The Wild Side of Borneo

The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare, 12 nights' accommodations (4 nights Kuching, 2 nights Batang Ai, 2 night Sandakan, 2 nights Kota Kinabalu, 2 nights Kuala Lumpur), and inter-Malaysian flights and travel from $1,799 per person.

When: Depart Apr. 21, 2007; May 12; Nov. 3, 17.

Gateways: Los Angeles, New York City; no other cities available.

The Fine Print: Breakfast daily, five lunches, six dinners, and hotel taxes are included. Additional airport taxes and fuel surcharges total $299 per person. Taxes and fees for flights within Malaysia are also included. Based on double occupancy; the single supplement is $350. For general guidelines on evaluating deals, click here.

Book By: Apr. 27, 2007.

Contact: SmarTours, 800/337-7773, smartours.com

Why It's a Deal: The lowest round-trip fare we've found between New York City and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital, departing Apr. 21, 2007, is $1,214 (Delta and Korean Air). For $585 more per person, SmarTours offers a dozen nights in high-end hotels, plus flights within Malaysia, local transportation, and several guided excursions.

Trip Details: The package includes round-trip airfare on Malaysia Airlines to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and local transportation to a three-night stay at the Hilton Kuching, which offers an outdoor pool. The hotel is located in the city's center. Add an optional tour to see Bako National Park for $40 per person. Kuching offers many attractions. Places to visit include the Sarawak Museum, buildings dating back to the days of the White Rajahs, and the ancient Phu Thou Se Chinese temple.

After three nights, leave Kuching for Batang Ai, a town outside the Batang Ai national park. Enjoy a two-night stay at the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort, which is Hilton's only jungle property and is surrounded by rain forest. The hotel features native Borneo design. Venture out on your own to see the local flora and fauna, such as wild orchids, peppers, and several species of pitcher plants. Your package includes a trip by longboat, the traditional means of travel of the local Iban people. Head back to Kuching's Hilton for one night.

The next morning, hop a short flight (on Malaysia Airlines) between Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, a town on the shores of the South China Sea with a view of the renowned Mount Kinabalu. Receive a brief orientation tour of the city, then stroll the local markets. Regroup with your tour director for lunch and fly to Sandakan, where you stay at the upscale Sabah Hotel, which features an outdoor hot tub and a swimming pool. Also included is a visit to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, where captive orangutans are reintroduced to the wild. After lunch, an included sightseeing tour showcases Sandakan, including its Chinese Temple and houses on stilts. A seafood dinner is included.

After two days in Sandakan, jump on a quick flight (on Air Asia) to Kota Kinabalu. A drive past the countryside's rice fields and megaliths is included. At the Monsopiad Cultural Village, learn about headhunter warriors from centuries ago. Spend the night at the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu. End your trip with a two-night stay in Kuala Lumpur at the Renaissance hotel (New World Wing), which features standard upscale, business-class amenities. Go out on your own to see the city's sights, which include the Royal Palace and the Petronas Towers.

Add three nights at the beachfront Shangri-La Golden Sands Resort in northern Penang, a Malaysian tropical island off the Western Malaysia coast, with a round-trip ticket on Air Asia between Kuala Lumpur and Penang, a half-day guided sight-seeing tour, airport/hotel transfers, and breakfast daily, for $399 per person.

Note that in Malaysia, Borneo is called East Malaysia. After you arrive, you'll find your out-of-pocket expenses are minimal because the dollar is strong against the Malaysian currency, the ringgit.

To help you plan your trip, check the weather forecast, exchange rate, and local time at BudgetTravelOnline.com and visit the Borneo Tourism Organization online for the latest news and updates. March through November is a fine time to visit Borneo because the weather is sunny and dry (temperatures range from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit).

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