Transport & Accommodation

·      Return airport-hotel transfers (flights not included)

·      8 nights’ accommodation in Borneo - different destinations

·      Breakfast provided on 8 mornings, lunch provided 7 times and dinner on 5 evenings

Optional

·      Airline flights and taxes are additional

·      Porter for Mt. trekking available on request at a surcharge

Notes

·      Tour operates on the 25^th December 2011 - 02^nd January 2012  and is based on 2 people travelling

·      The offer includes tours and transfers, accommodation and meals specified, permit fee, insurance, entrance fee, certificate, mountain guide fee and English speaking guide

·      The offer excludes International & Domestic airfare (Kota Kinabalu / Sandakan / Kota Kinabalu), camera  fee & items not mentioned

·      Single supplement available

·      A good fitness level is required

Tour Itinerary

Conquer the highest mountain in South East Asia and be one of the first to usher in 2012 at 4095m above sea level. The package includes visits to various attractions of Sabah including a getaway to the island of Gaya-Manukan, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and a memorable wildlife encounter in Sukau, Kinabatangan.

25th Dec 2011   |  Kota Kinabalu   |   Night Market
Airport transfer to hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Join a brief sunset tour covering Signal Hill overlooking the city centre and the offshore islands and Tanjung Aru beach. Visit the night market to bargain for the wide array of local spices, souvenirs, fruits and vegetables. Proceed to a restaurant for dinner before we return. (D)

26th Dec 2011   |   Gaya   |   Manukan Island
Transfer to jetty for a 20-minutes boat ride to Gaya Island. Explore the 2km jungle trail and learn about some of the unique medicinal plants, tropical hardwood trees, coastal vegetation, tropical Dipterocarp rainforest and the ecology of the mangrove forest. Transfer across to Manukan Island for a picnic lunch. Relax, snorkel and free at leisure before returning at 1500 hours. Overnight in Kota Kinabalu. (Snorkeling gear is available for hire at a surcharge). (B/Packed L)

27th Dec 2011   |   Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre   |   Sukau
On arrival at Sandakan Airport before 0800 hours, transfer to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre for a video show. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the orangutans at 1000hrs.

Continue to Sandakan jetty for 2½ hours boat journey to the multi awards winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge along Sabah's longest river, Kinabatangan with opportunity to view birds and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. Late afternoon take a river cruise using electric motor in search of some of the 10 primate species. Sukau is home to Borneo pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys and all eight species of hornbill in Borneo.

Return for solar heated hot shower, candle light dinner overlooking the riverbank and slide show conducted by naturalist guide. Overnight at the award winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge, named by National Geographic Adventure magazine in 2009 as one of the top 50 jungle lodges in the world. (B/L/D)

28th Dec 2011   |   Sukau 
Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. A 0600hrs morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to Kelenanap oxbow lake to view more birds and wildlife. After breakfast, proceed for an educational tour on the Hornbill Boardwalk located behind the lodge with our in-house naturalist.  You also have the option to participate in our Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Programme (KWICORP) by planting trees on our 65 acres adopted land. In the afternoon, we proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife. After dinner an optional night safari cruise (at a surcharge) spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. (B/L/D)

29th Dec 2011   |   Sandakan – Kota Kinabalu
After breakfast, return to Sandakan by boat journey. Have lunch before we proceed for a short tour of Sandakan town including the market, Agnes Keith Museum and Australian War Memorial. Transfer to airport for the late afternoon flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Airport transfer to hotel in Kota Kinabalu. (B/L)

30th Dec 2011   |   Kinabalu Park
Drive 2 hours overland (88 km) through paddy-fields and Dusun villages over the ridges of the Crocker Range to the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu at 5,000 ft (1,524m).  A short stop at roadside stalls at Nabalu market to savour local fruits in season. At Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site, visit the Education Centre and Mountain Garden, home to various species of the flowering Rhododendrons, carnivorous pitcher plants, orchids, ferns, oak trees and birds. Temperature at the park is around 14°C - 25°C. Overnight in Kundasang. (B/L/D)

31st Dec 2011   |   Mt. Kinabalu     
Transfer to Timpohon Gate at 6,000 ft (1,828m) to start the 4-6 hours trek with mountain guide to the overnight accommodation (dormitory style), with common bathroom and restaurant at Laban Rata at 10,700 ft (3,261m). Do not forget to look around for some of the flowers and pitcher plants along the trail. Temperature is around 5°C - 10°C. (B/L/D)

1st Jan 2012   |    Mt. Kinabalu - Kota Kinabalu
Start ascent at 3 am to reach the summit at 13,435 ft (4,095.2m) in time for the New Year's sunrise at 6 am. After photography, return to Park HQ for late lunch and at 1430hrs, transfer back to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight in hotel. (B/L)

2nd Jan 2012   |   Departure
Transfer to airport for departure. (B)

Please bring along: Sun block lotion, personal toiletries, hat, good walking/trekking shoes, windbreaker, towel, torchlight, waterproof gloves, raincoat, water bottle, energy food and personal medical kit Including headache tablet, Paracetamol for altitude sickness, insect repellent, drinking water bottle, binoculars, camera, hat & raincoat.

* Meals above as specified:  B – Breakfast   |   L – Lunch   |   D – Dinner