Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Borneo Rainforests & Villages Family Adventure
Day 1 Arrive in Sandakan
40-minute private van transfer
Welcome to Borneo! Upon arrival, meet your driver, who transfers you to Sepilok Nature Resort. This quaint collection of wooden chalets surrounding a lake is set in an impressive landscaped area of manicured lawns and hills. After brief orientation and welcome dinner, retire for the night.
Accommodation: Sepilok Nature Lodge
(D)
Day 2 Be Amazed by the Wildlife of Borneo
30-minute private van transfer
Wildlife watching, easy forest walks
Walk to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a wildlife conservation and research center for the world's smallest bear. After a private tour, visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to meet rescued orangutans being trained to survive again in the wild. Return to the lodge for lunch before a visit to the Rainforest Discovery Center where you'll learn about the rainforest ecosystem as you search for wildlife along jungle trails and canopy walkways. Return to the lodge for dinner and relax or explore the grounds.
Accommodation: Sepilok Nature Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Cruise Up the Kinabatangan River
40-minute private van transfer; 2.5-hour river cruise
Wildlife-watching walk, river cruise
After breakfast at the lodge, visit Labuk Bay, a sanctuary for the proboscis monkey. Watch for silvered leaf monkeys, otters, slow lorises, and hornbills in addition to the large-nosed monkeys which the refuge protects. After lunch at the lodge, transfer to Sandakan jetty and board speedboats to cruise up the Kinabatangan River, home to Borneo's highest concentration of fauna; look for orangutans, pygmy elephants, hornbills, and proboscis monkeys. After settling into your riverfront lodge, take an afternoon wildlife-watching river cruise. End the evening taking in an educational slideshow with a resident naturalist.
Accommodation: Sukau Rainforest Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Take River Safari Cruises & Help Restoration Efforts
15-minute private boat transfer
Wildlife-watching, river cruises, batik crafts, tree planting
Rise and shine for an early morning cruise to Kelenanap oxbow lake where you can view more birds and wildlife. Next, tour a local forest restoration project site and participate in tree planting while learning about the community's restoration efforts. Enjoy some traditional batik crafts at the lodge before heading out for walk along a jungle boardwalk and an afternoon cruise to check off your wildlife sightings. At dusk, get back out on the river to discover which creatures are active at this time of day.
Accommodation: Sukau Rainforest Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Fly to Kota Kinabalu
1-hour private van transfer and 1-hour flight; 2.5-hour river cruise
Guided city tour
After breakfast, soak in the sights and sounds of the jungle as you depart for a speedboat cruise along the Kinabatangan River back to Sandakan Jetty. You'll be met and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. You'll be met and transferred to your hotel for a late lunch. Head out with a local guide to find scenic viewpoints and the "floating mosque". After dinner you have the option to visit a night market packed with bustling stalls selling everything from food to handicrafts.
Accommodation: Hyatt Centric
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Journey to a Tribal Village
5-hour private van transfer; private longboat transfer
2-hour cave walk, waterfall walk/swim
Depart for Orou Sapulot, a community-based eco-tourism project at the jungle home of the Murut people. Discover the virtually unexplored Pungiton Cave, with an underground stream and beautiful limestone stalactite and stalagmite formations..
Accommodation: Munor Aulai Guesthouse
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Explore Orou Sapulot
Community project, farm stroll
Wake up and enjoy breakfast at your guesthouse in Orou Sapulot. Today you and your family will get to work together with villagers at Kampung Naunduk Sapulot on a community project to help repair the water supply (community project work may change due to the needs of the village). It is a great way to learn about village life and the challenges faced by the community. In the late afternoon, return to the guesthouse for lunch and rest. After lunch, take a stroll at a nearby farm where you will be able to see various crops and learn more about the integrated farming concept and activities.
Accommodation: Munor Aulai Guesthouse
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Enjoy a Gaya Island Beach Day and Date Night
5-hour private van transfer; 20-minute boat transfer
Water activities or jungle walk
This morning, journey to beautiful Gaya Island via Kota Kinabalu. Spend the afternoon seaside, snorkeling, kayaking, or going for a jungle walk. Come evening, resort staff take the kids for fun activities while the parents have a romantic seaside dinner on their own!
Accommodation: Bunga Raya Island Resort
(B, L, D)
Day 9 Discover Gaya Island
Water activities or jungle walk
Relish an entire day on the remarkably biodiverse Gaya Island, a natural conservation area rife with jungle and marine life. Spend hours at your leisure, relaxing at the beach, lounging at the resort, or exploring the island. Tonight celebrate your memorable Borneo adventure with a group farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Bunga Raya Island Resort
(B, L, D)
Day 10 Depart from Kota Kinabalu
25-minute private van transfer; 20-minute boat transfer
After breakfast and a relaxing morning on Gaya Island, say goodbye to the group and depart to the Kota Kinabalu airport for your flight back home.
(B)
