13-Day Classic Borneo Tour: Sarawak & Sabah

Arrive at the airport and transfer to your first hotel in Borneo. Spend the first day in Kuching, the “City of Cat,” exploring its historical quarters and museums.

The next day:

• Visit Bako National Park, one of Borneo’s oldest national parks, where you can explore its forests and wildlife.
• Enjoy a day of trekking through the rainforest and spend the day spotting proboscis monkeys, wild boars, exotic birds, and snakes.
• Lunch is included at the park canteen.

Meals:

• 1 Breakfast (D2)
• 1 Lunch (D2)

Accommodation:

• The Marian Lodging House 2-star hotel, Kuching Imperial
  Riverbank 3-star hotel, or similar

The journey from your hotel to the Iban’s heartland of Batang Ai takes about 4 hours, passing padi fields, pepper plantations, farms, roadside kampungs, and tropical jungles.

• Stop at Serian and have lunch at Lachau.
• Upon arrival at the Batang Ai Dam, board a native boat for an upriver journey to an Iban Longhouse to experience the Iban culture of the descendants of the feared warriors.
• In the evening, enjoy a native dinner prepared by your guide, followed by rounds of tuak, Iban’s home-made rice wine.
• Overnight in the longhouse or dormitory-style accommodation.

The next day:

• After breakfast, enjoy the pristine surrounding jungle with an upriver trip.
• Take a nature walk to learn about native farming and Iban burial practices.
• Enjoy lunch traditionally cooked in bamboo or stone BBQ pits.
• Bring swimwear as the river waters may be clear and refreshingly cool if there’s no rain.

On the third day:

• Say goodbye to your hosts after breakfast and return to the river jetty for your journey back to the city.
• Lunch at a local cafe and drop off at your city hotel.

Meals:

• 3 Breakfasts (D3, D4, D5)
• 3 Lunches (D3, D4, D5)
• 2 Dinners (D3, D4)

Accommodation:

• Days 3 and 4: Batang Ai Longhouse (basic accommodation)
• Day 5: The Marian Lodging House 2-star hotel, Kuching Imperial
  Riverbank 3-star hotel, or similar

The journey begins with a transfer from Kuching airport for a domestic flight to Mulu. The extensive underground system in Mulu includes the spectacular and immense Sarawak Chamber, which is the largest known natural cave chamber in the world. This is where you can also watch the spectacular bat flights in their pre-dawn cave exit.

On day 2:

• Visit Deer Cave and Clearwater Cave, which are one of the largest single cave passages and one of the longest caves in the world respectively.
• End the day with a picnic lunch at Clearwater summer huts.

Experience Mulu’s natural wonders in this 3 Days 2 Nights stay at the Mulu National Park accommodation.

Meals:

• 2 Breakfasts
• 1 Lunch

Flight:

• Kuching to Mulu [MH3752 1035 (KCH) – 1215 (MZV)]

Accommodation:

• National Park Chalet

Checkout before noon and transfer to Mulu airport for the departure flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival in this seafront city, check into the city hotel. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to:

• Explore the seafront promenade at leisure.
• Go souvenir shopping at one of the old streets.

The next day:

• Experience the beauty and history of Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs on this full-day tour.
• Head inland to discover the majestic Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia, passing villages and paddy fields along the mountainous road. On a clear day, you will be able to see Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding valleys.
• Make a stop at Nabalu Market to shop for local native products, homegrown vegetables, and handmade crafts.
• Kinabalu Park is Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its universal values and biological sites.
• Lunch is at a local restaurant near Poring Hot Springs, where you can soak in Japanese baths filled with sulfur water.
• The tour concludes with a 3-hour return journey to Kota Kinabalu.

Meals:

• 2 Breakfasts
• 1 Lunch

Flight:

• Mulu – Kota Kinabalu [MH3252 1240 (MZV) – 1335 (BKI)]

Accommodation:

• Dreamtel Hotel, 3 stars or similar

Take a 50-minute flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan and check into the resort at Sepilok.

After lunch:

• Proceed to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for the 1400hrs feeding time.
• Visit the nearby Sun Bear Conservation Centre.
• Explore the Rainforest Discovery Centre, featuring a 363m long canopy walkway, one of the best places in Borneo to spot many endemic Borneo bird species.
• Relax or go for a swim in the jungle lodge pool.

Dinner and overnight at the resort.

Meals:

• 1 Breakfast
• 1 Lunch
• 1 Dinner

Accommodation:

• Resort @ Sepilok, Sepilok Jungle Resort, or similar

Flight:

• Kota Kinabalu – Sandakan [AK6490 0945 (BKI) – 1035 (SDK)] with 25 kg luggage

Leave for Sandakan city after breakfast. Enjoy a city tour that includes:

• A visit to the local market.
• A stop at the English Tea House.

Transfer to Kinabatangan River to experience the best of Borneo’s nature and wildlife. The Kinabatangan River is one of the best places in Borneo to spot wildlife, including:

• Orangutans
• Proboscis monkeys
• Tarsiers
• The endemic Bornean Pygmy Elephant

The best way to enjoy the river and its wildlife is by:

• Taking a boat during the early hours of dusk and dawn.

After checking in at the river lodge:

• Take a late afternoon wildlife cruise before dinner.
• Overnight stay at the river lodge.

Next day:

• Wake up early for a river cruise at about 6:00 am.
• Return to the river lodge for breakfast.
• In the late evening, take another river cruise to a different part of the river to discover more wildlife.
• Dinner and stay the second night at River Lodge @ Kinabatangan River.

Meals:

• 2 Breakfasts
• 2 Lunches
• 2 Dinners

Accommodation:

• River Lodge @ Kinabatangan River, Bilit Adventure Lodge or similar

Today the tour concludes. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Sandakan airport.

Meals:

• 1 Breakfast

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