Wild rainforests and buzzing cities in Malaysia

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Description

March 5th - March 18th 2017 (14 days)

Discover the wonders that Malaysia has to offer from the modern marvels of Kuala Lumpur, the artistic and hippy design of George Town in Penang and the awe-inspiring natural spectacles on offer in Borneo. Your adventure commences on the Malaysian Peninsula in Kuala Lumpur where you’ll stay within view of the Petronas Twin Towers and have the opporunity to visit Malacca. Your journey then takes you north to the island of Penang, known as the “Pearl of the Orient”. You’ll base ourselves in central George Town where an evocative fusion of charmingly British and exotic Malaysian cultures have fused to form a trendy destination. Your Malaysian adventure continues east to the far side of Borneo where you’ll delve into the rainforest in search of orangutans, proboscis monkeys and egg-laying turtles along the rivers, lakes and islands of Sabah.

Highlights

• Explore Kuala Lumpur and marvel at the Petronas Twin Towers
• Discover Orangutans and long-nosed proboscis monkeys in Borneo
• Witness turtles laying eggs on a beach on a tiny island
• Find the artistic graffiti that has made Penang famous
• Experience staying in an isolated rainforest resort deep in Borneo

What's included?

• Flights and transfers from the UK
• 8 nights 4 & 5-star accommodation
• 3 nights rainforest lodge accommodation
• All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
• Specified excursions
• Services of local guides
• Services of a tour manager

Excursions

• Kuala Lumpur and Batu Caves tour
• George Town Heritage tour
• Orangutan centre and Gomantong cave visit
• Kota Kinabatangan night walk
• Kota Kinabatangan lake and river cruises
• Sandakan city tour
• Turtle Island boat trip and night viewing
• Malacca tour (optional)
• Penang Monkey Beach visit (optional)

Itinerary

DAY 1: DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK Overnight on flight to Malaysia

DAY 2: ARRIVE IN KUALA LUMPUR

You’ll arrive into Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur in the mid-afternoon and transfer to your city centre hotel that sits in the shadow of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Once settled in, the rest of the afternoon and evening will be at leisure. Perhaps you might like to take a short walk to the towers and explore Lake Sympony which has fountains that can shoot water 42 metres in the air during their evening water shows and is lined by trendy restaurants, bars and shops.

Overnight in Kuala Lumpur

DAY 3: KUALA LUMPUR & BATU CAVES TOUR

Waking up in Kuala Lumpur this morning you shall embark on a city tour and visit some of the area’s cultural highlights. The Batu Caves are one of the holiest Hindu sites in the world, drawing thousands of pilgrims each year who worship at monumental shrines and statues underneath the colossal vaulted ceiling of the caves. The cave temples are an explosion of exotic colours that are celebrated during the Thaipusam festival each year amid this background of outstanding natural beauty. Kuala Lumpur is also famous for its diverse array of cultures which are best explored in the Central Market as well as Little India and Chinatown. You’ll also visit Kuala Lumpur’s Lake Garden, a botanical garden in the heart of the city before continuing to Independence Square which is based around a cricket green as well as stylistically oriental buildings including the rail station and a church dating from when Kuala Lumpur first became the capital of British Malaya. No visit to Malaysia is complete without learning about batik, this is a process of fabric design where hot wax is stamped or drawn onto fabric to create patterns that are then separately dyed so the colours do not mix. Following your tour, the rest of the day will be at leisure for further exploration of Kuala Lumpur or time to relax back at your central hotel.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Kuala Lumpur.

DAY 4: DAY TRIP TO MALACCA

If you wish to stay in Kuala Lumpur today there are ample amounts of shopping and temple exploration to be enjoyed as well as historic museums and exotic restaurants to find. Alternatively, you may wish to join an excursion to the UNESCO listed coastal city of Malacca. The historic centre of Malacca is defined by centuries of swashbuckling and colonial settlement, that includes the Portuguese, Dutch and British resulting in a wonderful mishmash of Portuguese ruins and vivid red Dutch buildings as well as a small and unique Portuguese creole population. Adding to the charm is Jonker Street featuring historic shops selling antiques and original crafts and clothes as well as being home to the Orangutan House which is adorned with a two-storey painting of an orangutan by Charles Cham. On the tour you’ll visit the Portuguese church and fort ruins, the old town and the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia before having free time to explore Jonker Street and perhaps take a ride on one of the many heavily decorated singing rick-shaws.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Kuala Lumpur

DAY 5: ONWARDS TO GEORGE TOWN, PENANG

Today you enjoy a morning at leisure in Kuala Lumpur before departing for your short afternoon flight north to the island of Penang. You’ll arrive mid-afternoon and transfer to your central hotel in the heart of George Town, one of Asia’s coolest up and coming destinations. Founded by the British trader Francis Light in 1786, George Town is now a UNESCO recognised heritage site that is a cosmopolitan concoction of Indian, Chinese, Burmese, Armenian and British cultures. The old town is slowly being restored but features many crumbling colonial era shops, mansions and halls as well as heavily adorned mosques, colourful temples and white churches.

Breakfast included. Overnight in George Town.

DAY 6: GEORGE TOWN – HERITAGE AND ART

Waking up in Penang you’ll embark on a walking tour to discover George Town’s many highlights. You’ll begin in the unique crumbling Protestant cemetery that is the oldest in Asia where you’ll spot the grave of Sir Francis Light before walking to Fort Cornwallis for an outside view of the historic fort. You’ll then stroll down Little India, home to many restaurants and shops on your way to Chew Jetty. A favourite with those in the know, Chew Jetty is a wooden pier that heads out to sea with small dwellings on either side. As you walk down the jetty you’ll seek out the iconic street art created by Ernest Zacharevic in 2012 that adds a modern twist to historic George Town.

Breakfast included. Overnight in George Town.

DAY 7: AT LEISURE ON MONKEY BEACH

Today is free at leisure to explore the delights of George Town, whether that be indulging in a restaurant, exploring a museum or enjoying some shopping. If you fancy a day on the beach, then Penang has the perfect destination at Monkey Beach. A short drive to the north side of Penang, Monkey Beach is only accessible by a 90 minute hike or by a boat ride from Batu Ferringhi. The beach is gloriously isolated from civilisation and is one of Penang’s last remaining pristine stretches of sand that is also home to crab-eating macaques, turtles, flying squirrels and lemurs.

Breakfast included. Overnight in George Town.

DAY 8: JOURNEY TO BORNEO

You’ll have an early start this morning and transfer to the airport for your flight to Sandakan on the far eastern side of Borneo, which will be your base for exploring Kota Kinabatangan and the turtle islands. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is split between Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, home to some of the world’s most spectacular stretches of rainforest and biodiversity, including the iconic orangutan. Upon arrival you’ll transfer to your sea-front hotel in Sandakan for the rest of the day, preparing for your upcoming rainforest adventure.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Sandakan

DAY 9: ORANGUTANS AND CAVES

This morning you’ll depart Sandakan and head inland to Sepilok to visit the Orangutan centre for 10am when it is feeding time for the orphans. There is also an outdoor nursery, home to juvenile orangutans between 5 and 8 years old where you can witness their antics. Orangutans spend most of their lives in trees so have huge arms and tiny legs, they are covered in long red hair and the males have distinctive cheek pads. Being highly intelligent and able to use sophisticated tools, these animals have been observed to have their own cultures and are fascinating to witness. Your group will then continue further into the rainforest to the Gomantong Caves, these huge limestone caverns are home to many unique animals and are often harvested for bird nests which are a local delicacy. You’ll then journey to your rainforest resort for lunch where you will also enjoy a boat cruise in search of wildlife and have a post-dinner night walk in order to find Borneo’s nocturnal wildlife.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kota Kinabatangan.

DAY 10: EXPLORING KINABATANGAN RIVER

You’ll take a morning cruise on ox-bow lakes in search of birds and other wildlife taking in the tranquil wonders of one of the world’s most ancient rainforests. Lunch shall be enjoyed back at the lodge before you further explore the river by boat in the afternoon, in search of the distinctive proboscis monkey who are recognisable for their cartoonish long noses. Other animals include Bornean Pygmy Elephants, gibbons, macaques and an incredible diversity of plants.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Kota Kinabatangan.

DAY 11: TO TURTLE ISLAND

It is an early departure this morning as you depart the rainforest and head to Sandakan jetty for a boat ride to Turtle Island Park. Once you arrive you will check into your lodge and enjoy lunch before having an afternoon at leisure on your isolated sandy island, whether that be snorkelling, swimming, strolling or just relaxing on the beach. You’ll enjoy dinner together and relax whilst waiting for mother turtles to progess up the beach to lay their eggs in the sand and the emotive experience of witnessing baby turtles hatching out of eggs and instinctively dashing for the sea.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight on Turtle Island.

DAY 12: RETURN TO SANDAKAN

This morning you’ll board your boat for the return trip to mainland Borneo. Upon arrival you’ll enjoy a city tour of Sandakan and get to witness life in rural Borneo. You’ll begin by visiting a hill-top Buddhist Temple and then continue to Sim-Sim water village where a local tribe lives in houses built on stilts and also visit the local market where fresh produce is exchanged and sold. You’ll then transfer back to your Sandakan hotel for an afternoon at leisure and your final overnight in Borneo.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Sandakan.

DAY 13: DEPART BORNEO

You’ll enjoy your morning at leisure in Sandakan, either relaxing by the pool or exploring the town before you transfer to the airport in the afternoon for your flight back to Kuala Lumpur where you can then board your international return flight home.

Breakfast included.

DAY 14: ARRIVE HOME

Information last updated: 24/05/2016 11:15:53