17 Day Peninsular Malaysia & Borneo Discovery Premium Small Group Tour
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 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
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.
✓ Small group tour, up to 16 guests only
✓ Incredible sightseeing on this adventure through the tropics, including Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding sights, Penang, Ipoh, and the breathtaking Cameron Highlands, Manukan Island, visiting endangered orangutans and sun bears in Sepilok, viewing unique birds and wildlife on a safari cruise along the Kinabatangan River, staying at a turtle hatchery island - Selingan Turtle Island and more
✓ Fully escorted by a professional, English-speaking tour guide
✓ 12 nights at 4-star accommodation
✓ 2 nights immersed in nature at a rainforest lodge
✓ 1 night in a chalet on Selingan Turtle Island
✓ 1 night in a lodge on Manukan Island
✓ Breakfast daily, 8 lunches, 7 dinners and a high-tea experience
✓ Domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, and Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
✓ 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.
Selamat Datang! Welcome to Malaysia.
Located right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, you’ll be only a 5 minute walk from Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC Park, and major shopping malls including Suria KLCC. Once checked in and settled, you’ll have the afternoon to relax at the hotel or explore Kuala Lumpur.
At 6pm you’ll meet the rest of the group and head out on a walking tour nearby KLCC, followed by a local-style welcome dinner at Kampung Baru.
Kampung Baru is the quintessential Malay village in the middle of Kuala Lumpur, and one of the best places to try authentic Malay street food. From the ubiquitous nasi lemak to a variety of hot and spicy dishes and sweet desserts, Kampung Baru is a mix of delicious food in an old-world charm setting.
We’ll return to the hotel where the rest of the night is at leisure.
Note:
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
After an early breakfast, we’ll travel to Gombak to Batu Caves (approximately 50 minutes), our first stop today.
This natural limestone cave is home to a Hindu temple nestled within its depths. We’ll ascend the 272 steps to the cave's entrance, encountering playful monkeys along the way (hold onto your belongings!).
On our way back to the city, we’ll visit the National Palace and Independence Square, or Merdeka Square where Malaysians gather every August 31 to celebrate their independence, before continuing to the River of Life.
The River of Life was featured as one of the top 10 waterways worldwide by The Independent newspaper in London. From here, there’s also stunning views of the city’s oldest mosque, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad. We’ll also explore Central Market, the go-to place for souvenirs. You’ll find plenty of Malaysian handicrafts here, including batik. If time permits, we’ll try our hand at batik painting ourselves, before heading to Chinatown to explore and have lunch.
After our Chinatown visit, we’ll return to the hotel where the rest of the day will be spent as you wish.
This morning you will have some free time before driving to Penang, around 4.5 hours away.
Penang is a UNESCO cultural heritage-listed city famed for its important sights and natural scenery. It’s also known for its amazing culinary scene, beautiful palm-fringed beaches, colonial structures and ornate temples.
At around 6pm, we will walk to our dinner location, around 1.5km. Penang’s food scene is an intoxicating blend of flavours, textures and ingredients introduced by early settlers who brought their own unique food culture with them. At tonight’s dinner, expect plates of tasty noodles, spicy laksa, delicious dumplings, aromatic chicken rice and more, will be served from pushcarts to tables—enjoy!
After breakfast, we’ll travel to Penang Hill. Dating back to the late 1700s, Penang Hill is the oldest British hill station in Southeast Asia. The highest peak of Penang Hill stands at 833 metres.
First, we’ll hop onto the funicular train service (which started in 1923) and enjoy the surrounds and views of Penang Island. The steep gradient adds a touch of excitement to the journey, as does the opportunity to explore the surrounding rainforest. We’ll take a leisurely stroll at the Habitat Penang Hill. This delightful rainforest trail offers a panoramic view of the hill.
On the way back to the hotel, we will visit Georgetown’s Clan Jetties of Penang, historic Chinese villages built out over the water on long jetties. Built in the 19th century as Chinese immigrants arrived in Penang, some jetties have since been destroyed but we will explore a clan house, which is also a temple, and a mansion filled with memorabilia and artefacts which illustrates the Chinese influence on Georgetown’s early history.
We will be dropped off at Armenian Street in the heart of George Town, where we can wander around exploring the street art and historical buildings as we make our way back to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
After breakfast and check out, we will travel to Cameron Highland, around a 3.5 hour drive from Penang.
We will stop at Ipoh for a short tour and lunch. Ipoh was built on the fortunes of its tin mines in the 19th century which peaked during the British colonial era in the 1950s. Much of the city’s architectural past can be seen in the old Chinese shop houses, government buildings, private residences and historical landmarks. Its food culture is richly influenced by these early settlers and is one of main drawcards. Famous Ipoh dishes include chicken rice, Ipoh curry mee (noodles), and chicken ho fun (chicken and prawn noodle soup).
After lunch, we’ll continue our journey, enjoying the picturesque drive to the historic British hill station and tea producing area of the Highlands. Renowned for its breathtaking mountain vistas cloaked in lush jungle and pleasant weather, we will check in on arrival and have the chance to relax for the rest of the day.
After breakfast, we will explore the mossy forest. Wisps of mist wafting through the treetops in the mossy forest surrounding Mt. Brinchang is both surreal and exciting as you walk the 2 kilometre-long boardwalk through the forest where orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants can be seen.
Return to the starting point and travel to our next destination. Cameron Highlands is picture-perfect with stunning vistas of rolling hills carpeted by lush greenery and tea plantations. This former colonial hill station is the main producer of tea in Malaysia. We’ll enjoy a cup of tea while admiring the gorgeous mountain landscape.
Afterwards, we’ll return to the hotel and the rest of the afternoon can be spent as you wish. At 6pm we’ll meet for dinner at a local restaurant.
After breakfast, we’ll check out and begin our return journey to Kuala Lumpur, where you will have the day to spend as you wish.
At 6pm, we will walk to a local restaurant for our farewell dinner.
After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Kuala Lumpur Airport for your flight onwards to Borneo.
On arrival, you will be transferred to your Kota Kinabalu Hotel where you will have the day to explore on your own before your 6pm tour briefing, orientation walk of the surrounding areas and dinner (not included).
Enjoy your breakfast before catching a boat to the island at 12:00 PM. Once you arrive, you can store your backpack at the island concierge.
Check-in is at 3:00 PM, so feel free to relax in a shaded spot, read a book, have lunch, and soak up the sunshine and sea breeze!
Snorkeling gear is available for rent if you'd like to take a swim. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy at your leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.
Please pack for a 1-night stay on the island and leave the rest of your luggage in your Kota Kinabalu hotel.
Manukan Island is known to have jellyfish (especially from January to March), which can impact snorkeling. It is recommended to bring a rash vest or long-sleeved swimwear to protect yourself from stinging in case there are jellyfish in the region on your snorkeling trip.
If possible, we recommend you bring your own snorkeling gear.
After breakfast, take a leisurely morning walk or dive straight back into the water. Check out in the late morning, then hop on a boat to the mainland. From there, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.
Optional Tour
Mari Mari Culture Village with Hi-tea (From MYR 223 pp) 2pm schedule - duration: 3 hours). Discover the rich heritage of Borneo's tribes, their traditional homes, and unique delicacies. Experience daily life demonstrations as you explore traditional huts guided by locals. Includes return transfers, local guide, hi-tea & tour. This optional tour can be booked and paid locally with your tour guide.
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.
Optional tours are booked and paid locally with your tour guide on day 1.
After an early breakfast, we will drive approximately 2 hours to the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. En route, we’ll stop at Pekan Nabalu market for refreshment breaks and to also sample the local produce. Continue to Kinabalu Park Headquarters to visit the Kinabalu Geopark Gallery and Botanical Garden.
Continue onto Kinabalu National Park where you will meet an experienced guide who will take us along trails in Malaysia’s first world heritage site. There are a few different options depending on your fitness level and interest. The mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological sites in the world, with over 800 species of orchid, 600 species of ferns, 326 species of birds, and is the richest place in the world for the nepenthes insectivorous pitcher plants (five of the thirteen are only found here).
Afterwards, we will return to Kota Kinabalu where the evening is at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
This morning will be an early start, as you will be transferred to Kota Kinabalu Airport in time for your flight to Sandakan.
Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a remarkable facility focused on rescuing and rehabilitating Sun Bears. Here, you’ll learn about these endangered animals, many of whom have suffered mistreatment and captivity, and witness their recovery in a safe and natural environment. After the visit, we’ll proceed for lunch at a local restaurant.
Following lunch, we’ll head to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, established to help reintroduce these incredible creatures back into the wild after lives of domestication or being orphaned. You’ll also have the chance to watch a short film in the reserve’s interpretation center, which highlights the orangutan rehabilitation process. Afterward, we’ll return to the hotel for check-in and some time to rest.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your included flight allows one checked bag up to 20kg (44 lbs), and one 7kg (15 lbs) carry-on, with options to increase your luggage allowance at the airport if needed.
Your flight documentation will be given to you on tour by your tour guide.
After breakfast, you will be transferred by road to the local jetty, in time for your boat transfer to Selingan Island, famous for its turtle hatchery. The boat transfer will take approximately 1 hour as you pass small fishing villages and bamboo fishing traps.
On Selingan Turtle Island, green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs every night of the year. In the afternoon, there's time for swimming, snorkelling or some quality time lazing about on the beach of this tropical island. Snorkelling gear is available for hire.
In the evening, be touched by the sight of giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs under the moonlight and watch the researchers as they release protected hatchlings and guide them in their frantic dash to the ocean. Beware 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.
You will spend tonight on the island.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.
It is necessary to travel light to the island for various reasons including the capacity of the boat and the island having no permanent jetty. We strongly recommend taking an overnight bag with only necessities - your remaining luggage will be securely stored and returned to you upon arriving back in Sandakan.
Due to the limited capacity of accommodation, Single Supplements are not available for this night and solo travellers will be roomed with other solo travellers of the same gender whilst staying at the chalet.
Whilst here, you will need to adhere to the strict rules and regulations dictated by the staff.
Please note:the beach closes from 05:00pm onwards and activities on the beach are no longer allowed.
Enjoy an early breakfast before departure at 7am. Take the return boat trip to the mainland where you will pickup your luggage and then proceed to Kinabatangan. We will stop by at Gomantong Cave (not inclusive of camera fee), the largest limestone cave in Sabah, renowned for its bird nests and home to millions of swiftlets.This area is a habitat for 10 species of primates, including Gibbons, Red leaf langurs, macaques, orangutans, slow lorises, and western tarsiers. If you are lucky, you will also encounter 8 species of hornbills, such as the Rhinoceros Hornbill, Pied Hornbill, Black Hornbill, along with a variety of kingfishers, bulbuls, trogons, flycatchers, sunbirds, broadbills and many other wildlife species.
Upon arrival at the rainforest lodge, check into your accommodation before having lunch. This afternoon, you will embark on your first river safari to view wildlife and birds in its virgin rainforest habitat. Arrive back at the lodge with time to freshen up before dinner.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Spend today fully immersed within nature as you have early morning and afternoon river safaris.
The Kinabatangan River wildlife includes rarities such as the Bornean gibbon, Borneo pygmy elephant, orangutan and proboscis monkey with myriad species of birds that will keep you glued to your binoculars.
Inspiring Highlights
Enjoy breakfast with the beautiful morning view of the Kinabatangan River before heading back to Sandakan.
Enjoy lunch in Sandakan and continue your visit to the Sandakan Memorial Park. The park commemorates the sacrifice and suffering endured by both Australian and British soldiers who were held by the Japanese as Prisoners of War between 1942 and 1945.
Next, you will visit the Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple, located on a steep hilltop where you can have a magnificent view overlooking Sandakan Bay and the Town Centre. From here, continue to one of the oldest churches in Sabah, St. Michael's Church (entrance fees at own expense) where you can see a century-old building where Christianity is preached.
You will also visit the Agnes Keith Museum to learn about life in the colonial days of Agnes & Harry Keith. Harry was the first conservator of the Forestry Department in Sabah and Agnes was the author of the three famous books called Land Below the Wind, Three Came Home, and White Man Returns.
Return to your hotel and enjoy your evening at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Today, we say farewell to Borneo!
Please make your own way to the airport in time for your departure flight.
Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.
Special Information
Airport departure transfers are not included but can be arranged and paid for on-site (approximately MYR 88). Please inform your tour guide, and they will take care of the arrangements for you.
The island is a natural habitat for green and hawksbill turtles. Both species are currently endangered, however the island serves as a safe haven for laying their eggs. Whilst here, you will need to adhere to the strict rules and regulations dictated by the staff.
It is necessary to travel light to the island for various reasons including capacity of the boat and the island having no permanent jetty. We strongly recommend taking an overnight bag with only necessities - your remaining luggage will be securely stored and returned to you upon arriving back into Sandakan.
Due to limited capacity of accommodation, solo travellers will be roomed with other solo travellers of the same gender whilst staying at the chalet.
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This is a Land Only package.
This package does not include international airfares. If you would like to add airfares to your booking our flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub. The flight portal will allow you to search for all available airfares to your destination. The function works like most general flight search engines allowing you to select your preferred airline, book different cabin classes (eg. Business class) and view flight durations and transit times to your destination.
The flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub once the following criteria has been met:
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
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. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
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”3”
Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
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, but we can’t guarantee your request will be available at all properties.
Single travellers
When booking this tour, solo travellers will be presented with three options:
1 - Single Supplement
By paying an additional $1,045.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price, you guarantee the privacy of your own room throughout the entire trip.
2- Shared Room with a known friend
If travelling together with a friend, you can opt to share your room with him/her and avoid paying a single supplement.
You and your friend can create a unique booking each. Creating a unique booking, gives each of you the flexibility of making different travel arrangements (such adding extra accommodation, flights, etc), make separate payments and have individual access to our Traveller Hub
During the purchase path, you will need to provide your friend’s booking ID (if known) or at a minimum, your friend’s full name.
3- Shared Room with a fellow traveller
In this trip you can opt to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same gender – as specified in your passport - and avoid paying a single supplement.
If you believe you may prevent your travelling companion from enjoying a peaceful night’s rest, please refrain from selecting this option.
You will meet your rooming companion at the beginning of your trip.
Changes to room configuration during the trip must be organised by travellers directly with the hotel, subject to availability and additional charges.
This option is not available on additional accommodation booked before or after the tour.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for this tour 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 traveling.
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.
Group Size
Minimum of 2 and maximum 16 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 Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
Post Tour Accommodation
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
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