Borneo's Orangutans and Rainforest Adventure
13days from
£2,700*per person
Overview
Newmarket Holidays is offering 10% off all award-winning tours until Friday, 30 May.
Itinerary
- Overnight flight to Borneo - Fly overnight to Sandakan in Borneo, via Kuala Lumpur.
- Arrival - You’ll arrive in Sandakan, where you’ll meet your local guide and transfer to the Sabah Hotel for a two-night stay. A welcome dinner is included at the hotel this evening.
- Included visits to the Rainforest Discovery Centre and Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary and optional night walk at the Rainforest Discovery Centre - Join your tour manager this morning for an included visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre, where you’ll be met by a sea of scents and colours. Enjoy a guided walk along raised platforms on the rainforest floor, past fragrant orchids and colourful tropical flora, then head up slowly into the canopy where you'll have a bird’s eye view of this wonderful environment. With luck, you may catch a glimpse of the rhinoceros hornbill or perhaps even a swinging orangutan looking for some wild fruit! The tour will then continue to the remote Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you’ll have the chance to observe the unique proboscis monkey. While walking across the hanging platforms, you'll get to to view the monkeys up close as they feed and play. Look out for the distinctive males, who have pot bellies and large dangling noses, as well as silver leaf monkeys and macaques. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant afterwards. This evening, you may wish to join the once-in-a-lifetime optional night walk back at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in search of nocturnal wildlife. With an experienced park ranger and a 'spotter' at the helm, you'll be led through the darkness, seeking out rare species that you wouldn't normally get a chance to see during the day. Keep an eye out for flying squirrels, sleeping kingfishers and slow loris monkeys.
- Included Borneo's orangutans, sun bears and a river cruise - Today an undoubted highlight awaits as you visit the world-renowned Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, dedicated to the protection of the species that is closest to our own. Watch the feeding of the primates and stroll through the forest on the marked trails, before visiting the equally fascinating Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where the smallest of the world’s ursine species live in protected open-air enclosures. You can observe these creatures from one of the viewing platforms before having lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll then head further into the jungle for a two-night stay on the bank of the languid Kinabatangan River, at the Borneo Natural Bilit Resort, with its hardwood walkways and its riverside cabins. After arriving, you'll set off on on a two-hour boat river cruise with a guide, spotting wildlife like oranguatans, monkeys and birds as you go.
- Included jungle cruise from the lodge - Awaken early to the sounds of the jungle, and spend another day discovering its wonders. Cruise to Pitas Oxbow Lake to watch monkeys and pygmy elephants at play, and enjoy a second exciting afternoon cruise followed by a guided tour around the nearby village. The best chances to spot the Pygmy elephants are from March to October in the dry season.
- Transfer to Sabah Tea Resort - Transfer to the Sabah Tea Resort, in Ranau, for a two-night stay amongst pristine nature, surrounded by unspoiled forest and a working tea plantation.
- Included visit to Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs - You’ll have the morning to explore the tea plantation and learn about the product of rainforest tea before journeying to the famous Poring Hot Springs. Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant, before spending an afternoon at the springs, where in addition to the chance to take a dip in the therapeutic waters you can explore the jungle trail of walkways through the rainforest canopy.
- Transfer to Kotu Kinabalu - Journey deep into the UNESCO-listed Kinabalu National Park this morning, a forested paradise home to several unique species of orchid, 5,000 species of plants, over 300 types of resident and migratory birds, as well as 100 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Here you’ll enjoy a scenic hike through moderate elevation, of about 3kms, before pausing at the park’s headquarters, with its beautiful Mountain Garden Collection, then continue to the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure at the resort, perhaps spent lazing by the pools or on the beach, indulging in a spa treatment or two, enjoying the selection of water sports or perhaps a round on the championship golf-course (activities payable locally). Please note: Throughout your time in Kota Kinabalu, you’ll have a representative only during transfers and excursions, not on leisure days. A 24/7 contact number will be provided for emergency use during your time here.
- Day at leisure or optional Mari Mari Cultural Village excursion - Enjoy a sumptuous day at leisure at the resort, or join the optional Mari Mari Cultural Village excursion. Those who join the optional excursion will get a fascinating glimpse and gain insights into the history, lifestyle and culture of the indigenous Borneo tribes with the help of a local guide. During the excursion, you'll sample traditional food and drink before watching a performance and enjoying an included lunch. Five ethnic tribes call this village home, and live, for the most part, as they did hundreds of years ago.
- Day at leisure - Spend another relaxing day at leisure, with a selection of dining options and the attractions of Kota Kinabalu.
- Day at lesiure - Enjoy a final day at leisure, no doubt reflecting on a wonderful adventure.
- Return flight - Transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport for your flight to Kuala Lumpur, where you’ll catch your connecting overnight flight to the UK.
- Arrival - Early morning arrival in the UK.
What's Included
Holiday Highlights
- Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Spend an unforgettable day at the Rainforest Discovery Centre
- Wildlife cruises on the Kinabatangan River and oxbow lakes and a stay in a jungle lodge
- End your trip with four days in a luxurious beach resort
- Get to know the unusual-looking proboscis monkey at a local sanctuary
- Stay at the Sabah Tea Plantation
- Discover beautiful Kinabalu Park and the therapeutic Poring Hot Springs
- Journey to former British colonial capital Sandakan
- Re-visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre for an optional night walk in search of nocturnal wildlife
- Join an optional excursion to the Mari Mari Cultural Village and gain insight into the local culture
Our Price Includes
- 10 nights’ carefully chosen bed and breakfast accommodation, plus two nights on the aircraft
- Outbound flight to Sandakan via Kuala Lumpur and returning from Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur
- 20 meals, including ten breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners
- Fully air-conditioned coach travel and transfers throughout
- Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager (with the exception of the duration of your stay at the Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort)
The Metro Travel Experience
Extraordinary travel and memories of a lifetime.
60+ Holiday Types
500+ Destinations
364,000+ Customers
Request a Callback
Dates and Prices
Accommodation
Borneo's Orangutans and Rainforest Adventure Touring Hotels -
You'll be staying in a series of air-conditioned comfortable hotels that are conveniently located for your tour itinerary. Due to the nature of the tour and destination, the hotels (with the exception of the Shangri La Rasa Ria), are of a good standard and are in keeping with the places visited.
Other Information
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Kota Kinabalu
Throughout your time in Kota Kinabalu, you’ll have a representative only during transfers and excursions, not on leisure days. A 24/7 contact number will be provided for emergency use during your time here.
Terms and conditions
Terms and conditions: 10% maximum discount applies to short and long haul tours in 2025 and 2026. All other holidays and tours will have up to 10% discount applied. This May campaign applies to new bookings only made between 1 and 30 May 2025, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. This offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes Tour & Cruise, Festive, Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Lapland, Andre Rieu events, Wimbledon and the Edinburgh Tattoo. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other promotion, concession or discount. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have the discount applied. The discount applies to the original tour price (excluding any discounts already applied, holiday insurance and any extras) at the time of booking. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England & Wales. Registered number: 02238316.
Holiday code
N2277Holiday provided by Newmarket Holidays
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: This holiday is sold and operated by Newmarket Holidays (ABTOT 5509, ATOL 2325, ABTA V7812), you can be 100% sure that your money is safe.