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Borneo Family Holiday Comfort

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Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: TMFK
Overview
Destination:
Malaysia
Start:Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Finish:Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Duration:10 days
Type:Group tour (max 18)
Style:
Adventure,
Family,
Wildlife,
Travel Period
April 2025 - December 2026
Pack up the troupe and head into Borneo's lush jungles on a family adventure. Keep an eye out for proboscis monkeys on a scenic cruise down the Kinabatangan River, or watch intelligent orangutangs on a visit to one of Borneo's best animal sanctuaries. Learn about a bygone era with an eye-opening visit to a Dusun village and wander through vast tea plantations in Ranau. Stop off at the idyllic Dinawan Island and see the colourful fish living beneath its shimmering waters. Everywhere you look, this island is brimming with unforgettable memories.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

01. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
02. Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.
03. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.
04. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer to have your own room. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
05. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
06. 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.
07. 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.
08. Borneo’s food is known for being fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruit and vegetables.
The cuisine is a mix of  Chinese, 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.
09. 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: 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners.
  • Transport: Private Minivan, Boat, Plane.
  • Accommodation: 4-star Hotel (2 nights), Cottage (1 night), Resort (4 nights), Tented Villa (2 nights).
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer.
  • Dusun Village - Guided village walk.
  • Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise.
  • Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise.
  • Kinabatangan River - Dawn wildlife cruise.
  • Kinabatangan River - Night wildlife Spotting cruise.
  • Kinabatangan River - RESPECT (The Intrepid Foundation partner) visit & elephant grass planting.
  • Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
  • Dinawan Island - Marine Ecosystem Program.
  • Dinawan Island - Snorkeling Trip.
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Itinerary
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Day 1: Kota Kinabalu
Selamat datang! Welcome to Malaysia. Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 5pm. If you arrive early, you can immerse yourself in history of this intriguing city between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea at the Sabah State Museum. You can also visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village, or perhaps explore the islands off Kota Kinabalu, excellent for swimming and snorkelling.
Day 2: Dusun Village
Leaving Kota Kinabalu behind, head for the hills and the unspoilt wilderness of the World Heritage-listed Kinabalu National Park. Stop off en route at a local home in a Dusun village. The Dusun people are wonderfully welcoming, and here you'll have the chance to learn about their culture as you sample local dishes at a home cooked lunch. If you are lucky, you may get to sample linopot, a tasty snack featuring rice tightly wrapped inside a leaf. Join a guided half day village walk that includes a visit to the local bee farm and see coffee being produced at a local factory. You’ll also meet the women from Everything Pineapple, a business that's known for its delicious pineapple products. This NGO empowers local women to reach new heights socially and financially and has some of the best jam you’ll ever taste. In the afternoon, travel by private bus to Sabah Tea Plantation where you will spend the night in a beautiful cottage nestled among the grounds of a lush tea garden
Day 3: Kinabatangan River
After breakfast, drive to Kinabatangan River in a private vehicle where you will arrive at your jungle lodge, located beside the river, ideal for taking in the lush surrounds. The Kinabatangan River is a protected forest reserve, containing some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo. In the afternoon, board a river cruise, hopefully spotting some of the more exotic local creatures. Wild elephants seldom reveal themselves, but crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutan, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and kingfishers are more easily seen. After this short adventure, return to the lodge to enjoy dinner.
Day 4: Kinabatangan River
Be woken by the the call of a Bornean gibbon, or perhaps a hornbill, before a morning cruise down the river. Keep an eye out for proboscis monkeys, Borneo gibbons, long tail macaques and pig tail macaques and see if you can spot the differences between each species. This afternoon you will make a special visit to our Intrepid Foundation partner, RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT) to learn about the important work they are doing and help plant some grass for the Borneo pygmy elephants. In the evening you get your last chance to take as many photos as you can on a final river cruise before the final night in your lovely accommodation right in the heart of the jungle.
Day 5: Sepilok
This morning, travel to Sepilok where you will spend the next two nights in a beautiful rainforest resort. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy how you would like. You may choose to take a nature walk in the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre, swim in the resort pool or visit Sandakan, once the capital of British North Borneo (additional cost for transport applies). The Sandakan War Memorial was originally a Japanese Prisoner of War Campy and also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches, of which 2,400 POWs were forced to walk through the jungles of Borneo. Of this number, only 6 survived, owing to courageous escapes.
Day 6: Sepilok
Today is a highlight for many, visiting the region's prized residents at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. In the nursery you can view young orangutans as they learn how to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym. 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, at all times. To see more of Borneo’s creatures, there’s the option to visit the newly opened Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center. Here rescued Sun Bears that have spent many years being mistreated and locked away in cages are cared for, with hopes of rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy by the pool or perhaps head into town for a spot of shopping.
Day 7: Dinawan Island
This morning head to Sandakan Airport for a short flight to Kota Kinabalu. After touching down we will take a private transfer south to the jetty before boarding a boat out to the beautiful Dinawan Island. After checking into your villa tents, you will have time to explore the island, relax or enjoy one of the many activities offered by the resort.
Day 8: Dinawan Island
After breakfast you and your family will learn more about the Marine Ecosystem on the island with a programme which will give you insight into the importance of the coral to marine biodiversity. First up will be an informative talk about the coral reef ecosystem and the importance of the reef to marine life. Then we swap the indoor classroom to the outdoor classroom a one hour snorkelling trip with a marine biologist. Take a boat out to the nearby house reef to have a closer look at the types of corals, the habitat, signs of damages and healings, observing and identifying marine life with your specialist. A fun way for the entire family to explore this beautiful part of the world. Heading back to shore the afternoon will be free to enjoy at your own pace. Perhaps soak up the turquoise vistas for another few hours or if you are keen you can take out kayaks (free) for some more fun on the water.
Day 9: Kota Kinabalu
Hit the water again this morning with a local guide for another snorkelling trip.. Then after lunch, it's time to say goodbye to this piece of paradise and head back to Kota Kinabalu. After checking into the hotel you will have time to relax before the option of a final group dinner to celebrate your incredible Borneo adventure.
Day 10: Kota Kinabalu
Your Borneo family adventure comes to an end after breakfast today and you are free to leave anytime.
Departure dates

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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.

Important Information
*Terms and conditions
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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$2,784*
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9 nights
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