Premium Borneo in Depth - 12 Days

Selamat datang! Welcome to Borneo. When you arrive in Kuching, you’ll be collected from the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. You’ll then have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and group members. If you arrive early, you might like to take a stroll along Kuching’s scenic waterfront or visit the Borneo Cultural Museum. After your meeting, get to know your group over a welcome dinner at a local, home-grown restaurant set in the heart of Kuching, where you can sample some authentic Sarawakian food.

This morning, begin your journey to Batang Ai National Park, where the remote and lush rainforests are alive with the calls of hornbills and gibbons. The Iban people have called these rainforests home for 400 years, with entire villages living under one roof in longhouses built along the river. Hidden away from the modern world, these communities have retained centuries-old traditions.

Stop off at the native market in Lachau, where you can pick up locally made goods like woven baskets and traditional Iban clothing. Then, take a longboat down the Delok River to your accommodation for the evening – the serene and secluded Nanga Sumpa Lodge, tucked away on the riverbank. The operator here has had a long-standing relationship with the community, creating jobs and local involvement so the residents can benefit from tourism. He also established a scholarship fund to support children’s education in the community. Tonight, you’ll sit down for a traditional dinner at the lodge.

After breakfast surrounded by nature, you’ll take a walk through the jungle, passing local farms, orchards and plantations. Your trip leader will share stories from the region and teach you about foraging for edibles and local medicinal plants. Next, take a longboat up the river to the Enseluai Waterfall. Keep your eyes open in case of a rare orangutan sighting! When you arrive, your local guide will teach you about the raw materials used in traditional cooking, like bamboo and leaves. Then, you’ll take part in cooking up a barbecue lunch with the local community, roasting chicken in bamboo over an open fire. In the afternoon, cruise back to Nanga Sumpa for a walk through the village. After dinner, visit a traditional longhouse and spend time with the Iban people who will teach you about their way of living. Hang out on the common veranda, share some rice wine and gain insight into the local Iban culture.

Wake up to the songs of birds. After breakfast, take a longboat out of the rainforest and make the journey back to Kuching, stopping off for lunch at a local coffee shop along the way. The name Kuching literally translates to ‘cats’, and the city has fully embraced this moniker. You’ll have free time here, so maybe wander the streets to see the giant cat statues, spray-painted street art and local cat museum. If you’d like to dive deeper into the city’s fabulous food scene, your leader can recommend some spots to eat.

Today, say goodbye to Kuching and take a flight to Mulu National Park – a national park is full of rainforests, mountains, caves and karst formations. Your trip leader will provide insight into how the park’s weird and wonderful geographic features came to be. In the late afternoon, visit Deer Cave and Lang Cave, which are reached by a scenic jungle walk along a 3 km (1.8 m) plank path, passing through peat swamp, alluvial flats and limestone outcrops. Watch millions of bats fly out of Deer Cave at sunset and see the large ring-shaped formations they make as they circle the cliff face, before moving out across the rainforest. Return on the same path and head to your accommodation for the evening in secluded forest bungalows, tucked away in the park.

Today, join your leader and further explore Mulu National Park. First, head to Wind Cave (named for the cool breeze that flows through it) along the Melinau River. Your leader will share some details on the formation of the cave as you explore the stalagmites and columns. Later, discover the caverns and crags of Clearwater Cave – one of the longest caves in Asia! The rest of the day is free for you to relax and take in the scenery.

Today, you’ll fly to Kota Kinabalu – the bustling capital of the Sabah state. In the late afternoon, head to one of the city’s rooftop bars for a cocktail while watching the sunset over the skyline. The rest of the evening is free for you to explore. The city’s food scene is best experienced like a local, so for dinner tonight, be sure to ask your leader for advice on hidden treasures away from the main tourist trail.

You have a free morning in Kota Kinabalu – maybe go snorkelling in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and search for marine life or take a tour to the cultural village. Regroup midafternoon for a market tour, then head to a local home for a hands-on Bornean cooking class. A local female entrepreneur will guide you in preparing traditional dishes using the best available local vegetables of the day. Enjoy the fruits of your labour, including pinarasakan sada (traditional simmered fish).

Take a flight to Sandakan this morning, then visit the Sandakan War Memorial. Here, you’ll learn about the city’s past as you stand on the same ground as the former Japanese POW camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches. Next, head to the jetty for a boat ride to the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort – your Feature Stay accommodation. Sitting on the banks of the Kinabatangan River, the resort offers access to local wildlife. Wooden boardwalks cut through the jungle and connect spacious and bright chalets that serve up great views of the surrounding mangrove forests. This afternoon, take a river cruise, where your leader will help you spot some of the local creatures. Wild elephants seldom reveal themselves, but crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and kingfishers can sometimes be seen. Enjoy dinner at the resort before heading back out for a nighttime wildlife walk. Geared up with a headlamp, you’ll set out in search of interesting insects or other animals that pop up after dark.

Take an early-morning cruise through the fog as the sun rises, enjoying light refreshments onboard while you search for birds and wildlife. Keep an eye out for long-tailed macaques and pig-tailed macaques. Return to the resort for breakfast and search the property with your leader for some insects, plants and birds. This afternoon, set off for another river adventure, exploring small tributaries by boat. You’ll also visit Kampung Abai today – a local village where you’ll join local conservationists for a tree-planting activity. Hear about their commitment to managing natural resources and tourism in a fair, ethical and community-based manner. Later, head out for a nighttime cruise and look for nocturnal animals – you might even see a wide-eyed slow loris hanging from a tree! Have dinner back at the resort, then relax in your comfortable rooms.

Return to Sandakan by boat and visit the orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch them as they swing into view on ropes and vines, then check in at the outdoor nursery where young orangutans, born in captivity or orphaned, are cared for. You’ll also visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre – seeing the world’s smallest bears in large forest enclosures as they are rehabilitated after being rescued. This evening, enjoy a final dinner in Borneo with your group and leader.

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent to arrange additional accommodation. Flights depart most days from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.