4 May 2016 - Following the recent launch of their first dedicated Borneo programme, bespoke holiday specialist Experience Travel Group's destination experts have put together their dream 'bucket list' of incredible things to see and do on this magnificent island. All of Experience Travel Group's new Borneo holidays are packed with unforgettable highlights, from trekking through ancient rainforest to chilling on beautiful beaches – but there are a few once-in-a-lifetime 'must-dos' that the company's travel gurus believe are worth crossing the globe for in their own right:

Spot orangutans

Borneo is one of only two places in the world where orangutans can still be seen in the wild. The prospect of seeing such a rare, unique and clever creature is a powerful draw for visitors to Borneo and a real 'must do'. Known locally as 'people of the forest', orangutans can be seen in a number of excellent rehabilitation centres on the island but nothing beats seeing them in their natural habitat. To have the best chance of a sighting, follow in the footsteps of Will and Kate with a visit to the Danum Valley; explore Malaysia's second largest river by boat in the Kinabatangan Wildlife Reserve or see some of Borneo's virgin and secondary rainforests at Tabin Wildlife Reserve.

Explore Bako National Park

Bako National Park offers an authentic jungle experience just an hour from Borneo's Kuching International Airport, with some of the most varied habitats in the whole of Borneo, including rainforests, beaches, mangroves and rocky outcrops. Aside from orangutans, visitors can see most of Borneo's indigenous species in the park, including the ugly but adorable bearded pigs. Travellers can also enjoy brilliant views of Mount Santubong and the South China Sea, especially from the trail to Teluk Pandan Kecil beach, which is so secluded it feels like a desert island. 

See the world's largest cave chamber The Sarawak Chamber is the world's largest known cave chamber and is big enough to fit an astonishing 40 Boeing 757s inside of it! The iconic Deer Cave, with its Abraham Lincoln silhouette and world's largest cave passage, is also well worth a visit.

Scale the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia

At 13,438ft (4,096 metres) above sea level, Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in Southeast Asia. As it's also one of the easiest peaks in the world to conquer, anyone with a reasonable level of fitness will be able to enjoy this amazing experience.

Meet the monkey with the biggest nose in the world Borneo may be best known for orangutans, but visitors should also be on the lookout for the famously large-nosed Proboscis monkey. They live all over the island, but only in lowland habitats, such as coastal areas and alongside rivers

See the world's largest (and smelliest?) flower The Rafflesia flower lives in the rainforests of Borneo and can grown to a diameter of 1m. Although it's rather attractive, this parasitic plant is also known as the 'corpse flower' for good reason – it gives off a terrible stench to attract insects so it can reproduce.

Ninja slugs!

A new species only discovered in 2012, ninja slugs are named as such because they fire 'love darts' at their mate. They're not a pretty sight, but they can't be found anywhere else.

Experience Travel Group's new Borneo holidays are truly bespoke so any of these experiences can easily be combined with many of the island's other attractions. The Beach and Wildlife: The Classic itinerary includes time in Bako National Park, orangutan spotting in Kuching and exploration of the Mulu caves. From £2,990 per person, it includes all accommodation, experiences, entrance fees, guides, transport, flights and a number of meals. 

Find out more about Experience Travel Group's new Borneo holidays here.

Experience Travel Group specialises in bespoke holidays for passionate travellers. Offering adventures in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Borneo, Indonesia and India, Experience Travel Group expertly tailor-makes trips that enrich their clients' travel experiences.

For more information about Experience Travel Group, please visit the website, or find out what the team has been up to recently by checking out their blog or Twitter page.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:

Founded in 2004 by Tom Armstrong and Sam Clark, Experience Travel Group has grown from featuring Sri Lanka to also specialise in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Borneo, Burma (Myanmar), Maldives, the 17,000 islands of Indonesia and India. Intimate knowledge of these destinations, combined with its engaging, enriching service ethos and an ability to create extra-ordinary local experiences, sets Experience Travel Group apart from the rest.

Experience Travel Group is a fully bonded ATOL agent (ATOL number 9324); a member of ABTA (membership number Y544X); and a member of AITO. The company's Sustainable Travel Policy is about continual improvement, monitoring and evaluation, and is available online at www.experiencetravelgroup.com/info/responsible-travel.

For further press information please contact:

Zoe Slater (zoe@bacall.net) or Nat Frogley (nat@bacall.net)

Bacall Associates   Web: www.bacallassociates.co.uk  Tel: 020 7630 2880