Borneo Highlights & Gaya Island
11 day Holiday Idea – from £1699
With flights from £2679
Experience the best of Borneo. Combine a fascinating eight day wildlife tour with a three night stay at one of the island’s most sought after resorts.
Highlights:
- Visit Sepilok to see Borneo’s most famous residents, the orangutan
- Watch turtle waddle ashore to lay their eggs on Selingan Island
- Discover unique wildlife on a rainforest river cruise
- Relax at the hot springs of Kinabalu National Park
- Indulge yourself at the stylish, five star Gaya Island Resort
Your Itinerary
Expand AllYou can customise your Borneo holiday by adding extra nights or destinations. Just let us know what you would like to do.
Welcome to Borneo! Feel the excitement build as your flight lands at Sandakan Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
Sabah Hotel, Sandakan
Day 2 – Selingan Island
After breakfast, board a boat for the short cruise to Selingan Island. Once you have checked in, there is time to swim and snorkel or simply soak up the sun. In the evening you’ll be called to witness the fascinating spectacle of turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. If they are ready, you may also be lucky enough to see some little ones released for their first journey into the sea.
Turtle Island Resthouse
Day 3 – Sepilok
It’s time to bid farewell to the island and its turtles and head back to Sandakan after breakfast. On arrival, take a city tour showing you the water village, central market and Buddhist temple. After lunch transfer to Sepilok Nature Resort where you will spend the evening.
Sepilok Nature Resort or similar
Day 4 – Sepilok region
After breakfast travel to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where you will take a boardwalk tour through the forest to witness orphaned primates feeding. Continue through traditional, timeless countryside to your lodge for a late afternoon river cruise in search of wildlife.
Sakau Rainforest Lodge or similar
Day 5 – Sukau
Wake up early to the calls of nature this morning! Enjoy a cruise on the Kinabatangan River to view birds and primates on their early morning adventures. Weather permitting, you can also take a jungle walk before breakfast. The afternoon is free until an evening wildlife cruise where you may be lucky and see the famous proboscis monkey swinging from the trees.
Sakau Rainforest Lodge or similar
Day 6 – Mount Kinabalu Area
After breakfast, head off towards the Mount Kinabalu area, where you’ll spend the night at the Sabah Tea Garden. En-route stop at Kg Luanti for Fish Massaging and learn about the tagal fish conservation.
After lunch, check in to your room and spend the rest of the day at leisure. You may tray a traditional blowpipe or batik painting at Sapaon Recreational Area, or relax before dinner at Tea House.
Sabah Tea Cottage
Day 7 – Kota Kinabalu
Wake up early today for a walk to see the sun rise over Mount Kinabalu and the surrounding tea plantations. After a tea factory tour, continue on to Poring Hot Springs where you can take a dip in the hot sulphur springs, before a canopy walk 100-200 feet above the forest floor.
Continue to Kinabalu Park for a guided nature trek along one of the many trails, offering a fascinating insight into the fauna and flora of Borneo, before heading to the city of Kota Kinabalu for an overnight stay.
Horizon Hotel, Kota Kinabalu
Day 8 to 10 – Gaya Island
After breakfast and free time, take a city tour of Kota Kinabalu before heading to Gaya Island by boat for a three night stay at Gaya Island Resort – a luxurious 5 star resort set on one of the islands within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a protected area off the coast of Borneo.
Surrounded on four sides by mangroves, coral reefs, sandy beaches and jungle, this stylish, tropical retreat that oozes luxury and exclusivity.
Embark on a fishing excursion, try your hand at snorkelling or indulge yourself with a well-deserved spa treatment (or two) before enjoying dinner at one of the resort’s five restaurants.
Gaya Island resort
Day 11 – Farewell
This morning you’ll say goodbye to Gaya Island and after jetting back across to the mainland by speedboat, you’ll be driven to Kota Kinabalu Airport for your return flight.
Your Itinerary
You can customise your Borneo holiday by adding extra nights or destinations. Just let us know what you would like to do.
Day 1
| Sandakan
Welcome to Borneo! Feel the excitement build as your flight lands at Sandakan Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.
Sabah Hotel, Sandakan
Day 2
| Selingan Island
After breakfast, board a boat for the short cruise to Selingan Island. Once you have checked in, there is time to swim and snorkel or simply soak up the sun. In the evening you’ll be called to witness the fascinating spectacle of turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. If they are ready, you may also be lucky enough to see some little ones released for their first journey into the sea.
Turtle Island Resthouse
Day 3
| Sepilok
It’s time to bid farewell to the island and its turtles and head back to Sandakan after breakfast. On arrival, take a city tour showing you the water village, central market and Buddhist temple. After lunch transfer to Sepilok Nature Resort where you will spend the evening.
Sepilok Nature Resort or similar
Day 4
| Sepilok region
After breakfast travel to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where you will take a boardwalk tour through the forest to witness orphaned primates feeding. Continue through traditional, timeless countryside to your lodge for a late afternoon river cruise in search of wildlife.
Sakau Rainforest Lodge or similar
Day 5
| Sukau
Wake up early to the calls of nature this morning! Enjoy a cruise on the Kinabatangan River to view birds and primates on their early morning adventures. Weather permitting, you can also take a jungle walk before breakfast. The afternoon is free until an evening wildlife cruise where you may be lucky and see the famous proboscis monkey swinging from the trees.
Sakau Rainforest Lodge or similar
Day 6
| Mount Kinabalu Area
After breakfast, head off towards the Mount Kinabalu area, where you’ll spend the night at the Sabah Tea Garden. En-route stop at Kg Luanti for Fish Massaging and learn about the tagal fish conservation.
After lunch, check in to your room and spend the rest of the day at leisure. You may tray a traditional blowpipe or batik painting at Sapaon Recreational Area, or relax before dinner at Tea House.
Sabah Tea Cottage
Day 7
| Kota Kinabalu
Wake up early today for a walk to see the sun rise over Mount Kinabalu and the surrounding tea plantations. After a tea factory tour, continue on to Poring Hot Springs where you can take a dip in the hot sulphur springs, before a canopy walk 100-200 feet above the forest floor.
Continue to Kinabalu Park for a guided nature trek along one of the many trails, offering a fascinating insight into the fauna and flora of Borneo, before heading to the city of Kota Kinabalu for an overnight stay.
Horizon Hotel, Kota Kinabalu
Day 8 to 10
| Gaya Island
After breakfast and free time, take a city tour of Kota Kinabalu before heading to Gaya Island by boat for a three night stay at Gaya Island Resort – a luxurious 5 star resort set on one of the islands within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a protected area off the coast of Borneo.
Surrounded on four sides by mangroves, coral reefs, sandy beaches and jungle, this stylish, tropical retreat that oozes luxury and exclusivity.
Embark on a fishing excursion, try your hand at snorkelling or indulge yourself with a well-deserved spa treatment (or two) before enjoying dinner at one of the resort’s five restaurants.
Gaya Island resort
Day 11
| Farewell
This morning you’ll say goodbye to Gaya Island and after jetting back across to the mainland by speedboat, you’ll be driven to Kota Kinabalu Airport for your return flight.
This Holiday Includes
Flights & More
Ask your FREEDOM Consultant to include Economy, Premium or Business Class flights for a complete ABTA and ATOL protected package.
They can also add extra nights and experiences in places you choose, to create the exact holiday you are looking for. Popular options include:
- Extra nights in Sandakan, Sakau or Gaya Island
Next Step
Please get in touch with our Asia Experts to start planning your holiday. You’ll have a single point of contact from your first enquiry through booking.
Borneo Highlights & Gaya Island
11 day Holiday Idea – from £1699
With flights from £2679
Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a double or twin room. Flights, hotels and tours are subject to availability and seasonal variations may apply. Please call Freedom Destinations for details.
Map
You May Also Like…
Subscribe to our Newsletter
For the latest travel inspiration and offers delivered straight to your inbox.