Family-friendly Malaysia highlights tour

Transfer from Kuching International Airport to Kuching city - Transfer from Kuching International Airport to Kuching city - City tour of Kuching

Day 1: Kuching

Transfer from Kuching International Airport to Kuching city
Other Transfer: Upon arrival in Kuching you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Estimated travel time: approximately 30 minutes


City tour of Kuching
Excursion: You will explore Kuching, starting at the renowned Sarawak Museum (closed on Fridays) which is the oldest museum in Borneo, founded in 1888. After a chance to discover the area's natural history you will head out to the Market Place, the State Mosque and the historic Chinese Temple, allowing you to experience the city's rich culture and vibrant energy. Like in most towns and cities in Borneo the focal point of Kuching is the river and for a memorable first impression of the city you will take a pontoon river cruise, offering a scenic view of the city and the Astana, a majestic palace on the North bank of the Sarawak river built by the former White Rajah.

Kuching to Batang Ai - Iban country

Day 2: Kuching - Batang Ai

Kuching to Batang Ai
Excursion: This trip is around 225-km taking you through lush green countryside dotted with paddy fields, pepper gardens and rubber plantations, and flanked by rugged jungle-clad mountains. Along the way, we will stop off at the Serian farmer’s market, visit a pepper garden and view carnivorous pitcher plants. Lunch will be at a roadside bazaar deep in Iban country.


Iban country
Excursion: From Lemanak jetty you will embark on a longboat ride up the Lemanak River, passing through typical Borneo countryside with an ancient longhouse tucked behind almost every bend in the river. After arriving at either Serubah or Nanga Kesit Longhouse you will visit the “entire village under one roof”, where you will be given a glimpse into the everyday lives of the indigenous people. Exploring the architecture of the traditional longhouses, which often hold 20 families, evokes a tangible sense of community as you are brought literally into the centre of an ancient network of relationships and traditions. Although life on the Lemanak River has not been left entirely untouched by modernisation, many customs of Iban culture have been preserved by the local people, which are most extravagantly expressed during festivals and celebrations through dance, such as the Ngajat, and unique textile art known as Pua Kumbu. The skills for creating this handwoven textile are ritualistically passed on from mother to daughter, along with the legends from which the tradition originated. To watch an Iban woman weave this garment is therefore not only a moment to marvel at the technical skill, but an opportunity to discover the individual behind the custom, as each Pua Kumbu is a statement of the weaver's soul and her relationship with the gods. A demonstration of traditional blowpipe shooting will reveal the skill and stealth that made the Iban community one of the most feared and dominating tribes in the area, and recalls the history of the descendants of the original warriors who still inhabit the area. Although the Ibans were once renowned for their head-hunting practices, nowadays you are more likely to be greeted by a sea of friendly smiles from a group of welcoming and endearing people. After a taste of life in Iban country you will return downriver to Batang Ai jetty, with a 20 minute boat ride across the 24sq km Batang Ai Hydro Lake where you will arrive at your accommodation.

Transfer from Batang Ai to Kuching - Transfer from Batang Ai to Kuching - Domestic flight from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu

Day 3: Kota Kinabalu

Transfer from Batang Ai to Kuching
Other Transfer: You will depart for Kuching via the same route by which you arrived. Lunch is available en route. Estimated travel time: 4 hours 15 minutes


Domestic flight from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu
Scheduled flight Transfer: We will ensure you are at the airport in good time for your flight to Kota Kimabalu. Estimated travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes


Transfer from Kota Kinabalu airport to your hotel
Other Transfer: We will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Estimated travel time: approximately 20 minutes


At leisure in Kota Kinabalu
Excursion: The coastal city of Kota Kinablu, commonly known as KK, is not known for its overwhelming beauty, but if you have a day or two to explore you’ll find a few fascinating sights and hidden gems. You may have time to visit the Signal Hill Observatory Platform which, although a popular viewing point, has become less impressive since the rapid urbanisation of the city. You may also want to take a look at the Atkinson Clock Tower, renowned for being the oldest standing structure in Sabah - dating from 1905. If you’re looking for a day trip beyond the city, a short boat ride from the Jesselton Jetty to Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is the perfect way to experience the area’s natural beauty. Visit Gaya Island, the largest of the five islands, for short treks into its tropical forest. Or if you’re seeking a less strenuous activity the sheltered coral reefs along the Gaya coast provide some of the best snorkelling spots. For a taste of the local cuisine take a walk to the waterfront to find the Pasar Malam, translated from the Malay as ‘Night Market’. Opening from 5pm to 11pm, this authentic Asian market offers a delicious variety of street food, but for seafood lovers it is especially enticing. Well-known for its fresh fish you can enjoy popular favourites such as barbecued squid and sting ray or whole fish, known as ikan samba. Tanjung Aru beach offers a stunning sunset spot, but if you wish to escape the city take a leisurely drive to the top of Kokol hill. The summit provides a tranquil location in the cool highlands for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city below.

Visit Kinabalu National Park

Day 4: Kinabalu National Park - Kota Kinabalu

Visit Kinabalu National Park
Excursion: Nominated by UNESCO as Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site, Kinabalu National Park is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Owing to the extensive range of habitats from tropical lowland and lush jungle to sub-alpine forest, Borneo’s most popular national park is teeming with life. With over 4,500 identified species, the region’s sheer variety of flora and fauna is simply astounding and is home to some of the most fascinating creatures in the world. Such as those endemic to the country like the majestic Kinabalu Serpent Eagle and Borneo’s largest insectivore, the Moonrat. Kinabalu’s plant species are just as weird and wonderful as its animal inhabitants, many of which are carefully cultivated in the Mountain Garden, allowing you to get a close look at some of nature’s most beautiful plants. But don’t get too close, species include the infamous Nepenthes Rajah, the pitcher plant, renowned for being the largest carnivorous plant in the world - it's a threat to all insects and even small mammals. You’ll also find the enigmatic Paphiopedilum rothschildianum, the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid, which has delicate green petals that appear to be painted with maroon red spots and stripes, rendering it worthy of such a title. The park’s centrepiece is a 4,095m mountain towering above the dense tropical forest. Mount Kinabalu located in the north of Borneo, attracts thousands of ambitious climbers every year, all hoping to conquer the rocky terrain of Malaysia’s highest mountain. For a novel perspective of the mountain’s striking exterior, experience the Mountain Torq, Asia’s first Via Feratta or ‘iron road’. This alternative climb is designed for the adventurous, with a route following tightrope walks and swinging planks that bring an extra adrenaline rush to the trek and reveal the immense beauty of the mountain plateau. What to bring: Raincoat, insect repellent, water bottle.

Transfer from Kota Kinabalu to the airport - Transfer from Kota Kinabalu to the airport - Domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu

Day 5: Kinabatangan River

Transfer from Kota Kinabalu to the airport
Other Transfer: We will pick you up from your hotel and ensure you make your flight in good time. Estimated travel time: approximately 30 minutes.


Domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu
Scheduled flight Transfer: You fly from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Lahad Datu (LDU). Once you've arrived you will be met at the airport and transported to your next destination. Estimated travel time: approximately 1 hour


Transfer from Lahad Datu to Kinabatangan River
Other Transfer: You will be transferred from Lahad Datu airport (LDU) to the Kinabatangan River. Estimated travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes


The Kinabatangan River
Excursion: The Kinabatangan River begins its life as the second longest river in Malaysia high in the hills of southwest Sabah, before wending its way east to its mouth in the Sulu Sea, nearly 600km away. While excessive logging has seriously affected the ecology of its upper reaches, the lower Kinabatangan has been left alone and has become a verdant oasis, providing sanctuary for some of the world’s most remarkable wildlife. As you cruise up river to Sukau village unique habitats begin to reveal their natural wonders. Saltwater crocodiles dwell in the muddy waters of the mangrove swamps while the river’s depths are home to the endemic Borneo river shark. In the surviving lowland forests, native Proboscis monkeys leap between branches while in the trees sits a more placid primate, the renowned Bornean orangutan. The river itself offers a refreshing bath for beautiful Asian elephants and the floodplain, a declared protected area, hosts a vibrant array of bird species. Look out for a flash of orange amidst the green canopy, alerting you to the presence of one of the largest and most beautiful birds in Asia, the Rhinoceros Hornbill, whose distinctive beak is a marvel of nature. Historically, the Kinabatangan river has been renowned for its rare treasures. For centuries the red and white nests constructed out of the saliva of swiftlets have been harvested from the intricate system of limestone caves hidden deep within Gomatong hill. The nests have been used in Chinese cuisine for over 400 hundred years, most famously in bird’s nest soup, and are valued for their exquisite flavour and health benefits. In the late afternoon you will once again take to the water to explore the Menanggul River, a small tributary of the Kinabatangan. There is a nearby oxbow lake which is also good for spotting wildlife. Following this final exploration you will return to the lodge for dinner.

Last morning on the Kinabatangan River - Transfer from Kinabatangan River to Sandakan airport - Transfer from Kinabatangan River to Sandakan airport

Day 6: Kinabatangan River

Last morning on the Kinabatangan River
Excursion: The morning journey will allow you one final chance to spot some of beautiful wildlife discovered on your trip. Relax and enjoy the gentle cruise as you travel through this unique environment and admire the fascinating flora and faun housed within the refuge of the Kinabatangan sanctuary.


Transfer from Kinabatangan River to Sandakan airport
Other Transfer: You will return to Sandakan by boat. We will meet you at the jetty in Sandakan and ensure you get to the airport in good time for your departure flight. Estimated travel time: approximately 30 minutes