Itinerary
- Day 1
Kuching
You'll arrive in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. If your flight gets in early, the waterfront markets are worth a walk through for local vegetables, spices and fish. The real action starts at 6 pm with a welcome meeting, and then you'll head out with your group to try local dishes like Sarawak laksa and kolok mee at a restaurant.
Optional Activities
- Explore waterfront vegetable, spice and fish markets
- Try local dishes like Sarawak laksa and kolok mee
Landmarks Kuching Waterfront - Day 2
Kuching - Bako National Park - Kuching
A private van takes you to the fishing village of Kampung Bako, where you'll board a local boat heading up the coast to Bako National Park. You'll walk through jungle trails with your leader spotting proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys and Bornean bearded pigs. The park has rainforest, jungle streams, waterfalls, secluded beaches and dramatic cliff-lined coastline to explore. By late afternoon you'll head back to Kuching to rest at your hotel.
Included Activities
- Bako National Park - Wildlife Trail Trek
- Leader-led jungle walk through Bako National Park
Landmarks Bako National Park Kampung Bako - Day 3
Kuching
The day starts at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, a government-funded rehabilitation facility in lush surroundings. From a viewing platform in the jungle you'll watch orangutans eating bananas and milk that's laid out twice daily. Your leader will give you clear instructions since human contact needs to stay minimal. Back in Kuching after freshening up, you can walk along the riverbank to watch tambang ferries or head to a Chinese-influenced hawker market for dinner with local seafood.
Included Activities
- Kuching - Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
Optional Activities
- Watch tambang ferries from the riverbank
- Dine at Chinese-influenced hawker markets
Landmarks Semenggoh Wildlife Centre - Day 4
Gunung Mulu National Park
You'll fly into Mulu and get settled in this national park located right in the heart of Asia. The rest of the day is yours to do what you want - take a self-guided walk on one of the trails, try out the canopy walkway (it's the longest in the world), or just sit back and listen to the jungle around you. Come evening, you'll have a home-cooked dinner prepared by the Berawan people with traditional dishes including Pansoh and Midin.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked dinner prepared by the indigenous Berawan people featuring signature jungle dishes like Pansoh (fish or chicken cooked in bamboo) and Midin (sauteed wild fern))
Included Activities
- Berawan people family visit and home-cooked dinner
Optional Activities
- Self-guided trail around the park
- Canopy walkway - MYR50
Landmarks Gunung Mulu National Park 
- Day 5
Gunung Mulu National Park
Sleep in if you want or explore the area at your own pace this morning. In the afternoon you'll stroll through this 180-million-year-old rainforest. As evening approaches, head to Deer Cave for the sunset flight of the bats. This UNESCO World Heritage site has the world's largest known cave system with passages carved through bedrock over millions of years. Millions of bats emerge at dusk for their nightly feeding.
Included Activities
- Mulu National Park - Deer & Lang Caves
Landmarks Deer Cave Gunung Mulu National Park - Day 6
Gunung Mulu National Park
The jungle and a boat upriver take you to Clearwater and Wind Caves. Clearwater Cave system runs for more than 200 km with over 100 km explored, featuring bright green plants unique to the park. Wind Cave has a cooling breeze and some of the park's best cave formations, plus Asia's longest underwater river. After exploring, you'll take a longboat downriver and hike through undisturbed jungle to Camp 5 at the end of Melinau Gorge.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic Lunch)
Included Activities
- Mulu National Park - Wind & Clearwater Caves
- Mulu National Park - Longboat ride along the Melinau & Terikan Rivers
Landmarks Clearwater Cave Wind Cave Melinau Gorge - Day 7
Gunung Mulu National Park - Limbang
Today brings the infamous Headhunter's Trail, located in an isolated area of the Bornean jungle along the historic route between the Tutoh and Limbang Rivers. You'll cross streams by rope bridges, wooden walkways and logs surrounded by diverse flora and bird-filled trees. A boat travels from Kuala Terikan to Kuala Mendalam (you may help push the boat over shallow parts depending on rainfall). After lunch at a ranger station, a private vehicle takes you to Limbang to freshen up after two tough days.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Mulu National Park - Guided trek along Headhunters' Trails
Landmarks Headhunter's Trail Tutoh River Limbang River Melinau Gorge - Day 8
Limbang - Labuan Island
After breakfast you'll walk to the ferry terminal and board a boat to Labuan Island. Your beach resort awaits with a free afternoon and evening to relax and recover after yesterday's trek. Swimming, a cold drink or reading are all good options.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Swimming at the beach resort
- Labuan - Historical tour (Minimum 2 People) - MYR177
Landmarks Labuan Island - Day 9
Labuan Island - Kota Kinabalu
More free time on the island before catching a ferry and express bus to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. This modern city rebounded from multiple bombings during WWII. Tonight you'll head out for a final meal with your group at the night market, which is filled with fresh grilled seafood to celebrate your Borneo adventure.
Optional Activities
- Dine at night market with fresh grilled seafood
Landmarks Kota Kinabalu - Day 10
Kota Kinabalu
You'll have free time in Kota Kinabalu before a group meeting at 6 pm to meet your new group. Consider checking out the Sabah State Museum for the city's history, visiting the Mari Mari Cultural Village to learn about indigenous traditions, or heading to nearby islands off Kota Kinabalu for swimming and snorkelling.
Optional Activities
- Sabah State Museum
- Mari Mari Cultural Village
- Island exploration for swimming and snorkelling off Kota Kinabalu
Landmarks Sabah State Museum Mari Mari Cultural Village - Day 11
Kota Kinabalu - Dusun Village
A minivan takes you to a Dusun village in the shadow of Mt Kinabalu, the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Welcome lunch happens at your homestay with your hosts before you visit a local vegetable farm. You'll learn about planting and harvesting seasonal produce, then take fresh vegetables home for dinner. A special village cultural performance rounds out the evening.
- Meals
- Lunch (Welcome lunch in homestay with hosts), Dinner (Farm-to-table dinner with fresh vegetables from the local farm)
Included Activities
- Dusun Village - Guided village walk
- Dusun Village - Local Vegetable Farm Visit
- Dusun Village - Cultural performance
Landmarks Mt Kinabalu 
- Day 12
Dusun Village
You'll walk to the local vegetable market in Kundasang with your leader. Located in the heart of the community, it showcases freshly harvested produce from local vegetables to unique regional seasonal fruits like tarap and rambutan, plus local snacks, wild honey and traditional Borneo crafts. Chatting with vendors helps you learn about the local produce and traditional Sabah cuisine. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure, perhaps visiting Poring Hot Springs to relax in the open-air baths.
Included Activities
- Kundasang - Market Visit
Optional Activities
- Poring Hot Springs - Hot Springs (Open Bath Tub) - (3 hours) - MYR10
- Poring Hot Springs - Canopy Walk - MYR10
- Poring Hotspring (Entrance Fee) - MYR50
- Kundasang - War Memorial (Entrance Fee) - MYR15
Landmarks Kundasang Market Poring Hot Springs - Day 13
Dusun Village - Mt Kinabalu National Park
After a good breakfast you'll say goodbye to your village friends and drive to Timpohon Gate to begin your trek up Mt Kinabalu. The uphill trail has steep steps that vary considerably in size, and along the way you'll see remarkable plant diversity including about 1,000 orchid species and carnivorous pitcher plants. After covering 6 km (approximately 4 to 6 hours), you'll spend the night at a hostel near Laban Rata at 3,272 m (10,735 ft). Rest up for the final ascent very early tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Mt Kinabalu National Park - Mt Kinabalu Climb
Landmarks Mt Kinabalu Timpohon Gate Laban Rata - Day 14
Mt Kinabalu National Park
You'll rise at around 2 am to continue the trek. It's tough, but the sunrise at the summit will be well worth it. At the top you'll take in the jungles of Borneo in one direction and the South China Sea in the other. After a well-deserved rest and plenty of pictures, return to Laban Rata for breakfast. The descent takes between 3 to 6 hours. This evening you'll settle into your overnight stay at a hostel within Kinabalu National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Mt Kinabalu Laban Rata - Day 15
Kinabalu National Park - Kinabatangan River
A private bus takes you into the steamy rainforest to Bilit, a small village on the banks of the Kinabatangan River, then a short boat ride brings you to your jungle lodge on the riverbanks. You'll head out on a sunset boat ride looking for macaques, orangutans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants. The day ends with a night walk to search for nocturnal wildlife like civets, owls and the rare slow loris.
Included Activities
- Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Cruise
- Kinabatangan River - Night jungle walk
Landmarks Kinabatangan River Bilit - Day 16
Kinabatangan River
A dawn boat safari happens early this morning. Different species come out at different times, so keep your eyes peeled. After breakfast your in-house guide takes you on an insightful journey into the historical Kinabatangan community and its traditions. You'll actively engage in making traditional fish traps to understand their sustainable way of life. Back on the boat for another river excursion in the afternoon rounds out the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Kinabatangan River - Dawn Wildlife Cruise
- Kinabatangan River - Fish Trap Making & Story Telling
Landmarks Kinabatangan River - Day 17
Kinabatangan River - Sepilok
After breakfast you'll say goodbye to your jungle lodge and travel by private minivan to a guesthouse near Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch and photograph orangutans swinging onto the feeding platform from the viewing platform. Observe young orangutans learning to climb a specially constructed jungle gym in a new nursery. Optional visits include the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center to see rescued bears, or the Rainforest Discovery Centre for treetop walkways and learning about the area's flora and birdlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Optional Activities
- Sepilok - Sun Bear Conservation Centre - MYR50
- Sepilok - Rainforest Discovery Centre - MYR30
Landmarks Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center Rainforest Discovery Centre 
- Day 18
Sepilok - Turtle Island
You'll transfer to Sandakan to leave your large bags at the hotel, then walk with your overnight bag to a nearby jetty. A speedboat takes you past small fishing villages and bamboo fish traps to Turtle Island Marine Park. The afternoon offers time for swimming, snorkelling or relaxing on the beach. In the evening an expert local ranger takes a select group to watch giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs under the moonlight. Watch as rangers release protected hatchlings and guide them to the ocean.
Included Activities
- Turtle Island - Turtle Island Marine Park
- Turtle Island - Turtle Hatchery Visit
Optional Activities
- Swimming at Turtle Island
- Snorkelling at Turtle Island
Landmarks Turtle Island Marine Park Sandakan - Day 19
Turtle Island - Sandakan
You'll return to the mainland after breakfast and walk back to your hotel. The day is yours to explore Sandakan at your own pace. Consider visiting Agnes Keith House, the restored home of an American writer famous for her accounts of life in Borneo during WWI. The Sandakan War Memorial sits on the site of a Japanese Prisoners of War camp, or you could check out St Michael's and All Angels Church, a rare stone building in Sabah that survived the war mostly intact.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Agnes Keith House - MYR15
- Sandakan - War Memorial - Free
- St Michaels and All Angels Church - MYR10
- Sandakan - Puu Jih Shih Chinese Temple - Free
Landmarks Agnes Keith House Sandakan War Memorial St Michaels and All Angels Church Puu Jih Shih Chinese Temple - Day 20
Sandakan
Your Borneo adventure ends today after breakfast. If you wish to spend more time exploring Borneo, additional accommodation can be pre-booked.
- Meals
- Breakfast
