Day 1: Sandakan
Selamat datang! Welcome to Borneo. Your adventure begins in the coastal town of Sandakan. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be transferred to your accommodation – a hotel set on the harbour in central Sandakan. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your local leader and the other families joining you for your trip. After the meeting, get to know your group over a welcome dinner and get excited for the adventure that lies ahead.
Day 2: Sandakan
Gear up for a day of incredible wildlife encounters for you and the kids. Kick off today’s adventures with a private tour of the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre, where the centre’s founder, Dr Wong, will teach you all about sun bears, from their personalities to their important role in the jungle. Sun bears are the only tropical bear species and are the smallest bear species in the world. Next, get hands-on and create enrichment toys like puzzle feeders or scent-based toys – the kids will love seeing the toys they make being given to the sun bears as they watch on from the observation platforms. Have lunch at a nearby restaurant, then continue to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, nestled in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Watch the young orangutans in the nursery as they learn how to climb in a specially made jungle gym. Later today, you’ll have some free time to keep exploring or simply relax at the hotel – maybe gather the kids for a dip in the pool to cool off.
Day 3: Kinabatangan River
Transfer from Sandakan to Kinabatangan after breakfast this morning. Arrive at your lodge, located near the Kinabatangan River – a protected forest reserve with one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo. This afternoon, you and your family will see all this abundant area has to offer on a river cruise. You might spot crocodiles, macaques, proboscis monkeys, orangutans and colourful birds like kingfishers and hornbills. If you’re lucky, you might get a rare sighting of the pygmy elephants that wander the river’s banks. Return to the lodge for dinner tonight – the perfect chance for a debrief with the kids on everyone’s favourite animal sightings of the day.
Day 4: Kinabatangan River
Embark on a cruise along the Kinabatangan River this morning, headed to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake to see more of the local birdlife and wildlife. After, return to your accommodation for breakfast, then you’ll have some free time where you can opt to join a naturalist guide for a walk along the Hornbill Boardwalk to spot local flora and fauna or simply lie back poolside with a good book and glass of wine in hand while the kids go for a dip. This afternoon, you’ll embark on another wildlife cruise. Keep an eye out for Borneo gibbons and learn the difference between long tail macaques and pig tail macaques, then you and the kids can test each other on telling the two species apart. Tonight, join your group and local leader for an included dinner.
Day 5: Kundasang
After breakfast, you’ll travel to Kundasang by private vehicle. Be sure to have some good books, podcasts or games queued up for everyone for the drive. Kundasang is a small town nestled beneath Mt Kinabalu – the highest peak in South East Asia, sitting at 4095 m (13,435 ft). Have your cameras charged and ready to go for when you arrive – on a clear day, you can see incredible views of Mt Kinabalu, making for the perfect family photo op. Settle into your accommodation for the night, have dinner and take in more views of Mt Kinabalu from your doorstep.
Day 6: Kota Kinabalu
This morning, you’ll travel to a nearby village to visit DumoWongi – a women-led social enterprise training local women to grow herbs and edible flowers through organic farming. Be welcomed with a drink made from lemongrass, pandan and mint, then join a guided walk through the herb and edible flower garden. Next, learn how the women upcycle fabric offcuts and use leaves, flowers and natural pigments to eco-print their handicrafts, then you and the kids can have a go yourselves! Make your own bookmark, scarf or coaster to take home as a souvenir. You’ll also get to decorate your own chocolate treats with edible flowers from the garden. Sit down to a lunch made using seasonal herbs and flowers and learn how herbs are traditionally used in Sabahan cuisine. Later, continue to the coastal city of Kota Kinabalu. If you arrive on a Friday or Saturday evening, you might like to explore the Gaya Street Night Market to try some tasty local snacks.
Day 7: Gaya Island
Spend a free morning either relaxing, going for a swim in the pool or heading out for a stroll around Kota Kinabalu. Then, head to the jetty to board a boat to Gaya Island. When you arrive, check into your Feature Stay accommodation for the next two nights – Gayana Marine Resort. Your comfortable overwater villa gives you excellent vistas over the island’s blue-green shores and luscious rainforest. Later today, give back to the incredible ecosystems surrounding you by taking part in a marine conservation program. You’ll learn about coral restoration through a hands-on activity where you can plant your own coral fragment, helping to restore damaged coral beds. The rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish – maybe enjoy the views of the bay from your balcony or cool off in the resort’s infinity pool.
Day 8: Gaya Island
Today is a free day for you and your family to enjoy picturesque Gaya Island however you like. Ask your leader about the on-site water activities on offer or maybe opt to go snorkelling in the colourful reefs of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Or, if you and the kids are eager to learn more about marine conservation, you could sign up to the Marine Ecology Research Centre’s ‘Marine Biologist For a Day’ program – during this full-day program, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the science and everyday tasks involved in marine rehabilitation. This evening, join the other families for a farewell dinner and celebrate the memories you’ve made!
Day 9: Gaya Island
There are no further activities planned today and your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. A complimentary departure transfer is available to take you back to the mainland, departing Gaya Island at 11 am and arriving at the airport at around 12 pm. If you’d prefer to depart at an earlier or later time, a private transfer can be arranged for an additional fee. If you’d like to extend your stay in Borneo – and it’s highly recommended you do – just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
