Sarawak Explorer and Island Escape

Spend time exploring this historic city or venture out to the nearby national parks. Speak to your personal travel designer about you wish to spend your time in this fascinating region for an itinerary to encompass all your interests.

This exciting half day tour takes you to Semonggok Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. During the drive to the centre you will pass the ethno-botanical gardens which boast, like Semonggok, an unusual array of rainforest plants. As Sarawak's premier spot to see semi-wild orangutans, this is your opportunity to take a jungle trail or forest walk to witness the animals in their rainforest setting. With a flourishing breeding programme, Semonggok also offers the special chance to experience an orangutan mother with her young baby. Rescued from captivity, these rehabilitated orangutans are trained to survive in the forest reserve and tend to return to the centre at feeding time.

This half day city tour is a fantastic way to get acquainted with Kuching. The tour of this historic capital will take in sights of Chinatown, the vibrant Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple, the Cat Statue, the internationally renowned Sarawak Museum plus the Civic Centre Viewing Platform. You will see Kuching's heritage buildings of the White Rajah period including the Astana, the previous residence of the White Rajahs, from the Waterfront. Look out for the Pavilion, the Square Tower and the Court House which will also be incorporated into the tour. On your way back to your hotel you will pass by the golden-domed City Mosque and bustling Old Kuching which is packed with textile shops and spice traders.

Boasting seven different rainforest ecosystems, Bako National Park houses an impressive amount of varying flora and fauna. Throughout the tour look for the strange proboscis monkeys, Bako's most prominent inhabitants, as well as other monkeys including silvered langurs and long-tailed macaque monkeys. A huge range of birds can be seen as you wander through the mangroves and strangler figs, plus wild boar, flying squirrels and monitor lizards. You will be taken on well-marked trails to rugged, lush hilltops and private beaches, as well as shown the famous Sea Stack, one of the coastline's unusual traits. If you would like more time at Bako, you have the option to stay at a chalet or bungalow within the park for overnight.

This half day tour takes you to Anah Rais, a vast Bidayuh village with a large and well-preserved authentic bamboo longhouse where numerous families live. You will be taken by a guide around the longhouse who will show you the unusual design and cultural elements of the property. You will also be given an insight into lives of the residents and their traditional farming culture.

During this village tour you will have the chance get involved with local life as you discover how to throw a Malay spinning top, shoot a Penan blowpipe and learn about the Orang Ulu sape. As you visit the seven traditional buildings within the seventeen acre site, you will be shown the unusual and different ethnic cultures which reside here. Throughout the day you will learn about village life and the daily pursuits which take place including beadwork, weaving, wood and bamboo carving, sugar-cane crushing, sago-making and pepper-growing. This four hour tour will then end at the air-conditioned mini-theatre with a vibrant and cultural ethnic performance.

Taking place on a purpose-built pontoon boat, your river cruise will show an array of exciting sights unique to this tour of historic Kuching. See how traditional river life is lived in Sarawak as you pass with front row seats vibrant Malay villages, the Astana, the impressive City Mosque, the Kuching Waterfront and Fort Margherita. Gliding along, look out for colourful tambangs, fishing boats and wooden cargo vessels.

While away your days on this beautiful island with both action and relaxation. With stunning coral reefs that surround the coast and crystalline waters, Gaya Island is an excellent choice for swimming, snorkelling and diving, while the vast stretches of white sandy beaches make for the perfect place to lie back and soak up some rays. Moving away from the beach, there is plenty of opportunity to hike and explore nature with trails running throughout the dense, tropical forest that covers the land.

This morning you will go on a tour to Manukan Island and Sapi Island, two of the beautiful and popular islands within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, just twenty minutes from the jetty. Enjoy fine white sands and crystal clear waters as you snorkel and experience the underwater wildlife. During the tour you will enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch in the stunning natural setting of Sapi Island.

A delightful evening watching the sunset from scenic Signal Hill, the opportunity to pick up handicrafts and curio from a night market before enjoying a fresh seafood dinner whilst watching cultural dance.