✧ Ultimate Borneo Tour
Ultimate Borneo
Jungle, River, Wildlife and Cultural Adventure in Sarawak and Sabah
12 Day/11 night Photographic/Cultural Tour
June 29th – July 10th 2012
Enjoy a unique experience in a fabled jungle-clad land that has captured the imagination of explorers and adventurers for centuries. Award winning master photographer Nick Melidonis, Frank Richardson together with expert local guides, will introduce a select group to the ultimate highlights of Borneo, visiting the prime viewing areas for orang-utans, proboscis monkeys and other wildlife in both Sarawak and Sabah in this tropical paradise. This is a rare opportunity to see and learn how to capture powerful images of wildlife that is fast disappearing.
A melting pot of indigenous peoples, cultures and traditions, Borneo is set amid a landscape that ranges from the world’s oldest rainforest to the highest mountain in Southeast Asia. Your Ultimate Borneo experience includes visits and boat trips to spectacular national parks, longhouses and ethnic villages to capture unique landscapes and portraits of the colourful inhabitants as well as stunning wildlife.
Tour highlights include:
- Discover the Colonial splendours of the White Raja era in the colourful capital Kuching.
- Explore the Sarawak River as far as the South China Sea and visit old, historic villages on stilts.
- Visit a traditional bamboo longhouse
- Marvel at the antics of the orang-utans in their tropical jungle sanctuaries in the prime viewing locations in both Sarawak and Sabah.
- Enjoy a day at Bako National Park home to the amazing and rare proboscis monkeys, birdlife and Macaque monkeys.
- Explore the wondrous waterways of the Kinabatangan River System
- Relax at the Cultural Village which showcases Sarawak’s unique and diverse cultures and traditions
- Unwind in a beach resort with its sandy beaches fringed with tropical palms
ABOUT THE TOUR LEADERS:
Nick Melidonis, Master Photographer and three times winner of the AIPP Australian Landscape Photographer of the Year; will take you on a visual journey sharing his passion in creatively seeing landscapes, wildlife and people www.nickmelidonis.com .
Frank Richardson is a professional photographer and photo educator and has co-led photo and cultural tours to the Greek Islands with Nick
Together with experienced local guides, photographic tuition will complement the teams’ insider’s knowledge of locations and Borneo highlights.
Don’t miss this spectacular tour of a lifetime.
Fishing Traps Sarawak
Land Content: Aud$5,480* twin share; Single Supp. Aud$850*
Special group airfare may be available; please refer to our travel agent below
Deposit: $550AUD* Non-refundable, *all costs are subject to change:
Travel Insurance: This is compulsory for this tour please refer to our travel agent.
Reserve your place on this tour and receive your application pack by contacting our sole travel agent:
Harvey World Travel (LIC No. 9TA00049), Nick Missikos owner/manager
East Perth – Shop 1/113 Royal Street
Tel: (08) 9221 9977 Fax: (08) 9221 5577
email: eastperth@harveyworld.com.au
Sydney tour co-coordinator:
Kerry Boytell elippey@bigpond.net.au Ph: 0414 642544
Further enquiries:
Nick Melidonis nick@nickmelidonid.com Ph: ( 08) 93364135, Mob: 0418 912156
SPECIAL EARLY BIRD OFFER
Participants enrolling before FEB 10th 2012, will receive a morning’s macro photography session with Nick and Darren at the stunning Sarawak orchid park with a short traditional boat ride across the Sarawak River to the park.
Itinerary
Day 01 – ARRIVE KUCHING (D) June 29th 2012
Arrive at the charming city of Kuching, Sarawak’s capital, arguably one of the most attractive cities in Southeast Asia. Kuching has adopted modern amenities without losing its charm. The river, once an important transport link, is still a central feature of the city with the beautifully landscaped waterfront promenade providing a relaxing venue for strolling both day and night. Photography of the boats ferrying people across the river at sunset will be one of the highlights.
Upon arrival, transfer to Harbour View Hotel for check-in (standard check-in is 1400 hrs) and time to recuperate or acclimatise in to your new surroundings
1630 hrs, assemble in the lobby and then take a short walk along the Waterfront Esplanade to the cruise jetty. 1715 hrs, board the MV Equatorial for a 1½ hours sunset river cruise on the Sarawak River. This is a wonderful way of observing Kuching City from a different perspective and will give you a feel of how transportation to and from the city was in the olden days. We end our cruise around sunset and then walk back to your hotel.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner (included) at Bla Bla Bla restaurant.
Overnight Harbour View Hotel
Day 02 – KUCHING CITY TOUR (B)
Following breakfast, discover the charms of this clean and green city established by Sir James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak. In the city centre, the old temples and many of the buildings date back to the colourful days of the Brooke Dynasty rule. Popular with locals as well as visitors is the mile long waterfront promenade. The shops along the Main Bazaar probably have the best collection of tribal carvings, handicrafts, antiques and souvenirs in the whole island of Borneo. A city of museums, the Sarawak museum completed in 1891 is possibly the best known In the afternoon, a photo workshop will be offered to prepare participants for the exciting landscape, people and wildlife photography ahead. We will stroll along the waterfront in the evening for photo opportunities and to photograph the picturesque boats and choose a restaurant for the evening meal.
Overnight Harbour View Hotel
Day 03 – BAKO NATIONAL PARK (B,L)
Today we drive about 35 minutes to Bako Village. From the village, we take about a 25-minute boat ride (depending on the tide) to the park situated on a peninsula. The boat trip will present excellent seascape images which may include stilts and fishing traps. Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in a natural setting. The various types of animals that are commonly spotted at Bako include the proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, long tail macaques, wild boars, monitor lizards and numerous species birds.
Tropical rainforest ranges from mangrove to kerangas (heath forest), tropical swamp vegetation, cliff vegetation and beach vegetation. There are several trails to follow inside the park depending on level of fitness and interest and the landscape and waterscape images will be a bonus to the wildlife. We return to Kuching mid-afternoon (schedule may depend on tide)
Overnight Harbour View Hotel
Day 04 – SEMENGOH ORANGUTAN – ANAH RAIS LONGHOUSE (B,L)
After breakfast, we depart for the Semengoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre located a short drive from the centre of Kuching. We observe the feeding of the Orangutans between 0900-0930 hrs that require rehabilitation. This is one the best places to view semi-wild orangutans in Sarawak allowing photos to be taken at a reasonable distance (suggest long lenses with image stabilisers).
After Semengoh, we proceed for about an hour’s drive to Anah Rais, which is located in the heart of the Padawan District (about 40 km from Kuching). Anah Rais is the largest Bidayuh longhouse in existence in Sarawak. Explore this peaceful Bidayuh village and learn about the culture of the Land Dayaks who were once head-hunters. Visit the Baruk (headhouse) where skulls can still be seen. We are free to wander around the raised platforms of the longhouse to photograph the inhabitants and their way of life. We return to the Semengoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in time for the afternoon feeding between 1500-1530 hrs thus maximising our opportunity to photograph the amazing oragutans. Afterwards, we return to the hotel.
Overnight Harbour View Hotel
Day 05 - MATANG WILDLIFE CENTRE (B,L)
This morning we proceed to the Matang Wildlife Centre that houses rehabilitated animals which include orangutans, sun bears, bearcats, civet cats, sambar and barking deer, crocodiles and Sarawak’s emblem, the hornbill. This is an opportunity to photograph the animals up close in their enclosures. We then proceed for lunch at one of the local restaurants (included). Early Bird participants will enjoy an afternoon at the stunning Orchid Park across the Sarawak River to photograph beautiful and rare orchids with Macro photography tuition.
Overnight Harbour View Hotel
Day 06 – SARAWAK CULTURAL VILLAGE (B,L)
Following breakfast and check-out, we proceed to the Sarawak Cultural Village. This 17-acre site nestled on the foothill of theb legendary Mount Santubong, fronting the South China Sea offers an excellent introduction to the local culture and lifestyles of the ethnic people of Sarawak. We are able to wander around the large grounds which house individual buildings in the style of the various ethnic tribes and watch them at work and play including demonstrations of their famous blowguns. A typical Sarawakian’s warmth and hospitality awaits you here. Share the arts, crafts, games, foods and music of the seven major ethnic groups in Sarawak. After touring the village, we enjoy a multi-cultural dance performance in the village’s own theatre which we can photograph; followed by lunch at the centre before returning to our hotel
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure at the beach resort to relax by the pool or walk along the beach (during low tide) and watch the sunset. There are some interesting walks with photo opportunities close to the resort.
Overnight Damai Beach Resort
Day 07 – MANGROVE RIVER CRUISE (B,L)
After a leisurely breakfast at the resort, we offer a morning Photo Workshop on Pro quality work flow and enhancement of images using a selection of photos taken from our group on the tour. 1530 hrs, we assemble at the lobby and then proceed to the boat jetty and board a small boat hat will cruise to the mouth of the Santubong & Salak River (depending on weather). In this area there is a chance to spot the elusive and rare Irrawaddy dolphin. Sightings; while common are of course not guaranteed. We continue our cruise along the Salak River and enter the tributaries of the Kuching Wetlands National Park and experience the lush mangrove forest.
Depending on the tide conditions you should be able to see the mudskippers, blue crabs, kingfishers and other birds and perhaps the odd small crocodiles. Occasionally, macaques and proboscis monkeys may be seen. Our cruise will take us by Kampong Salak, a small and traditional Malay fishing village built on stilts with some good photo opportunities for village life. We end our cruise at Kampong Santubong (Santubong village) for some more photo opportunities and transfer back to our resort.
Overnight Damai Beach Resort
Day 08 – DAY AT LEISURE (B)
Today is a free day to relax and play with your images. You can take a shuttle to the city to do some shopping or just relax by the pool or laze by the beach. Options will include
re-visiting some of the photo attractions we have enjoyed thus far with opportunity to get feedback from Nick on your images.
Overnight Damai Beach Resort
Day 09 - KUCHING – KOTA KINABALU – SANDAKAN (B,L,D)
We transfer to the airport for a departure flight to Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) then connect by air to Sandakan. Upon arrival, we transfer to the Sepilok Nature Resort for check-in. The afternoon (depending on Bthe time of our arrival) is at leisure to relax after our flights or take an optional visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre which is about 2 km away from the Sepilok Orangutan Centre. The Rainforest Discovery Centre is run by the Sabah Forestry Department primarily to create public awareness on the importance of conserving forests, as well as the sustainable use of forest resources. In the evening, dinner at the resort.
Overnight Sepilok Nature Resort.
DAY 10 - SEPILOK ORANGUTAN CENTRE – KINABATANGAN RIVER (B,L, D)
We enjoy breakfast at the resort followed by check out. A 5 minute walk will lead us to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, the primary place in Sabah to see and photograph the Orangutans where they are reintroduced into the wild. We will be able to observe them at their feeding stations in the rainforest and see a video presentation on the Orangutan’s rehabilitation program. We then transfer back to the jetty in Sandakan for a boat excursion to bring us to the pristine mangrove forests along the Kinabatangan River delta in search of proboscis monkeys, birds and reptiles. Lunch is provided in the Abai Jungle Restaurant. We continue by boat to Sukau and after check-in at the Lodge, we go on a river cruise up Kinabatangan River to Menanggul River in search of proboscis monkeys, birds and other wildlife.
Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge.
DAY 11 – OX-BOW LAKE (B,L, D)
In the early morning, we take a second boat trip for bird watching and viewing wildlife at the Ox Bow Lake nearby. We can trek the lush riverine forest along the lake and then return to the lodge for breakfast. We venture on another river cruise down the Menanggul River and along the Kinabatangan River in the afternoon and return to the lodge at dusk.
We celebrate our time in Borneo with a farewell dinner at the Lodge
Overnight stay at the Kinabatangan Riverside lodge.
DAY 12 – SUKAU – SANDAKAN– KOTA KINABALU (B, L)
After breakfast, we return to Sandakan by boat and depart for a panoramic view of Sandakan at the Puh Jih Syh Chinese Buddhist Temple. After lunch, we transfer to Sandakan airport for our flight out to Kota Kinabalu. The tour ends today and we then make our own arrangements for our flights back to Australia or onwards to other destinations
* Please note, itinerary may change depending on local conditions and weather and price may change. Tour and number of tour leaders depends on minimum numbers.
Tour includes:
- Expert photographic advice by two of Australia’s leading pro photographers and educators
- All airport transfers and transport as per itinerary above
- All tours/ activities as per itinerary mentioned above
- Entry fees to all parks and attractions included in the itinerary
- All tours/activities with English speaking guide.
- Meals as indicated above (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)
- 05 nights at Harbour View Hotel
- 03 nights (superior) at Damai Beach Resort
- 01 night at Sepilok Nature Resort
- 02 nights at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge
- Internal flight Kuching – Kota Kinabalu
- Internal flights Kota Kinabalu – Sandakan and return to Kota Kinabalu
- All seminars, workshops and image review sessions with Nick Melidonis and Frank Richardson
Not included:
- Flights to and from Borneo (start Kuching, fly out Kota Kinabalu )
- Personal expenses including alcohol
- Optional tours/ activities
- Other items not mentioned above
