Orangutans, Jungle and Beach

Fly to Kota Kinabalu, and then it’s just a short drive from the city to the gorgeous beach resort of Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa. Your two nights at this exclusive beach resort are a chance to relax before your wildlife adventure, with the real wilds of Borneo yet to come. You will, however, have a glimpse of the country’s glorious flora and fauna as you spend the day chilling amongst tropical gardens, beautiful orchids and butterflies.

Now for the real wildlife adventure to begin, as you take an early morning flight to Sandakan, and transfer to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Arriving just in time to see the orangutans being fed, you’ll come eye to eye with these beautiful creatures in their natural environment. For many, this will be the absolute highlight of your trip – but rest assured, there are plenty more wildlife treats to look forward to…

After your encounter with the ‘old men of the forest,’ you’ll take a magical boat trip up the lower Kinabatangan River, and spend two nights at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge. This rustic stilted chalet couldn’t be more tranquil, with little to be heard other than the rustle of leaves and the occasional ‘plop’ of fish. Here you’ll head out with your guide in search of the rare proboscis monkey, as well as the extraordinary rafflesia flower, which is the largest flower in the world.

Heading deeper and deeper into the protected rainforest biome, you’ll be driven to Borneo Rainforest Lodge, where you’ll stay for two nights. Totally enveloped by virgin rainforest, you’ll awake to stunning views as the mist rises above the forest canopy and exotic birds flutter everywhere you look. After this, your guide will lead you across the huge network of rope bridges that snake their way through the jungle, giving you a primate’s view of the canopy - with both the rare Sumatran rhino and the endangered pygmy elephant to be spotted below.

As well as wildlife spotting (we recommend their night safaris too) you can also have a dip in tropical waterfalls and go tubing down the Danum River.

To continue with the rest of your adventure, you’ll need to fly back to Kota Kinabalu, but before heading on to Kuala Lumpur you'll spend a few days at Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort & Spa. With Mount Kinabalu seen across the bay and pristine jungle carpeting the hills behind, this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beautiful setting. You can also ride along the gorgeous stretch of white sand beach, go for a trek in the protected national park, or just indulge in the excellent spa.

You can’t come to Malaysia and not visit its eclectic capital, Kuala Lumpur, so – having flown here from Kota Kinabalu – you’ll spend two nights at the tranquil city oasis Villa Samadhi. With this luxurious hotel as your base, your guide will introduce you to the city’s fascinating mix of Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences, and lead you to the colonial buildings which set Kuala Lumpur apart from the likes of Singapore (a city which it is often compared to).

You’ll also explore vibrant Chinatown, where you can pick up some really unusual finds, and for a really magical experience, we’ve arranged a trip to the small village of Kampung Kuantan, where you’ll take a boat out to a mangrove swamp and enjoy a magical dinner with fireflies all around you.

Having flown direct to Tioman from Kuala Lumpur, you’ll spend four blissful nights at the only luxury resort on the island: the idyllic beach hideaway, JapaMala. Swaddled in your luxurious, eco 'Sarang', or 'nest' in Malay (totally unique, and with a casual, unpretentious and island feel), you can begin the day with some snorkelling, or go kayaking through the mangroves with the sun on your back. Later on you can head out along the canopy walkways and seek out the island’s waterfalls, before lying on the pristine beach and keeping your eyes peeled for passing turtles.

Indulge in a final spa treatment to the sound of lapping waves, and then fly back to Kuala Lumpur for your connecting flight home.