A Rainforest Odyssey

Day 1. Depart London

Depart London on the overnight service to Kota Kinabalu, changing planes in Kuala Lumpur en-route.

Days 2 to 4. Mount Kinabalu [B & L (Days 3 & 4 only), D]

You will be met on arrival and taken to your rest house in Mount Kinabalu National Park. Here you spend three nights in the cabins. At 4,101 metres, this mountain is a spectacular granite landmark and the highest peak between Myanmar and New Guinea. Staying in the moist evergreen forests on its high slopes and in the company of a private guide, you will have a unique opportunity to search for its numerous plant, bird and mammal species. Large mammals are few, but you will see an interesting range of small squirrels and flora including literally hundreds of orchid species. At higher altitudes, look out for the endemic Kinabalu Friendly Warbler and Mountain Blackbird, as well as Blue Earthworms or the Giant Kinabalu Red Leech.

Day 5. Sepilok [B]

From Mount Kinabalu National Park you will be transferred to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, which is responsible for reintroducing numerous orphaned Orangutans back into the wild. You will be able to witness the afternoon feeding of the Orang-utans. Gentle and shy by nature and with their habitat fast disappearing, sighting of Orang-utans in the wild are rare. However, one place you are guaranteed of seeing them is Sepilok . You will be based at the Sepilok Nature Resort for the night.

Day 6. Seligan Island [B, L, D]

Today you will be transferred to the coast for the short boat ride to Selingan Island. A stay on this beautiful island gives you the opportunity to swim and snorkel by day. By night night you will be able to watch Green turtles lay eggs on the beach and help assist the release of baby turtles to the sea.

Days 7 & 8. Kinabatangan River [B, L, D]

Your next destination is the 560 kilometre long Kinabatangan River, and Sukau Rainforest Lodge, situated within the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. The lodge accommodates 40 guests in twin-bedded en-suite rooms, each with a fan and mosquito netting. Heavily influenced by Malaysian architecture, the lodge is raised from the ground on wooden stilts. Explore the area by boat and on foot, on the look out for Storm's Stork and Wrinkled Hornbill, as well as the remarkable Proboscis Monkey (a bizarre Bornean endemic) and wild Asian Elephant.

Days 9 to 11. Danum Valley [B, L, D]

Today you transfer by road to the Danum Valley and Borneo Rainforest Lodge, stopping at the Gomantong Caves en-route, home to literally millions of swiftlets and bats. Spend 3 nights at Borneo Rainforest Lodge which accommodates up to 60 guests in 28 twin-bedded rooms in 23 chalets, each room having an en-suite bathroom and balcony.

Explore the forest on foot, via its many trails, in the company of a local guide. An impressive 275 species of birds and 110 mammals have been recorded in the Danum Valley Conservation Area, which covers 438 square kilometres of lowland dipterocarp rainforest - the best accessible primary rainforest in Asia. Wildlife includes Sabah's ten species of primate (including Orangutan), Asian Elephant, Banteng, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Clouded Leopard, Marbled Cat, Flat-headed Cat and Malay Sun Bear. More common species include Bearded Pig, Lesser, and Greater Mouse-deer, the endemic Bornean Yellow, and Bornean Red Muntjac, and Sambar.

Day 12 [B]

Head off to Lahad Data this morning for the flight to Kota Kinabalu where you spend the night at the Megallen Sutera Hotel.

Days 13 & 14. Homeward [B]

Return to the airport for your overnight flight back to the UK via Kuala Lumpur. Arrive home on day 14.

Tailor Made

Please note that this is a Tailor-made itinerary. If you like the principle idea of this holiday but would like us to look into a variation for you, do let us know!