Heart of Borneo (15 days)

International flight: Depart London Heathrow on Royal Brunei flight BI4 to Brunei International Airport.  The flight departs at 17:15 and arrives at 13:45 the following day (overnight)

Private transfer to your hotel: On arrival at Brunei International Airport you will be welcomed to Brunei by your English-speaking driver and transferred to your hotel in the city.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Radisson Hotel (Superior Room)

Morning city tour: This morning reconvene with your guide for a morning city & water village tour of Brunei beginning with the open market - a busy place where locals buy their daily products, ready-to-eat food, handicrafts, local herbs and medicinal plants. This morning you will also visit Brunei Museum, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque*, Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque* and have a photo stop at the entrance of the biggest residential palace in the World – Istana Nurul Iman which is the official residence of His Majesty The Sultan of Negara Brunei Darussalam. Then take a scenic boat ride around the biggest Malay Water Village in the world and a visit a local home where you can witness the daily livelihood of a typical villager living in a house on stilts on Brunei River. Local refreshments will be served.

Please note: Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosques on Thursday or Friday so the tour will only cover the garden area and compound of the two mosques on these days.

Road journey to Temburong: Set off from the capital and head southeast for around 45 minutes until reaching your resort located on the edge of Ulu Temburong National Park.

Evening Bush Walk: As darkness falls join an evening guided bush walk. Discover the fascinating nocturnal world of the tropical forest, where insects, frogs and other night-active creatures emerge.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the ABODE Resort (Superior Riverfront Tent)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour of the Ulu Temburong National Park: After an early breakfast, travel overland to Batang Duri before continuing by traditional longboat into Ulu Temburong National Park, one of Borneo's finest protected rainforests. The journey by longboat along the Temburong River offers an opportunity to appreciate the pristine rainforest landscape, with chances to observe wildlife and birdlife along the river corridor. Depending on seasonal conditions and natural activity, you may encounter rainforest species such as hornbills, kingfishers and other tropical birds.

Upon arrival in the heart of the National Park take a guided hike along rainforest trails leading to the famous Canopy Walkway, where spectacular views unfold above the rainforest canopy. Listen to the sounds of the rainforest and discover the rich diversity of flora and fauna that makes this ecosystem unique.Return to The Abode in the afternoon for some time to freshen up and relax.

Evening sunset cruise: As the sun starts to set embark on a scenic cruise along the Bangar River. As daylight fades, enjoy the peaceful surroundings while watching for wildlife along the riverbanks before witnessing the enchanting display of fireflies twinkling amongst the mangroves. Return to The Abode for dinner and some time to relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the ABODE Resort (Superior Riverfront Tent)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Miri: After an early breakfast this morning set off by road for Miri in Malaysian Borneo, a drive of around 3 hours.

Domestic flight: Depart Miri Airport on AirBorneo flight MY3632 to Mulu Airport.  The flight departs at 12:35 and arrives at 13:05.

Private transfer to your hotel: Upon arrival at Mulu airport you will be met by a guide, and transferred to your hotel in a private car.

Afternoon tour of Deer Cave: This afternoon take a three kilometre long walk along a raised wooden platform to reach Deer Cave, the largest cave passage in the world. Also explore Lang Cave, regarded as the most beautiful cave formation in Mulu. If weather permits you will be taken to the bat observatory point to watch millions of bats flying out from Deer Cave. Return on the same walkway and settle in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mulu Marriott Resort (Deluxe Rainforest Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Full day visit to Mulu National Park: After breakfast at your lodge travel by longboat to visit Penan Settlement to witness the lifestyle of the Penan community. Continue by longboat to Mulu National Park and visit Wind cave, Young Lady Cave and Clearwater Cave. Take a picnic lunch at Clearwater Hut and if you wish, you may enjoy a swim at the Clearwater pool.

Optional Mulu Night Walk: This evening there is the option to join a small group led by an official Mulu Park guide on a tour of the forest at night. Walk along the 1.5km plank-walk which meanders through kerangas forest, home to Borneo’s famous pitcher plants, riverine, swamp and limestone vegetation. The guide will use an audio transmitter to relay information without disturbing the timid wildlife. Immerse yourself in the night sounds of the rainforest; you may have the chance to see blinking fireflies floating before you or search for luminescent fungi. Quietly move through the forest looking for animals that hide during the day but emerge in the darkness which protects them from being seen by predators. Please note that this excursion is only operated in good weather conditions, so you need to book this locally at the National Park HQ - please ask your guide for assistance if you would like to do this.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mulu Marriott Resort (Deluxe Rainforest Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Private transfer to the airport: At the appropriate time today you will be collected from your hotel by your guide, and transferred to Mulu Airport in time for your onward flight.

Domestic flight: Depart Mulu Airport on AirBorneo flight MY3252 to Kota Kinabalu Airport.  The flight departs at 12:30 and arrives at 13:25.

Private transfer to your hotel: On arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport you will be met by your English-speaking driver and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the nearby attractions and shopping areas.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer to the airport: At the appropriate time today you will be collected from your hotel by your guide, and transferred to Kota Kinabalu Airport in time for your onward flight.

Domestic flight: Depart Kota Kinabalu Airport on Air Asia flight AK6490 to Sandakan Airport.  The flight departs at 12:25 and arrives at 13:10.

Shared transfer to Sepilok: Upon arrival you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel in Sepilok in a vehicle shared with other guests.

Afternoon visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre: This afternoon, you will be taken on a visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre which has an information centre focusing on the flora and fauna of Sabah, and an impressive canopy walkway.  The exhibition covers a wide range of subjects, from various plant groups and adaptations to forest types. The section on animals covers the iconic mammals in Sabah, such as the Bornean pygmy elephant, primates, cats, deer, reptiles and the main groups of birds. The Canopy Walkway is about 620 m long and 25 m high at its highest point, with two towers (named Bristlehead and Trogon respectively) and a single-column shelter.  At dusk there is a very good chance of viewing the Borneo Giant Flying Squirrel gliding from tree to tree.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at MY Nature Resort (Standard Chalet)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre & the Sun Bear Centre: This morning you will visit one of only four Orangutan sanctuaries in the world. Founded in 1964 the Centre helps once captive Orangutans learn to climb and fend for themselves in the wild with the hope that one day they may return to the forest. To start the tour there is a short film shown at the information centre giving some background on the history of the project, and the day-to-day work being carried out. Then proceed on foot along raised boardwalks through the rainforest to a series of platforms where milk and bananas are provided twice a day to the semi-wild Orangutans who are in the process of returning to the forest. There is an excellent chance that Orangutans and several species of monkeys will arrive in numbers, which is a spectacular sight and provides the opportunity to photograph these amazing creatures at close range. After seeing the Orangutans, you will visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), located very close to Sepilok’s Orangutan Sanctuary, where there are around 28 rescued bears.  Sun bears are the smallest and least known members of the bear species, and their populations are rapidly diminishing in Southeast Asia. Habitats are being destroyed by deforestation and sun bears are being brutally killed for commercial exploitation. Baby sun bears are one of the cutest young animals in the world, so after their mothers are killed they are captured as pets and are locked in tiny cages. The mission of the BSBCC is to rescue these captured Sun Bears, and promote conservation through animal welfare, conservation, rehabilitation, research and education.

Shared road & boat transfer to Abai: You will be transferred to the jetty in Sandakan and board a shared boat for the journey to Abai. Pass through pristine mangrove forests along the Kinabatangan River delta, with the chance to see proboscis monkeys, birds and reptiles en-route.

Shared afternoon wildlife excursion: This afternoon explore the surrounding area on the nature boardwalks surrounding the lodge before cruising up the Kinabatangan River in search of wildlife. As night falls witness the glittering of fireflies on the mangrove trees. Return to the lodge for dinner.  After dinner there is the option of joining a guided night walk around the nature boardwalks and search for insects, birds and other wildlife.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Abai Jungle Lodge (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Shared morning excursion: This morning you will be taken on an early morning boat trip on the river for more bird and wildlife viewing at nearby Pitas Lake. Afterwards, return to your lodge to have breakfast (outdoors if the weather is fine).

Shared speedboat journey from Abai to Sukau: After more time to explore the wildlife around Abai, checkout and travel by shared speedboat to Sukau, further down the Kinabatangan River.

Afternoon shared wildlife cruise: This afternoon you will be taken on a shared cruise along the Kinabatangan River with other guests from the lodge in search of the local wildlife. There is the chance of seeing orangutans, macaques, red and silver leaf monkeys, elephants, crocodiles, civet cats, otters and proboscis monkeys. The local bird life includes egret, kingfisher, oriental darter, bee-eater and hornbill

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Shared boat and road transfer to Sandakan: This morning you will be transferred to the jetty in Sukau for the boat journey to Sandakan, through pristine mangrove forests along the Kinabatangan River delta, with the chance to see proboscis monkeys, birds and reptiles en-route. Upon arrival at Sandakan you will be transferred to Sandakan airport in a shared vehicle.

Domestic flight: Depart Sandakan Airport on Air Asia flight AK6491 to Kota Kinabalu Airport.  The flight departs at 13:35 and arrives at 14:20.

Journey to Gaya Island: On arrival at Kota Kinabalu airport you will be met by staff from your resort on Gaya Island and transferred to Jesselton Point in the city. From Jesselton Point you will take the resort's speedboat to Gaya Island, a journey of just 20 minutes into the South China Sea.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Bungaraya Island Resort (Superior Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure on Gaya Island: These days are at leisure to relax in comfort on this wonderful tropical Island. A large range of watersports, including diving and snorkelling can be arranged through your resort for those who don't want to simply relax by the pool or on the beach. Or if you feel like an outing, the city of Kota Kinabalu is just a 20-minute speedboat ride away.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at Bungaraya Island Resort (Superior Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Journey to the airport: At the advised time today, join a speedboat to the mainland, then travel on to the airport in a private car.

International flight: Depart Kota Kinabalu Airport on Royal Brunei flight BI828 to Brunei International Airport.  The flight departs at 20:30 and arrives at 21:10.

International flight: Depart Brunei International Airport on Royal Brunei flight BI3 to London Heathrow.  The flight departs at 22:50 and arrives at 06:20 the following day.

Overnight on board the aircraft

Arrival into London Heathrow at 06.20am.