DAY 1: FRIDAY, 23rd APRIL 2027

Arrive Sandakan where you will meet your driver for your transfer to your hotel. The rest of your day is free.

Hotel transfers included
Hotel included: Sabah Hotel, Sandakan - Superior Room (or similar)

DAY 2: SATURDAY, 24th APRIL 2027

Depart Hotel: 8:15am
Return: about 5:00pm 

Travel about 30 minutes west of Sandakan, to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where the orangutangs are prepared for introduction back into the wild. Walk along the boardwalk through the jungle and look out for these amazing animals. Arrive at the ‘Nursery’ where you will see firsthand, mothers and babies undergoing their daily routine. Next door, visit the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and observe the smallest of the bear species.

Return to Sandakan late morning and have lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant.

After lunch, visit the Sandakan Memorial Park, the site of the Sandakan POW Camp in WWII and where the Anzac Day Dawn Service will take place the following day. Use this time free of crowds, to walk around this lush and serene park seeing relics that still exist today. Visit the park’s Interpretive Pavilion which tells the story of the camp and the infamous death marches.

Visit to the St Michael’s and All Angels Church and discover the magnificent stain glass Windows of Remembrance and the Friendship Windows before having a moment of quiet reflection in the POW Chapel.

Finish the day with a stop at the Chinese WWII Memorial and the Sandakan Liberation Memorial.

Return to your hotel with the rest of your day free as you wish.

Meals included: Breakfast
Hotel included: Sabah Hotel, Sandakan - Superior Room (or similar)

DAY 3: SUNDAY, 25th ARIL 2027

Depart Hotel: 4:15am
Return: 8:15am

Travel to the Sandakan Memorial Park for the moving Anzac Day Dawn Service. After, attend the Gunfire Breakfast and mingle with other Anzac Day travellers, before leaving at about 8:00am to return to your hotel.

Depart Hotel: 11:30am
Arrive Hotel (Kota Kinabalu): 3:30pm

Check-out in time for your transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu where you will be transferred to your hotel. With the early start to the day, the rest of your day is free.

Economy airfare included – Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu
Meals included: Breakfast
Hotel included: Grandis Hotel, Kota Kinabalu - Superior Room (or similar)

DAY 4: MONDAY, 26th APRIL 2027

Depart Hotel: 8:00am
Return: about 5:00pm 

Depart your hotel but before leaving Kota Kinabalu, visit the Australian Armed Forces Memorial which commemorates the role that Australian Forces played in the liberation of Borneo in WWII.

Leave Kota Kinabalu on your day trip to Ranau, to learn more on the tragic story of the infamous Sandakan Death Marches. About 90 minutes into your journey, visit the Kundasang War Memorial. Established in 1962 and nestled in the highlands of Kundasang below Mt Kinabalu, this memorial was one of the first to honour those who perished during the death marches. Comprising four interconnecting gardens – the Australian Garden, the British Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden and Pool – each symbolises the peace that the POWs never found. A black marble Memorial Wall lists the names of all the POWs who died at Sandakan, on the marches and at Ranau.

Another 25 minutes on, arrive at Ranau, the destination of the death marches. Only about half the POWs who left Sandakan arrived at Ranau. The others had died along the route, from starvation, disease or execution, and their bodies left where they fell. Visit the 1st POW Campsite Memorial and beside it, the Cleary Monument which honours Gunner Albert Cleary who was brutally bashed by the Japanese and later died of his injuries. A short distance away is the Last POW Campsite Memorial which commemorates the tragic end of the death marches.

Have lunch (included) at a local restaurant before starting your return journey to Kota Kinabalu.

Arrive at your hotel in Kota Kinabalu late afternoon with the rest of your day free.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel included: Grandis Hotel, Kota Kinabalu - Superior Room (or similar)

DAY 5: TUESDAY, 27th APRIL 2027

Depart Hotel: 4:30am
Return: 6:30pm

Transfer to the airport for your early morning flight to Labuan. On arrival at Labuan, meet your guide and, with the early start, go for breakfast (own expense) at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, visit the Labuan War Cemetery and Labuan Memorial. Take time for a moment of quiet reflection and walk amongst the rows of graves. Perhaps find the grave or memorial listing of someone of interest to you.

Continue about 15 minutes, to the west coast of Labuan and visit the Surrender Point Memorial. Here, on the 9th September 1945, Major General George F Wootten, Commander of the Australian 9th Division formally accepted the unconditional Japanese surrender to end the war in Borneo.

Return to the East coast of Labuan and if time permits, visit Brown Beach, the landing site for the Australian forces, in the liberation of Labuan and the start of the Borneo campaign.

Return to the airport early afternoon, to meet your return flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Economy airfare included – Kota Kinabalu to Labuan return
Hotel included: Grandis Hotel, Kota Kinabalu - Superior Room (or similar)

DAY 6: WEDNESDAY, 28th APRIL 2027

Your day is free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport to meet your outbound flight from Kota Kinabalu.

Airport transfers included
Meals included: Breakfast

• Airfares: Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu & Kota Kinabalu to Labuan return

• Hotel & airport transfers

• Hotel pick-up/Drop-off for tours

• Hotel (Sandakan) - 2 Nights

• Hotel (Kota Kinabalu) - 3 Nights

• Meals as indicated. Please note: Drinks not included

• Experienced, English-speaking guide

• Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with driver

• All touring & activities as per program

• Entrance fees

• Historic War Tours – Anzac Day Polo Shirt

• Travel expenses before & after the tour

• Passport and visa expenses

• Meals and services not mentioned

• Comprehensive travel insurance

• Personal expenses (e.g. telephone, internet, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc.)

• Tips to Guides and Drivers

Fitness level is very subjective and can vary for everyone. As a guide:

Low: Mainly sitting, small amount of walking required

Low-Moderate:   Easy walking, some steps

Moderate: Walking moderate distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steps

Moderate-High: Walking moderate-long distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steep inclines, steps

High: Walking moderate-long distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steep inclines, steps, bush tracks

This tour:

Day 2:

• Sepilok Orangutang Rehabilitation Centre - Low-Moderate

• Sun Bear Conservation Centre - Low-Moderate

• St Michael’s and All Angels Church - Low

• Chinese WWII & Sandakan Liberation Memorials - Low

Day 3:

• Anzac Day Dawn Service – Low-Moderate

• Gunfire Breakfast - Low

Day 4:

• Kundasang War Memorial – Low-Moderate

• 1st POW Campsite Memorial - Low

• Cleary Monument – Low

• Last POW Campsite Memorial – Low-Moderate

Day 5:

• Labuan War Cemetery – Low-Moderate

• Surrender Point Memorial – Low

If you find that you are unable to join a tour that has been booked, confirmed and paid in part or in full, the paid amount of that tour less any unrecoverable costs, may be converted to a voucher. The value of that voucher may be used towards the same tour with a later departure date or any other HWT tour.

If a refund is requested, the following cancellation fees may be deducted from the paid amount:

• Greater than 45 days prior to tour start date - 10% of total tour amount + any unrecoverable costs

• Greater than 14 days but less than or equal to 45 days prior to tour start date - 50% of total tour amount + any unrecoverable costs

• 14 Days or less (including ‘no show’) prior to tour start date – No refund

Validity: Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you plan to leave their country. This is a common safeguard to ensure you can legally travel without issues if your passport is close to expiring.

Before traveling: It’s essential to verify the entry requirements for every country you plan to visit. This includes visas, vaccination requirements, and other entry regulations.

Use official sources: For Australians, the Smartraveller website provides up-to-date travel advice, including passport and visa requirements, safety alerts, and other critical information.