Borneo Exploration Tours
Sabah Borneo

Travel in History: Sandakan-Ranau Death March

SABAH BORNEO

Wild Spirit is proud to introduce their latest treks in Sabah Borneo “In the footsteps of heroes”.
Borneo is the land of undiscovered treasures offering enriching cultural experiences and natural wonders.

From the vibrant capital of Kota Kinabalu to the majestic Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia and the home of the Worlds Highest Via Ferrrata, Sabah will spoil you with its laid-back lifestyle and tropical splendour.

Set between the coral reefs and rainforests with world-class resorts and hotels, Sabah is South East Asia’s premier nature adventure destination.

Visit secluded beaches, jungle trek in the “footsteps of heroes”, explore caves, try white water rafting, dive in remote tropical islands, explore for Orang-utans, Proboscis Monkeys and Pygmy Elephants explore the rivers and visit traditional longhouses and immerse yourself in culture.

Wild Spirit have designed our “In the footsteps of heroes” tours to enable you to satisfy your adventurous needs while allowing you time to shop, relax and take in the mesmerising and delightful culture.
 
THE SANDAKAN-RANAU POW DEATH MARCH
 
The Sandakan-Ranau POW death march follows in the footsteps of the POWs who were forced marched three times between January and June 1945 from their Prisoner of War camp in Sandakan North Borneo, west to the small settlement of Ranau. The very mention of the words Sandakan-Ranau in tandem conjures up visions of tragedy of immense proportions. The Death March is acknowledged as the worst tragedy for Australia in World War II. Tragic though it is, the story of the Death March is an important chapter in the shared wartime history of Australia and Sabah (North Borneo as it was called then).

This track commemorates a tragedy and an atrocity. The tragedy was the death between January and August 1945, within sight of Allied victory in the Pacific war, of approximately 2400 Australian and British prisoners of war held by the Japanese in the Sandakan POW camp, North Borneo.
The atrocity was the manner of the death inflicted upon them by their captors-starvation, overwork, beatings and punishments and the forcing of over 1000 sick and weak POWs on three marches under brutal physical conditions.

In 1942 and 1943 the Japanese brought to Sandakan about 2700 Australian and British POWs, the great majority of whom had been captured at the surrender at Singapore in February 1942. They were used as Labour force to build a military airstrip. In late 1944, as the Allies advanced in the Pacific, the airstrip was bombed and destroyed. Early in 1945 the Japanese decided to move the POWs 260 kilometres west into the mountains to the small settlement of Ranau. On three forced marches between January and June approximately 500 prisoners died. The remainder died at the Ranau and Sandakan camps.

Of all those who had been alive in January 1945, by the end of August only six-all Australians –survived. Two of the six escaped into the jungle during the second march in June 1945. Assisted by local people, they were eventually picked up by Allied units. Another four escaped from Ranau in July and again, with the help of local people, were fed and hidden from the Japanese until the end of the war.

Today the POW dead, whose bodies were recovered, are buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission war cemetery at Labuan. Those who could not be identified, or have no known grave, are commemorated on Memorials to the missing at Labuan and Singapore.

Itinerary

See the itinerary here.

What's Included

• Airport/Hotel/Airport pick up & drop off by private car/van/bus.

• Standard accommodation in 4/5 star hotel in Kota Kinabalu, breakfast included

• Standard accommodation in 4/5 star hotel in Sandakan, breakfast included

• Lunch and dinner at Sandakan restaurant

• All your standard meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek.

• Tea House/Lodge accommodation during the trek.

• Your local Trekking Guide, who is highly experienced and the holder of a current Malaysian

• Government Licence for the duration of the trek.

• An Australian Trekking Guide during the trek.

• A support vehicle to transport your luggage during the trek.

• Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment, medicine for all Guides, Cook and Porters.

• All ground transportation by private car/van/bus.

• Mt Kinabalu National Park entry permits

• Airfare from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.

• All our government taxes.

• Official expenses

• Complimentary copy of Lynette Silver’s ‘A Conspiracy of Silence’

What’s not Included:

• Lunch and dinner whilst in Kota Kinabalu – Days 1, 2, 3, & 13.

• Lunch and dinner whilst in Mt. Kinabalu / Labuan Island (Day11 & 12)

• Your travel insurance (compulsory)

• International airfare and airport departure tax.

• Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry.

• Personal trekking equipment

• Meals at Nexus Resort

Price $3695.00 per person
Fully Escorted

Contact Wild Spirit Adventures for further details. We can tailor a program and dates to suit your needs.

info@wildspiritadvenutres.com or 07 54452758
 

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