Sabah Oriental Hotel (formerly known as Beverly Hotel or Karamunsing Hotel)

Lorong Kemajuan

88000 Kota Kinabalu Sabah,

Malaysia

Tel: (60) 88 258 998/ (60) 88 255 025

Fax: (60) 88 258 778

Kota Kinabalu.  Arrival transfer included - please provide us with your flight arrival details so that we can organise your transfer. The pre-departure meeting will be held at the  joining hotel at 6pm. Overnight at Beverly Hotel.

Poring Hot Spring and Kinabalu National Park.  We depart in the  early morning  for our three hour drive to Poring Hot Springs (126 km from Kota Kinabalu). On the way we make a stop at the Nabalu village to savour  local fruits and to bargain for  some  handicrafts.  Once we arrive at Poring you will be able to explore the many jungle trails and observe wildlife on  the canopy  walkway 100 feet above the forest floor. After lunch you can take a dip in one of the soothing, steaming hot mineral springs set in beautifully  landscaped  gardens.

Later we continue on to the World Heritage site of  Kinabalu  National Park (39km from Poring), and there take a nature walk with a Park naturalist, and visit the mountain garden.  

Kinabalu National Park offers a rich array of flora and fauna. The park boasts the Rafflesia, the world's largest flowering plant, pitcher plants and many bird species. Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in South-East Asia at 4,101 metres.

Overnight stay will be at the twin-bedded cabins at  Kinabalu Park (or equivalent).   

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included 

Oxbow  Lake,  Sukau.   We wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills before we take an early morning boat trip to Oxbow Lake to observe some amazing wildlife and experience the early morning river ambience of the longest river of Sabah. The early morning is often when the wildlife is at it's most active, and so the chances of seeing the animals and bird life are increased. We return to the lodge later in the morning for breakfast.  You then have some free time until mid afternoon to either relax or do a little more exploring.  Lunch will  be served at the lodge. In the late afternoon we take another river cruise in search of more wildlife. Dinner and overnight at Kinabatangan Riverside  Lodge. 

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included

Sepilok   Orang Utan  Centre -  Sandakan.  We depart  Selingan Island at about 7am, by boat for Sandakan. After breakfast  in Sandakan, we drive for approximately 30 minutes to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. This is only one of four such sanctuaries in the world. The orang utans are living free in the trees but twice a day they come swinging in to special platforms where they can collect fruits. At  approximately 10.00am get your camera ready for the feeding of the orang utans. The sanctuary is where injured and orphaned orang utans are brought for treatment before being  rehabilitated for a wild  existence in their natural habitat. 

We then return  to Sandakan for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we drive to the Puu  Jih Syh Chinese Buddhist Temple, which offers a panoramic view of  Sandakan Bay. At  about 2.00pm,  we transfer to the airport for our flight to Kota Kinabalu, where the tour ends.

Breakfast & Lunch included 

Please Note: Accommodation is NOT included tonight in Kota Kinabalu, and the tour ends in arrival at the airport.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible.

Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect.

This itinerary will be followed as closely as possible. However there may be times when it is necessary to change the route according to local conditions. There will be times travelling long hours as there will be days where we have to cover great distances. Weather patterns can change dramatically - high altitudes tend to be a lot cooler.

You are free not to participate in any of the included excursions. However, please note that there will be no refund for any excursions not taken.

Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx  for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office.

Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.

It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your Asia trip. Country entry regulations change daily, www.kumuka.com  provides you with visa information. Please consult your relevant embassy for all details such as opening hours or costs. Certain visas cannot be obtained once you have started your tour, and during the peak summer months it can take longer than normal to get visas, please allow extra time to do this.

EACH CLIENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ALL NECESSARY VISAS BEFORE JOINING A TOUR.

Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

Vaccinations:

No vaccinations are compulsory in Asia, but we do recommend you are covered for *diphtheria & TB, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *malaria, typhoid, polio and tetanus.

NB* A Yellow fever certificate is required if arriving from infected areas. Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.

You may need additional inoculations so please contact your G.P or a travel medical centre for further information. Please consult your doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations, anti-malarial requirements and any reasonably foreseeable illnesses whilst travelling in Asia.

We also recommend:

- A dental check-up prior to travelling.
- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.
- That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.

You can also visit www.kumuka.com for further details.

Medical Supplies:

We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit. Below is a list of some recommended items:

Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.

A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

• Do not take unnecessary valuables with you.
• A money belt, or something similar, worn close to your body is the best way to carry passports, airline tickets and money.
• DO NOT leave any valuables in ANY hotel room in Asia, please use SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES. Items are left at the individuals’ risk.
• Pickpockets operate everywhere, particularly in tourist areas and in crowded markets; you must always exercise care.
• Be aware that anything left lying around will also be liable to theft.

We suggest passengers budget for between US$15-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evenings out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

For security you are advised to carry most of your money in Traveller’s cheques - small denominations are preferable.

It is often a good idea to have a small amount of the currency of the country you are visiting prior to arrival. This will cover you for any initial expenses at or from the airport.

Banks are generally open Monday to Friday and some are open on Saturday morning. In the main cities travellers’ cheques can be exchanged at banks and some exchange bureaux, but this can be very difficult in small towns.

Some Hotels will also change money.

We suggest that you take into account the time of year you will be travelling, and pack accordingly to the season. Quick drying clothes are recommended, and at many hotels there are laundry facilities. Your tour leader will advise where laundry facilities are available.

Personal Effects:
Camera & film, Spare passport photos, Water bottle, Money belt, Torch, Sewing kit, Sunhat/ Sunglasses, Music cassettes /CDs, Books, Wet Ones, Soap to wash clothes, Writing materials, Swiss Army knife, Calculator, Personal toiletries, including tampons, Contraceptives, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen.

NOTE: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are uncommon. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

Malaysia is a multicultural society, with Malays, Chinese and Indians living side by side. The Malays are the largest community. They are Muslims, speak Bahasa and are largely responsible for the political fortunes of the country. The Chinese comprise about a third of the population. They are Buddhists and Taoists, speak Hokkein, Hakka and Cantonese, and are dominant in the business community. The Indians account for about 10% of the population and they are mainly Hindu Tamils from southern India, they speak Tamil, Malayalam, and some Hindi, and live mainly in the larger towns on the west coast of the peninsula. There is also a sizeable Sikh community. Eurasians and indigenous tribes make up the remaining population. Despite Bahasa Malaysia being the official language, when members of these different communities talk to each other, they generally speak English, which was recently reinstated as the language of instruction in higher education.

This language can be difficult for foreigners to grasp.  The same word can have 6 different meanings depending on the tone used to pronounce it.  However, we do try and encourage people to speak a few words of the local language, as the Malaysians will really appreciate the effort!  English is spoken in some of the places that we visit.

English will be spoken in the larger cities. You might like to take the time before your trip to read up on Malaysia and perhaps learn a few words of the language. Your effort will always be welcomed and it will make your trip all the more enjoyable.

Food is one of the highlights of any trip.

As in many South East Asian countries, rice is the staple food diet. This usually served with dried, salted fish, chicken, beef or pork.

It's not easy to find authentic Malay food in Malaysian restaurants, though you can take your pick of Chinese, Nyonya (a local variation on Chinese and Malay food - Chinese ingredients, local spices), Indian, Indonesian or (sometimes) Western cuisines. Satays (meat kebabs in spicy peanut sauce) are a Malaysian creation and they're found everywhere. Other dishes include fried soybean curd in peanut sauce, sour tamarind fish curry, fiery curry prawns and spiced curried meat in coconut marinade. Muslim Indian dishes have developed a distinctly Malaysian style. The variety of wonderful tropical fruits and fruit juices available is huge, and a strange sweet concoction includes endol (sugar syrup, coconut milk and green noodles) and is kacang (beans and jellies topped with shaved ice, syrups and condensed milk).

Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for however in some countries the type of food may be limited. Please let the Reservations team know your special requirements as soon as possible so we can do all possible to assist your needs.

The variety of food will differ, as you will be visiting a number of different countries. We try to ensure that you get the most experience from your Kumuka trip and one of the ways to do this is by trying local cuisine.

Pre-booked transfers - If you have booked an arrival transfer, please look for our representative who will be holding a sign with your name or Kumuka once you have cleared Customs and Immigration.

Making Your Own Way - The Meeting Point for your tour is advised at the beginning of this dossier. If you have not arranged for us to meet and transfer you on arrival and are therefore making your own way to the Meeting Point it is best upon arrival at to take a metered taxi. Drivers may want to negotiate a price before leaving the airport. Do not agree to this, insist that they switch on the meters and pay the amount that it displays when you arrive at your destination.

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com