Friendly Planet’s 15-day Borneo Adventure Won’t Cannibalize Your Wallet

[Peggy Goldman]

Borneo used to be best known for its wild tribes of cannibals, but today it’s known as the Malaysian island of paradise. And now, the only thing wild about it is Friendly Planet Travel’s wild price of $2,899 for 15 days of touring—airfare included—putting Borneo back on the lips of savvy travelers everywhere. The company’s Borneo Adventure package takes travelers on a journey through Borneo’s breath-taking rain forests and culturally dynamic cities and villages. Take a guided canopy walk hundreds of feet above the forest floor. Haggle with exotic street vendors in the shadow of looming skyscrapers. Sail a longboat down the river to an authentic Iban longhouse. The trip includes round-trip airfare from Los Angeles and all transportation; deluxe hotel accommodations; some meals; and comprehensive sightseeing with a local, English-speaking expert guide.

“With its mosaic of indigenous tribes; intriguing history; beautiful, ancient rain forests; and diversified wildlife, Borneo is one of the most fascinating island habitats in the world,” says Peggy Goldman, President of Friendly Planet Travel. “Besides getting the chance to immerse themselves in natural beauty, travelers on our Borneo Adventure will visit one of the most incredible Asian cities, Kuala Lampur. They’ll explore exotic markets, lantern-lit streets, temples, and other remnants of Malaysia’s unique and colorful heritage tucked among the skyscrapers, shopping malls, restaurants, nightlife, and other icons of modern life—all for a price as amazing as the destination itself.”

Travelers visit five of Borneo’s most ecologically and culturally significant destinations: Kuching, Batang Ai, Mulu, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuala Lumpur. Besides Friendly Planet’s daily scheduled excursions, vacationers can also choose from an array of discount tour options at almost every stop along the trip, including a tour to the Sarawak Cultural Village, 20 miles outside Kuching. This award-winning site portrays the cultures and traditional lifestyles of the seven major ethnic groups of Sarawak. Travelers will learn about the native arts and crafts, food, music, and dance. Later, they can take advantage of an exciting optional excursion to Bako National Park, one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in its natural surroundings. Or enjoy an excursion to the semi-nomadic Penan Settlement of Long Iman for jungle trekking and cultural immersion.

Friendly Planet Travelers also have the option of extending their Borneo Adventure by adding Penang Island, a tropical paradise off the western coast of Malaysia, famous for its sandy beaches and luxuriant vegetation. The extension includes airfare, all transfers, three nights at the deluxe beach-front Grand Plaza Parkroyal Penang (or similar), buffet breakfast daily, and a half-day guided sightseeing tour.

For travelers looking for even more Southeast Asia variety, Friendly Planet’s 11-day Exotic Borneo and Bangkok vacation includes some of the most wondrous Borneo destinations, plus five days in Thailand, all for only $1599 including airfare.

For more information about Friendly Planet Travel’s Borneo Adventure or Exotic Borneo and Bangkok, please visit the company’s Web site at www.FriendlyPlanetTravel.com, the blog at http://friendlyplanettravel.com/blog, or contact Jackie Zima at 610-228-2138 (office), 215-534-2973 (mobile), or write to [e-mail].