of the city's landmarks before putting your bargaining skills to the test at the Night Market. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner featuring an array of Malaysian cuisine. The evening’s entertainment is a lively presentation of traditional music and dance. The colourful attire of different ethnic groups and the rhythm and beat of local musical instruments will leave lasting memories of Borneo’s rich cultural diversity. Transportation to and from the restaurant is by private car and English speaking Driver.

Located 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, just a 2 1/2-hour flight from Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa is a tranquil retreat offering 492 recently renovated rooms and suites, seven restaurants and bars, and a wealth of enjoyable recreational opportunities for families and leisure travellers. The resort is now home to CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, a luxurious private spa experience based on traditional Asian healing philosophies. Opened on 20 December 2007, the spa comprises 5 individual Island Villas, 3 Couples' Villas and an open Yoga Pavilion, all located on Pulau Bayu, the resort’s private island.

Overnight at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru.

Day 6 Kuching

Kuching is a pleasant start to any Borneo trip. It's a laid-back, modern city with many traces of its history still intact in the marketplaces and the covered sidewalk shopping streets. The Sungai Sarawak (river) cuts right through the city. The Istana and Fort Margherita are to the north of the river. Everything else is on the south bank. There are a lot of markets, alleyways and small streets to explore in this city.

Transfer between the airport and your hotel with private car and driver.

Fly from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching.

Transfer between Kuching and Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort by land and boat. You will pass through scenic countryside consisting of quaint

little towns, villages, padi fields, pepper and oil palm plantations interspersed with secondary and virgin jungle as the road starts to wind and undulate as you go deeper into the interior. Stop for lunch at Lachau, a small town on the way to the resort. Arrive at the Hydro lake at Lubok Antu. Board a shuttle ferry for the resort situated on the southern bank.

You start your day with a pleasant drive to Semenggoh Orangutan Center. Walk through the scenic forest reserve to the feeding platform and chances to see semi wild orangutans coming down from the tree top for the daily feeding. Continue to drive for 4 hours through scenic roads and stop along the way to visit a farmer market, looking for wild orchids and pitcher plants and a pepper plantation. Continue to drive to Batang Ai Hydro Dam and then embark for a 15 minutes boat ride to the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort.

Set on the edge of spectacular rainforest, the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort is Hilton’s only jungle property. The Batang Ai national park is a 2-hour boat ride away, but rainforest surrounds the hotel waiting to be discovered.

Overnight at Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse.

Day 7 Kuching

Depart for Sepaya Longhouse by motorized native longboat. The journey will take you across the lake into the Engkari River, one of the many tributaries flowing into the lake. The journey will take 1 hour and 15 min. approximately before reaching Spaya Longhouse nestled on a hill beside the river. Constructed of tropical timber, these 2 units of longhouses has approximately 50 units of family rooms each. The natives here still spin cotton, weave the pua (traditional cloth), and create intricate carvings from bamboo and wood. Enjoy a short cultural performance by the inhabitant of the longhouse followed later on by a blow pipe demonstration. Lunch will be provided and if weather permits we will go for a short jungle walk around the vicinity of the longhouse.

Overnight at Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse.

Day 8 Kota Kinabalu

Transfer between Kuching and Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort by land and boat. You will pass through scenic countryside consisting of quaint

little towns, villages, padi fields, pepper and oil palm plantations interspersed with secondary and virgin jungle as the road starts to wind and undulate as you go deeper into the interior. Stop for lunch at Lachau, a small town on the way to the resort. Arrive at the Hydro lake at Lubok Antu. Board a shuttle ferry for the resort situated on the southern bank.

Fly from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu.

Transfer from Kuching airport to your hotel with private car and English speaking Driver.

Overnight at Depart.

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