Borneo, Malaysia and Singapore

We depart for Borneo, via Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

We arrive in Kota Kinabalu and transfer to our hotel.  This evening is our Welcome Dinner.

We take a ferry to Sapi Island for a relaxing day of strolling the picturesque beach, swimming in the turquoise waters, snorkelling to see the abundant tropical fish and marine life, and enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch.

We take the scenic drive to the northern tip of Borneo, passing expansive paddy fields, bustling villages, oil palm plantations, and stalls selling local produce and handicrafts. En route we stop at Sumangkap Village, known for its “Gong” making, and later at the Gombizau Honey Bee Farm to sample raw honey straight from the honeycomb! We continue to the Tanjung Simpang, known as the “Tip of Borneo” for spectacular views of the South China Sea before returning to Sahab for our overnight.

We travel the winding mountain road to Kinabalu Park - home to a wide range of exotic flora and fauna. First we stop at Nabalu Market where produce and handicrafts are sold, then enjoy the spectacular view of Mount Kinabalu. At the Park’s Exhibit Centre and Mountain Gardens we’ll discover the beautiful local plant life, then proceed to our nature resort in Sepilok for a 2-night stay.

We visit the Orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, where these majestic apes are rehabilitated before release into the wild. Then we continue to the Sun Bear Rehabilitation Centre for a close encounter with the world’s smallest bear. Later we visit Labuk Bay where the mangrove forest is a sanctuary for the unique Proboscis Monkey - unique to Borneo and one of the world’s most peculiar animals. We will also visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre before returning to our hotel where we may see the “flying squirrel” in action!

We begin with a one-hour cruise through the striking scenery of the Mangrove Forest to Abai Jungle Lodge. After lunch at the lodge we take another boat trip in search of wildlife, and after sunset we’ll see the magic of the fireflies who light up the foliage like Christmas trees. After dinner those who wish can do a guided night stroll on the nature boardwalk in search of birds and other wildlife.

We take a river trip to Pitas Oxbow Lake where we see elephants, monkeys, orangutans and even crocodiles in their natural habitat. We then enjoy the lunch prepared by the villagers. In the afternoon we cruise up river to Sukau village in search of the Proboscis Monkeys, birds and other wildlife and later take a boat ride on the Menanggul River before arriving at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge in Sukau for a 3-night stay.

The calls of Gibbons and Hornbills rouse us this morning, before we travel overland to the area of Gomantong Caves. We will hike on a forest trail and witness the sunset exodus of over two million bats, as well as raptors, from the Gomantong Cave.

We take a morning cruise on the Kinabatangan River to search for wildlife, and in the afternoon we explore the Mananggul River, a smaller tributary.

We travel by boat back to Sandakan and transfer to the airport for our flight to Kuala Lumpur. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel.

Our tour of the city’s highlights takes in the Railway Station, the National Mosque, Merdeka Square, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the National Monument. At the Central Market we see local handicrafts, and there will be a photo-stop at the iconic Petronas Twin Tower. This evening dinner is at a local restaurant featuring Malay specialities.

We travel to historical Malacca. Our fascinating walking tour includes the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, bustling Jalan Hang Jebat Street, the river dock where wooden barges deliver charcoal and rice from Sumatra, the Town Square with its terracotta Dutch colonial buildings, the Malaccan Sultanate’s Palace and a visit of the great 16th century Portuguese Fort A’Famosa.

We proceed overland to Singapore. This evening we tour Chinatown, which has a rich history and heritage. We’ll visit a Chinese Medical Hall, enjoy dinner at a local Chinese restaurant and wander along the narrow lanes of the Night Market. The highlight is a trishaw ride through the alleyways of Chinatown, then a bumboat cruise along the river to see the city lights.

Our city tour takes in the Singapore Cricket Club, the “Padang”, historic Parliament House and Marina Bay. We will visit Thian Hock Keng Temple - one of Singapore’s oldest Buddhist-Taoist temples, the Singapore Botanical Gardens and Little India. Tonight is our Farewell Dinner at the Orchard Café.

We fly home to Canada via Hong Kong.