Day 1 London / Kuching
Depart London-Heathrow by Malaysia Airlines overnight flight via Kuala Lumpur.

Day 2 Kuching
On arrival at Kuching you will be met and transferred to The Merdeka Palace for a 2-night stay (Room & Breakfast).

Day 3 Kuching & Cultural Tour
A day dedicated to exploring this colourful waterside city and visiting the amazing Sarawak Cultural Village. Witness the legacy of historic Kuching juxtaposed alongside flourishing modern development - and then explore Sarawak's ethnic cultures in the authentic setting of Iban, Chinese, Melanau, Malay, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu traditional homes.

Day 4 Kuching/Skrang River & Longhouse
This morning travel overland through rainforest and fields of pepper and rubber. After pausing at Serian to visit a farmer's market, continue to the Skrang river, where a memorable longboat ride brings you to a traditional Iban tribal longhouse community. There's an opportunity to tour the longhouse and to enjoy a lively traditional ceremonial dinner with the headman, followed by a ceremonial dance performance. Overnight accommodation at Interworld's private guesthouse with western-style bathroom and bedding facilities (Full Board).

Day 5 Longhouse/Kuching
The morning's activities include a blowpipe demonstration and a trek through the picturesque forest - ending at a river beach for a tribal backwood-style picnic lunch. Return to Kuching for an overnight at Merdeka Palace (Room & Breakfast).

Day 6 Kuching/Gunung Mulu National Park
Morning flight to Gunung Mulu National Park (via Miri), where you are transferred to the Royal Mulu Resort for an overnight stay (Full Board). Afternoon trek to explore the world's largest cave passage, the Deer Cave and the fascinating Lang's Cave. At sunset watch the amazing sight of millions of bats spiralling in dark streams out of the caves into the evening sky.

Day 7 Gunung Mulu National Park/Miri
Morning longboat journey up the Melinau River to the elegant Wind Cave to marvel at the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites and other rock formations - including flow rocks, heltites and rock corals, some of them illuminated in the 'King's Room'. Then follow a raised plankwalk to admire the awesome sight of the Clearwater Cave. Stop on the return journey at the semi-nomadic Penan settlement before continuing to the airport for the flight to Miri. On arrival transfer to the Miri Marriott Resort & Spa for overnight (Room & Breakfast).

Day 8 Miri/Brunei
Leave early on an overland journey to Brunei, crossing the border at Sg Tujuh. Continue past Seria Oilfield, visiting the Billionth barrel monument and the Liquefied Natural Gas Complex en route to Bandar Seri Begawan and The Empire Hotel for an overnight stay (Half Board). Rest of day free.

Day 9 Brunei City Tour/Kota Kinabalu
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of oil-rich Brunei - a country of 200,000 inhabitants and with one of the world's oldest constitutional monarchie. Visit the Mausoleum of Sultan Bolkiah V, the Brunei Museum, the Royal Regalia and Royal Palace and Jame' Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque. Cruise around the water village by longboat to see the unique lifestyle of this floating community. Visit the majestic 'mini Taj Mahal' Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque and proceed to Jerudong Park to view the royal polo grounds. Later transfer to the airport to fly to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Transfer to The Jesselton Hotel for a 2-night stay (Half Board). In the evening take a brief sunset tour to Signal Hill overlooking the city and its offshore islands. Visit the colourful night market before ending at a local open-air restaurant for a fresh seafood dinner.

Day 10 Gaya & Sapi Island
A brief boat crossing (20 minutes) brings you to Gaya Island to explore one of the jungle trails and learn about some of the island's unique medicinal plants, tropical hardwood trees, coastal vegetation, tropical dipterocarp rainforest and the ecology of the mangrove forest. Then transfer to Sapi Island for a picnic lunch and to enjoy snorkelling and beach relaxation before returning to Kota Kinabalu in the afternoon.

Day 11 Kinabalu National Park - Poring Hot Springs
After breakfast drive (85 miles) into Kinabalu National Park to Poring Hot Springs, over 1,500 ft above sea level and east of Kinabalu Park Headquarters. Here amid tropical lowland rainforest explore the jungle-trail leading up to the treetop canopy walkways, 130 ft above the forest floor. Visit Kipungit Waterfall and soak in hot sulphur pools. Return to Kundasang for overnight (Full Board).

Day 12 Kinabalu World Heritage Site
Morning departure for Kinabalu Park Headquarters at Kundasang. Visit the Education Centre and Mountain Garden - home to some of Sabah's many different flowering rhododendrons (26 species), carnivorous pitcher plants, orchids (1,000 species), ferns, oak trees and birds (over 300 species). Take a guided walk in the cool surrounding of the montane forest before an afternoon return to Kota Kinabalu to overnight at The Jesselton Hotel (Room & Breakfast).

Day 13 Selingan
Early-morning flight to Sandakan and transfer to the jetty for the 45-minute speedboat ride to Selingan Island, where you overnight in simple chalet accommodation with shared bathroom (Full Board). The day is yours to explore the island, swim and snorkel. After dinner watch Green Turtles laying their eggs on the beach, the transplanting of eggs to the hatchery and the release of baby turtles to the sea (Selingan has been a park conservation area since 1977 and turtles nest here every night throughout the year).

Day 14 Sukau
Return to Sandakan by boat for a short tour of Sandakan, including a stop for tea at one of the water village houses. Then journey by boat (about two hours) to the ecotourism award-winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge for overnight (Full Board). This takes you along Sabah's longest river, the Kinabatangan, viewing birds and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. In the late afternoon there's a 2-hour cruise in search of some of the river bank's ten primate species - including the unique proboscis monkey - as they settle down in the treetops. Return for a solar- heated shower, candlelight dinner and slide show given by a naturalist guide. Built on stilts in traditional Malaysian style, with an open sun-deck, river jetty and two tree platforms, Sukau Rainforest Lodge offers you a unique and unforgettable Borneo wildife experience.

Day 15 Sukau/Sandakan
Morning boat transfer to Sukau Village for a short tour. Return to Sandakan by boat for lunch before proceeding to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden plank walks to witness the afternoon feeding of the orang utans. Then transfer to the airport for departure to Kuala Lumpur for overnight Malaysia Airlines flight to London.

Day 16 London
Arrive London-Heathrow this morning.


More Hotel Information

For Bookings & Enquiries
please call us on:
020 8893 1781

INCLUSIVE PRICES (valid until 31 March 2009) from £ 2,275 per person in twin
Supplements apply for July/August/December 2008 departures - details on request
Price Includes: Economy class round-trip flights London / Kuala Lumpur by Malaysia Airlines and onward as detailed • Airport departure tax and airline insurance surcharge • 13 nights in shared twin accommodation • Meals as detailed, with lunch on Days 5, 7, 10 and 12 • Private car transfers • Entrance fees for locations mentioned above • English-speaking driver-guide • Assistance of our local representatives when required.
Price Excludes: Personal insurance and any special insurance for activity sports • Government taxes • Tips, porterage and expenses of a personal nature. A valid passport (minimum validity 6 months from return date) is required. All clients must be fully insured from the time of booking.

EXTENDING YOUR STAY
Your tour can be extended to end with a beach hotel finale beside the South China Sea. Please ask for details.