Borneo: Rajas, Riches, Rainfores & Reefs

Day 1 Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia / Embark

Kota Kinabalu is the gateway to Borneo with regular flights to and from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur available.

Day 2 Pulau Tiga

The name Pulau Tiga means ‘Three Islands’, but only two of the original three remain in this 15km2 marine park. The islands themselves are recent creations, formed in 1897 by the eruption of mud volcanoes that are still active in the form of bubbling mud pools. The larger of the two remaining islands, Palau Tiga is lined with fine sandy beaches providing great places to relax or a gateway to the underwater realm that fringes the shoreline. For the more energetic amongst us the island has a network of walking trails crisscrossing the island.

Day 3 Klias Wetlands, Sabah

Located about 120 km from Kota Kinabalu on the Klias Peninsula are the Klias Wetlands, a Mangrove Forest Reserve rich with river wildlife and birds. Among the wildlife that can be spotted on a mangrove cruise on the Klias River are proboscis monkeys, long tail macaques, with some luck silver langurs and of course an amazing variety of birds.

There will be no landings today but still an amazing opportunity to explore the wetlands and spot wildlife exists from our fleet of Zodiacs. A variety of primates should present themselves today and the birdlife is significant as well, including herrons and hornbills.

Day 4 Pulau Labuan, Territory of Labuan

Pulau Labuan is a tiny island town off Sabah’s coast that was formerly known as Victoria Town. Today, it is a hub for duty-free goods and boasts some nice cultural touches and landmarks. Because of its proximity to Brunei, Labuan attracts many visitors as well as avid scuba divers for its rich marine life. Labuan played a role in World War II particularly during Operation Oboe Six, which was the codename for the campaign by Australian forces to retake Brunei and Labuan island from Japanese forces between 10 June 1945 and the end of World War II. In 1990, it was declared an international offshore financial center and free trade zone.

Today's activities will focus on the island's history during WWII. Our included tour today will visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery housing the graves of many Australian, Indian and other Commonwealth forces killed during the retaking of Labuan and other parts of the Borneo campaign.

We will also visit the memorial peace park and "surrender point", the location where Japanese forces surrended to the Commonwealth forces at the end of the war. We will also visit the Labuan Chimney, situated on a rise at Tanjung Kubong this famous ‘Chimney’, is a high red brick stack believed to be possibly linked to the coal mining days of Labuan. The Chimney was made from more than 23,000 pieces of red bricks imported from England. The bricks layering and works are typical of British style. The ‘Chimney’ is still very much a mystery until today. Various hypothesis has been put forward to its purpose. Some say it is an unfinished mansion. While others say it was a light house beaconing passing ships.

Day 5 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is very welcoming and when not in use for prayers you will have the opportunity to examine this architectural marvel. Your visit to Kampong Ayer is a beautiful sight to see with hundreds of houses seemingly floating on water. The people are very friendly and many open up their homes to visitors. The Royal Regalia museum near the city center displays gifts received by the Sultan. The Brunei Museum on the Kota Batu road has an excellent display in the Islamic Art Gallery.

Day 6 Bintulu (for Simalajau National Park)

The clear waters of the streams within the park are stained by the tannins of the peat swamps, lending them an attractive ruby red tinge. There is a great variety of faunal diversity on display throughout the park. From pitcher plants with tiny pitchers measuring merely 1cm to those growing to 20cm high. Tiny and colorful orchids can be seen rooted to trees and the rocks around the headlands. The more common fauna in the park includes gibbons, banded langurs and long tailed macaques. The park is also home to 185 bird species, including 7 species of hornbills, saltwater crocodiles, dolphins, porpoises and green sea turtles.

Day 7 Bako National Park, Sarawak

Bako National Park heralds an early arrival for us as we have no time to waste in experiencing its rainforests, abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, interesting plant life, secluded beaches and trekking trails. Very few places in the world pack so much natural beauty into such a limited area. Bako is one of the most rewarding parks in Sarawak for wildlife and protected since 1957, the animals are less wary of humans.

A series of walks of varying degrees of difficulty are available today throughout the Bako National Park. Once again we will be surrounded by wildlife, including numerous proboscis monkeys and macaques. Zodiac cruises will also be available today. Due to the fact that wildlife here have been protected since the 1950's the animals are quite used to humans and do not see them as a threat which allows us to walk through the park and see the animals quite easily.

Day 8 Tanjung Datu National Park, Sarawak

Tanjung Datu National Park is one of the smallest parks in Sarawak, with an area approximately 14km² (1,379 ha). Half of the peninsula is situated within Sarawak and the other portion lies in Kalimantan. Described as the ”Heaven of Borneo” by most visitors, its natural features of rain forest and unique coral reefs make it a significant area for its biodiversity. Its mountain ranges and luxurious mixed dipterocarp forest and fauna make the park a fascinating place to visit. Remoteness and isolation makes for a spectacular destination for us in Borneo.

Our Zodiacs will land on a sandy beach to allow us to explore the tracks of Tanjung Datu National Park this morning. The wildlife will surround us we explore with a great mix of primates and birdlife. There is a beautiful beach for swimming and weather permitting we will host a beach BBQ today near the park headquarters. Later in the day there will be the opportunity to explore further into the wildlife reserve by Zodiac for more wildlife spotting.

Day 9 Kuching, Sarawak (for Semenggoh Rehabilitation Center)

The capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, and also the largest city on the Island of Borneo, Kuching is today a vibrant and lively city. Kuching is also home to the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Established in 1975 for the rehabilitation of confiscated and surrendered wild animals, including orangutans, it is located just south of Kuching city and is situated within the beautiful Semenggoh Nature Reserve. The city itself has a bustling China Town district and many delightful buildings such as the palace of the White Rajah along with temples and mosques. We will arrive in Kuching mid morning, staying overnight and into the next day.

Day 10 At Sea

Depart Kuching this morning and continue your voyage towards Singapore.

Day 11 Singapore / Disembark

The British East India Company established a strategic trading post on the island of Singapore in 1819, which was to become an important post along the Spice Route. Although a thriving and modern metropolis, remnants of these early colonial days can be enjoyed in many traditional pursuits such as a rickshaw ride and Singapore Sling at the famous Raffles Hotel. A compact and efficient city, Singapore offers easy access from most international airports.