Borneo & Malaysia: 9-Day Luxury Small-Group Tour with Sepilok Orangutan Centre Visit & Penang & Ipoh Extension

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The Experiences – Incredible nature experiences await in Borneo

Nature enthusiasts will instantly fall in love with Borneo. In Sandakan, the gateway to Borneo’s incredible wildlife, you will visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which rescues and rehabilitates these rare animals, and the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, playing a vital part in preserving endangered orangutans. Your trip to Sandakan continues with a canopy walk at the Rainforest Discovery Centre, watching jungle life unfold around you, and visit to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in time to watch the monkey’s feeding.

You will also enjoy a cruise on the Lower Kinabatangan River, the second-longest river system in Malaysia, where you will soak up the spectacular scenery of pristine mangroves. Please note, transfers on the river will be shared.

VIP Package – Upgraded hotel rooms and Shangri-La Club access

Take your tour to the next level when you choose an upgraded package, which includes club access in Kuala Lumpur, a Deluxe Room with serene views in Sandakan, and a Junior Suite with sea views at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort in Kota Kinabalu. Enjoy added luxuries at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort like a complimentary minibar replenished daily with a selection of non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, and access to the Ocean Wing with exclusive privileges including access to the wing’s private pool, jacuzzi and garden area.

Penang and Ipoh Extension – Experience Penang, Ipoh and the famous Tempurung Cave

Experience more of Malaysia with this six-day extension, taking you from bustling Penang to historic Ipoh. Take part in a hands-on cooking class, discover the streets of Ipoh and take a walk through the Tempurung Cave to reach the iconic Golden Flowstone.

Your tour begins in Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Malaysia and finishes in Kota Kinabalu (BKI), Borneo. The extended tour begins and ends in Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

Roundtrip flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. Please do NOT book your flights until your tour is confirmed.

Please be sure to arrive in Kuala Lumpur by 12pm (midday) on Day 1 and depart any time after breakfast on Day 9 or Day 14. Private roundtrip airport transfers are included in your tour on the first and last day of set tour dates only. Early arrivals and late departures must arrange their own airport transfers.

You MUST complete your booking form within 7 days of booking. Following its completion, our Tours Concierge will be in touch to assist with any additional arrangements – including flights.

A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visas Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.

Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements. Contact sales@luxuryescapes.com.

Important Destination Information:

Time zone: GMT+8

Telephone: +60-8

Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (RM)

Accessing money: ATMs are widely available with credit cards widely accepted within the city. Cash is advised when visiting rural areas.

Language: Bahasa Malaysia

Climate: Straddling the equator, Borneo is subject to an intense tropical climate. In the lowlands, temperatures range between 25°C and 35°C, while at higher elevations things can get a lot cooler. Borneo has 2 monsoon seasons: the ‘dry’ monsoon (May–October) and the ‘wet’ monsoon (November–April).

Day 1: Arrive Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Selamat Datang, welcome to Kuala Lumpur! Upon arrival into Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) you will be met by your driver and transferred by private vehicle to your luxury hotel located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur (or KL, as it’s commonly known). As the capital of Malaysia, this is the largest city in the country, with dizzying high-rise buildings, world-class hotels, glitzy shopping malls and local and international cuisine on offer.

You will be staying in one of the city’s most popular hotels: the Shangri-La Hotel. Situated in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s bustling commercial centre, this luxurious sanctuary surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens is best described as an ‘oasis’ in the heart of the capital.

Later this afternoon, set off on a walking tour of Kuala Lumpur, followed by a welcome cocktail at a popular high-rise bar boasting impressive views over the iconic Petronas Towers.

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Malacca

Today we will travel to Malacca, a former colonial outpost, a true melting pot of cultures and influences. Prior to the 16th century, the city was a prosperous sultanate and trading centre drawing ships from the Middle East, India and China. The city became a settlement of the Portuguese followed by the Dutch, who turned Malacca into one of the great trading ports of Asia.

Enjoy a full day exploring the city’s remarkable history and its most significant buildings. Learn about the Chinese influences here with a visit to the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, dedicated to the Buddhist deity of mercy, Guanyin. Not far from the temple is Jonker Street, brimming with antique shops that recall more than 300 years of Malacca’s fusion of influences.

Enjoy a traditional lunch at the buzzing Nonya-Baba restaurant, then visit Dutch Square, which attests to the Dutch colonial influence of the 17th century. Dating to 1650, the bright maroon buildings in the square are the earliest examples of Dutch architecture in Southeast Asia. You’ll have the opportunity to visit the ruins of St Paul’s Church and A Famosa, the remains of a Portuguese fortress that is the earliest surviving example of European architecture in Asia.

Your visit ends at the Melaka Straits Mosque, which is built on stilts over the water, earning it the name ‘the Floating Mosque’. After returning to KL, the rest of the afternoon is spent at your leisure.

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3: Kuala Lumpur – Sandakan

This morning, explore the hidden alleys and shops of Kuala Lumpur, trying traditional street food along the way. Walk the old streets of KL, exploring beyond the tall buildings with their luxe exteriors, and get to know the Malaysian way of life and the city’s history from a local’s perspective. Return to your hotel to freshen up, before your transfer to the airport for your flight to Sandakan in Borneo.

Welcome to Sandakan, the gateway to Borneo’s wildlife. The city was once the capital of British-administered North Borneo and today is a busy port on the east coast of Sabah, East Malaysia. This port city is also a culinary paradise with amazing seafood and local delicacies unique to the cultural mix of people who have settled here over the centuries.

Enjoy the evening at your leisure as you settle into the Sabah Hotel, recognised as one of the finest hotels in Sandakan. Set in the verdant beauty of an old-growth tropical rain forest, the hotel boasts amenities such as a swimming pool, recreating centre and a choice of dining outlets.

Accommodation: Sabah Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

​Day 4: Sandakan

After breakfast, we set off to enjoy a full day amid nature. Our first stop is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). Founded in 2008, this wildlife conservation centre and research facility aims to improve the welfare and rehabilitation of the Malayan sun bear, a reclusive bear species standing just 70 centimetres tall. It also works to educate and raise public awareness about the plight of sun bears and the importance of working to conserve this highly endangered species.

Afterwards, enjoy a short walk to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (SORC). Get up close and witness these playful creatures in their natural habitat as your naturalist guide gives you an understanding of the plight of the orangutans in today’s world, and the initiatives that the Rehabilitation Centre has in place to ensure their ongoing survival and successful release back into the wild. You’ll also get the opportunity to see feeding time, before transferring to the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

Take a stroll over the suspension bridge and finish with the only Canopy Walk (147 metres long) in Sandakan. Be amazed by the incredible flora and fauna and your guide will highlight the varied birdlife and a vast diversity of flora that is endemic to this region. Then, continue to Sepilok Nature Resort for lunch, before a drive to Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary.

The evening is spent at your leisure.

Accommodation: Sabah Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5: Sandakan – Kinabatangan River

This morning, after breakfast, we will be transferred to the jetty in Sandakan for a cruise along the Kinabatangan River. Rising in the mountains of southwestern Sabah, the river is 560 kilometres long, making it the second-longest river system in Malaysia. Soak up the spectacular scenery as you pass pristine mangrove forests and keep a keen eye out for wildlife.

Arrive at Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort. Set within the ancient rainforest of the Lower Kinabatangan River and surrounded by pristine freshwater swamps and mangrove forest, the resort is an exclusive nature retreat, far from the major cities and tourists sights of Sabah. Take time to relax or explore the surrounding area on the nature boardwalk before an afternoon cruise in search of proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles and other wildlife.

As night falls, the glittering fireflies emerge among the mangrove trees as you return to the lodge for dinner before a guided night walk around the lodge’s nature boardwalk.

Accommodation: Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Kinabatangan River

Today we rise early for an unforgettable morning cruise to observe the area’s wildlife while enjoying a cup of coffee. Cruise to the nearby Pitas Oxbow Lake to explore the area and enjoy a picnic breakfast while admiring the natural surroundings. You will have the chance to visit a local fishing village before returning to the hotel.

After lunch, your afternoon will be free to enjoy an afternoon at leisure before meeting early evening for another river cruise along the Kinabatangan River. Return to the lodge for dinner.

Accommodation: Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Kinabatangan River – Kota Kinabalu

This morning, enjoy time at leisure to explore the nature boardwalk around the lodge. Look out for any signs of movement in the trees as wild orangutans, silver leaf monkeys and many of the colourful endemic birds are often seen in this area.

Later this morning, we take a cruise back to Sandakan to be transferred to the airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu, a bustling waterfront city surrounded by nature with off-shore coral islands, forest-covered hills, scenic rivers and, of course, Mt. Kinabalu – the highest peak in Southeast Asia.

A private transfer will drop us to the luxurious Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort – a stunning beachfront resort surrounded by 400 acres of tropical forest. This afternoon is yours to enjoy the resort facilities before heading to a traditional seafood restaurant for dinner.

Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 8: Kota Kinabalu

Enjoy a full day at leisure in beautiful Kota Kinabalu. Join an activity from the hotel’s extensive in-house program: from bird watching to jungle walks and breakfast with a view at Ria Lookout, there’s plenty to keep you entertained (charges apply).

Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Depart Kota Kinabalu

After breakfast at the hotel, your tour comes to an end. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Depending on your flight time, the day is at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Penang Extension

Day 9: Kota Kinabalu – Penang

After breakfast, be transferred to the airport from your included flight to Penang. The island of Penang is located off the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is considered one of Asia’s most culturally diverse destinations. Home to George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site famed for its diverse culture and dubbed Malaysia’s food capital, Penang is well known for its amazing culinary scene, beautiful palm-fringed beaches and cool hills that tempt you to explore further.

On arrival, you will be transferred to one of Penang’s premier beachfront resorts, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, where the rest of the evening is at leisure.

Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Penang

This morning, explore a working Tropical Spice Garden, with a guided tour of this living museum of spices and plants. Enjoy a cup of tea at the bamboo garden before taking part in a hands-on cooking class. Learn how to prepare some of Penang’s most popular dishes and discover the history and cultural importance of each dish, then sit down to enjoy a lavish lunch of the delicious dishes you have prepared.

Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11: Penang

Today is all yours to spend as you please. You might like to take the complimentary hotel shuttle into George Town and explore its food markets, stately colonial buildings, elegant Chinese mansions and hidden street-art trail. Or simply relax and make the most of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa’s facilities.

Accommodation: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12: Penang – Ipoh

This morning, we journey to Ipoh. Rich with incredible scenery, unique temples, colonial architecture, street art and good food, this town is one of Malaysia’s best-kept secrets.

Explore the town’s street art, walk through history on the heritage trail that winds its way through a number of historic buildings (including the Ipoh Railway Station, Ipoh Town Hall, Birch Memorial Tower, Ho Yan Hor Museum, and the Concubine Lanes), all while picking up local snacks along the way. After lunch, travel to your luxury hot springs retreat, where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax in your private outdoor plunge pool and hot tub.

Accommodation: The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat

Meals: Breakfast, Street Food Tasting and Lunch

Day 13: Ipoh – Kuala Lumpur

This morning we journey to Kuala Lumpur, stopping en route at the famous Tempurung Cave, one of the largest limestone caves in Malaysia.

Enjoy a guided walk to the impressive Golden Flowstone, a smoothed stone cascade that appears golden when the river is flowing. Along the way, admire the stalagmites and stalactites on walls and ceiling in various sizes and shapes.

We arrive in Kuala Lumpur late this afternoon, with the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Meals: Breakfast

Day 14: Depart Kuala Lumpur

After breakfast at the hotel, your tour comes to an end. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Depending on your flight time, the day is at your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast