freedom

12 day yoga retreat in Borneo

Come on the trip of a lifetime, adventure & Yoga with Tais

Itinerary:

Day 1: Kota Kinabalu

Meals Included: Dinner

Selamat Datang! Welcome to Malaysia. Your yoga adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 6 pm. After we will head out for dinner with the group. If you have any free time beforehand, perhaps explore this intriguing city that was born between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Modern-day ‘KK’ is a vibrant modern metropolis, having recovered from World War II bombings. The Sabah State Museum is a perfect place to immerse yourself in its backstory.

Optional Activities

• Kota Kinabalu – Sabah Museum entrance fee – MYR15

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Day 2: Mt Kinabalu / Ranau

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Leaving Kota Kinabalu behind, you’ll head for the hills and travel towards the unspoilt wilderness of the World Heritage-listed Kinabalu National Park (approximately 3 hours). You will stop off en route at a local home at Dusun Village. The Dusun people are wonderfully warm and friendly people, and while here you’ll sample the local foods with a home cooked lunch get some insight into what it’s like to live in a rural village. Later you can stretch your legs and soak up the mountain scenery with a stroll through Kinabalu National Park. There are many walking trails from which you can birdwatch, and remember to watch for the odd snake. There is plenty to see and do here. The Mountain Botanic Garden is an excellent showcase of the diverse plant life on the mountain, as flora from all over the park has been replanted here. Late in the afternoon, you travel by private bus to Sabah Tea Plantation (approximately 30 mins). Tonight you will stay amongst the grounds of a lush tea garden.

Included Activities

• Mt Kinabalu – Guided walk around lower trails

Accommodation

Cottage (1 night)

Day 3: Kinabatangan River

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast you will take a tour of the tea factory itself, ending in sampling some of the delicious varieties. From there, head to Kinabatangan River in private minivan, a trip of approximately 5 hours. Your jungle lodge, located beside the river, is ideal for taking in the lush surrounds. At 560 kilometres, the Kinabatangan River is the second longest river in Malaysia. It’s also a protected forest reserve, containing some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo. Later in the afternoon, you will take a river cruise, hopefully spotting some of the more exotic local creatures. Wild elephants seldom reveal themselves, but crocodiles, macaques, wild orang-utan, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and kingfishers are more easily seen. After this short adventure, you’ll head back to the lodge to enjoy dinner.

Included Activities

• Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga
• Mt Kinabalu – Sabah Tea Plantation – Tea Factory Tour
• Mt Kinabalu – Sabah Tea Plantation – Tea Sampling
• Kinabatangan – River cruise & wildlife spotting on Kinabatangan River

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night)

Day 4: Kinabatangan River

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

You might awake to the call of a Bornean gibbon, or perhaps a hornbill. Enjoy a morning cruise down the river, searching for more birds and wildlife. Keep an eye out for Long Tail Macaques and Pig Tail Macaques – ask your leader about the difference. Later, you can trek up to a birdwatching tower overlooking the river and visit a Merbau tree. When it’s all over, this evening’s river cruise will be your last chance to photograph or simply marvel at your surrounds. Spend one more night in your lovely accommodation right in the heart of the jungle.

Included Activities

• Kinabatangan – River cruise & wildlife spotting on Kinabatangan River

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night) 

 Day 5: Sandakan

Meals Included: Breakfast

Travelling by private minivan, you will stop to visit the intricate Gomantong Caves. Renowned for their edible swiftlet nests, which are harvested for bird’s nest soup. Bird’s nest collection is an ancient tradition, though nowadays licences are required for it. Travelling to Sandakan, a journey of 3 hours, you will stop in at the Sandakan War Memorial. Here you will learn about the city’s past as you stand on the same ground of the former Japanese POW camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches, on which 2,400 POWs were forced to walk through the jungles of Borneo. By the end of the march, only 6 Australians survived, and only because they had escaped. Arrive in Sandakan, which was once the capital of British North Borneo and traditionally has strong trading ties with Hong Kong. The Cantonese influence is palpable in the lively harbour side market, the many Chinese temples and the local cuisine.

Included Activities

• Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga
• Sandakan – War Memorial
• Sukau – Gomantong Caves

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Day 6: Turtle Island

Meals Included: Lunch & Dinner

This morning, leave your large bags at the hotel and walk 15 minutes to a nearby jetty. Travel by speedboat, past small fishing villages and bamboo fish traps, to Turtle Island Marine Park (approximately 1 hour), where green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs every night of the year. In the afternoon, there’s time for swimming, snorkelling or some quality time lazing about on the beach of this tropical island. Snorkelling gear is available for hire. In the evening, be touched by the sight of giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs under the moonlight, and watch the researchers as they release protected hatchlings and guide them in their frantic dash to the ocean. It’s a moving experience that makes you think more than twice about trying illegally traded turtle egg delicacies. Beware that this is a very fragile environment and you must follow instructions from your leader and the local rangers to ensure minimal impact on the turtles. You will spend the night on the island.

Included Activities

• Turtle Island – National Park

Optional Activities

• Turtle Island – snorkel hire – MYR25

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night)

Day 7: Sepilok Orang-utan Reserve

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, return to the mainland (approximately 1 hours), collect your bags, and continue by minibus to a guesthouse located near the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre (approximately 45 minutes). The centre was set up to help re-introduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. From the viewing platform, you can watch and photograph these charming creatures as they swing into view and eat the supplementary diet of bananas and milk that is laid out for them twice a day. Human contact must be kept to a minimum, and it’s essential that you follow the instructions of the park, as directed by your leader. Also included is a new nursery where you can view young orang-utans as they learn how to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym. The viewing area is behind one-way glass so as to not disturb the animals. To see more of Borneo’s creatures, there’s the option to visit the newly opened Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center. Here rescued Sun Bears that have spent many years mistreated and locked away in cages are cared for, with hopes of rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild. There’s also the Jabuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary where you can watch up close the amazing bachelor proboscis lazing and feeding – an experience that can only be found in Borneo. Five minutes walk from your guesthouse is the Rainforest Discovery Centre, which also has a 147-metre long, 28-metre high canopy walkway with spectacular views of rainforest giants. Your guesthouse is located about 10 minutes walk from the rehabilitation centre.

Included Activities

• Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga
• Sepilok – Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre

Optional Activities

• Sepilok – Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary – MYR100
• Sepilok – Rainforest Discovery Centre – MYR15
• Sepilok – Bornean Sun Bear Centre – MYR32
• Sepilok – Night walk – MYR50

Accommodation

Resort (1 night)

Day 8: Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary/Sandakan

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning take a private transfer to the Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary (approximately 1 hour). The centre was set up to help re-introduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. From the viewing platform, you can watch and photograph these charming creatures as they swing into view and eat the supplementary diet of bananas and milk that is laid out for them twice a day. Human contact must be kept to a minimum, and it’s essential that you follow the instructions of the park, as directed by your leader. Also included is a new nursery where you can view young orang-utans as they learn how to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym. The viewing area is behind one-way glass so as to not disturb the animals. To see more of Borneo’s creatures, there’s the option to visit the newly opened Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center. Here rescued Sun Bears that have spent many years mistreated and locked away in cages are cared for, with hopes of rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild. You will also visit the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary, where you can watch up close the amazing bachelor proboscis lazing and feeding – an experience that can only be found in Borneo.

Included Activities

• Sepilok – Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre
• Sepilok – Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary

Optional Activities

• Sepilok – Bornean Sun Bear Centre – MYR32

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Day 9: Manukan Island

Meals Included: Breakfast

Transfer to Sandakan Airport today for a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Keep in mind that the luggage allowance for this flight is only 15 kg of check-in luggage and one cabin bag of 7kg and any excess baggage will incur a further charge paid directly to the airline. A short boat ride (around 20 minutes) takes you to Manukan Island, just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. This is one of the larger islands found in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. The first of two days on this island will be free for you to explore the island at your leisure – perhaps swimming or local activities. The 1.5-kilometre beach is lovely to stroll along at low tide.

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night)

Included Activities

• Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga
• Tunku Abdul National Marine Park – Snorkelling Trip

Day 10: Manukan Island

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Enjoy a snorkelling trip today, where an array of coral and brightly coloured marine life reveals itself, conditions depending. An optional scuba dive trip from Manukan Island is also on offer for those interested in a more immersive experience. If you are interested, let your leader know, and it can be arranged. After snorkelling, the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Soak up the turquoise vistas for another few hours as you stroll or swim in this beautiful corner of the world.

Included Activities

• Tunku Abdul National Marine Park – Snorkelling Trip

Optional Activities

• Kota Kinabalu – Tunku Abdul Marine Park Scuba diving 3 dives – MYR380

Accommodation

Chalet (1 night)

Day 11: Kota Kinabalu

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Head back to Kota Kinabalu today by boat and minivan. This will take around 40 minutes.  Optional activities include a visit the intriguing Mari Mari Cultural Village, nestled deep in the countryside. Here you will see how indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live. Or a visit to the Sabah Museum to learn about Sabah’s past or do some last minute souvenir shopping at the Filipino market. Tonight, perhaps head out for a final meal with your group to celebrate your Borneo adventure.

Included Activities

• Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga 

Optional Activities

• Kota Kinabalu – Mari Mari Cultural Village – MYR180

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Day 12: Kota Kinabalu

Meals Included: Breakfast

There are no activities planned for the final day, and you can depart the accommodation at any time.

Borneo Destination Information:

This lush land of tribal warriors, mysterious head hunters and far-from-home war heroes has intrigued adventurers, anthropologists and explorers for centuries. From steamy jungles to blissful mountains, from balmy beaches to peaceful villages, travellers love Borneo’s bounty of natural treasures seemingly tailor-made for fun, relaxation, exploration and adventure.

Borneo highlights

• Get steamy in the Poring Hot Springs
• Cool off in the waters near Kota Kinabalu
• Visit the temples and markets of Sandakan
• Relax on the stunning beaches of Sabah
• Meet the orangutans of Sepilok