Borneo

4* Sipadan Water Village, Borneo

Full Board

Fly from London Heathrow to Tawau, with a brief layover in Kuala Lumpur.

Upon arrival in Tawau, you will be met by a member of the hotel staff who will take you to their office in the airport where you will be introduced you to your driver. You will then be driven by private, air-conditioned vehicle to the Semporna Jetty, JalanKastan (45 minutes). At the jetty, you will board the hotels speedboat that will take you past the stilt villages where the locals live to Sipadan Water Village (SWV) (45 minutes). You will receive a warm welcome from the staff at the resort, who will check you in and show you to your water bungalow where you will spend the next 5 nights. After settling in, you will be taken to the dive centre, where you will be fitted for equipment, if necessary (please note: equipment hire not included). Enjoy an afternoon dive if time permits.

While at SWV, 3 boat dives will be provided daily (with the exception of the day of your arrival and the day of your departure), with one dive per day to Mabul, Kapalai, and Sipadan Islands, as well as un guests per day according to government regulations.) Meals will be provided at the hotel's restaurant at set times.

3* Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge, Sandakan

Full Board

After breakfast and checkout, you will be taken by speedboat to the jetty at Semporna (1 hour) where you will be met by your private driver and English speaking guide who will drive you to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the Orangutans. After that, continue to Sandakan jetty for an estimated 2 and a half hours boat journey to the lodge along Sabah's longest river, the Kinabatangan, with opportunities to view birds and wildlife in virgin mangroves, wetlands and rainforest habitats. Your guides will point out wild Proboscis Monkeys, Macaques, and Hornbills. En route, lunch at Abai Jungle Lounge. Late afternoon take a river cruise in search of some of the 10 primate species as they settle down on treetops along the Kinabatangan River. Return for hot shower and dinner.

Wake up to the calls of Gibbons and Hornbills. Early morning, take a river trip to the Ox-Bow Lake to observe wildlife experience and the early morning river ambience of the longest river of Sabah. Return to lodge for breakfast. Then proceed to Gomantong Caves to explore one of the fascinating caves, nests of the swiftlets are collected for the famous Chinese delicacy, the bird's nest soup. Continue journey by land to Sandakan and drive up to Puh Jih Syh Chinese Buddhist Temple for a panoramic view of Sandakan Bay. Lunch at local restaurant. Return to the lodge and late afternoon, another river cruise to search for more wildlife.

5* Shangri La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu

Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast, cruise down by boat back to Sandakan. Upon arrival at jetty, drive uphill to Puh Jih Syh Chinese Buddhist temple for a panoramic view of Sandakan city. Lunch, and then proceed to the airport in Sandakan for your flight to KotaKinabalu (1 hour 45 minutes). You will be met by our local representative who will introduce you to your driver, then take you by private, air-conditioned vehicle to the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru (20 minutes) where you will spend the next three nights.

Spend the day at leisure on the beach at the hotel, enjoy a spa treatment, go shopping in town, or make your way over to the jetty in Kota Kinabalu where you can catch a ferry over to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park where you can take a nature walk, sunbathe on the beach, or go snorkelling off shore.

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After breakfast, check out of the hotel where your driver will be waiting for you to take you to the airport (20 minutes). Fly from Kota Kinabalu to the UK with a brief layover in Kuala Lumpur