Singapore and Sarawak holidays
Price
£3395including UK flights
More info
Price includes international flights from the UK, internal Borneo flights, accommodation on twin/double basis, airport transfers, touring with English-speaking Guide, private excursions and meals as stated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
Description of Singapore and Sarawak holidays
For those looking for an adventure holiday which provides a fascinating contrast between the hustle and bustle of metropolitan Singapore and the remote jungle wilderness of Sarawak, Borneo then look no further. Our 15-day city and wildlife experience will explore the parts that lesser tours cannot reach!
Explore the riverine city of Kuching with its waterfront promenade and abundance of Chinese temples and journey to small, coastal Bako National Park to come face to face with the wildlife including proboscis monkeys, wild boar, silver leaf monkeys and hornbills. Journey to Batang Ai National Park to spend time with the local Iban tribe to learn a little about their way of life, enjoy remote jungle trekking and learn to fish Iban style.
Embark on a journey into the heart of the extensive Mulu cave network to see the impressive stalagmites and stalactites, walk the canopy plank-walk and marvel at the size of Deer Cave's chamber which exceeds 90 metres high in many places.
From the jungles of Borneo emerge into the cosmopolitan city of Singapore with its towering high rises and bustling streets thronged with people. Taste the wonders of Chinatown on a culinary adventure tour through this colourful quarter of the city and immerse yourself in exhilarating Little India to browse the market stalls and spend time at soothing Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple to learn the customs and traditions of the Hindu philosophy.
Itinerary
| Day 1 | Fly to Kuching, Sarawak via Singapore. |
| Day 2 | Land Kuching and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the evening is at leisure. |
| Day 3 | This morning drive to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, a rehabilitation centre which is helping to re-introduce injured or orphaned orang-utans back into the wild. In the afternoon explore Kuching city to see buildings dating back to the days of the White Rajahs along with ancient Chinese temples. (B/L) |
| Day 4 | Drive from the city to nearby Bako Village. Jump on a boat for a short journey to Bako National Park, the oldest and smallest national park in Sarawak, which sits on a small peninsula. The park is a great place to discover the regional wildlife including proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys and monitor lizards. Return to Kuching mid-afternoon. (B/L) |
| Day 5 | Travel to the Gunung Gading National Park which is one of the best places to see rafflesia when in bloom. Enjoy jungle trekking along a designated plankwalk to spot pitcher plants and wild orchids along the way. Search for rafflesia with your guide and enjoy a picnic lunch by a beautiful jungle stream or drive to a local beach for a swim. Return to Kuching. (B/L) |
| Day 6 | This morning depart the city and drive to the Batang Ai reservoir which sits in scenic Batang Ai National Park. The park was created in 1991 and is home to a number of rare and endangered species including a community of wild orang-utans. En-route stop at Lachau bazaar for a stroll around the shops and local market before an early lunch in a coffee shop. Continue onwards to the lake and board a traditional longboat for the two hour journey upriver to Nanga Sumpa Lodge. Enjoy the evening at leisure. (B/L/D) |
| Day 7 | Embark on some hiking along the jungle trails before continuing your journey upriver by longboat, destination: Enseluai waterfall. On the journey your Iban boatman may be able to demonstrate a spot of fishing, Iban-style! Arrive at the waterfall and enjoy time to relax, swim and enjoy the rainforest surroundings before a tasty BBQ lunch prepared in the traditional way by your Iban host. After lunch continue the journey before disembarking to commence the 1-2hr trek through native jungle to your next lodge: Lubok Kasai. After dinner enjoy a quiet evening at the lodge enjoying the jungle sounds. (B/L/D) |
| Day 8 | Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and free time to relax or explore further. Depart mid-morning and re-trace your boat journey back to Nanga Sumpa for lunch. Afterwards return to Kuching for the evening at leisure. (B/L) |
| Day 9 | This morning fly to Mulu and transfer to the Mulu Park Chalets which boast a fabulous location in Mulu World Heritage Area. This afternoon embark on a scenic plank-walk through primary rainforest to Deer Cave which is the world's largest cave passage. Explore the cave which has ceilings in excess of 90 metres high before also visiting nearby Langs Cave. Discover the cave's stalactites and stalagmites before proceeding to the bat observatory to witness the spectacular dusk bat exodus. Trek back to the lodge. (B) |
| Day 10 | Further time to explore the remarkable cave complex today. Take the longboat to Wind Cave and see the impressive King's Chamber which boasts stalactites and stalagmites formed in delicate lace-like patterns. From here it's a short walk to the plank-walk climb to Clearwater Cave which provides a unique habitat for various plant species. Near the cave is a wonderful swimming area shaded by giant rainforest trees where you will enjoy a simple picnic lunch. Late afternoon experience the popular Mulu Canopy Skywalk which allows you to walk through the ferns and vines which live about 15-20 metres above ground. Return to the accommodation. (B/L) |
| Day 11 | Depart Mulu and return to Kuching. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B) |
| Day 12 | Fly to Singapore. Land and transfer to the quirky Hotel Vagabond. Evening at leisure. (B) |
| Day 13 | This morning will be spent exploring the colourful Chinatown area on a food adventure! Taste your way through Chinatown on this fascinating small-group walking tour. Enjoy typical Singaporean specialities, sip a refreshing sugar cane juice and learn about the history and heritage of this diverse and vibrant area. (Small group excursion, snacks and food samples included). The remainder of the day is free at leisure. (B) |
| Day 14 | On today's guided tour, immerse yourself in the exhilarating bustle of Little India. Glimpse the vivid selection of fabrics, saris and trinkets before exploring the Tekka Wet Market and Little India Arcade for delectable food and produce. Finish with a visit to the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. The afternoon is free to explore at leisure. (B) |
| Day 15 | Enjoy free time today before you are collected and returned to the airport for the flight home. (B) |
Price information
£3395including UK flights
Price includes international flights from the UK, internal Borneo flights, accommodation on twin/double basis, airport transfers, touring with English-speaking Guide, private excursions and meals as stated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
Departure information
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel guides
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Reviews
1 Reviews of Singapore and Sarawak holidays
3 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 03 Dec 2018 by Maureen Mckenna
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Luang Prabang and a day excursion to Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do not book with a travel Agent that does not send you a change of hotel booked and paid for since January and you get your final documents two weeks before you leave for the holiday to find you have been shoved into a hotel you did not know about or agree to and are then told it is too late to book anywhere else. Also if a hotel stops doing bed and breakfast and only room only ensure your travel agent informs you of this before four weeks before you travel and that the hotel you are upgraded to is not renovating the rooms directly under yours with drills and banging from 09.30 in the morning till 21.30 at night which the hotel management describes as occasional noise.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It cost me a lot of money over £3000.00 for twelve nights and I got five nights sleep and after the apology for a bad booking from the Agent, was offered 8 free dinners and 3 free lunches in Laos and after the first vomited for 36 hours and lost a free day in Vientiane and actually considered paying for a flight to bring me home.
Read the operator's response here:
Thank you for your feedback Ms Mckenna, we hope that you enjoyed your experience in South East Asia overall, and we are happy to hear that your
tourism benefited the places that you visited. With regard to the points raised The hotel in Singapore was changed approximately four weeks prior to
departure because the original one closed their restaurant, approximately 4 weeks prior to departure. The new hotel was of a higher standard and in what
we would consider to be a better location and, as the tour operator, we absorbed the additional costs associated with this relocation. We were unfortunately
not notified by the new hotel of any building works which were being carried out at the time of the stay, and can only apologise that this was disruptive, We
have fed back to the hotel that communication of such planned works is vital.
It was our oversight that we failed to notify you the change of hotel in Luang Prabang, which happened in the early stages of the reservation. The original
choice was block booked by a large touring party. The alternative hotel was an upgrade and we offered to include all meals in Laos by way of apology for the
late notification, it is a shame that you suffered illness whilst in Laos, and hope that this did not spoil your holiday too greatly or deter you from future
travel.
tourism benefited the places that you visited. With regard to the points raised The hotel in Singapore was changed approximately four weeks prior to
departure because the original one closed their restaurant, approximately 4 weeks prior to departure. The new hotel was of a higher standard and in what
we would consider to be a better location and, as the tour operator, we absorbed the additional costs associated with this relocation. We were unfortunately
not notified by the new hotel of any building works which were being carried out at the time of the stay, and can only apologise that this was disruptive, We
have fed back to the hotel that communication of such planned works is vital.
It was our oversight that we failed to notify you the change of hotel in Luang Prabang, which happened in the early stages of the reservation. The original
choice was block booked by a large touring party. The alternative hotel was an upgrade and we offered to include all meals in Laos by way of apology for the
late notification, it is a shame that you suffered illness whilst in Laos, and hope that this did not spoil your holiday too greatly or deter you from future
travel.
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
On this Borneo holiday you will visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, located in Semenggoh Nature Reserve, which is home to a community of orangutans and other wildlife which have been found injured, orphaned or kept illegally as pets. The Centre works hard to educate the local and international community on the importance of preserving the regions indigenous wildlife but also to rehabilitate the animals back into their natural environments. The Centre has had such an amazing success rate and is now working in conjunction with Matang Wildlife Centre, in Kubah National Park, to coordinate the wider release of the animals. This important work is done with the help of donations and entrance fees to the centre paid on your behalf by our local agents.In conjunction with Orangutan Appeal UK, for every booking to Borneo we adopt our chosen Sepilok orangutan, Gelison, in your names for a year. Orangutan Appeal UK works to support the orangutans of Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre which provides 24hr essential care for orphaned and injured orangutans with the aim to rehabilitate them into the wilds of the adjacent Kabili Sepilok Forest Reserve and beyond. Funds from the adoption costs go towards funding the Centre’s work providing food, medical care and a safe refuge for the orangutans as well as being an important educational tool for visitors.
People
Our local Borneo ground agents employ only local guides and drivers thereby keeping all moneys paid to staff in the local community. They own and run the two jungle lodges used on the trip, Nanga Sumpa Lodge and Lubok Kasai. Both lodges were built in conjunction with the local Ulu tribe and roles are fulfilled by the Ulu tribes-people including boat transfers and lodge staff. Where possible, food served to guests at the lodges is sourced locally thereby providing a further income to local residents. The lodge provides excellent opportunities not only to explore the surrounding jungle reserves and search for the resident wildlife but also to learn a little about the Ulu Ai culture while generating an important source of income for the tribe.This holiday stays in the boutique Hotel Vagabond in Singapore, a member of the Garcha Hotels chain which supports the Aashita Foundation. Their main purpose is to transform children’s lives through love, support and education, delivered in a protected and caring environment. Aashita was set up in 2011 in Jaipur, India to work exclusively for orphaned and abandoned girls. It currently has 13 girls in its care aged between six and thirteen. Its mission is to fully support and educate each of these girls through to adulthood, providing them with the ability to lead independent and fulfilled lives. The girls live with three “mothers” in a large house with a familial atmosphere. In addition, there are two live in teachers and further support staff to look after all their needs.
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