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Borneo Family Holiday

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Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: TMFG
Overview
Destination:
Malaysia
Start:Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Finish:Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Duration:9 days
Type:Group tour (max 16)
Style:
Adventure,
Family,
Wildlife,
Travel Period
June 2025 - December 2028
Travel to Borneo on this nine-day family adventure and discover the curious wildlife and spectacular landscapes of the region. Learn how orphaned orangutans are rehabilitated back into the wild, swim with colourful fish, watch baby green turtles take wobbly steps towards the waterfront and relax on sandy beaches. Along the way, you'll make friends, try some delicious cuisine and forge some incredible memories. With all the essentials included and plenty of free time to explore at your own pace, you and your family will fall in love with the unique animals, lush ecosystem and sandy islands of Borneo.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
2. Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.
3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.
4. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 02 (Sabah Tea Garden) , Days 3 & 4 (Jungle Camp) and Day 7 (Turtle Island) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
5. For some departures throughout the year we will only spend 1 night in the Eco Camp and 1 night in the Village in accommodation with attached bathrooms due to availability.
6. Borneo is a tropical country so rain can be expected at any time. The wet period in Borneo runs from November to February. Temperatures remain fairly constant year round with averages of 27-32°C/80-89°F and relative humidity of around 80%. Consider bringing a portable small neck fan with you to keep you and your family cool.
November to February is monsoon season for Selingan (Turtle Island) so if travelling during this time you should expect big waves and choppy seas. In cases of extreme weather, the trip to Selingan may be cancelled and alternative arrangements made. 
7. Many hotels outside of the big cities of Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan have been built so travellers can enjoy the countryside, forest/mountain views, where people can wake up to nature sounds not cars. Many of the hotels we use are in such locations and can be quite remote. So access to restaurants are limited.
8. Borneo’s food is known for being fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruit and vegetables.
The cuisine is a mix of Thai, Malay and Indian. Cuisine staples include grilled fish, barbecued prawns, fried rice, noodles, and local vegetables seasoned with garlic, ginger, and rich sauces. Fish and chicken based soups with noodles cooked in a hot clay pot are very traditional.
9. Some governments may have increased travel advice levels in place for parts of Eastern Sabah, including Sandakan and Turtle Island. Ensure you check your government’s foreign travel advice for the most up to date information before you travel. If you have any questions about whether the current advice level affects your travel insurance coverage, please contact your insurance provider. Travel insurance is compulsory for all Intrepid traveller and must cover all destinations and activities on the itinerary. In addition to the increased security presence in the region, we have additional safety measures in place on our trips to comply with local regulations, including not travelling by boat at night and only travelling on approved routes and vessels.

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Standard inclusions
  • Meals: Meals: 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners.
  • Transport: Bus, Minibus, Plane.
  • Accommodation: Hotel (4 nights), Longhouse (1 night), Jungle Camp (2 nights) Chalet (1 night).
  • Poring Hot Springs - Canopy Walk.
  • Poring Hot Springs - Conservation Fee.
  • Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Cruise.
  • Sabah Tea Plantation - Tea factory tour.
  • Kinabatangan - Night jungle walk.
  • Kinabatangan - Cooking class.
  • Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Cruise.
  • Kinabatangan – Cultural Performance.
  • Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
  • Turtle Island - Turtle Night Nesting viewing.
  • Sandakan - War Memorial.
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Itinerary
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Day 1: Kota Kinabalu
Selamat datang! Welcome to Malaysia. Your adventure begins in Kota Kinabalu – the capital of Sabah, located between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Having survived WWII bombings, KK (as it's commonly known), this town has a unique vibe and plenty to explore. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5 pm at your hotel to meet your leader and fellow family travellers. After, maybe head out to the waterfront market to wander the smoky stalls serving up grilled meat and fish. If you arrive early, you can immerse yourself in history at the Sabah State Museum or explore the islands off Kota Kinabalu, excellent for swimming or snorkelling.
Day 2: Poring Hot Springs
Head to the Poring Hot Springs today for a scenic canopy walk and relaxing swim in the springs – often a favourite for the kids. Tonight, you’ll spend the night in a reconstructed longhouse on the tea plantation.
Day 3: Kinabatangan River
Visit the Sabah Tea Factory to learn about the process of harvesting tea leaves, before saying goodbye to the mountains and heading into the jungle. Travel by private bus to Kampung Batu Puteh – a small village on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Your hosts for the night are the leaders of KOPEL – a local community-run conservation organisation whose aim is to provide villagers with a sustainable living from the forest. Leading a reforestation project, KOPEL and the community are actively involved in growing seedlings and replanting degraded forested areas. Meet your hosts and learn a little more about KOPELs work before jumping in a boat and heading upriver to your accommodation in the jungle. This afternoon, you’ll head out on a sunset cruise up the river in search of wildlife, including macaques, wild orangutan and proboscis monkeys. After, return to your jungle camp by an oxbow lake, have dinner and let the cicadas sing you to sleep.
Day 4: Kinabatangan River
Wake up to the sounds of the jungle this morning. After breakfast, you’ll head upriver to the village to walk around and learn more about the life of the local people. For lunch, it’s all hands-on deck as you partake in a fun traditional cooking class, eating the fruits of your labour for lunch. The afternoon is free to relax, play some boardgames or head out in search of more wildlife, before heading back on the boat for another trip on the river. After dinner tonight, grab your headtorches and head into the jungle for a night walk, looking out for the local nocturnal animals.
Day 5: Sandakan
Say goodbye to your Eco Camp and drive to Sandakan. When you arrive, you’ll notice the strong Cantonese influence, seen in the lively harborside market, the many Chinese temples and the local cuisine. You’ll have some free time to catch up on laundry, bank runs, lunch – or just go and explore at your own pace! This afternoon, why not just chill out at the pool?
Day 6: Sandakan/Sepilok
Today will be a favourite with the kids – time to say hello to the orangutans! Drive by minibus to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre was set up to help re-introduce these gentle creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or after being orphaned. From the viewing platform, you can see these charming creatures as they swing into view and eat a supplementary balanced diet of fruit, vegetables or milk, laid out for them twice a day. Human contact must be kept to a minimum and it's essential that you follow the instructions of the park, as directed by your leader (but you’re free to snap plenty of photos). You’ll also see a nursery where you can view the young orangutans as they learn how to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym. The viewing area is behind one-way glass so as not to disturb the animals.
Day 7: Turtle Island
Leave your large bags at the hotel and transfer to a nearby jetty, then board a speedboat bound for Turtle Island. Travel past small fishing villages and bamboo fish traps, arriving at Turtle Island Marine Park after about an hour. The rest of the day is free for you to soak up the island life. Relax on the beach and take a swim or perhaps hire some snorkelling gear and investigate the underwater world. Under the cover of darkness, watch as giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs under the moonlight. Witness the island researchers release protected hatchlings and guide them in their frantic dash to the ocean. It's a moving experience that is bound to be rewarding for you and your family, but please be aware that this is a very delicate environment and you must follow instructions from your leader and the local rangers to ensure minimal impact on the turtles. Spend the night on this beautiful island – even though the accommodation is quite basic, this will be a memorable experience.
Day 8: Kota Kinabalu
Transfer back to the mainland this morning. Once back in Sandakan, the group will have the opportunity to visit the War Memorial before heading to the airport and for your flight back to Kota Kinabalu. When you arrive, relax at your hotel and refresh. Tonight, you might like to head out for a final dinner with your group – your leader will have the best recommendations!
Day 9: Kota Kinabalu
With no activities planned for today, you and your family are free to depart the accommodation at any time following check-out. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
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Travellers

Operator
Intrepid Travel

Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.

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Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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8 nights
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