A New River Expedition Starting July 2009
Day 1: 05 Sept., Departure from North America East Coast via Europe
or west coast over the Pacific
Day 2: 06 Sept., En route
Day 3 : 07 Sept., ARRIVE Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel for check in. Spend your first night relaxing with a good meal and a good nights rest.
Day 4: 08 Sept., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Kuching White Rajah Trail
After breakfast prepare to transfer to the airport for flight to Kuching. Upon arrival at Kuching International airport, you will be met by our representative and transfer you to Kuching on air condition car/van.
14:00hrs explore Kuching by foot with your guide reliving the History of White Rajah of Sarawak
Many people regard the Brooke Raj as a golden age where traditions were strong, the economy improved, and violence (Piracy & head-hunting) was under control. Under the Brookes, the rights and interests of indigenous people were protected and they were allowed to pursue their subsistence-based lifestyles. Kuching has literally dozens of historic buildings – the tourism complex (formerly housed the different government department of Rajah Charles), round tower (formerly used as dispensary during Rajah Period), pavilion, square tower (prisoner cell during Rajah Period) and post office are uniquely examples of colonial period architecture. The excellent museums include the historic Sarawak Museum, with one of the best ethnographies collections in Southeast Asia. Equally fascinating are the Islamic Museum and the Chinese History Museum. Overnight in Kuching Hilton.
Day 5: 09 Sept., One day at Bako National Park
After breakfast, this tour starts with a car ride from Kuching city to the small Malay village of Bako, where you then venture on 1/2 hour's boat ride to reach the national park. This is a day with plenty of opportunities to trek through the beautiful park and explore flora and fauna at its best. Get to see the Proboscis monkeys that can only be found on the island of Borneo. If you are lucky you might also spot various other animals. Among them are wild boars, silver leave monkeys, macaques, monitor lizards and birds. Simple lunch in the Park canteen.
Late afternoon, return the same way back to Kuching City by boat and car. Overnight Kuching Hilton
Recommended: Water bottle, flat shoes or trekking boots, insect repellent, sun block cream, a hat and swim wear.
DAY 6: 10 Sept., Semenggok Orang Utan Centre - Sibu
08:00hrs depart by van to commence your tour to the Orang Utan centre. About 22km South of Kuching City where the Semenggok Nature Reserve of Sarawak is located, here rangers are taking care of the once captive Orang Utans to stay on the trees (as they instinctively do in the wild), and do things like making nests on treetops for sleeping at night. The best time to observe the Orang Utans who are semi-wild will be in the MORNING. Orang Utans are so similar to the humans, yet so different. Similar in that, the period from conception to birth is about 275 days, the same as in human beings. Orang Utans have full set milk teeth, complete by the age of one year. And yet they are so different, because they come from an environment, which is so foreign to humans. When Orang Utans became a protected species in Malaysia Borneo, it was necessary to find a place to keep and rehabilitate the once captive animals.
Our tip: Do not wear clothing’s that are too colourful as this will attract the Orang Utans and make them nervous, therefore may have the tendency to make the aggressive.
After which, return back to your hotel for wash and freshen-up before transferring you to Kuching airport for your flight to Sibu.
Board ship in the bustling city port set close to the local markets and temples. Free time to explore the town on foot with its attractive streets of old Chinese shop houses, redolent of Malacca or Penang but without the tourists. Sibu is a big port with sea going ships coming up and off loading. From here the fast express boats depart for the interior.
Day 7: 11 Sept., Kanowit
Cast off at dawn and proceed up the mighty Rajang. Morning stop to visit rattan workshops. Here the river is still wide and full of shipping. At the river station of Kanowit we visit the Brooke Raj Fort Emma, of wooden construction and amazingly surviving intact after 150 years. Explore deeper inland by long boat up the Kanowit River and voluntary jungle trek back to the Pandaw moored at Kanowit.
Day 8: 12 Sept., Kapit
The upriver capital has an even more interesting Brooke Raj fort called Fort Sylvia with the adjacent tattoo museum showing traditional Iban designs and techniques. We make further explorations to visit an original Iban longhouse, a rare sight as most have been rebuilt in a modern style.
Day 9: 13 Sept., The Baleh River
Just above Kapit we turn up the main tributary of the Rajang, the Batang Baleh navigable for a Pandaw for another day’s sail. Along the river we see a number of logging camps and fine new long houses. Logging is strictly controlled by the Sarawak government, who have a strict replanting programme. We will visit a logging camp and stop overnight at Nagamujong village with its long house, school, clinic and church. We will also see loading points for coal coming from mines deep in the jungle.
Day 10: 14 Serpt., Pelagus Rapids
Return down the Baleh to rejoin the Rajang and proceed another 40km towards the Pelagus Rapids. This section of the river is incredibly beautiful with thousands of islands, reefs and shoals. Navigation here can be difficult depending on water levels and it may be necessary to transfer to long boats to continue our journey. At Pelagus we make a short trek to the Pelagus Resort Hotel for afternoon tea and stupendous views of the rapids.
Day 11: 15 Sept., Pelagus and Beyond
Further opportunity to trek in and around the Pelagus Resort in this primary rain forest so rich in fauna and flora. After lunch return downstream past Kapit.
Day 12: 16 Sept., Song
Song is a small river station between Kanowit and Kapit and we stop here to make a boat trip up the Katibas river to visit long houses and the opportunity to trek part of the way back to Song. Continue downstream through evening.
Day 13: 17 Sept., Sarikei and Thanjung Manis
We now enter the Rajang delta area with its rich agricultural life. At Sarikei we visit a deer farm and pepper plantations. On the coast Thanjung Manis is the main seaport and gateway to the Rajang. Though a modern city it is not without interest. A short drive away, village workshops specialise in songkat weaving. Return upstream stopping over night at Bintangor.
Day 14: 18 Sept., Sibu - Kuala Lumpur - Onward
After disembarkation prepare to spend a few hours at leisure and transfer to airport for flight to Kuala Lumpur and
onward........
Note additional Itinerary serves as a suggested optional; extension for those who may have cruise
on the Mekong but have not experiences North Vietnam and Laos......
continuing to Hanoi. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to the hotel for check in. Evening, enjoy special water puppet performance, an art form that originated in Northern Vietnam over hundred of years. Dinner is at Wild Rice restaurant. Overnight in Guoman Hotel 4* (Standard room) in Hanoi (B, L, D)
Day 15: 19 Sept., Hanoi
After breakfast, enjoy a half-day city tour around Hanoi including the One Pillar Pagoda, the Temple of Literature, Historical Museum and the Lake of the Restored Sword. Lunch is at Indochine restaurant. After lunch, visit the Hanoi Hilton Site, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Overnight in Guoman Hotel 4* in Hanoi (B,L,D)
Day 16: 20 Sept., Hanoi – Vientiane
After breakfast our guide will pick you up for transfer to the airport and your flight to Vientiane. Meet on arrival at Wattay airport, you are welcome to Vientiane, the city of the moon an ancient city, situated on the bend on the left bank of the Mekong as the largest city and the capital of Laos. Before checking in, taking a sightseeing of the city’s major historic sites including religious museums of Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple to have been survived from the Siamese war of 1828 and its cloister contains more than 8,000 Buddha statues; Wat Ho Prakeo, the former home-temple of the Emerald Buddha statue or Pra Keo, but today it contains a collection of Buddha statues, antiques and all artifacts found in around Vientiane; That Luang Stupa, the single most important monument in Laos, which was built to cover the original small stupa, containing a piece of the chest bone of Buddha; Patouxay (Arch de Triumph), built quite recently in commemoration of those who died during the wars in the past and it is today as the land mark of Vientiane. Check in to the Settha Palace Hotel
Day 17, 21 Sept., Vientiane
After breakfast our guide will pick you up at the hotel for a city sightseeing tour of this Capital City of Laos. The afternoon at leisure. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 18, 22 Sept., Vientiane – Luang Prabang (B/L/D)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a morning flight to the mountain kingdom of Luang Prabang, the ancient first capital of Lane Xang kingdom, the center of religious life in Laos and today the World Heritage City. Upon arrival, take a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of temples, of which nearly fifty still remain in the town and surrounding areas. Visit National Museum, the former Royal Palace which houses the collection of valuables including the famous Prabang Buddha statue, gifts received from foreign dignitaries etc., Wat Visoun, the 16th century temple served as a small museum for religious artifacts; Wat Aham, the early 19th century temple, whose two guardian figures at the foot of the steps which represent two characters from the Ramayana Hanuman, the Monkey God and a fierce Yaksa; Wat Xiengthong, the 16th century temple, which more than any temples in Luang Prabang, epitomizes all the elegance and grace of Luang Prabang architecture; Phousi Hill, the 328 steps leads to the summit of Phousi Hill that dominates the sky-line of Luang Prabang overlooking the finest panoramic view in the whole Luang Prabang. Check in the hotel. Lunch at a local restaurant and dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel LA RESIDENCE PHOU VAO
LA RESIDENCE PHOU VAO ENJOYS A UNIQUE LOCATION AS
THE ONLY HOTEL IN LUANG PRABANG BUILT ON PHOU VAO
HILL - TRANSLATED AS THE HILL OF THE KITES. THIS
VANTAGE POINT AFFORDS PANORAMIC VIEWS LOOKING OUT
OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE. GUEST ROOMS PROVIDE VIEWS OF
THE FOREST CANOPY AND DISTANT MOUNTAINS DOTTED WITH
PAGODAS AND STUPAS. LA RESIDENCE PHOU VAO BOASTS 3
HECTARES OF LUSH GARDENS, RICH WITH BOUGAINVILLEA,
PALMS AND FRANGIPANI, WHICH FRINGE THE BREATHTAKING
INFINITY EDGE SWIMMING POOL.
Day 19, 23 Sept., Pak Ou Caves (B/D)
Travel on a long-tailed boat for a few hours on the Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves in the side of a lime stone cliff and opposite of the mouth of the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images, which range from mere centimeter to two meters in height. En route, Lao typical villages are barely visible behind a screen of foliage. Slender canoes bobbing by the shore and bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. Visit Ban Xanghai, the well-known village for Lao traditional rice whisky to be distilled and tasted. Lunch is at a local restaurant on the bank of the Mekong River. Return to Luang Prabang by the same boat, continue by car to visit Ban Xangkhong, the well-known village for its wood papermaking and also Lao silk weavings with natural dyes, where you can do shopping there. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel LA RESIDENCE PHOU VAO
Day 20 24 Sept., Luang Prabang - Osaka
After breakfast spend the day exploring on your own. Have a lunch at the hotel and late afternoon our driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight via Hanoi to Osaka.
Upon arrival at Osaka our driver will meet you and transfer you to hotel in Kyoto.
Day 21: 25 Sept., Kyoto – Nara - Kyoto
Morning sightseeing of Kyoto, visiting Golden Pavilion(under renovation in Jan.-Mar.), Nijo Castle noted for its gorgeous interiors, and Kyoto Imperial Palace (on Sat., Sun & national holidays: visit Higashi Honganji Temple instead). Lunch at Kyoto Handicraft Center.
Afternoon tour to Nara. Visit Todaiji Temple housing Great Buddha, colorful Kasuga Shrine with 3,000 lanterns, and Deer Park where many tame deer are freely roaming.
Return to Kyoto for your overnight.
Day 22: 26 Sept., Kyoto – Tokyo
Free until departure. Return to Tokyo by Shinkansen train in the afternoon. Our driver will meet the train and take you to the Hotel for your overnight.
Day 23: 27 Sept., Tokyo
Full day Tokyo tour : Meiji Shrine, Imperial East Garden (or Imperial Palace Plaza), Asakusa Kannon Temple, Lunch, Tokyo Bay Cruise. In the late afternoon transfer to Narita Airport for flight home.
to Book contact us
or call 1 800 853 6736
Luxurious river cruises in
Myanmar (Burma) Irrawaddy & Chindwin Rivers
Vietnam/Cambodia, Mekong River
Malaysia’s Sarawak (Borneo), Rajang River