Day 1: London to Kuching

Depart London Heathrow to Kuching.

Day 2: Arrival - Bako National Park

On arrival, you will be met and transfer to Bako Fishing Village. Continue by boat for a 30-minute cruise along the coast to reach Bako National Park. Visit the Park’s information centre and trek through the mangrove forest to observe the mudskippers and blue fiddler crabs. Follow the trails to look for proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, silver leaf monkeys and various species of carnivorous pitcher plants and wild orchids. Return to Kuching for an overnight stay.

Distances and journey time:

Kuching to Bako Village (24 km): 35 min

Bako Village to Bako National Park (by boat) 25 mins

Day 3: Santubong Dolphins - Semenggoh Orangutan

Pick up and depart to Semenggoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre situated about 30 mins drive from Kuching. Here, the orangutans are being nurtured to readapt themselves to the jungle life. You will have the chance to observe the semi-wild Orang Utans coming out of the forest for feeding time. Visitors are allowed to study and observe the orangutans at a distance. Transfer back to the hotel.

Afternoon, pick up and depart on a drive to the jetty located within Kuching Wetlands National Park. This tour takes you to cruise along the mangrove river towards the South China Sea in search of the elusive Irrawaddy dolphins (sightings depend on tidal conditions). Continue cruise along the river in search of the fascinating wildlife inhabiting the river mouths and mangrove forests. This is where you begin with a thrilling experience when sighting any estuarine crocodiles. Cruise along the mangrove to look for the Proboscis monkeys. The tour concludes with an amazing experience of gazing at the fireflies that light up the darkness on mangrove trees (weather permitting). After the cruise, return to the hotel

Distances and journey time:

Santubong Pier – Semenggoh (40km): 1 hour

Semenggoh – Kuching (20km): 35 min

Day 4: Mulu Caves

Take a scenic flight to Mulu. On arrival, meet your guide and driver for a transfer to your hotel.  After lunch, depart for Mulu National Park headquarters, where you will take a 3km elevated plank-walk to Lang Cave which adjoins the Deer Cave. Explore Lang Cave with its magnificent stalactites and stalagmites before proceeding to Deer Cave, where the biggest attraction is the colony of thousands of free-tailed bats that inhabit the cave. At dusk, witness an amazing spectacle as thousands of these bats emerge from the cave.

Overnight at Mulu

Distances and journey time:

Mulu Airport to Hotel (5 km): 10 mins.

Day 5: Mulu Caves

Take a 15-minute longboat ride up the Melanau River to experience Mulu’s two ‘must-see’ limestone caves: Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave. Explore the “King’s Room” before proceeding to Clearwater Cave. Walk on plank walkways that were built on the sides of limestone cliffs leading to Clearwater Cave. Then, climb up the steep steps that were carved into the side of the hill to get to the entrance of Clearwater Cave. Inside the cave, see the finer details of its various features and limestone formations.

Optional night trekking through the jungle to the park headquarters. 

Return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Mulu to Kota Kinabalu

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Meet your guide on arrival for a transfer to your hotel. Spend the day at leisure exploring the bustling city centre and the lively night market.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

Distances and journey time:

Mulu to Kota Kinabalu (300 km): 50 min (nonstop)

Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Hotel (8km): 15 min

Day 7: Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Enjoy a full day at the Coral Islands within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, 15 minutes off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. From the jetty, take a speedboat to Mamutik Island and then continue in the afternoon to Manukan Island. Enjoy the white sandy beaches and pristine waters of the TAR Marine Park

Return to the mainland and then to the hotel.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.

Day 8: Kota Kinabalu to Selingan Island

You will be picked up from your hotel for a transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport for a flight to Sandakan. At Sandakan Airport you will be met for a transfer to the jetty for a one-hour boat ride to Selingan Island for an overnight stay.

After dinner, wait for a signal from the Park Ranger before proceeding to watch the Green Turtles lay their eggs on the beach, the transplanting of eggs to the hatchery and the release of baby turtles to the sea. Overnight.

Day 9: Selingan Island to Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Return to Sandakan by boat. Transfer to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Walk ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden boardwalks to witness the feeding of the orangutans. After lunch, transfer to Sandakan jetty for 2½ hours boat journey to the multi-award winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan with an opportunity to view birds and wildlife. Take a river cruise in search of wildlife and birds. Enjoy a candlelight dinner overlooking the riverbank.

Day 10: Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Take a morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap oxbow lake to view more birds and wildlife. After breakfast, proceed for an educational tour along the Hornbill Boardwalk located behind the lodge with an in-house naturalist. In the afternoon, we proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife. Stay overnight at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

Day 11: Sukau Rainforest Lodge to Kota Kinabalu, Beach stay

Proceed 27 km overland to Gomantong Caves. Trek 20 minutes through the rainforest to the cave entrance to learn about the cave faunas including bats, swiftlets, and crabs among others. When it is in the season, witness the collecting of birds' nests by the local people.

Proceed for 2 hours overland to Sandakan airport for flight to Kota Kinabalu. On arrival at Kota Kinabalu airport, you will be met for a transfer to your beach resort for 5 nights.

Day 16: Departure

Collect from your hotel for a transfer to the airport. 

Not quite right? This itinerary is just to give you an idea of what is possible. Need some more inspiration? Please get in touch at 01473 214305 or email to sales@eastravel.co.uk We welcome your questions. We're here to help!