Malaysia and Borneo

Arrive at the airport for your overnight flight to Penang via Kuala Lumpur.

After our afternoon arrival, we transfer to our hotel on Batu Ferringhi beach. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax after your flight. Of course, any trip to the Far East cannot be complete without trying out the delectable flavours of one of the world’s most varied cuisines. The best-known Malaysian dish is satay – meat skewers marinated with turmeric, grilled over charcoal and served with a mildly spicy peanut sauce. But there’s so much more: nasi kandar, steamed rice soaked in a variety of flavourful curries; asam laksa, a tangy fish broth listed on CNN’s ‘world’s 50 most delicious foods’; beef rendang, a rich meat dish seasoned with a mouthwatering mix of spices; chicken rice, a Hainanese-influenced dish of steamed or roasted chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth – the list is almost endless! (B)

This morning we enjoy a walking tour of the beautifully preserved colonial centre of George Town. A UNESCO World Heritage site, George Town is perhaps unique in Southeast Asia in having over 30,000 pre-war buildings. Francis Light built Fort Cornwallis, which still stands to this day, and promoted it as a free port, vastly increasing trade and attracting large numbers of Chinese and Indian settlers. The same successful tactic was followed in Malacca to the south and both cities, developed their unique mix of cultures which is still evident today. What is particularly fascinating is that despite being bombed by the Japanese in World War II, George Town still has thousands of pre-war buildings, mostly Chinese-owned ‘shophouses’, many fine colonial-era villas and public buildings, which have helped it attain UNESCO World Heritage status. George Town represents a fascinating glimpse into 18th-century colonial life.



After a fascinating ride by cycle rickshaw, you’ll enjoy an included lunch. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the many facilities of your hotel. In the evening, the local night market is an easy stroll from the hotel and a great chance to try the local street cuisine or hone your bargaining skills. (B, L)

Reached by the Penang Hill Funicular Railway, the 2,700-foot Penang Hill was used as a cooler retreat during the British colonial period. Many prominent bungalows were built here, as well as the original official residence of the Governor. You can still see the post office and police station, built in 1894 and 1929 respectively. After an included lunch, you are free to enjoy the afternoon at leisure. (B, L)

We cross over the eight-mile Penang Bridge to Butterworth on the mainland of Malaysia, where we start our journey to the capital, Kuala Lumpur – commonly known as ‘KL’. On the way, we’ll cross the lush and mountainous central region of Malaysia, and stop for an included lunch in the charming and often-overlooked small colonial town of Ipoh. Our hotel in KL for three nights is well-located right in the centre of town and close to the city’s world-famous landmark, the gleaming Petronas Twin Towers. (B, L)

This morning we take a half-day tour of the city, its modern skyline dominated by the 1,483-foot-tall Petronas Twin Towers. Designed by Argentinian architect César Pelli, the 88-storey glass and stainless steel-clad skyscrapers are beautifully decorated with Islamic motifs.



We visit the National Mosque, the Tugu Negara War Memorial, pass by the old Railway Station, the Tudor-styled Cricket Club, the King’s Palace and pass by the Moorish style Federal Court. Tonight, why not head to Jalan Alor, for some of the best street food in Asia. The afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to take a short ride out of KL to explore the impressive cave temples of Batu Caves. (B)

Today is a free day to explore KL at your leisure. Go up to the amazing Skybridge and observation deck of the Petronas Twin Towers, or wander through the colonial-era landmarks of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building or the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. Perhaps discover the history and process of pewter craftsmanship at the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre.



Alternatively, you may wish to take our optional full-day tour to historic Malacca (bookable locally), one of Southeast Asia’s greatest trading ports in the 15th century.



One of the more famous of the Straits Settlements, it was originally colonised by the Portuguese and later taken over by the Dutch before finally succumbing to the might of the British East India Company. There’s plenty to see in the many old shophouses, now converted into attractive boutiques and cafés, but many are still family homes as well.



Another option back in Kuala Lumpur is the Perdana Botanical Gardens. Located just southwest of Chinatown and spread over 220 acres, it is an area of verdant calm far removed from the bustle of the surrounding city. The park features a beautiful hibiscus garden, devoted to Malaysia’s national flower, and a stunning orchid garden with 800 species. (B)

Today we fly to Sandakan for a two-night stay. Founded in 1879 by the British North Borneo Company, Sandakan is a charming small port town with a fascinating colonial history on the eastern side of Borneo.



Borneo is Malaysia’s shining verdant jewel in the crown, the third-largest island in the world. Its luxuriant tropical forests teem with thousands of extraordinary endemic plant and animal species. There are long-tailed macaques, proboscis monkeys, gibbons, flying squirrels, sun bears, the world’s largest snake, no fewer than 102 types of bat and, of course, the remarkable red-haired ‘man of the forest’ – the orangutan. Borneo is also known for the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, named after Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore.



We’ll have a short tour of the city on arrival, also stopping by the Sandakan Memorial, which commemorates the Australian and British soldiers held by the Japanese as prisoners of war between 1942 and 1945. The memorial is adjacent to the original Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp location. (B)

This morning we visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a sanctuary for the endangered Borneo Sun Bear, set within more than six acres of enclosed forest. Next, we visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the largest of its kind in the world and a highlight of our tour. The aim of the centre is to reintroduce orangutans into the wild and, as such, it is open to the forest, so orangutans are free to come and go as they please. There is a smaller more enclosed area where younger individuals are cared for.



After an included lunch, we visit the Agnes Keith House, a rare survival of post-war colonial wooden architecture. The museum here is dedicated to the American writer known for her autobiographical accounts of life in North Borneo before, during and after the Second World War. (B, L)

This morning, we catch the short flight to Kota Kinabalu on the western side of Borneo and transfer to our luxurious home for the next three nights, where all our rooms overlook the beautiful pool and gardens.



On the way to the hotel, we’ll stop at the living museum that is the Mari Mari Cultural Village. You’ll be able to experience the intriguing traditions, history and culture of five of the local indigenous tribes, including the feared Murut headhunters, right in the middle of the rainforest. After an included lunch, the rest of the day is at leisure at your hotel. (B, L)

After a morning at leisure, we transfer to the airport early this afternoon for your overnight flight home via Kuala Lumpur. (B)

You arrive back in the UK early this morning.

You have two free days to enjoy the large sandy beach and extensive swimming pools at your hotel. There is also a 400-acre nature reserve with its own walking paths adjacent to the resort, as Penang Hill Shangri La Rasa Ria Resort well as an 18-hole championship golf course and a superb spa. Choose from five restaurants and two bars – this is the best spot to watch the spectacular sunset over the South China Sea.

Signature Experience:

This afternoon, we will visit the Klias Forest Reserve, travelling on a scenic road past picturesque villages. Upon arrival, we have time to refresh with tea, coffee, Malay cakes and biscuits before boarding our river cruise. As we travel through the mangrove forests be on the lookout for wildlife, including the big-nosed proboscis monkey, monitor lizards and crocodiles as well as abundant bird species - you'll want to keep your eyes peeled and your binoculars handy. There’s also a traditional Malay buffet dinner before a final river cruise to observe a flickering display of fireflies as they light up the riverbanks. In the evening, we'll transfer back to Kota Kinabalu.