"TOP 11" EXCURSIONS IN SABAH, MALAYSIAN BORNEO!

NATURE

BPPE03   Encounter with the Orang Utan at Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary & City Excursion (8 Hours)

An early start at 0600hrs; for your transfer to Airport for your flight to Sandakan on MH2042 ETD0700hrs / ETA0740hrs.

On your arrival at Sandakan Airport, proceed for an experience – a close encounter with the “Wildman of Borneo” and see how tamed Orang Utans are being rehabilitated into the wild. Witness the Orang Utan feeding by the rangers. Continue to Sandakan for your lunch with a brief Sandakan City Excursion; visit Puh Jih Syh Buddhist Chinese Temple at 300 metres above sea level, offers a panoramic view of Sandakan Bay.

Later . . . visit Agnes Keith’s Residence; a famous American writer. Agnes’ book on life in pre-war Sandakan popularized the old seafarer’s name for Sabah in its title, “Land Below The Wind” (referring to Sabah’s location just below the typhoon belt). Her second book, Three Came Home, about their war experiences was made into a movie. Stop over at the Australian War Memorial; it commemorates Australian soldiers who died in World War II. The Memorial comprises three Memorial Cairns within the Park, a Commemorative Pavilion and the Sandakan Memorial.

Thereafter, you will be transferred back to the airport for your returning flight to Kota Kinabalu on MH2065 ETD1725hrs / ETA1810hrs. On your arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, you will be picked up and return transfer to your hotel. (Lunch Included) Remarks: Exclude Return Airfare BKI/SDK/BKI.

BPPE04   KLIAS Proboscis Wildlife River Cruise with Dinner (7 Hours)

For your afternoon excursion, you will be passing through picturesque countryside for a two hour journey by road. Welcome Drinks will be served once you arrive at KLIAS Village. Thereafter, board on a river boat for the cruise and observe the unique lifestyle of the elusive proboscis monkeys, macaques, buffaloes, iguanas & more along the lush riverine vegetation. After seeing the brilliant fireflies at dusk, return to the village for dinner. After dinner, resume journey back to Kota Kinabalu – direct to hotel. (Dinner Included)

BPPE06   Island Beach Day with BBQ Luncheon (6 Hours)

Transfer to Sutera Marina Jetty. Take a ferry boat scheduled transfer to offshore island Manukan Island (10 mins. away), one of the five idyllic islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

At Manukan Island, enjoy swimming and snorkeling or relax by the beach under the shade trees. Mask, Snorkel & Life Jacket will be provided. Local sumptuous BBQ Buffet Luncheon will be served for guests. You may stay the full day if you wish. Mid afternoon, you will be transferred back to Sutera Marina Jetty with the ferry boat scheduled transfer to Sutera Marina Jetty. Return transfer to hotel. (BBQ Lunch Included)

CULTURE

BPPE07   Visit Monsopiad Cultural Village & The House of Skulls (4 Hours)

Meet at 0900hrs or at 1400hrs for your trip to the nearby countryside, passing by rice fields and megaliths. You will see the typical village of the “Kadazan”, Sabah’s largest ethnic group. At the Monsopiad Cultural Village, you will have the opportunity to meet with the descendant of the famous “Monsopiad”, who was known as the greatest headhunter warrior in the early century. His collection of skulls are hanged in a house specially built for this. It is story telling of the Borneo Headhunter. See the massive Monolith also known as the “Ginturun” and be enchanted by its tales as well as witness the traditional handicraft making before returning to hotel.

BPPE08   Colonial Train Ride on North Borneo Railway with Tiffin Luncheon (3 Hours)

Experience the romance of rediscovering the Colonial Train Ride on the North Borneo Railway with a Tiffin Luncheon, served on board. The British Vulcan Steam Engine train runs gently from Tanjung Aru through the major towns of Kinarut and Papar and returns (66km). See the scenic paddy fields, rubber trees, and villages along the railway and their lifestyles along the way. Two short excursions will be conducted; see the quaint Tien San Shi Temple and observe the open markets of Papar Town. Arrive back at the station. (Lunch Included) Regular Schedule: Every Wednesdays & Saturdays Only.

ADVENTURE

BPPE09   2 Days & 1 Night Conquer Mt. Kinabalu Summit Overnight (Fullboard)

Day One   Depart at 0730hrs & direct transfer to Kinabalu Park by coach (2 hours). Arrive Kinabalu Park - register with the Park office. Proceed journey to the Power Station (15 mins) by coach. Commence climb to Laban Rata with packed lunch. The climb will take approximately 4 hours. Check-in Laban Rata Guesthouse and the rest of the afternoon is free at leisure. Overnight at Resthouse ~ dormitory style. (Packed Lunch & Dinner Included)

Day Two   Wake up as early as 0200 hours to have breakfast & commence to the summit with torchlight. The climb will take about 3 hours . Witness the beautiful sunrise at the summit at 0600 hours. Descend to Laban Rata Resthouse, then to the Power Station. Transfer to Park HQ. Lunch at Park's Restaurant. After lunch, depart the Park and return to hotel. (Breakfast & Lunch Included)

BPPE10   White Water Rafting at Kiulu River (8 Hours)

Depart by 0900hrs and take an hour’s drive to the scenic countryside. Kiulu River is a moderate river with cascades and rapids which would thrill any novice rafter. Raft through picturesque countryside. If you wish, you may try body rafting. Enjoy a BBQ lunch at the riverbank before returning to Kota Kinabalu in the afternoon. (BBQ Lunch Included)

BPBKI06   Full Day Poring Hot Springs & Kinabalu Park Botanical With Luncheon (10 Hours)

Depart early morning for a 3 hr drive to Poring Hot Spring (126 km from Kota Kinabalu). En route, make a stop at Nabalu village to savour local fruits and to bargain prices for the handicrafts. At Poring Hot Springs, explore the many jungle trails and observe wildlife on the canopy walkway 100 feet above the forest floor. Take a dip in one of the soothing, steaming hot mineral springs set in beautifully landscaped gardens. If you are lucky, you might have the chance to see the largest flower in the world ‘Rafflesia’ nearby in the area. After lunch, proceed to Kinabalu Park (39km from Poring) for a brief stop with a visit to the mountain garden (open from 3pm till 4pm). Return to hotel in the late afternoon. (Lunch Included)

BPSDK01   2 Days & 1 Night Selingan Island / Sepilok / City Excursion Overnight (Fullboard)

Day One   Meet at Hotel Lobby or Airport (flight MH2042 ETD0700hrs / ETA0740hrs), then transfer to jetty for a boat ride to Selingan Island (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes). Upon arrival, check into chalet and lunch at Cafeteria. The rest of the day is free leisure – swimming or snorkeling in crystal clear waters. After dinner, await for the rangers’ call to see turtle lay eggs and transfer of eggs to the hatchery. See the releasing of the baby turtles in season. Overnight at twin sharing bedded chalet. (Lunch & Dinner Included)

Day Two   After breakfast, return to Sandakan jetty and proceed to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center. Experience a close encounter with the “Wildman of Borneo” and see how tamed Orang Utans are being rehabilitated into the wild. Witness the Orang Utans feeding by the rangers. After lunch, proceed to Sandakan City tour which is inclusive of; Malay Fishing Village of Kampung Buli Sim Sim, where the houses are built on stilts; Puh Jih Syh Buddhist Chinese Temple at 300 meters above sea level, offers a panoramic view of Sandakan Bay and Rotary Observation Pavillion for a bird’s eye view of Sandakan Town.

Later . . . visit Agnes Keith’s Residence; a famous American writer. Agnes’ book on life in pre-war Sandakan popularized the old seafarer’s name for Sabah in its title, “Land Below The Wind” (referring to Sabah’s location just below the typhoon belt). Her second book, Three Came Home, about their war experiences was made into a movie. Stop over at the Australian War Memorial; it commemorates Australian soldiers who died in World War II. The Memorial comprises three Memorial Cairns within the Park, a Commemorative Pavilion and the Sandakan Memorial.

Return to Hotel or Airport (flight MH2065 ETD1730hrs / ETA1810hrs). (Breakfast & Lunch Included)

Tawau – MABUL ISLAND / DAY VISIT TO SIPADAN ISLAND

BPMABD   4 Days & 3 Nights Diving at MABUL Island Overnight & Day Dive at Sipadan Island (Fullboard)

Sipadan Island . . . Simply The Best Diving Spot In The World . . . “No Other Place on Earth can offer so much underwater biodiversity, so much large fish action, so many rare opportunities to watch feeding, courting and mating behaviour of so many different species in the course of a single dive. Sipadan Island is just a small island, the top of a long-lost chimney from a prehistoric volcano; its topside covered by a lush and thick tropical forest and ringed by a sandy beach, its shallow surrounding corals reefs suddenly giving way to precipitous vertical drop-offs, falling down to the abyss below.

Often overlooked by divers searching for big fish action, tiny creatures like sea squirts, bydroids and sea anemones paint the exquisite, colourful background of Sipadan’s world-famous walls and drop-offs. Sipadan is a haven in the middle of the sea for a number of animal and plant species, both on land and underwater. Sweetlips, groupers, chevron barracuda, green turtles and scalloped hammerheads are just some of the marine animals which can be regularly encountered while diving Sipadan’s precipitous underwater walls. Colourful damselfish by the millions and inquisitive reef whitetip sharks are quite common in shallower water. Master of camouflage, the demon-like scorpionfish reveal an exquisite tapestry of colours and tassels. However peaceful, these fish should never be disturbed or touched as they can inflict a very painful sting through the venomous needle-like spines of their dorsal and pectoral fins. Sipadan is a wide-angle photographer’s dream come true with impressive species like green turtles or giant bumphead parrot fish to be encountered on every dive. Smaller species like big-eyes and morays or rare scorpionfish also offer great opportunities for wonderful shots. Nature quotes herself in Sipadan’s waters, from the trademark swirling tornado of jacks to the brilliant symmetry of a pincushion sea star’s ventral view. It is left to the visitor’s eye and mind to find a way in deciphering the underwater beauty of Sipadan, while “taking away only memories, leaving behind only bubbles”. . .

Mabul Island . . . In contrast to Sipadan, is a continuation of the Borneo landmass rather than the top of an underwater mountain. Because of this, Mabul has more gradually sloping walls around it that bottom out at about 30m. This makes it an ideal location for macro-photo opportunities. If you walk around the east of the island at night, be sure take a flashlight and watch for sea snakes on the beach or amongst the palm trees. Mabul is arguably one of the richest single destinations for exotic small marine life anywhere in the world. Flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus and bobtail squids are just a few of the numerous types of cephalopods to be found on Mabul’s reefs. The sight of harlequin shrimp feeing on sea stars and boxer crabs waving their tiny anemone pom-poms are just a small example of the endless species of crustaceans. Many types of gobies can be found including the spike-fin goby, black sail-fin goby and metallic shrimp goby. Frogfish are everywhere giant, painted and clown frogfish are all regularly seen. Moray eels and snake eels of many types can be seen along with almost the whole scorpion fish family. It would be quicker to list the species not found at Mabul crazy critters are in abundance at this magical macro site. Located at the South Eastern cost of Sabah and about 20 minutes from Sipadan, and 30 – 40 minutes (weather permitting) from Semporna, purge on the edge of the Continental Shelf lies the island of Mabul – rated as the “Mecca of Muck Diving”. Mabul Island is surrounded by Celebes Seas and white sandy beaches.

Day One   Arrive Tawau Airport on MH2121 ETD0610hrs / ETA0655hrs, meet at Tawau Airport and proceed overland journey to Semporna by van or coach approximately 1 ½ hrs journey. Thereafter, proceed to Mabul Island by boat for approximately 45minutes to 1hr journey, depending on the sea or weather condition. Arrive at Mabul Island (expected lunch time). After Lunch, an orientation dive with Divemaster to check the Scuba Equipment, weights and buoyancy. (to get familiar of the wall of the beach dive with the buddy. No Boat dive on this day. Only beach dive is available) Dinner at the resort. Overnight at Mabul Island Resort. (Lunch & Dinner Included)

Day Two   Morning Breakfast. 03 Boat Dives of which one boat dive will be at Sipadan Island and 2 boats dives at Mabul. Unlimited beach diving with buddy. Overnight at Mabul Island Resort (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included)

Day Three   Morning Breakfast. 03 Boat Dives of which one boat dive will be at Sipadan Island and 2 boats dives at Mabul. Unlimited beach diving with buddy. Overnight at Mabul Island Resort (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included)

Day Four   Breakfast and free at leisure. After lunch, depart from Mabul Island to Semporna by boat then continue return journey to Tawau direct to the airport for your departure flight on MH2663 ETD1740hrs / ETA1820hrs (Breakfast & Lunch Included)