Stray Asia 9 Day Borneo Explorer Tour

Stray Asia 9 Day Borneo Explorer Tour

Get further off the beaten track and see more than the average tourist with Stray in Borneo! This 9-day small group adventure tour starts and finishes in Kota Kinabalu, and takes you to the hot spots of Borneo, as well as some secret locations where the wildlife is insane.

Home to Orangutans, carnivorous plants, gorgeous beaches and some of the world's oldest rainforest (at 130 million years old!) and top dive sites - Borneo is one of Asia's last wild frontiers. This is not just a holiday - it's an adventure!

Snorkel and watch the sunset off the northern tip of Borneo, where you won't see another soul, and spend a few days cruising Kinabatangan river, looking out for rare and wonderful wildlife (think proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, long-tail macaques, and so much more). We take you away from the crowds so you see more wildlife, and even take you on a night wildlife cruise!

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Day - Kota Kinabalu

Stop At: Kota Kinabalu City Waterfront, No.1, Jalan Centre Point, Suite 8E, 5th Floor, CPS Tower, Kota Kinabalu 88000 Malaysia
Your adventure kicks off in Sabah’s capital city of Kota Kinabalu. If you arrive early in the day, feel free to check into the hotel and head out to explore the city. Make sure to be back to the accommodation by 6pm to meet your guide and your tour group for a welcome briefing and a cold drink. Afterwards, head down to the waterfront to try some Malaysian food at the local food stalls. You can choose to get your own dinner or dine ‘family-style’ at the night market with your new travel mates.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Dreamtel Hotel (twin share)

Day 2: Kota Kinabalu to Simpang Mengayau Bay

Stop At: Tip of Borneo, No 1, Kudat Malaysia
Today we head off-the-beaten-track to a remote beach at the very tip of Borneo. Simpang Mengayau Bay boasts long stretches of white sand away from the tourist crowds. On the way to the beach, we’ll stop the Borneo Honey Bee Centre and at a local village that produces ceremonial gongs. When we arrive at Simpang Mengayau Bay we’ll have some time for lunch and a swim. Mid-afternoon we’ll head to The Secret Place beach where we’ll spend the afternoon swimming and relaxing. There’s a beach bar that serves delicious cocktails and ice cold beer and we’ll finish the day with a seafood BBQ on the beach.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Merrimas Villa (twin share)

Day 3: Simpang Mengayau Bay

Stop At: Tip of Borneo, No 1, Kudat Malaysia
Today is a free day to experience all that Simpang Mengayau Bay has to offer – there are so many activities to choose from! Join a half day snorkelling trip out to some nearby reefs, hire a surfboard (seasonal), go kayaking, take a mangrove river cruise or just relax on the beach. If you’ve got a SCUBA diving license you can even go diving here. We’ll all meet up early in the evening to watch the sun set at the tip of Borneo where the Sulu Sea and the South China sea collide, before a group dinner.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Merrimas Villa (twin share)

Day 4: Simpang Mengayau Bay to Mount Kinabalu (Ranau)

Stop At: Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden, Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu Malaysia
This morning, we’ll begin the scenic drive to Mount Kinabalu park. Enjoy views of this impressive mountain as you wind up into the cool hillside. Mount Kinabalu was Malaysia’s first World Heritage site and is one of the most important biological sites in the world, as it is home to over 4,500 species of flora and fauna. A guide will point some of these out to you as we take a tour of the botanical gardens. You’ll have the afternoon to explore the park at your leisure before we head to the Slagon Homestay for a delicious dinner, a few games of pool and maybe even some karaoke (for the brave!)
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Slagon Homestay (twin share)

Day 5: Mount Kinabalu to Sepilok

Stop At: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sepilok Malaysia
After an early breakfast we’ll set out for Sepilok, home of the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. The centres are conveniently located across the road from each other which means that you can walk between the two. Spend a few hours watching the sun bears play in the forest, and admire the Orangutans up close at their feeding sessions. Tonight, you’ll get the chance to see birds, flying squirrels, butterflies, monkeys/primates and other wildlife as you walk on elevated walkways through the tree canopies and along jungle tracks with an experienced wildlife guide.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Nature Lodge (twin share)

Day 6: Sepilok to Kinabatangan River

Stop At: Kinabatangan Jungle Camp, Kinabantangan River nr. Kampung Billit, Sukau Malaysia
It’s a short drive from Sepilok to the little village where we’ll depart on our Kinabatangan adventure. We’ll board a boat that will take us along the Kinabatangan River, then shoot off down a tree canopied canal to our exclusive Stray Jungle Camp, where the wildlife is in abundance! After lunch, we’ll head out on the boat for a wildlife-spotting cruise. Look out for proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, long-tail macaques, hornbills, kingfishers, storks, wild orangutan and pygmy elephants! We'll head back to camp for dinner, and as the night brings out more creatures and we’ll go on a cruise to spot fireflies and nocturnal wildlife.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Jungle Camp (twin or triple rooms)

Day 7: Kinabatangan River

Stop At: Kinabatangan Jungle Camp, Kinabantangan River nr. Kampung Billit, Sukau Malaysia
The next morning you’ll get another chance to head back out on the water on another wildlife cruise. Each time you head out on the boat, you’re likely to have a completely unique experience. In the afternoon you have free time. The Camp has a strong conservation focus and is actively involved in a reforestation programme, which you can contribute to by planting a tree.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Jungle Camp (twin or triple share)

Day 8: Kinabatangan River to Turtle Island

Stop At: Libaran Turtle Hatchery, Pulau Libarran, Sabah, Malaysia
Our next destination is the Walai Turtle Conservation Park on Libaran Island. When we arrive, we’ll learn about the community-based efforts to save the sea turtles, through an engaging conservation presentation. After lunch, you’ll have the afternoon free to enjoy the beach, go kayaking or take a stroll to the local village. In the early evening we’ll visit the hatchery and, if some eggs have hatched, we’ll take the baby turtles down to the ocean and release them into the sea!
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Walai Penyu Resort Glamping-style tents on the beach (twin share)

Day 9: Turtle Island to Kota Kinabalu

Stop At: Kota Kinabalu City Waterfront, No.1, Jalan Centre Point, Suite 8E, 5th Floor, CPS Tower, Kota Kinabalu 88000 Malaysia
After breakfast, we’ll take the boat back to Sandakan town for a quick stop before we continue our journey to Kota Kinabalu. Some people may opt to finish their trip in Sandakan in order to go diving in Sipadan or visit the Danum Valley. There is an alternative option to hop-off half way and end your journey at Mount Kinabalu where you can hike to the top of the mountain (must be prearranged). Whichever option you choose, we hope you had a blast on your Stray adventure!
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.