Exploration Borneo Tours

Having taste the splendour of Kota Kinabalu, we offer you a trip further afield. Jump on a boat and visit the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park comprising five neighbouring islands. These islands are home to lowland rainforest and their variety of flora and fauna, and with stretches of white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Or take a trip to the nearby Kinabalu National Park, home to half of the world plant species, from the smallest orchid in the world to the largest flower in the world.

Not to be missed, as an old time tourists' favourite, is a visit to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Here Orang Utan are being prepared for their return into their natural habitat, the deep jungle. Or take another day and visit Crocker Range Rafflesia Centre. Boast to your friends and families that you have seen what is reputed to be the largest flower in the world.

The trip involves a cruise along the Islands of Mamutik, Manukan and then towards Gaya Island Park HQ where we will start a 45- minute-walk along the tropical and mangrove swamp forest. This gentle and leisurely walk will introduce you to the many different flora and some unique fauna found along the coast of Sabah, from the Cycad Plant (A living Fossil - cross between a Fern and Palm) to the Tristania (A family to the Eucalyptus of Australia). A wooden walkway above the mangrove swamps gives another perspective of the walk and this walk ends at Padang Point for a short boat ride to Sapi Island. Here you will be at leisure for the rest of the day either relaxing and tanning on tropical white sandy beaches or swimming and snorkelling in the crystal clear water of the South China sea.

(Includes Pack Lunch)(BBQ Lunch can be arranged upon request and subject to minimum of five person)

(Fauna such as Hornbill, Sea Eagle, Lizards and insects might be encountered if we are lucky)

Aki Nabalu = The Revered Resting Place of the Dead / Kina Balu = Chinese Widow Mountain - Whatever the story behind Kinabalu, one thing that is true, since Sir Hugh Low first climb the mountain in 1851, Kinabalu steals your heart away. This natural paradise leave you in awe. At times, Kinabalu is hidden behind a veil of clouds and on clear days standing majestically over the rest of Borneo. Home to half of the world plant species, from the smallest orchid in the world to the largest flower in the world, nothing can ever tell you the hidden secrets Kinabalu will show next.

The tour will take us along the West Coast of Sabah travelling north then east towards the Crocker Range. The 2-hour drive passes through quaint little villages nestle in between the valleys, rolling plain of rubber plantations, paddy fields and fruit orchards just to name a few. Upon reaching Kinabalu Park HQ we will join a Nature Trail Walk with a Park Naturalist, and discover up close those unique and amazing flora and may even see some of the elusive fauna. After the walk, we will visit the mountain garden to see some of the more rare and diverse plants that are gathered from the more remote sites throughout the Kinabalu Park area. Later after lunch we will be taken to see a film or video presentations to tell us more about the Park and Mountain.

Reputed to be the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia (named after the founder of Singapore - Sir Stamford Raffles) are found only in certain locations in South East Asia. Here, in Sabah, there are six species and the largest flower is said to be over 3 feet in diameter. The tour will involve an easy but slightly strenuous trek to the flowering sites and a self exploratory walk at the Rafflesia information centre. Later we will continue to the district of Tambunan and visit the Bamboo Village, and if time and weather permits, the Tambunan Village Resort Centre for lunch. If not then we will depart back towards Kota Kinabalu and stop for lunch at the Golden Hill Resort on at the Crocker Range road bypass.

(Lunch included - Flowering of Rafflesia are not guaranteed, we will inform you of sighting of flowers at least two days before tour commence or if you are on a package we will change your programme to suit flowering period during your tour duration)

An early morning flight to Sandakan Town on the East Coast of Sabah will bring us to the wildlife heaven of Borneo. Upon arrival we will be taken first to Sandakan Town for breakfast then to the Sandakan market to witness the busiest market in Sabah. This unique experience will give us a chance to see the diverse lifestyle that is unique only to Sabah.

Later we will depart for Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and after a short visit to the information centre, we will be taken on a short walk through the rainforest to the feeding platform to see the Semiwild Orang Utan being given their daily morning meals. Occasionally other wildlife will make an appearance. Monkeys, Hornbills and others will, when least expected, make a dramatic entrance. After feeding the orang utan, we will then be shown a video presentation on the lives of the orang utan. Next we will proceed to Sandakan for lunch and conclude our day with a city tour of the town.

(Flight tickets, lunch and entrance fees included