Indonesia, Borneo - Young Orangutan sitting on the tree, Malaysia

Borneo Wildlife Family Holiday

Name: Borneo Wildlife Family Holiday
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.9 (11 reviews)

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12 Days from

13 Days from

CAD 3,445

incl. Taxes

4.9/5 from

Family

Ways to Travel :

Family Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Family

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Group Size :

7 - 16

Ages :

Trip Code :

FIB

A tropical family adventure combining jungles, wildlife, beaches and adventure

Borneo is an amazing tropical paradise. Get up close to the island's 'wild-men' at Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Project and to the big-nosed Proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay Sanctuary. Enjoy an idyllic island getaway and snorkel among colourful fish and sea turtles. From a jungle lodge we head out by longboat and on foot in search of wild macaques and crocodiles. There’s time too for exploring the trails in Kinabalu National Park, and for relaxing in the thermal pools of Poring Hot Springs.

Highlights

Stay at a Kinabatangan jungle lodge - jungle walks and wildlife river cruises
Visit Kota Kinabalu National Park - trekking and bathing in hot springs
See orang-utans of Sepilok and Proboscis monkeys of Labuk Bay
Relax on a tropical island with white sand beaches and spectacular snorkelling

Key Information

Nine nights hotels/lodges, one night homestay and one night longhouse
Travel by minibus, speedboat, longboat, local bus and one internal flight

Countries visited: Malaysia

What's Included

All accommodation
All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Free group arrival and departure transfers available

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas & vaccinations

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
Staying at Kinabatangan provides employment opportunities to the local orang Sungai people who are working as boat men & drivers at the local wildlife lodge.
Staying at a homestay in the Dusun village of Tanak Nabalu provides employment opportunities to the local orang Dusun people, the largest ethnic group in Sabah.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment. On this trip, part of the itinerary is located in the in the Dusun village of Tanak Nabalu, where we stay one night in a local homestay.
This particular trip visits & directly supports the Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary which rehabilitates injured, orphaned and captured Orang-utans into the wild. At 43 square kilometers, Sepilok is the largest sanctuary of its kind in the world.
Whist visiting Sepilok, there is the option to also visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation centre, a wildlife conservation and research centre for improving animal welfare and rehabilitation of the Malayan sun bear.
Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
The Exodus Travels Foundation has launched the Community Kickstart Project to help our destination communities recover and rebuild following the impact of COVID-19. In Malaysia, we’ve contributed to both the Rainwater Harvesting initiative (more details can be found here) and the Jungle Trek Path initiative (more details can be found here).

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about Exodus Travels’ Planet Promise here, including our rewilding and carbon compensation commitments for every customer who travels.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally-sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Vegetarian and vegan options are available at some accommodation and restaurants.
This trip favours locally-owned and run accommodation.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable
Cultural respect:
- Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country so modest dress is required on this trip when visiting holy sites such as the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur (i.e. legs, shoulders, and upper arms to be covered as well as a headscarf for women).
- One should not show the soles of their feet or touch someone’s head, both are considered disrespectful.

Itinerary

The group flight is an overnight flight departing the day before. Those travelling on the group flights will be met on arrival at the airport this morning and transferred to our hotel, where the rest of the group will join throughout the day. Today is a free day but there will be a welcome meeting in the evening with your tour leader; details of where and when this will take place will have been left with the hotel's reception. The hotel check-in time is from 2pm.

Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is an intriguing city that was born between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Having recovered from World War II bombings, 'KK' now possesses a gateway charm that can only be found in a frontier town. If you have enough free time, why not immerse yourself in local history at the Sabah State Museum or visit the Mari Mari cultural village for a fun and interactive learning experience.
Dreamtel Hotel (or similar)

Leaving the city behind we head towards Mt. Kinabalu. After about 2-2.5hrs we arrive at the Dusun village of Tanak Nabalu (please note that at time of writing the roads to the village are quite bad so we may have to use smaller minibuses for this journey). The Dusun people are the largest ethnic group in Sabah, the province of Borneo where we find ourselves.

In the village we are separated into different homestays and will spend the rest of the day hiking through orchards and rubber plantations, going for a swim in the river, exploring the village and, possibly, if anyone is feeling energetic, playing football on the village pitch.

This evening we all gather together for a cultural show which helps the Dusun preserve their ancient, traditional dances. As not all families speak English, our tour leader will hand out language sheets and will be on hand to assist with communication.

Tanak Nabalu Homestay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we visit the Mini Mount Kinabalu, a natural rock formation that looks exactly like the summit of Mt. Kinabalu. We continue into Kinabalu National Park (approx. 30 minutes). Here we will go for a 1-2 hour hike along some of the lower trails and the Mountain Botanical Gardens with an excellent showcase of the mountain’s diverse plant life.

There is an option to visit the Kundasang War Memorial which commemorates Prisoners of War who died during the infamous death marches of World War II. The memorial is made up of four gardens, the Australian, English, Malaysian and the Contemplation Garden that represent the different nationalities.

We then take a short transfer, to the Zen Garden Resort where we spend the night.
Zen Garden Resort (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we transfer 1 hour to the Poring Hot Spring where there will be plenty of time to enjoy the cool pools and hot-tubs (into which the steaming hot water is piped) as well as the well maintained, self-guided walking trails to a nearby waterfall. The hot springs can get quite popular with locals especially during school and public holidays and you may wish to pay the additional charge to enjoy a private bath if you want a good soak.

We later take to the trees as we head on a canopy walkway which follows a trail including a number of suspension bridges hanging from the trees at canopy level, some up to 40m above the ground.

There is also a butterfly and orchid garden within the complex. We later take a short transfer to the Sabah Tea Gardens, where we will spend the night in a traditional reconstructed longhouse with shared bathrooms.
Sabah Tea Longhouse

Meals Included: Breakfast

Waking to the spectacular views overlooking the mountain, we start with an early morning visit to the tea plantation, learning about the process of tea production, before driving to Kinabatangan (approximately 5-6 hours).

The Kinabatangan River is the longest in Sabah and its lower reaches are recognised as one of the best places in South East Asia for wildlife viewing. The surrounding forests are home to ten species of primate, including orang-utans, Proboscis monkeys and gibbons as well as hornbills, crocodiles and the elusive Pygmy elephants which come down to the river to drink, amongst others.

We spend the next day and a half exploring the surrounding jungle. We go on river cruises, jungle hikes, a night walk, and plant trees.
Bilit Adventure Lodge (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The next two days are spent in and around Sepilok.

The drive to Labuk Bay and the Proboscis monkey sanctuary takes about 3-4 hours. These monkeys, only found in Borneo, are very distinctive with their large noses and can often be seen jumping from tree to tree with tremendous leaps through the air.

After visiting the sanctuary we continue towards Sepilok, about 40 minutes away where we will be staying just 5 minutes from the famous Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre in a guesthouse with a pool.

The Kabili Sepilok Reserve, established in the 1960s, is home to between 60 and 80 rehabilitated orang-utans which roam freely in the forest. In addition to this, the rehabilitation centre was established to care for the apes and is home to a further 25 young orphaned orang-utans who live in a nursery. The rehabilitation centre provides medical care for the orphaned and confiscated apes as well as various other wild animals.

Whilst the semi-wild orang-utans roam free in the reserve and forage for food, their diet is supplemented by milk and banana. There are two feedings a day, at 10am and 3pm, and we have the opportunity to witness both.

There is also the opportunity to visit the nearby Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre. The smallest of all bears, Sun bears were once widely found across much of Asia but have drastically decreased in numbers. The Centre aims to protect and promote conservation to return these bears to the forest.

The nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre is a centre for environmental education situated within the famous Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Its primary function is to create public awareness and appreciation of the importance of conserving forests, as well as the sustainable use of forest resources. The 147m long, 28m high steel canopy walkway gives spectacular views of beautiful rainforest giants like the Mengaris tree, and there are also 250 species of bird to look out for - experience forest life high in the canopy.
Sepilok Jungle Resort (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leaving early we head to Sandakan Airport (about 25 minutes) for our flight back to Kota Kinabalu (40 minutes). Please note there is a 15kg restriction on checked baggage for the domestic flight, but it is possible to pay for excess luggage at the airport or your leader can arrange this at the start of the tour.

Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu, we then travel by boat to Manukan Island, part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Manukan Island is the second biggest island in the national park and is covered in thick forest with a nice beach and some good corals for snorkelling. There is also a network of easy walking trails around the island.

We spend the next two nights in the lovely Manukan Island Resort with its Balinese style villas facing the South China Sea.

The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the pool and the beach.
Manukan Island Resort (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we head out exploring the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park on a snorkelling trip to some of the best sites with vibrant coral and schools of colourful fish.
Manukan Island Resort (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We have a leisurely morning to enjoy the beach before heading back to Kota Kinabalu. Please note that on some departures the flight schedules may require us to catch the evening flight to Kuala Lumpur connecting to the overnight flight back, in such cases, those on the group flights will be taken to the airport in time for their flight. Otherwise we have time in Kota Kinabalu for some last minute shopping and our final night in Borneo.
Dreamtel Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The trip ends after breakfast this morning in Kota Kinabalu.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Malaysia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Malaysia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

Malaysia

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice.

Dengue and zika fevers, both spread by mosquitoes, are known risks in places visited. There are currently no vaccines or prophylaxes available; therefore, we recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included.

Malaysia is renowned for its culinary excellence, however, food can often be relatively unexciting and limited in the lodges and for hotel breakfasts. Meals will be more varied for everyone in cities and seafood is widely available on the coast.

Most meals will be basic based around rice and noodles although most accommodation does offer a western breakfast of beans, toast and eggs. In the bigger hotels and cities the full range of Western and local foods are available. You can generally avoid the spicier food if you wish. You should allow at least GBP 10-20 (USD 15-30) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in Borneo, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants most of the time, you will spend more than the suggested amount.

Dinner at Manukan Resort is currently buffet style only (no a la carte menu) and costs approximately MYR 65 per dinner.

Vegetarians can be catered for but will find the food choice limited. Please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests.

Please note that in Borneo the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent, for example wheat or dairy-free, please be prepared for this and you may need to bring such items from home.

Weather

Borneo has an equatorial monsoon climate with the weather remaining similar throughout the year. It is hot and humid; temperatures range from 23-33ºC during the day and rarely drop below 20ºC at night. The rainy season is from November to January/February and the dry season is from May to September, though really it can rain at any time. A Borneo rain shower is quite an event!

Weather Charts

Kota Kinabalu

Is this trip for you?

Activity Level: 3 (Moderate)

Designed for 9-12 year olds, also suitable for 13-16 year olds.

This holiday is designed so that you can see the best parts of Borneo using a mixture of private buses, boats and flights.

Our family activity levels are aimed at children in the primary or ‘Designed for’ age group. We are confident it is also suitable for those in the ‘Also for’ age range, however please note if your child is in this secondary category they may find it a little easier. Please see the family activity levels on our website for further information. When grading our trips we consider multiple factors, such as the pace, the level of activity involved, the amount of time a family will spend travelling and the weather is an important factor too.

Anyone in good health should be able to go on this trip as there is no real physical difficulty involved, although you will be doing a fair amount of walking in some places and the heat and humidity can be tiring. Travel time is kept to a minimum wherever possible, although there are some long travel days and as we use some local transport at times, it may sometimes be quite cramped and without air conditioning. On some long travel days we depart early in the morning to ensure we optimise our time at our next destination.

Some of the accommodation along the way is very basic, staying in local guesthouses and homestays with limited facilities. Some facilities are shared and some accommodation has cold water only. Much of the accommodation is comfortable with air-conditioning and private bathrooms.

Borneo has an equatorial monsoon climate with the weather remaining similar throughout the year. Only in the mountains does it get cooler.

Locals and other Asian tourists may want to take photos of themselves with your children particularly if they are young, blond and have blue eyes, you shouldn't be surprised if they do this without asking permission first.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

It is super hot! Bring quick dry clothing (especially t-shirts) as anything too thick or heavy will struggle to dry. Bring an individual water bottle so you can refill from the main bottle daily, rather than buying smaller bottles. Leech socks can be hired at Kinabatangan along with wellington boots, which were really necessary because of the mud! Take plenty of insect repellent (not that it stops the mozzies). A camera with a good zoom and/or binoculars is a really good thing to take - especially for your time at Kinabatangan.

Suggestions

We thought that the 2 nights spend on Manukan Island at the end of the trip were absolutely perfect - we fell in love with our hillside villa (so luxurious!) and it was a real struggle to leave the island!

Reviewed October 2014

Borneo Family Adventure

This is a great trip if you want to experience Sabah, Borneo. It is well organised and you see a lot, the orangutans are amazing. It is a good mixture of wildlife and culture and my son thoroughly enjoyed the trip at age 8. The people in Borneo are really friendly and it feels a safe place.

Most Inspirational Moment

The orangutans

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour leader Roxanne was great with the children teaching them the language and imparting her knowledge at the right level for them, She is fun so the kids really take to her. She does the majority of the family trips .

Advice for Potential Travellers

My son had a great time on this trip at age 8 , personally I think the trip would be hard for a lot of 5 year olds as there are as few early morning starts and the trip is busy. However, this would depend on the individual child. My son is a seasoned traveller and would have managed it well at age 5. My son and I travel a lot independently but this trip was good for him as he was able to make friends with the other children on the trip. The kids on the trip got on well and it was great for him to travel with children from other countries. Try and give yourself a couple of days before or after the trip so you can take the short boat trip across to one or two of the islands off Kota Kinabalu.

Suggestions

I would not hesitate in recommending this trip to anyone it is great. My son and I also went to the Kuching, Sarawak on our own after the trip and then hired a Klotok in Tanjung Puting National Park, Indonesia Borneo after. I would also recommend doing both of these if you have the time. Internal flights in the region are cheap find them on skyscanner. Get yourself on this Exodus trip you will have a super time.

Reviewed August 2013

BORNEO FAMILY ADVENTURE

Wow…what an adventure!

Most Inspirational Moment

On the river canoe trip, watching the elephants crossing the river and struggling to get up the muddy bank on the far side. This was a rare event and we watched for ages as the baby struggled up the bank with the help of the adult herd. Truly amazing! Spending the night in the jungle camp was an experience. No electricity, and only a roof and a mossie net to protect us from the thunder storm is something I'll never forget. The boat trip back from the island in rough seas, I was dreading, but absolutely loved it...thrilling!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

She was excellent. Very patient and understanding of our needs. She was ready to spring into action at any point and did so with a smile on her face the whole time!

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is an adventurous holiday and can be quite challenging at times.you need to be prepared for basic accommodation, which is described in the brochure and web site as such, but "showers" were often a barrel of rainwater and a scoop, and toileting was somewhat of an adventure..especially when you find a frog in the toilet! It really makes you appreciate the comforts of life, though, like toilet paper and hot running water! There are a lot of "beasties", most of which love to bite or sting so take some antihistemines just in case! I'd advise breaking up the jouney there with a stopover as the time difference can be difficult. We had a great time in out homestay, the house was clean and comfortable and we played with the children for hours ( learn some good hand clapping games!), so not speaking the language wasnt a problem. Other families were not so lucky though, so our group had a mixed response to this aspect of the trip. You just need to go with the flow on this part. We booked the trip so that we could visit Sepilok, but I was disappointed that there were so few orangutans to see and they were quite far away...its so much better to see them in the wild!

Suggestions

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, then Borneo is for you. I am so pleased we had this adventure, it challenged me several times, but looking back on it now I realise how lucky I am to have been there to experience it.

Read All Reviews

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

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Availability

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This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 2 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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