Best of Borneo Tours

The Best of Borneo is a 6-day and 5-night tour package that takes you on a journey to discover the different aspects of Borneo through Kota Kinabalu and places around it in Sabah. You’ll experience the beauty of Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs, tribal culture, the highlights of Kota Kinabalu city, the wildlife of Borneo, the richness of a mangrove forest and a tropical island in this complete tour that is sure to bring you good memories.

You begin your adventure with a tour of Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah, to see its many places of interest. Once known as ‘Singgahmata’, which means ‘The Place where the Eye Lingers’, Kota Kinabalu has risen from the destruction of the war to become a vibrant and modern place that still retains its traditional charms. Some of the places you’ll see include the Wisma Tun Mustapha (Sabah Foundation Building), a pottery, a handicraft market, University Malaysia Sabah, Sabah State & City Mosque, State Museum, and a brief stop on top of Signal Hill which provides a bird’s eye-view of the city and nearby islandsAfter Kota Kinabalu, you’ll visit the Garama Wetland, located in the southern region of Sabah, for an exploration of fascinating mangrove forests that teem with fireflies during the night. This tour also weaves through Sabah’s secluded countryside, tranquil beaches, pleasant villages, paddy fields and plantations. You’ll also get the chance to glimpse rare wildlife on a river cruise, such as the Proboscis Monkey; a primate with a very large and dumpy nose, Silver Langur; a shy primate species and birds of prey such as the Crested Serpent Eagle and White-Bellied Sea Eagle.

To see even more wildlife, you’ll head on next to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, a zoo that is located along the old Penampang – Papar road, which is 15 km away from the city. Here, visitors can see wildlife species endemic to Borneo and some from Peninsular Malaysia including Orang-Utans, Asian elephants, tigers, hornbills and much more.

The tour then brings you across the beautiful Crocker Range, a series of vast mountains that provide a panoramic view of the countryside and hills. While en route to Kinabalu Park, you’ll get to see the magnificent Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia. This park is a World Heritage Site with an amazing diversity of flora and fauna, and you’ll get on one of the many trails to explore the rainforest with a guided tour.

You’ll also visit the Poring Hot Springs, which was discovered and developed by the Japanese during World War II. The Poring Hot Springs shares the same rainforest range with Kinabalu Park, making it an equally diverse area for wildlife. The hot springs are piped into Japanese-styled open-air baths, where you can take a dip in the sulphuric hot waters that are reputed to be therapeutic. Finally, take a jaunt up on the 41 m canopy walk in Poring to see the spectacular rainforest below.

Next up is a visit to the tip of Borneo, which will bring you to Kota Belud and a Kudat Rungus longhouse to explore the rich tribal culture of Sabah. Kota Belud is known as Sabah’s wild wild west of sorts. This is because the Bajau, a tribe famed for their horse-riding skills, live here where they cultivate a living by raising horses and making swords. The Tamu Market is a weekly event where hawkers, vendors, farmers, fishermen and cattle breeders gather to trade goods. Finally, you’ll head north to visit indigenous villages including the Bavanggazo Village where the Rungus people reside. The Rungus are farmers but gifted artisans that excel in weaving baskets and making intricate beadwork.

Finally, to complete the experience, you’ll visit Sapi Island, which is just 20-minutes away by boat from Kota Kinabalu. Here, the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park beckons you to come and savour its beautiful beaches with warm sand and a bright sun. On the island, you can engage in various activities such as picnicking, snorkeling and scuba diving besides lazing around. The day is yours to enjoy at your own time and leisure.

Includes:
- Meals as stated
- Entrance fee
- English-speaking guide.
- Tours & Transfer

Exclusions:
- Hotel accommodation
- Airfare
- Personal insurance
- Beverage, tips & not mentioned in itinerary