A Gentle Family tour of Borneo’s Beaches and Rainforests
Tour Introduction
This carefully designed itinerary is ideally suited to families with younger children who enjoy a gentle pace and a high degree of comfort. Our two luxury beach resorts offer doorstep wildlife watching, safe beaches and family-friendly facilities; the waterways of the Kinabatangan River will provide myriad sightings of wild orang-utans and other fascinating rainforest creatures; whilst Sepilok gives an insight into the lives of orang-utans. On this tour, you and your family will find wildlife and beach relaxation in perfect harmony.
Full Itinerary
Arrive into Kota Kinabalu. Met on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Staying at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort. Includes No Meals.
Full day at leisure for optional snorkelling, rainforest walks, water sports or swimming.
Staying at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Full day at leisure for optional snorkelling, rainforest walks, water sports or swimming.
Staying at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Morning flight to Sandakan, transfer to the Sepilok Orang-Utan Centre to watch morning feeding and explore the nearby Sun Bear Centre. Return to Sandakan for lunch, then travel by boat a short way along the coast and inland via the Kinabatangan River, the largest river in Sabah with wildlife-filled mangrove, wetlands and rainforest offering some superb wildlife viewing en route. After a journey of approximately two hours accompanied by a naturalist guide, you will arrive at the lodge. Following a brief welcome and orientation there will be a late afternoon river cruise to spot wildlife.
Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Early morning river excursion to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake for excellent birding and general wildlife viewing. Afternoon river excursion for another chance to see proboscis monkeys and other wildlife. Optional night cruise to spot nocturnal species, including possible sightings of marbled and flat-headed cats.
Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Explore the waterways of Sukau in the morning then head to Gomantong Caves to explore the forest trails and watch millions of bats emerge at sunset.
Staying at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Transfer by boat back to Sandakan and fly to Kota Kinabalu. Transfer to your hotel by the coast and check-in. The upmarket resort overlooks Dalit Bay and has a good beach and excellent facilities including a sixty-four acre rainforest reserve, private stables, large pool and full service spa and massage centre.
Staying at Rasa Ria Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Day at leisure. Perhaps head into the reserve for more rainforest wildlife.
Staying at Rasa Ria Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Free day at leisure. Perhaps visit Kinabalu National Park and/or Poring Hot Springs.
Staying at Rasa Ria Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Free day at leisure.
Staying at Rasa Ria Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport and fly home.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Tanjung Aru Resort
Overview
Conveniently located near Kota Kinabalu airport but enjoying a quiet position by the sea overlooking the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, the resort has a small white sand beach and excellent facilities including a large swimming pool, tennis courts and spa.
There are 492 luxurious rooms and suites, all designed to showcase the traditional colours and décor of Borneo while maintaining a high international level of comfort and modern bathrooms.
The rooms are divided into 2 separate wings; those in the Tanjung wing overlook the South China Sea whilst the Kinabalu sea view rooms give wonderful views of both the sea and iconic Mount Kinabalu.
All rooms have en suite bathrooms and most have private balconies too. Amenities in the rooms include flat-screen cable TV with movie channels, direct-dial telephone, tea- and coffee-making facilities, safety deposit box, free Wi-Fi, mini-bar and complimentary toiletries.
Guests can enjoy a choice of restaurants for meals at the hotel including Café Tatu, serving buffet breakfasts and dinners, and Coco-Joe’s Bar and Grill where typical Bornean cuisine is available. The Peppino is one of the best restaurants in the area and serves Italian dishes and the Shang Palace has delicious Chinese dishes. There is also a pleasant sunset bar perched next to the sea, ideal for a relaxing drink while watching the sunset over the sea.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurants, bars, spa, tennis court, golf course, games room, water sports, large swimming pool, satellite TV, air-conditioning, mini-bar, direct-dial telephone, room safe, free Wi-Fi, laundry service, currency exchange and room service.
Optional Activities
The resort has many on-site amenities such as a golf course and spa, and offers activities such as bird watching, yoga, tai-chi and cookery classes.
Sukau Rainforest Lodge
Overview
Built on the banks of the mighty Kinabatangan River using strict sustainable development principles, the lodge provides an ideal base from which to explore the wildlife of the surrounding forest, often in electrically powered boats to limit disturbance and maximise sightings. The accommodation here underwent a complete refurbishment and the rooms are now more spacious with modern facilities and stylish décor.
The Kinabatangan area is particularly renowned for proboscis monkeys that arrive in large groups at the trees of the riverbanks during late afternoon. There is also a very good chance of seeing wild orang-utan, macaque, gibbon and silvered and maroon langur monkeys. Bird species include all eight hornbills, oriental darter and the spectacular buffy fish-owl.
Borneo pygmy elephants are found here in large herds and can occasionally be observed walking through the lodge. There is a pleasant jetty overlooking the river where meals are sometimes taken and wildlife such as kingfishers and the rare storms stork can be observed.
Behind the lodge is an impressive network of boardwalks providing covered, safe walking through the rainforest.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms with hot water, restaurant, air-conditioning, safety deposit box, small dipping pool, foot spa, pool table, mini library and sun deck.
Local Wildlife
Wild orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, long and pig-tailed macaques, silvered and maroon langurs, Bornean gibbons, Bornean pygmy elephants, civets, otters and bearded pigs are also occasionally seen. During the dry season when river levels are lower, the rare flat-headed cat can be seen more often on nocturnal boat trips and there is even a chance of spotting a clouded leopard. Reticulated python, mangrove snake and saltwater crocodiles can often be spotted. Eight species of hornbill, the rare storm’s stork, various kingfishers and Bornean ground cuckoos are some of the many avian highlights found there.
Optional Activities
Boat safaris along the Kinabatangan River and its tributaries. It is possible to arrange cultural excursions to the local village and visit the huge Gomantong caves where thousands of edible nest swiftlets and bats can be watched.
Rasa Ria Resort
Overview
Upmarket Rasa Ria Resort overlooks Dalit Bay near Kota Kinabalu and has a good beach, a sixty-four acre rainforest reserve, horse stables, three large swimming pools, a full service spa and massage centre.
There are 416 spacious and comfortable rooms, each with a wonderful sea or forest view. All have en suite bathrooms and most private balconies too. Amenities include flat screen cable TV with movie channels, direct dial telephones, tea- and coffee-making facilities, safety deposit box, free Wi-Fi, mini-bar and complimentary toiletries.
The Coast Restaurant and bar serves both local specialities and international favourites, always to a high standard. Facilities also include a full health centre and spa, tennis courts, golf course, and water sports including canoeing, parasailing and jet skiing. Rasa Ria is approximately a 45-minute drive from the Kota Kinabalu airport.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurants, bar, spa, tennis court, golf course, games room, water sport activities, large swimming pool, satellite TV, air-conditioning, mini-bar, direct – dial telephone, room safe, free Wi-Fi, laundry service, currency exchange and 24-hour room service.
Optional Activities
Inclusive activities at the resort and offsite excursions.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Domestic flights included within Borneo.
Best Visited:
March to October
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Take full advantage of the hotel’s babysitting service and head to one of Kota Kinabalu’s famous seafood restaurants. Wonderfully fresh seafood and a night away from the kids. Bliss!
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
We have now arrived back in the UK after a truly memorable Borneo holiday. The tour…was fantastic, we saw a great range of wildlife…It is a tie between the wild orang-utan and the grazing elephants as to the highlight of the holiday. The guides were excellent…The tour has left us with two problems: how can we afford to have all our film developed and where do we go on holiday next year? Thanks for arranging a great holiday.
