Rajahs, Riches, Rainforests&Reefs

Kota Kinabalu is the gateway to Borneo with regular flights to and from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur available.

Pulau Labuan is a tiny island town off Sabah’s coast that was formerly known as Victoria Town. Today, it is a hub for duty-free goods and boasts some nice cultural touches and landmarks. Because of its proximity to Brunei, Labuan attracts many visitors as well as avid scuba divers for its rich marine life. Labuan played a role in World War II particularly during Operation Oboe Six, which was the codename for the campaign by Australian forces to retake Brunei and Labuan island from Japanese forces between 10 June 1945 and the end of World War II. In 1990, it was declared an international offshore financial centre and free trade zone.

Included Expeditions
Today's activities will focus on the island's history during WWII. Our included tour today will visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery housing the graves of many Australian, Indian and other Commonwealth forces killed during the retaking of Labuan and other parts of the Borneo campaign.

We will also visit the memorial peace park and "surrender point", the location where Japanese forces surrended to the Commonwealth forces at the end of the war. We will also visit the Labuan Chimney, situated on a rise at Tanjung Kubong this famous ‘Chimney’, is a high red brick stack believed to be possibly linked to the coal mining days of Labuan. The Chimney was made from more than 23,000 pieces of red bricks imported from England. The bricks layering and works are typical of British style. The ‘Chimney’ is still very much a mystery until today. Various hypothesis has been put forward to its purpose. Some say it is an unfinished mansion. While others say it was a light house beaconing passing ships.

The name Pulau Tiga means ‘Three Islands’, but only two of the original three remain in this 15km² marine park. The islands themselves are recent creations, formed in 1897 by the eruption of mud volcanoes that are still active in the form of bubbling mud pools. The larger of the two remaining islands, Palau Tiga is lined with fine sandy beaches providing great places to relax or a gateway to the underwater realm that fringes the shoreline. For the more energetic amongst us the island has a network of walking trails crisscrossing the island.

Included Expeditions
A series of interesting activities await us on Tiga today. We have a 2 hour round trip walk to a mud volcano on offer today, you can even take a dip in the mud if you wish, it apparently does wonders for the skin. A short distance away is the tiny Snake Island, we will run our Zodiacs over here during the day were you can witness banded sea kraits, sea snakes from the ocean, making their way up on to land. Sea snakes often land themselves ashore to rest and nest. Snorkelling from the main island will be available throughout the day.

Located about 120 km from Kota Kinabalu on the Klias Peninsula are the Klias Wetlands, a Mangrove Forest Reserve rich with river wildlife and birds. Among the wildlife that can be spotted on a mangrove cruise on the Klias River are proboscis monkeys, long tail macaques, with some luck silver langurs and of course an amazing variety of birds.

Included Expeditions
There will be no landings today but still an amazing opportunity to explore the wetlands and spot wildlife exists from our fleet of Zodiacs. A variety of primates should present themselves today and the birdlife is significant as well, including herrons and hornbills.

The State of Brunei Darussalam, or more simply Brunei as most of us know it is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, between the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah. Brunei has the second highest Human Development Index among the South East Asia nations, after Singapore, and significant economic growth between the 1970's and 1990's (averaging 56% from 1999 to 2008), has transformed Brunei Darussalam into a new modern industrialised nation. Bandar Seri Bagwan is the capital city of Brunei with a population of only 140,000 people. (Please note on south bound voyages departing Kota Kinabalu we will arrive in Brunei the night before for night activity options, north bound trips departing Singapore will see the ship stay in Brunei overnight for those activities departing for Labuan early the next morning).

Included Expeditions
After docking at the cruise terminal we have an inclusive city tour available this morning. The tour includes the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and if not in use for prayers we will have the opportunity to examine this architectural marvel. We will continue on to the Royal Regalia museum near the city centre which has elaborate displays of gifts received by the Sultan, and to the Brunei Museum on the Kota Batu road which has an excellent display in the Islamic Art Gallery. This tour will also visit Matam fishing village for a look into traditional ways of life in Brunei. A complimentary shuttle bus will run into the city throughout the day for shopping and exploring the city itself. This service will continue into the evening as the city is elaborately light in the night, particularly the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, which is a sight to be seen with its decorative illuminations.

Optional Expeditions
MALAY WATER VILLAGE (Half Day)
Our visit to Kampong Ayer is a beautiful sight to see with hundreds of houses seemingly floating on water. This is the biggest of the Malay style Water Villages anywhere in the region. We will cruise through the village and visit a local home where you can witness the daily livelihood of typical villagers living in their stilt houses on the Brunei River.
Price: To be confirmed

PROBOSCIS MONKEY RIVER SAFARI (Half Day)
Cruise along in a local wooden boat into a mangrove swamp, in search of the rare endangered primate-the proboscis monkey- endemic to the Borneo Island and Sumatra. In Brunei, you do not have to travel too far to see these monkeys as they co-exist with human settlements. There is still an abundance of these endangered species along the mangrove swamps making viewing easy.
Price: To be confirmed

EVENING IN BRUNEI
The option is available to join an evening tour of the city, visiting key points that are elaborately lit in the evenings, and participating in a Malay style meal at a local restaurant before returning to the ship.
Price: To be confirmed

The clear waters of the streams within the park are stained by the tannins of the peat swamps, lending them an attractive ruby red tinge. There is a great variety of faunal diversity on display throughout the park. From pitcher plants with tiny pitchers measuring merely 1cm to those growing to 20cm high. Tiny and colourful orchids can be seen rooted to trees and the rocks around the headlands. The more common fauna in the park includes gibbons, banded langurs and long tailed macaques. The park is also home to 185 bird species, including 7 species of hornbills, saltwater crocodiles, dolphins, porpoises and green sea turtles.

Included Expeditions
Today we will explore the Similajau National Park near Bintulu. We will mostly rely on our Zodiacs to explore the river systems in search of the wildlife however there may be an opportunity to take a boardwalk through the mangroves if the tides allow. Once again the wildlife will be everywhere and we will be keeping an extra eye out for some of the different species of hornbill usually found in this area.

Included Expeditions for Camp Leakey – Faces in the Forest itinerary
This morning we will visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and witness the work they do in caring for orangutans and other wildlife of Borneo. For those feeling a bit more independent a shuttle bus will be available in the afternoon to and from the city area and optional tours are available to purchase to further explore Kuching's rich cultural and natural history. A series of optional tours are also available for purchase.

Optional Expeditions for Camp Leakey – Faces in the Forest itinerary
ANNAH RAIS LONGHOUSE (Half day)
If you are looking to learn more of the culture of this area an optional tour to the traditional Annah Rais Longhouse is available for purchase. The Anna Rais Longhouse is an authentic Bidayuh Longhouse located in the hills outside of Kuching. This Bidayuh village is accessible by road and it is the nearest native village from the city. On tour you will also get to enjoy the encompassing beauty of the scenery around the longhouse. The Bidayuhs are mainly farmers and they plant crops like corn, rice, pepper, cocoa and local vegetables for their own consumption as well as for sales at the local city markets. The chief of the longhouse is called the "Tuai Rumah".
Price: To be confirmed

EXCLUSIVE GUNUNG GADING RAFFLESIA VIEWING (Half Day)
(CAN NOT GUARANTEE DEPARTURE, WE WILL BE NOTIFIED ONLY PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IN KUCHING IF THE RAFFLESIA IS FLOWERING)
The Rafflesia is a giant carnivorous plant first discovered in Borneo in 1818. Gunung Gadung is famous for its rafflesia and if the plant is flowering during our visit we will make this option available. We will be in communication with the rangers a few days before arrival and they will let us know if we will be able to see the giant flowering carnivorous plant. The flower can grow over one metre in diameter and weigh over 10 kilograms. The tour will take us into the park area with a guide who knows the location of the plant that is flowering on that day.
Price: To be confirmed

Tanjung Datu National Park is one of the smallest parks in Sarawak, with an area approximately 14km² (1,379 ha). Half of the peninsula is situated within Sarawak and the other portion lies in Kalimantan. Described as the ”Heaven of Borneo” by most visitors, its natural features of rain forest and unique coral reefs make it a significant area for its biodiversity. Its mountain ranges and luxurious mixed dipterocarp forest and fauna make the park a fascinating place to visit. Remoteness and isolation makes for a spectacular destination for us in Borneo.

Included Expeditions
Our Zodiacs will land on a sandy beach to allow us to explore the tracks of Tanjung Datu National Park this morning. The wildlife will surround us we explore with a great mix of primates and birdlife. There is a beautiful beach for swimming and weather permitting we will host a beach BBQ today near the park headquarters. Later in the day there will be the opportunity to explore further into the wildlife reserve by Zodiac for more wildlife spotting.

Bako National Park heralds an early arrival for us as we have no time to waste in experiencing its rainforests, abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, interesting plant life, secluded beaches and trekking trails. Very few places in the world pack so much natural beauty into such a limited area. Bako is one of the most rewarding parks in Sarawak for wildlife and protected since 1957, the animals are less wary of humans.

Included Expeditions
A series of walks of varying degrees of difficulty are available today throughout the Bako National Park. Once again we will be surrounded by wildlife, including numerous proboscus monkeys and macaques. Zodiac cruises will also be available today. Due to the fact that wildlife here have been protected since the 1950's the animals are quite used to humans and do not see them as a threat which allows us to walk through the park and see the animals quite easily.
Please note Camp Leakey – Faces in the Forest itinerary will also have a beach BBQ today on a beautiful secluded beach in the National Park.

At sea

The British East India Company established a strategic trading post on the island of Singapore in 1819, which was to become an important post along the Spice Route. Although a thriving and modern metropolis, remnants of these early colonial days can be enjoyed in many traditional pursuits such as a rickshaw ride and Singapore Sling at the famous Raffles Hotel. A compact and efficient city, Singapore offers easy access from most international airports.