Day 1 – Arrival in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is a city of exciting extremes, where space-age skyscrapers nudge up against cluttered Chinese markets and timeless Indian restaurants. You’ll be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. The rest of your day is free to settle in and explore.
Day 2 – KL Tower visit
While you’re in Kuala Lumpur, we’ll arrange tickets for the KL Tower, where you can take in sweeping views across the city. The view is impressive at any time of day, but we recommend going just before sunset, as the sky changes colour and the bright lights appear on the city’s skyscrapers and Petronas Towers. The rest of the day is yours to explore independently – from bustling markets and street food stalls to the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods.
Optional excursions in KL
There’s so much to see and do in Kuala Lumpur, so you can easily fill your time if you decide to extend your stay. We can arrange a guided cycling tour that will take you through quieter parts of the city. If this sounds too active, our cultural and culinary city walk explores the lesser-known areas of the city on foot. Along the way you’ll try some tasty street food snacks. If you’re a keen cook or foodie you can add a cooking class to your stay in KL. Speak to your Travel Specialist if any of these sound appealing.
Day 3 – Take the train to Ipoh
Day 4 – Heritage walking tour
Today you will meet your guide for an insight into Ipoh’s colonial past. Your starting point will be the Railway Station – which, in itself, is one of Ipoh’s most famous landmarks. You will wander through the streets with your guide visiting various landmarks including the Birch Memorial which has panels portraying the world’s most famous historical figures.
Ipoh is second only to Penang as a ‘foodie haven’ in Malaysia, so a visit isn’t complete without trying some of their local delicacies. During your city tour you will stop at local cafe for lunch where you can sample some of Ipoh’s finest drinks and snacks such as spring rolls, satay and white coffee. This area has a mix of Chinese and Indian influences so you can expect some tasty treats not typically found in other parts of Malaysia.
Day 5 – Travel to Penang
After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel for the two hour journey to Penang. This lively island city is a mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay influences. It’s full of colour, culture, and character – from street art and ancient temples to sizzling food stalls and colonial streets. You’ll stay in the centre of Georgetown, Penang’s most atmospheric area and a recognised UNESCO World Heritage site. After checking in to your hotel, head out and explore. We guarantee you’ll be tempted by the street food stalls and lively hawker centres.
Day 6 – Explore Penang by bike
There’s no better way to get to know Penang’s heritage and food scene than to hop on a bike and explore with a local guide. This morning you’ll join a small group for a guided pedal around the city, discovering hidden temples and learning about the history of this area. For breakfast you will stop to try a variety of different Indian breads alongside a local ‘teh tarik‘, and lunch will include a selection of local dishes to share from a hawker centre including local favourites such as Assam Laksa and Char Keow Teow. We’ve left the afternoon free for you to continue exploring independently.
If you’d rather not cycle we can arrange a city tour in a local trishaw. Ask us for more details.
Day 7 – Fly to Kota Kinabalu: Gateway to Sabah
Next, you’ll be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Kota Kinabalu in Borneo. The direct flight time is around 2 and a half hours. This bustling coastal city at the foot of the immense Mount Kinabalu is the starting point for your journey through Sabah. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your central hotel close to the restaurants and colourful markets of the city. Kota Kinabalu is a relatively modern city with many western influences and a whole host of delicious local food to try.
Day 8 – Canopy walk in Kinabalu National Park
Today you’ll explore Kinabalu National Park – Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest peak. The park is a haven for nature and outdoor lovers. Over 5,000 plant species can be found here and it’s a birdwatcher’s paradise, with colourful hornbills and mountain species you won’t see elsewhere. You’ll brave the heights of the rainforest canopy walkway 100 feet above the forest floor, wander through the colourful butterfly garden and take a dip in one of the hot mineral springs.
Day 9 – Orangutans and jungle boats
It’s time to discover Borneo’s famous wildlife. Your day begins with a short 45-minute flight to Sandakan, where our driver will be waiting to transfer you to Sepilok.
Borneo is the land of orangutans, and the very best place to see them and learn all about them is at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. This inspirational centre rescues orphaned, injured, or ex-captive orangutans and teaches them vital skills – like climbing, nest-building and foraging – so they can eventually return to the wild. You’ll visit Sepilok in a small group with a knowledgeable guide. Mid-morning is feeding time, and you’ll be able to see the iconic great apes come out of the jungle to eat as much fresh fruit and nuts as they want. You’ll also stop in at a Sunbear Sanctuary nearby, where you can see these unique, endangered bears.
After your visit to Sepilok you’ll climb into a boat and journey along the Kinabatangan River – Sabah’s longest river. No other spot in Borneo features such a wide variety of wild animals: monkeys, monitor lizards, crocodiles, sunbears, hundreds of species of tropical birds, and if you’re lucky you may even see wild pygmy elephants! Your base for the next two nights is a charming, wooden lodge on the banks of the river. You’ll have some time to relax before your first wildlife cruise in the late afternoon, where you’ll watch the animals come to life as the sun goes down. In the evening you’ll have dinner back at your lodge, and fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.
Day 10 – Wildlife spotting on the Kinabatangan River
You’ll probably wake up when the gibbon monkeys and hornbills do…they’ll make sure of that! It’ll be an early start anyway as you set out on your first boat journey of the day – heading to a nearby lake as the animals begin to wake up around its shores. After breakfast back at the lodge, you can choose to relax or head out on a nature walk to some nearby caves. As the sun begins to set, you’ll head out on the final jungle cruise of your trip, and you can take one more chance at spotting the unique Borneo wildlife. You’ll return to the lodge for another night in this unique setting.
Day 11 – Return to Sepilok
After breakfast depart your riverside lodge and return to Sandakan by road. You’ll stop for lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to your comfortable overnight accommodation near Sepilok.
Days 12-14 – Castaway beach on Lankayan Island
Today you will be transferred to the jetty for your boat transfer to Lankayan Island. The crossing takes around 90 minutes and will usually leave around 10am. Lankayan Island is a secluded paradise hidden away in the tropical Sulu Sea just north of Sandakan, and the perfect place to rest up after your travels through Borneo. Spend your days relaxing on the white sandy beaches or swimming and snorkelling in the crystal clear sea. Lankayan is a breeding ground for sea turtles and if you’re lucky, you can witness a nest of baby turtles being released into the sea. You will be staying in a seafront bungalow right on the beach. All your meals are included and are served at the restaurant, which boasts an amazingly beautiful open-air wooden terrace.
Day 15 – Depart Borneo
It’s the last day of your compact Borneo holiday. You will leave the island at 7am and head back to Sandakan, where you’ll hop in a taxi to the airport for your flight back home. If 3 nights is not long enough on the beach, ask your Travel Specialist to extend your stay by a night or two.
Accommodation
