10 Day Best Of Borneo
This tour includes return international airfares. See the Fine Print section for further details.
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5
Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
✓ Return international airfares included
✓ Small group tour, up to 20 guests only
✓ Incredible sightseeing on this adventure through the tropics, including Gaya Island, visiting endangered orangutans and sun bears in Sepilok, viewing unique birds and wildlife on a safari cruise along the Kinabatangan River, watching baby turtles take their first steps into the sea at Selingan Turtle Island and more
✓ Fully escorted by a professional, English-speaking tour guide
✓ 8 nights in deluxe hotel accommodation
✓ Breakfast daily, 7 lunches, 4 dinners
✓ Comfortable, dedicated transportation throughout
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Malaysia.
On arrival into Kota Kinabalu, you will be met by your included transfer and taken to your accommodation.
Spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Some flights may depart the night before and fly overnight, to arrive on Day 1.
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel to take the 30-minute speed boat to Gaya Island, Borneo’s biodiverse treasure-trove of jungle and marine life. On arrival, start your adventure on a jungle trail and explore the region's unique tropical plants. Enjoy lunch by the beach then spend the afternoon at your leisure swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing at the beautiful beach before returning to Kota Kinabalu.
Depart this morning for a 2-hour drive to the foothills of Mt.Kinabalu in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Kinabalu Park, one of the world’s most important biological sites with more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna. Stop en route at Pekan Nabalu markets to enjoy various seasonal tropical fruits. On arrival to the foothills, get ready to be astounded by the view of Mt Kinabalu, towering over you as the highest mountain in the Malay archipelago (4,095m). Later, head to Kinabalu Natural History Gallery and Mountain Garden. If the weather permits, enjoy a guided tour to explore the verdant forest. Continue to Poring Treetop Canopy Walk where suspension bridges constructed with ropes, steel cables and a series of aluminum ladders bolted together at 41m high offer a different view of the jungle.
This morning, transfer to the airport for the short flight across the Island to Sandakan. Upon arrival, transfer to the pier and set off to Selingan Turtle Island, a nesting beach and breeding ground for the endangered Green and Hawksbill Turtles. Spend the rest of the day at leisure swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing at the beach.
After dinner, you will have a chance to observe Green Turtles laying eggs before local rangers transplant the eggs to the hatchery and release the baby turtles on their first journey into the sea.
This morning we will return to Sandakan by boat. Stroll through the local market selling fish, assorted snacks and seasonal tropical fruits. Afterwards, visit Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple located on top of the hill, offering a panoramic view of Sandakan Bay. Later, you will learn the history of the oldest buildings in Sandakan at St.Michael’s and All Angels Church, then visit the famous American author Agnes Keith’s House to discover a place adorned with reproduced colonial furniture and many other significant objects. Continue your journey to Sim Sim Floating Village and Sandakan War Memorial Park built to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during World War II. Enjoy lunch then head to the Rainforest Discovery Centre where you can immerse yourself in a botanical wonderland.
After breakfast, we will transfer to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to witness how orphaned Orangutans are cared for and rehabilitated. Afterwards, visit the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre where you can see the world’s smallest bear. Later, embark to Sandakan and check in at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, nestled on the banks of Borneo’s Kinabatangan River. Later this evening, hop on a short River Safari Cruise.
This morning, take a Safari River Cruise on the Kinabatangan River to Oxbow Lake. Explore Borneo’s diverse wildlife along the way, then continue to Hornbill Boardwalk for an educational tour. This afternoon, join an Orangutan talk activity before continuing your cruise.
Rise early this morning to take another safari river cruise along the Menanggul River. Keep an eye out for local wildlife as you explore along the river. Afterwards, return to Sukau.
After breakfast this morning, return to Sandakan. At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
You will arrive home today with memories to last a lifetime
We offer two payment options – the choice is yours. Our advertised price is based on our 'Pay in Full' option, which includes a discount by making full payment at the time of booking. Alternatively, choose our 'Installment Payment Plan' option for the flexibility of incremental payments, beginning with a low deposit.
Please click 'Book Now' and proceed to the payment page to select your preferred option under the heading ‘Choose how to pay’. The total due will be reflected accordingly.
Pay In Full Option:
Installment Payment Plan Option:
Booking Process
Please note that flights for this package are arranged on our behalf by our local travel partner. The best available flights will be booked for you and will be sent along with your tour documentation approximately 2 weeks before departure.
Can I extend my stay pre- and/or post-tour?
No, due to the nature of this package and that airfares are arranged by our travel partner, flights will be booked as per the package and an extension of stay is not permitted.
Can I request a specific airline?
Requests to fly with a specific airline or on a specific flight schedule cannot be taken into consideration, with the best available option being booked.
Conditions of flights for this package:
Seat Selection & Frequent Flyer Points
Inspiring Vacations and our partners do not arrange seat selection. It is important to highlight that some airlines do not allow pre-selected seats or they may charge a fee to do so. We strongly suggest you contact the airline directly with seating allocation requirements and or arrive at the airport earlier to arrange your seating. While we do not add frequent flyer member details to bookings, you can do this directly with the airline once you have your flight information.
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a “1”.
1 – Leisurely Pace: This itinerary will be conducted at a relaxed pace. You will typically spend several nights at one location which means less time spent packing and unpacking, and more sightseeing. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and handling your own luggage.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.
For the services of your guide, it is suggested that you budget for AUD$6-$10 per person, per day. Tipping of your driver is also appreciated and we would suggest AUD$3-$5 per person, per day.
As this particular tour does not collect a ‘kitty’, it is entirely up to the individual whether or not you would like to tip locals for the services of things like taxis or when dining at restaurants. In these cases, we suggest you allow 10-20% of the value of the service as a tip. Again, it is not compulsory and entirely up to the individual.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $580.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent inflight and is subject to change, depending on the flight schedule. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent in your destination(s).
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while travelling.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.
Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
No Visas required for Australian passport holders for stays less than 90 days.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
4-20 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent inflight and is subject to change, depending on the flight schedule. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent in your destination(s).