I enjoyed the article "Island of the orang-utan" published in your section last week, and I'm now planning to visit Borneo on a trekking trip through its forests and mountains. Can you recommend a Borneo-based tour company that offers packages with accommodation and a guide?
Borneo Eco Tours (www.borneoecotours.com) organises the two-day Kinabalu Park safari that starts in Kota Kinabalu. Highlights include: a visit to the villages of Dusun Valley via Crocker Range, forest-covered mountains south-west of Mount Kinabalu towards the Sabah-Sarawak border; camping at the base of the 5,000ft Mount Kinabalu; trekking in Kinabalu Park, a world heritage site; a guided walk down one of the trails in the the forest; a trip to the Poring hot springs and the nearby Kipungit waterfalls and a visit to Kundasang Memorial Park. Prices start at 971 Malaysian ringgit (Dh1,138) per person.
For something more challenging, try its Crocker Range jungle trek. This four-day expedition requires a good level of fitness because of the varying terrain it takes in - rivers, rice paddies, high mountain passes and forest trails. Expect moderate walks of about eight hours per day. Prices start at 2,998 ringgit (Dh3,514) per person and include hotel transfers, accommodation, all meals and the services of a porter and an English-speaking guide.
The Borneo "six-in-one adventure", offered by the Travel Trading (www.borneo-travel.com) packs a lot in: a climb up Mount Kinabalu; an overnight stop at the Miki Survival Camp in the mountain's foothills and a chance to try out the "jungle survivor trek" under the guidance of a local guide; a homestay in a rural village community in Kota Belud; relaxing on the long sweep of beaches in Sikuati; a full day of whitewater rafting on Padas River; a visit to the Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary; a stay at Sepilok Jungle Resort (www.sepilokjungleresort.com) in Sandakan, which is home to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabiitation Centre, and a visit to the beautiful island getaway of Manukan, just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. The trip costs from 4,240 ringgit (Dh4,970) per person and includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, all accommodation, meals as specified in the itinerary, entrance fees and the services of an English-speaking guide. The offer is valid until March 31.
Remember to bring plenty of warm clothes, mosquito repellent, waterproof baggage, a spare swimsuit, head lamps and torches, a supply of batteries and a pair of sturdy walking boots.
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