Borneo Beaches and rainforest adventure

Head to the tropical island of Borneo for a relaxing beach break at a forest-edge retreat and spend three days in the island’s famed rainforest and a lodge in the Danum Valley where your guides will help you observe the local wildlife with includes elephants, monkeys and orangutans.

This itinerary includes 6 nights at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu. This beachfront resort is a luxurious haven for relaxation with a spectacular spa and set in a 64-acre forest reserve. The hotel offers plenty of activities to connect with the forest and the local wildlife. Grab a drink and watch the amazing sunsets that the resort is known for. The town of Kota Kinabalu is around 40 minutes away and we recommend that guests upgrade to Half Board here to make the most of the resort’s dining options.

The highlight of this trip is a 2 night/3 day adventure into the rainforest. The Borneo Rainforest Lodge is located deep in the heart of the Danum Valley, accessed by a flight from Kota Kinabalu and a two hour drive. When you arrive, the Lodge’s naturalists will give you a presentation to introduce you to the valley and its inhabitants, such as orangutans, monkeys, elephants and over 320 species of birds. Pack your walking boots as you will venture on guided nature walks along a treetop canopy walkway, hikes through the jungle and a cooling dip in a natural pool, maybe you want to go tubing or take a night time nature drive to observe the nocturnal wildlife. The accommodation here is rustic, although you still have such luxuries as a minibar and Nespresso machine. The Lodge also has a spa and a dining room with outdoor deck. Dame Judi Dench stayed at this very lodge when filming Wild Borneo Adventure. The most famous residents of the Danum Valley are the orangutans, with an estimated 498 resident in the area. Of course, wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed but this is the best opportunity you have to see these animals in the wild and the Borneo Rainforest Lodge runs their own orangutan research programme.