Science and SCUBA

1. 1–2

   Days 1–2

   Fly from UK to Sandakan

   Meals included: lunch and dinner

   Fly from the UK to Sandakan where we meet our local STC Expedition Leader and transfer to our accommodation in Sepilok. We spend our first night in Borneo here; already immersed in the incredible wildlife and environment the island has to offer. After freshening up and a welcome briefing, we visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre for an evening walk before tucking into our first traditional meal.

2. 3

   Day 3

   Bornean Sun Bears and Orangutans

   All meals included

   We rise early to visit the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the famous Orangutan Sanctuary where a video presentation introduces us to the centre, after which we walk down to the viewing platforms to watch the orangutans enjoy their dinner and gain an understanding of the work Sepilok does and the plight of these amazing creatures.

3. 4

   Day 4

   Travel to Sukau Village

   All meals included

   This morning we have a two-hour drive to Sukau Village. Founded around 2015 by a local family of well-known conservationists, it is not just a place to sleep — it is designed as a community-based eco-tourism experience. We stay on site in dorm rooms and immerse ourselves in conservation activities during our stay.

4. 5–6

   Days 5–6

   Sukau Village Conservation Activities

   All meals included

   Over the next two days we accompany local people to assist with conservation projects they are working on along the river. This is a great educational opportunity as we take part in sapling collection from the forest, tree-planting, building hornbill nests, making fish/prawn traps to be donated to the villagers, go on wildlife cruises/walks and orangutan surveys.

5. 7

   Day 7

   Transfer to Kiau

   All meals included

   After breakfast we bid goodbye to our new friends in Sukau Village and drive to Kiau. From here we leave the vehicles and prepare to trek into the Bornean jungle. Kiau is a scenic rural village located in the Kota Belud district at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. We are warmly welcomed by the local villagers and settle in for an early night ahead of the first day of our trek.

6. 8

   Day 8

   Trek into the Jungle

   All meals included

   Today we have a four-hour trek into the jungle. During our trek our STC Leader will point out some of the incredible, local flora and fauna and we have the opportunity to learn about some of the survival techniques which indigenous people have developed to allow them to thrive in the jungle. As night falls we climb into our hammocks to be gently rocked to sleep whilst listening to the croaking frog orchestras and sounds of the nocturnal animals awakening.

7. 9

   Day 9

   Trek Out of the Jungle and Return to Kota Kinabalu

   All meals included

   After an incredible night in the jungle, we trek out to meet the vehicles. We board the buses and head to our accommodation in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state.

8. 10–12

   Days 10–12

   PADI Open Water Diving

   All meals included

   We now move our focus from the biology and ecology of the jungle to that of the marine environment, spending the next three days completing our PADI Open Water Diver SCUBA course. This teaches us the fundamentals of SCUBA diving, including dive techniques and equipment, as well as a series of confined and open water dives. We can expect to see pristine coral, schools of fish, octopus, turtles, and if we are lucky, a majestic ray or two. Not only is SCUBA diving a fantastic opportunity to view marine wildlife up close, it also allows us to see first-hand examples of symbiotic relationships in the marine world.

9. 13

   Day 13

   MERC: Marine Ecology Research Centre

   All meals included

   We turn our attention to the sea and coral reefs of Kota Kinabalu and visit the Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC) off the coast. We are met on arrival by MERC staff for a briefing and take a tour of the site. We learn about their research focuses, including successfully producing all seven species of giant clams found in Malaysian waters.

10. 14

    Day 14

    Conservation Snorkelling and The Coral Flyer

    All meals included

    Close to KK in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, we join some guided conservation snorkelling. This helps us understand coral reef ecology, threats to the marine ecosystem, and how to assess reef health. Following our snorkelling session, we ride The Coral Flyer Zipline — one of the most unique adventure activities in Sabah — a 250-metre zipline that takes us from one tropical island to another over the sea.

11. 15–16

    Days 15–16

    Kota Kinabalu and Depart Borneo

    Meals included: breakfast and lunch

    This morning we have a final chance to explore Kota Kinabalu and purchase any last gifts or souvenirs — remembering of course not to purchase anything that could harm the delicate local marine ecosystem. We then transfer to the airport to say farewell to our expedition leader and beautiful Borneo, ready for our return flight to the UK, arriving on day 16.

Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.