Malaysia: Jungles, Beaches & Wildlife

Driving through the picturesque Crocker Mountain range for approximately 2 hrs, you’ll reach the southern end of Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO-listed national park that lies dominated by the jagged peaks of Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia’s highest mountain. En route, you’ll stop off at local fruit and handicraft stalls.

Arriving at the park’s headquarters, you’ll take a short walk through the Mountain Garden with its beautiful collection of orchids and endemic plants. You’ll then leave the park and continue to the Poring Hot Springs, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, you’ll begin the jungle trail and venture onto the canopy walkway, a series of bridges built 40 metres above the ground. Take in the stunning panoramic views of the verdant rainforest canopy and rolling mountains and, if time permits, take a rejuvenating post-trek dip in the therapeutic sulphur baths before returning to your hotel.


Accommodation: Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

Wake up to the evocative sounds of the jungle as Bornean gibbons call through the canopies and countless tropical bird species sing to one another across the foliage. Then, begin your day with a trek to the View Point for panoramic vistas across the mist-wrapped rainforest before continuing to Coffin Cliff, an ancient burial site for indigenous tribespeople where coffins cling to a cliff edge.

Return to the lodge for lunch and, in the afternoon, take part in a choice of optional activities: a guided jungle trek through the exuberant rainforest or, if the weather permits, a water-tubing adventure down the Danum River.

In the evening, you can head out on a night walk along the Nature Trail with a guide, using torchlight to identify some of the Bornean rainforest’s elusive nocturnal species that include flying squirrel, slow loris, deer, civets, leopard cats and, if you are particularly lucky, pygmy elephants.


Accommodation: Borneo Rainforest Lodge (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

The next few days are yours to enjoy at leisure amid the stunning tropical surrounds of Gaya Island, giving you the opportunity to unwind following your Bornean wildlife adventure.

Enjoy your luxury resort's wealth of facilities and activities, soak up the sun on a pristine beach, explore the island's rainforest-coated interior during guided nature walks with a resident naturalist to spot proboscis monkeys, or snorkel in the dazzlingly clear waters of the protected Tunku Abdul Marine Park to admire flourishing coral reefs and abundant marine life.


Accommodation: Gaya Island Resort (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

After breakfast, you’ll head into Kuala Lumpur for a revealing tour of this dynamic city, unveiling the beauty and charm of its older quarters as well as the innovation of its more modern area, known as the ‘Garden City of Lights’ due to its blend of glittering city lights and verdant parks.

First, you’ll head to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers to take pictures of this striking feat of contemporary architecture before continuing to the Saloma Link pedestrian bridge to cross the Klang River over to Kampung Baru. A typical Malay village, Kampung Baru’s streets are littered with Malaysian-style food stalls and boast a contrast of traditional small Malay houses against the stunning backdrop of Kuala Lumpur’s soaring skyscrapers. You can stop at one of the food stalls to sample some local Malay delicacies before continuing the tour.

The next stop is Chinatown, where you’ll visit the ornately decorated Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, the oldest Taoist temple of its kind in the city. Then, you’ll head to the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur, before stopping for food at a unique kopitiam called KafeiDian, converted from the old colonial post office and designed in a mix of Malay and British Tudor-style architecture.

After food, you’ll take a ride to Masjid Jamek, one of the oldest mosques in Kuala Lumpur. Following this, you’ll venture into Little India and walk past the jewellery and saree shops. Strolling along the riverbank, you can see the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers before finally stopping to the historic sites of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a former British-colonial administrative office, and a colonial-era members’ club.


Accommodation: The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection (or alternative hotel of equal standard).

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out and transferring to Kuala Lumpur’s airport in a private vehicle, a journey of approximately 1 hr. You’ll arrive at the airport in perfect time to begin your onward journey.