A Private Malaysia Family Tour – Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Sandakan, Turtle Island, Sukau, Kota Kinabalu

Day 1: Arrive Kuala Lumpur (Welcome to Malaysia!)

Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for your next three nights’ accommodation. The remainder of the day is at leisure, allowing time to settle in and begin experiencing the city at your own pace—whether easing into the rhythm of the capital or stepping out for an informal first taste of Kuala Lumpur’s urban energy.

Day 2: Kuala Lumpur (The City Highlights)

Enjoy a morning city tour tracing Kuala Lumpur’s Heritage Trails, where the capital’s multicultural identity is expressed through sacred sites, market streets, and colonial-era landmarks. Visits include Chan See Shu Yuen Clan House, Chinatown, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Central Market, Sze Yeh Temple, Jamek Mosque (noted for its North Indian Islamic architecture), and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, an iconic Moorish-inspired symbol of the old administrative quarter. Return to your hotel in the early afternoon and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. (B)

Day 3: Malacca (Malayisan Heritage Charm)

Travel by road to Malacca, the historic birthplace of Malaysia, set along a river once busy with spice ships and Chinese junks. Enjoy a 45-minute cruise on the Malacca River, then a walking tour visiting the bridge over the Malacca River, Christ Church, Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower, Porta de Santiago, Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. Enjoy Peranakan lunch at a local restaurant, then return to Kuala Lumpur in the afternoon. (B,L)

Day 4 KL / Sandakan (From Bright Lights to Quiet Rainforests)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Sandakan. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, set within the Sandakan Nature Reserve. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or explore the lodge surroundings—where, at dusk, flying squirrels are often spotted gliding through the forest canopy. An atmospheric introduction to Borneo’s wildlife before the eco-adventure ahead. (B)

Day 5 Sandakan / Turtle Island (Pristine Shores & Baby Turtles)

After breakfast, transfer to the jetty and take a one-hour boat ride to Selingan Island, 40 km north of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. A vital nesting area for endangered green and hawksbill turtles, the island offers leisure time for swimming or snorkeling on arrival. After dinner, take part in a rare conservation experience: observe egg collection, hatchery planting, and the release of baby turtles on the shore. Overnight at the Selingan Turtle sland Chalet. (B,L,D)

Note: Selingan Island Chalet offers simple, no-frills accommodation and facilities in a remote conservation setting. All transfers and excurions in Selingan & Sukau are on shared basis with your fellow nature & wildlife enthusiasts.

Day 6 Turtle Island / Sukau (Sepilok Orangutans & Borneo Jungles)

After an early breakfast, return to Sandakan by boat and proceed overland to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Learn about its conservation efforts and witness orangutan feeding as they emerge from the forest. Continue overland through rustic countryside, then take a river boat ride (approx. 2.5 hours) to your jungle lodge, where lunch is served. Unwind at the resort, then embark on a boat trip along the Menanggol River into the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, a premier region for spotting proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills, kingfishers, and more. Dinner and overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Sukau (Into The Wild)

Wake to the sounds of the rainforest. In the early morning, take a river cruise to Pitas Oxbow Lake for prime birding and wildlife spotting. Return to the lodge for breakfast and a little time at leisure, then join an educational walk along the Hornbill Boardwalk with the lodge’s in-house naturalist, followed by an Orangutan talk. Enjoy time to unwind and soak in the serenity of the resort, where lunch will be served. Later in the afternoon, set out on another river cruise for further wildlife encounters, returning for dinner at the lodge. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Sukau / Sandakan / Kota Kinabalu (From Jungle to Sea)

This morning, transfer by boat and land to Sandakan for your afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu, where Sabah’s atmosphere shifts from rainforest waterways to open sea and palm-lined shores. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your beachfront resort for your next three nights’ accommodation—an inviting base to slow the pace and transition into the coastal chapter of the journey. (B,L)

Note: The boat transfer is shared with other passengers.

Option 1 – Sapi Island Nature Hike & Snorkel:
Spend the day island-hopping through Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a cluster of tropical islands known for clear water, white-sand coves, and vibrant marine life. Enjoy time for snorkeling and underwater observation—ideal for photography—along with relaxed beach moments between swims. Lunch is included at a local restaurant before returning in the afternoon. (B,L)

Option 2 – Countryside by Bicycle:
Cycle through Sabah’s lush Kiulu countryside on a leisurely mountain biking route that crosses up to four hanging bridges spanning river bends and forested pockets. Mid-ride, step into local life at a Native Dusun home in Tombung Village to enjoy light refreshments, visit the family farm, and learn the traditional rubber tapping process in a warm, personal setting. The ride ends riverside with lunch and time to relax—or take a refreshing dip—before returning to the beach in the afternoon, with the remainder of the day at leisure. (B)

Day 11 Depart Kota Kinabalu (Fairwell Malaysia)

At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your onward flight—bringing your adventure in Malaysia to a graceful and memorable close. (B)

• Prices are per person, based on double occupancy
• Price includes all entrance fees, domestic air taxes, hotel taxes & service charges
• Price excludes personal expenses, beverages,  gratuities to guides, drivers & bell persons
• Blackout dates, holiday Surcharges and/or compulsory Gala dinners at hotels apply Dec. 20-Jan. 10
• All flights, hotels and land services are subject to availability at time of reservation