Gap Year Projects South East Asia - Camp Borneo

Camp Borneo Explore jungle, beach and mountains on this exotic tropical island. Assist local communities in their day-to-day life, whilst being enriched by their culture and traditions that are unique to this island. This gap year expedition to South East Asia has been designed for volunteers who are keen to take on a challenge and support our ongoing community and environmental programmes alongside other international volunteers. We run 2 week and 1 or 2 month programmes that give you the chance to fully immerse yourself in the culture of Borneo and undertake a wide range of optional activities. And for those of you who would like to add a 3rd month, you could add our Camp Cambodia program for the ultimate south east asia gap year experience!

Highlights

Work on a range of social, cultural and environmental projects
Marine conservation project on the idyllic Mantanani Island (2 and 3 month itineraries only)
Wildlife viewing along the Kinabatangan river and visit to Sepilok
Orangutan Sanctuary
Jungle trek (2 and 3 month itineraries only)
Opportunities to scuba dive, jungle trek or trek to the summit of Mount Kinabalu

The Country

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located in Southeast Asia. It comprises the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, the sultanate kingdom of Brunei and the Indonesian province of Kalimantan. This multicultural island is home to an enormous diversity of exotic flora, fauna and natural beauty. The extensive rainforest ecosystem that covers most of the island is the oldest in the world and the island also boasts the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, the mighty Mount Kinabalu.

The People

The state of Sabah is a cultural melting pot with a bewildering multi-cultural and multi-religious aspect, yet everyone lives together in harmony. Sabah boasts no less than 32 indigenous ethnic entities, speaking as many languages and over 50 dialects. The main indigenous group are the Kadazan Dusun, living around Kota Kinabalu. Next are the Bajau who live along the coast and the Murut who live in the interior and were once famous intrepid warriors and reputedly the last to give up the ancient custom of headhunting!

Included

Meals, drinking water and accommodation
Airport transfers to/from Kota Kinabalu Airport (within set times)
Orientation of local area
Basic Malay lesson
Community and environmental project work
Wildlife viewing
Visit to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
Cultural and historical visits
Regular trips to town
Wide range of additional optional activities
Fully staffed camps and local guides
Scheduled project transfers
Project costs and coordination
Emergency management plan and 24-hour emergency support

Not Included

Flights including internal flights
Some in-country transfers
Travel insurance
Arrival and departure fees (if applicable)
Visa
Vaccinations
Personal equipment, spending money, tips or gratuities
Personal laundry
Extra activities

Check out the tabs below for more information on our Camp Borneo programme.

OUR CAMPS

COMPARE OUR PROGRAMMES

Check out the quick comparison below or click on the Trip Comparisonator for the full trip low-down.

CAMP BORNEO	School & Community Projects	Environmental Conservation	Marine Conservation	Orangatan Sanctuary Visit	Historical / Temple Visits	Jungle Trekking	PRICE
2 WEEKS							£895
1 MONTH							£1595
2 MONTHS							£2295
1 MONTH + CAMBODIA 1 MONTH							£2695
2 MONTHS + CAMBODIA 1 MONTH							£3190

NB: Itinerary is subject to change depending on numbers.

PROJECTS

OUR PROJECTS

All of our gap year programmes have set itineraries and throughout your time with us you will get involved in several different projects. You will rotate through a variety of our camps working on a range of community and conservation projects. The longer you stay the more project work you can get involved in! Individual projects cannot be booked separately. To find out what is included in which camp check out our ‘Comparisonator’.

ADVENTURE

ADVENTURES

Fancy a challenge? Go that extra mile and push yourself beyond your comfort zone, both mentally and physically with one of our adventure activities. With a summiting success rate of over 90% for mountain treks, incredible jungle trekking and a wide range of scuba diving courses, there is something to suit everyone. Boost your confidence and prove that there is nothing you can't do! Contact us for more information and to book your adventure.

+ CAMBODIA

Why not choose the duration of your Borneo trip (1 - 2 months) and combine this with our Cambodia one-month programme for the ultimate Asian experience!

ADD CAMP CAMBODIA

This activity-packed one-month expedition ideal for volunteers who are keen to take on a challenge and support this very special community project alongside other international volunteers. This programme gives you the chance to live as part of a Khmer community and work on ongoing projects to improve the standard of living for the villagers. Current projects involve supporting an orphanage, construction, teaching and sustainable farming initiatives. Camp Cambodia also has a strong cultural and historical element, with trips to ancient temples, the killing fields and Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. For those wishing to volunteer for longer than one month, this programme is ideally combined with Camp Borneo for the ultimate gap experience. Read more...

GETTING THERE

Flights

Whether you are an experienced traveller or this is your first trip abroad, we are here to help you every step of the way and it really couldn’t be easier. Once you have decided where, when and how long you want to travel for and booked your expedition with us, the next things to organise are your flights and insurance. This should be done at least 2 months prior to travel.

We can help you source some of the cheapest deals on flights through our flight provider STA Travel or alternatively you may wish to shop around and find your own. If you do decide to arrange your own flights, please make sure before you book that you check with us the exact start date and arrival airport. Then please let us know your flight details otherwise we cannot guarantee that you will be met at the airport once you arrive in country.
The dates listed on the website are the official start date of your programme (your first night in country) and the date to arrange your return flight on the final day, unless of course you have alternative travel arrangements or are extending your stay.
If you choose to travel outside the travel dates and collection times, you will be responsible for your expenses until you join the programme or after you leave including getting to and from the airport.

Booking your flight

You will require a return flight to Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah. If you are also travelling to Camp Cambodia, you will need to book a flight into Kota Kinabalu and out of Siem Reap International Airport, Cambodia
Example Airlines: Emirates, Etihad, Malaysia Airways, Singapore Airways, Cathay Pacific, Air Asia, Royal Brunei and many others!
Please ensure your flight arrives before 2pm and departs after 3pm

Insurance

It is essential you have adequate travel insurance as soon as you have booked your expedition and flights so that you are covered for any insurable reasons in the unlikely event you have to cancel. Make sure that your policy covers you for the full duration that you are abroad, including getting to and from the programme.
If you wish to extend your travelling whilst you are away, don’t forget to extend your insurance before your programme ends.
Please provide us with details of your travel insurance as soon as you receive them. This should include the insurance company name, their contact details, your policy number and the contact details for the Emergency Assistance Provider that will be included in your policy. Make sure that you also keep a record of your policy details with you when you travel. Again, we can provide you with loads of advice and guidance – just let us know!

Briefing Day

Prior to your departure you will be invited to a briefing day held at our offices in Ringwood, Hampshire. Attendance isn’t compulsory but we strongly recommend it as it’s a great opportunity for you to meet other people you will be travelling with as well as receiving more detail on the projects you’ll be working on, final tips on preparing for your trip and a chance to have any last minute questions answered. To find out when the next briefing day will be held, please visit the ‘your trip’ section of the website.

For further help and advice on preparing for your expedition, please visit the ‘your trip’ section of the website for essential information on vaccinations, visas, kit lists, spending money, fundraising and keeping yourself safe on expedition.