Orangutanland
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Overview
Know your Fanta Pants*:
•Orangutans live in trees and build fancy sleeping nests every night, complete with mattress and pillows.
•They’ve got opposable thumbs, opposable toes and a 360-degree rotating hip joint. Jealous?
•Female orangutans like to flirt while pregnant, making the males confused about which one is their baby mama.
*Written by a Ranga.
(Was Best of Borneo)
Itinerary
Day 1 - Kota Kinabalu
**PLEASE NOTE: This trip will operate under a revised itinerary, for more information please see the 'What to Know' section or contact us.**
The locals call it ‘KK’ so don’t make a dick of yourself by calling Sabah’s capital ‘Kota Kinabalu’.
- Arrive in KK and get to know the area
- Perhaps visit the Sabah Museum and the State Mosque
- Why not escape the hustle and bustle of Kota Kinabalu and take a walk up Signal Hill, which offers great views over the city
Day 2 - Sandakan - Sepilok
Rangas of the world rejoice. Today we meet their namesake at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
- Fly to Sandakan, a town situated at the mouth of a picturesque bay
- Visit the The Sandakan Memorial Park, a grim showcase of World War II
- Continue to the nearby Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre
- View rare orangutans swinging freely in the trees, especially around feeding time
- Spend a night at a lodge in Sepilok
Day 3-4 - Kinabatangan River
Ride a boat along the river, keep an eye out for monkeys, elephants, giant squirrels, macaques and orangutans. Stay in a local house for a night.
- Head overland to an area known as Sukau
- Visit the MESCOT Eco-Tourism initiative to learn more about the project
- Spend a night in an authentic camp hut
- Stay with a local family near The Kinabatangan river
- Observe the variety of wildlife in the area - this is a nature lover’s paradise
- Take a boat ride along the river - the perfect vantage point from which we can marvel at the peaceful wilderness.
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5 - Mesilau
You’ll smell the Rafflesia flower before you see it. Then again, as the world’s biggest flower it’s pretty hard to miss. Also known as the ‘corpse flower’ it smells like rotting flesh and thankfully only blooms a few days each year.
- Drive to Kudasang and the Mesilau Nature Resort
- Take the opportunity to explore the surrounding area - home to an estimated 4,500 species of plants, 289 species of birds and 290 different types of butterflies
Breakfast | DinnerDay 6-7 - Mount Kinabalu
It’s a tough hike but if you can handle some long walks with the odd hill you’ll be fine. The epic view from the top makes the sweat and chafing worth it.
Day 6
- Start the trek and walk five to six hours to the hut at Laban Rata
- Hike through tropical rainforest into alpine terrain
- Take in the diverse array of plant life long the way, such as orchids, rhododendrons and pitcher plants
- Be lucky to see the Rafflesia - the largest flower in the world
Day 7
- Commence the ascent to the summit very early in the morning (about 2:30am)
- Aim to reach the top before sunrise
- Experience awe-inspiring views from the summit at Low’s Peak - with the jungles of Sabah on one side and the South China Sea on the other
- Return to Gunting Lagadan and head to the Laban Rata hut for a well-earned breakfast before continuing the descent to the base
- Take an optional excursion to the Poring Hot Springs and perhaps take an interesting walk along a canopy walkway, located high in the treetops, or visit to a tropical garden
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 8-10 - KK
Head to the waterfront for a celebratory seafood feast or take a day trip to one of the nearby islands for a beer and a swim. Your trek-weary legs will soon be a distant memory.
Days 8-9
- Stay on the edge of Kinarut seashore for a few nights
- Enjoy time at your leisure to laze by the pool or perhaps hire a canoe for a paddle on the pristine waters off the South China Sea
Day 10
- Reluctantly leave the beach side retreat and return to the hotel in Kota Kinabalu
- Spend some more free time doing more sightseeing of the city
Day 11-12 - Limbang - Iban Longhouse
Have a laugh with our local Iban hosts. Sleep in their traditional longhouse (it's as the name suggests, a long single roomed house so snorers beware).
Day 11
- Board a couple of boats bound for Limbang - a place of much activity during World War II
- Perhaps spent time wandering through the towns before heading into the forested Mulu region
Day 12
- Travel overland to Medamit
- Continue by longtail boat to overnight accommodation in a traditional longhouse
- Spend the night as guests of Iban hosts and experience a first-hand taste of how the Iban people's life and customs
Day 13 - Headhunters Trail - Camp 5
Follow the former trail of the Kayan headhunters (breathe easy we said ‘former’). Prepare to get dirty, it gets pretty wet and muddy here.
- Farewell your Iban friends and continue on foot
- Trek through a section of lowland forest, known as the Headhunters Trail - a trail was originally used by Kayan warriors,
- Follow the route to the Melinau Gorge and Camp 5
- Stay overnight on the floor in very basic jungle hut accommodation
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 14- 15 - Mulu National Park
Walk a bit more before we board a longboat down the Melinau River. Stop by Deer Cave, home to 32 million bats. Its Bruce Wayne's worst nightmare.
- Catch the longboat down the Melinau River to Mulu
- Explore some of the biggest and most impressive caves in the world - Wind Cave, Clearwater Cave and Deer Cave
- Witness the amazing spectacle of bats emerging from the gaping mouth of Deer Cave at dusk
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 16 - Kuching
Stu reckons you should head to Semenggoh Wildlife Rehab Centre for orangutan feeding time at either 9am or 3pm. Then grab a bite at Top Spot Food Court with the locals.
- Fly into Kuching, one of the most attractive cities in South East Asia
- Enjoy ample time to explore this picturesque city
- Perhaps visit Fort Margherita, The Istana, the famous Sarawak Museum, or take a stroll on the waterfront
BreakfastDay 17-18 - Bako National Park - Kuching
Check out the macaques, wild boar, proboscis monkeys (the ones with the big noses), giant monitor lizards and more.
- Take a day trip to Bako National Park, the oldest in Sarawa
- Spend the day exploring and observing local flora and wildlife, and perhaps spot the rare proboscis monkey or Monitor lizards
- Spend the final evening in Kuching
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What to Know
What's Included
An experienced local tour guide, and there will be the services of local site guides at some sites. All transportation, accommodation, sightseeing and meals as indicated. The flights from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan, Mulu to Miri and Miri to Kuching are included in your tour and will be provided locally.
Not Included
- International flights, arrival and departure transfers, departure and airport taxes, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.
Safety Information
*** DUE TO CURRENT DFAT WARNINGS THIS TRIP WILL OPERATE UNDER A REVISED ITINERARY ***
In March armed insurgents from the Sulu group laid siege upon the Lahad Datu area of Sabah (South East Coast). The Malaysian military responded with an air strike and artillery bombardment, ending the siege. The Malaysian government is presently conducting a “mopping up” operation against the armed intruders. In response, DFAT has proceeded to issue “Do Not Travel” travel advice to the Kinabatangan area including Sandakan, in light of this, we are required to provide an alternative itinerary.
Therefore the tour will now follow the below itinerary: Day 2: Monday Accommodation: Shangri-La – Kota Kinabalu Itinerary: Drive out to Rasa Ria Orangutan Sanctuary (subject to availability). Visit Mari Mari Cultural Village
Day 3: Tuesday Accommodation: Shangri-La – Kota Kinabalu Itinerary: River Cruise on the Garama river – search for probiscus monkeys
Day 4: Wednesday Accommodation: Lupa Masa Jungle stay Itinerary: Today we embark on an adventure and head to the rainforest. It’s a short 1.5 km walk along muddy trails to a basic eco lodge in the heart of primary rainforest. We will learn some basic survival skills and have time to swim in the crystal clear water of a nearby river. In the evening we go for night walk to spot some local wildlife
Day 5: Thursday Accommodation: Mesilau – Kota Kinabalu Itinerary: Walk back to poring hot springs visit the springs for a swim, optional Kundasang War Memorial and prepare for the climb which begins tomorrow.
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Map
Map Itinerary
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Dates
Trip Dates and Prices
Start Date – End Date Trip Status Price 09 Jun 2013 - 26 Jun 2013 7+ Available US $3,120On Sale Sale: US $2,409 Book Now 04 Aug 2013 - 21 Aug 2013 6 Request US $2,780 Book Now 01 Sep 2013 - 18 Sep 2013 7+ Available US $2,780 Book Now 15 Sep 2013 - 02 Oct 2013 7+ Request US $2,780 Book Now 29 Sep 2013 - 16 Oct 2013 7+ Request US $2,780 Book Now 27 Oct 2013 - 13 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 24 Nov 2013 - 11 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 22 Dec 2013 - 08 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 05 Jan 2014 - 22 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 19 Jan 2014 - 05 Feb 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 02 Feb 2014 - 19 Feb 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 16 Feb 2014 - 05 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 02 Mar 2014 - 19 Mar 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 16 Mar 2014 - 02 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 30 Mar 2014 - 16 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 13 Apr 2014 - 30 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 27 Apr 2014 - 14 May 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 11 May 2014 - 28 May 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 25 May 2014 - 11 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 08 Jun 2014 - 25 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 22 Jun 2014 - 09 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now 06 Jul 2014 - 23 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $3,120 Book Now -
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What to know
A good level of fitness is required for the climb. You will trek on hilly terrain, generally on well-defined paths, walking between 3-8 hours per day.