Borneo to Bali: Rainforests, Orangutans & Fireflies

Don’t get us wrong – we love nothing more than lounging in the sun, cocktail in hand, with only blue skies and a shimmering ocean to keep us company – but sometimes a holiday calls for more than just sun, sea and sand. When the occasion demands the extraordinary, we can’t think of anywhere better to go than the exotic realms of Asia. Soak in the sights and sounds of the urban jungle that is Kuala Lumpur before swapping it for the real thing in the depths of Borneo’s rainforests. With your final stop in Bali touring the lush countryside by elephant, we’ve created the ultimate adventure in this 17-day itinerary (with a few pristine Indonesian beaches and shimmering oceans thrown in for good measure).

CITY LIGHTS AND ASIAN SPICE

As soon as your plane hits the tarmac your private transfer will be ready to whisk you off to the Villa Samadhi, a chic and discreet hideaway just outside the city centre. Claim a poolside daybed to sleep off your flight, or take a taxi into town for the skyscrapers and spangled lights of the vibrant Malaysian capital. Fabulous markets hold culinary delights on every corner so spend some time absorbing the colour and life of the city with a trip to Chinatown, bartering yourself a bargain on Petaling Street as you go. Tired of shopping? Treat yourself to a ticklish Fish Foot Spa in Bukit Bintang’s Times Square. Or if you’re looking for something more serene, a boat trip across the lake and a stroll through the leafy pathways of Lake Gardens provides the ideal post-flight tonic.

BORNEO AND BEYOND

From bustling metropolis to the depths of the world’s oldest rainforest—after you’ve had your fill of the city we will transport you to the stunning nature of Borneo to discover a dizzying array of wildlife. Plunge through ancient tropical trees and blooming orchids in search of macaques, tarsiers and proboscis monkeys or take a private boat to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and get up-close and personal with the last of Borneo’s wild orang-utans.

Get in touch with your inner Indiana Jones with a private jungle cruise along the mangrove-lined banks of the Kinabatangan River to Abai Jungle Lodge. Only accessible by boat, here you can wake in your timber chalet to nothing but the sounds of gibbons and the call of the wild. Guided walks or boat trips to the Pitas Lake Reserve abound, or for a unique insight into the local jungle community, join the lodge’s tree planting project. End your evening on a magical note with a night cruise and see the jungle riverbeds become illuminated by hundreds of fireflies.

BLISSFUL BALI

Another day, another Asian paradise (in case you were getting bored), topping off your action-packed trip is Ubud, the cultural mecca of Bali. Emerald green rice fields and staggering mountains prove that this area is rich in scenery as well as culture. Make the most of the views with an open-top safari through local villages or for the adrenaline junkie try mountain biking or white water rafting, made all the more enticing with the promise of a sensuous spa massage afterwards at your hotel, Capella Ubud.

Adding the final cherry to this whirlwind trip, we will escort you down the coast to your private luxury pool villa at the Samaya.  This enchanting resort is perched on Seminyak Beach, the home of surfing and beach chic in Bali. Here you can laze by your own plunge pool, indulge in a sumptuous herbal body wrap or head into town to pick up an antique or two—a relaxing end to a mind-blowing journey.