5 DAYS BEST OF KUCHING – OPTION A ENGLISH-SPEAKING TOURCODE: KCH5DBOKES / KCH5DBOKEP JOINT TOUR (MIN. 2 PERSONS) / PRIVATE TOUR WITH DAILY DEPARTURES
KUCHING – LEMANAK RIVER – BATANG AI – KUCHING
Days Tour Meals Overnight Kuching Arrival Day 1 -/ - /- Kuching Arrival in Kuching and transfer to hotel Kuching Bako National Park Tour Day 2 – B/ L /- Kuching Full-day tour to Bako National Park Kuching – Semenggok Nature Reserve – Lemanak River Visit of Semenggok Nature Reserve Day 3 B/ L /D Lemanak River Transfer to Lemanak river and longboat ride to Iban longhouse Evening activities in the longhouse Lemanak River – Batang Ai Morning activities at the longhouse Day 4 Longboat ride, transfer to Batang Ai lake and boat B/ L /- Batang Ai transfer to Batang Ai Longhouse Resort Nature walk including canopy bridge Batang Ai Kuching Day 5 – B/ L /- -- Boat ride to jetty and transfer back to Kuching B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner
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Standard Category City (3*) KUCHING Abell Hotel, Superior Room
LEMANAK RIVER Iban Longhouse
BATANG AI Batang Ai Longhouse Resort (managed by Hilton), Standard Room
Superior Category City (4*) KUCHING Grand Margherita Hotel, Run of House (ROH)
LEMANAK RIVER Iban Longhouse
BATANG AI Batang Ai Longhouse Resort (managed by Hilton), Standard Room
Deluxe Category City (5*) KUCHING Hilton Hotel, Standard Room
LEMANAK RIVER Iban Longhouse
BATANG AI Batang Ai Longhouse Resort (managed by Hilton), Standard Room
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DETAILED ITINERARY
KUCHING ARRIVAL (-/-/-)
Day 1 Upon arrival at Kuching International Airport, you will be met by a Diethelm Travel representative. Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to hotel of your choice in Kuching. Check-in at hotel & free at leisure. In case of arrival in the morning you may opt to book the walking city tour “Walk The White Rajah Trail” (not included in the package).
Overnight at hotel of choice.
Meals included: None
KUCHING – BAKO NATIONAL PARK TOUR (B/L/-) Day 2 After breakfast, depart for a full-day tour of Bako National Park. This is the oldest national park in Sarawak and offers the perfect introduction to Sarawak‟s forest and wildlife. The park is located at the northern tip of Muara Tebas peninsula. It can be reached by 30 minutes‟ drive by air-conditioned vehicle and another 30 minutes by boat. The park has an area of 27 km2 of primary forest with an abundance of botanical treasures made up of 25 types of vegetation. Amongst the huge variety of plant life, the carnivorous pitcher plant can be found here as well. Bako‟s mangrove forest is home to the odd-nosed proboscis monkey, found only in Borneo. Other wildlife species found here are the long-tailed macaques, silver leaf monkeys, monitor lizards and bearded pigs. There are a number of trails, which you could venture on to explore this fascinating park. A packed lunch will be served. Return to Kuching in the afternoon and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight at hotel of choice.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch
KUCHING – SEMENGGOK NATURE RESERVE – LEMANAK RIVER (B/L/D) Day 3 After an early breakfast, check-out from your hotel. Depart to the Semenggok Nature Reserve. The entire facility occupies an area of 740 acres and acts as a sanctuary for orang utans that have been rescued from captivity and young orphaned primates. These animals are trained or re-trained to survive in their natural habitat. They learn how to forage for natural food and build nests in the trees. Many have been returned into the surrounding area of the nature reserve. But there are few that will never re- learn their natural skills due to long association with and dependence on humans. There are daily scheduled feeding times. However, sightings of these primates during feeding times are not guaranteed due to the fact that they are roaming freely within the nature reserve.
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From here we depart to Lemanak river. You will travel 260 km by air-conditioned vehicle, with a few stops along the way: the first one at Serian town, where we will stop for refreshments. You can also visit a fascinating native fruit and vegetable market. The other stops include a visit to the pepper farm and a stop at the roadside where you can see wild orchids and also pitcher plants (insect eating plants). The last stop will be at "Lachau", a small up country Chinese village, where we will stop for lunch. Here you can still observe barter trading between the natives of Kalimantan, the Chinese shop owners and the natives of Sarawak. At Lachau you may wish to make some last minute shopping, for necessities such as insect repellent or for gifts for the Ibans. After lunch we proceed to the final stage of the journey, and arrive at Lemanak river. Here you will board native longboats, and travel by boat further up the beautiful Lemanak river (approx. 40-50 minutes) to arrive at an Iban longhouse. Upon arrival at the longhouse, you will be taken for a tour of the longhouse, to meet the natives and their families. Activities for the evening include dining in one of the family rooms in the longhouse. After which the Ibans will then sound their gongs and perform their traditional war dance in full ceremonial regalia. One is often invited to join in.....don't be shy....it can be fun...even if you don't understand their language. Don't leave without tasting their rice wine "tuak".
Overnight at the longhouse (very simple accommodation).
Note: Basic accommodation in the communal hall of the longhouse with mosquito net, mattress, pillows and blanket provided.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
LEMANAK RIVER – BATANG AI (B/L/-) Day 4 The cockerels will sing loud and clear for you to wake up the next morning. After breakfast you can join in a blowpipe demonstration and take a short jungle walk into the surrounding area. An Iban will show you how animal traps work and how they can be easily built. A typical native lunch, cooked in bamboo over an open fire, will be served by the riverbank (subject to weather condition; in case of rain the lunch will be served in the longhouse). After lunch, depart by native longboat downriver to arrive back at the river jetty and proceed overland to Batang Ai. On arrival at the Batang Ai lake, you will be ferried across to the Batang Ai Longhouse Resort (managed by Hilton). After the check-in at the resort you can venture on another short nature walk including a canopy bridge (subject to weather conditions). The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
Overnight at Batang Ai Longhouse Resort (managed by Hilton), Standard Room.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch
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BATANG AI – KUCHING (B/L/-) Day 5 After breakfast today, you depart the Batang Ai Resort by boat/ferry and return to Kuching by air-conditioned vehicle with an en-route stop for lunch at a local cafe. Transfer to Kuching International Airport for flight to your next destination or to Kuching city for your extension stay.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch
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NOTE:
Hotels can be changed without prior notice, but substitute will be within the offered category. Tours will be offered as stated in the programme, but some may be done on different days than stated in the programme. For example, if our programme states a city tour on Day 1, it may be postponed to Day 3 instead, without any prior notice given. Even if the package is booked on private basis, certain services may be on shared basis in order to minimise impacts on the natural environment or if other circumstances require so. These services include boat transfers in Bako and boat transfers & activities in the longhouse. Sightings of wildlife depend on several natural factors (e.g. weather) and therefore cannot be guaranteed. Due to primitive conditions in the longhouse, be prepared for some discomfort. You will be provided with mattress, mosquito net, pillow, blanket, clean linen and towel. Simple sanitary facilities are available. It is customary to bring some gifts for the Iban longhouse people, which can be divided by the number of families. Our guide can assist you during one of the stops en-route to buy some suitable presents. This custom is only applicable to Iban longhouse tours.
SERVICES INCLUDED:
3 nights accommodation in shared twin room with air-condition (AC) and private bathroom 1 night accommodation in the communal room of a longhouse with shared sanitary facilities Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner Transfers and tours with local English-speaking driver guides in air-conditioned vehicles Entrance fees and/or boat fees as stated in the programme Drinking water available on the vehicles Package includes GST 6% (Good and Service Tax)
SERVICES EXCLUDED:
Domestic airfare and/or International airfare to/from Malaysia (quoted separately, if requested) Optional tours Surcharges for other language guides Personal travel insurance Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc. Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme Drinks with meals Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme Gifts for the longhouse
WHAT TO BRING:
Backpack Loose-fitting summer clothing Swimwear Sun hat/ cap Sun block Insect repellent
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Personal toiletries Flat walking shoes with good grip Raincoat Torch or flashlight
CONTACT INFORMATION OF HOTELS DURING YOUR STAY:
STANDARD CATEGORY (3*)
Abell Hotel Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-82) 239 449, Fax (+60-82) 234 488 Iban longhouse / Lemanak River c/o Diethelm Travel (Sarawak) Lot 257, 2nd floor, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-82) 412 778 / 420 918, Fax (+60-82) 258 320 Batang Ai Longhouse Resort c/o Hilton Kuching, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, (managed by Hilton) P.O.Box 2396, 93748 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-83) 584 388, Fax (+60-83) 584 399
SUPERIOR CATEGORY (4*)
Grand Margherita Hotel Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-82) 423 111, Fax (+60-82) 426 169 Iban longhouse / Lemanak River c/o Diethelm Travel (Sarawak) Lot 257, 2nd floor, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-82) 412 778 / 420 918, Fax (+60-82) 258 320 Batang Ai Longhouse Resort c/o Hilton Kuching, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, (managed by Hilton) P.O.Box 2396, 93748 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-83) 584 388, Fax (+60-83) 584 399
LUXURY CATEGORY (5*)
Hilton Hotel Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-82) 248 200, Fax (+60-82) 429 235 Iban longhouse / Lemanak River c/o Diethelm Travel (Sarawak) Lot 257, 2nd floor, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-82) 412 778 / 420 918, Fax (+60-82) 258 320 Batang Ai Longhouse Resort c/o Hilton Kuching, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, (managed by Hilton) P.O.Box 2396, 93748 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-83) 584 388, Fax (+60-83) 584 399
“JOURNEYS OF A LIFETIME”
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