Highlights
- Visit to Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary
- Visit to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre
- Rainforest Walk for up close & personal Orang Utan viewing
- Visit to the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Visit to Sandakan War Memorial
- City tour of Kota Kinabalu including visit to City Mosque and Puh Toh Tze Buddhist Temple
- 3 Night Leisure Stay at beautiful Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort (gorgeous beach!)
- Mt Kinabalu National Park Day Tour
- Visit to Pekan Nabalu Markets
- Visit to the Education Centre and Mountain Garden at Kinabalu Park
- 3 Night Leisure Stay on Gaya Island in Rainforest Villas
Inclusions
- Personally escorted from Australia – Your tour hostess is on hand to assist with making your holiday a memorable one
- Return Economy Airfares ex Melbourne with Malaysia Airlines including taxes #
- All Transfers throughout
- All Sightseeing as per itinerary
- All Meals as per itinerary
- Willing to Share Option (subject to availability)
- Sisterhood documentation and travel wallet
- Small Groups, Personal Service
- # Taxes subject to change
Other Departure Cities available upon request
Notice
A minium level of fitness is required to be able to participate. As a minimum you will need to be able to walk 2km on uneven ground, carry your own luggage and walk up a few flights of stairs.
Gaya Island is located in a steep hilly area with no cart access to villas. The Gaya Island Canopy Villas have Split King Twin Beds for twin sharing travellers. The Canopy Villa has a luxury bathroom with no door but both the shower and toilet have privacy doors.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Wednesday 9 August 2017
Depart Melbourne / Sandakan
Join our Sisterhood Tour Hostess and fellow travellers at the Melbourne Airport for our flight to Sandakan via Kuala Lumpur. Upon arrival into Sandakan we’ll be met and transferred to our hotel for 2 nights accommodation including breakfast. The remainder of our day is at leisure. Sandakan is a busy commercial centre at the entrance to a beautiful, island-studded bay. Most activity centres on the docks and wharves that sprawl along the waterfront. Barges, ferries and motorboats of every description buzz around, unloading fish and other produce, and taking away rattan, timber, rubber, copra, palm oil and bird’s nests. West of town, passenger ferries shuttle back and forth to Zamboanga in the Philippines. In the bay, container vessels ride at anchor awaiting their turn to unload. Sandakan has character and even a certain downmarket charm, though once the shop shutters come down at night the centre can feel disconcertingly deserted. The real attractions lie outside town, but there’s excellent seafood to enjoy and beautiful views from the hills at sunset. Our accommodation for our 2 night stay will be Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Deluxe Sea View Rooms.
Day 2 -Thursday 10 August 2017
Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre (B)
This morning we will be collected from our hotel and driven to Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary. We’ll enjoy a walk to witness the feeding of the elusive Proboscis Monkeys and silver leaf langurs at the sanctuary. After lunch, we’ll visit the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and enjoy hearing about the plight of the Orang Utans and the rehabilitation efforts ongoing at the Centre. We’ll take a ten minute walk through the rainforest on wooden boardwalks to witness the feeding of the orang utans mid-afternoon before continuing to the newly completed enclosed nursery area for young orang utans. We’ll also visit the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn about the conservation of the world’s smallest bear before returning to our hotel for the afternoon. This evening enjoy a night walk in Sandakan.
Please bring along sun block lotion, personal toiletries, torch light, insect repellent, drinking water bottle, walking shoes, binoculars, camera, hat & raincoat.
The day's itinerary may operate in a different order subject to tour guide's suggestion.
Day 3 - Friday 11 August 2017
Sandakan War Memorial / Kota Kinabalu (B,L)
A free morning before checking out of our hotel to visit the Sandakan War Memorial; created to commemorate the World War II events that took place in Sandakan and North Borneo. Afterwards we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon our arrival we’ll enjoy a city tour including a visit to Tanjung Lipat, offering panoramic scenery of Gaya Island and the South China Sea, Tun Mustapha Tower and the Kampung Likas village. We’ll continue to the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, recognized as one of the most beautiful mosques in Malaysia then visit the Puh Toh Tze Buddhist temple before driving to Signal Hill for a bird's eye view of the city, Atkinson Clock Tower and Australia Place. With time to discover Sabah Museum's unique heritage before arriving at our hotel for the next 3 nights the gorgeous Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort enjoying our Deluxe Seaview Room.
Day 4 - Saturday12 August 2017
Pekan Nabalu Markets / Guided Garden Walk (B)
This morning we’ll take a 2 hour drive to the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu at 1500m above sea level. We’ll enjoy a short stop at Pekan Nabalu market to savour local fruits in season and visit the Education Centre and Mountain Garden in Kinabalu Park Headquarters. Weather permitting, we’ll be able to enjoy a guided walk on one of the trails in the cool surroundings to explore the mountain forest. Return to Kota Kinabalu with the remainder of the day at leisure. Please bring along drinking water bottle, insect repellent, hat, walking shoes & raincoat.
Day 5 - Sunday 13 August 2017
Free Time at Shangri La Rasa Ria (B)
Today we’ll enjoy a full day at leisure to enjoy the facilities of our Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort.
Day 6 - Monday 14 August 2017
Kota Kinabalu / Gaya Island (B)
This morning we’ll transfer by boat to Gaya Island where we’ll spend the next 3 nights at the Gayana Eco Resort relaxing in our rainforest villas. Gayana Eco Resort sits serenely at the edge of a lush jungle forest on a coral reef island with architecturally designed villas to enhance the soothing sounds of the surf below. This resort is about protecting and re-generating the precious Marine Ecology and restoring natural coral reefs. A beautiful place to relax and chill out for a couple of days with a beautiful beach and infinity pool to enjoy.
Day 7 - Tuesday 15 August 2017
(B)
A free day to explore or continue relaxing. Enjoy a snorkelling trip or visit the Gaya Island private beach for a picnic and swim. An array of fish can be seen in the surrounding coral (even Nemo!). Beautiful warm weather and calm seas to enjoy.
Day 8 - Wednesday 16 August 2017
(B)
A free day to relax or continue to explore this laid back relaxing island.
Day 9 - Thursday 17 August 2017
(B)
Today we’ll transfer by boat from the island to Jesselton Point Wharf. Upon arrival we’ll head to the airport for our flight home via Kota Kinabalu.
Day 10 - Friday 18 August 2017
Welcome Home, we’ll arrive into Melbourne in the morning. Thank you for joining us for your latest adventure and we look forward to welcoming you back!