GROUP 1 – Malaysian Borneo Wednesday 3rd April- Kuching

• Arrival in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, at your convenience (airport pickup can be arranged).
• Sarawak region retains control of its immigration separately from the rest of Malaysia. While it is just a formality, you will have to fill a different declaration form and get a rare stamp
• Meeting the rest of the group at our guesthouse by 8 PM
• It wouldn’t be a YPT tour if we didn’t check out the nightlife of Kuching so we will head out to see what is happening around the area of Padunga Road, famed from its parties.
• Overnight at our guesthouse

Thursday 4th April – Tanjung Datu National Park

• After our breakfast, we hop on a boat in Sematan on our way to Tanjung Datu National Park
• On our way, we’ll jump off the boat to try some snorkelling. Some amazing fauna can be found in the prisitine waters around us and if we’re lucky we might see some swimming turtles
• For lunch, we get the chance to stop in Teluk Melano, a Malay fishing village, where we can try some of the local grub
• We arrive in Tanjung Datu National Park and check in our forest huts.
• After dinner by our huts, we will go for an evening walk. On our way, we can hope to see many kinds of sleeping birds and, hopefully, turtles as they lay their eggs on the beach
• Overnight in our huts

Friday 5th April – Tanjung Datu National Park

• Today, we get the chance to explore in depth Tanjung Datu National Park
• Tanjung Datu National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks of Malaysia, but also one of the most inaccessible. We can expect to have this park to ourselves. The park is special because it is on a narrow ridge. It is composed of thick jungle which falls into the sea and white sand beaches.
• In the park, we might very well catch glimpse of multiple kinds of primates such as Bornean Gibbons, Pig-Tailed Macaques, Long-Tailed Macaques and Silvered and Banded Langurs.
• We eat lunch in the jungle
• In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy the beaches of the park to the fullest by doing some more snorkelling. Here, coral grows abundantly and dolphins and whales have been sighted!
• We head back to our hut for dinner and bit of a jungle party
• Overnight in the huts

Saturday 6th April – Kuching

• After our breakfast, we head on a boat
• Today, we’ll spend most of the day island hopping and looking around for turtles
• Lunch on the boat
• We’ll be on the boat some more since we need to head back to Kuching. However, nobody will get tired of the pristine sceneries we’ll get to witness.
• Dinner in Kuching at a restaurant serving local specialities.
• This time tonight, we will explore another party district of Kuching, Travillion. While this place used to be very rough, it has now improved a lot and is now home to the best emerging bars of the city.
• Overnight at our guesthouse in Kuching

Sunday 7th April – Semonggok Orang Utan Wildlife Center/Bidayuh village

• Up nice and early for our packed day
• Our first stop today is the Semonggok Orang Utan Wildlife Center. Here we will have the chance to not only observe Orang Utan whilst they are being fed but also learn more about the preservation efforts made to save the species.
• Lunch nearby the Wildlife Center
• In the afternoon, we go for some kayaking where we take in the resplendent nature and we paddle down the river.
• On our way back, we visit a Bidayuh village. This village is interesting because the local people here still live in longhouses. Bidayuh is the collective name given to the indigenous tribes around Sarawak. We will get the chance to interact with them and play games while we learn more about their cultures. The Bidayuh are fascinating because their beliefs combine Animism with Christianity.
• Before dark, we will head to Kubah National Park. Kubah is home to the biggest number of orchids and palms of Borneo. The reason we’re coming here, however is that it is home to a plethora of reptiles, some of the most interesting being the psychedelic frogs!
• We head back to the Bidayuh village and stay with the locals in their longhouses with all the necessary celebrations!
• Overnight at our guesthouse in Kuching

Monday 8th April – Bako National Park/Kuala Lumpur

• Today, we head to Bako National Park.
• Bako National Park is one of the most renowned park of Sarawak. Not only it is the oldest park of Borneo but it is also unbeatable when it comes to biodiversity.
• Bako NP is home to the infamous proboscis monkey, probably one of the ugliest animals on Earth and only found here on Borneo!
• We leave the park in the middle of the afternoon as we have to head to the airport
• We catch Air Asia’s direct flight to Kuala Lumpur at 5:55 pm arriving in the early evening.
• We drop our bags at the guesthouse before heading for late dinner in the capital of Malaysia.
• Kuala Lumpur is renowned around the world for its hawker street food, so we’ll make sure to both sample this culinary scene but also the vibrant night scene.

Tuesday 9th April – Kuala Lumpur

• Today we rise and shine and head on a city tour of Malaysia’s metropolis.
• We visit Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur’s oldest hindu temple but also the pride of the local Tamil community.
• A trip to Malaysia wouldn’t be complete without a lunch of Nasi Kandar, or mixed rice, so we try some of the best on our way.
• We head to Istana Negara, old royal palace now turned museum, to learn more about the intriguing history of the multiple kings who share the rule over Malaysia. We’ll be right in time to witness the change of the guards.
• It wouldn’t be a tour of Kuala Lumpur without visiting the Petronas Tower. We’ll go a take in the view for sunset.
• We’ll stroll around Kuala Lumpur’s chinatown, one of the biggest in the world!
• Two days are not enough to take in all the flavours of Kuala Lumpur so we stop by Alor Street. While it used to be a place of ill-repute, Alor street has now been turned into a showcase street for the best Malaysian street food.
• We have arrived at the end of our trip and as such, it calls for one last memorable trip in the bustling nightlife of Kuala Lumpur as we say farewell to those who will leave tomorrow.

GROUP 2 – East Timor Overland Wednesday 10th April – Bali

• After a somewhat early breakfast, we head to Kuala Lumpur airport for to catch flight AirAsia AK376 to Bali Denpasar Airport at 10.50am.
• Bali is THE party place for a number of people and a number of reasons, so we hit the town in a big way for our one night in Kuta, Bali
• Overnight in Bali

Thursday 11th April – Kupang

• We head to Denpasar Airport for the 11.45 am flight to Kupang the capital city of Indonesian (West) Timor
• Arrival at 13.30 to be met by our guides and transfer to our centrally located hotel
• Lunch in the city
• City tour of Kupang including the local parliament, and lots of old colonial Dutch buildings
• Get ready for some serious street food! Kupang has a legendary night market where we will head for food, drinks, and a great first night out in Timor
• Overnight at Neo Eltari Hotel

Friday 12th April – Kupang

• Breakfast at the hotel
• We head out to explore the beautiful countryside and to swim in the Crystal Cave (some serious hiking involved)
• Lunch in the countryside
• After lunch, we head further out to the Rosalin Orphanage to hear their story, and see the great work they are doing. If possible we recommend bringing some small gifts for the orphanage
• Dinner at the Orphanage
• Travel back to Kupang for a few drinks
• Overnight at Neo Eltari Hotel

Saturday 13th April – Pante Makasar

• Breakfast in the hotel
• We head off for the 4-hour drive to Pante Makasar the capital of Oecusse, not only the least visited part of the least visited country in Asia, but also the only exclave of East Timor. Many countries can now get visa free access to East Timor, or visa on arrival at the border. Please get in touch if you have questions about your visa situation
• Arrival in East Timor early afternoon, and transfer to our beachside accommodation
• Seafood lunch next to legendary beach of Pante Makassar
• We head out for a city tour. Pante Makassar was particularly affected by the fighting with Indonesia in 1999, with almost 90% of the budding’s being destroyed. This gives it a very rich, and troubling recent history, with our local guide able to field any questions we might have.
• Dinner and drinks on the beach
• Overnight in Pante Makassar

Sunday 14th April – Dili

• Breakfast in the hotel
• We head out for our private charter prop plane to Dili, the capital city of East Timor proper. This flight can best be described as interesting!
• We check into our accommodation on the beachfront of Dili, where we also have lunch.
• We go for a whistle-stop tur of Dili including the genocide museum, the parliament, the revolutionary headquarters of the independence movement, before a sunset walk along the seafront back to our hotel
• Another treat for the street food lovers as we head to the famous Dili night market for an unforgettable helping of beers and fish whilst eating on the beach
• Overnight in Dili

Monday 15th April – Atauro Island

• Breakfast in the hotel
• In the morning, we head out to pour private boat to head to Atauro Island, the most famous tourist destination in East Timor, and home to some of the best diving and snorkeling in the country
• Lunch at the resort
• Despite being on a tropical island we wouldn’t be YPT if we didn’t check out some quirky shit, so we head to the old Indonesian military airport for some photos and an exploration.
• In the afternoon, we make the most of our time on a deserted tropical island by taking advantage of the great snorkeling and diving available
• Seeing as we’re on an island with private beaches we grab a load of supplies and make the most of it by having a BBQ beach party!
• Overnight in Atauro Island

Tuesday 16th April – Dili

• Breakfast at the resort before a late check-out
• Free morning to relax on the island
• Lunch on Atauro Island
• We board our private boat back to Dili and the mainland of East Timor
• On arrival in Dili we check back into hotel for a freshen up before heading out to for a hike up to the famous statue of Jesus that overlooks Dili
• Drinks and sunset under the statue of Jesus
• We finish our last night in Dili with dinner, drinks and live music overlooking the sea
• Overnight in Dili

Wednesday 17th April – Kuta

• Breakfast in the hotel
• In the morning we will head for some last minute souvenir shopping, including revolutionary shirts, and of course fridge magnets!
• Lunch near the aiport before we board the 14.25 flight to Bali, arriving at 15.10
• Transfer by private car to our hotel located in Kuta, the party capital of Bali
• We say farewell to those who leave the tour tomorrow with dinner, drinks, and general party in Kuta
• Overnight in Kuta

Group 3 – Extreme Philippines Thursday 18th April – Manila

• Hope you’re not too hungover! Early breakfast as we need to catch our next flight.
• We head to the airport to catch Cebu Pacific 5J280 leaving Denpasar at 8:35 am and arriving in Manila at 12:55 pm.
• We check-in at Swagman Hotel followed by a short time to rest or explore some your surroundings
• At 6pm the group gather to take the short walk to the “Hobbit House”, one of two bars in The Philippines to be serviced by midgets for dinner and drinks
• Overnight in Swagman Hotel

Friday 19th April – Pampaga

• At 5am we join our private air-conditioned vehicle for the rest of our journey, a 2-hour drive to the San Fernando Area of Pampanga, stopping for breakfast on the way.
• On arrival we head straight out for the Cutud Lenten Rites festival, one of the biggest and most spectacular festivals in the Philippines. The action starts with a live action “show”, where Jesus is captured and taken to the crucifixion site. This goes on until around 3pm, with us arranging press passes so that our group can capture prime photos.
• Picnic lunch
• Following the end of proceedings, we head to Angeles City to check into the Wild Orchid Hotel, one of the most deluxe hotels in the city boasting the biggest swimming pool amongst other luxuries.
• Angeles City as a former US military base is equally infamous as a city of sin, and famous as the culinary capital of the country, so we head out for dinner, followed by the legendary Angeles Walking Street Bar Crawl
• Overnight at Wild Orchid

Saturday 20th April – Baguio

• After the early start of the previous day, we take this morning a bit more leisurely enjoying breakfast by the pool before setting of on the next part of the adventure
• We now set off for the two-three hour drive to Baguio, known as the summer capital of the Philippines due to its much cooler climate (you may even need a jacket at night), on the way we stop for a Filipino style lunch.
• We drop our bags at the hotel and head for a walking city tour dropping for some liquid refreshments before we start to get weird.
• The Philippines is not only famous for its religious devotees but also how very superstitious they are, so we go local by heading out on a genuine ghost hunting tour.
• In case we fail at finding ghosts, we head out for dinner and the famous Philippines spirit of Tanduay rum coupled with bad videoke.
• Overnight in Baguio

Sunday 21st April – Sagada

• We get up early for the 5-6 hour drive to Sagada, one of the most famous places in The Philippines stopping on the way for scenic photos.
• Lunch stop on the way to Sagada.
• On arrival, we check into our rural hotel for a brief freshen up before heading to the next part of our trip.
• After being met by our local guide we head out for a day of hiking around this historic city, with the main focus being on witnessing and picturing the Hanging Coffins, which are unique to this part of the Philippines, with our local guide giving a full explanation, and answering any questions we might have.
• We head back to our guesthouse for dinner, drinks and a relaxed night surrounded by mountain scenery.

Monday 22nd April – Currimao

• We take breakfast or a lie in at the guesthouse before heading off for the next part of our trip the 5-6 drive to the beach paradise of Currimao, this is one of the most scenic journeys we take with us making lots of picture stops to see the rice terraces and mountain scenery.
• We drop off for a local lunch.
• Early evening arrival at Playa Resort, where we will have a chance to relax after the long drive and kick back by the pool.
• We spend the evening drinking rum, having a beach BBQ and generally kicking back.
• Overnight in Currimao.

Tuesday 23rd April – Batac

• We take the morning to relax on our beach before heading off for the day.
• We now do a city tour of Batac. Batac is one of those weird cities that as the birthplace of a dictator still hold him in very high regard, hence the “home of great leaders”. We visit the frankly crazy Marcos Museum about Ferdinand and Emelda, as well as checking out a few other choice places such as the Marcos University, and Malacanang of the North, the former home of the Marcos family. Unfortunately, his embalmed body is no longer here, but it is fascinating none the less.
• Lunch in Batac, famous for its local sausages!
• We then take the next part of our journey the 4-5 hour journey to the surfing beach town of Urbiztondo in La Union.
• Cockfighting might be controversial, and without doubt a bit cruel, but in the Philippines, it is a not only a huge event and culturally significant, but huge business. We stop on the way at one of the many provincial arenas.
• Dinner and drinks by the beach.

Wednesday 24th April – Manila

• We start early for the final part of our journey the 4-5 hours back to Manila.
• On arrival, we check back into the Swagman hotel, where we take lunch before heading back out.
• Manila might well be the centre of wealth, business and government in the Philippines, but it is very much a tale of two cities, with the slums, that culminate in the rubbish collectors of Smokey Mountain living in abject poverty. We take a very sobering Slum Tour of Manila with our local guides, who will give a very in-depth explanation about their lives.
• Following the visit to the slums we take a short drive that almost takes us to another universe by visiting the Manila Hotel, the oldest and most deluxe hotel in the city, that also happens to serve great coffee and cocktails.
• We head for a last night dinner in Ermita before heading to Burgos Street to sample the many eccentric bars, before finishing at Ringside bar to watch midget boxing, capping off a truly extreme day in the Philippines!
• Overnight at Swagman Hotel.

Thursday 25th April 

• End of tour with YPT able to offer further transport services, or for those heading onto the next part of the trip transfer to the airport.

Read More