Brunei And Borneo Exotic Discovery

Day 1: Sunday 18 April 2010
Adelaide – Kuala Lumpur
Depart Adelaide with Malaysia Airlines at 3.30pm, arriving into Kuala Lumpur at 8.15pm.
Overnight at the Pan Pacific Hotel at Kuala Lumpur Airport.

Day 2: Monday 19 April 2010
Kuala Lumpur – Bandar Seri Bagawan
Depart Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines at 11.55am, arriving into Bandar Seri Bagawan at 2.15pm.

On arrival we are transferred to the hotel, remainder of the day is free.
Meals included: 1 Breakfast

Day 3: Tuesday 20 April 2010
Bandar Seri Bagawan 
We visit the royal palace, the biggest residential palace in the world with 1788 rooms and the Jame Asr’ Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque that has twenty-nine 24K golden-topped domes.
We will also take an enjoyable boat ride by water taxi for a tour of a Water Village or popularly known as “The Venice of The East”.  Walk around the water village to witness the houses built on stilts, as well as to learn about the local way of life. You will also visit the National Museum followed by a Steamboat Seafood Dinner at Portview Restaurant.
Meals included: 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

Day 4: Wednesday 21 April 2010
Bandar Seri Bagawan
Travel from Bandar Seri Begawan to Bangar on public transport (speedboat & longboat), winding your way through water villages, enjoying a scenic view of the nipah lined rivers and mangrove forests. Push through numerous rapids before getting to ULU ULU Temburong National Park. Enjoy a nature walk where you will see a wide variety of insects, flora and fauna. Along the way, we will cross a hanging bridge and stop to climb the canopy walkway to view the forest top. There will also be time for a refreshing swim after lunch for anyone who is keen.

Rafting/Kayaking is available for the more adventurous (minimum of 4 people) and advance bookings are required.
Meals included: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

Day 5: Thursday 22 April 2010
Bandar Seri Bagawan - Kota Kinabalu
This morning we will be up early and transferred to the airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu, Borneo.

Depart Bandar Seri Bagawan at 8.20am with Royal Brunei Airlines, arriving into Kota Kinabalu at 9.00am.

Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu you are met and transferred to your hotel. This is where you meet your tour leader who will conduct a pre-trip briefing. You can then join the group for a local dinner (optional) at nearby hawker food stalls. It may also be a handy time to buy a 'poncho' - a cheap, local, lightweight rain-jacket.

Meals included: 1 Breakfast

Day 6: Friday 23 April 2010
Gaya Island - Kota Kinabalu
We go down to the waterfront jetty where we catch a boat for about 20 minutes to Gaya Island (Pulau Gaya), one of the five islands that make up Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park -a marine reserve named after Malaysia's first prime minister. We trek on 2 kilometres of jungle trails and learn about some of the unique medicinal plants, tropical hardwood trees, coastal vegetation, tropical dipterocarp rainforest and the ecology of the mangrove forest. We then transfer across to Mamutik Island (Pulau Mamutik), where we have a chance to relax and swim in the warm tropical waters or enjoy some snorkelling before returning to Kota Kinabalu in the mid-afternoon. Please note that snorkelling gear is available for hire. However it is necessary to bring a towel, a hat, walking shoes, insect repellent, a water bottle, swim wear and sun block lotion along with you.

Meals included: 1 Breakfast

Day 7: Saturday 24 April 2010
Sandakan - Sepilok
We transfer to the airport for a short morning flight to Sandakan. On arrival, we proceed to Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre. At this centre we walk on wooden boardwalks for 10 minutes through the rainforest, where we witness the morning feeding of Orang-utans. This is then followed by a video presentation that tells us about these amazing apes. In the afternoon we enjoy a short tour of Sandakan town, which includes a visit to the water village, the local market and the Chinese temple. We stay a night at a jungle lodge in Sepilok.

Meals included: 1 Breakfast

Day 8: Sunday 25 April 2010
Sandakan
This morning we rise early and are transferred to the Australian War Memorial for the moving Anzac Day Dawn Service.  The memorial is on the site of the original Sandakan POW camp and we remember those who lost their lives at war and in particular, in Sabah during WWII.  Please bring along a torch, mosquito repellent and rain protection. 

In the afternoon, we visit Agnes Keith House – a house once occupied by the famous America author Agnes Newton Keith.  With sprawling green gardens, the colonial style wooden residence has been restored by the Sabah Museum. 

Meals included: 1 Breakfast

Day 9: Monday 26 April 2010
Sukau
We travel to Sandakan jetty for a boat journey along Sabah's longest river, the Kinabatangan, to Sukau Rainforest Lodge. En route we have opportunities to spot birds and other wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. After settling in at our accommodation, we set off in the late afternoon and take a river cruise on a motorised boat to look out for some of the 10 primate species that live in this area. A highlight is spotting proboscis monkeys, often seen on the treetops along the river. Wild Orang-utans, long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques, monitor lizards and various species of hornbills and kingfishers are also often sighted. If you are lucky, you may even see some wild Borneo elephants, recently identified as a unique sub-species of the Asian elephant. We return to our lodge for a solar heated hot shower, a candle lit dinner and a slide show conducted by our resident naturalist.

Meals included: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 10: Tuesday 27 April 2010
Sukau
We wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. A 6am morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River gives us a chance to view more birds and wildlife. We then proceed to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake for a short jungle walk (weather permitting). Here we really get to experience the wilderness of Borneo. You have the option to participate in our conservation project by planting trees on part of our 64 acres of adopted land. In the afternoon we enjoy another river boat ride in the search for more wildlife. After dinner there is an optional night safari cruise (at additional cost), which gives us a chance of spotting some of the many nocturnal species of animals that inhabit the area.

Meals included: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 11: Wednesday 28 April 2010
Kota Kinabalu
This morning after breakfast we transfer back to Sandakan, where we catch our flight back to Kota Kinabalu.

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 12: Thursday 29 April 2010
Kota Kinabalu
Today we have no activities planned, we are free to explore Kota Kinabalu at our own pace.

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 13: Friday 30 April 2010
Kota Kinabalu
The tour ends after breakfast. You will be met by a representative of Peregrine and transferred to the airport for your ongoing flight.

Depart Kota Kinabalu with Malaysia Airlines at 5.30pm, arriving into Kuala Lumpur at 7.55pm.  Depart Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines at 9.50pm, arriving into Adelaide at 6.15am (the following morning)

Meals included: 1 Breakfast

Day 14: Saturday 1 May 2010
Adelaide
Arrive into Adelaide at 6.15am