Sabah Family Adventure (10 days)

Arrival Kota Kinabalu

On arrival to Kota Kinabalu airport your meet and greet assistant will take care of getting you through customs quickly and help you with your baggage claim, after receive a warm welcome by the private guide and driver and get an exclusive transport to hotel located on the beach area of Kota Kinabalu.

Rest of the day is free at leisure. Kota Kinabalu is rated as one of the best places in the world to watch sunset, the sunset bar offers a spectacular backdrop to enjoy it.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at Shangri La Rasa Ria.

Distances and journey time:

Kota Kinabalu airport to Shangri La Rasa Ria (39km) 45min

Kota Kinabalu

Get the adrenaline pumping with an exhilarating Kiulu river rafting adventure. This Kota Kinabalu day tour is the perfect way to add a touch of adventure to a Borneo holiday.

Transfer 1.5 hours away from the city, leaving the modern world behind and entering a region filled with lush natural landscapes. Travel along winding roads, passing rice fields and valleys dotted with suspension bridges.

Upon reaching the banks of the Kiulu River, meet with professional rafting guides who will provide a detailed safety demonstration. Then, grab a helmet, lifejacket and paddle and head to the rafts for this exhilarating adventure. (Note: each raft will carry four guests and one rafting guide).

Once the raft is fully afloat, start paddling! The journey will take around 1.5-2 hours in total with a mix of gently flowing waters and exhilarating rapids. Be sure to look around and enjoy the breath-taking scenery that surrounds the rivers. Pass by jungle-covered highlands, lush fields and other spectacular natural landscapes. Around halfway through the journey, stop on the riverbanks for a chance to swim or to simply soak up the scenery.

Reach the take-out point late this morning. Dry off in the changing rooms then tuck into a delicious BBQ lunch on the banks of the river, enjoying the fabulous views while refueling.Following this exhilarating morning of Kiulu river rafting, return to town around 16.00 and transfer to the hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Notes: River Difficulty Level 1-2 (suitable for Families) Min age for Rafting Kiulu River is 7 years old.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at Shangri La Rasa Ria

Distances and journey time:

Shangri La Rasa Ria to Kiulu White Rafting (30km) 45min

Kota Kinabalu

Today your tour starts at 09.00. Mari Mari Cultural Village tour is located deep in the countryside away from the modern and developing Kota Kinabalu city. The village operates as a museum that preserves Borneo ethnic culture. It aims to share the knowledge, history, culture, and tradition of Borneo with you so that it is not forgotten. The tour offers you the opportunity to see and experience the culture and lifestyle of how the indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live in the olden days when electricity had not yet been introduced in their land.

Welcome to Mari Mari Cultural Village! Welcoming ceremony by the Murut Tribe Chief. Enjoy a guided tour of each traditional house and learn about the history, bamboo cooking demonstration, fire making demonstration, blowpipe demonstration and traditional dances in a remote forest setting. You’ll also get to participate in the light activities.

Enjoy the Sublime Borneo Picnic Pack, specially prepared for you.

Return to your hotel.Afternoon is free at leisure to enjoy the resort facilities and the beach.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at Shangri La Rasa Ria.

Distances and journey time:

Shangri La Rasa Ria to Mari Mari Cultural Center (33km) 45min

Kota Kinabalu - SepilokOn arrival at Sandakan meet your driver and guide and transfer 45 minutes with an air-conditioned vehicle to visit the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary in time for the 11:30 feeding. The proboscis monkey is one of the most unusual looking monkeys in the world. Transfer to Sandakan. Enjoy an exclusive private visit of the Agnes Keith House. Now a museum, this former British colonial government quarters, Enjoy a walk through the garden and proceed to the English Tea House where you’ll be served lunch. They offer fine teas from around the world, scones and fresh cream, delicious cakes and pastries and a wide selection of traditional English specialties and Asian favorites. Have fun with a traditional game of Croquet, often referred as ‘chess on grass’, hit some balls through the wickets and test your strategies and skills. Your lunch will be served in a romantic setting under the backyard gazebo.After lunch leave for Sepilok in time for the afternoon feeding at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre that takes place at 15:00. Watch a short video documentary of the rehabilitation activities before taking a stroll on the boardwalk through the lowland rainforest to witness the feeding of the Orangutans. This program includes an orangutan adoption. Take a short 2-minute stroll over to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre nearby. This centre aims to increase awareness of this endearing, but little-known bear species – named after the crescent shaped patch of fur on their chests that resembles the rising sun. There are currently 44 rescued ex-captive sun bears residing at the BSBCC.Meet with Dr. (Hon) Wong Siew Te, who founded the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation. Listen to a 45-minute private presentation on the Sun Bears before a personal tour around the facility from the founder himself. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.Overnight in Sepilok.Distances and journey time:Sandakan Airport to Sepilok (17km) 20 min

Sepilok -Kinabatangan

10.00 Leave from your hotel. The tour begins with a visit to the educational Rainforest Discovery Centre. It seats by a lake at the edge of Sepilok Forest. Aside from the Plant Discovery Walk, which features information about the medicinal and traditional use of herbs and leaves, there is a 347-meter-long 87-meter-high canopy walkway. Nestled high amongst the rainforest tree line, this provides a great opportunity to spot on the 250-300 bird species and maybe even a wild orangutan. It’s the best outdoor classroom to learn about the rainforest biodiversity.

Return to your hotel.

After lunch leave to the Sandakan Pier (Boat departs at 13:30) for a two and a half-hour journey by boat along the longest river in Borneo. With eight species of hornbill, Bornean pygmy elephants, over 300 bird species and a whopping ten species of primates, this area’s biodiversity is among the finest in the world. Check into the chalet and take some time to relax.

On arrival take a river cruise using electric motor in search of wildlife and birds.

Enjoy candle light dinner overlooking the riverbank followed by slide presentation and interpretation by naturalist guide.

Overnight in Kinabatangan at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.Distances and journey time:Sepilok – Sandakan Yacht Club Sandakan Yacht club Jetty to Sukau Rainforest lodge by boat: 2 hours Cruise times: PM – 16:00 (SIC) Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours.

Kinabatangan

06:00 Rise early in the morning along with the birds and other animals of the river for a cruise to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake, a crescent shaped lake that formed when the river’s meander became so wide that it cut itself off.

After breakfast, proceed for an educational tour along the lodge’s Hornbill Boardwalk with our in-house naturalist.

Relax at the pool area and beat the heat whilst in the Bornean rainforest.

After lunch, join in-house Orang Utan Talk activity.

16.00 In the afternoon, proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife.

Overnight in Kinabatangan at Sukau Rainforest Lodge

Distances and journey time:Cruise times: AM – 06:30, PM – 16:00 (SIC) Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours

Kinabatangan - Gaya Island

09:00 Depart the lodge for the boat transfer back to Sandakan Yacht Jetty.

On arrival meet you driver and transfer to Sandakan airport.

Suggested flight : AK AirAsia 6497 Kota Kinabalu 12:50 – Sandakan 13:40 - Flight is not included

Be picked up from the hotel in Kota Kinabalu and transfer to Jesselton Pier for a 20-minute boat ride to Pulau Gaya. Upon arrival on the pristine Bunga Raya Private Beach, check-in and spending the rest of the day at leisure. Explore the island’s jungle trails, snorkel the crystal-clear waters directly off the resort’s private beach or relax under the shade with a cocktail in hand while soaking up the pristine tropical ambience.

Enjoy the backdrop of nature and relax in the cool island breeze.

Overnight in Gaya Island at Bunga Raya Resort and Spa

Distances and journey time:Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport to Jesselton Pier (10km) 20minutes Boat from Jesselton Pier to Palau Gaya: 20 minutes

Gaya Island

Unwind on Pulau Gaya, the largest and most luxurious Island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Enjoy the tropical ambience of one of Sabah’s most idyllic islands. Covered in tropical forest, enjoy its hiking trails, marine life, crystal blue waters and the sound of nature.

Spend the day at leisure, enjoying the beach or swimming in the clear blue waters. Take a snorkel and enjoy the marine life or simply relax by the pool. Cool-off under the shade and enjoy a fresh lunch at the resort with wide sweeping views of nature and sea.

Overnight in Gaya Island at Bunga Raya Resort and Spa

Gaya Island

For your last day enjoy a sunset to remember. glide across the sea on a privately yacht and savour a selection of wine and beers to the backdrop of a breath-taking sunset. This bespoke experience begins an evening sunset cruise on the privately chartered.

Enjoy a leisurely cruise out and along the Kota Kinabalu coastline to the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Make the most of being pampered by the yacht’s professional crew and savour a selection of wine to the backdrop of a breath-taking sunset. There will be time to relax onboard while gingerly cruising around the bay before returning to the resort.

After the cruise, transfer back to the hotel.Note: Private Charter for 2 hours

Overnight in Gaya Island at Bunga Raya Resort and Spa

Gaya Island Departure

At 09:00 or 11:00, check out and depart Palau Gaya for a 20-minute boat transfer back to Kota Kinabalu airport. to catch the flight towards your next destination.

Distances and journey time:Boat from Palau Gaya to Jesselton Pier: 20 minutes Transfer from Jesselton Pier to Kota Kinabalu Airport (10km) 20minutes