Luxury tour of Borneo

Experience overview

Enjoy Malaysian Borneo’s indulgent side while you explore some of the planet’s most remarkable habitat on our Luxe Borneo holiday. You’ll be given every opportunity to spot superstar species such as orang-utans and pygmy elephants, and your holiday will be studded with luxurious treats, including four nights on a tropical jungle island, and a private flight over one of Asia’s most electrifying cities.

At a glance

  •     Admire KL from above on a private pleasure flight
  •     Enjoy sunset from the top of Petronas Twin Towers
  •     Cruise biodiverse Kinabatangan River at dusk
  •     Spot for orang-utans in Danum Valley’s ancient rainforest
  •     Conquer Borneo Rainforest Lodge’s canopy walkway
  •     Sink into true tropical luxury on Pulau Tiga island
  •     Indulge in some of Asia’s most desirable properties

 

Highlights

  • Discover Maeklong Railway Market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
  • Chef’s Table at Blue Elephant
  • Northern Thai Style Cooking Class at Baan Book Pratana
  • nteract with Elephants at Patara
  • Explore Phi Phi Island & Bamboo Island by private speed boat

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket

Culinary highlights

Beach holidays

Exotic islands


Sample Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Kuala Lumpur

On arrival in Malaysia, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel.

Day 2
Helicopter flight & Petronas Twin Towers

Take to the skies for a particularly impressive view of KL's skyline on a short private pleasure flight, over and around its iconic skyscrapers. Your pilot will draw your attention to famous landmarks including the KL Tower, Merdeka Square, National Stadium and of course the distinctive Petronas Twin Towers. It’s just a six minute flight, so keep your camera close at hand! The rest of your day will be at leisure until early evening, when you'll make your own way to the Petronas Twin Towers in time for sunset. Your ticket will provide access to the Observation Deck on level 86, and to the glass-walled Skybridge which connects the two towers, 170 metres above the ground! Soak in the panoramic views and watch the sun set over the city, before an evening at leisure, looking forward to tomorrow's adventure into Borneo.

Day 3
Fly to Sandakan in Borneo, boat to Kinabatangan River

Transfer to Borneo’s Sabah state, arriving at the Sandakan Yacht Club Jetty for the cruise to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, passing Berhala Island with its prominent sandstone cliffs. Your afternoon is at leisure until 4pm, when tea, coffee and local snacks will be served to set you up for a late afternoon river expedition in an open-topped boat. Look for wildlife with the help of your guide, and with any luck witness the impressive gathering of fireflies that frequently lights up the dusk. Return to the resort for dinner before venturing out on a guided night walk on the boardwalk around the lodge, spotting for nocturnal wildlife.

Day 4

Prepare to be woken early by the hooting calls of gibbons and hornbills! At least you'll be up in time for an early boat trip to spot the river’s colourful (and noisy) birds, and wildlife foraging on the riverbanks. Enjoy your own pre-breakfast snack in the pristine natural setting of an ox-bow lake, before stopping off at a small fishing village to meet the Orang Sungai (‘people of the river’), an indigenous group which lives along several of Sabah’s riverways. Head back to Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort for breakfast, after which the remainder of your day is at leisure. If you wish, take further wildlife-spotting trips in the late afternoon and after dark.

Day 5

Head deep into Danum Valley to find the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, which provides surprisingly luxurious accommodation for such an isolated location. The lodge is dedicated to wildlife spotting, with a long canopy walkway through the surrounding jungle, and seated viewing platforms where you can get comfortable and observe the wildlife in peace. There are also opportunities for excellent jungle trekking, specialised bird watching, outstanding photography, and messing about on the Danum River. Your visit will plunge you straight into the rainforest, with a guided walk along the lodge’s boardwalk nature trail and the superb canopy walkway. After dinner, join a night drive through a rainforest alive with sound, as you learn how to spot nocturnal animals such as civet cats, flying squirrels, tree frogs and Samba deer.

Day 6
Trekking & Night Walk

Early risers can take a pre-breakfast canopy walk for a fascinating bird’s eye view of the rainforest as its daytime residents noisily assert themselves while the sun rises. After breakfast on the veranda, hike the ‘Coffin Trail’, which leads to a 200 year old burial site created by an indigenous tribe. The route takes in a spectacular viewpoint which overlooks miles of horizon-spanning rainforest - a rare and precious sight, these days, even in the tropics. After lunch back at the lodge, explore one of the excellent forest nature trails for many wildlife-spotting opportunities, and the opportunity to take a dip in one of the forest’s natural pools or waterfalls. For a more boisterous alternative, spend the afternoon 'tubing' down the Danum River. In the evening, you can choose to join a night drive or walk through the forest.

Day 7
Fly to Kota Kinabalu

Take an early afternoon flight from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu where, on arrival, you will be driven to your hotel.

 

Day 8
Car & boat to Pulau Tiga

Journey by car and shared speedboat to Pulau Tiga. Time to kick off your shoes and sink your toes into the sand!

Days 9 to 11
Enjoy a few days R&R.

Your days will be at leisure to relax on the beach and make the most of the hotel's facilities.

Day 12
Boat to the mainland, depart Kota Kinabalu

Depart by shared speedboat to the mainland where you will be met and driven to the airport.

Booking Policy

  • English speaking, local guide
  • All accommodation listed
  • Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
  • Any domestic flights listed (unless marked otherwise)
  • All admission fees at attractions, temples and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
  • All meals listed
  • Entry visas
  • International airport departure taxes
  • Any meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Drinks, other than water on activity days
  • Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tip...)
  • Travel insurance
  • All other services not listed in 'inclusive'

Please note: During high season periods (such as Christmas and New Year) hotels often levy a surcharge and these are not included in the above prices. Your consultant will be happy to advise you of these.

 

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What our clients say about us

Zeev
Dec 2023
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We took a 16-day private tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. The tour company suggested a detailed itinerary, and we accepted it with minor changes. We had three domestic flights, and on every landing were met by our local guide on arrival. All guides spoke fluent English and were very knowledgeable. This was a trip of a lifetime. Dont miss the Red Bridge cooking school class in Hoi An - the chef has created a phenomenal program that starts with the tour of the local market and explanation of the vegetables and spices used in local cuisine. Highly recommended!
Daniel
Oct 2023
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My family and I completed a 12 day cycling trip with Vietnam Private Tours, and we had a blast. Our route started in Saigon, rode along the Mekong river, discovered Mekong delta, and relaxed on the Phu Quoc beaches is southern Vietnam. We loved the adventurous off-road routes, and we were comfortable the whole way thanks to the excellent support staff. We also loved supporting Vietnam Private Tours because of the amazing work they do with many charities, especially the incredible children’s hospital in Mekong delta.
Richard
July 28, 2023
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We just finished a 14-day cycling tour from Saigon to Siem Reap, spending 7 nights on board the Mekong River. We rode bikes 30k to 70 km daily, to the Mekong Delta rice fields. My Way Travel really understood that not everyone would will to ride, so they already made provision for people who didn’t ride with us. The guides were excellent and so was the trip. We really loved the boat, it had everything we needed on it. A group of 16 people were accommodated in 8 cabins, which means there were 2 people in a cabin. The food and drinks were all in abundance. Free Wi-Fi and laundry service were available too. The local people were amazingly friendly, and the environments really gave us a sense of relief. The hotels at either end of the trip were exemplary. Above all, we have made our minds to always use My Travel on every trip occasion, due to the great experience we had with them.
Ani
Dec 2023
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Had an awesome time biking to Mekong Delta from Saigon last week. Beautiful views, peaceful rural paths, and lots of cool stops. The guides took great care of us. Definitely recommend VPT for biking in Mekong Delta and other tours in Vietnam.
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