Experience Borneo:
Sandakan and Beyond
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We travel to Borneo to explore Australia’s Second World War connections in Sabah, Labuan Island and Sarawak. The infamous Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp and Death March with the deliberate massacre of Allied PWs (mostly Australian) brings us to start our tour in Sandakan, and travel to Ranau.
The tour is by vehicle with some walking to inspect sites. The tour programme is complete in the examination of this tragedy : both in the commentary and explanation, and the sites visited which includes Labuan Island and Kuching in Sarawak with their parts of the story.
We follow the Australian amphibious landing on Labuan Island and the follow up landings on Borneo, liberating the main island from the Japanese occupation.
Amongst the war history we take the opportunity to visit an orang utan sanctuary, ride a small narrow gauge jungle railway, and visit a world class botanical centre. We will experience the beauty and friendliness of Borneo, and pay respects to the past.
Tours - Land only. All tours subject to minimum numbers.
Correct at January 2026.
2026 Borneo tour - Flyer Now Available!
Full 2026 Borneo Tour Programme / Itinerary
The history of the North Borneo Campaigns, the Oboe Operations and the entire Borneo PW experience.
*Domestic Borneo flight included*
This professional tour includes:
- Sandakan the last Australian Campaign of World War 2
- Our role in the North Borneo liberation.
- The tragedy of Sandakan, the Death March and Batu Lintang.
Join with us as we travel and tour to sites and sights in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan Island with expert and experienced Australian tour direction.
A crafted programme blend of factual war history and the magic of tourist attractive Borneo.
Day One Gather in Sandakan ( own flight arrangements ) at Accommodation
Sun 7 June Local town sight see
Briefing, Dinner (inc)
Day Two Breakfast (inc)
Mon 8 June 0800h dep for Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation centre and feeding
Depart Sepilok and travel to PW Camp Site Memorial & Information Centre
Lunch
Depart lunch stop visit St Michael’s Church; Japanese section of Chinese Cemetery, Agnes Keith Museum House. Return to accom.
Dinner at the English Tea Garden
Day Three Breakfast (inc)
Tues 9 June 0800h dep for Kundusang/Ranau with lunch ( inc ) en route
Arrive & check in to accom
Tour and visit Kundusang War Memorial Garden
Return to accom., dinner
Day Four Breakfast (inc)
Weds 10 June 0800h dep for PW Camp sites & cemetery locations Ranau area
Depart Ranau area for Tenom. Lunch ( inc ) en route
Arrive Tenom accom & check in
Tour and visit Tenom Agricultural Park & world class Orchid displays
Return to accom & dinner
Day Five Breakfast (inc)
Thurs 11 June 0800h dep for Beaufort - light gauge jungle railway or bus
Arrive Beaufort, tour to Weston, site see locations relative to Australian World War units
Depart Weston for Beaufort and Starcevitch VC Memorial
Lunch ( inc ) Beaufort
Depart Beaufort for Menumbok (small port) marine ferry to Labuan Island
Arrive Labuan Island, transfer to accom and check in
Dinner
Day Six Breakfast (inc)
Fri 12 June 0800h depart accom for half day sight seeing tour including Surrender point, Peace Park, Chimney Museum, coal mines, the Pocket Battle area, Brown Beach landing area etc and the CWG Cemetery
Lunch
Free afternoon in duty free Labuan Island
Dinner
Day Seven Breakfast (inc)
Sat 13 June 0730h dep accom for Kota Kinabalu 0800h marine ferry/road transport
Arrive Kota Kinabalu and transfer to accom
Lunch ( inc )
Half day tour Kota Kinabalu and area including orientation and sites relative Allied PW’s
Return to accom & dinner
Day Eight Breakfast (inc)
Sun 14 June Free Day Kota Kinabalu
Lunch & Dinner
Day Nine Breakfast (inc)
Mon 15 June Transfer to Kota Kinabalu airport for flight to Kuching, Sarawak ( flight inc )
Transfer to accom and check in. Lunch (inc) on tour
Half day tour Kuching and surrounds including orientation, sites relative to World War 2
Visit location of PW and internees’ Camp
Return to accom and dinner
Day Ten Breakfast (inc)
Tues 16 June Free Day Kuching
Lunch & Dinner
Day Eleven Breakfast (inc)
Weds 17 June Depending on flight chosen, transfer to Kuching Airport for return to home airports
Inclusions
11 days 10 nights programmed accommodation – share twin ( single supplement extra )
All breakfasts; 5 lunches 1 dinner – shown as (inc)
All entry fees included
All land and marine tour transport included
Flight from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching
Expert Australian Tour Leader, guide and war historian included
Local tour guide at relevant locations
History & on site explanations of the North Borneo campaign, Oboe Operations and the Borneo PW experience with site visits (not just the Sandakan Death March) Sabah, Labuan & Sarawak
History includes the Liberation of British North Borneo
Not Included
Lunch and dinner arrangements outside of included (inc) meals
International Flights, airport transfers (except Day 9 – airport transfers will be included)
Personal Travel Insurance – essential
Passport : with more than 6 month validation on arrival) & Malaysian Digital Arrival Card
Single share supplement should you not be able to be paired up for a hotel room with the same gender
Cost of tour Aud $3,350 share twin; Aud $4,174 single with supplement
Cost may adjust to major fluctuations of the Australian Dollar to the Euro
Programme may adjust to local circumstance changes
View out our *BORNEO TOUR* YouTube video below. The slides give an excellent overview of the tour, with photographs from previous Borneo tours.
HIGH PRAISE
Be it your ambition to trace the service of a relative, or a passion for history, the desires of a member of a military history tour are simple and yet of paramount importance. You will want to be well-fed and watered; well accommodated; and especially, safe and secure. But the most satisfying and rewarding aspect of your tour will be Frank Taylor’s unrivalled tour-guide knowledge of the battle grounds and campaigns of your choice. He has provided all of the above for me beyond my expectations on four occasions. I thoroughly endorse a tour with him.
Dr Peter Brune, military historian and author.
AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD
In June 2017 I attended the Liverpool University UK as an invited speaker to a forum organised by the Far East POW Association. I was asked to share my activities with the gathering (relatives and other folk interested, connected to the PW's of the Japanese in the "far East") about my searches to locate and identify camps used by POW groups in Borneo.
The attached, 10 seconds a slide, is that PowerPoint used to support my commentary. The search was (of course) part of my tour programme preparations for the Borneo tour programme - as planned for June 2026.
Frank H Taylor
Owner/Manager
Call us today for detailed Tour Information or to book a tour.
PHONE 08 9446 9856
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Authentic Military Heritage Tours by fully qualified and field-experienced Guides
Over 35 years experience in tour operations and planning in remote areas, including Papua New Guinea, Borneo, Thailand, Burma, Egypt and Libya.
Management and staff who have in depth historical and geographic knowledge of areas toured and military historical sites and events - in PNG and other countries.
Supervisors experienced in remote area and urban tour operations in PNG, Borneo, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Belgium, Greece, Crete, Thailand, Burma, Turkey, Egypt and Libya.
Full operational travel experience and campaign history with accurate information content and wide geographical knowledge in our programming.